Archive for December, 2012
Menu Plan December 31
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Last menu plan of the year! Can you believe it? We made it through another year gluten free. Thank you to the many bloggers who shared their gluten-free meal ideas, recipes, and links this year. If you’d like to review the theme roundups in 2012, you’ll find links to all of them on the Menu Swap Schedule Page. This week’s Gluten-Free Menu Swap roundup will be below. No theme this week, just menus.
If you are still looking for gluten-free New Year’s Eve party ideas, check out some of the holiday roundup themes we had recently:
Holiday Drinks
Holiday Favorites
Holiday Appetizers
Holiday Cookies
Breakfast & Brunch
Thanksgiving Desserts
New Years Eve – Pizza, Spinach Salad
New Years Day – White Chicken Chili, Corn Dog Muffins, Rice, Guacamole, Tortilla Chips
Thursday - Fish Tacos, Avocado Salsa
Friday - Chicken Nuggets, Roasted Potatoes, Steamed Green Beans
Saturday - Taquitos, Cilantro Lime Rice
Sunday - Hamburgers, Sweet Potato Fries, Steamed Broccoli
Gluten Free Menu Swap Roundup
Angela at Angela’s Kitchen says they are having freezing cold weather this week, so she is making lots of comforting meals to warm them up. For New Year’s Eve, she’s making Burgundy Mushroom Stew and Hot Chocolate Cupcakes with Marshmallow Fluff. Continuing the week, her family will be enjoying Lemon Poppyseed Waffles, Carol’s Chili, Slow Cooker Pork, Black Beans, and Amaranth Soup, and Fish Tacos with Red Cabbage Slaw. Like most weeks, Angela also shares her freezer cooking plan, as well as breakfast, lunch, and baking plans.
This week, Lisa at Extraordinary Life is talking about New Year Resolutions and dieting goals. For meals this week, her family will enjoy New York Strip Steaks, Roast Pork with Cauliflower Puree, Turkey Chili with Spaghetti Squash, Baked Chicken with Paleo Dirty Rice, Grilled Tri-Tip Steak, and Meatloaf. Lisa also did a review of their meals last week, so there are lots of meal ideas with recipe links.
Sam at Awkward Girl Gets Fit is back to planning meals that work for the Whole30 diet, and she’s hoping to transition the whole family to it, too. Their meals this week will include Broccoli Beef, Chicken Soup, Crockpot Chicken with Gravy, Burgers, Grilled Tri Tip, and Roasted Tomato Bisque. She also included breakfast and lunch plans for the week.
Emily at Our Frugal Happy Life is starting her week with Garlic Cheddar Chicken and Pizza with her homemade pizza sauce. This week she’ll also be having Chicken Nuggets, Cheeseburger Rice, Crispy Ranch Chicken with Roasted Potatoes and Carrots, Spanish Rice with Hamburger, and White Chicken Enchiladas.
Kimberlee at The Peaceful Mom is serving Mexican Corn with BBQ Chicken and Black Bean Tostadas this week. She’s also making Ham and Bean Soup, Chicken and Veggie Stir-Fry with Rice, Beef Roast, and Chicken Enchiladas. Chebe Pizza and Breakfast for dinner complete their menu plan this week.
Thanks to everyone for contributing to the gluten-free menu swap this week. Join us here again next week for more gluten-free menus and ideas for using Kale in your meals.
Want to join Gluten-Free Menu Swap?
- For this week’s roundup, email your menu link to celiacfamily[AT]gmail[DOT]com. Or, simply put your menu link in the comments below.
- Next week’s roundup will be at CeliacFamily.com again with the theme of Kale.
- The Gluten-Free Menu Swap Page has the current schedule of themes and hosts. If you’d like to host a future week, please send me an email (celiacfamily[AT]gmail[DOT]com) with your preferred date and theme.
Need more menu ideas?
- Laura at OrgJunkie.com hosts Menu Plan Monday every week. You’ll find links to hundreds of meal plans (not necessarily gluten-free) there.
- Or, check out some of my past menu plans.
