Really Nice Meal Tonight. It Just Felt Great!

[GeoffCJ]

I was diagnosed in January, and have been eating completely, strictly gluten-free (except for mistakes) since January, I feel much much better, but am still having some issues. I'm pretty sure I can handle milk, but corn seems to be an issue.

At times I feel this diet is really annoying, and I get really, really, really frustrated at times. I end up in a lot of public social situations due to my work and school, and I hate it when people notice I'm not eating, and I have to explain why for the millionth time. It sort of gets depressing. Pizza commercials on TV can make me sad.

Anyway, tonight my wife and I had another couple and their young son over for dinner. It was my first time cooking gluten free for others (other than my wife). It turned out great, people loved the food, and the dessert was awesome. It felt awesome to simply eat a nice meal with friends, not worry, and feel normal!

I made a green salad with 3 heirloom tomato varietals, with fresh mozzarella cheese, and a basalmic dressing.

I made garlic mashed potatoes with cheese.

I made Cioppino with shrimp, scallops, clams, mussels, baby octopus and three types of fish. From scratch with fresh tomatoes and garlic and onions and peppers. Nothing from a jar or can, nothing frozen. It was really good.

For dessert I made a flourless chocolate cake, with blackberry liquor in it. I served it with fresh blackberries and raspberries, powdered sugar, and grated dark chocolate sprinkled on top.

Since going completely gluten-free, most of my meals have either been rushed, hurried affairs trying to get done so I can work or study. Or they've been out of the house, which I'm always nervous doing.

It was great. It was by far the best, most worry free, really good meal I've had since going gluten free. Having social eating get difficult really makes you recognize how much of our cultures social interactions revolve around food, so having a normal meal, with friends, just felt great.

Geoff

[Silverfyre]

Wow, that's wonderful and you just made me really hungry. Thanks for that!

It can be a very frustrating diet but it's moments like this that really make it worth while, eh?

Best Regards,

Chris

P.S: Can we get those receipes?

[Nantzie]

That sounds like a delicious, relaxing and fun night.

Nancy

[wolfie]

That all sounds fantastic!

Would you mind sharing the recipe for the flourless cake w/blackberry liquor? YUM!!!

[Sweetfudge]

OMG can i hire you to come cook at my house? that sounds absolutely divine! i'm so happy for you that the evening went well! it's always nice to have those positive moments. i still cry too when i crave pizza or when the girls at work go to my favorite pre-gluten-free places for lunch. you get used to it, but i don't think you ever stop hurting. i've been able to mostly satisfy my pizza cravings by making my own, and using lots of cheese and canadian bacon, but there's just something about those commercial pizzas....

you should totally bring your own food to those public situations! all the girls i work with know about my condition, and they're actually pretty understanding about it. they'll ask me if this or that place has anything i can eat. they even try and bring in snacks that say gluten-free on it (or they'll say, i read the ingredient list looking for gluten... ). it can totally be turned into a mostly positive situation.

anyway, congrats again on the successful dinner! and where did you find your tomatoes? I <3 tomatoes, but can't find any good varieties this time of year!

[TinkerbellSwt]

This meal sounds fantastic! I am glad it worked out great for you. Its a good feeling isnt it?? and I would love that chocolate cake recipe too!! YUMMMMY

[jerseyangel]

Geoff--

It all sounds fabulous! I'm glad you had such a nice evening

[larry mac]

.....

tonight my wife and I had another couple and their young son over for dinner. It was my first time cooking gluten free for others (other than my wife). It turned out great, people loved the food, and the dessert was awesome. It felt awesome to simply eat a nice meal with friends, not worry, and feel normal!

.....

gcj,

Your the man! My hat's off to you. Last week my sister wanted me to make a flourless chocolate cake for Easter dinner using Tyler Florences recipe. I thought about it. Decided it was far too ambitious. Ended up getting some crap from Walmarts bakery. Wheels are off lately.

best regards, lm

[GeoffCJ]

P.S: Can we get those receipes?

Sure!

I made a green salad with 3 heirloom tomato varietals, with fresh mozzarella cheese, and a basalmic dressing.

I made garlic mashed potatoes with cheese.

