Gluten free pasta. Never have used it. What is your favorite brand?

[woodsprite]

My boss said she hates using it because of the taste and said to use whole wheat pasta instead. The problem is that our daughter has a friend who will be coming over for Halloween. I forget what it's called, but if she eats gluten, it causes blisters all over. She's also vegetarian. My son's GF will be there as well, and she has to eat small amounts but heavy on the protein (T2 diabetic, gastric bypass), and I need something quick to fix that will keep well all evening. The neighborhood munchkins will start their rounds earlier than usual because they only have a half day of school on Halloween so we'll probably be picking at dinner all evening.

Our menu for Halloween night dinner is:

Caprese Salad (mozzarella, grape tomatoes, basil, olive oil, balsamic)
Roasted Broccolli
Mac & Cheese (I'll grate the cheese from a block, and use gluten-free flour to thicken)
Meatballs in garden veggie sauce
Apple Crisp (made w/ gluten free flour, Sukrin Gold, cinnamon, nutmeg, and oats)


I figure I'll put things that need to stay warm in crockpots. Put the apple crisp on a warming tray, and the salad in a bowl sitting in ice. Drinks will be water, sodas, and unsweet tea.

Not really a Halloween party with fun food, but a decent meal and get together.

[Sanity Claws]

1. She may have celiac disease

It is a very serious auto-immune disease.

Make sure the balsamic vinegar and oats are also gluten free. Store bought balsamic vinegar often has other ingredients added; gluten or a derivative of wheat may be in it. Also, some celiacs are advised to avoid all oats because oats may be contaminated or have gluten.

[woodsprite]

5. I guess I could just make a short bread type crust for the topping on the apples. n/t

[Sanity Claws]

10. Doesn't that have oats in it?

If it does, you really should not use it.

[Demsrule86]

8. I ended up in the hospital after accidentally ingesting gluten.

[The Polack MSgt]

2. Maybe Polenta or whloe grains (rice Millet Barley and the like) as the starch?

I'm not familiar with Gluten free products,

You can make a pretty delicious Mac and cheese replacement with baked Cauliflower and cheese

And a baked apple with the core replaced with cinnamon, honey, gold raisins and oats would be tasty, gluten free and very Autumn appropriate

Good Luck Woodsprite!

[Demsrule86]

16. Barley contains gluten...there are good subs for regular pasta out there. To me

Cauliflower and cheese tastes like Cauliflower. I make mac and cheese with gluten free noodles.

[C_U_L8R]

3. We've had good luck with Tinkyada spirals

Some brands just don't have the right texture/firmness. Tinkyada - available at Whole Foods and others - seems to have the right bite. A good sauce will make all the difference and you may not even realize the noodles are gluten free. http://www.tinkyada.com

[Demsrule86]

7. I made lasagna with Tinkyada and no one could tell.

[iwillalwayswonderwhy]

4. I use Free (Dove's Farm is the brand)

It’s a brown rice pasta. For Mac and cheese, I use their rotini. It cooks much faster than wheat pasta. Not sure if you can get this particular brand in the U.S. (I am in England). But I would recommend brown rice pasta as being the closet tasting to wheat pasta.

[Demsrule86]

6. I am a celiac and I use Tinyada and I like Ronzoni and Barilla also.

I make spaghetti and have no issue...follow the directions carefully and don't overcook.

[applegrove]

9. Annie's is a brand of gluten free mac and cheese. It is in a box the same shape

as Kraft dinner and you make it almost the same way. It tastes yummy. Also some spices, even pepper can have gluten in them.

[stuffmatters]

11. I worry about the pasta not "melting" in a crockpot; I'd substitute cauliflower

You can google a simple recipe from the Food Network:"mac" and cheese casserole.
Sounds like a wonderful,fun dinner whatever way you go!

[woodsprite]

12. Yes, I'm a bit concerned with that as well.

I think she likes cauliflower. I'll have to check. I would be fine with that.

[fierywoman]

13. With gluten free pasta be very, very sure to serve the pasta at the exact moment

it is done cooking (time on label) -- GF pasta does not sit well at all once it's been cooked.

A celiac friend is very fond of the GF (rice) pasta from Costco.

[gblady]

14. I use Trader Joe's brand

They have an organic gluten free brown rice pasta and organic brown rice and quinoa gf pasta. I like them both. I usually have them with a vegan pesto recipe I found online that uses nutritional yeast instead of parmesan. So yummy!

[sagesnow]

15. Ronzoni brand GF Elbows are my go to for Mac and Cheese.

These elbows are made from rice, corn and quinoa flours.
I sympathize with your daughter's friend because I also get skin eruptions called dermatitis herpetiformis if I eat gluten. Luckily there are tons of GF options on the market now.