Calling All Cooks...

[CarolinaKip]

I'm bringing a few dishes to my sisters' house for Easter. My daughter who is not gluten-free wants a mac and cheese cass. I've been looking at a few and thought I'd ask the wonderful cooks here...what gluten-free mac and cheese do you make that the gluten eaters love???? My kids are used to the gluten-free pastas( I cook only gluten-free), but the rest of my family are not. I'm making a greek mushroom and quinoa dish for me. Perhaps bring my own grilled chicken, greenbeans and some deviled eggs. Not sure on dessert yet. I was going to make a fruit "coffee cake" thing with gluten-free bisquick, but not sure on what can pie filling is gluten-free. Sorry, I'm rambling.....

[sa1937]

Sorry I can't help you with the mac and cheese as until just recently I was pretty much avoiding cheese.

I think a lot of pie fillings are gluten-free but you need to read the label. Most are probably thickened with cornstarch. If you're using the recipe I'm thinking of (the one that shows cherry pie filling), I have made that one and used apple pie filling...the Food Lion brand was gluten-free.

[freeatlast]

I've tried Annie's. It was ok. Here is a recipe I have in my files, but haven't made it yet. Sorry, I don't know where I got it:

If you only add a pinch of the nutmeg, youd be surprised! Its very subtle, its the little thing in the background that makes your taste buds go, huh?! Paprika is an old standard and a little chili powder or cheyenne can add a little heat. But, the nutmeg is there to add another layer and is unexpected! Youve got to try it! I like Havarti if you are using a Blue cheese. I like Swiss with a cheddar, but I dont think that Swiss is good with a Blue, they both have such strong flavor notes! And, Havarti melts so smoothly it is a great cheese! Hope you had mac and cheese!

Cheese Sauce

By: admin

Gluten-free? Be sure and use a good gluten-free all-purpose flour mix.

Details

Servings: 3 cups

Ingredients

4 tablespoons Butter

4 tablespoons Flour

2 cups Whole milk or Half and Half

1 pinch Nutmeg

2 cups Various Cheeses Sharp Cheddar, Gruyere, Havarti, Parmesan

1 teaspoon Salt

1/2 teaspoon Fresh ground pepper

Directions

In a medium sauce pan, over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the flour and let cook for about 1 minute. Add milk and whisk until smooth. Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly. When the sauce has thickened, add the cheeses and stir until melted. Remove from heat. Add nutmeg, salt and pepper. Sauce should be soon after being made. Add to your favorite cooked pasta or vegetables.

Share Your Thoughts

[GlutenFreeManna]

If I could still have cheese I would make this recipe with Tinkyada pasta: Open Original Shared Link

[Lisa]

In the past years, members here have used Kraft Mac & Cheese...pitch the macaroni in the box and just use the cheese sauce, with gluten free pasta.

...but it's easy to make a cheese sauce.

[celiac-mommy]

Here's the EASIEST and yummiest mac and cheese ever!!! (makes ~6 servings)

Preheat oven to 350

Cook 8oz noodles per box directions (I prefer Ancient Harvest quinoa pasta)

While water is coming to a boil for the noodles, in a saucepan, combine:

1 can of evaporated milk (NOT sweetened condensed!!)

16oz of shredded cheese (I like a mix of sharp cheddar and jack, but whatever you prefer)

Cook over low heat, stirring frequently until cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth and thick

remove from heat

In casserole dish, toss drained pasta and cheese sauce until well coated. Smooth out and bake for ~30 min or until the top is bubbly and browned

[Mizzo]

If your talking homemade mac and cheese I would only use Ancient Harvest grain Elbows they are the closest in taste. FYI. this is the most expensive gluten-free pasta on the market. I pay about 3.29 for 8 oz , but in my opinion the tastiest.

Annies boxed mac and cheese is closest to Kraft and is OK for Celiacs but I have had 7 yr olds turn away from it.

If you like to cook you can probably make a nice scalloped potato casserole instead.

[cahill]

my daughter makes a gluten free mac and cheese cass.

She takes a standard recipe and just replaces the flour in the white sauce with rice flour and the mac with gluten free pasta . Her kids love it.

[GlutenFreeManna]

If your talking homemade mac and cheese I would only use Ancient Harvest grain Elbows they are the closest in taste. FYI. this is the most expensive gluten-free pasta on the market. I pay about 3.29 for 8 oz , but in my opinion the tastiest.

Annies boxed mac and cheese is closest to Kraft and is OK for Celiacs but I have had 7 yr olds turn away from it.

If you like to cook you can probably make a nice scalloped potato casserole instead.

3.29 is CHEAP where I live! I pay about 4.99 for a bag of Tinkyada and that's at the less expensive store. Most places it is over $5. The cheapest gluten-free pasta I have tried is Trader Joes brown rice at $2.99 or Sam Mills Corn pasta from Big Lots for $1.29 (limited shipment I guess becaus ei have not found it again there). Both were edible but neither as good as Tinkyada.

And so I don't hi-jack with all this price talk I just wanted to point out the recipe I posted about does not require any flour. So the only thing to replace is the pasta. It makes it pretty hard to mess up if you use a good pasta that doesn't turn to mush and tastes good to gluten eaters as well. I hope you have a great (and safe) Easter dinner!

[CarolinaKip]

Thank you all for your ideas! I did not make it for Easter. I did make the quinoa mushroom pilaf. It was something new to my family! It had mixed reviews, my younger sister loved it! My older sister who I thought was getting the gluten-free CC issues had the gluten-free ham beside the rolls. I had not been there to see how she placed things, so I didn't eat the ham. I did bring me a big herb salad and fruit. I'm making the mac and cheese this week for my children, I'll let you know how it turns out! I am also trying new seafood recipes this week. I'm on spring break and have extra time to cook.