Gluten Freebies by Miel

One gluten-free nom at a time.

A Gluten-Free Halloween Celebration

Posted on | October 24, 2010 | 4 Comments

Last post, I remember saying that I’m extremely lucky because of the friends I have. That, of course, remains true, but this weekend I was reminded of another reason I’m lucky: my friends’ parents. Over the summer the group of us traveled all over Jersey to see one another and I can’t express how grateful I was to each of my friends’ moms for thinking of me when preparing food. And, you know, they all cooked really great gluten-free food. I was really impressed after thinking of all the flops we had when I was first diagnosed with Celiac Disease (Hey Mom, remember that time we made cookies using only rice flour instead of a blend? Bleh! Haha). This weekend was no exception to the streak of delicious gluten-free food had at a friend’s house.

Next week is Halloween which can only mean one thing: the Braco Halloween Party. The first step of such a party, of course, is to get pumpkins for carving. So off we went!


There were so many pumpkins, Jennifer and I didn’t know which we wanted to choose. I think we made the right choice when we picked up Barney Stintson (anyone out there watch How I Met Your Mother?). There’s something so great about going and picking out pumpkins and looking a gourds. It’s so Autumn. And it was a perfect Autumn day. The air was brisk but comfortable and the sun was nice and warm. I wanted to bask in it forever.

After a little downtime at Rider, we left for Sam’s house, pumpkins ready. Jennifer and I followed Miss Braco since she lives deep in the mountains where we would never be able to find our way. Oh, by the way, look at this hooligan:

Driving behind this car full of ding-dongs (Jenny’s word, haha) was probably the most entertaining part of the day as they shook their pumpkins at cars passing them and dancing at every red light to the extent that we could see the car shaking. It was a fun drive, to say the least.

Can I just say how beautiful Jersey can be when it wants to be?

Anywho, we made it! Hugs and kisses for Mama Braco and then the pumpkin carving began. This was actually the first time Kat and I had ever carved out own pumpkins. Of course I had carved pumpkins when I was a kid, but Mom basically did it. We just picked the faces I think…maybe we helped empty them too. Pumpkin guts are so fun. I remember hating the smell of pumpkins when I was a kid and now I can’t get enough of it. Again, so Autumn. Keri and I talked about all the wonderful things we could make with pumpkins: pumpkin butter, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin pie.

Barney Stintson obviously wasn’t enjoying the conversation:

Once the carving was mostly done we had a brilliant, Halloween themed dinner. Mama Braco made just about everything look like ghosts. It was awesome.

Ghost shaped Shepherds Pie


Ghost shaped tzatziki on cucumbers


Ghost shaped meringue

Sam’s aunt also made a buffalo chicken dip that was amazing. Everything was so tasty! I’m still in the process of planning my week’s worth of healthy meals, so this was the first time in a while that I felt I had eaten really well. And, come on…is this not the cutest food you’ve ever seen? I hope someday I’m as creative and amazing at cooking as all of these mommies who feed me (including my own…and g-ma too <3 ).

Oh, and then we debuted the pumpkins:

From Left to Right: Me, Jennifer, Sam, Kat, Kelly, Keri and Mandy

Barney Stintson

Leaving was such sweet sweet sorrow. Jennifer and I comforted ourselves to the Seventies station on her Sirius radio, which played songs like Shake Your Booty and Macho Macho Man.

It was a really great day. I remember thinking that when I went to bed. There was nothing that could have been changed to have made it a better day. We had great food, great fun and great company. I’m so indebted to these mommies who take care of me when I’m not home. So, thank you Mrs. Braco for a lovely evening and some really awesome food.

Miel

Category: celiac disease, college, dessert, food, gf, gluten, gluten free, halloween, meringue, pumpkin, shepherds pie, tzatziki

Comments

4 Responses to “A Gluten-Free Halloween Celebration”

  1. Katrina (gluten free gidget)
    October 24th, 2010 @ 11:03 am

    How fun!!!! I would have totally been all about the pumpkin patch!

    [Reply]

    GFree_Miel Reply:
    October 24th, 2010 at 11:05 am

    Pumpkin patches are so fun, aren’t they? I just love pumpkins :D

    [Reply]

  2. Sophie
    October 26th, 2010 @ 6:35 am

    What a funny pumpkins post!! hahahahaha,..all of your prepared foods look amazing & I love the carving out pumpkins …hahahaha!!

    Many greets from a recent gf foodie from Brusssels, Belgium!

    [Reply]

    GFree_Miel Reply:
    October 26th, 2010 at 8:15 am

    Thank you so much! And hello, all the way from New Jersey :D

    [Reply]

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I'd love to hear what you think about the content of my posts or my writing. I'm always looking for advice and constructive criticism. So thank you in advance. -Miel





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