Menu Plan December 24 — Holiday Drinks
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Happy Holidays! I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season. Hard to believe it’s already Christmas eve. This week is the last holiday theme for the Gluten-Free Menu Swap — Holiday Drinks. Whenever the weather gets colder, I think of Hot Chocolate and Mulled Cider. But, with it being party season, sometimes I need ideas for cocktails and punches, too. Here are some good ones to try:
Cocktails
- Chocolate Martinis from Celiac Family
- Reindeer Antlers at Gluten Free Easily
- Tropical Mimosas from Celiac Family
Cold, Refreshing Drinks
- Apple Cider Soda from Elana’s Pantry
- Egg Nog (dairy-free) from Angela’s Kitchen
- Ginger-Lime Mocktail from Elana’s Pantry
Warm, Comforting Drinks
- Chocolate Doughnut Hot Chocolate at Gluten Free Easily
- Hot Buttered Rum from Stephanie O’Dea
- Wassail from Stephanie O’Dea
Blueberry POM Cosmo
Chocolate Martinis
Tropical Mimosas
Check out the roundup below to see who else is sharing menus and holiday drink ideas this week.
With it being Christmas week and everyone home for meals, I knew I would need a plan for breakfast and lunch, too.
Lunches this week: Hot Dogs, Turkey Wraps, Grilled Sandwiches, Nachos, Tropical Fruit Salad, Soup
Marinated Flank Steak
Broccoli Mushroom Casserole
Easy Garlic Shrimp
Christmas Eve - Marinated Flank Steak, Roasted Potatoes, Broccoli Casserole
Christmas Day – Roasted Turkey, Rice Pilaf with Currants and Pine Nuts, Green Beans
Thursday - Easy Garlic Shrimp with Broccoli and Mushroom Quinoa
Friday - Pork Tenderloin, Wild Rice Salad, Green Beans
Saturday - Chicken Tacos with Avocado Salsa
Sunday - Chicken Teriyaki Tenders, Jasmine Rice, Steamed Broccoli
Gluten Free Menu Swap Roundup
Kimberlee at The Peaceful Mom has a wonderful variety of meal ideas this week, including breakfast and lunch. Christmas morning, they are making Monte Cristo Sandwiches. Her lunch ideas include making Pizza Bagels (with Udi’s GF buns) and Ham and Cream Cheese Roll-ups. For Christmas Dinner her family will be having Simple Shrimp and Grits, Steamed Sugar Snap Peas, Spinach Artichoke Dip with Tortilla Chips, and Ice Cream. Also on her menu this week is Greek Pasta Salad, Black Bean Chicken Chili, Roast Beef Lettuce Wraps, and more.
Angela at Angela’s Kitchen says her family’s favorite Holiday Drink is a slow-cooker full of hot chocolate. On Christmas Eve, they enjoy drinking sparkling apple-lingonberry juice and sparkling pear juice. And, this year, Angela gets to make her dairy-free Egg Nog using fresh eggs from her own chickens. If you are thinking about Smoothies for breakfast or maybe to detox after heavy holiday meals, check out the collection of gluten-free, dairy-free smoothie recipes she is sharing this week. For their Christmas meal this year, Angela’s family is having Pomegranate-braised Ribs with rice pudding, salad, and green beans. Other meals at her house this week include Gingerbread Pumpkin Waffles, French Toast Casserole, Spinach Artichoke Pizza, Pumpkin Enchiladas, and Roasted Chicken Pot Pies.
Emily at Our Frugal Happy Life is serving appetizers for Christmas Eve including a Cheese Ball, Chicken Enchilada Dip, Chex Mix, a tray of shrimp, and more. Her meals this week includes Garlic Cheddar Chicken, Meatloaf, and Pizza-flavored Chicken.
Check back later to see who else may be joining the menu swap this week.
Want to join Gluten-Free Menu Swap?
- For this week’s roundup, email your menu link to celiacfamily[AT]gmail[DOT]com. Or, simply put your menu link in the comments below.
- Next week’s GF Menu Swap will be hosted here at CeliacFamily.com again. No planned theme, just menus.
- The Gluten-Free Menu Swap Page has the current schedule of themes and hosts. If you’d like to host a future week, please send me an email (celiacfamily[AT]gmail[DOT]com) with your preferred date and theme.
Need more menu ideas?
- Laura at OrgJunkie.com hosts Menu Plan Monday every week. You’ll find links to hundreds of meal plans (not necessarily gluten-free) there.
- Or, check out some of my past menu plans.
Menu Plan December 17 — Holiday Favorites
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The Gluten-Free Menu Swap is being hosted by Angela at Angela’s Kitchen this week. The theme is Holiday Favorites. Are there any recipes that you wait until the holidays to make? I hate to repeat what I’ve already shared this season. But, just in case you missed them, here are the holiday themes we’ve recently shared:
- Thanksgiving Desserts at Celiac Family
- Favorite Side/Vegetable Dish at Gluten Free Goodness
- Breakfast/Brunch at Angela’s Kitchen
- Thanksgiving Leftovers at Celiac Family
- Holiday Cookies at Extraordinary Life
- Appetizers at Celiac Family
If there are any favorites that I haven’t yet shared, it must be chocolate. In my mind, a holiday isn’t complete without at least a little chocolate to share.
