Macaroons

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(Makes about 24 macaroons)

Ingredients:

  • 14 oz. Shredded Sweetened Coconut
  • 1 c. Sweetened Condensed Milk (Fill the cup measure about 1/4 inch from the top)
  • 1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
  • 2 Large Eggs (You will only be using the egg whites)
  • 1/4 tsp. Salt
  • 1/2 c. Chocolate Chips (Make sure you’re using gluten-free chocolate!

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the coconut, condensed milk, and vanilla extract.  Mix the ingredients so that everything is fully combined.
  3. Add the chocolate chips, mixing so they are spread throughout.
  4. Separate the eggs so that you have the egg whites from 2 eggs.  Dispose of the yolks.
  5. Combine the egg whites and salt, and using a mixer, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form.
  6. Add the egg whites to the coconut, and fold them in until combined.
  7. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  8. Using an ice cream scoop or tablespoon, scoop the batter onto the baking sheet leaving about an inch between each macaroon.
  9. Place the baking sheets in the oven, and bake the macaroons for about 25 minutes until they turn golden brown.
  10.  Remove the macaroons from the oven, and allow to cool.
  11. Serve and enjoy!

Gluten-Free Pasta Salad

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This pasta salad is super easy to make, and can be made either gluten-free or gluten-full (the macaroni is gluten-free while  the rotini is gluten-full).  You can use any pasta of your choice, but I chose to make two different pastas because I was serving both at the same event, and wanted to make sure the gluten-free version was easily recognizable for myself and the other gluten-free guests.

The macaroni version is gluten-free while the rotoni is gluten-full.

Ingredients:

  • 1 12oz. Box Pasta (I used Barilla gluten-free Elbow Pasta)
  • 1/4 c. Red Bell Pepper (chopped)
  • 1/4 c. Orange Bell Pepper (chopped)
  • 1/4 c. Yellow Bell Pepper (chopped)
  • 1/4 c. Green Bell Pepper (chopped)
  • 1/2 c. Grape Tomatoes (cut in half)
  • 1/2 c. Fresh Mozzarella (I cut mini mozzarella balls into quarters)
  • 1/2 c. Black Olives (sliced)
  • 1 1/2 c. Italian Dressing (I used Wish-Bone Light Italian Dressing.  It’s gluten free!)

Directions:

  1. Cook the pasta according to the instructions on the box.  For the Barilla pasta I used, I boiled about 5 quarts of water with 1 tsp. salt.  I cooked the pasta for 7 minutes, which was the recommended time on the box for al dente pasta.
  2. While the water is boiling, chop the peppers, tomatoes, mozzarella, and olives.
  3. When the pasta is finished cooking, drain the pasta, and place in a large bowl.
  4. Let the pasta cool for several minutes (you can place the bowl in a refrigerator to speed up the process).
  5. Once the pasta is cool, add the peppers, tomatoes, mozzarella, and olives.  Mix so that they are well distributed throughout the pasta.
  6. Add the dressing, and stir so that everything is well blended.
  7. Refrigerate until ready to serve (best served cold).
  8. Serve and enjoy!

Dang

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One of my favorite places is the grocery store. Seriously. I am not the primary shopper in my household, but when I step into a grocery store, I feel an odd sense of intrigue. Maybe this is rooted in my love of eating food, and maybe it’s just my curiosity about different products, but either way, going to the grocery store is always an exciting experience.

On a recent trip, I was looking down my favorite aisle. As I stood below the aisle marker sign displaying the words “gluten free” I was taking in all of the options in front of me. It seems like not long ago, such an aisle did not exist. To find gluten free products, I had to shop at specialty stores. If I was lucky, maybe there was a corner of a shelf that had gluten free products. But now, almost every grocery store has an entire section dedicated just to gluten free items, which usually go along with the “good for you” products. While standing at my local Stop and Shop, scanning the aisle of my favorite section, one product stood out to me.

Dang. Okay, so this was not a single product, but a whole line of brightly colored bags, prominently displaying the name Dang. I’m not going to lie, before I knew what the products were, the name and the packaging caught my eye. I took a closer look, and saw that there were two products available, Coconut Chips and Sticky Rice Chips. The Coconut Chips come in four varieties: Original Recipe, Caramel Sea Salt, Lightly Salted, and Chocolate Sea Salt. The Sticky Rice Chips are available in five varieties: Original Recipe, Sriracha Spice, Coconut, Crunch, Aged Cheddar, and Savory Seaweed. While not all of the flavors were on the shelves of my local Stop and Shop, they are available for purchase on the company’s website, listed below.

