Okay Mamas-
I try really hard to be accomidating, but my neighbor may have finally gone too far.... and I NEED HELP! LOL. The story goes like this...
I like to cook "for" people when they come to visit (i.e. my Dad only drinks whole milk, my Mom likes splenda in her tea, etc.), primarily because I want them to be comfortable in my home and because I would hope someone would consider my likes and/or needs when I visit them. Well, my neighbor decided she feels better when she does gluten-free meals (note: this is a personal diet decision and NOT a diagnosis of Celiac) so I was doing that for her and actually found it delicious, and even a little bit fun. Well, she went on a spiritual retreat and now she is doing so much more than just gluten-free. We are getting together for the first time in like 2 months and the list is as follows:
- No Gluten
- No meat/fowl
- Limited dairy
- No refined sugar (agave/honey/maple syrup are okay)
- No white foods (potato, rice, etc.)
- No tomato
So, with three kids in the house and all these special (or removed items) what do I make???? It basically needs to be a gluten free vegetarian meal!
HELP! I am open to all recipes and ideas.
Thanks in Advance.
~C.
PS. I've got tonight covered with a quina stuffed pepper recipe, but man, I am not sure we will ever be able to get together again!
Wow, some folks were just amazing with their responses (both good and bad).
I am not angry at her choices. I was saddened by the thoughts that our get-togethers might end becuase I could not cook a Main meal to meet her (and her husbands) needs. I think it rude to offer items that cannot be enjoyed by all. I was looking for a solution, not judgement or to be criticized! (Note the LOLs thoughout the post???)
I love to cook and we do share responsibilities with the meals related to these get-togethers. This is like an every other week thing - especially during the summer. My kids are super close with them and love their "Aunt" and "Uncle". We trade back and forth with who cooks the Main meal and who brings the sides. This week I am the Main meal cook. I was just really stumped. Apparently I was not thinking creatively enough. Some ideas on here are GREAT! and I am sure I can get my kiddies on board with most if not all of the suggestions.
As for the name of "that" book - if you find it, pass it along. I'd love to at least read it.
Here's to an awesome meal! :-) Keep the ideas coming.
If she's not actually vegetarian, but pescetarian (sp?) then fish with brown rice or kashe and grilled or steamed veggies should do but, but honestly, I am with Kirsten on this. Someone with that many restrictions is expecting a bit much if she expects others to cook according to her dietary needs. I wouldn't go out of my way to make special meals for her. Go out someplace where she can order something to suit her needs.
Go Mexican
guac and corn chips
black bean soup
Fish tacos
Go Indian
vegetable fritters
dahl
fish and vegetables in curry coconut sauce
go Greek
falafel
cuccumber salad
root vegetable skewers, serves with tatziki and brown rice
Go italian
nonwheat pasta and pesto
giant salad with balsamic vinagrette
homemade lemon or cherry sorbet
BTW< you are verry accommodating
F. B.
Get whatever vegetables are in season. Try to keep them similar, such as hard root vegetables (carrots, parsnips, beets, sweet potatoes, onions), or nice tender spring vegetables (asparagus, sugar snap peas, yellow squash). Cut them into similar size pieces, toss in a little olive oil, unrefined salt and Balsamic vinegar. Roast at 400 degrees until they are caramelized and tender. Toss them with cooked, drained brown rice pasta, a little more olive oil, and grate real Parmagiano Reggiano cheese over it all.
Are eggs allowed? A spinach frittata would be nice.
How about a ratatouille without tomatoes?
A nice soup that would fit your criteria would be pasta e fagiole (pasta and beans) Here's a link: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/661138. In the replies, about half way down is a post from a cook named Gio who posts an excellent tomato-free recipe. Just use gluten free pasta.
Make a kiwi, strawberry and spinach salad (just google that and you'll find lots of recipes). Add almonds or pecans, and mandarin orange segments.
Whole Foods makes a delicious salad that contains edamame, blueberries, cashews, chopped kale, and red onion with a pomegranate or acai juice and olive oil vinaigrette.
You know what I sometimes do for inspiration? Browse a market like Whole Foods, in their prepared food department. You will see acorn squashes and portobello mushrooms stuffed with amazing things, and interesting salads, and many gluten free or vegan options. I don't buy the prepared food, but I will buy the ingredients or a variation of them, and go home and make the food myself! You might find some great ideas for your gluten free vegetarian get-togethers.
I wonder if she read the same book that my husband read? I have no idea what it's called, but he no longer eats/drinks gluten, meat (other than fish), sugar, dairy, caffeine, or alcohol. It's hard to cook different meals for each of us, so our whole family is pretty much on board except for the dairy.
