Family's Attempt At gluten-free Thanksgiving

[nvsmom]

My in-laws are awesome.  My SIL will read all labels and change her menu in order to keep me safe when we come over to eat.  She normally does a great job of it and if she does make something I can't have, like a gravy, she will point it out to me so I don't get ill.

 

Yes, I can hear a bit of an eye roll in her voice when I double check things or when I correct something that could be contaminated but she puts in the effort, which I appreciate so very much.  That's why it was sort of funny when she seemed to forget gluten-free safety this Thanksgiving (Canada).

 

Her first menu change was to not cook the stuffing in the turkey.  I could hear a bit of an eye roll over the phone but she said she was happy to do that. I offered to bring a stuffing but she turned me down - we'll probably have to skip the stuffing.

 

A few days later I called her to find out what I could bring and I offered to bring pie.  I tend to bring desserts because most people don't know where to start for that.  Anyway, I said I'd bring pumpkin pie but she said she had some frozen pies that she would use, then she paused... I could hear her cluing in that me and my boys couldn't eat it.  LOL  I told her I'd bring pies and ice cream anyways.

 

Yesterday she was telling me about how she bought a new "infra-red fryer that does not use oil" too cook the turkey. I got the impression they got it because they were not stuffing the bird. Anyway, she was telling me how they were planning to cook the bird with a beer can in the butt... I almost hated to say anything!  LOL  I told her that we can't have any beer on our food but that I'd be happy to skip the bird if they were cooking it that way.  She insisted she would skip the "beer can butt" but she got off the phone pretty quick.  I think it was one menu change too many.  LOL

 

Dinner is tomorrow.  I'm curious to see what it will all be... I'm sure it will be awesome and hope she didn't go to too much trouble and get frazzled.  I feel like the centre of the universe when people have to change so much to accommodate us. It's just food, and I am mostly there for the family.  

[BlessedMommy]

Could you just tell her not to worry about it and bring small portions of turkey, etc. precooked for you and the boys? It does sound stressful and it doesn't sound like she totally understands things.

 

I know that it's extra hard with multiple people eating gluten free. For just myself, though, I just make up something in these portable pyrex containers and haul it along. Open Original Shared Link

[bartfull]

A can of club soda works just as well. It's the moisture that counts.

[nvsmom]

Club soda... I would not have thought of that.  

 

I'm not worried about missing out. I'm sure there will be plenty to eat.  If not, I just can eat my desserts.  That would work for me.  LOL  I tend to let my boys fill up on appetizers; I usually bring veggies or fruit, and a bag of chips.  I figure it is a special occasion so if their diet suffers nutritionally for one meal, it doesn't matter at all in the long run.

 

Happy Turkey weekend to my fellow Canadians.  

[kareng]

A can of club soda works just as well. It's the moisture that counts.

I have heard people use ginger ale instead of beer in chicken.

An easy way to make some delicious turkey to take along is the get a turkey breast and cook it in a crockpot. Very easy and very moist and yummy

[GFinDC]

I've heard of a pepsi can in the turkey.  That should work, or orange soda.  

 

Great that she is trying to make it work for you though!

 

Oh-oh, why not gluten-free beer in the turkey?

[kareng]

 

Oh-oh, why not gluten-free beer in the turkey?

Because that's too expensive to put up some turkey's butt! gluten-free beer goes in the chef!

Edited: Wait..... You meant get an extra 6 pack so I could use 1 bottle to cook the turkey? Hmmmmm... By my math, that leaves an extra 5 for me! This could work. :0

[nvsmom]

Because that's too expensive to put up some turkey's butt! gluten-free beer goes in the chef!

Edited: Wait..... You meant get an extra 6 pack so I could use 1 bottle to cook the turkey? Hmmmmm... By my math, that leaves an extra 5 for me! This could work. :0

 

 LOL   I like that plan.

 

Her turkey turned out beautifully.  They used the Char-Broil's oil free deep fryer.  It uses propane and cooks it quickly. She had about a small 15 pound turkey and it was done in just over two hours.... I gotta say that it was funny to be cooking a turkey in the garage though. The garage sure smelled good. LOL We were lucky it was warm outside too.

