Gluten Free Dinner Archives - Page 5 of 7

June 6, 2014

What’s More Magical Than A Gluten Free Dinner In Cinderella’s Castle On Your Last Night?

The last night of our family vacation was finally upon us. It was a fantastic trip with a few hiccups along the way, that I honestly could’ve done without, but also some great memories that we’ll never forget. Every time my husband and I, and now my daughter too, take an adventure somewhere I realize just how much I love my family. They truly are my world and my reason for being and I wouldn’t have it any other way. This week was another incredible adventure for our family, filled with lots of smiles and laughs and a few tears along the way (from mommy and baby). My little girl is growing so quickly and just seeing this little 1 year old baby truly love her Disney family as much as she does is amazing. So I couldn’t think of a better way to end this trip than to say hello one last time to a few of her favorites at Cinderella’s Castle.

After an afternoon of swimming and relaxation, our little one was dressed in her Snow White outfit and ready to dine with some of her favorite princesses. We arrived a bit early for our reservation but they were incredibly accommodating and were able to seat us within a few minutes, which was great because we were all very very hungry after an early lunch that day. Cinderella was out to tea when we entered the castle so we were seated first and met the rest of the princesses while we dined. Literally as we were sitting down Snow White, my little one’s favorite, approached and couldn’t get over the miniature Snow White that was walking towards her waving and smiling. My little girl embraced Snow White with a huge hug and turned back with a big smile and wave at her mommy, a moment that just makes me tear up thinking about. Each princess that followed was equally as exciting and I think was the icing on my little girl’s trip.

Between all of our visitors, the chef came out to review the menu with me. I decided to order the cheese plate for an appetizer, the steak for my main course, and a cookie sundae for dessert. I was a bad blogger again this dinner, but in the midst of the princesses stopping by I forgot to photograph the dishes that came out. But anyway, the cheese plate arrived with a blue cheese, a brie cheese, and a few others along with a plate of gluten free rolls that were heated to perfection. After little one nibbled on cheese, grapes, and bread and Dan and I ate some of our appetizers, we were then escorted to go meet Cinderella.

With the room all to ourselves, Cinderella came over to greet my little one and walked her back to her seat hand-in-hand. She spent a good ten minutes talking and playing peek-a-boo with her, getting some great smiles. Nothing beat her face though while Cinderella gave her a warm hug!

Little one scooted down off of Cinderella’s lap to be on the move again and then turned and walked back to start talking to her as she then sat down on the floor to be beside her. We’re so grateful that she could spend so much time with Cinderella, a rarity when you’re doing the meet and greets. Someday, when my little girl is all grown up, I’ll be able to share all of these pictures but also the memories that went along with them of how she would wave frantically saying hello to each character only to run up when it was her turn to give a huge hug, when she walked hand-in-hand with Snow White at her wishing well and Cinderella at her castle, talking to both, only to be snuggled a few moments later, and finally my favorite, when she met Mickey and friends, greeting each with a running hug! Such great memories!

With her last princess met, we headed back upstairs to finish our dinner. After a little while longer, our main courses were being delivered. My steak was cooked perfectly but my favorite on the dish was the gluten free creamed spinach. I love creamed spinach and can rarely order it when eating out, so it really stole the show for me. Only moments after our final bites of our meals did our desserts arrive. They were out of the gluten free cake that I had wanted so I ended up with a gluten free cookie and ice cream sundae, which I did happen to remember to take a picture of.

Cinderella's Royal Table gluten free ice cream and cookie sundae. — Cinderella’s Royal Table gluten free ice cream and cookie sundae.

It was pretty good, and although I really wanted to try the cake, it was nice to enjoy a substitute of some kind. All together, our dinner at the castle was a great ending to our trip, both in experience and food. As far as my gluten free dining experience, I consider any meal a success when the chef meets any request that I have and can give me an appetizer, entree, and dessert that nearly match their description on the menu. The chefs at Cinderella’s Royal Table did a fantastic job, and this gluten free mommy is looking forward to returning again!

After our dinner we hopped on a few more rides before picking out a spot on Main Street to catch the last Electrical Parade of our vacation. While I sat and occupied our little one, Dan went to retrieve a few snacks for us. My daughter loves the Mickey pretzel, I think probably more for its shape, but she did seem to love nibbling on it too. Sadly, the Mickey pretzel is not gluten free, but some of my favorite gluten free Disney snacks are the Dole Whip (This is actually by far my favorite when I’m in a sweet mood!), the roasted nuts, the chocolate and nut covered banana, and the popcorn, each of which I enjoyed on this trip thanks to our dining plan! For our last night, I decided to go with the popcorn, which as always had just the right amount of butter and salt on it!

Soon enough, the lights dropped down, the music started, and the parade turned the corner as my little girl began to clap. As I held her and bopped around to the music she waved to all of the passing characters and floats. Goofy, Minnie, and Fairy Godmother blew kisses to her but being dressed as a little Snow White attracted some extra special attention from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

As Dopey led the gang he waved and played peek-a-boo with little one as she waved back (melts my heart). Quickly following, Snow White danced with a couple dwarves behind her and as she danced to the opposite side of the street, she turned around and ran over to our little girl and gave her a huge kiss on her cheek, causing a huge eruption of cheers from the crowd behind us! The dwarves that followed all blew kisses to the little Snow White in my arms, truly topping off our trip. As the parade came to a close, exhaustion settled in and little one was not too keen on the crowds of people swarming around her, so we tried to scoot over to an emptier space to take a picture of the kiss before she wiped off too much of it. And here you go!

A Snow White kiss for my little Snow White!

What a way to close our last night in Disney! Soon after this picture, little one was strapped into her stroller and passed out in about 5 minutes; so although we didn’t get to see any fireworks this trip, I don’t think it could get any better for her, and us, then to meet all of her friends and get kissed by Snow White during the parade!

After spending the next morning in Magic Kingdom, we found ourselves back at the airport, with the magical vacation having come to a close. It was an amazing trip to say the least, and even though I could’ve done without my little girl and my sick days, it just makes all of the happy and smiley moments that we captured that much more magical!

Have A Magical Day,

Lindsay

May 30, 2014

Epcot’s La Hacienda de San Angel: Home To The Best Gluten Free Corn Tortillas

A typical vacation in Orlando wouldn’t be complete with a rain storm or two. Day 4 of our trip was the lucky day for a couple showers, but altogether wasn’t too wet considering the predicted high percentage of rain. After making it through a beautiful sunny morning and delicious lunch at Be Our Guest, we hopped on the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean before little one couldn’t help but close her eyes. Nap time for us when we’re in the parks means that it’s time for Mommy and Daddy to sit down in the shade and relax or meander through air conditioned stores and soak up the nice cool air. While we started nap time shopping, we watched the dark clouds roll in and decided to find a nice place under some covering to rest our feet and keep all of us dry during the impending, classic Disney World downpour.

Sure enough, only moments after parking under the awning by The Hall of Presidents, the dribbles began. We covered our little girl with the rain cover for the stroller which kept her nice dry while the wind picked up and started whirling around the now pouring rain. Thankfully we had ducked under the covering early so we stayed pretty dry but not as dry as my little girl who slept safely and soundly in her reclined seat. A short while later and the clouds had begun to move along, leaving a still murky looking sky. We decided to hang around to see if an afternoon parade would occur despite the rainy skies but disappointingly they had to cancel for the day. So we headed up to Main Street and shopped a bit along the row of stores, picking a few toys out for our little one that we knew would make perfect birthday or Christmas gifts. All of the sudden we heard a chirping from in the stroller and were greeted by an ecstatic little girl who couldn’t have been more excited to spot all of the Minnie merchandise in front of her as she woke up.

