Gluten-Free Thanksgivig Cooking Class (Free)

There will be a Gluten Free Thanksgiving Class at the Athol Public Library on Thursday, Nov. 17th, 2011. It’s free and open to all. Registration is suggested. Bring your kids (10yo+) too and learn together! Click here for details.

CISA Annual Harvest Dinner: Local & Gluten-Free!

CISA’s Annual Harvest Dinner: On The Table
Sept. 15th at Look Park in Florence, MA

On the Table will feature locally sourced fruits, vegetables, cheese and meats. (Photo credit: Sienna Wildfield)

Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) is hosting its annual benefit event, On the Table, on September 15, 2011, from 6-9 pm, at the Garden House in Look Park in Florence, Massachusetts. This popular fundraising event is a celebration of the beauty and bounty of the Pioneer Valley landscape, and will feature a locally sourced harvest dinner prepared by caterer Aaron Fides of LocalVore Catering. The entire meal will be sourced from local farms and local food producers, many of whom have donated all of their offerings for the event. The night will include a delicious array of appetizers, a full buffet dinner and mouth watering dessert.

We asked Aaron about the gluten-free options at the dinner. His reply, “The crostini for the ham hock, the dough for the strudel and of course the bread are the only things that contain gluten. I have decided to omit the biscotti from the dessert to accommodate.”

This warms my heart! I love CISA and having the option to join them in their annual harvest dinner is delightful! CISA is a community organization comprised of farmers, consumers, and professionals working together to sustain agriculture, strengthen the local economy, preserve the unique rural character of our communities, and enhance the well-being of western Massachusetts… what’s not to love?

Their proposed menu for the 2011 harvest dinner includes:

Passed Hors d’ Oeuvres

• Smoked Ham Hock with Apples on Crostini
• Eggplant Caviar on Cucumber
• Ripened Hillman farm Cheese on Melon
• Wild Mushroom Tortilla

Entrées Salads and Sides

• Salad of Heirloom Tomatoes, Robinson Family Farm Tomme and Arugula with Apple Cider Vinagrette.
• Green Salad with Apples and Fennel
• Pan Seared Barramundi With Peach Salsa
• Roast chicken with Hard Cider and Wild Mushroom Sauce
• Roasted Fall Vegetable and Hillman Farm Goat Cheese Strudel
• Rosti Potato
• Carrots with Caraway Vinagrette.
• Braised Greens
• Grilled Vegetable Salad
• Roasted Squash and Apples

Dessert

• Grilled Peaches and Plums with Honeyed Goat Cheese Mousse, Maple Syrup, Tyme and Biscotti (can be served without biscotti)

The event will also feature a live and silent auction and live music provided by members of the O-Tones.

To purchase tickets for On the Table, please go to www.buylocalfood.org or contact the CISA office at 413-665-7100.

Gluten-Free Pie Contest in Northampton

(Photo credit: Sienna Wildfield)

There’s a fruit Pie Contest happening next Tuesday, Sept. 13th,  at the Tuesday Market in Northampton.  And so cool… they have a “Best Gluten-Free Pie” category!

Do you have a delicious gluten-free fruit pie recipe you want to show off?  Here’s your opportunity to show off your gluten-free baking prowess in the kitchen to all your neighbors in Northampton.  Choose your favorite local fruit, and get cracking!

There are prizes and live music by The Nields, and it’s all a benefit for FoodStampsX2.

All the details are here: Tuesday Market Pie Contest

Taylor’s Tavern and Restaurant of Greenfield

Taylor's Tavern and Restaurant of Greenfield (courtesy photo)

On Tuesday, August 23rd and Wednesday, August 24th, nearly 50 Pioneer Valley restaurants will highlight dishes featuring locally grown products as part of CISA’s 2011 Local Hero Restaurant Days Celebration, including: Hillside Pizza (Hadley); Cup and Top Cafe (Florence); Karma (Northampton); Northampton Brewery; and Eastside Grill (Northampton).

