Thanksgiving, the food day of all days. We’re less than a week out which means prep time is here. Whether or not you get to be the lucky one preparing and serving the feast, it is important to prepare ahead of time. That is what we hope you get out of this week’s recipe post, a little help with your holiday preparation.
First, let’s start with talking about the big guy, you know who I mean. If you are preparing a turkey this year and want to keep this Thanksgiving gluten free or Paleo, it’s important to know your turkey. We all know turkey is naturally gluten free. It isn’t made of or wheat, or barley, or any other grains that contain gluten; but some turkeys are injected with a solution intended to make them tastier and juicier.
This is where our naturally delicious gluten free bird can become contaminated. Read the label on the turkey, if it says it was injected with Modified Food Starch, put it down and walk away. Here is why, the most common types of modified food starch are made from corn, wheat, potato and tapioca. Most modified starches are gluten free, except for those that use wheat starch as a base. So if it doesn’t define where the modified food starch came from, such as Modified Corn Starch, don’t risk it.
If you are planning on attending someone else’s feast, and know they will not be making gluten free, or paleo dishes, bring your own! Figure out one or two of your favorite dishes that are typically not gluten free or paleo; think stuffing, rolls, pies, even gravy. If you want to make your own turkey gravy without having the turkey drippings, simply visit your local butcher and ask if they have any turkey necks and giblets to make a turkey stock with.
If cooking isn’t your thing, there are PLENTY of gluten free bakeries here in Portland. New Cascadia, Tula, Sweet Pea, Gluten Free Gem, and Craven Raven are all gluten bakeries in the Portland area just to name a few. Just be aware if you have a special order, don’t wait too long to place it. Most bakeries deadlines will probably be this weekend.
Finally, what would a recipe post be, without recipes? We’re turning to Natalie of Honey, Ghee, & Me. Natalie is a a counselor at a middle school who grew up “in a house that oozed food”. She believes that “food should be real”, “eating should be fun”, you should “know your body”, “avoid diets and gimmicks”, and “be open to learning more”. Honey, Ghee, & Me is FULL of so many delicious looking recipes, it’s definitely worth checking out.
The specific post we’re looking at today is “Thanksgiving Roundup… 40 Healthy Recipes For Your Feast!”. Natalie has compiled 40 recipes perfect for Thanksgiving. Everything from drinks, soups, sides, desserts and more. Some stand outs for us are:
Autumn Salad w/Apples, Pomegranates, & Persimmons w/Orange Vinaigrette & Candied Hazelnuts by Savory Lotus
Butternut Squash Gratin by Oh Lardy!
Chef James‘ Breadless Stuffing on Eat Naked Now
Fermented Cranberry Sauce by Oh Lardy!
Chocolate Pumpkin Gingerbread Tarts {Paleo} by Beauty and the Foodie
To check out Natalie’s full list of 40 Thanksgiving day recipes, click HERE!
Remember that while this holiday can be stressful, it doesn’t have to be. If you need help, ask for it, and focus on the good. Hopefully you will have family/friends to spend the day with, delicious food to enjoy, and many many things to be thankful for. We are certainly thankful for all of you. Have a beautiful Thanksgiving.
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