As the rain picked up again, we armed ourselves with our ponchos and covered the stroller to head over to the monorail for Epcot. On tonight’s menu was La Hacienda de San Angel in Mexico, we hadn’t been before but we were interested to check the waterfront restaurant. I personally do not like spicy food by any stretch, but my husband, on the other hand, pretty much loves all food, especially spicy food. Last time we had dined in Epcot’s Mexico we ate at the San Angel Inn and Dan tried the Jalapeno Margarita which he raved about so he definitely wanted to give the other restaurant in Mexico a try too. I try not to let my very picky palate and not to mention my gluten free restrictions get in the way too much of Dan’s adventurous foody side, so I always keep in mind that I’ll definitely be able to get something at the restaurant we’re going to, whether it be a salad or grilled chicken.

We were seated right at the windows and had a great view of the lake and the World Showcase around it. After perusing the menu a bit, I started to get a little nervous that this restaurant might be the exception to my rule of thumb. I had read ahead of time that their corn tortillas were delicious and gluten free so I was hoping to try the Queso Fundido sans peppers and sausage, maybe substituting chicken, really trying to avoid any spice whatsoever. The chef came out and went over my gluten free options with me and I asked if my idea was a possibility. He was so great and assured me that it could be done and that the homemade corn tortillas would be sent out instead of the flour tortillas. Not too long after ordering, our dishes arrived!

Gluten free Queso Fundido with chicken and corn tortillas at La Hacienda de San Angel in Epcot.

After cutting up my little girl’s chicken tacos, which she had for the first time that night and apparently loved, I finally caught a glimpse of my dish. I have to say the homemade corn tortillas looked delicious!

Let me just say that I’ve never been a fan of store bought corn tortillas. Texturally, they’re kind of rubbery to me and the taste is equally off putting. However, these were amazing! They were soft and not rubbery by any means, just like the flour tortillas that I used to enjoy in years past. Their flavor was mild and perfect to pair with the melted cheese that accompanied them. Not to mention that they’re gluten free!

As far as the gluten free melted cheese and chicken combo, it was perfection. Okay, so everyone’s level of spicy is different, but for me, I even find pepper can be too spicy; so as far the spice level on the chicken, I have to admit that it was a bit too spiced for me, but it was still incredibly delicious and went perfectly with the melted cheese! Layering the chicken and cheese on the corn tortillas reminded me of homemade quesadillas that I once enjoyed. The soft and tender gluten free corn tortillas were mildly flavored and embraced the flavorful cheese and chicken amazingly! Despite the smidgen of too much spice on the chicken, I would absolutely order this one again on future visits.

By the time we had finished with dinner, it had finally begun to dry up a bit outside, just in time for us to enjoy a nighttime stroll around Epcot. We wandered through the countries and even made a stop for a little sweet treat thanks to the Flower and Garden Festival. Stay tuned to find out which gluten free treat caught my eye!

Have A Magical Day,

Lindsay

May 28, 2014

High Fevers In Disney Thankfully Ended In Full Bellies At The Polynesian’s Kona Cafe

Ah yes, Day 3 of our Disney trip stands out but not for the best reasons. We were up early, all fed and ready to head out to Hollywood Studios to catch a few stand out rides and shows that each of us would love. Some of our favorites that I knew my little girl would be ecstatic about is their Disney Junior Show starring her favorite Disney faces, the Little Mermaid show, and the Toy Story Ride. We scoped out everything ahead time and picked out our top fastpass+ rides and attractions so we could catch all of the best ones for little one and Dan and myself. Unfortunately, our day didn’t go quite as planned and little one never got to see the Disney Junior show.

Little girl seemed a bit sleepy and cranky but seeing as she had what I thought was a cold or allergies for the past few days I wasn’t too taken aback, she had still eaten a majority of her breakfast which was a great sign that she was in good shape at least tummy wise. After a lengthy bus ride to get to Hollywood Studios, we arrived for the opening and headed straight back to hop on the Toy Story Ride. She loved looking at all of the massive, oversized toys throughout the line, but her favorite by far was the talking Mr. Potato Head. As we approached the front of the line we donned ourselves in 3D glasses, little one included, and geared up for a fantastic ride. Tossing her 3D glasses aside within about 10 seconds of the ride, I’m not sure if little girl was quite a fan of the concept of this ride yet but she did seem to enjoy the twists and turns of the carnival cars. Afterwards, Dan headed over to catch his two favorite rides, Tower of Terror and the Aerosmith Roller Coaster, while I took little one to meet Daisy and Sofia. While I held her and kissed her forehead I noticed that she definitely felt warm but in Disney World everyone feels warm so we stuck to the shade and guzzled quite a bit of water to cool down.

Exchanging kisses and hugs with Daisy and Sofia were definitely the highlights of the morning for my little girl. After meeting both of her friends, I felt her little forehead again and definitely was worried about a fever. We stopped in the First Aid Center at the front of the park and the nurse there took her temperature. To say I was shocked at the number that came out would be a serious understatement as the nurse revealed that she had a 103.7 degree fever. For my little girl, this was the highest temperature she’d ever had so naturally I was extremely worried. The nurse advised us to head over to their Urgent Care Center to get her looked at by a doctor. While all of this talk was going on, my little one, who was just waving and hugging her friends only a half hour ago, had just fallen asleep and limp in my arms, which is a rarity these days since she’s always wanting to be on the go, so I knew instantly at that point that something wasn’t right.

A quick phone call later and a walk around the outside of the park and we were soon enough in a van being rushed to Urgent Care outside of Disney. I was so overwhelmed with worry and fear mainly because I know my little girl in and out and for her she has never had that high of a fever or behaved like that before. It was especially scary having this happen while on vacation, without her pediatrician who we know and trust 5 minutes away or any of the other comforts of home nearby. While in route over to the Urgent Care Center, I phoned her doctor to get some advice and guidance on the situation and they calmed me down a bit by saying that it more than likely was an ear infection that was probably brewing before we left, hence the cold like symptoms, but had chosen to emerge while we were in Florida. By the time I had hung up, we were basically at Urgent Care and after waiting only 15 minutes or so we were in visiting the pediatrician. He checked her head to toe and told us she had a mild ear infection and not to worry. We were given the antibiotic right then and there and prescribed to enjoy the rest of our vacation, from rides in the parks to swimming in the pool, nothing was off limits!

Our van had arrived to take us back to our resort and we couldn’t have been more relieved. I must say I preferred the trip back to the hotel where my mine and my husband’s fears were eased and my little girl, with her first dose of antibiotic in her, was up and eating a go go squeeze. I have to say the entire system at Disney was truly a blessing. I’m so grateful that they have a system like that where you can easily take yourself or your child to a facility where they can be seen by a wonderful doctor like we had met. The Urgent Care Center staff were incredibly nice and helpful (and it was very clean too!). Also, the ability to receive her medicine right there was an amazing convenience too, seeing as we have used their pharmacy services before which are equally as convenient however aren’t quite as quick as receiving the medicine two seconds after diagnosis. One more thing I’d like to mention is about their transportation service to and from the center. They staff amazing drivers, one of which seeing my panic and fear quickly got us there and even phoned the return driver to see how our little girl was doing; their genuine concern and want to help was so touching and certainly made the experience a little less terrifying. All in all, I’d prefer for none of us to ever have to use this service again, however, I’m so glad to know that it exists and that it’s as convenient and painless as it is. Thanks to all that participate in this service that Disney offers, I’m so grateful for all of your help in helping my little girl!

After we had returned home to Wilderness Lode we took it easy, got some food in little one, and just relaxed in the air conditioned hotel. Dinner rolled around and we had made a last minute reservation at Kona Cafe in the Polynesian. Little one seemed to be feeling much better so we decided to head over to get something to eat, I for one was starving and in desperate need of a good meal after our ordeal that day. The easiest route to get there was boating over to the Contemporary or Magic Kingdom and then hopping on the monorail from there. Thankfully that’s the best medicine for my little girl to fall asleep which sure enough after her long day she certainly did. She slept well through the entire trip over and through a good portion of the meal too! While she slept, mommy and daddy were able to take a deep breath and just relax!

