Why Gluten Free?

In the beginning we were at a loss as to how to satisfy our family's appetites and dietary needs on a gluten free diet, so we buried ourselves in one cookbook after another and diligently followed recipe directions on preparing daily meals, snacks and desserts. But despite wonderfully illustrated samples and easy-to-follow recipe directions, the end result was not to our liking. Taste was lacking. Chewing consistency wasn’t there. Color was absent. Preparation time was extended and because not all family members needed a gluten free diet, we were out of space trying to maintain two separate kitchens, and separate meals for one became somewhat of a conspicuous event.

Then it dawned on us. Why not simply go with the variety of meals that we prepared before gluten free was required but substitute gluten ingredients with gluten free ingredients. Would it work? Indeed it did and so successful has the conversion been that we would like to share these recipes with everyone who has a gluten free need. These are Home style meals. Nothing fancy. You start off with bacon & eggs for breakfast, move on to a hamburger and potato salad for lunch and finish with Ziti w/chicken & broccoli for dinner. Then top it off with a piece of apple pie and ice cream for dessert. Most important, these meals can be enjoyed by everyone whether Celiac requiring a gluten free meal or gluten free by choice. Naturally, all ingredients used in these recipes are gluten free but you can’t tell the difference between the same meal with gluten or without . And with many new gluten free offerings now in the marketplace, we have included some of those as well – just to add to the variety. It’s home style cooking at it’s best with the best of a number of commercially produced products to offer a more complete, a more satisfying listing of menu items.

If you are a beginner , don’t despair. Whether a newlywed, a student, a single who likes to entertain or a mom or dad who now needs to learn a new way of doing what you have been doing all along – have confidence and you’ll succeed beyond expectation. Any recipe is a basic starting point. Substitute ingredients to suit your particular tastes or those for whom you are cooking and you’ll be surprised how easy it is to become an expert in gluten free cooking.

Good luck and let us hear from you. Your comments and input will be more than appreciated.

gluten free