Before I discuss the product, I want to take a step back and discuss the name. I did take the time to read the packaging, and the company’s website, and learned that the company is named after the founder’s mother, Dang. They company produces Thai products, which started with the toasted coconut chips. On both the packaging of their products and their website, the company describes themselves with the following poem:

“Dang’s the name of our founders’ mother,

With her recipes like no other.

Foods kept whole for a guilt-free munch,

We’ve raised the bar on the perfect crunch.

A straight snackvention, a flavor ascension,

Delightful morsels that defy convention.

Share with friends? You certainly should.

Guarntee they’ll shout, ‘Dang that’s good!’”

So how were the products? I decided to try the Caramel Sea Salt Coconut Chips and the Original Recipe Sticky Rice Chips. The coconut chips are divine! They are the perfect combination of salty and sweet! I happen to be someone who loves coconut, and these chips did not disappoint. These small bites of goodness have the perfect light crunch. They are both flavorful and light, making it difficult to put the bag down. As for the Sticky Rice Chips, they are unlike anything I’ve ever tasted, in a good way. They too are light and crunchy, but in a completely different way. They have the texture of crunchy puffed rice, with a sweet-rice taste. I absolutely loved these, and once I offered a taste to those around me, the bag lasted mere minutes. I can only sum up my description of these products in one way, “Dang that’s good!”

 

 

 

Dang’s Website: https://dangfoods.com

 

Sonora

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When I went away to college (a very long time ago!), I left the New York area.  While I went to a city school in another state, one of the things I kept hearing from my peers, was how lucky I was to have grown up in an area where the world was essentially at my fingertips.  While I live outside of the city, I am close enough that some of the greatest museums, most impressive theatrical acts, important historical landmarks, and best sport teams are a very short car or train ride away.  This also means I have easy access to some of the finest restaurants in the world, and I am never at a shortage of places to eat, even with dietary restrictions.  Despite being surrounded by a number of restaurants so high I can’t even begin to guess a number, I still return with high frequency to the same locations.  There are some restaurants that stick out as favorites, and Sonora in Port Chester, NY, located a short distance from New York City, is high on the list.  

My family and I have been dining at Sonora for years.  After discovering the establishment, it quickly became one of our top options for family celebrations, or just a night out.  While we started eating at this restaurant before I was gluten free, it has continued to be a favorite in my post-gluten life.  There are several gluten free options available, which are clearly indicated on the menu.  While I have changed what I order a little, I am still able to order some of my favorite dishes from my old life, because they are already naturally gluten free. This Latin restaurant features a large menu, with delicious items prepared by Chef Rafael Palomino.  The menu includes a large offering of tapas, which are delicious!  Typically, my family and I will order several to share, which everyone follows up with a Main Dish.  

The picture below shows two of our family favorites: Guacamole (Fresh avocado, tomato, red onion, cilantro & lime juice served with yellow corn tortilla chips) and the Quinoa Empanadas (Roasted eggplant, quinoa, goat cheese, empanadas, & chocolate vinaigrette).

Sonora- Guacamole

Sonora- Quinoa Empanadas

After enjoying our shared tapas, I selected the Pollo Relleno (chicken breast stuffed with sweet plantain, goat cheese, peppers, chorizo and a side of saffron mashed potatoes and Madeira shallot reduction).  This is one of my favorite gluten free meals!  The chicken is cooked to perfection and the stuffing is superb.  My brother, who is not gluten free, always orders this as his regular selection.  

While Sonora does change the menu seasonally, there are several staples that remain constant, or dishes that have minor adjustments to reflect seasonal items.  Through the years, I have sampled many of their dishes, and can say I’ve never been disappointed with my meal.  If you find yourself in the area, and are looking for a great restaurant with an inclusive menu, I highly recommend Sonora.  

Sonora’s Website: www.sonorarestaurant.net

Sonora 

179 Rectory Street

Port Chester, NY 10573

Parmesan Coated Tilapia

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(Makes 2 servings)

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 lb. Tilapia Fillets
  • 1 tbsp. Mayonnaise
  • 3 tbsp. Grated Parmesan Cheese
  • 1/2 Lemon (juiced)

Directions:

  1. In a small bowl, mix the Mayonnaise, Parmesan Cheese, and Lemon Juice.
  2. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
  3. Place the tilapia on the lined baking sheet, place in the oven, and broil for 5 minutes.
  4. Remove the fish from the oven, and cover the top with the sauce.
  5. Place back in the oven, and broil for 5 minutes, until the sauce begins to brown and turn into a crust.
  6. Remove from the oven, let cool, serve, and enjoy!

