Recipes for the Holidays While on a Special Diet

Young girl smiles while making holiday cookies.

Recipes for the Holidays While on a Special Diet

November and December conjure up so many fond thoughts and memories; wonderful smells are in the air, the stores and homes are filled with holiday decorations, people are looking forward to some time off, perhaps including traveling. The gathering of family members is being arranged in order to spend some quality time with loved ones and FOOD is being mentioned in many conversations.

When one has allergies or intolerances to food, it does not mean they have to go without! There are many wonderful recipes to be found online, and in cookbooks, to help make the holidays sparkle!

A favorite amongst children are sugar cookies that families can make, cut-out and decorate–and of course then eat!

Here are favorite recipes translated into GFCF/chemical free to enjoy with your loved ones.

{Rolled out Cookie Recipe}

1 cup of margarine, softened
1 cup of sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 tsps. baking powder
3 cups GF flour mix*
*2 parts rice flour, 2/3 parts potato starch (NOT FLOUR), 1/3 part tapioca starch (or it can be bought already mixed)
1 tsp xanthan gum

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar with electric mixer. Beat in egg and vanilla. Add baking powder and flour mix, one cup at a time, mixing after each addition. The dough will be very stiff, blend last flour in by hand.

Do NOT chill dough. Divide dough into 2 balls. Sprinkle rice flour onto a flat surface. Roll each ball into a circle approximately 12 in. diameter and ¼ in. thick. Use cookie cutters as a guide. Dough should be only slightly thinner than cutter. Dip cutters into rice flour before each use. Bake cookies on ungreased cookie sheet, on middle rack of over for 6 to 10 min, or lightly browned. Once cooked decorate with sprinkles, icing, candy, etc.

{Corn Muffins}

1 cup GF cornmeal
½ cup white rice flour (brown is ok, too)
½ cup cornstarch
2 Tbs plus 4 tsp. sugar
1 Tbs baking powder
1 tsp. xanthan gum
½ tsp. salt
2 large eggs
1 cup of alternative “milk”
¼ cup oil

PrePreheat oven to 400.

1. Combine all dry ingredients in a bowl.

2. In a small bowl, slightly beat eggs, “milk” and oil to combine.

3. Add egg mixture to flour mixture and stir until batter is smooth.

4. Spoon batter into greased muffin tins, or use muffin papers, Fill about 2/3 to ¾ full. Smooth tops. Bake at 400 for 12 –15 minutes until done. Makes 12.

{Sweet Potato Souffle}

Serves 4 to 6

2 lbs fresh sweet potatoes,
cooked, peeled and
mashed or canned (40 oz can)
2 eggs
½ stick margarine
½ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp. nutmeg
½ cup “milk”

Combine above and put into a casserole. Bake at 350 for 35 to 40 minutes. Add topping-see below.

{For topping}

½ stick margarine
½ cup pecan pieces
½ cup brown sugar
1 cup crushed GFCF corn flakes

Cream margarine and sugar. Add remaining ingredients. Spread on top. Bake an additional 15 minutes.

{Latkas}

3 to 4 potatoes
(Yukon Gold work best,
Russets will work, too)
2 to 3 Tbs, GF flour mix,as needed.
1 egg
salt and pepper, to taste
oil for frying

Makes 4 to 6, depending on size

Grate potatoes in food processor. Use cheesecloth, dishrag or strong paper towels to drain the liquid from the potatoes over the sink. Put a few handfuls into the cloth, cover, and ring out, squeezing well. Put drained potatoes in a bowl. Continue until all potatoes are fully grated and squeezed. Add other ingredients and mix. Pour a good amount of oil into your frying pan. Form balls and put into frying pan. Use spatula to flatten into patties. Turn on heat and cook until brown, then flip over and brown other side. Drain onto paper towels. Be careful for flying grease. Add more oil, as needed.

{Sweet tips}

Whole Foods and other health food stores, or companies online, have chemical free decorating items. Here are a few brands to look for:

Speaking of candy, what is a holiday without candy? It certainly does not need to be candy with chemicals. MANY companies online (and also available in healthier stores) carry many wonderful products. Here are some great companies who offer allergy and 100% natural, often organic, choices:

www.yummyearth.com
www.sunspire.com
www.jellybelly.com (only some are dye free and GFCF)
www.giambriscandy.com

You can also make your own candy. Buy healthy chocolate chips or bars and melt the chocolate with a tiny amount of cooking oil and stir. Get plastic molds from a craft store and pour the melted candy into the molds. Freeze for fast release. You can purchase lollipop sticks at the craft store to put into the chocolate, to make cute figurines on a stick.

I hope you enjoy the holidays with your loved ones! ~ Barrie

Barrie Silberberg is the author of The Autism & ADHD Diet: A Step-by-Step Guide To Hope and Healing by Living Gluten Free and Casein Free (GFCF) And Others Interventions.

Recipe Courtesy of Barrie Silberberg

Photo credit: abbybatchelde on Flickr, csouza_79 on Flickr, yurilong on Flickr

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This post originally appeared on our November/December 2012 Magazine