Taylor’s Tavern and Restaurant of Greenfield, will be participating too.  I asked their kitchen manager, Cheryl Johnson, to share any gluten-free options they would have available during the celebration.  Here is what she writes:

“As more and more of out guest have allergies to gluten we have come up with a few menu options and are also glad to build a meal for them.  We offer any of our in house made pizzas as gluten free, the options are limitless.  Our latest addition  is “Dirty Rice and Beans” it is a made to order meal consisting of fresh onions peppers and garlic sauteed in olive oil combined with rice, kidney beans and black beans in a mild New Orleans spiced sauce. It is offered as vegan / gluten free but we also suggest trying it with chicken, beef or shrimp.  For our feature entree we are offering Stuffed peppers.  The entree features Foxbard Farm grass fed beef sauteed with fresh onions tomatoes, basil from Rock Ridge and Bars Farm and rice stuffed into a pepper (Bars Farm)  topped with marinara and mozzarella served with a garden salad (Veggies from Rock Ridge and Bars Farm).”

Taylor’s Tavern and Restaurant is located at 238 Main Street in Greenfield.  Check out their menu online at www.taylorstavernandrestaurant.com. Have any questions? Give Cheryl a call: 413-773-8313.

Gluten-Free Pie Contest at Tuesday Market in Northampton

I woke up this morning to find in my inbox, not only mention that there will be Watermelon Gazpacho at the Tuesday Market today in Northampton, but that there is going to be a pie contest in the weeks to come, and one of the categories is Gluten-Free!

Here’s what Ben writes:

The Pie Contest

It happens September 13th, which is also the day that The Nields will once again play Tuesday Market (yay! yay!) and sing at least one song about pie.

Here are some frequently asked questions about the pie contest:

• Can I – an ordinary Tuesday Market customer – enter a pie in the contest?
• Yes, of course.
• Will everyone be allowed to eat lots of pie?
  Yes, of course.
  
• Who will benefit from this pie contest?
  I’m so glad you asked. This contest is a benefit for FoodStampsX2, so the primary beneficiaries of this contest willbe the people whose SNAP benefits (food stamps) are doubled when they shop at Tuesday Market.
  
• Will there be categories in the contest?
  Yes, the categories are: Most Beautiful Pie, Best Gluten-Free Pie, And Most Outstanding Pie Ever.
  
• Are there limitations to what kinds of pies I can make?
  Yes. No custards or dairy or savory pies allowed. Just fruit pies.
  
• Who is going to be the judge of the contest?
  We’re not telling.
  
• Why?
  Because we’re not sure yet.
  
• Who is “we”?
  The committee.
  
• The committee? Which committee?
  The Committee in Support of FoodStampsX2 and the Eating of Pie While Listening to the Nields on September 13.

Want to find out more? Follow the Tuesday Market Newsletters for future announcements!

BBQ in Shelburne

Opening for business on this past spring, Smoky Bro’s BBQ has been serving up authentic wood-smoked barbecue on the scenic Mohawk Trail (Route 2) in Shelburne, Massachusetts.  Being a native Texan, BBQ is one of my guilty sins, but sadly, many BBQ sauces are made with white vinegar, some with soy sauce, and others might add Worcestershire sauce.

I asked Brolin Winning, owner of Smoky Bro’s BBQ if his dishes were gluten-free.  His honest reply was, “I’m not an expert on it, but as far as I know, all of our stuff (other than the buns) is gluten-free (we use cider vinegar instead of white).”  Probing a little further to find out if other ingredients with gluten might be involved, I asked him if he used soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce.  His reply, “Nope, neither one of ‘em.”

I think this calls for trip to Shelburne for some more quizzing and a Sunday lunch sample!

In addition to their signature pork spare ribs and pulled pork, they also offer chopped chicken and all homemade side dishes of potato salad, cole slaw, and spicy beans, as well as their own hot and sweet sauces. Meats are dry-rubbed, then cooked slow and low over local apple wood, 4-10 hours in their custom built smoker.

Located next to the Mohawk Trading Post, owner/operators Brolin and Sunshine Winning are serving lunch and dinner, open Friday through Sunday, all summer and fall. Diners can eat at one of several creekside picnic tables, or drive up and order food to go.

Brolin has over 20 years of food service experience. He designed and built the all steel smoker last summer, debuting it at the 2010 Cummington Fair to wide acclaim, followed by Franklin County Cider Days, and Moonlight Magic Holiday Fair in Shelburne Falls.

Though New England is generally not known for its barbecue, Smoky Bro’s looks to change that, offering the most authentic, classic-style meals possible, always fresh, delicious, and homemade, at a very reasonable price. With a few exceptions (see website for complete schedule), they will be open on the Trail 12-7 every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday until November. www.smokybrosbbq.com, 413-489-1515

Gluten-Free Dinner at Tuesday Market in Northampton

Have you been to Tuesday Market yet, Northampton’s Tuesday farmers’ market?  It’s a great place to pick up fresh veggies and local fruit while hanging out with the family, enjoying live music, kids activities and dinner.

