having friend over for dinner who is gluten/dairy free...

[Anonymous]

Any ideas about what I can make for her (preferably vegetarian)? Also, anyone know where I can pick up a yummy gluten/dairy-free dessert? She loves chocolate but doesn't get to eat it very often and I know that there are some places that have special desserts. We already have the gluten-free beer! Thanks for any suggestions.

[Anonymous]

For the dessert, Sticky Fingers bakery in Columbia Heights (right across the street from Giant) is vegan and has lots of gluten-free products.

Does rice have gluten? If not, you could do my famous spicy veggie stir fry. All kinds of veggies, with soy, sesame oil, tons of fresh ginger, and red pepper flakes.

[Anonymous]

Asian, rice-based food (tofu stir fries, for example) tends to be good. For dessert, how about a fruit sorbet?

[Anonymous]

I would make something with rice, quinoa or potatoes (all GF). Vegetables are naturally GF, but pre-made sauces and soy sauce are not usually GF so I would either buy GF soy sauce or not use it. You could pick up some rice or quinoa pasta and make a pasta dish. For dessert, many local bakeries have GF cupcakes, or you could make brownies and have ice cream sundaes (use vanilla ice cream). Please wash your utensils, pots and pans extremely well, and use a glass cutting board if you have one.

[Anonymous]

I had a really really good meal of roasted butternut squash in a black bean sauce from Wegmans. I can't find a recipe for it exactly but I bet you could make the black bean sauce and just mix it in with some butternut squash and other roasted veggies (like onions and carrots?). It would be good over rice.

[Anonymous]

You can have an Italian-themed dinner: have olives and marinated veggies for appetizers, minestrone for soup, make spaghetti squash with marinara sauce for the main course, and have sorbet for dessert.

Asian-themed dinner is ridiculously easy to be gluten free and vegetarian: veggie spring rolls for appetizers with peanut sauce, veggie stir-fry with tofu and rice, and canned lychees or other fruit for dessert.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For the dessert, Sticky Fingers bakery in Columbia Heights (right across the street from Giant) is vegan and has lots of gluten-free products.

Does rice have gluten? If not, you could do my famous spicy veggie stir fry. All kinds of veggies, with soy, sesame oil, tons of fresh ginger, and red pepper flakes.

No soy, it has gluten in it

You could do pork roast, roasted potatoes or squash, and a green veggie, nice fall meal which is gluten free

Whole foods has a gluten free past that is really good called tinkyada, it is in a purple or pink bag. So if you want to make something you usually do with pasta just sub this in it's place

To avoid all hidden gluten it is easiest to cook whole foods and stay away from any boxed ing. so doing a roast with veg and side is a safe bet, or any meat or fish with a veg or salad and a rice or potato dish

For dessert, whole foods has good gluten free desserts in the freezer section, you would have to check for dairy though. Macaroons are very easy to make and gluten free, you could dip them half in chocolate.

[Anonymous]

Soy does not have gluten in it. Gluten is found only in products containing wheat, barley and rye. Soy sauce does usually have wheat in it though, so it is not always GF.

GF brownies are really good.

[Anonymous]

I ment to say soy sauce, sorry

[Anonymous]

You can buy GF soy sauce if you want to do a stir-fry. Also if you want to do pasta, do quinoa, not rice. Quinoa is much better tasting especially for you who are not accustomed to GF products.

For dessert, I bought this cake at WF once: The Ultimate Chocolate Truffle Cake - http://www.davidglass.com I wasn't going to eat it - I hate flourless chocolate cake - but it was INSANELY good.

It's not certified GF but it has no wheat or gluten in it so should be fine. It likely lacks certification because it is made in a facility that is not GF.

[Anonymous]

No suggestions but I think you are a terrific friend. I have some health related dietary restrictions and it is a real bummer because food is so integral to one's social life. A normal night out for dinner is a real treat -- you have no idea how much this will probably mean to her.

[Anonymous]

Trader Joe's has a ton of gluten free items, including some chocolate cakes. They even have a gluten free newsletter if you just ask at the customer service desk.