Halloween

Spooky gluten-free fun!

For me, the hardest time of the year to have food issues is when holidays arrive. It seems that around every corner, I’m reminded of the things I can’t eat that everyone else around me can.

My personal goal is to make holidays and holiday parties more about friends and experiences than about food. One of the many reasons I like Halloween is that there are fewer expectations. Your party can be anything you want it to be. There are many fun suggestions online for various party themes. You can find ideas by typing “Halloween Party Themes” into Google. By keeping in mind your audience, you will be able to find something that works for you. Themes involve decorations, the costumes your guests wear, and the games you play. And yes, it even involves the food you serve.

Decorations can be as elaborate or as simple as you like. I’m not into elaborate decorations myself, and so I find many simple ideas involving real pumpkins very nice. Many appealing (and pretty minimalistic), ideas can be found on Martha Stewart’s website, for example. Halloween decorations are fun because not only do they not have to be perfect, but they shouldn’t be! Spiders, ghosts, pumpkins, zombies, vampires, tombs, blood, witches, all scream Read More »

Gluten Free Halloween Table

Maybe you are the host and you are getting ready for a ghoulish party. If you need to plan it around one or more gluten-free eaters, you might need some ideas beyond hummus and rice crackers or tortilla chips with guacamole.

Gluten free pumpkin muffin with pumpkin cream cheese frosting

When you are doing your planning, think about the items that you can’t eat when you are gluten-free: bread, crackers, pretzels, pizza, cookies, cakes and cupcakes, doughnuts. Today, there are many options for all of these items. Of course, if you are the one hosting, you will have much more control. That’s my plan this year; delegation! And, even if you aren’t gluten-free, you can use the ideas below to plan your own party.

If you are the host and not the one with the sensitivity, make sure you understand the needs of your guests. Someone with Celiac disease looks at gluten as seriously as someone with a peanut allergy. Gluten can be in ketchup and bbq sauce and is almost always in Read More »

Halloween is quickly approaching and it is important to take time to decorate the house, buy a costume, find gluten-free recipes to bake, and determine which candies are gluten free. We tend to give out gluten-free candies at our house because there are so many great ones from which to choose.  More and more companies are labeling their candy gluten free, but remember it is important to read the labels on all of the candy bags as ingredients do tend to change.

If you are in doubt of a specific candy’s status, go to the company’s website and check their gluten-free list, or you can call their 800 number for further clarification. Remember not all of these gluten-free candies are made in a dedicated facility, so be sure to read the disclaimer located on the package and make the choice that is right for your child.

Listed below are the gluten-free Halloween lists we found online. Read More »

It's fun to make pancakes into the shape of pumpkins! Photo: A. Fothergill

If you live in the Bay area, you know pumpkins are in great abundance in the fall. Even if you don’t roast them yourself, pumpkin-themed recipes are as ubitquous to the bay area as clam chowder is to New England. To figuratively put the frosting on the cake, if you are eating gluten-free, don’t worry, this recipe is easy and delicious. Get out the cinnamon and the cloves…it’s time to make pancakes!

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pancakes

Mix dry ingredients first. Use any spices you like. Photo: A. Fothergill

1 ¾ cups milk (you can substitute soy or rice)

2 tablespoons vinegar

1 egg

3 tablespoons natural cane sugar or sucanat Read More »

It’s been awhile since there has been a gluten-free item of the week but the Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Butter is just too good to go unnoticed.
 
October and November are known for many delicious pumpkin treats: pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie, and pumpkin cookies which all normally contain wheat gluten.  But thanks to Trader Joe’s, you can get into the festive spirit by spreading a little pumpkin butter on your favorite gluten-free items – from gluten-free Read More »

In the fall, it’s easy to get fresh, local carrots in the San Franciso area from the grocery store and farmer’s markets. There seems to be something very comforting about muffins and breads flavored with cinnamon. But on a gluten free diet, one is often denied these flavors.

GF Carrot Muffins, by A. Fothergill

Try this recipe which gives you the full flavor and texture of a traditional carrot muffin. Once cooled, top it with a little cream cheese frosting. As a muffin or dessert, this little wonder is sure to please. Read More »

Halloween is quickly approaching and it is important to take the time to determine which candies are gluten free.  We tend to give out gluten-free candies at our house as there are so many great ones from which to choose.  My favorite gluten-free candy has always been Reese peanut butter cups, so we always offer those to our trick-or-treaters.  We couldn’t have been happier to learn that Nature’s Path created a treat-sized version of their Lemur Peanut Choco Drizzle bars and we will be purchasing some to mix in with the more recognizable candies.  Read More »

Don’t let dried out gluten-free sugar cookie dough ruin your Halloween. Here is a easy and delicious recipe for rolled sugar cookies. You don’t even need to refrigerate the dough and the cookies freeze very well.

Ingredients:

1 cup rice flour
1/2 cup tapioca flour
1 cup potato starch
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 1/2 teaspoons xanthan gum
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup cane or beet sugar
1 cup shortening
1 egg
2 teaspoons GF vanilla extract
potato starch, for kneading

In the bowl of a mixer, cream together sugar and shortening. Add egg and vanilla and beat until combined. Add all dry ingredients and combine until the dough forms a ball. Read More »

Halloween is right around the corner and that means it’s time to start stocking up on all those sugary sweets we all love. Goodies come in all shapes, sizes and ingredients labels.

There are so many candy lists on the web that there can be some conflicting and confusing results when you Google “candy gluten free”. Half of the lists are out dated and the forums contain as many questions as answers.

Never fear, answers are here! After looking around (a lot) I am ready to deem the Halloween Candy List on Sure Foods Living to be the most informative and up to date listing available. Read More »