Karma will be at the market the first Tuesday of every month the market is open, serving up dinner.  The market announced that Karma will be serving dinner with local veggies,  red lettuce leaf wraps as a gluten-free option to their lavash wheat wraps.  Yet another great reason to visit the Tuesday Market!

Gluten-Free Girl Scout Cookies?

Does your family want Girl Scout cookies but can’t have them because you’re gluten free, nut free, vegan, etc.?

Encourage allergen-free cookies for next year by signing this petition over at change.org.

Just imagine the deliciousness… and the lack of guilt for telling young girls “no thank you” when they approach me!  If this is pulled off I’ll have no excuse for not supporting our local Girl Scouts!

Gluten-Free Sample Event in Hadley

Whole Foods in Hadley, MA (Route 9) will hold a free gluten-free sampling event from 4pm to 7pm on Wednesday, June 8th.

Sample local, interesting and new gluten free products through out the store.

Hilltown Spring Festival Serves Up Gluten-Free Options!

Gluten-Free Options from the Blue House Cafe at the Hilltown Spring Festival. (Photo credit: Sienna Wildfield)

The 5th Annual Hilltown Spring Festival is happening this weekend, Saturday, May 14th, from 10:30am-7pm.  I’ve been sharing all the great music and activities schedule HERE if you want to discover more about this SWEET spring festival!

Many local restaurants are serving up an international flare of dishes at the festival.  Last year the Blue House Cafe of Haydenville was there serving up gluten-free options.  I emailed Katy to see if they had plans for gluten-free options again this year, AND THEY DO!

Here is what Katy writes:

The Blue House Cafe in Haydenville has been open for four years.  In addition to coffee and espresso drinks, we will have a variety of baked goods, including a gluten-free vegan blueberry coffeecake and a Polynesian wedding cake, waffles, soups (all gluten-free), burritos, peanut noodles and more!

Bake Sale for Japan in Williamsburg

Bakesale for Japan in front of the Williamsburg Grange. (Photo credit: Sienna Wildfield)

Every purchase of a gluten-free cupcakes supported a local effort to aid Japan! (Photo credit: Sienna Wildfield)

A bake sale to benefit the tsunami victims of Japan was held yesterday morning in front of the Williamsburg Grange. – Not only did they have super cute vegan cookie choices, but they also had delicious gluten-free chocolate soufflé cupcakes!  What a treat!  I went home with couple of these spongy chocolate deliciousness!  Wish I had the recipe!

Thanks Rachel Keller for this sweet event to raise money for the families in Japan while providing us gluten-free folks of Western MA with super good GF chocolate cupcakes and a way to participate

Gluten-Free Menu at Route 7 Grill in the Berkshires

The family friendly Route 7 Grill in Great Barrington, MA, listed as one of America’s best farm-to-table restaurants in Gourmet Magazine, announced the arrival of their new executive chef Jim Gop. – Chef Jim’s philosophy on cooking is simple: cook seasonally with local ingredients whenever possible.

“Jim is passionate about ingredients – especially from local farmers and producers. His understanding of cooking low and slow meshes perfectly with our philosophies related to Slow Food and Berkshire Grown,” said owner Lester Blumenthal. “Everything we serve, including stocks, soups, dressings and desserts are made from scratch and we are thrilled to have Jim on board to help lead our committed, experienced team on our mission.”

I asked Lester about their gluten-free options. He writes, “We focus on local meats and produce when in season. Most of our preparation is straightforward highlighting the main ingredient(s). To that end, the majority of our menu is gluten free…we also have lots of daily specials which are mostly gluten free & we do have gluten free pasta.” – Gluten-free pasta?! Yeah!

And then he sent me his Gluten-Free menu (I LOVE restaurants that offer menus for their gluten-free customers!).

Knowing that Route 7 Grill had been voted Best Barbecue Ribs in New England by Yankee Magazine, I was overjoyed to discover that included on their gluten-free menu was their slow-smoked in house barbecue, including their baby back ribs! And from the fire-grill their menu included local pork chips. A gluten-free, meat-lovers paradise! – For greens they offer sauteed greens, New England beans, and an assortment of salads and daily specials. Their starches of choice, mashed potatoes from scratch (and gluten-free pasta!). And then, to end your evening, there was even mention of Chef Jim Gop gluten-free desserts!

