Category Archives: Gluten Free

Eating and cooking Thanksgiving gluten and dairy free: Waldorf Salad

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Not my kitchen window, but instead, one from a home in Tucson. So peaceful isn’t it? That’s what I want for you this holiday season. Peace.

Hum along with me . . . and, so this is Thanksgiving . . . .

My apologies to John Lennon for putting my own words in his famous song, but every year, this is what I think about our most American holiday. While other people’s excitement builds, I’m trying to figure out the best way not to get sick. It’s not easy to coast through the holidays with food intolerances and allergies.

However, I have good news. You have more options than ever to eat this starch and dairy-filled meal and remain healthy. I’ve written about the challenges before in 2008, 2009, 2011. In 2010, I simply wrote about gratitude which probably shows a change in my feelings about my disease. In 2009, my mom’s dressing is front and center. It’s the one dish that completes the holiday meal for me.

Here’s a current listing of gluten free turkeys. This year, I bought a Honeysuckle White that states clearly on the label it is gluten free. Boy have things changed.

Living gluten and dairy free for five years, here are my thoughts about the big day from a 2012 perspective.

Take your time to think about gluten and dairy free choices before you hit the supermarket. Otherwise, you may become overwhelmed. If you’re making the big meal, count yourself among the fortunate. No worries of cross-contamination from Aunt Martha’s pie, or Grandma Suzy’s stuffing. There will probably be some in your family who doubt you can prepare a delicious gluten and dairy free meal that still satisfies. Trust me. It’s possible. This year, we are going to my mother’s house for Thanksgiving and then to my brother and sister-in-law’s house for dessert (at least for the wheat and dairy eaters in the family.) When my mom decided to cook, I was glad. I’ve made separate dinners for years, and I’m tired.

If your family all comes to your house and wants their favorites–who doesn’t on this most traditional of days–you will need to keep these foods separate from yours. If your family is open to your food challenges, lucky you. Ask them to bring the fruit salad, or some other dish that is dairy and wheat free and kindly warn them of wheat ingredients in sauces. Personally, I always stress that if they want to bring a dairy or wheat filled goodie, I’m fine with it. I know some of us aren’t. I do ask them to keep their food and utensils separate from mine. Sometimes, especially with pie, people tend to double dip. They don’t mean any harm. They just don’t think about it.

Can you imagine the luxury of not having to consider every bite you take?

The following is another recipe favorite from my family’s dinner table. It is naturally gluten free.

Mama’s Waldorf Salad

Print recipe
Mama’s Waldorf Salad
Serves 4
Prep time 20 minutes
Allergy Milk, Wheat
Dietary Gluten Free, Vegetarian
Meal type Salad, Side Dish
Occasion Thanksgiving
Toasting the nuts makes this classic salad even better. Also, check your Miracle Whip dressings and choose the one with natural flavors and less corn syrup.

Ingredients

  • 4 apples (Make them a mix of tart and sweet. Green and red apples are especially nice)
  • 1 cup pecans or walnuts (toasted and broken into small pieces.)
  • 2/3 cups chopped celery
  • 1/2 cup raisins or dried cranberries
  • 1/3 cup Miracle Whip
  • 1 tablespoon almond milk
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or lemon juice

Directions

Step 1
Combine apples, pecans, celery and raisins in a bowl. Mix together Miracle Whip, almond milk, apple cider vinegar and sugar. Pour over fruit and vegetables. Mix all together and place in refrigerator for several hours. The apple cider vinegar will help keep the apples from turning brown.
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Garden Bloggers Fling: where do I begin?

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Do you ever have times when there is so much to say, you don’t know where to begin?

The native azalea I coveted. Can't grow it here because our soil is so alkaline.

After visiting Asheville and the Garden Bloggers Fling, I am without words. I could expound upon the food . . . . Okay, for a moment, I will. The gluten and dairy free food in Asheville rivals any I’ve eaten anywhere. Bill and I haunted the Green Sage Coffeehouse and Cafe every morning when we broke our fast, and we had a wonderful dinner at Posana Cafe (which was completely gluten free), but that’s not all. I also had beautiful, healthy food at every fling event. My friends took such good care of me and the other flingers who had food and other issues. They were gracious and kind, and kindness means so much when you have a food allergy or intolerance. A special thank you to Christopher, Annie, Frances and the wonderful Ashley and Greg at The Hop. You haven’t heard of the The Hop? Well, it’s the best ice cream ever, and they always have a vegan selection too. They brought ice cream in the most faboo flavors to fling events. Then, Bill and I ate ice cream in almond or coconut milk every day we were in Asheville. My flavor fave was Ginger Molasses done in almond milk (I think.) It tasted just like a creamy ginger snap. I think I gained five pounds, but it was worth every bite. I’m sorry, I forgot to take a pictures before I ate it.

Christopher's house which was so well planned. I was impressed at how much he managed to put in such a small space.

Then, there were the gardens. I’m of an age and experience that I am so over the Biltmore Spell, but Asheville was full of the quirky, fun and fantastic. I saw so many gardens and enjoyed them so much I don’t know where to begin. Let’s start with Christopher’s mountain. I’ve followed Christopher’s journey with his parents and the building of his cabin on the mountain. Even if there were no gardens, and there were, I would have simply loved being there. It was a perfect late spring day. Nice and cool in the morning and warm in the afternoon. We started with a lovely lunch on the spot where Christopher is going to build his next project. Then, Bill and I walked through the woods to Bulbarella’s shaded retreat. We strolled through all the gardens, and I so wanted to take a native azalea home. Sadly, my soil is way too alkaline, and I’m over trying to make plants grow here that would rather not.

Heirloom iris growing in Christopher's mother's garden

Then, we had an awesome sit-down with the folks who create the Southern Living and Sunset plant collections, along with Bailey Nurseries. They didn’t sell to us, but wanted to know what we wanted in plants. They were genuinely interested in what worked and what didn’t. What a refreshing change.

What a view!

Soon, it was time to head back down the mountain and into the city where we got to go out and eat again. Life is good in Asheville. I recommend you take a trip there.