Usually on Wednesdays, I tell you about whatever it is I’ve been making lately.
And (trust me) the things I’ve been busy making this week?
Well. Let’s just say they’re a little bit different than what I usually share on Wednesdays.
Because this week, I’ve been making . . . dinner! As in a bunch of kid-friendly, gluten-free casseroles for the busy family with a sweet little newborn across the street.
I thank you all for sharing your gluten-free advice and recipes with me last week. It was just what I needed, and I so appreciate your input. Inspiration abounding! And I learned a LOT about gluten free eating along the way — what to look for, what to watch out for, what generally works – and what doesn’t. So it’s been a good experience all around, although the proof will be in the pudding (or the casseroles!) once my neighbors actually have a chance to eat them.
In a true give-a-moose-a-muffin moment, I couldn’t resist knitting one of those baby-pumpkin-head hats (thanks for the inpiration, Sarah). And then, of course, I needed to find some little fun things for the other kids – because I didn’t want them to feel left out. (Tom had to help me find my limits.) (As in . . . Stop! he said. You’re done now.) (Just sayin.)
It’s been a “making” kind of frenzy here . . . over the last two days. I’ll just leave it at that.
The hat was super quick to knit — and it is adorable. (I’ll include a brief little entry in my Field Notes soon – in case you’re interested in the details.)
How about you? What have you been making this week?
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If you’re looking for gluten-free dinner inspiration or recipe links, be sure to visit the comment section of my post from last week. So many great suggestions! Although I do want to add one piece of info I learned as a little caveat. One of you suggested making the Salted Brown Butter Crispy Treats recipe from The Smitten Kitchen, which was an excellent suggestion — and one I included in my “making” frenzy for the neighbors. I did learn, though, that Rice Krispies . . . is not a gluten-free cereal, like you might expect it to be. (There is malt in the cereal, which has gluten. . . ) I subbed a gluten-free crisped rice cereal (no malt, so gluten free), and it worked beautifully — tasty AND gluten free.
What a sweet little hat. That gluten thing is tricky. It hides in a lot of places. Good investigating. As someone who cannot eat gluten, I appreciate the extra steps people take đ„°
I did not realize that rice crispy cereal was not gluten free! Yikes! Noted and I will make sure that the next time I make those to take as a “gluten free” treat, to find the gluten free rice cereal! But that pumpkin hat! Perfection! (and thank goodness for Tom! LOL)
Congratulations on being neighbor of the year!
I’m with Becky; your Neighbor of the Year trophy should be arriving any day now! (And you do need to listen to Tom!)
Sweet hat! Your neighbors will appreciate the meals and the sweet gifts for the children.
Not to be a drama queen or Debby Downer but Iâve been helping my friends re-make their lives after the hurricane blew through our city last week and trees crushed half of their house.
If anyone wants to help and be assured the help will get to this county directly: Second Harvest of South Georgia is local and on the ground getting food to people.
Ps: My house is fine and my power came back on after four days. Helping my friends has been keeping me sane.
What an adorable hat! I made something similar for my little grand-niece many years ago, although not as detailed a stem ,and her mom was delighted. With all those casseroles maybe your neighbor will make you an honorary grandmother and you can go to town with little spur-of-the-moment purchased trinkets, tiny knitted objects and other creative little things. Or alternatively you might do – especially if itâs a girl – what an acquaintance of my mother did. Every year I received a birthday card from this anonymous lady until I was eighteen. The lady said she would remain anonymous, but would do this so that I would grow up feeling âspecial.â I am sure there is a unique story in there somewhere, but it did provide an extra layer of encouragement and affirmation which any little female could use in this world. KAT: The cereal in this is Rice CHEX not Krispies. Maybe Krispies also applies, but it is the Chex that the gluten sufferer eats without any bad reactions. So maybe you might want to check on that. And also, anyone, my picky-eater little granddaughter loved the meatloaf recipe, even though I had substituted dijon mustard instead of the yellow stuff (but of course I never pointed this out to her – why spoil a good thing?). But at five I thought her tastebuds could handle it.) Though it occurred to me, the ketchup, mustard and brown sugar glaze might have gluten? But could easily be substituted.
I swear once someone starts making those hats, they multiply exponentially! You are such a kind neighbor to make all the food and ensure they can all safely eat it (who would have thought Rice Krispies would have gluten in them?!) I’m sure all the gifts will be very well received and much appreciated.
I love that little hat! And what a good neighbor you are, I know they will appreciate those meals greatly. And those brown butter Rice Krispies treats are amazing – I make those all the time!
Not only are you a #1 neighbor – you are a #1 human! Iâm certain that family is going to be doing backflips when they see your treasures!
You have a very lucky neighbor. The pumpkin had is simple too, too cute and perfect for a fall babe.
What a sweet little hat. You are such a good neighbor. I’m one who often takes something for the older children, usually a paperback book or a box of crayons and a pad of paper.
What a cute hat and how lucky your neighbor is!! I bet that family is thrilled with your contributions.
You overcame the pitfalls of GF cooking. Every label must be read as gluten hides in so many of our processed foods. (Malt is the reason GF can’t have beer.) đ , BUT, brown butter would make anything taste better! The cute hat is the icing on the cake for all the lovely food you made your neighbor. Everyone should have a neighbor like you.
oh – so fun, Kym! I have NO cooking/baking experience around gluten-free and I’m glad you have so many other readers who do! You got some great input and advice – and obviously put it all to very good use. also, that hat is just the cutest.