Thanksgiving is a time of gratitude, togetherness, feasting and gluten. Yes, unfortunately, gluten is abundant on most holiday tables, in stuffings, gravies, pies, rolls and more. But it doesn’t have to be that way. In the next few articles, I’ll offer some good alternatives to your gluten-filled Turkey Day favorites. Read More »
Gluten free side dishes
What’s Thanksgiving without side-dishes? Just plain ol’ turnkey dinner, right? Fortunately, lots of side dishes are naturally gluten free, like mashed potatoes and most sweet potato recipes, and either canned or fresh cranberry sauce. Sadly, it’s our old favorites that are gluten-FULL. Read on for some GF tweaks to these classic recipes.
Green Bean Casserole
Don’t panic! You can still have your Green Bean Casserole, just substitute the cream of mushroom soup for this recipe from The Gluten Free Cooking School, or try Progresso’s Cream of Mushroom soup. Don’t use the usual French fried onions on top (they have gluten), but try Funyuns Onion Flavored Rings by Frito Lay. Yes, Funyuns, that very same snack you probably skip over in the chip aisle is gluten free and makes a great, crunchy topping. Read More »
No need to be jealous of your gluten-eating family and friends at Thanksgiving dessert; there are lots of gluten free options that will be the perfect ending to your perfect Turkey Day.
No one does GF baking better, in my opinion, than Jules Shepard of Jules Gluten Free Flour Mix. Watch her video (below) on making her perfect pie crust.
Now that you know how to make crust, try some of these delicious fillings:
Here’s the pumpkin pie recipe that’s been on the Libby’s Pumpkin label since 1950.
Apply Crumbly Pie
• 1 Jules’ pie crust (uncooked)
• 6 cups thinly sliced apples (Granny Smith or other tart apple)
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon GF flour
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 cup raisins (optional)
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
• 1/2 cup GF flour
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons butter Read More »
To take a load off of your plate for the upcoming Thanksgiving preparation, here is a game plan for a quick and easy side-dish that will absolutely delight the palates of your family and friends.
Balsamic Glazed Roasted Vegetables
Here's me at 1 year gluten-free
This Holiday Season I am especially thankful for the health I now enjoy… it’s been a long journey these past 10 years or so…but I am so thankful for the knowledge I’ve gained about living a Gluten-Free lifestyle…the benefits that have come from it, and that after 10 years, I can finally say that I feel like “me” again. :)
I’ve never really shared my entire experience, and normally don’t write posts that are too personal… but perhaps this can help someone out there who is wondering if they might have Gluten Intolerance or Celiac Disease… or someone who has been diagnosed and wonders if it is really a “big deal” if they HAVE to go gluten-free or not. I can tell you from personal experience that it WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!!! It changed mine… and here’s how:
It all started back in junior high and high school. I just felt “tired” all the time. I can’t even tell you how many times a day someone would come up to me and say, “What’s wrong? You look tired.” I even remember someone saying to me once, “You look dead.” (ouch!) It seemed like maybe I was just depressed or Read More »
Gluten is the trouble-making ingredient you’re supposed to avoid when going on a gluten free diet. But how do you avoid something if you aren’t sure what it is or where to find it? I’ll admit, this can be a challenge. It’s just not as obvious I’d like it to be, but once you learn how to spot it you’ll feel more confident about grocery shopping. Also, knowing what gluten is and how it works in food can help you understand how to cook with gluten free ingredients.
What Is This Gluten Stuff?
Gluten is the stretchy glue that helps bread, pizza crust, and other baked goods get nice puffy air pockets. It creates a flexible structure that helps each baked good hang together without necessarily being tough or chewy. When a baker knows how to properly activate the gluten protein, it will start doing its thing. The presence of gluten has influenced baking techniques for decades, even centuries. Sorry, I’m not trying to build up gluten as some kind of magical essence that turns good food into great food. It’s just one of many ingredients with useful properties out there in the world. It happens that wheat is commonly grown and used across the world, and it affects a lot of food in Western cultures.
Ready for a little science? Gluten is made up of two types of proteins – one is the Read More »
Halloween can be a difficult holiday to navigate for a gluten-free child or allergic child. Here are some tips for an easy gluten-free Halloween and some great sources for gluten-free Halloween candy.
Organize a Gluten-Free Halloween Party for Kids
Kids love parties, especially when they can eat all the goodies. Host a party where everything is safe for your child. Carve pumpkins, have a costume contest, and eat gluten-free Halloween treats (such as Halloween Sugar Cookies.) Inexpensive party supplies and art supplies can be purchased online at www.orientaltrading.com. Read More »
Words can not begin to express how excited I am to have been chosen as an Official Blogger for the Gluten Free Allergen Free Expo (GFAF Expo) in Secaucus, NJ on September 7 & 8, but I am going to try anyway.
I was diagnosed five years ago with celiac disease and what a journey it has been. There have been some great moments and some really horrible ones, but it is all a part of it and you have to learn to adapt and move forward. Over these five years I have managed to Read More »
June 29th is National Almond Butter Crunch Day. Almond butter is a great way to get that good, healthy fat. There are many varieties of almond butter on the market and most of them are gluten-free.
All of the above listed almond butters are very good, but if I had to choose my favorite, I would have to go with Read More »
Photo: Amy Fothergill
Running out of gluten-free and dairy-free lunch ideas for your kids lunchboxes for school or summer camp? This can be a particular challenge when most traditional options revolve around bread and cheese. Of course you can always use gluten-free bread to make the traditional turkey or peanut butter and jelly, but why not think outside the standard lunch box fare and prepare a fresh salad? Children are often big fans of Caesar salad for the creamy dressing, pleasantly non-bitter romaine lettuce and the crunchy croutons. I love to use Easy Lunchboxes since it’s easy to keep everything separated; the croutons would be a bit mushy if I put them on in the morning!
I usually make this dressing with Parmesan cheese but have had a few people request a dairy-free version. I adapted this recipe, which is a fan favorite, by eliminating the cheese and adding Read More »
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