Easy Gluten-Free Dinner
While it can seem overwhelming to cook gluten-free, it really can be done and done simply, with lots of good flavor. I have to give a shout out to my friends Maury, Mary Stuart and Jen for showing just how easy gluten-free can be. I invited the three of them over for dinner a few weeks ago and we shared a delicious gluten-free meal together. Two years ago, if I invited friends over for dinner, I would have denied any requests made by my guests to “bring something.” I feel safest in my home because I make the food myself and in the past I didn’t want to bring any variables into my one controlled eating space.
Over time I’ve become much more comfortable explaining to friends my dietary restrictions, and I’ve allowed myself to trust others to make gluten-free food. My friends (and yours too!) want to accommodate our gluten-free needs. Of course this thoughtful group of women each wanted to bring something and since I’ve eaten with them many times (I lived in Mary Stuart’s house while moving this summer and she and her husband, Joel made many delicious GF meals for me), I trust each of them and they serve as reminders to me, just how easy and simple gluten-free dining can be.
Each of us provided a component of the meal that we shared. The food was delicious and they all made gluten-free seem so “normal” (because it can be!). It is the best feeling when friends and family members accommodate my gluten-free needs and I’m so appreciative of the many people in my life who have been thoughtful and gone to great lengths to ask questions, educate themselves and prepare gluten-free food for me.
There are probably many meals you make that are naturally gluten-free. Check out our dinner menu to see how simple it can be.
Here’s what we ate:
Mary Stuart brought a creative, yet simple appetizer. She made delicious crackers, using Glutinos, topped with Gruyere cheese and fig jam. Great flavor combinations and very easy to assemble. The fig jam added nice color and I loved the texture as well.
I made Red Wine Braised Chicken with Onions & Thyme for our entrée that tasted delicious on a cold winter night.
Maury made her famous roasted sweet potatoes that have become one of my favorite dishes. All she does is roast sweet potatoes tossed with olive oil, salt and pepper at 375 for about 40 minutes and then she adds parmesan cheese to them. So good! (A sprinkle of parmesan cheese is a great addition to roasted veggies.)
Jen, who recently went gluten-free, brought a spinach salad with walnuts, craisins, feta and red onions. A great winter salad and the red onions and craisins added festive colors. Jen’s homemade salad dressing was composed of olive oil, basil, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, and apple cider vinegar. Very flavorful and not too heavy. It complimented the salad perfectly.
I’m one of those people that likes to mix everything on my plate and this meal was perfect for that, even though we didn’t even plan our components of the meal together. It just seemed to fit. I only wish I had more photos to document the evening’s cuisine. We’ll just have to do it again!
Who knew gluten free could be so easy?
When I was first diagnosed with celiac, I never imagined that I would feel so safe eating food made by others. It takes time, but you too can enjoy sharing meals with others. When your friends ask questions, give them clear answers. They want to get it right, I promise. And they will.
