Gluten-Free Recipe: Potluck Party Cheese Ball

This can be a good gluten-free option to take to your next pot luck. You will just need to bring some gluten-free crackers to go with it, and make sure to check the mayo to make sure it is a gluten-free version. (Those made with olive oil may be, and the all-natural versions that contain only oil, vinegar, eggs, and spices are your best bet.)

Cheese balls are always a hit, and they are naturally tasty and gluten-free.

Potluck Party Cheese Ball

Ingredients:

8 oz finely shredded medium or sharp Cheddar cheese
1/4 cup finely minced onion
8 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
2 Tbsp real mayonnaise
2 Tbsp chopped chives
1 cup finely chopped nuts

Directions:

• Put all the ingredients (EXCEPT chopped nuts) in a large bowl and mix together well. Put the chopped nuts in a bowl.
• Form a ball with your hands, then roll the cheese ball around in the chopped nuts, pressing the nuts onto the cheese ball until it is well coated.
• Cover with plastic food wrap and chill until ready to serve.
• Serve with a small cheese knife alongside a bowl of sturdy gluten-free crackers.
• Will make enough for a small to medium potluck gathering - about 10 to 12 snack size servings.

Gluten-Free Recipe: Quinoa Mixed 4 Bean Salad

Here is a great dish to take to a pot-luck, whether or not you are on a gluten-free diet. It's packed with protein, fiber, and lots of zesty fresh flavors - so healthy, and so yummy!

Quinoa can be a life saver for those who have problems with gluten. It can be substituted for many grains, but it's also great in a simple, cold salad like this one. Try this one for your next pot luck, and wow your guests!

Quinoa Mixed 4 Bean Salad

Ingredients:

1 garlic clove, grated
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup olive oil
1 tsp kosher salt
black pepper to taste
1 can (15 oz) kidney beans
1 can (15 oz) black beans
1 can (15 oz) cannellini beans
1 can (15 oz) garbanzo beans
1 small sweet red bell pepper, diced
1 small sweet red onion, diced
1 stalk celery, diced
1/4 cup chopped flat leaf parsley
6 cups cooked quinoa

Directions:

• In a large serving bowl, whisk together the garlic, vinegar, olive oil, salt, and black pepper until frothy.
• Drain and rinse all the beans well, then add to the bowl with the dressing; stir gently to combine.
• Add the remaining ingredients and stir gently until well blended.
• Serve chilled or at room temperature.
• Will serve 8 to 10 at a potluck setting.

Naturally Healthy & Gluten-Free Potluck Choices

If eating 'gluten free' has you turning down potluck invitations, it's time for a change. Whether you are hosting or participating in a potluck, there are ways you can enjoy the event without risking your gluten-free diet.

Let's look at some dishes that are gluten free, but still very potluck worthy. You don't need to buy special gluten-free flours or other ingredients to make these dishes. For simplicity sake, these foods are already naturally gluten free!

Quinoa Salad

Potluck tables normally have a plethora of pasta salads. And since most pasta is made with wheat flour, those salads are off limits. However, quinoa is a seed and is gluten free. This is one ingredient you want on hand at all times if you are on a gluten-free diet!

Quinoa salads are so easy to make that at least one dish needs to be in everyone's 'go to' potluck recipe file. Quinoa is light and fluffy and mixes well with oil and vinegar dressings as well as lots of vegetables. You can't weigh it down! This is also one salad that stands up to the test of time. It doesn't wilt and just takes a quick toss to freshen it up again. Add fresh tomatoes, olives, diced cucumbers, black beans, and dill, along with some olive oil, vinegar, and salt and pepper, to make a delicious, healthy, and easy dish to take to your next pot luck.

Chicken Cutlets

To remove any doubt as to whether a pizza crust or tortilla is gluten free, why not just skip the whole thing and use chicken cutlets instead? This is a great trick used by both low-carb and gluten-free dieters.

Just pound out chicken breasts as thinly as possible, then use as you would a pizza crust or tortilla. You will want to bake the cutlets in the oven, then cool before adding your toppings or filling. Make individual 'cutlet pizzas' by topping the cutlets with sauce and anything else you would want on a pizza. Make roll-ups the same way by first baking the cutlets, then cooling and filling, then baking just until the filling is hot and cooked to your liking. Then serve just like you would taquitos or other roll-ups or pinwheels on a potluck table.

Deviled Eggs

This dish may seem old fashioned and even cliche at a potluck, but trust me, you can make them very delicious and put that thought to rest for good. Being totally gluten free in their natural state, eggs are a great vehicle for all sorts of goodies, as long as you pay attention to what's gluten free, and what's not.