Kona Cafe was one of our favorite pre-gluten free days so it was nice to be back, not to mention we both love the scenery at the Polynesian so we always try to make it a point to pop in there for a meal or two each trip. After checking in and waiting only a few minutes we were quickly seated, pulling up our little girl in her stroller beside us. The chef quickly followed after our waitress’ greeting and went over the menu with me. One thing that caught my eye that I had heard could be done gluten free were the Pan-Asian Noodles. Sure enough the chef confirmed that these could absolutely be done gluten free with rice noodles and their gluten free teriyaki sauce! I couldn’t have been more happy to hear that, especially after our previous let down at 50s and the day that we had had. Needless to say, I, without hesitation, placed my order for the Pan-Asian Noodles with grilled chicken and some green veggies.

While waiting, we enjoyed a cocktail along with the fantastic bread service that Kona Cafe offers! I just loved the warmed gluten free rolls that I received and the Macadamia Nut Butter that I could add to them! We didn’t have to wait long as our main courses quickly followed and so did the awakening of our little girl! Thankfully when she began to stir I ordered a children’s dish for her so it would be coming out shortly, but in the meantime, she certainly didn’t mind nibbling on their wonderful Hawaiian bread service. It was so great to see her up and enjoying her meal, laughing, coloring, and playing with her napkin, just being the happy little girl that we know and love!

Large bowl full of Kona Cafe's gluten free Pan-Asian Noodles! — Large bowl full of Kona Cafe’s gluten free Pan-Asian Noodles!

While little one enjoyed her bread, I couldn’t help but marvel at how wonderful and huge my dish was. The Gluten Free Pan-Asian Noodle dish was exquisite! The Asian style rice noodles were coated gently with the gluten free teriyaki sauce, without overdoing it. The grilled chicken was perfectly seasoned and was complemented amazingly by the noodles and sauce. And the green veggies inside were perfect, fresh and still a bit crunchy, which I love, and just all together delicious!

Grilled chicken and green veggies with Asian rice noodles and gluten free teriyaki sauce!

I felt incredibly wasteful having eaten only probably half of the dish but between the warmed rolls with sweet butter and the noodle dish, my gluten free tummy couldn’t have been happier! While my daughter finished up nibbling on her meal, I couldn’t help but to look around our table and feel so fortunate that the day could end that way, seeing as how it started. My little one was back in action and I couldn’t wait to share more Disney magic with her. But first, we had to share a little dessert before the magic continued. While my husband enjoyed his dessert, my gluten free Kilauea Torte of warm chocolate cake filled with chocolate liquid sat in front of me and my daughter.

Kona Cafe's gluten free chocolate torte. — Kona Cafe’s gluten free chocolate torte.

Isn’t this beautiful! After slicing the cake in half, the warm chocolate inside oozed out just like a volcano. The addition of the whipped cream and raspberries was perfection, my only request would be for more of both!

Kona Cafe Lava Cake Blog Pics (4) — Warm, chocolate liquid inside oozed out from the torte cake.

My little girl, who definitely has a sweet tooth, drew a huge smile and big eyes while watching me cut up the cake. After just one taste, I heard her familiar “mmm” in appreciation and I knew that the rest of the vacation would certainly be enjoyed! Kona Cafe was the perfect dinner to wrap up our rough day. It was effortless and incredibly delicious to eat gluten free here, just how I had remembered it to be years ago. Add this one to your list of potential gluten free must-do Disney restaurants, it’s definitely a keeper!

Thankfully, after such a rough day we could end it on such a sweet note! In fact, our little girl was in such good spirits we decided to stop into Magic Kingdom to take her on a few of her favorite rides, like Dumbo, Small World, and Pirates of the Caribbean! The events of the day were certainly rough but Disney worked its’ magic and took care of my little girl!

Stay tuned for the magic that Day 4 brought!

Have A Magical Day,

Lindsay

May 27, 2014

A Sad But True Gluten Free Update On Disney’s 50s Prime Time Cafe At Hollywood Studios

Our second day in Disney was fantastic, from an early start in Epcot riding some rides and meeting and greeting some of my daughter’s favorite Disney faces to tasting new and exotic treats around the World Showcase leading up to a gluten free lunch at Tutto Gusto. With little one wide awake after a lunch in Italy, we took our time and wandered through the remaining countries, visiting characters and taking in all of the beautiful topiaries. Soon enough, my little girl’s full belly made her incredibly sleepy allowing mommy and daddy some time to get a drink and enjoy the beautiful sights and sounds that Epcot has to offer.

After some meandering through air conditioned stores throughout the rest of the world, it was time for us to head over to Hollywood Studios for dinner at 50s Prime Time Cafe. Having fallen in love with this restaurant the past few times that we visited Disney in the gluten free phase of my life, it was a no brainer to make an advanced dining reservation here. For the past few months I’ve been craving their delicious, gluten free crispy fried chicken, something I’ve only ever been able to enjoy thanks to Disney! To say I was extremely excited heading over to 50s would be an understatement!

By the time we reached Hollywood Studios little one was still sleeping so we scooted into 50s Prime Time Cafe, checked in, and were quickly seated with a sleeping toddler by our side. A quick once over of the menu to just make sure the fried chicken still made an appearance and I was ready to place my order with the chef. Much to my dismay, as I was discussing my menu options with him and tried to place my fried chicken order I was told that they no longer could make the gluten free fried chicken. My mouth literally fell open as I turned to my husband sitting across from me. After some prodding, the chef went on to explain that they no longer keep any of the ingredients in the restaurant so you would need to order your meal with them far in advance. He went on to say that additionally they don’t make this dish anymore because of hazards with the fryer along with the lengthy amount of time that it takes to prepare the dish. Needless to say I was very confused after a number of different excuses were thrown at me, I mean could I order the fried chicken in the future if I call three months ahead and place my order or even after that when I am finally there to enjoy my ordered ahead meal will I be told it’s not safe to make this dish?

After the shock wore off, I asked the chef what else I could order off of the menu and learned of the meatloaf and pot pie without the crust, neither of which I’ve ever really enjoyed prior to my gluten issues so they weren’t really options for me. One item that did catch my eye was the pot roast which sounded quite tasty, however I was told that wasn’t a possibility either due to the flour dusting. Instead, I ordered a Chicken Caesar Salad with blue cheese dressing, not nearly a satisfying and substantial substitute for my beloved gluten free fried chicken. Nonetheless, we were there and enjoying the atmosphere so I was determined to eat something gluten free and end with their amazing brownie dessert.

I’d like to say that their Chicken Caesar Salad was the best I’d ever eaten but it didn’t even come close. The portion was pretty small for the price and the main component of the dish, the lettuce, was odds and ends of romaine. As far as salads go it really wasn’t that bad, unfortunately though it didn’t hold a candle to what I had set my heart on. Thankfully though as dessert rolled around and little girl was still resting her eyes, my husband and I shared the gluten free Dad’s Brownie Sundae, which consisted of a gluten free brownie, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, sprinkles, m&ms, caramel pop corn, and probably a number of other toppings that I missed. This was delicious! So delicious in fact I forgot to take a picture before we dove in. Trust me though, it’s a work of art, definitely worth saving a little bit of room for at the end of your meal. Just a note though, it is pretty big so you might want to consider sharing it if you’re not too hungry still.

All in all, 50s Prime Time Cafe was disappointing this time around. They’ve developed such an impressive reputation online among the food blogs for their ability to cater to gluten free diners in a unique way, providing options that you really can’t find anywhere else. Their fried chicken was so crispy and moist and really put other restaurants who were unable to make this gluten free at home to shame. Sadly it looks as if I can’t really say that anymore. The explanations that the chef provided were confusing and unclear so I suppose in our future Disney trips I’ll have to call and speak directly to a chef months ahead and see if I can possibly enjoy this dish again. The sad truth that I’ve learned traveling, mainly cruising, while gluten free is that many restaurants require advanced notice for a gluten free dish so they can acquire the ingredients. Although these restaurants advertise and develop notoriety because of their gluten free menus, they still do not carry gluten free items for their menu on a day to day basis. This, in my opinion, remains as one of the major pitfalls in dining out gluten free where you have to do so much homework before being able to enjoy a meal with your loved ones at a restaurant.

