A Gluten Free Wedding Menu

  

Nowadays your guest list can greatly impact your food menu as dietary sensitivities such as gluten and dairy are heavily on the rise.  Consideration to your guests must be taken to ensure that not only will everyone have a great time, but also that no one gets sick.

 

Why Gluten-Free?

Gluten is a protein in wheat, rye, and barley that is commonly found in bread, beer, pasta, and a wide range of other processed foods containing these grains.

 

For about 1% of the population, eating gluten causes celiac disease, an intestinal condition characterized by the inability to absorb nutrients from food.

 

“A gluten-free diet excludes the protein gluten, which is found in wheat, barley, rye, bread, pasta, cereals, and beer.

 

Some people have gluten-free diets “by choice” because of the health benefits that stem from a Gluten-free lifestyle, where some people are gluten intolerant or have medical issues that prohibit gluten such as Celiac disease.

 

Let’s Talk Dairy-Free

The same is true for Dairy-Free diets.  Lactose intolerance is an impaired ability to digest lactose, a sugar found in milk and other dairy products.  The uncomfortable side effects can cause stomach cramping and bloat as a result of consumption.  On the contrary, many people voluntarily choose to remove dairy from their diets as the removal has been noted to have benefits with acne, digestion, weight loss, thyroid, and candida.

 

Serving Tips

If you anticipate having multiple guests at your party with dietary restrictions, we highly recommend creating small labels for the food, especially if you feel that you will be mingling and talking to other guests throughout the night. You want your guest with allergies or dietary restrictions to feel comfortable going to the food table without you having to man the table.   Something as simple as a small label in front of the food item gives a very organized and classy appeal to the table.

 

Cross Contamination!

If your guest has an intense allergy they will probably be extra safe around the buffet of delicious treats, but you also have to make sure that you don't cross-contaminate your food. Essentially meaning don't mix the special items with the regular items. Place your gluten-free Meatballs in a separate bowl or give your dairy-free cobbler a separate spoon.

 

Consider moving items to different parts of the table, these small details will ensure your friends are happy and comfortable no matter what dietary restrictions they may have.

 

Conclusion

Keep in mind that communication is key!  Many people who are allergic to dairy have various forms of sensitivity. Don't be afraid to ask!

 

People who are lactose intolerant could be completely comfortable with cheese but not cream. While those with a gluten intolerants friend have celiac disease and is highly sensitive to gluten in the smallest forms. You could have guests who take special gluten-relief pills and go all out for everything on the table.

 

Be open to those conversations for awareness so that everyone can have a great time. 

 

Do you have friends or family that are gluten or dairy-free intolerant?  Do you consider dietary sensitivities when planning for events that involve food? 

 

Let us know your thoughts.

 

Gluten & Dairy-Free Cherry Cobbler

 

INGREDIENTS

2 teaspoons of grated orange peel-separated

1 can of cherry pie filling

1/2 cup & 2 tablespoons cold water

1/4 cup cold vegetable butter

1 1/2 teaspoons dry egg replacer

 

DIRECTIONS

1. PREHEATthe oven to 400°F.
2. MIX 1 teaspoon of orange peel with cherry filling. SPOON pie filling into a glass pie dish.
3. In a medium-sized bowl, COMBINEflour, the other 1 teaspoon of orange zest, and sugar
4. Using a pastry blender or a fork CUT IN butter into the flour.
5. MIX the egg substitute and water in a small bowl.
6. ADD egg mixture to dry ingredients just until the dough comes together.
7. FORM dough into a square shape and chill until firm and ready to use (about 30 min).
8. Take the dough out of the refrigerator and FORMinto small balls make 5 total.
9. FLATTEN the balls into the shapes of small disks. Place disks over the cobbler mixture until there are no openings
10. BAKE uncovered for 20-25 minutes or until topping is light golden brown.
11. Let cool for 10 minutes. TOP and SERVE with a non-dairy whipped cream! Enjoy! 

 

 

Gluten-Free Greek Chicken Salad

 

Makes 4 Servings

 

INGREDIENTS

2lbs uncooked boneless skinless chicken breast

1tablespoonsalt
1 tablespoon pepper

2 tablespoons olive oil

3 plum tomatoes
1 yellow bell pepper

1 cucumber
1/2 small red onion
10 Kalamata olives, pitted

2 oz feta cheese (Omit the Fetta for Dairy-Free)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

 

DIRECTIONS

1. SEASON chicken breast with salt and pepper HEAT 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet and COOK chicken breast for about 5-7 minutes, there should be no pink in the chicken.
2. Allow chicken to COOL then have an adult CUT chicken into 1/2 inch slices.
3. SLICE tomatoes into 1/2 inch slices,
4. CUT bell peppers into slices removing the stem and seeds from the pepper.
5. PEEL the rind off the cucumber.
6. CUT cucumbers into slices.
7. CUT the red onion into thin slices.
8. SLICE olives and ADD to your bowl.
9. CRUMBLE feta cheese on top.
10. ADD olive oil.
11. ADD salt and pepper. Toss the salad and enjoy!

 

 

 

Fruit Kabobs with Dairy-Free Whipped Cream

Makes 15-20 fruit kabobs

 

INGREDIENTS

15-20 Wooden Skewers

1 cup blueberries
2 cups seedless red grapes 2 cups mandarin oranges 2 cups pineapple chunks

1 (8 oz.) Dairy-Free Whipped Cream

DIRECTIONS

1. Thoroughly WASHblueberries, grapes, and strawberries.
2. PLACEfruit in separate bowls.
3. TURNskewer, point side down and stick the skewer into the middle of the fruit.
4. SLIDEthe fruit up to the top of the skewer (about 6 pieces of fruit per skewer).
5. REPEATwith the remaining skewers, but be sure to use the same color combination with all of the skewers.
6. SERVEthe non-dairy whipped cream alongside the fruit kabobs.
7. Enjoy!