I made Cioppino with shrimp, scallops, clams, mussels, baby octopus and three types of fish. From scratch with fresh tomatoes and garlic and onions and peppers. Nothing from a jar or can, nothing frozen. It was really good.

For dessert I made a flourless chocolate cake, with blackberry liquor in it. I served it with fresh blackberries and raspberries, powdered sugar, and grated dark chocolate sprinkled on top.

Hmmm. I may not be the best person to ask for recipes! I rarely measure, and rarely use recipes. But here's a shot. Most ingredients are just guesses, but these recipes will all adjust to different variations.

The salad was simple. Nice lettuce, a few fun different colorful tomatoes, sliced fresh Mozarella Cheese, and a bottle of gluten-free basalmic dressing.

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

4-5 big Potatoes, washed, 1/2 peeled, and cubed.

5 cloves garlic , peeled and chopped

butter

milk

Parmesan cheese.

Boil Potatoes until soft but not mushy. Mash with other ingredients until it looks and tasted right

Cioppino

shrimp, scallops, clams, mussels, baby octopus and three types of fish - Use whatever seafood sounds good. Get a mix, buy whatever looks good, is fresh, and jumps out at you. I like crab, but it was $$$ that day, so no crab. I probably bought 4 lbs total, but I like lots of seafood.

mushrooms - 8 oz? Dark is better.

4-5 big tomatoes

1 green pepper

1/2 cup olive oil

1 large onion, chopped

6 cloves garlic, chopped

4 Tablespoons parsley, chopped

1 can tomato paste

2 cups red wine - or more!

salt and pepper

Crushed red pepper to taste

Cook the mussels and clams in water until they open. Drain, saving the broth. (use a fine colander so you don't get bits in the broth).

Sauce - Saute garlic, mushrooms, onions, green pepper in oil. Add tomatoes, chopped. Let them cook down. Add tomato paste, and wine. Then four cups of broth. Add spices. Simmer for at least 30 minutes, longer if possible. Add broth/wine as needed to keep is soupy. I like to simmer mine for awhile, like 1-2 hours, but you'll have to add liquid.

Cut the fish, shell and devein the shrimp.

Shortly before serving, add all the seafood, except the mussels and clams. Cook for 8-10 minutes. Add the mussels and clams.

Dessert:

Was posted here recently-

Open Original Shared Link

Source: Everyday Food magazine, April 2007 With my modifications

FLOURLESS FUDGE CAKE

16 tablespoons (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into pieces, plus more for pan and parchment paper

unsweetened cocoa powder for pan

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

3 tablespoons orange flavoured liqueur, such as Grand Marnier - I used blackberry, but it needs more. Might try 5 TBlspoons next time

6 large eggs, separated, at room temperature

4 tablespoons granulated sugar

confectioners sugar, for dusting

Fresh raspberries and blackberries.

a small bar of good dark chocolate, grated.

1. Preheat oven to 300. Butter the bottom and sides of a 9 inch springform pan. Line bottom with a round of parchment paper; butter parchment. Dust paper and sides of pan with cocoa powder, tapping out excess.

2. In a heatproof bowl, set over (not in) a pan of simmering water, melt chocolate and butter, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Stir in liqueur. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on high speed, beat egg yolks with 2 tablespoons granulated sugar until pale and doubled in volume, about 6 minutes. Stir in chocolate mixture.

3. In another bowl, with mixer on high speed, beat egg whites until soft peaks form; gradually add remaining granulated sugar until medium-stiff peaks form. Whisk half the whites into chocolate mixture, then gently fold in remaining half.

4. Pour batter into prepared pan; bake until cake pulls away from sides of pan and centre is just set, 45-50 min. On a wrie rack cool completely in pan. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours our up to overnight. To serve, run a metal spatula around edge of pan, and unmold cake

I sliced mine into squares, sprinkled the confectioners sugar on, topped with a generous serving of berries, then the grated chocolate. Awesome, and presented well.

[GeoffCJ]

and where did you find your tomatoes? I <3 tomatoes, but can't find any good varieties this time of year!

One of the good things about paying high California real estate prices is our access to incredible produce! I did all my shopping at the Nugget Grocery near UC DAvis. Great for fresh foods. A little spendy, but since my wife and I's dining out costs have dropped near zero, it's not bad!

Geoff