Located on historic Route 7 south in the shadow of June Mountain at 999 Main Street in Great Barrington, Route 7 Grill is open Monday through Thursday from 5 – 9 pm, closed Tuesdays in Spring. On Friday and Saturday, dinner is served from 5 – 10 pm; Sunday, 3 pm – 9 pm. Lunch service is offered on Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 am – 3 pm. Hours change in summer months to reflect the season, and dining on their outdoor patio is available.

Want to talk more with Jim or Lester about their gluten-free options, or make a reservation?  Give them a call at 413-528-3235.  Following your visit, post a review below to let us all know how your gluten-free experience was!

Gluten-Free Options at an Authentic Italian Restaurant

Can you eat gluten-free at an authentic Italian restaurant?

Fiori restaurant in Great Barrington will be opening their doors this April, specializing in handcrafted, authentic cuisine inspired by the culinary traditions of Northern Italy, and a menu that will change with the seasons. In addition to their glutenous hand-rolled pastas and house-made breads, they will also offer wood-grilled meats, fish, and an international wine list focused on Italian wines.

Why am I telling you this? Well, when asked about their gluten-free options, Chef Alexander Feldman responded, “Because of the propensity for the Primi (pasta/starch) course, traditionally the secondi are light on the starch.  All of our secondi either don’t contain gluten, or gluten can easily be omitted. We have many options for the gluten free diet. None, however are pasta.”

Fiori could make for a good date night for couples with mixed dietary restrictions! I envision heading to the Berkshires for a pleasant evening out with my gluten loving husband who can enjoy a traditional Italian meal of pasta and bread, while I enjoy a gluten-free meal of my own (and a lovely glass of Italian wine!).

When you arrive, ask to speak with Matthew Feldman and let him know of any gluten restrictions in your party. “Everyone who walks through our door is my personal guest,” says Matthew Feldman. “My greatest pleasure is the look of satisfaction on our guests’ faces when they say goodbye.”

Fiori will serve dinner seven nights a week year-round, weekend brunch beginning in May, a late-night bar menu, and patio dining in the summer months. Check them out at www.fiorirestaurant.com and give them a call to discuss their gluten-free options before arriving: 413-528-0351.

Following your visit, post a review below to let us all know how your gluten-free experience was!

Candied Orange Peel Never Tasted This Good!

Cup & Top Cafe has done it again!  I stopped in yesterday to get out of a torrential spring down pour, only to be lured into these delicious gluten-free cupcakes their new baker, Sarah, had just crafted:

(Photo credit: Sienna Wildfield)

The frosting is a chocolate orange butter cream with candied orange peels on top! And the cup cake was moist and delicious.  What a treat for a rainy day!

Gluten Free Pancakes in Cummington this Saturday!

Saturday, March 19th from 9am-12noon – PANCAKE BREAKFAST: Berkshire Trail Elementary School’s first annual pancake breakfast!  The event is a fundraiser for the school, and proceeds will go towards purchasing show shoes for the schools P.E. class and outdoor exploration during the winter months in science classes.  Most of the food will be donated by local vendors, and GLUTEN FREE pancakes will be available!  2 Main Street.  634-5327.  Cummington, MA.  (SCHOOL FUNDRAISER)

Gluten-Free Bûche de Noël

I ran into Mark, owner of Bread Euphoria in Haydenville, MA who told me about their gluten-free Bûche de Noël’s they are offering this holiday season.  So I stopped into the bakery to take a look …

(Photo credit: Sienna Wildfield)

Doesn’t this look beautiful?!  Makes me want to host a holiday party!

Meringue button mushroom and pistachio nut lichen details. (Photo credit: Sienna Wildfield)

Bûche de Noël is French for “Yule Log” and is a traditional French cake served during the Christmas holidays.  Bread Euphoria’s gluten-free version is a rolled chocolate cake filled with espresso butter cream on the inside and cut to resemble the shape of a yule log.  It is then frosted with a chocolate butter cream and decorated with pistachio nut lichen, meringue button & shelf mushrooms, and a fondant holly leaf with three red berries.

An excellent dessert to bring to a holiday party.  And if you’re not in need of a gluten-free cake, they also have traditional versions — equally as gorgeous!

They are taking pre-orders right now to be picked up December 21st-24th, 2010.  If you’re interested, give Mark a call at (413) 268-7757 or stop by the bakery (206 Main St.) in Haydenville, MA. www.breadeuphoria.org

Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Pies

Did you hear? Cup & Top Cafe in Florence, MA is selling Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Pies!  This is your opportunity friends to grab a pie to take to your relatives home so you can enjoy dessert following your Thanksgiving gorge.  Or maybe you have a guest coming who can’t eat gluten … here’s your chance to accommodate them!

