Tips for Eating Out Gluten Free...

Eating out with Celiac Disease or gluten intolerance can be tricky business!  Here are a few tips I've learned that will help to make your dining experience a happier one....

1. Call ahead to the restaurant to make sure they can accommodate a gluten free customer.  If the staff seems unsure or can't tell you for certain...choose another restaurant.

2. Many restaurants have a separate gluten free menu.  Ask for it.  Even if you've been to the restaurant before, menu items could change, so it's important to check.

3.  Make sure to tell the staff that you have Celiac Disease, or even better that you are allergic to gluten, so they will know to be extra careful! If the server is unsure of what's safe for you, request a manager.  Sometimes they are more knowledgeable and can help you have a good experience.

4. If ordering something that will be cooked on a shared grill, request that it be cooked on foil so it won't touch the grill.  Even if they clean the grill for special orders, for me this is an added protection against cross contamination!

5. Find out if the dish you are ordering comes with bread on the side. If it does, request that it be left off.  And if by chance they bring the dish out with the bread, don't be afraid to send the plate back for a new order!

6. Double check salad dressings. Many salad dressings contain gluten.  And the Ranch dressing at one restaurant might be safe, while at another it's not, so be sure to check the GF menu or ask the server.

7. Never be afraid to ask questions, to take your time ordering, or to send things back! This is your health we're talking about. :) Speak up for yourself, you are your best advocate!!  Just be kind to the restaurant staff when you do. :)

Gluten Free Blueberry Muffins

Pam from imaceliac.com shared a delicious recipe for Sour Cream Blueberry Muffins. The recipe is simple and sounded great.  We are trying to cut down on sugar, so I wondered what would happen if substituted honey for the sugar called for in the recipe.  So I studied up on how to do this, gave it a try...and the muffins turned out so great!!  Here's the recipe...

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups gluten free all purpose flour (I use Betty Crocker GF all purpose rice blend)

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp GF baking powder (I use Clabber Girl)

1/3 cup natural applesauce

1 tsp GF vanilla extract

1 egg

3/4 cup honey

1/2 cup sour cream

1 cup frozen blueberries

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In large bowl, combine all ingredients except blueberries.  Now when you dump all this in the bowl, it will look like a hot mess, but trust me, it will turn out just fine!

Using a hand mixer, mix ingredients till well combined.  See, now it looks like muffin batter :)

Once batter is mixed, pour in the blueberries.  Gently stir them into batter with a spoon, just till combined.

Grease a muffin pan (I use Temptations ceramic ovenware, which works great) and fill muffin cups till almost full.  

Bake for 20-25 minutes. Stick a knife in one of the muffins to make sure they are done :)

Remove from oven and allow to cool for a few minutes.

If you like, cut open the muffins and add a little butter...makes them even better!

Enjoy!

Linked to Gluten Free Wednesdays at glutenfreehomemaker.com
& Gluten Free Fridays at http://vegetarianmamma.com

Stocking up for Snow & Ice

Here in South Carolina, we don't get very much Winter weather, so when we do, everyone gets pretty excited!  They are calling for ice and possibly snow this week, so I went to the grocery store and stocked up!  Here's what's on the menu for this Wintery week... :)

Blueberry Muffins http://glutenfreesimplygood.blogspot.com/2015/02/gluten-free-blueberry-muffins.html

Spaghetti with this fabulous sauce...   http://glutenfreesimplygood.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-best-sauce.html

Chili Beans http://glutenfreesimplygood.blogspot.com/2012/01/gf-chili-beans.html

Potato Soup http://glutenfreesimplygood.blogspot.com/2011/11/potato-soup.html

Cheese Burgers and Baked Beans http://glutenfreesimplygood.blogspot.com/2015/02/simply-scrumptious-baked-beans.html

Gluten Free Greek Hamburger Steak and Potatoes

There's a great local Greek restaurant here that serves an amazing Greek Hamburger Steak.  This is a hamburger steak topped with tomato sauce and feta and served with greek potatoes.  WOW! I thought this dish would be easy to do at home, and it's so yummy!!

Ingredients:

2 lbs ground beef
salt
pepper
gluten free worchestershire sauce
chili powder

gluten free pasta sauce (I use Classico Tomato Basil)
Feta cheese

2-3 russet potatoes
olive oil
salt
pepper
oregano
GF Greek dressing

Directions for Greek Hamburger Steak
In large bowl, combine ground beef, a few dashes salt and pepper, a few dashes Worcestershire sauce, and a couple dashes chili powder.  Mix with hands till well combined.  Form meat into patties.

Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat.  Cook patties on one side 6 minutes, then flip and cook for 6-7 minutes more, till done.

Move hamburger patties to individual plates and top each with heated tomato sauce and feta.

Directions for Greek potatoes:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Wash potatoes and cut them into small-medium pieces. Place potatoes in large bowl.  Coat with a little olive oil, a few dashes salt and pepper and oregano. Stir till potatoes are coated well.

Place potatoes in single layer in baking pan, or dish (cooks best in a stoneware baking piece).
If you're not using stone bakeware, be sure to line pan with foil.

Cook potatoes in oven for 8-10 minutes, then turn potatoes and cook for about 8 minutes more, or until softened. Watch carefully, as they can burn quickly.