By the Way Bakery

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I first learned about By the Way Bakery, a 100% gluten free bakery, a few years ago. My mother, in an attempt to make sure I was included, was on a quest to find a gluten free round challah for the upcoming Jewish holidays. A friend of hers told her about By the Way Bakery, and my mom made the trip to their Hastings-on-Hudson location. While a little distance away, it was well worth it! The challah was delicious! It was a little more dense than the gluten-filled challahs I was accustomed too, but the flavor was great, and it was the perfect compliment to my holiday meal. In fact, I enjoyed the challah so much, we have purchased one every year since for holiday celebrations.

While I’m not sure of the history of their locations, I recently became aware of a location in Greenwich, CT, and 2 locations in New York City. The Greenwich location is much closer to where I live, and has allowed for more frequent visits. On two separate recent occasions, I have attended functions where gluten free cupcakes have been purchased for me. Both times, I was super impressed with the cupcake, and asked where it came from. Not surprisingly, both times the answer was By the Way Bakery.

This past weekend, my friends surprised me with a birthday party, and sure enough, the personal gluten free cake one of my friends bought me was from By the Way Bakery. This cake (pictured above) was so good! The chocolate cake was covered in a chocolate frosting and topped with three flowers, which I think might have been made from fondant. The cake had a rich and full chocolate flavor and was incredibly moist. It’s often difficult to find gluten free cake that isn’t dry, but By the Way Bakery has found the trick!

In addition to being 100% gluten free, By they Way Bakery is also completely dairy free. Every time I have one of their treats, I am beyond impressed with their product, and if it weren’t for my lack of symptoms, I wouldn’t believe that what I’m eating is gluten free. If you’re in the area, make sure you check out one of their locations and grab yourself a yummy treat!.

By the Way Bakery’s Website: http://www.btwbakery.com

Locations:

2442 Broadway
New York, NY

1236 Lexington Ave.
New York, NY

574 Warburton Ave.
Hastings-on-Hudson, NY 10706

19 E. Putnam Ave.
Greenwich, CT 06830

Little Thai Kitchen

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There are two things I love: Thai takeout, and a menu which states, “All orders can be modified gluten free.” Luckily, I found a place that combines these two loves, Little Thai Kitchen in Rye, NY. Yes, you read that correctly, ALL orders at Little Thai Kitchen can be made gluten free. While the restaurant has multiple locations in the Westchester area, the one in Rye is the only location I’ve tried so far. However, I have heard that each location is equally as good.

The picture above, while not pretty, features some of the items we ordered recently. I was actually so excited to eat that my impatience kicked in, and I started plating my food before taking pictures of the prepared dishes. Some of our regular favorites are the Fried Calamari (light crispy squid with Thai sweet plum sauce), Thai Sesame Chicken (fried Thai style chicken with sesame sauce), Sweet and Sour Chicken (chicken, fresh pineapple, scallions, cucumber and tomato), Vegetable Pad Thai Noodles (thin rice noodles, bean sprouts, tamarind, eggs, and peanuts), and the Pineapple Fried Rice (fried rice, pineapple, onions, carrots, egg, cashew nuts, and yellow curry flavor). I have never ordered a bad dish from this restaurant. Typically, my family and I order family style, which means my whole gluten eating family orders their food gluten-free. They all agree with me that this is some of the best Thai food they’ve had, and no one can tell the difference between the gluten-free dishes and their traditionally gluten-full counterparts. I highly recommend Little Thai Kitchen.

Little Thai Kitchen’s Website: www.orderltk.com/rye

Little Thai Kitchen
2 Purchase St.
Rye, NY 10580

Carvel- Custom Ice Cream Cakes

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My family has a tradition for celebrating big occasions. All birthdays, holidays, and other life achievements come with a Carvel ice cream cake (The featured image is from our recent Mother’s Day celebration). I grew up with a mother who is a phenomenal baker, and as an adult, my brother has found his passion for baking, and is a Culinary Institute of America trained pastry chef. However, none of this matters. When there is something to celebrate, the only way to do so is with a Carvel ice cream cake.

The standard ice cream cake comes with chocolate crunchies in the middle. While delicious, these are a big no-no for a gluten free individual. Upon becoming gluten free, the thought of losing one of my favorite, and most delicious, family traditions was unbearable. Luckily, I didn’t have to sacrifice anything, except those gluten-filled crunchies. With a few days notice, Carvel will make a custom ice cream cake. I recently learned that they can put substitute items in the middle of the cake, taking the place of the aforementioned crunchies. On Carvel’s website, they have an extensive list of their gluten free options, which I have included below. Carvel has always been able to easily accommodate me, and I love that with just a slight modification, I can still participate in a delicious family tradition.