Chocolate Covered Macadamia Nut Candy
Chocolate Creme Brulee – gluten-free & dairy-free
Raspberry Jam Appetizer with Chocolate Tortilla Chips
Celiac Family’s Menu This Week:
Avocado Salsa
Sweet Potato Casserole
Berry Fruit Salad
Monday - Taquitos made with leftover Mexican Chicken, served with Avocado Salsa
Tuesday - Grilled Steaks, Sweet Potato Casserole, Asparagus
Wednesday - Waffles, Chicken and Apple Sausage, Balsamic Berry Fruit Salad
Thursday - Fish Sticks, Steak Fries, Green Peas
Friday - Pizza with Spinach Salad
Saturday - Curry Chicken with Peaches served over Jasmine Rice
Want to join Gluten-Free Menu Swap?
- For the roundup of menu plans this week, visit Angela’s Kitchen.
- The theme for next week’s GF Menu Swap is Holiday Drinks at Celiac Family. Join us for ideas of warm and comforting, festive, or alcoholic drinks.
- The Gluten-Free Menu Swap Page has the current schedule of themes and hosts. If you’d like to host a future week, please send me an email (celiacfamily[AT]gmail[DOT]com) with your preferred date and theme.
Need more menu ideas?
- Laura at OrgJunkie.com hosts Menu Plan Monday every week. You’ll find links to hundreds of meal plans (not necessarily gluten-free) there.
- Or, check out some of my past menu plans.
Quick and Easy Gluten-Free Appetizer Everyone Loves: Pepper Jelly with Cream Cheese
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You’ve probably tried Pepper Jelly over Cream Cheese with crackers, right? When we get together with my husband’s family, we almost always have it for an appetizer. My mother-in-law makes a wonderful pepper jelly every year. Sorry, I don’t have that recipe to share with you. Simply Recipes has a good recipe for it. But you can also find it in the stores or on Amazon
Here’s the very simple non-recipe: Place your cream cheese on a plate or serving dish and pour the jelly over the top. Then, spread gluten-free chips or crackers around it, for a nice presentation. How easy is that?! Now check out my notes and my new twist on it below.
Additional Notes and Ideas:
- I like to use whipped cream cheese (or whip it myself) because it’s a little easier to dig into with crackers.
- If you’re like me, and don’t tolerate dairy well, then try Toffutti’s non-dairy cream cheese. I buy the Non-Hydrogenated Plain variety in the yellow tub. With the jelly on top, you won’t notice the difference. OK, maybe you will, but it still tastes really good.
- Another fun option is to buy the blocks of cream cheese (Tofutti’s works, too) and cut them into holiday shapes with cookie cutters. You can make a whole tray of cream cheese Christmas trees, stars, holly leaves, etc.
Use any favorite gluten-free crackers or chips that don’t break too easily. Gluten-free rice crackers, Crunchmaster Multi-Grain Crackers, and FoodShouldTasteGood Multigrain Tortilla Chips
(in the photo above) are my favorites for this.
- Sometimes I get jelly or jam that is too solid, and doesn’t want to pour or spread easily. In this case, I usually just put the jelly into the microwave for 20-30 seconds and stir well. Then, pour/spread it over the cream cheese.
- For a festive holiday look, use both green and red pepper jelly. Add sweet pepper slices, cranberries, or raspberries for garnish.
- Use any kind of jelly. Pepper jellies have a nice spice and flavor that complements the cream cheese, but you can use any favorite jelly. In fact, that’s just what I did by combining two flavors that always taste good together: chocolate and raspberry.
Chocolate and Raspberry Variation. When I received a sample of FoodShouldTasteGood’s Chocolate Tortilla Chips, I knew what I wanted to try: Cream Cheese and Raspberry Jelly served with the Chocolate Tortilla Chips. Delicious treat! (It looks nice with a couple fresh raspberries on top, but I didn’t have the raspberries or the raspberry jam for the photo. Fortunately, the triple-berry jam I used in the photo turned out just as tasty.)
If you haven’t tried the Chocolate tortilla chips, you really should. They have a rich cocoa flavor, and are just lightly sweetened. The flavor really works well with the creaminess of Tofutti, and the tart, sweetness of the jelly.