 

They also had their deep fryer, to make fries instead of mashed potatoes, out in the garage so all that was going on in the kitchen was stuffing, gravy and vegetables.  OH!  She bought a bag of gluten-free flour to make the gravy with - I love my SIL - AND she made me a special small dish of turnips without crumbs on it.  

 

 

I've heard of a pepsi can in the turkey.  That should work, or orange soda.  

 

Great that she is trying to make it work for you though!

 

Oh-oh, why not gluten-free beer in the turkey?

 

Orange soda....Interesting way to brown the bird.  LOL  

[julissa]

I know it's hard when I go to someone's house, they offer to make special for me, I thank them but I do decline and bring my own. i know most would try, but it's all cross contaminated and I am way too sensitive. once I went to a friend's house and she was making potato pancakes, she made an entire load of them, then said to me, I'll make you a few without flour. well, the flour was already everywhere in the kitchen. I thanked her and told her it wasn't necessary. I think to this day she thinks I am a prima donna. oh well. 

[nvsmom]

I know it's hard when I go to someone's house, they offer to make special for me, I thank them but I do decline and bring my own. i know most would try, but it's all cross contaminated and I am way too sensitive. once I went to a friend's house and she was making potato pancakes, she made an entire load of them, then said to me, I'll make you a few without flour. well, the flour was already everywhere in the kitchen. I thanked her and told her it wasn't necessary. I think to this day she thinks I am a prima donna. oh well. 

 

The only people who do not give off that "you prima dona" vibe is my mother, my SIL (most of the time ) and other friends who also have a food sensitivity.  I have not problem with though.  I don't eat out a lot so it's usually only for a few meals per year.  Besides, if they didn't judge me on that, they'd probably find something else to judge me on!  LOL

 

I always tell people that I'm there for the company.  Food is secondary.  And when they do try and succeed at making something gluten-free, I gush and thank them profusely and then they often do it again. Bwah ha ha (evil laugh)

[Serielda]

This is my first Thanksgiving gluten-free as well and I am beyond nervous. One, I've never cooked a Turkey in my life, I have no idea what I am going to be doing or getting into so yea the request for help is much wanted. My inlaws want to  try and help but bless their hearts, they are more clueless than Cher  from the movie clueless when it comes to the gluten-free thing. Eg few weeks ago at a visit they had made cookies and offered me one stating its gluten free, but when checking the recipe and seeing the discarded bag of flour, I politely declined while mentally stating Hades no.  My one missed item I know for sure is going to be Pumpkin Pie. I wonder if anyone makes a grain free (incl rice free crust) or knows of a recipe to make my own safe crust that will be seriously loved. 

[notme]

 My one missed item I know for sure is going to be Pumpkin Pie. I wonder if anyone makes a grain free (incl rice free crust) or knows of a recipe to make my own safe crust that will be seriously loved. 

my go-to pie crust is the bette hagman recipe.  i'm pretty sure it's in the recipe section here.  it's easy, freezes well, and most importantly, it's yummy  

[notme]

oops - i lied   here it is in this thread - there are some other different ones you might like, too

 

https://www.celiac.com/forums/topic/36507-best-pie-crust/

[nvsmom]

This is my first Thanksgiving gluten-free as well and I am beyond nervous. One, I've never cooked a Turkey in my life, I have no idea what I am going to be doing or getting into so yea the request for help is much wanted. My inlaws want to  try and help but bless their hearts, they are more clueless than Cher  from the movie clueless when it comes to the gluten-free thing. Eg few weeks ago at a visit they had made cookies and offered me one stating its gluten free, but when checking the recipe and seeing the discarded bag of flour, I politely declined while mentally stating Hades no.  My one missed item I know for sure is going to be Pumpkin Pie. I wonder if anyone makes a grain free (incl rice free crust) or knows of a recipe to make my own safe crust that will be seriously loved. 

 

I always use a gluten-free cookie crumb crust. Crush the cookies until you have a cup or so or crumbs and add 1/4-1/2 c melted butter (or Earth Balance if you are dairy free). Bake that at about 350F for about 10 minutes and then add your other ingredients once it has cooled a tiny bit. Pretty easy, and good as a cream cheese pie crust too

 

I like using gingerbread cookies or or just ginger cookies for a pumpkin pie crust.