Carvel’s Website: https://www.carvel.com

Direct Link to Carvel’s Gluten Free Offerings: https://www.carvel.com/faqs/
(Scroll Down and click on “gluten”)

Gluten Free Baked Oatmeal

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Almost twenty years ago, we attended a family event in Great Barrington, MA. We stayed at an adorable Bed and Breakfast with my extended family taking up all of the rooms. One of the mornings, the owners served Baked Oatmeal for breakfast. This dish is almost a cross between a cake and a loaf, with all the delicious flavors you’d find in an oatmeal bar. The owners were very friendly and hospitable, and after my whole family’s rave reviews of the dish, they shared the recipe with my mom. While the Bed and Breakfast has since closed, their recipe for Baked Oatmeal has lived on and continues to make a regular occurrence at Sunday family breakfasts and brunches.

Typically, this recipe is made in a loaf pan, and the measurements provided are for that quantity. However, the picture (below) shows the recipe made in a larger dish, with the recipe doubled.

The Gluten-Free Gal’s Guide Baked Oatmeal

Ingredients:

  • 2 c. Rolled Oats (double check the packaging to make sure your oats are gluten free and do not posses the risk of cross-contamination)
  • ½ c. Brown Sugar
  • 1 tsp. Baking Powder (double check the packaging to make sure its gluten free)
  • 1 tsp. Cinnamon
  • ½ c. Raisins
  • ¼ c. Melted Butter
  • ¾ c. Milk
  • 1 Egg

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. In a large bowl, mix all of the dry ingredients (oats, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, raisins).
  3. Add the butter, milk, and egg to the dry ingredients, and mix together.
  4. Grease a loaf pan.
  5. Add the batter to the loaf pan and bake for 30 minutes.
  6. Let cool, serve, and enjoy!

The Gluten-Free Gal’s Guide Baked Oatmeal

Additional Serving Suggestions:

I like to add milk to the baked oatmeal, and usually finish it off with a little almond milk, which adds to the flavor. Last time I made Baked Oatmeal, I finished with sliced bananas (pictured above). I sprinkled the bananas with a little bit of cinnamon sugar and nutmeg, cooked them for a few minutes, and add them to the baked oatmeal. The dish is very universal, and can be finished with any desired toppings.

 

Wood and Fire

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Pizza and I have a love hate relationship. Really. When I was younger, I went through a phase where I hated pizza, and wanted nothing to do with it. I outgrew this stage just in time for pizza to decide it hates me. Okay, so maybe pizza doesn’t hate me, but the gluten in it does. Now more than I ever, I love pizza, and I’m always on the hunt for good gluten free version.

A few weeks ago, I traveled to Florida for a good friend’s bachelorette party. The friend I was traveling with and I saw a woman walk down the aisle of the plane wearing a t-shirt that said #gotwood. This is the signature t-shirt worn by the staff at Wood and Fire, and it immediately sparked a conversation about the restaurant. My friend asked me if I had ever been to the one located near us, and I informed her I hadn’t. We decided we would have to check it out at some point, and the conversation moved on. When we got to Florida and joined the bachelorette party, we learned that on the itinerary for one of the nights was dinner at Wood and Fire’s Delray Beach location. My friend and I couldn’t believe it!

Fast forward a few nights, and we headed out to dinner at Wood and Fire. As I always do before eating at a new restaurant, I previewed the menu, and saw they offered gluten free pizza. Our flight down to Florida had been on a Thursday night, dinner was on Saturday, and I had now had Wood and Fire on my mind for a solid 2 days. All of this anticipation was killing me, and I was so excited to finally try the place.

As I said, I had previewed the menu, and I knew they had one of my favorite topping combinations available. I barely had to glance over the extensive menu placed in front of me before ordering the Prosciutto & Arugula pizza, gluten free of course! The menu describes the pizza as Prosciutto Di Parma, Fresh Mozzarella, Pomodoro, Parmigiano Reggiano, EVOO. I describe the pizza as DELICIOUS! The crust was great! It was crunchy, and was exactly what I expected from a restaurant called Wood and Fire. The toppings were all fresh, and the flavors complimented each other perfectly! The 12 other women I was with all enjoyed their meals as well. While I probably won’t be back in Delray Beach anytime soon, I will definitely be checking out the Pleasantville, NY location.

Wood and Fire’s website: http://woodandfirepizza.com

59 Marble Ave., Pleasantville, NY 10570

5199 Atlantic Av., Delray Beach, FL 33484