Menu Plan Dec. 10 – Gluten-Free Appetizers
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No doubt, many of you are hosting or attending parties this month. So, I thought it would be fun to have Appetizers as the theme for the Gluten-Free Menu Swap this week. You’ll see that even some of the dinner items I have on this week’s menu would also work well as an appetizer at a party.
Here are some of my favorite gluten-free appetizers:
- Avocado Salsa
- Bonefish Saucy Shrimp
- Caramel Corn Puffs Snack
- Corn and Black Bean Salad (works as a dip too)
- Deviled Eggs
- Fruit Kabobs
- Gluten-Free Egg Rolls
- Guacamole (quick and easy mix)
- Hummus with a Fresh Vegetable Tray
- Make Your Own Snack Mix/Trail Mix
- Parmesan Chicken Nuggets
- Pepper Jelly over Cream Cheese
- Pigs In a Blanket
- Shrimp Cocktail (Too pressed for time to prepare anything? Pick it up ready-made at the grocery store. Just be sure to check the label of any cocktail sauce you use.)
- Taquitos (Roll up shredded chicken into warmed corn tortillas. Bake at 350º for 10 min.)
Gluten-Free Egg Rolls
Fruit Kabobs
Caramel Corn Puffs
Want more ideas for appetizers and meals this week? Check out the roundup below to see who else is sharing this week. As we continue with holiday themes for the Gluten-Free Menu Swap, the theme next week will be Holiday Favorites.
Party Dogs (Pigs in a Blanket)
Avocado Salsa
Baked Chicken Nuggets
Monday - Party Dogs (hot dogs wrapped in gluten-free pizza dough and baked) served with a tossed green salad
Tuesday - Balsamic Salmon served with jasmine rice and green beans
Wednesday - Chicken Tacos with lettuce, tomato, and black olives served with Avocado Salsa
Thursday - Chicken Nuggets served with French fries and Corn
Friday - Hamburgers, roasted potatoes, green beans
Saturday - Party time
Sunday - leftovers
Gluten Free Menu Swap Roundup
Angela at Angela’s Kitchen has several great ideas (as well as recipe links) for gluten-free appetizers: Lemon Garlic Mushrooms, Apple Pie Dip, Dairy-Free Seven Layer Dip, Ranch Dip made dairy-free, Crunchy Chickpeas, Sugar ‘n Spice Nuts, and Easy Hot Wings. On her menu this week is Shrimp Pad Thai, Spiced Chicken with Quinoa Salad, Pork Roast with Apples and Pears, Turkey Shepherd’s Pie, and Lazy Cabbage Roll Casserole.
Kimberlee at The Peaceful Mom has a couple items on her menu this week that could be modified to be appetizers. The BBQ Chicken Tostadas could be built onto tortilla chips like nachos. And, the Turkey Wraps could be sliced into bite-sized pieces and secured with toothpicks. The rest of her menu this week includes Steak and Peppers, Easy Potato Soup, Beef Roast, and Black Bean Chicken Chili.
Lisa at Extraordinary Life has found some great appetizer ideas that are low-carb: Cauliflower Pizza Bites, Almond Parmesan Crusted Zucchini Crisps, Roast Beef Wrapped Asparagus, and Sweet and Tangy Meatballs. Lisa’s family continues eating paleo meals this week with Ranch House Crock pot Pork Chops, Turkey Croquettes, Sausage and Peppers, Roasted Chicken Breasts, Low Carb Pizza, and Rosemary Roasted Pork Loin.
Emily at Our Frugal Happy Life is joining us this week with Advent meals and Breakfast planned for a few days this week. She will also be cooking Monterey Chicken, Cheeseburger Rice, Barbecue Chicken Sandwiches, and Pizza Sloppy Joes.
Thanks for joining us this week. Join us next week at Angela’s Kitchen for more gluten-free menus and Holiday Favorites.
Want to join Gluten-Free Menu Swap?
- For this week’s roundup, email your menu link to celiacfamily[AT]gmail[DOT]com. Or, simply put your menu link in the comments below.
- Next week’s GF Menu Swap will be hosted by Angela at Angela’s Kitchen. We’ll be sharing our Favorite Holiday meals, dishes, recipes, etc.
- The Gluten-Free Menu Swap Page has the current schedule of themes and hosts. If you’d like to host a future week, please send me an email (celiacfamily[AT]gmail[DOT]com) with your preferred date and theme.
Need more menu ideas?
- Laura at OrgJunkie.com hosts Menu Plan Monday every week. You’ll find links to hundreds of meal plans (not necessarily gluten-free) there.
- Or, check out some of my past menu plans.
