A Yummy, Gluten Free Thanksgiving

{This post may contain affiliate links.}

This was my first year eating gluten free at the holiday season. I was a little concerned about what I was going to able to eat, and I was a little sad about missing out on some of my favorites. My sister has Celiac Disease, so we've always had mostly gluten free food at her house for Thanksgiving with my family. I didn't really appreciate the fact before. But this year, I was relieved to realize that my meal at her house wouldn't change much. Jason's family is a different story. All of the food there is "normal." I was prepared to just take my Kind bar and some snacky food.

Several weeks ahead of time, my sister-in-law offered to make her food gluten free. I was thrilled. Then my mother-in-law offered to make one of my very favorites- sweet potato casserole- using gluten free flour. I was thrilled again. I ended up being able to eat: (1) ham, normally prepared, (2) macaroni and cheese with gluten free pasta from my sister-in-law, (3) green bean casserole with gluten free modifications from my sister-in-law, (4) sweet potato casserole with gluten free flour from my mother-in-law, (5) gluten free rolls that I brought, (6) gluten free cupcakes that I made, and (7) a chocolate, peanut butter dessert from my sister-in-law. It was wonderful.

I decided when I began eating gluten free that I would never expect people to cater to me when preparing food. I realize that the majority of the world doesn't eat this way. I realize that, unless you are accustomed to it, gluten free food can taste different. I realize that not everyone is aware of gluten free food and preparation. But it is truly nice when somebody goes out of their way to make something and assure that I can eat it. So I feel doubly blessed tonight. I enjoyed a delicious meal, and I really felt loved.

I've collected some resources here. If you have eaten gluten free for a while, you're probably already familiar with gluten free cooking. But, if you are new to this as I am, or if you want to make something special for someone you love but don't know where to start, these are some good places to look for help. These are sites (and a book) that have recipes and instructions for gluten free holiday cooking.

1. Simply Gluten Free- a website that is a wealth of information and includes many recipes for all different kinds of food

2. Udis- a company that makes many gluten free products. Their products are pretty easy to find and are sold in many main grocery stores, not just specialty stores. Their website has many gluten free recipes using their products and other ingredients.

3. Food Network Blog- has a nice page of gluten free holiday recipes.

4. Cooking Light- another regular cooking website that has gluten free recipes including this page of a gluten free holiday menu recipes.

5. Eating Well- a website that focuses on healthy, natural cooking. You can search for any recipes on this site. This page will take you to a listing of holiday desserts that are gluten free.

6. The Healthy Gluten-Free Life-a book that I've been using as a resource. I got this for my birthday a couple of weeks ago and have already made several successful things. I used the cake recipe here to make the cupcakes I took for Thanksgiving.

I hope all of these resources will give you some ideas and some guidance if you are attempting to cook for yourself or a loved one this holiday season.