Thanksgiving Just Got A Whole Lot Better!

[Rachel--24]

I was feeling pretty sad earlier today. I guess working in a grocery store the day before Thanksgiving kind of brought me down. When I left work I realized I would be sitting there watching everyone eat tomorrow with no food of my own. I didnt prepare and didnt know what I should get. I started thinking maybe the Whole Foods gluten-free bakehouse might have something yummy for me so I went over there to get myself some food. I saw a pumpkin pie that was gluten-free, DF and Egg free. It was vegan and looked like a real pumpkin pie. Pumpkin pie is my favorite and I was soooo excited....until I read that it was processed where ALL the other allergens are also processed...including wheat.

I had made a decision to not eat anything unless its from a dedicated facility and as hard as it was I stuck to my guns and put the pumpkin pie back. That was when I saw the little chocolate cake from Crave Bakery. I got the cake and some corn bread ( WF gluten-free Bakehouse). I got my own turkey and veggies. Tomorrow I'll pick up strawberries, cool whip and eggnog (Silk makes a soy eggnog that is casein and gluten free). Now I have a whole thanksgiving meal and I wont be the slightest bit envious of the other deserts.

I already "sampled" my cake and it is WAY better than I had even imagined. It was probably the best chocolate cake I've ever had.

Anybody who lives in the Bay Area should REALLY try this cake!

Just wanted to share my happy ending to what was a pretty dreary day early on. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!!!

[WLJOHNSON]

Rachel,

I'm so happy that you turned your day of thanksgiving into a day of gratitude and joy! I saw the heading on another message on this board, which says are you negative or positive about having celiac disease?

I haven't read it yet, but I can tell without a doubt that you are one who is able to take what others might say is a disability and make it into the best possible scenario! I'm proud of you.

I also prepared a plate of my own food to take to Thanksgiving, then decided that the only thing I would carry with me was a small green salad with my allowed dressing (I'm allergic to dairy and a few other things along with gluten). That's what I did, and this was the first Thanksgiving I had a WHOLE plate of food. Either my family is getting used to what I can eat (after 20 years or so) and cooking those foods, or I am more open to being flexible, or maybe both. Anyway, I enjoyed turkey with mayo (no gravy), green salad, yams with marshmallows, cranberries, corn from the cob, and jello.

I think as time goes by we all learn to adjust to this diet, so I would have to say that you and I are both positive about it! Welda

[Rachel--24]

Rachel,

I'm so happy that you turned your day of thanksgiving into a day of gratitude and joy! I saw the heading on another message on this board, which says are you negative or positive about having celiac disease?

I haven't read it yet, but I can tell without a doubt that you are one who is able to take what others might say is a disability and make it into the best possible scenario! I'm proud of you.

Welda,

Thanks for your message.

My dinner was excellent. I had a salad, yams, turkey, green beans, corn bread and of course my little chocolate cake! I was wondering about jello....they had some there and thought of trying it but wasnt sure if jello was gluten-free and also was worried about contamination. All of my food was prepared seperately ahead of time. I just warmed it up at dinnertime. My plate actually didnt look any different from everyone elses....I was really happy. I did get a non-gluten reaction later in the evening. I'm still sensitive to other things...I think maybe the eggnog bothered me but I'm feeling better now and I loved my dinner.

I posted on the thread you were referring to about being positive or negative. I do try to stay positive always...its not hard to do when I'm feeling good. I dont dwell too much on what I cant eat. I've never been picky about food anyways. I'll pretty much eat anything but I do get frusterated when I'm feeling sick. Sooo...people who have read my posts since the beginning know that I do have my bad days too. Its good that we can always turn things around though.

[Jnkmnky]

I made pumpkin pie. It was easy. I used pamela's pancake mix for the crust. Used Libby's in a can. Took about 10 minutes. The "crust" was great because it was pancakes, for heaven's sake! I made the pancakes mix thick and plopped it into the pie plate and pushed it all around with a spoon and sort of got it on the edges of the pie plate, but not really. Then I poured the Libby's pumpkin mix on top. I had left over pancake mix, so I used small glass bakable cups. I poured the remainder of the Pumpkin mix into each of the little cups and a big dollop of the pancake batter *which was very thick* right in the middle of the little cups. I baked them along with the pie and the Kids loved how cute they were.

[skbird]

I used a nut crust and made a pumpkin pie and a pecan pie, too. The pecan tasted better than the pumpkin (I used too much stevia in the pumpkin part) but they were both nice. I made rice stuffing and a green bean casserole. I thought there would be a fight about no stuffing in the turkey or rice stuffing in it, but my parents made it a new way, they cooked the 24 pound turkey unstuffed at 475 degrees for 1.5 hours and it was AWESOME! Can you believe that worked? We were all skeptical. Also, we had a free-range turkey for the first time ever and everyone agreed it tasted better than the other kind. Very good.

I love the little bit of Crave bakery I've tried - just the brownie and the monster cookie, but they were both very delicious. I wish I was nearer that place but it's probably better for my hypoglycemia that I am not...

I'm glad you had a good meal, Rachel!

Stephanie

[Rachel--24]

I made pumpkin pie. It was easy. I used pamela's pancake mix for the crust. Used Libby's in a can. Took about 10 minutes. The "crust" was great because it was pancakes, for heaven's sake! I made the pancakes mix thick and plopped it into the pie plate and pushed it all around with a spoon and sort of got it on the edges of the pie plate, but not really. Then I poured the Libby's pumpkin mix on top. I had left over pancake mix, so I used small glass bakable cups. I poured the remainder of the Pumpkin mix into each of the little cups and a big dollop of the pancake batter *which was very thick* right in the middle of the little cups. I baked them along with the pie and the Kids loved how cute they were.

For some reason your description had me laughing. It sounds easy...I can totally make a pie like that. I did something similar last year (when I was trying to be gluten-free/anti-candida) but without the crust. It was more like I just plopped the Libby's pumpkin into the pan, mixed in some cinnamon and baked it. I cant say it tasted too much like pumpkin pie but I still ate it and was proud.

I know someday I'll master this baking stuff but I think for Christmas I'll try something simple. Pancake mix for a crust actually sounds really good to me.

I used a nut crust and made a pumpkin pie and a pecan pie, too. The pecan tasted better than the pumpkin (I used too much stevia in the pumpkin part) but they were both nice. I made rice stuffing and a green bean casserole. I thought there would be a fight about no stuffing in the turkey or rice stuffing in it, but my parents made it a new way, they cooked the 24 pound turkey unstuffed at 475 degrees for 1.5 hours and it was AWESOME! Can you believe that worked? We were all skeptical. Also, we had a free-range turkey for the first time ever and everyone agreed it tasted better than the other kind. Very good.

I love the little bit of Crave bakery I've tried - just the brownie and the monster cookie, but they were both very delicious. I wish I was nearer that place but it's probably better for my hypoglycemia that I am not...

I'm glad you had a good meal, Rachel!

Stephanie

Thanks Stephanie,

Sounds like you had a really good meal too...glad the turkey worked out for you.

I havent tried the brownie or monster yet. I was going to get those too but ended up putting them back. I pretty much wanted to buy everything on the display put I refrained.