This situation reminds me a bit of my gluten free travels over the past few years. My husband and I enjoy cruising and have done so several times while eating gluten free. Although they for the most part, with some exceptions, have been phenomenal in catering to a gluten free diet, they required advance ordering at every restaurant prior to our reservation. For me, this just kind of takes away from your meal a bit when you have to hunt down a chef days ahead to place an order for your dinner a couple days away; not to mention, who knows if I’d still be in the mood for a dish that I ordered a couple days ago. Sadly it looks like 50s Prime Time Cafe at Hollywood Studios may be adopting a bit of this approach, at least when it comes to this unique gluten free dish. The funny thing though, I really didn’t mind and wouldn’t mind ordering in advance if I knew I could get an amazing dish that I would enjoy, which in the case of our cruises happened more often than not. Here’s to hoping that 50s Prime TIme Cafe can still put together a fantastic plate of Gluten Free Fried Chicken just like I remember with a little bit of advanced notice. We’ll be visiting Disney again in the next few months so I’ll report then if I have any success!

Keep watching for our next Disney food adventures from Dole Whips and Pop Corn to dinners at Kona Cafe in the Polynesian, Epcot’s Mexico and England, and one of our favorites Cinderella’s Castle!

Have A Magical Day,

Lindsay

May 23, 2014

A Gluten Free Lunch At Epcot’s Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar

Our morning in Epcot was filled with fun for all, from meeting some of little one’s favorite characters like Mickey and friends and Snow White to riding some of Epcot’s best rides. By lunch we were all famished and ready to give some place new a try. Dan and I love wine so we’ve been looking forward to giving Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar in Epcot’s Italy a try for quite awhile leading up to this trip, unfortunately I had a pretty bad sinus infection the week of our trip so the wine tasting didn’t quite happen except for one of my favorite glasses of wine. Food wise though I was very eager to test the waters and see how Tutto Gusto could lend itself to the gluten free diner.

Tutto Gusto’s menu is amazing, including a large variety of meats and cheeses, paninis, and tasting portions of some more diverse dishes. After being seated, I spoke with the chef and he recommended a pasta dish using their gluten free pasta, topping it with a roasted tomato sauce, burrata mozzarella cheese, and basil. I was a bit hesitant to order something so heavy for lunch but by then at Epcot we certainly had walked up a huge appetite. I simply couldn’t resist the deliciousness that he had described so I was on board for the Pomodoro pasta dish done gluten free. After I had placed my specialty order, my husband ordered the Tuscan Pork Ribs and we ordered the chicken fingers for my little girl to enjoy. While our order was being made, we couldn’t help but to look around and enjoy the authenticity of the wine cellar architecture.

Dan and myself have been incredibly fortunate to travel to Europe both on our honeymoon and another time after that visiting a number of places in Italy, Greece, and Spain. We fell in love with every Italian city we had spent time in, most notably Venice, Florence, Rome, and Naples (the Island of Capri). We hope to one day go back and bring our children there so they too can enjoy the beauty of one of our favorite countries but for now we relive our memories through pictures and visiting places like this. Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar reminded us of the small restaurants that we once had the pleasure of dining in in Venice and Florence. It was such a wonderful memory to relive but this time with our little girl by our side. We can’t wait to introduce her to our favorite country’s beauty in the years to come, but for now we love being able to walk her around the world thanks to Epcot’s World Showcase.

Soon enough our food was placed on our table and all of the sights and smells were incredibly overwhelming. It was love at first glance for me, I couldn’t wait to dive in and take my first bite of my Gluten Free Pasta Pomodoro.

Gluten free rice pasta topped with a tomato sauce, basil, and burrata mozzarella.

Presentation wise this dish was exquisite. The whole roasted tomatoes scattered throughout and the mound of burrata mozzarella cheese placed in the center made my mouth water. And I must say, the portion was huge. I’m not sure if this was typically a lunch size portion but it was incredibly large, more than enough for two to share.

Soft and creamy burrata mozzarella cheese.

Now onto the actual taste of this dish. The actual pasta component of the dish was very tasty and perfect in texture, not mushy in the slightest bit, just how gluten free pasta should be cooked. As far as the tomato sauce, I’m usually not a huge fan of tomato sauces but this one was very light and not overwhelming in the slightest bit. The burrata cheese was a smooth and creamy version of fresh mozzarella and was the perfect addition to the light tomato sauce and gluten free pasta. My first bite of pasta, tomato sauce, burrata cheese, and a smidgen of basil was pure heaven. The flavor combination was absolute perfection for my picky palate! I shared a bit with my husband when he had finished his Tuscan Pork Ribs and he too agreed that the gluten free dish was truly amazing! Thank you Tutto Gusto for such a filling and satisfying lunch, I can see many a gluten free lunch and dinner here in our future!

Gluten free Chocolate Panna Cotta topped with cherries.

While we were certainly all filled after our pasta, ribs, and chicken fingers, who could seriously resist the temptation of a Gluten Free Chocolate Panna Cotta topped with cherries? We just had to give it a try, so we ordered one and shared it between the three of us. My little one who had become especially picky with food on our vacation (more than likely because of her brewing ear infection, which I’ll tell you more about that scary experience in another post) absolutely loved this treat! It was light and fluffy, and not too sweet but with the addition of the cherries, it was a perfect ending to a wonderful lunch!

Just a few tips about Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar, you can’t use your dining plan here, however the experience and different food options were totally worth an out-of-pocket dining for us. Also, they do not take reservations which I kind of like so you can just spontaneously stop in and give it a try if you’re in the mood for that type of cuisine. Most of their dishes are either small plate or large enough to be shared which they indicate on their menu, if you’re unsure just ask your server. To take a look at their menu in its entirety just follow this link. I personally can’t wait to stop in here again and either order my beloved Pomodoro pasta dish or a gluten free non-pasta dish (fingers crossed)!

Stay tuned next week for more of my Disney dining likes and dislikes!

For now, have a magical holiday weekend,

Lindsay

May 21, 2014

Gluten Free Disney Family Favorite: Dinner At Be Our Guest Restaurant

Disney Day 1 at Magic Kingdom was filled with all of the classics from Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion to Peter Pan and Cinderella’s Carousel and some of the newer rides too like Ariel’s Under the Sea and Winnie the Pooh, each was so much fun and made my little girl smile from ear to ear. After an afternoon of rides we were ready for our first extra special dinner reservation at Disney’s new Be Our Guest Restaurant. Having eaten at this one on our previous vacation in the fall I knew how fantastic they were at catering to the gluten free diner so I couldn’t resist paying them another visit.

Be Our Guest offers a number of amazing dinner options from Chicken and Grilled Strip Steak to Ratatouille and a Puff Pastry Seafood dish. For me, I narrowed my choices down to the Chicken Provencal or the Grilled Strip Steak. As with every one of my Disney dinners I always request to speak with the chef to review each of my options so I can choose the safest and tastiest dish for me to enjoy. As per usual, the chef greeted our table within moments of being seated and reviewed the gluten free options on the menu. Hearing that the Grilled Strip Steak could be made as seen on the menu with its garlic-herb butter sauce and pommes frites the decision was simple for me and I went with the steak. Only moments after ordering our food while I was entertaining my little girl I was shocked to see our appetizers and bread coming out and minutes after that our main courses quickly followed. Their speedy service at Be Our Guest is fantastic and greatly appreciated by this mommy of a toddler who although is quite patient and loves too color is still a 1 1/2 year old who has places to go and people to see.

My first bites at Be Our Guest were of their delicious gluten free dinner rolls, which I later inquired to find out that they were Ener-G brand. These were a perfect start to the meal, warmed and covered in butter, so good!