When done, move potatoes to a bowl, coat with a little Greek dressing and toss.

Serve with hamburger steak.

Gluten Free Broccoli Casserole

I have made Paula Deen's broccoli casserole for years.  It's so delicious!  With a few adjustments it can be made gluten free! Here's the simple recipe...


Ingredients:
2 10 oz packages of frozen broccoli florets cooked and drained
1 cup Hellman's mayonnaise
1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 carton Pacific Foods GF Organic condensed cream of mushroom soup
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups crushed gluten free crackers (I use Glutino original)
2 tbsp butter, melted

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Chop cooked broccoli into small pieces
In large bowl, combine broccoli, mayo , cheese, soup and eggs.  Mix well with spoon.
Spray 9 X13 baking dish with cooking spray.
Place the mixture in baking dish.
Top with crushed GF crackers and pour the melted butter over crackers.
Bake for 35 minutes or until done.

Enjoy!

Linked to Gluten Free Wednesdays at glutenfreehomemaker.com

Loaded Cauliflower

I saw this fabulous recipe on Facebook and MUST try it soon!  I've never been a fan of cauliflower, but I've never seen it made this way before! And it can be done gluten free!!

This recipe is from Courtney Luper via Facebook.

Loaded Cauliflower

Ingredients:
1 large head of Cauliflower cut into bite size pieces (approx 6 cups)
6-8 strips of bacon cooked and crumbled (Cooked in oven at 400° for 20 mins)
6 Tbs chopped Chives
1/2 cup Mayonnaise
1/2 cup Sour Cream
2 cups Colby Jack Cheese ( may use cheddar)
8 oz container sliced mushrooms (I don't use mushrooms in mine)(optional)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425°
In a large pot boil water and cook Cauliflower for 8 - 10 minutes, drain and let cool.
In a large bowl combine sour cream, mayo, 1/2 of crumbled bacon, 3 tbs chives, 1 cups of cheese,mushrooms and cauliflower and mix well... place in baking dish and cover with remaining 1 cup of cheese and rest of bacon crumbles. Bake for 15-20 minutes until cheese is melted. top with remaining 3 T chives and serve.
ENJOY!!!!

...and here's her fabulous picture of the dish....doesn't it look amazing!?!?!?

Friday Favorites...Weekly Recipe Finds

I thought it would be a great idea, and help me organize all the great recipes I see online, if I picked my favorite recipes each week. So here are my favorite recipe picks from Pinterest and Twitter for this week! I'll be trying them soon!!

Since I've been obsessed with soup the past few days, let's start there....

Favorite Soup Recipe
Chicken Corn Chowder http://www.qvc.com/ChickenAndCornChowder.content.html

Favorite Breakfast Recipe
Easy GF Sour Cream Blueberry Muffins http://www.imaceliac.com/2014/06/easy-sour-cream-gluten-free-blueberry-muffins.html

Favorite Main Dish Recipe
Beef and Mushroom Stew http://www.delightglutenfree.com/recipes?id=793

Favorite Side Dish Recipe
GF Stovetop Mac and Cheese http://glutenfreeonashoestring.com/easy-stovetop-gluten-free-mac-and-cheese/

Favorite Dessert Recipe
The Best Sour Cream Cheesecake http://recreatinghappiness.com/dessert-recipes/the-best-sour-cream-cheesecake/


I also visited AllerMates new website this week!  You'll find great resources and products there for parents of kids with allergies, asthma, etc. http://www.allermates.com

Broccoli Salad

I LOVE broccoli! Steamed, in a warm casserole, raw....it doesn't matter!  But this broccoli salad is one of my favorites!! My mom has made this fabulous dish for as long as I can remember.  It's always a crowd favorite!  Here's the recipe!

Ingredients:

5-6 broccoli crowns

1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1 small purple onion

2 jars real bacon bits (I use Hormel)

1 1/2 cups Hellman's mayonnaise

3 tsp red wine vinegar

3/4 cup sugar


Directions:

Chop broccoli into very small pieces

Finely chop the onion

Combine broccoli and onion with cheese and bacon.

In a separate bowl combine the mayo, vinegar and sugar.  Mix well.

Pour sauce mixture over other ingredients and mix well till combined.

Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Enjoy!



Linked to Gluten Free Fridays at http://vegetarianmamma.com

Slow Cooker Gluten Free BBQ Meatballs

I have always wanted to try a slow cooker meatball recipe.  When I found this one on Pinterest,  I just had to try it!

The original recipe comes from iheartnaptime.net  With only 3 ingredients that can easily be found gluten free, it's a winner!! Perfect for an appetizer or anytime!

1 18 oz GF BBQ sauce (I used Sweet Baby Ray BBQ Sauce)
1 18 oz GF grape jelly (I used our local Ingles Market Brand, it had GF on the label)
2 packages Cooked Perfect GF Frozen Meatballs (about 50)

Directions:
Combine BBQ sauce and grape jelly in slow cooker. Stir till well mixed.

Pour in frozen meatballs

Stir to coat meatballs in sauce

Cover and cook in slow cooker on high for 3 hrs.

Enjoy!


Linked to Gluten Free Wednesday at http://glutenfreehomemaker.com