^[1]

^[2]I am the lucky host for the Gluten-Free Menu Swap this week. I chose cinnamon as the theme ingredient because it seems to surround us during the holiday season. I enjoy the cinnamon-scented pine cones placed around my house, and the cinnamon ornaments ^[3] and gingerbread houses I make with the kids. Like so many other people do during the holiday season, I willl be baking with cinnamon this week: cookies for a school party and apple crisp for dessert. Although I think of cinnamon mostly for baking, I actually use it throughout the year in plenty of recipes. Here are some of them:

• Banana Coffee Cake ^[4]
• Carrot Cake ^[5]
• Chicken Salad ^[6]
• King Cake ^[7]
• Quinoa Indian Chicken ^[8]

Celiac Family’s menu this week:

Monday – Tilapia Parmesan ^[9]
A quick and easy dish with white fish and a Parmesan sauce that tastes great on vegetables, too. Serving with rice and Brussels sprouts.

Tuesday – Cheeseburgers
Cheeseburgers are on the menu for another quick meal. Serving with French fries and green beans.

Wednesday – Rotisserie Chicken
Serving rotisserie chicken with garlic mashed potatoes and fruit salad.

Thursday – Spaghetti
I don’t serve pasta at our house very often. It’s one food neither of my kids will eat, so it’s often left off the menu plan. But sometimes I just have to cook what my husband and I would like to eat. So the kids will be eating leftovers while we enjoy spaghetti with a homemade meat sauce. I’ll also make a tossed green salad that we all can enjoy.

Friday – Leftover Buffet
A busy day of holiday parties, leads me to think that I’ll be too worn out to cook dinner. So, it will be leftovers or frozen meals tonight.

Saturday – Pork Chops
Boneless pork chops cooked with sauteed mushrooms. Served with cornbread and green beans.

Sunday – Steaks
Grilling steaks and serving with fingerling potatoes and broccoli.

Here’s what some other gluten-free friends are doing this week:

Kim at Gluten Free is Life ^[10] has been busy baking cookies this month. In fact, she’s posting a new cookie recipe every day this month. She said she had some recipes flop on her this past weekend, but her previously-posted cinnamon Snickerdoodles ^[11] look great! I look forward to seeing what new cookie recipes she posts this week.

It sounds like Cheryl at Gluten Free Goodness ^[12] is also busy with baking this month. She has a wonderful list of treats, including some very tempting Chestnut Fudge ^[13], that she’s making to give as gifts. She also writes that cinnamon helps stabilize blood sugar. I knew it had to be good for more than just taste and smell. Thanks for the knowledge, Cheryl.

Deb at Green V-Neck ^[14] says she’s finding more time to cook this week, since her holiday activities are slowing down. Slowing down??! And, she’s celebrating Christmas a little early with a dinner this weekend, so I guess she’ll have to get some cooking done this week. Be sure to check out her menu ^[14]; the Black Bean Soup and sweet potato fries sound perfect for a chilly December evening.

This week, you’ll find black beans and sweet potatoes at A Modern Gal ^[15], too. Elizabeth combines them in a chili with turkey or ground beef. For recipes for her Salmon Chili, Swiss Chard and White Bean Stew, and other exciting dishes check out her full menu this week ^[15].

Need more menu ideas?

• Laura at OrgJunkie.com ^[16] 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 ^[17].

Want to join Gluten-Free Menu Swap?

Cheryl at Gluten Free Goodness manages the temporary headquarters of Gluten-Free Menu Swap ^[18]. There you will find the rules, the current and upcoming schedule, and links to past roundups. For this week, email the link of your gluten-free menu to me at celiacfamily[at]gmail[dot]dom.