For me, it’s just refreshing to even be able to participate in the bread course of a meal, when usually I just sit and gaze at the gluten filled rolls that were placed in the center of the table. Disney is superior at making all of their diners happy from the start of a meal to the finish, as evident by their offering of gluten free rolls! Just moments after my first few bites into these rolls I caught a glimpse of my main course arriving and I couldn’t have been more excited to give the garlic-herb butter that I was promised a taste.

As you can see, this dish is gorgeous! You get a generous size piece of steak accompanied by a large helping of both green beans and pommes frites. First comes first though, I couldn’t wait to taste the steak along with the garlic-herb butter that was free of gluten. The steak was cooked to perfection, well done just how I like it, and the garlic-herb butter sauce that topped it was absolutely DELICIOUS! It added so much flavor and was incredible, I’m so glad that the chef informed me that this one was gluten free!

dsf — Be Our Guest’s gluten free grilled strip steak with garlic-herb butter sauce.

The green beans were equally as tasty, but I have to say the second star of the dish were the pommes frites or rather their french fries. They were a lovely cross between a thin and steak size french fry and were seasoned to perfection. They had a delicious mix of seasonings that made them irresistible to both myself and my daughter. Just talking about them is making me wish that I could just enjoy one more bite!

sdfsd — Perfectly seasoned gluten free pommes frites, the perfect accompaniment to Be Our Guest’s grilled strip steak.

I’m so grateful for Disney’s Be Our Guest Restaurant who creates an amazing dining experience. Although their food is divine, the world that you step into truly takes over and makes you feel as though you’re in Beauty and the Beast. If you haven’t dined here you absolutely must give it a try, you won’t be disappointed by the food nor the environment. And if you’re gluten free, ease any fears of safe dining, Disney is superior at catering to diner’s needs in all shapes and forms and Be Our Guest certainly lived up to this standard. The meal was amazing from start to finish, my only wish being that I could take this restaurant home with me so I could enjoy their gluten free service all of the time!

It was the perfect food ending to our first day in Disney! We couldn’t wait to enjoy a bit more of the sights and sounds of Magic Kingdom before turning in but thanks to Be Our Guest our bellies were all full and happy!

TIP: Not so much as a tip but more of a tidbit of information that I learned about Be Our Guest Restaurant. My husband and I just marveled at the attention to detail in the castle and throughout the restaurant so as we were dining we spoke with the waitress about the restaurant and learned quite a few interesting details about it. One of our favorite features was the ceiling of the ballroom that was covered with cherub angels and gold chandeliers. My husband commented that the angels looked extremely realistic like they were real pictures of babies. Our waitress actually informed us that the imagineers who worked on the project were given a gift to pick one of their family member’s baby pictures and incorporate it into the ceiling of the ballroom as the cherub angels. So next time you take a walk through pay special attention to the ceiling and you’ll be able to see the realness in this piece of art. For now, I posted a picture that I captured of the ceiling so you could take a quick look!

Have A Magical Day,

Lindsay

May 7, 2014

Crispy Gluten Free Calzones Stuffed With Ricotta, Mozzarella, and Sauce

Large, cheese and sauce filled pockets of crispy dough whose stuffings ooze out after your first cut, remember those? Calzones and strombolis had disappeared from my diet along with gluten several years ago but quickly made a homemade return when I discovered Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Pizza Crust Mix. And while I was pregnant I must say this mix, along with those easy to use premade gluten free pizza crusts, were a godsend as I craved pizzas and calzones like crazy. Pregnant or not, I just love the idea of a calzone that has all of the goodness of a pizza just wrapped up in a pocket of dough…so good!!!

From experience, I would say Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Pizza Crust Mix produces the best gluten free pizzas and calzones that give that beloved doughy texture, without them tasting and feeling like bread. Not to mention with one bag of the mix, that costs you about $3.49, you get at least 6 larger personal size calzones that give our family of 3 a couple of meals (You can certainly make a few very large calzones, but we prefer the personal size so we can customize each to each of our own preferences). I’m not going to lie, making pizzas or calzones essentially from scratch is not a quick undertaking, however the end result is fantastic and completely worth every second, not to mention depending on family size, you can get a few meals out of just one round! You can always do as I did while I was pregnant and recruit your spouse to assist with some of the more labor intensive tasks while you do the fun stuff like the assembly (or even just the eating part!). These calzones are so delicious and make my mouth water every time I think about them! Hope you enjoy them too!

Ingredients for Tomato Sauce:

28 oz can Tuttorosso Tomato Sauce
1 tsp dried basil for tomato sauce
1 tsp dried oregano for tomato sauce
1 tsp dried parsley for tomato sauce
2 tbsp minced garlic for tomato sauce
2 tbsp olive oil for tomato sauce

Other Ingredients for Calzones:

1 Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Pizza Crust Whole Grain Mix (includes 1 packet of yeast)
2 eggs for pizza crust
2 tbsp olive oil for pizza crust
1 1/2 cup warm water for pizza crust
16 oz block of part skim mozzarella cheese (Galbani Sorrento is gluten free as indicated via phone, but as always call each time you purchase to review gluten status)
1/2 cup part skim ricotta cheese (Galbani Sorrento)
Additional toppings desired such as broccoli or pepperoni (our favorite is Hormel which states gluten free on their packaging)
Gluten free all purpose flour for rolling out dough (I like Bob’s Red Mill)
Oregano and Garlic Salt to taste

Gluten Free Tomato Sauce

2014-05-07 07:15:06

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Ingredients

28 oz can Tuttorosso Tomato Sauce
1 tsp dried basil for tomato sauce
1 tsp dried oregano for tomato sauce
1 tsp dried parsley for tomato sauce
2 tbsp minced garlic for tomato sauce
2 tbsp olive oil for tomato sauce (I use Pompeian)

Instructions

Add 2 tbsp olive oil and 2 tbsp minced garlic to sauce pan.
Cook garlic on low-medium heat until slightly browned.
Add a 28 oz can of tomato sauce (I like Tutturosso).
Stir sauce and heat on low-medium.
Add 1 tsp of dried basil, oregano, and parsley and stir to combine.
Taste sauce and add a bit of garlic salt if you'd like.
Heat sauce for about 20-25 minutes.
Remove from heat and set sauce aside.

By Gluten Free Mom To Be

Gluten Free Mom To Be http://www.glutenfreemomtobe.com/

Directions:

First prepare the sauce by adding 2 tbsp olive oil and 2 tbsp minced garlic to sauce pan.
Cook garlic on low-medium heat until slightly browned.

fdf — Minced garlic browning in olive oil.

Add a 28 oz can of tomato sauce (I like Tutturosso).
Stir sauce and heat on low-medium.
Add 1 tsp of dried basil, oregano, and parsley and stir to combine.
Taste sauce and add a bit of garlic salt if you’d like.
Heat sauce for about 20-25 minutes.
Remove from heat and set sauce aside.

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.
Now prepare Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Pizza Crust Mix by first combining 1 1/2 cups warm water and 1 packet of yeast (included in the mix bag) with a mixer and set aside for several minutes.
Add 2 eggs and 2 tbsp olive oil to yeast and mix.

Prepare pizza crust first and set aside while you're preparing the fillings. — Prepare pizza crust first and set aside while you’re preparing the fillings.

Gradually add in Bob’s Red Mill pizza mix, mixing well after each addition.
When all is combined, divide dough in half, cover with saran wrap, and allow to rise for about 20 minutes.

While dough is rising, shred 16 oz block of part skim mozzarella cheese.

sad — Part skim mozzarella and ricotta I like for pizzas and calzones.

Collect all other fillings to assemble your calzones. We like Hormel pepperoni, Sorrento part skim ricotta cheese, and steamed broccoli.

