Gluten Free Easter Dinner

Cooking gluten free can be difficult, especially for people who do not eat a gluten-free diet, but who are planning to have guests who are gluten free for Easter dinner and festivities. Most people who choose to eat a glutne-free diet do so for medical reasons. People with Celiac disease cannot eat gluten, and many people with gluten intolerances or allergies need to avoid this protein in certain grains.

So how do you host a gluten-free Easter dinner? in many ways, it's not that hard to have a great Easter celebration that is GF (gluten free). It takes a little work, a LOT of reading labels, and some care.

First, take a look at your normal menu for Easter dinner. Some of the most traditional Easter dinner dishes include a baked ham, mashed potatoes, cooked vegetables, rolls or french bread, salad, and a fruit salad or Jello mold. Let's look at these traditional Easter dinner dishes one by one, and talk about making them gluten free.

Baked ham: enjoy a spiral-sliced ham? Honey Baked Ham, a major ham store, has gluten-free hams! if you plan to cook your own, beware of commercial ham glazes. Many Easter ham sauces have gluten in them. Consider making your own with pineapple juice and brown sugar instead.

Mashed potatoes: if you mash potatoes, milk, butter, and add salt and pepper to taste, you already have a gluten-free dish!

Cooked vegetables: if you're making a green bean casserole, don't add the friend onions! They have gluten in them. Check for any seasonings or sauces you might add to cooked vegetables, and find gluten-free substitutes for your Easter table.

Rolls or french bread: this is one area where you have to make a big change for a gluten free Easter dinner. You can't serve any regular bread for a gluten-free diet, so consider having regular bread for non-GF guests, and buying or making gluten-free bread for guests. It's always a good idea to call GF guests to talk about breads for Easter dinner; you don't want to buy a gluten-free bread they already tried and don't like. Also, GF breads are pricey ($4 on up for one loaf), so you don't want to waste your money on a poor-quality gluten-free bread.

Salad: skip the croutons, and keep the dressings on the side. Provide a basic vinaigrette for a gluten-free Easter dinner salad.

Fruit salad and Jello mold: both are naturally gluten free.

When preparing food, keep all food away from gluten crumbs or flours. Follow these basic tips for a wonderful gluten free Easter dinner.