Having My First Gf Party

[elonwy]

I'm having a Halloween party tomorrow, and everything I'm serving is gluten free, and I've ordered my friends not to bring anything for obvious reasons.

All of a sudden I'm really nervous they're going to hate the food. I also have a Lacto-vegetarian coming, a mushroom allergy and an onion allergy, so I've made a couple other concessions. My friends with the food issues are astounded at my concern, so that's cool

I have a veggie platter ( no mushrooms) with gluten-free ranch, I made swedish meatballs ( no onions) using Aramanth bread crumbs ( I'm going to use sour cream and olives to make them look like eyes), and a Pamela's gluten-free cake. I made cream cheese icing to make it look like a pumpkin. I guess the thing that makes me the most nervous is the cake. Of course I made Jello shots with Potato vodka, so if they have enough of those the cake'll probably taste great, lol.

There are a few friends coming that don't really know about the gluten-free thing yet, too.

I'm not even sure what I'm saying yet, I'm just kind of babbling. This is the first time I'll be cooking for friends gluten-free, other than my friend Jenny, who's pretty much family.

Should I be worried? I usually freak out a little before people come over, but this is silly. Maybe I just sampled too much icing.

Thanks for letting me ramble.

Elonwy

[jenvan]

Don't be worried! I bet the food will be delicious! We have gluten-free dinners etc at our house often. Don't talk about it once they get there, and I bet a lot of them won't even think about it. Hope you have fun!

[skoki-mom]

I wouldn't stress about it! Sounds like it will be a great party

[kabowman]

Everything sounds like it will work out great. I have had several gluten-free parties/events and nobody even noticed anything different...as long as I didn't serve my cardboard brownies. Mine are horrible!!!

[FaithInScienceToo]

Sounds like you created a great menu...just enjoy yourself now!

>^..^< (me, in a cat costume...)

[ravenwoodglass]

Should I be worried? I usually freak out a little before people come over, but this is silly. Maybe I just sampled too much icing.

Thanks for letting me ramble.

Elonwy

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Sounds like your party will be fantastic. Have fun, relax and keep your fingers out of the icing.

[Smunkeemom]

Sounds like your party will be fantastic.  Have fun, relax and keep your fingers out of the icing.

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ditto.

and a lot of the gluten-free mixes are pretty good now. I made brownies from Bob's Red Mill brownie mix tues night for a thing at church and everyone said they were really good, nobody believed they were gluten-free. everything will be fine. if people complain just ignore them, you need to be happy and healthy.

[tarnalberry]

Should I be worried? I usually freak out a little before people come over, but this is silly. Maybe I just sampled too much icing.

Thanks for letting me ramble.

Elonwy

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Don't worry! Everything you described sounds fab, and your friends will know how much you care. (Love and friendship make food taste better, I tell ya! ;-) ) I'm certain it'll be fine, even if one or two things aren't to everyone's liking, 'cause that's normal with non-gluten-free food as well!

[uclangel422]

I agree, everything sounds great. You really put a lot of thought into everything.

Good luck!!!

[Carriefaith]

Wow that sounds great! I'm sure they will all love it Most of them probably won't even know the difference.

[dogear]

I bet your friends will like everything. It's nice that you could make a meal that everyone could enjoy. The cakes are pretty good to in my experience.

[skoki-mom]

Everything sounds like it will work out great. I have had several gluten-free parties/events and nobody even noticed anything different...as long as I didn't serve my cardboard brownies. Mine are horrible!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I can send you an awesome brownie recipe if you like! It's actually the recipe for my favourite non-gluten-free brownies, you just substitute the graham wafer crumbs. I used Kinnikinnick graham wafer style crumbs and they were awesome!

[debbiewil]

elonwy,

sounds wonderful. And don't worry, anyone who doesn't already know the dishes ar gluten-free will never even think of it. I know - I've cooked specialty allergen free dinners for non-allergic people several times, and no one (except the one I make it for) ever notices.

Debbie

[Billygoat]

I'm sure your party will be a huge hit! I made a gluten-free Baked Ziti a few weeks ago for some friends with Tinkyada and they couldn't even tell. I also used Pamela's Brownie Mix for fudge brownies and I swear they're better than Betty Crocker's!

The really neat thing I'm discovering is that eating gluten-free is not just possible, but that it can be FUN! There are wonderful substitutions out there for the things you think you "miss", but you don't have to if you have the right attitude and are diligent about trying new things. Yes, I've needed an attitude adjustment for the fact that I can't have beer anymore. But I'm learning more and more about wine, vodka and tequila that I never thought I'd learn.

[elonwy]

Thank you guys for all your support. I still freaked out on my bf a little bit before everyone showed up cause the meatballs didn't go as well as I hoped. He's so patient with me.

I'm not sure if I really like the amaranth flavor, I have to say. The meatballs also really didn't stick together as well, more like meat chunks, but people liked them, and I made a sour cream sauce that was yummy. Veggies went over well too, I like giving people healthy food at parties

The cake was exquisite. My friend say me eating a piece and exclaimed "THIS is gluten free?!" It tasted just like a real cake. I made cream cheese icing for it and it was so nummy. My love of Pamela's products grows.

The pumpkin carving was a blast. Roasted pumpkin seeds too, did it in the oven to avoid heating the apartment too much, they came out well, just a little olive oil spray and some salt, on high for 7 minutes. Wheeeee.

Oh yeah, and the cat caught on fire, but we put her out and she wasn't hurt, just has a little bald patch. Standing over a candle will do that.

Elonwy

[Rachel--24]

Oh yeah, and the cat caught on fire, but we put her out and she wasn't hurt, just has a little bald patch. Standing over a candle will do that.

Elonwy

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Glad you're party went well.