Now we’re ready to separate and roll out our dough for our calzones.
Dust your counter, table, or cutting board with gluten free flour and add dough on top. Cover your hands in flour and begin to knead the dough. Do this until the dough is not too sticky to manage.

sfdsf — Knead dough with gluten free flour until it’s not too sticky to handle.

Divide dough into 6-7 individual servings. We had 6 personal size along with a smaller one for my little girl. Set all aside except for first one.

Using a rolling pin dusted in gluten free flour, add gluten free flour to top of dough and begin to roll slowly. Take your time with this and don’t be afraid to keep adding little bits of flour as you go to prevent sticking. Roll out dough to form a thin circle. You can either do this on the baking sheet that you’ll be assembling the calzone on or on a separate surface that might give you more room, just remember you’ll have to move the dough to cook it later on.

sfsdf — Using a rolling pin, flatten dough into a thin circle.

I usually like to roll out my dough on a large cutting board and then either slide it or pick it up to move it onto the baking sheet. However you’d like to do it, gently move the dough onto a baking sheet.
Now put together your calzones! First, to half of your circle, add some sauce, then some mozzarella and ricotta cheese, and broccoli or pepperoni or whichever other toppings you’d like. The best part here is you can add as much or as little of each of these things as you prefer! I personally love ricotta, mozzarella cheese, and sauce in mine! Just make sure to not over stuff your calzones and leave a bit of an edge to pinch your calzone closed.

hfghf — Calzone stuffed with sauce, cheese, and veggies!

Turn over the empty half of your circle and pinch the cough closed, making sure to create a sealed pocket on all sides. Then using a sharp knife, add several slits to the top. I use this part to mark each of our different calzones, i.e. little one’s have two slits, mine have three, and Dan’s have four.
Before cooking, sprinkle tops with a little bit of garlic salt and oregano.

Cook calzones for 14-16 minutes until tops begin to turn golden brown. Optional: Halfway through you can brush olive oil on tops to give a golden, crispy crust.

sfs — Cook calzones for 14 to 16 minutes!

Enjoy!

I love the combination of the tomato sauce, ricotta, and mozzarella cheese all sandwiched into this fabulous gluten free pizza dough. If you have extra sauce, which we always have a ton, we like to take each bite and dip it into a little sauce on the side, it just adds a little something extra (if you still have extra, add it to a freezer bag when it’s cooled and freeze it for next time or another recipe). I think the best part of this recipe is that these calzones always reheat very well. As a family of 3 we never finish all of the calzones that are made, so we always have leftovers for the next day’s lunch or dinner. It’s so simple to reheat these, all you have to do is pop them into the microwave or oven, whatever is available, for a few minutes and they taste just as good as the day before. After just one bite of one of these calzones, you’ll remember the wonderful flavors of the gluten filled ones that you enjoyed years ago but now you can enjoy without the dangers of gluten!

Sincerely,

Lindsay

TIP: Although I have two non-gluten free eaters in my house, when I make something like these calzones from scratch that requires flour and any other potential gluten containing ingredient, I stick with only making a gluten free version to prevent any inevitable cross contamination. Usually, on a daily basis I prefer to make two versions, one for my daughter and husband and the other for me, when it’s easily and safely accomplished. In this case though, when flour is involved, I shy away from bringing out my gluten free and their regular flour at the same time, thus eliminating the worry of cross contaminating during the prep and of course the necessity of keeping everything separate while cooking too. Altogether, making just one version of the calzones is safer for me and my gluten diners sure have not complained about their gluten free calzones one bit. In fact, each time my husband raves about how delicious they turn out!

Crispy And Cheesy Gluten Free Calzones

2014-05-07 09:19:08

Crispy dough pockets filled with cheese and sauce!

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Ingredients for Tomato Sauce

28 oz can Tuttorosso Tomato Sauce
1 tsp dried basil for tomato sauce
1 tsp dried oregano for tomato sauce
1 tsp dried parsley for tomato sauce
2 tbsp minced garlic for tomato sauce
2 tbsp olive oil for tomato sauce

Other Ingredients for Calzones

1 Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Pizza Crust Whole Grain Mix (includes 1 packet of yeast)
2 eggs for pizza crust
2 tbsp olive oil for pizza crust
1 1/2 cup warm water for pizza crust
16 oz block of part skim mozzarella cheese (Galbani Sorrento is gluten free as indicated via phone, but as always call each time you purchase to review gluten status)
1/2 cup part skim ricotta cheese (Galbani Sorrento)
Additional toppings desired such as broccoli or pepperoni (our favorite is Hormel which states gluten free on their packaging)
Gluten free all purpose flour for rolling out dough (I like Bob's Red Mill)
Oregano and Garlic Salt to taste

Instructions

First prepare the sauce by adding 2 tbsp olive oil and 2 tbsp minced garlic to sauce pan.
Cook garlic on low-medium heat until slightly browned.
Add a 28 oz can of tomato sauce (I like Tutturosso).
Stir sauce and heat on low-medium.
Add 1 tsp of dried basil, oregano, and parsley and stir to combine.
Taste sauce and add a bit of garlic salt if you'd like.
Heat sauce for about 20-25 minutes.
Remove from heat and set sauce aside.
Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.
Now prepare Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Pizza Crust Mix by first combining 1 1/2 cups warm water and 1 packet of yeast (included in the mix bag) with a mixer and set aside for several minutes.
Add 2 eggs and 2 tbsp olive oil to yeast and mix.
Gradually add in Bob's Red Mill pizza mix, mixing well after each addition.
When all is combined, divide dough in half, cover with saran wrap, and allow to rise for about 20 minutes.
While dough is rising, shred 16 oz block of part skim mozzarella cheese.
Collect all other fillings to assemble your calzones. We like Hormel pepperoni, Sorrento part skim ricotta cheese, and steamed broccoli.
Now we're ready to separate and roll out our dough for our calzones.
Dust your counter, table, or cutting board with gluten free flour and add dough on top. Cover your hands in flour and begin to knead the dough. Do this until the dough is not too sticky to manage.
Divide dough into 6-7 individual servings. We had 6 personal size along with a smaller one for my little girl. Set all aside except for first one.
Using a rolling pin dusted in gluten free flour, add gluten free flour to top of dough and begin to roll slowly. Take your time with this and don't be afraid to keep adding little bits of flour as you go to prevent sticking. Roll out dough to form a thin circle. You can either do this on the baking sheet that you'll be assembling the calzone on or on a separate surface that might give you more room, just remember you'll have to move the dough to cook it later on.
I usually like to roll out my dough on a large cutting board and then either slide it or pick it up to move it onto the baking sheet. However you'd like to do it, gently move the dough onto a baking sheet.
Now put together your calzones! First, to half of your circle, add some sauce, then some mozzarella and ricotta cheese, and broccoli or pepperoni or whichever other toppings you'd like. The best part here is you can add as much or as little of each of these things as you prefer! I personally love mozzarella, ricotta, and sauce! Just make sure to not over stuff your calzones and leave a bit of an edge to pinch your calzone closed.
Turn over the empty half of your circle and pinch the cough closed, making sure to create a sealed pocket on all sides. Then using a sharp knife, add several slits to the top. I use this part to mark each of our different calzones, i.e. little one's have two slits, mine have three, and Dan's have four.
Before cooking, sprinkle tops with a little bit of garlic salt and oregano.
Cook calzones for 14-16 minutes until tops begin to turn golden brown. Optional: Halfway through you can brush olive oil on tops to give a golden, crispy crust.
Enjoy!

By Gluten Free Mom To Be

Gluten Free Mom To Be http://www.glutenfreemomtobe.com/

May 5, 2014

Fluffy Gluten Free Gnocchi Smothered In A Scampi Sauce: A Palermo’s Restaurant and Pizzeria Review

It was another busy weekend in the Gluten Free Mom To Be’s house filled with our niece’s first communion festivities, swapping out spring for winter clothes, packing for our Disney vacation next week, and doing a little yard work. For a little break in the kitchen, we decided to order from one of our favorite local Italian restaurants. Palermo’s Restaurant and Pizzeria has been a family favorite since our childhood and has thankfully made a triumphant return to our lives by catering to my gluten free diet.

