2009 Thanksgiving Disasters

[luvs2eat]

No big disasters this year, as opposed to last year when I made a gluten free pie crust (eggs, xanthan gum, etc) and accidentally used regular flour and spent the rest of the night trying desperately not to barf!!).

I'm giving up in cornbread dressing. It came out better this year than others, but I'm just not a huge fan. I'll continue to try to use my good gluten-free bread and recreate the Pepperidge Farm stuffing I grew up on.

I made a green bean casserole this year using a recipe w/ sour cream and crushed cornflakes (I used corn chex). There is no Progresso Cream of Mushroom soup in any of my stores. It wasn't any good at all and the casserole dish was hardly touched.

The best parts were that I made my pies a week ahead, wrapped them up tightly, and froze them. They were delicious! I also made mashed potatoes ahead and they were good too! I made a few cheese balls that were yummy.

I guess the only real disaster was that we put all the leftover turkey in a big container and put it in the cabinet on the porch. It was cold out there and where we'd put the turkey to brine in a big pot the day before Thanksgiving. Unfortunately... or fortunately, depending on how you look at it... the next day was sunny and 70

[MindytheOrganist]

Every Thanksgiving, we have about 25-30 people at my folk's house. All relatives or guests of relatives. Anyway, we thought we were well prepared to proper feed my hubby (who is gluten-free); well, guess again.

My sister tried to make gluten-free rolls. They never rose, and were horrible-tasting.

I tried to make gluten-free dressing. It also tasted horrible!

Everything else went well. I was able to make a gluten-free pie crust, so he was able to have pumpkin pie. At my Mom's insistence, he was first in line to avoid any possible cross-contamination.

All in all our first gluten-free Thanksgiving was OK. Next time, instead of dressing, I'll probably just make a broccoli-and-rice-and-cheese casserole in place of dressing.

[minniejack]

No food disasters, but only at my inlaws long enough to drop off fundraisers--long enough for my sister-in-laws and their adults daughters to have me screaming at my DH for the rest of the weekend and me vowing to not be around them at all over Christmas....

Aargh!!!

[Dylan]

Hey Takala, how do yall "designate" times to be in the kitchen? I'm having trouble around the house. When I NEED to eat, the other person happens to be in the kitchen EVERY time. DARNIT! ;p

[Takala]

Hey Takala, how do yall "designate" times to be in the kitchen? I'm having trouble around the house. When I NEED to eat, the other person happens to be in the kitchen EVERY time. DARNIT! ;p

________________________

Well, it's easy. There's just the 2 of us humans, and assorted pets, and we keep the kitchen here at home gluten free. Several of the pets need to be kept gluten free because they share water dishes, and the 2 dogs which have to be wheat free because of their allergies, were getting sick by drinking out of the other's water dishes.... so I made an edict, no more pet food with gluten in the house to keep the dogs from getting cross contaminated. And don't give the dogs anything that you wouldn't feel safe giving to me. The kitchen is ridiculously small. The biggest dog tends to come in and just sit or lay quietly nearby when somebody is in there, he's the easiest to maneuver around as he is on the floor, but 2 full size humans and a dog... it looks like a game of "Twister".... if we are cooking for each other, whoever wants to be in the kitchen gets to be in the kitchen, and the other one asks if any assistance is needed, otherwise goes and does something else.

When you have been with the same person for over 3 decades, you don't really have to guess what they mean. When we were younger, I cooked dinner a lot, but now if he wants the kitchen, to prepare a specific item, I just get out of the way! In the mornings, because his schedule varies, and he may have to start early, I get in there either before him or let him have it first after grabbing a cup of coffee and going off to read the news. Then he's out pretty quick and I can putter. If I MUST eat something immediately he understands that phrase, but I keep enough things around that are gluten free, like nuts, cheese, or fruit, or peanut butter and rice crackers, that I can just grab and go and retreat into my desk area or to the tray table in the den with it.