When making deviled eggs, the trick is to get tons of flavor in the yolk. You will of course want some sort of cream, but most mayonnaise on the market has gluten in it. Try instead using Greek yogurt, which is usually gluten free (check the label). Then spice up the yolks with lots of herbs and seasonings (again, check the label). Your best bet is to use fresh herbs and spices, not dried or mixed, to ensure you are not getting additives that may have gluten. You may want to chop a jalapeno pepper instead of using bottled hot sauce. Mince garlic and onion rather than using a powder form. Just watch the labels and stick closest to the original form to avoid added gluten. (See last week's recipe here - just be sure to check labels.)

These are three simple foods you can bring to a potluck gathering that are truly gluten free. If you are hosting a gluten free potluck, just remember to give participants ideas (or even recipes if needed) for gluten free foods to make and share. Then you've got your bases covered and all is well... and delicious!

Eating Out On A Gluten Free Diet

The first thing most folks do when they or someone in their family is diagnosed with celiac disease is clean out their own pantry and refrigerator. Their mission is to wipe out all the gluten in the vicinity.

(Photo credit: Whatsername?)

Of course, that is an excellent first step. But we all know we don't eat at home 100 percent of the time. Whether for convenience sake or for fun, eating out at a restaurant is a part of most people's lives.

Eliminating gluten from your diet does not mean you can never walk into a restaurant again. It does mean you'll have to do a bit of research, learn the menu, and get to know the staff well. It might sound like a lot of work, but if you don't want to miss out on some of your favorite restaurants, it will be well worth the effort. 
Let's take a look at a few suggestions for handling a meal out when you are eating gluten-free.

Check the Menu

Most restaurants now offer an online menu. Go ahead and start there. Scroll through the menu to find any offerings that are marked 'gluten-free' or 'GF.'  Be sure to make a list so you are ready when the time comes to call the restaurant for more information or to order when you get there.

Call the Restaurant

With menu in hand, give the restaurant a call and ask to speak with the general manager or kitchen manager. Be sure to call during the off-peak hours, not during the lunch or dinner rush. Choose a few specific items on the menu and ask about the ingredients and how it is prepared to avoid cross-contamination. A good manager will be happy to discuss this with you. If not, find another restaurant. It's not worth the chance you would be taking with your health to get rushed or incomplete answers.

Chat with the Staff

If you go to a restaurant without doing the first two steps, you will need to have a talk with the server or manager before you order. Tell him or her that you need a gluten-free meal. Ask them to point out items they recommend, then be very specific about how the food is prepared. You can't expect your server to be absolutely up on all the gluten-free do's and don'ts, so you have to know your stuff, and know what to ask.

Honey vs Vinegar

You know the saying; "You catch more flies with honey than vinegar."  Well, not very appetizing when talking about eating out, but I wanted to make a point. Restaurant managers and servers are busy people. They are trying to serve everyone well and keep everyone happy.  For that reason, it is best to be patient and polite as your server gets you the information you need.

Restaurant advertising gluten-free menu. (Photo credit: MookieLuv)

Of course, you should ask all the questions you need to arrive at a good decision when it comes to ordering a meal away from home. And, of course, you should be very specific about what you need to know. This may frustrate your server, so it's best to let him or her know right up front that you will have a lot of questions about how the food is prepared. That way a manager may be called to your table right away to avoid some of the back-and-forth in trying to find answers for you.

If the restaurant staff is not able (or willing) to take the time to answer your questions, then it's time to bid a polite farewell and find another restaurant.

Watch Out for Surprise Gluten

It's amazing how many strange places gluten can be found. We have learned to watch out for gluten in packaged foods we bring home, but who would think that pancake batter would be added to make omelets fluffier at a restaurant? Did you know that wheat flour may be added to salad dressing to make it creamier, and that meat may be marinated in soy sauce?  Soy sauce may also be added to a variety of foods to make it richer looking and saltier. French fries may be deep fried in the same vat with breaded chicken. These are all areas to check carefully.

The good news is, most respectable restaurants now offer at least some gluten-free choices on their menu. They are also aware of cross-contamination issues. If your favorite restaurant is behind the times, have a nice chat with the manager or owner and see if you can catch them up. Gluten-free diets are not going to disappear, and restaurants will be eager to please when they see their guests walk out the door.

Be persistent with your questions, in a polite way, and soon you'll be enjoying an ever-increasing choice of gluten-free meals away from home.