Tossing around the idea of ordering my all time favorite dinner, vodka rigatoni, or one of their other standout dishes, the gluten free gnocchi, I opted to go with door number two. The chef, who has a child with Celiac, is well versed on the gluten free diet and all that goes into safely delivering a gluten free meal, so as per usual my fears of being glutened with dining here were minimal. Along with the understanding of what gluten free really entails, the chef delivers quality gluten free meals that surpass my expectations each time. The gluten free gnocchi certainly have done just that. For a little bit of a change from the norm, I went with the gluten free gnocchi smothered in a flavorful scampi sauce of lemon, garlic, butter, and additional seasonings.

First and foremost, whatever pasta and gnocchi they use at Palermo’s is delicious. The gnocchi specifically though are soft and pillowy, and are the perfect base for my beloved scampi sauce. Typically the gnocchi can come with a vodka sauce, but I just love the lightness of a scampi sauce that just seems to embrace the gluten free gnocchi. In my own experience, I must say that Palermo’s goes above and beyond when they are catering to the gluten free diet. Most restaurants merely adjust their dishes to be gluten free by omitting one or many components or supplying a gluten free pasta substitute. One of the downfalls for many restaurants though comes to the sauces. For many, sauces typically are a no go to be adjusted gluten free, but Palermo’s goes the extra mile in this department by making a number of gluten free sauces from vodka, to pesto, to scampi. And from personal experience, each have been equally as delicious as the other!

These gnocchi are delicious, so soft, just like little pillows!

It is truly a delight to order a meal with the comfort that the chef who’s making it takes the necessary precautions for safety but also the extra steps to ensure excellent quality. The gluten free gnocchi with scampi sauce is superb and has even been made to be dairy free as well for my sister. Either way, the garlic goodness emitting from the sauce is the perfect complement to each soft and tender bite of gnocchi. Palermo’s Restaurant and Pizzeria had certainly done it again in my book, producing a fantastic gluten free pasta dish that anyone could enjoy! To check out my other favorite Palermo’s dish and their entire gluten free menu check out my gluten free vodka rigatoni post here.

With our bellies full and energy refueled, we were able to finish out the beautiful weekend with gusto. It was a great Spring weekend that was filled with family, good food, and lots of fun outside. Thank you Palermo’s for adding a perfect gluten free touch to an already amazing weekend!

Sincerely,

Lindsay

April 30, 2014

Divine, Gluten Free Pizza Topped With Tomato, Chicken, and Pesto

While most of my days are filled with blogging and chasing my toddler and fur baby around I’m always in search of a quick and easy dinner option that I can make both gluten free for myself and regular for my daughter and husband. As you may have caught onto by now, pesto is a key ingredient in a number of my family’s favorite dishes. I decided last night to bring out the pesto again and put together one of my all time favorite pizza combinations, Tomato and Chicken atop a pesto slathered pizza crust, a combination I was first introduced to on Pillsbury’s recipe site.

Being short on time combined with relatively empty pantry shelves (after a busy weekend, I’m overdo for a grocery shopping trip), I knew this one would be a perfect option for dinner. I pulled out a jar of gluten free pesto sauce, along with a frozen Udi’s pizza crust, a box of Perdue Shortcuts, and a few other ingredients from my refrigerator and I was almost ready to put my pizza together. When you’re missing fresh ingredients to make your own pesto sauce, it’s wonderful to be able to turn to a convenient and guaranteed gluten free premade option, especially on a busy night. Some of my favorite jarred pesto sauce brands include Wegmans store brand, Bellino, Cento, and Classico. (If you do have all of the ingredients on hand and a few spare minutes feel free to use my homemade pesto sauce recipe here.) Another quick substitute that is a huge timesaver to defrosting, cooking up, and carving your own chicken breasts are pre-cooked chicken strips like those produced by Perdue, my favorites that I use often are the Honey or Grilled varieties. After gathering and quickly preparing your ingredients, this pizza takes only a few minutes to put together and only about 7 minutes more to cook. And there you go! A wonderfully gluten free Tomato and Chicken Pesto Pizza that’s prepped, cooked, and ready to enjoy in only 15 minutes!

Ingredients:

Udi’s Pizza Crust
2-3 tbsp pesto sauce (homemade or gluten free jarred like Wegmans, Classico, Cento, and Bellino)
1 small plum tomato, thinly sliced
1/4 – 1/2 cup diced chicken breast (half a 9 oz bag of Perdue Shortcuts, I used the honey variety)
1/4 – 1/2 cup shredded part skim mozzarella cheese (Sorrento is gluten free)
garlic salt to taste

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Place pizza crust on baking sheet.
Wash and cut tomato into thin slices.
Prepare chicken breast strips according to package instructions and dice into bite-size pieces.
Add 2-3 tbsp of pesto sauce to pizza crust and use back of spoon to smooth out a thin layer across the entire crust, being sure though to leave about 1/4 inch on the edge free of sauce.

Sprinkle a handful of shredded mozzarella cheese atop pesto sauce, creating a thin, cheesy layer.

Add thin layer of mozzarella cheese to pizza.

Layer tomato slices atop the thin cheese layer.

Add 1/4 – 1/2 cup diced chicken on top of the tomatoes, being sure to distribute evenly.

Finish pizza by sprinkling remaining cheese on top of chicken and tomatoes. Dust with a little bit of garlic salt to taste.

Cook pizza for between 5-7 minutes until crust becomes golden brown.

Tomato and chicken pesto pizza fresh out of the oven.

Let the pizza cool slightly before slicing and then enjoy!

Some of my favorite recipes are those that are either inherently gluten free or can be made both gluten free and regular very easily. That makes me one happy mommy! Whenever homemade pizza is on the menu in our house, I pull out my premade gluten free pizza crusts or gluten free pizza mix along with a large premade regular pizza crust (no mixes here, I don’t usually like gluten filled flour floating around in our kitchen). Last night was no exception, all I had to do was double the ingredients. I always make sure when prepping my pizzas to do the gluten free one first to prevent cross contamination and while that one is cooking, I move on to the regular one.

This is a divine alternative to your traditional tomato and cheese gluten free pizza! Any gluten free dinner that can be put together in only a few minutes, cooked for about the same amount of time, and taste as delectable as this one is a winner in my book! Enjoy!

Sincerely,

Lindsay

Tomato, Chicken, and Pesto Gluten Free Pizza

2014-04-30 09:51:08

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Prep Time

8 min

Prep Time

8 min

Ingredients

Udi's Pizza Crust
2-3 tbsp pesto sauce (homemade or gluten free jarred like Wegmans, Classico, Cento, and Bellino)
1 small plum tomato, thinly sliced
1/4 - 1/2 cup diced chicken breast (half a 9 oz bag of Perdue Shortcuts, I used the honey variety)
1/4 - 1/2 cup shredded part skim mozzarella cheese (Sorrento is gluten free)
garlic salt to taste

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Place pizza crust on baking sheet.
Wash and cut tomato into thin slices.
Prepare chicken breast strips according to package instructions and dice into bite-size pieces.
Add 2-3 tbsp of pesto sauce to pizza crust and use back of spoon to smooth out a thin layer across the entire crust, being sure though to leave about 1/4 inch on the edge free of sauce.
Sprinkle a handful of shredded mozzarella cheese atop pesto sauce, creating a thin, cheesy layer.
Layer tomato slices atop the thin cheese layer.
Add 1/4 - 1/2 cup diced chicken on top of the tomatoes, being sure to distribute evenly.
Finish pizza by sprinkling remaining cheese on top of chicken and tomatoes. Dust with a little bit of garlic salt to taste.
Cook pizza for between 5-7 minutes until crust becomes golden brown.
Let the pizza cool slightly before slicing and then enjoy!

