A couple of days ago I received a helpful email from one of our readers, Jean.   The email was a quick review of a restaurant in Lynchburg, Virginia, that offers a gluten free menu.   Here is what Jean had to say:

Logan’s Roadhouse (we went to the one in Lynchburg, VA) was very understanding about my son’s allergies to gluten, casein, soy, rice, and corn.  They do not have a gluten-free printed menu, but they have many menu items that are free from gluten and other allergens.  Most of their meats can be prepared safely to avoid contamination.  They cooked my son’s chicken breast on a separate part of the grill.  He also ate unseasoned steamed broccoli, and he had no adverse reactions.  The food was wonderful!

Thanks Jean!   If you live in the Virginia area, you may want to check out Logan’s Roadhouse.   And as always, if anyone wants to write up a quick review of a restaurant they’ve visited that has a gluten free menu, please contact us.

For people that are new to living the gluten free lifestyle (whether by choice or necessity), the first thing you often need to do is find a good collection of recipes.  Of course the first place you should always look is here at Gluten Free Resource, but the internet isn’t always handy, right?

One book I’ve really enjoyed is a new book called You Won’t Believe It’s Gluten Free! This book includes 500 delicious gluten free recipes that anyone would enjoy and is already receiving great recipes from the gluten free community.  Check out You Won’t Believe It’s Gluten Free!

Are you a fan of Eggplant Parmesan?  Here is an excellent gluten free Eggplant Parmesan recipe that is both gluten free and vegan.

Gluten Free Eggplant Parmesan Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 small eggplant
• 1 cup Braggs liquid aminos
• 1 cup nutritional yeast
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 12 ounces gluten-free spaghetti
• 14 ounces spaghetti sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon basil
• 1/4 teaspoon oregano

Directions:

1. Start boiling water for pasta. Whenever it boils, cook the pasta according to the package directions.
   Meanwhile, start heating spaghetti sauce in a saucepan.
2. Add garlic powder, onion powder, basil, and oregano, and any other seasonings you like. Fresh herbs are even better if you have them. Be sure to stir occasionally.
3. While the water is coming to a boil and the sauce is heating, also heat oil in a frying pan. Use enough to cover the bottom of the pan with about 1/4 inch of oil. Don’t skimp.
4. Mix nutritional yeast and cornstarch. Slice eggplant.
5. Dip each slice in Bragg liquid aminos then in yeast mixture.
6. Fry coated eggplant slices in oil. Note: if oil is not hot when you add the eggplant, you will have soggy eggplant.
7. You may have to fry the eggplant in 2-3 batches depending on the size of your frying pan. Set the cooked slices aside on a plate covered with a paper towel.
8. Add more oil in between batches if necessary, but be sure to heat it before adding more eggplant.
9. When everything is cooked, add a little pasta and a few eggplant slices to each plate.
10. Top with spaghetti sauce and sprinkle with vegan parmesan or more nutritional yeast. If you use pretty plates and garnish with a little fresh parsley or fresh basil, people with think you were in the kitchen all day.

[Recipe Courtesy of Recipe Zaar]

Here is a gluten free chocolate chip cookie recipe that is advertised as being better than standard chocolate chip cookies.   Give it a try and let me know if you agree in the comments below!

Best Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter-flavored Crisco
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup tapioca flour
• 1/2 cup sorghum flour
• 1/4 cup brown rice flour
• 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp. xanthan gum
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 6 oz. GF chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl: cream butter with sugars until light and fluffy.
3. Add egg and vanilla.
4. In a separate bowl mix together flours, salt, xanthan gum (opt.), baking powder, and baking soda.
5. Slowly add flour mixture to butter and sugar mixture.
6. Last, mix in chocolate chips.
7. Place golf-ball sized dough portions 2 inches apart on an UNGREASED cookie sheet.
8. Bake 7-9 minutes or JUST UNTIL edges are light brown.
   (The cookies WILL NOT look completely cooked when you pull them out of the oven! That’s what you want! That’s part of the secret to these awesome cookies! DO NOT overbake them!)
9. Let cookies cool on a wire baking rack or the cookie sheet for 5-10 minutes. This will allow cookies to retain their shape for eating!

[Recipe Courtesy of Ginger Lemon Girl]

Pizza is another one of those foods where there are a number of gluten free options available, but very few are very tasty.   Whether you buy your gluten free pizzas pre-made or purchases crusts and add your own sauce, have you ever considered making a completely homemade pizza crust and sauce?

This is far and away the best gluten free pizza I have run across to date.   Give it a try and let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Best Gluten Free Pizza Recipe

Pizza Crust Ingredients:

• 1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed dried rosemary
• 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 to 2 teaspoons sugar, to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon salt   

Pizza Sauce Ingredients:

• 1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed dried rosemary
• 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 to 2 teaspoons sugar, to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Pizza Crust Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425ºF.
2. In small bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in milk.
3. In medium mixer bowl, beat flours, xanthan gum, salt, and seasoning on low speed.
4. Add yeast-mixture, 1 teaspoon of the oil, and vinegar and beat until blended, about 30 seconds.
5. Dough will be soft.
6. Put dough on lightly greased 12-inch nonstick pizza pan and liberally sprinkle with white rice flour.
7. Press dough to edges of pan, con-tinuing to sprinkle with flour to prevent stick-ing to your hands. Make edges thicker to hold toppings.
8. Bake crust 10 minutes.
9. Remove from oven.
10. Spread crust with sauce and your choice of toppings.
11. Bake another 15 to 20 minutes or until top is nicely browned.
12. Remove from oven, brush outer crust with remaining oil, and serve immediately

Pizza Sauce Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in small saucepan and bring to boil over medium heat.
2. Reduce heat to low and simmer 15 minutes, while Pizza Crust is being assembled. (Makes about 1 cup)

[Recipe Courtesy of Savory Palate]