It takes a little planning ahead to guarantee a great Thanksgiving. In many ways, it’s easier if you’re hosting, because you know what you can and can’t have. Most people hate to impose on their hosts, but it’s easier on you AND your host to ask beforehand than sit through a four-hour meal and watch others eat. Remember, nothing is more important that staying safe!
Turkey:
Though it’s always good to check, the good news is that all plain fresh turkey is naturally gluten free. However, self-basting turkeys usually contain gluten. Most gravy packets are a problem, too. As of 2011, ALL of the companies I called did have gluten-free turkeys, except Tofurky, which has gluten. Check out my gluten-free turkey list for 2011, which has manufacturer contact info.
If you’re not hosting Thanksgiving at your house, talk to your host as soon as you can. You’ll need to talk about:
* Broth used for basting
* Seasonings
* Stuffing in the (more…)
This great resource gives you dozens of desserts, sides, breads and stuffings – pretty much everything you need to make a delicious and memorable Holiday Dinner. And while many of the recipes use Tom Sawyer’s Gluten-free Flour mix, any all-purpose gluten-free flour mix should work. (Of course, they may not work as well. Tom Sawyer’s mix is absolutely excellent! We LOVE the biscuits!!)
Bread Stuffing, Grandma’s Corn Bread, Turkey Gravy, Baked Candied Sweet Potatoes, Holiday Muffins, Tom Sawyer’s Award Winning Gluten Free Angel Food Cake, Pumpkin Pie, Pumpkin Cake Roll and Cranberry Spice Bars are just (more…)
It’s a season of love, joy, peace. . . and stress? For those us with restricted diets, the holidays can be a struggle, especially when we are sharing meals with those who don’t adhere to the same eating style as we do. So how do we survive the holidays without sacrificing good times or our well-being?
It’s sad, but true, that many people who follow a specific diet (out of need or choice) opt to “check out” of holiday gatherings. Relationships are of such central importance in our lives, however, that we really shouldn’t let our dietary choices limit our interactions with others. I’m happy to share that our family has successfully hosted holiday meals in our home for years and we’ve attended family gatherings and (more…)
This is my first attempt at making any type of pie, but my mom has made this pie recipe dozens of times, so I know it’s good. As with most gluten free pie crusts, you have to press the dough into the pie plate instead of rolling it out. I messed up a bit with this part because I forgot to check the depth on the bottom of the crust. It turned out way too thick… oops. Luckily, the dough tastes like a sugar cookie, so it wasn’t the end of the world. Next time I will remember to check the depth with a fork before baking the crust. Other than that slight misstep, the pie turned out great. (more…)
The holidays are fast upon us, and not only do we have to plan the Thanksgiving meal, but the Thanksgiving leftovers as well. Usually in my house there are lots of turkey and maybe some potatoes, the stuffing is almost always the first thing to go. But after so long, cold turkey sandwiches and turkey and gravy tend to get a bit bland. I came up with this recipe last year when all I had left after the dust has settled was turkey, enjoy! (more…)
This is a great way to start the day on a sweeter note, without the sugars found in more traditional sweet morning fare—something that works great for those following a gluten-free–and even grain-free–lifestyle. It is packed with fiber, Vitamin A, protein and healthy fat. Use sweet potatoes or winter squash that has been pre-cooked to make preparation fast and easy–there should be plenty on hand, either before or after a Thanksgiving feast! This is a dish that pleases young and old alike.
Serves 2
Ingredients:
• 1 cup cooked Sweet Potatoes or Winter Squash, skins removed
It’s easy to make your own fresh cranberry sauce with just a few ingredients. This version has much less sugar than what you would find in a can. Give it a try. If you don’t think you’ll use all of the cranberries, cut the recipe in half and use the berries in a muffin or loaf.
Ingredients:
3/4 cup water or orange juice (use less sugar if using the juice)
1/3 c organic white sugar or sucanat
1/3 c agave nectar (optionally use honey or all sugar)
4 cups (1 12-oz package) fresh or frozen cranberries, rinsed
Optional ingredients: 1/2 cup toasted pecans or walnuts, chopped; orange zest from 1/2 of an orange; (more…)
I can’t believe that it is almost Thanksgiving! Where has this year gone to, or this month further more lol The fall is flying by, and I must say I’m loving it since I love the holidays. This is the first year that I will not be participating in the traditional Thanksgiving meal with family, as my Mother and I will be venturing to NYC for the week!
I did though, however, prepare for this and the Christmas holiday meals by recreating my absolute favorite side dish. I thought my holidays would be ruined when I went gluten free and thought I’d never eat my Mother’s stuffing again! I’m pretty crafty, so I of course I found a way to avoid a major meltdown at the dinner table.
I knew a meltdown was certain to happen if I had to watch others eat stuffing in front of me, dun dun dun….so I found a gluten free stuffing mix and recreated Mom’s recipe, and it tastes exactly the same! (more…)