Special K GF Cereal, Walker GF Shortbread, Texas Toast GF Croutons

special kwalker shortbreadSpecial K Gluten Free can be found at Marcs and some Giant Eagle stores. With 5gms of Fiber, 50% Daily Iron, and a good source of B Vitamins, this cereal is a welcome addition. Look for Kellogg’s Pop Chips marked gluten free too.

Walker Scottish Shortbread is a holiday favorite. It is buttery and crisp—great with a cup of coffee. Look for the gluten free version.

texas toast GF croutonsEnjoy croutons once again! This gluten free salad topping was seen sold with other Texas toast croutons.

Cooks’ Books Discussion Group 2015 Schedule

Cooks’ Books Club Events

Are you interested in all things gluten-free in the kitchen?
Perhaps your baking and cooking skills are being challenged by the gluten-free ingredients, processes, methods etc!
Join Eileen Simon and Mariann Offtermatt the hosts of our monthly gluten-free cookbook gathering.
We’ll share our personal cookbook experiences and learn tips and tricks from each other.
We’ll also serve up a tasting from the featured book too!

Plan on attending any of the free scheduled events and share the love of cooking with other g-f home chefs! Doors open at 6:30. Meeting commences at 7:00.
RSVP Now
Check with your local library to borrow the books if you do not already own them.

Where:

Garfield Hts. Library
5409 Turney Rd.
Garfield Hts., 44125
216-475-8178

When:

Monday – Feb. 23, 2015 CANCELLED
7:00 – 8:30 pm
Meeting Room A
Discussion Feature – Let’s focus on Magazines! We’ll have copies on hand of the current issues
of GlutenFree Living, Delight, GIG, Simply Gluten-free. Bring any others that you have success using.

Monday – Mar. 16, 2015
7:00 – 8:30 pm
Meeting Room A
Discussion Feature – Paleo Cooking from Elana’s Pantry by Elana Amsterdam

Monday – Apr. 20, 2015
7:00 – 8:30 pm
Meeting Room A
Discussion Feature – Blogs and More Blogs
Let’s talk about the Blog World – Who’s your favorite blogger? What have you made from their site? What sites have you tried and not had success with?

Monday – May 18, 2015
7:00 – 8:30 pm
Meeting Room A
Discussion Feature – Blackbird Bakery by Karen Morgan

 

Holiday Social Dining- Gluten Free

Holiday Meals at Home.

Consider hosting the event yourself. Yes it will be work, but you can control what and how food is served. Believe it or not, most entrées, potato/rice side dishes & veggies, are naturally gluten free or translate into gluten free with minor adjustments.  Accept gluten dishes that guests wish to bring, keeping them separated from the GF fare.

Need ideas about what to serve? Honey Baked ham/turkey are gluten free holiday standards that are no fuss and feed a crowd. There are new GF cookbooks—The Lagasse Girls- The GF Table and  America’s Test Kitchen: How Can It Be Gluten Free—many others are available at your library. Delight Magazine or Simply Gluten Free Magazine have recipes (some online) as well as your favorite GF blogs like www.glutenfreegirl.com or http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/

Don’t remove traditional foods from consideration. Try to modify recipes that only may need a little tweaking. Family may be much more accepting.

If you want “from scratch” GF baked goods, choose brownies or cookies which are easier. Or there are many good baking mixes out that fool the gluten guests— (these come to mind but you may have your own favorites) 123 GlutenFree Pan Bars (make a cream cheese frosting –delish!) or 123 GlutenFree Poundcake (makes 2 to feed a crowd, add berries or chocolate sauce). Check their website for availability.  Or just support one of our local gluten free bakeries that count on your business. They are listed on our Grocery/Bakery page.

Holiday Meals at Someone’s Home

If you are invited for dinner at someone’s home, and you aren’t comfortable enough to ask questions about the food, bring a casserole dish (with protein). Often times, hostesses are grateful that you offer. Bring up the offer as soon as you receive the invitation to allow the cook time to understand and accept your needs–they may then think about your concerns as they grocery shop.

If you are comfortable asking questions, consider these pitfalls, then check with the cook if you think these may apply:

  • First, start by thanking the cook for caring about you enough to let you share your concerns!
  • Concentrate on the entrée. Without going into a major explanation, simply say you have to avoid flour/wheat that may be hidden in marinades & gravy. If you determine the entrée is safe, you can always volunteer to bring a side dish or dessert to round out your meal. Most hostesses appreciate offers.
  • If you have a microwave divided dish, bring your own full meal, matching the hosts menu if you don’t want to be different.  A minute or two in the microwave, and you are good to go!

Entrée pitfalls:

  • Cooking Bags are great ways to cook big roasts or turkeys, but flour is required to prevent bag from exploding, so ask if you think they may have used this to prepare the entrée.
  • If a cream sauce/gravy is planned, suggest cornstarch to thicken or GF condensed cream soups (like Pacific Naturals or Progresso) can substitute for Campbell soups
  • If entrée is breaded, ask if a piece could be made without bread crumbs on a separate piece of foil. (Foil is wonderful to separate meat and readily available.)

Holiday Buffets

  • Consider being the first in line at the buffet so you can prevent serving spoons from being cross contaminated. You can let your hostess know if this is your plan.
  • Again, take a GF casserole with a protein. This way you know you can have a safe main course.
  • If you are comfortable with the host/hostess, offer to come early to help with prep. That way you can see how things are prepared or will be served.
  • If the event is catered, ask your host/hostess for the caterer’s name and offer to call the caterer yourself. They often have gluten free options, and you will free up the host as well as feel more in control if you call.

Let’s face it. The holidays are not all about the food. They are about enjoying family and friends. Try not to let your diet come between you and them. If in doubt, be proactive and do what you can to take care of your needs. Who wants to be sick?

How do you handle the holidays? Let us know by adding a comment!

Holiday Cookies

Cookie Tips for the holidays and beyond!

Some members have reported having good luck with these flours using their own traditional recipes: Pillsbury GF all Purpose Flour, Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 flour (new-both seen at Marc’s), King Arthur Flour (has no gums added, so consider adding), & 123 GlutenFree Enriched Flour.

Bob’s Red Mill has a new GF pie crust mix out too! 123 GlutenFree has Pan Bars (serve with cream cheese frosting!) and Poundcake (mix makes 2!) that may even delight your gluten crowd. Check 123GlutenFree’s website for availability. Or use your favorite GF brands!

When making cookies, remember GF dough handles better when refrigerated and may spread less. Gums may help by adding structure.

Sprinkles and Colored Sugar for Cookies:

•Do-It-Yourself: McCormick food coloring is GF, (using non grain alcohol). Mix with white sugar for custom color.
•Cake Mate Decorations made by Betty Crocker under parent company Signature Brands has this to say: The company was phoned recently. They state that the decorations are made without gluten but if some are made on shared equipment, it will say so on the package. To inquire about which products are gluten free, please contact Consumer Relations by email at webinfo@signaturebrands.com or Monday – Friday 9am to 6pm at 1.877.726.8793.