GF Hotdog on a Bun

 

 

 

 

 

Little things make me happy. Like being able to eat a grilled hotdog on a bun! Simple you say, but not so simple when you are gluten free! Reading all the hotdog packages to be sure they are gluten free, then looking for a gluten free bun? It wasn't until recently that I actually found a gluten free hotdog bun. I spotted the Udi's GF hotdog buns at Trader Joe's last summer. I was so excited to be able to eat my hotdog on a bun, they just aren't the same on bread or by themselves. And hotdogs are certainly not a health food, but they are so good once in awhile. :)

 

Gluten Free Tips-2 Toasters

I share my kitchen with my husband and daughter who are not gluten free.  Although I  do most of the cooking, and prepare gluten free meals for all of us, I don't restrict gluten from my kitchen. My family eats regular bread, cereal, cakes etc, but they know that I get very sick if I eat gluten so they are extremely careful not to contaminate any of my food or food prep areas with anything that is not gluten free, starting with the toaster! We have 2 toasters, I have my own toaster for gluten free bread, they have their own for regular bread.  Mine is marked by magnet letters. I guess you could call it the "virgin" toaster, it has never toasted anything with gluten in it!
Why, you may be thinking, do I take the chance of cross contamination by having gluten products in the house? Let's be honest, if I didn't have to eat gluten free, I wouldn't ! Although the taste of gluten free breads and other products has greatly improved over the years,  they don't taste as good as the ones with gluten. And, they are much more expensive! So, I don't expect my family to give these up.  I do expect them to respect my need to keep my food from cross contamination so I don't get sick. A knife that is used to spread butter or mayo on a sandwich is never dipped back into the jar. Dishes and utensils are always washed in the dishwasher. Gluten crumbs are cleaned up.  We never share a gluten contaminated glass or spoon. I've never been "glutened" by my family being careless, I have been glutened many times by careless restaurant staff!

Homemade Gluten Free Chicken Soup

It's Memorial Day weekend here in New Jersey, rainy and can you believe it's in the 40's! I thought I'd be grilling, but I think a pot of hot chicken soup would be perfect for today. Homemade chicken soup is an easy, comforting meal and naturally gluten free, no need for substitutions. This is how my mom made it, the only thing I changed was to add fresh dill. Prep is quick but it needs to cook for 2 hours, so plan ahead. Make a big pot, it freezes well. Add some cooked rice or gluten free pasta.


Chicken Soup

1 whole chicken, quartered (I like kosher chicken for soup, better flavor)
1 onion, sliced
4 celery stalks, diced
4 carrots, diced
1 small parsnip, peeled and quartered
2 tbsp fresh dill
1 small can tomato sauce
1 head escarole, chopped
Salt & pepper to taste
Water

In an 8 quart pot, place chicken, onion, celery, carrots, and dill, add cold water to top of pot. Boil for 2 hours. Take out chicken pieces, remove skin and bones. Shred chicken and add to soup. Add tomato sauce and escarole. Boil an additional 5 minutes to wilt escarole.

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