Tag Archives: Appetizers

Getting Festive – Gluten Free Canapes

Annie_gluten_free_works
Free From Polenta CanapesIn my pre-coeliac days, canapés were a doddle. Even on a budget. The day before a party I would buy the cheapest bread from the supermarket, cut out as many circles of bread as I could get out of each slice, dip them in olive oil and press them into pattie tins or mini muffin tins and bake.   I would end up with hundreds of little crisp toasts that kept overnight in a sealed box ready to be topped with an array of fresh toppings throughout the evening.

These days, that isn’t an option!  Gluten free bread is too expensive to buy, too small to get more than 2 circles out of (with a lot of wastage), and frequently too crumbly to use.  Home made is better – but that is an awful lot of bread to make, slice and cut.  Just not practical – especially when you have no fridge or kitchen space – or time – for advanced prep because you are running a supperclub!

So this week I was left wondering what I could use as canapé bases for our Christmas Party that would be a) gluten free b) economical c) effective and these are my top three suggestions:

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Making Thanksgiving a Welcoming Meal for a Celiac Guest

Stephanie Diamond Gluten Free Works

gluten free thanksgiving partyThanksgiving can be the most depressing holiday for a celiac. It’s a whole day that centers around food. And no one wants to feel left out of the festivities. Part of being a celiac isn’t just the food, it’s the psychology of standing out in a crowd. I’ve found that I hate being pegged with the “special meal.” I want to fit in and eat the same food as everyone else. Thus, the most comforting thing for me is being invited to the home of someone who is aware of the simple steps that can be taken to make a gluten-free Thanksgiving that’s delicious for everyone.

It’s not necessarily about making gluten-free alternatives of “regular” food. It’s about finding regular food that happens to be gluten-free. You don’t need to spend a fortune at a specialty grocery store; most of Read More »

Gluten Free Recipe: Roasted Tomatoes Over Polenta and Mascarpone Recipe

polenta and tomatoes mascarponeWhen Sarah Henkin and I were trying to come up with a menu item for samples at the Ferry Plaza Farmer’s Market FoodWise booth, we decided to make delicious, late summer tomatoes the centerpiece. We needed to keep the dish simple since there were some other events happening that day. Roasted tomatoes on top of something seemed like a good option to me.

Since we eat gluten-free, I tend to not think about using bread with tomatoes (although the thought does leave me with pangs of longing for Acme). My standard fallback is usually polenta. I made a similar dish last year with roasted veggies and gorgonzola (see that post here) so this needed to be different. Read More »

Gluten Free Sunflower Seed Hummus Recipe

 

gluten-free sunflower hummusDid you know that you can make hummus with sunflower seeds? I didn’t either until I learned about it from my friend Dallas. Dallas is one of my most inspiring friends when it comes to healthy eating. She is a vegetarian, and although she isn’t gluten-free, much of her diet is naturally gluten-free, because she sticks to whole foods. Dallas also hosts our Raw Foods Potlucks each month. If you haven’t checked out this post on past Raw Foods Potlucks, take a look back.

But back to hummus. I love hummus. I make a big batch of it almost every weekend, and I pack it in my lunchbox throughout the week for an afternoon snack. One scoop of hummus covered with an assortment of veggies is a quick, easy, healthy Read More »

Gluten Free Shrimp and Tofu Pad Thai Recipe

Amy Fothergill Gluten Free Works

Gluten Free Pad Thai Amy Fothergill

Gluten Free Pad Thai Photo: Amy Fothergill

Eating pad thai in a restaurant might be hard if cross contamination is a concern.

Most pad thai sauces contain soy sauce and more likely than not, that soy sauce contains gluten.

If you live in the bay area, access to rice Read More »

Best Gluten-Free Chicken Wing Recipes

Wings are quintessential half-time finger food. No wonder! Wings are economical, easy to make appetizers that everyone enjoys. Find a recipe in this collection of our best wing recipes from About.com Food and Drink Guides.

When a recipe calls for soy sauce, be sure to use a gluten-free product. Same goes for hot sauce. I use Frank’s Red Hot Original sauce in my wing recipes.

1. Sweet and Spicy Mustard Chicken Wings

A fast, easy and out-of-the-ordinary wing recipe from John Mitzewich, About.com Guide to American Food. The sweet and spicy no-cook sauce is delicious and as John says, “is addictive.”  Read More »

New Year’s Gluten Free Recipes and Links

Meatballs

Spice up your New Year’s Eve party with these appetizers, beverages, and hangover cures (hopefully you won’t need the last one):

Appetizers

1) Gluten Free Goddess has a great list of appetizer ideas, some of which are also vegan and vegetarian friendly.
2) My Crockpot Cranberry Glazed Meatballs are so easy to prepare.  Just let the meatballs simmer in the crock pot, and they will be ready just in time for your guests to arrive!
3) For a little kick, try this Gluten Free Black Bean Salsa and serve with corn or rice chips.

Beverages

1) This Blood Orange Champagne Cocktail from Epicurious.com will liven up Read More »