By Gluten Free Mom To Be

Adapted from Pillsbury

Gluten Free Mom To Be http://www.glutenfreemomtobe.com/

April 25, 2014

Goat Cheese Pesto Pizza, A Gluten Free Delight!

I love playing around with gluten free pizzas, trying to make new and tasty options as opposed to my usual cheese and sauce. From white pizzas with ricotta cheese to tomato pies topped with grilled chicken and tomato slices, each concoction I’ve tried, I’ve loved! One ingredient though that translates well not just smothering pasta but also on pizzas is pesto sauce. I’ve always loved pesto sauce, which thank goodness is gluten free by nature! I’ve thrown pesto sauce on a number of gluten free pizzas, and no matter which crust or toppings I chose, each time the sauce married perfectly.

In search of a different take on my pesto pizza, I came upon Musings of a Housewife’s Pesto and Goat Cheese Pizza. What a fantastic twist on my usual mozzarella cheese, goat cheese! I actually don’t eat goat cheese very often so I was excited to add it to a pizza. Short on time, rather than mixing up my pizza dough from scratch, I opted to use my favorite thin crust pizzas by Udi’s. With my husband and daughter not requiring a gluten free crust, I used a premade regular crust for them and my Udi’s gluten free crust for myself. And voila! A unique twist with some of my favorite ingredients that my whole family enjoyed! Yes, even my 16 month old enjoyed the unique flavor and creaminess of the goat cheese combined with the pesto sauce. I can’t wait to make this dinner again, which by the way took only 15 minutes to prep and 10 minutes to cook!

Ingredients:

2 Udi’s gluten free pizza crusts
1/2 – 3/4 cup pesto (you can prepare your own as I did or use your favorite jarred version; my favorite jarred pesto sauces are Wegmans store brand which states gluten free on the label (how fantastic!), Cento (states gluten free on website), and Bellino (states gluten free on website))
2 plum tomatoes, sliced or diced
3.5 – 4 oz crumbled goat cheese (Alouette or Chavrie, both brands state gluten free, might be on the packaging, but definitely on their websites)
salt and pepper to taste

Homemade Pesto Sauce Ingredients:

1/3 cup olive oil and 2 additional tbsp for blending (I like Pompeian which states gluten free on its label)
2 cups firmly packed fresh basil
1/2 cup pine nuts (make sure these are gluten free; although these by nature are gluten free, they can share equipment with wheat products)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 to 4 garlic cloves, peeled and quartered
1/4 tsp salt
pepper to taste
Add all ingredients to food processor blender; cover and process or blend until mixture is smooth (make sure you stop and scrape sides); while blending or processing, add up to 2 additional tbsp of olive oil to reach creamy consistency; add black pepper to taste.
This recipe makes about 3/4 cup of pesto sauce, enough for this recipe!

Homemade Gluten Free Pesto Sauce

2014-04-25 08:29:54

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Ingredients

1/3 cup olive oil and 2 additional tbsp for blending (I like Pompeian, which states gluten free on its label)
2 cups firmly packed fresh basil
1/2 cup pine nuts (make sure these are gluten free; although these by nature are gluten free, they can share equipment with wheat products)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 to 4 garlic cloves, peeled and quartered
1/4 tsp salt
pepper to taste

Instructions

Add all ingredients to food processor blender.
Cover and process or blend until mixture is smooth (make sure you stop and scrape sides).
While blending or processing, add up to 2 additional tbsp of olive oil to reach creamy consistency.
Add black pepper to taste.
This recipe makes about 3/4 cup of pesto sauce!

By Gluten Free Mom To Be

Adapted from Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook

Gluten Free Mom To Be http://www.glutenfreemomtobe.com/

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Add 2 Udi’s pizza crusts to baking sheets.

Udi's thin gluten free crust. — Udi’s thin gluten free crust.

Prepare pesto sauce using the recipe above. My pesto recipe is derived from my favorite cookbook from my pre-gluten free days, Better Homes and Garden Cookbook, but of course is made to be gluten free. Even though they certainly don’t have an allergy friendly section in this one, I still refer to it for recipe ideas and cooking staples, like sauces. If you are short on time or just prefer to use a jarred pesto sauce, just make sure to choose one that is gluten free (I recommended a few of my favorites in the ingredients section).
Once pesto sauce is ready, divide evenly between the two pizza crusts, adding to the center of each. Using the back of a spoon, gently spread the pesto sauce across the surface of the pizza crust, to about half an inch from the edge.

Slice or dice two plum tomatoes. I prefer slices on my pizzas, but use whatever you’d like.
Layer tomatoes on top of pesto sauce.

Sliced tomatoes layered on top of the pesto sauce.

Add crumbled goat cheese to tops of pizzas.
Finish pizzas with a sprinkle of salt and pepper.

Gluten Free pesto goat cheese pizza ready for the oven!

Cook pizzas for about 5-7 minutes until crust turns a light golden brown.
Cool slightly and slice to enjoy!

If you love pesto sauce as much as I do and haven’t tried adding it to a homemade pizza, you absolutely must give it a try! There’s just something about the combination of the olive oil based basil sauce and the pizza crust that just works. Top the sauce with any cheese or toppings of your liking, but if you’re in the mood for something a bit different, pick up some goat cheese and tomatoes and put this Gluten Free Goat Cheese Pesto Pizza together. The creaminess of the goat cheese combines perfectly with the pesto sauce and sliced tomatoes. It’s so simple and easy to put together and will quickly become a family favorite!

Sincerely,

Lindsay

Goat Cheese Pesto Pizza, A Gluten Free Delight!

2014-04-25 08:52:57

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Ingredients

2 Udi's gluten free pizza crusts
1/2 - 3/4 cup pesto (you can use homemade or jarred, my favorite jarred pesto sauces are Wegmans store brand which states gluten free on the label (how fantastic!), Cento (states gluten free on website), and Bellino (states gluten free on website))
2 plum tomatoes, sliced or diced
3.5 - 4 oz goat cheese (Alouette or Chavrie, both brands state gluten free, might be on the packaging, but definitely on their websites)
salt and pepper to taste

Homemade Gluten Free Pesto Sauce

1/3 cup olive oil and 2 additional tbsp for blending (I like Pompeian which states gluten free on its label)
2 cups firmly packed fresh basil
1/2 cup pine nuts (make sure these are gluten free; although these by nature are gluten free, they can share equipment with wheat products)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 to 4 garlic cloves, peeled and quartered
1/4 tsp salt
pepper to taste
Add all ingredients to food processor blender; cover and process or blend until mixture is smooth (make sure you stop and scrape sides); while blending or processing, add up to 2 additional tbsp of olive oil to reach creamy consistency; add black pepper to taste.
This recipe makes about 3/4 cup of pesto sauce, enough for this recipe!

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Add 2 Udi's pizza crusts to baking sheets.
Prepare pesto sauce using the recipe above. My pesto recipe is derived from my favorite cookbook from my pre-gluten free days, Better Homes and Garden Cookbook, but of course is made to be gluten free. Even though they certainly don't have an allergy friendly section in this one, I still refer to it for recipe ideas and cooking staples, like sauces. If you are short on time or just prefer to use a jarred pesto sauce, just make sure to choose one that is gluten free (I recommended a few of my favorites in the ingredients section).
Once pesto sauce is ready, divide evenly between the two pizza crusts, adding to the center of each. Using the back of a spoon, gently spread the pesto sauce across the surface of the pizza crust, to about half an inch from the edge.
Slice or dice two plum tomatoes. I prefer slices on my pizzas, but use whatever you'd like.
Layer tomatoes on top of pesto sauce.
Add goat cheese to tops of pizzas.
Finish pizzas with a sprinkle of salt and pepper.
Cook pizzas for about 5-7 minutes until crust turns a light golden brown.
Cool slightly and slice to enjoy!

By Gluten Free Mom To Be

Adapted from Musings of a Housewife

Gluten Free Mom To Be http://www.glutenfreemomtobe.com/