We eat a lot of gluten-free pasta, brown rice, and tons of beans. You can also get gluten-free tortillas, so we make burritos all the time. We eat a bunch of seafood, too. We really do feel a lot healthier. My husband read the book last August, so we've been eating this way for 7 or 8 months. The kids and I still eat chicken sometimes, but not very often (and not at all now that it's Lent - we gave up a lot for Lent), and we eat sweets occassionally, too. Most of the time we stick with the plan.
Good luck with your dinner. I'm sure it will be tasty!
My husband has been dairy free, fish eating vegetarian for about three years due to his high risk for prostate cancer. It is working. Five years ago he became anemic and after five years of very, very frightening testing for everything from stomach cancer to bone marrow disease, we have very clear reason to believe that he is gluten intolerant. He has been gluten-free for about a week and we both notice a difference. I do understand how challenging the cooking can be, to say nothing of the cost. I also have to feed two growing boys at the same time. I am looking forward to trying out the ideas here and if I find any great recipes that everyone enjoys, I will be sure to let you know.
I eat the same way as your neighbour. Gluten free/vegan/limited carbs etc as my digestion was horrible and suffered from severe stomach issues. I too live in a house where everyone eats diff, however there are some foods that cross over, here are some examples
Quinoa( substitute for rice)
Boil it then prepare a frying pan w/olive oil, red, yellow, orange peppers, crushed garlic, chopped green onions. Add sea salt and saffron or curry. Begin to saute these items then add the Quinoa you just boiled and saute until you feel everything is mixed well. (Everyone in my house loves this recipe)
Beans
You can prepare a multitude of beans and for some members it can be a side dish, your neighbor can have as main
Veggies
Everyone can eat steamed veggies, grilled veggies with olive oil and a sprinkling of lemon
Fruits
These can be mixed to be a salad
Is the book called the blood type diet. You eat according to your blood type. I wonder if her blood type is A or AB. Same thing I read. It has helped me tremendously
Try some of these websites. They might help with what your looking for.
glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/p/vegan-veg-index.html
vegetarian.about.com/od/glutenfreerecip2
www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes_lists/2
http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/browse-results.asp?categor...
www.fatfreevegan.com/gluten-free/index.shtml
Hope you find something yummy from those.
You are being very nice. Offer her a veggie bean burger on gluten-free buns.
I'm a vegetarian and I just bring my own burgers when I go places.
This is an interesting recipe. They do you tomatos (I don't understand why no tomatos but oh well). You could substitute it for red / orange / yellow peppers maybe.
I like the idea of the nuts used for ricata cheese.
I find that people that are this restrictive are also very ready to help in the kitchen, and bring their own dish etc. If its too much to take on yourself, tell her in a nice way. "i'd love to get together, but can you bring a dish or two since I'm afraid I'll just botch the whole thing?" You're not doing her any favors by being resentful. When my sister and mother come to visit (one gluten free from choice the other vegan), I do what I can to be accommodating and then I need them to go to the store, be in the kitchen making their versions of things they find acceptable. In other words, I need them to meet me half way. I seriously doubt anyone taking on these kinds of self imposed restrictions really expects a host to do it all for them.
I read this question earlier and couldn't get it out of my mind. My son and I are both on a gluten free/dairy free diet, and my daughter is on a dairy free diet. None of us has been diagnosed with anything that would "make" us eat this way. But I have a genetic kidney disease, and a strict diet greatly reduces my chance of dialation and transplant in the future. My son. Has autism, and when he sticks to the diet, he is much more present and able to focus. Also, when he eats a diet with gluten and dairy, he literally cannot feel pain. And my daughter hs excema that only appears with dairy.
I understand that it is more inconvenient for you, but her personal choice is just that... personal. If she feels better, even with no *official* reason to adhere to the diet, then it is a good idea for her to stay on the diet.
By the way, I only tell people or ask for special consideration when others insist on cooking for everyone. Some of the ingredients that they may. Use often contain gluten and/or dairy, so it is difficult for me to trust others' cooking. I usually just plan to bring food for myself and my kids. We are the ones with the diet. I don't hold a grudge about it at all. It's just easier for everyone to do it that way.
C.
Do you have Pintrest? There are alot of good recipes on there.
Good luck!!
D.
Fish. (she didn't list fish, right?)
Lemon juice and olive oil drizzled on it with some fresh dill.
Brown rice.
Or with sauteed eggplant, with olive oil.
Or, Stir Fry. Only with veggies, drizzled with Soy Sauce and Sesame Oil.
Honestly, I'd find some other way to spend time with her and not have meals together.