Jen is crafting  delicious 9” pies (serves 8 or more) with handmade gluten-free butter crust. She’s offering:

• Local Apple
• Local Pumpkin
• Pecan (my favorite!)
• Pumpkin/Pecan

She’s asking that all orders be placed by Friday, Nov. 19th, 2010. Just give her or Helen a call at (413) 585-0445, or stop by.

Northampton Brewery Offers a Gluten-Free Menu

My daughter loves going to the Northampton Brewery Bar & Grille in the summer time, sitting outside on their roof top deck under the open sky. I enjoy the outside atmosphere there too, but with their pasta entrees and assortment of sandwiches and breaded appetizers (and tempting freshly brewed beers!), it’s always been a difficult night out for me.

Last night we went to the Noho Brewery at the request of my daughter (dining inside), and much to my surprise, the waitress recommended I take a look at their gluten-free menu! I had no idea they had a GF menu … and boy did it make things much easier when ordering!

Their menu has several options, but many of them are “asterisked” noting that cross-contamination or contact with gluten is probable.  Chips, wings and fries are deep-fried in the same oil as breaded foods. Meats may be grilled on the same spot as glutenous foods.  That sort of thing.

Narrowing my choice down to the “non-asterisked” foods, there were still a few options I found appealing:

• PEI Mussels: One pound of fresh Prince Edward Island mussels prepared in one of three styles, white wine garlic and herb, spicy Fra Diablo, or coconut curry served. $8.95 (skip the bread)
• Roasted Pork Medallions: Tender brined and oven roasted pork loin topped with sautéed spinach, roasted red peppers, garlic, and blue cheese, finished with an apple cider reduction, served with garlic mashed potatoes. $13.95
• Roasted Chicken: 1/2 Chicken rubbed with herbs and spices stuffed with andouille sausage over a mixture of wild rice and fresh vegetables. $15.95 (order this without the stuffing and skip the sauce)
• Bouillabaisse: An adaptation of their Tiger shrimp, PEI mussels, little neck clams, codfish, calamari, fresh fennel, and saffron can be made without gluten. $18.95
• Ploughman’s Platter:  Leave off the bratwurst, mustard and ciabatta and enjoy roasted beets, marinated artichoke hearts, cheddar cheese, hearty grain bread, pickles, green apple slices, grape tomatoes and an olive mix. $10.99
• New England Cheese Platter: Local cheeses from western Massachusetts and Vermont served with hot pepper jelly and green apple slices served. $10.99 (order without the ciabatta)
• Akara + Hummus Mediterranean Platter: Oven toasted Nigerian bean and corn cake, served a top a bed of roasted red pepper hummus, country olive mix, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, tahini sauce, and chopped hot peppers. $10.99 (order without the pita)
• Sandwiches: Several of their sandwiches are gluten-free too by ordering with out the bread, and all of their hot dogs (except the vegetarian dog) are gluten-free too.
• Vegetables: Looking for greens?  Try their Vegetable du jour, Classic Caeser (no croutons), or Jazzed Greens (no malt).

Ask to see their gluten-free menu upon ordering to see their other “asterisked” options.

While waiting for your food to arrive, and in lieu of their tempting beers, enjoy a delicious locally brewed hard cider!

Gluten-Free Halloween Candy List

If you’re looking for rag shag parades in Western MA, check out my post over at Hilltown Families: Rag Shag Parades – A Western Ma Tradition. Many are followed by trick-or-treating, many of opportunities for kids in Western MA to get out in costume!  But if you’re a parent of a kid who can’t eat gluten, you must be dreading the candy negotiation and investigation that follows.  Good news, Alison over at Sure Foods Living has complied a new 2010 list of gluten-free Halloween candy.  Her list includes candy that does not contain wheat or gluten as an ingredient.  She also includes an allergen statements if a product mentions wheat or gluten: Gluten-Free Halloween Candy Quick List 2010 – A useful list for investigating Halloween candy, not only for your kid, but for all you late-night-candy-bag-raiders who can’t have gluten either (I’m just saying…).

Spook-tacular Cupcakes in Florence!

Gluten-free cupcakes for Halloween at Cup & Top (Photo credit: Sienna Wildfield)

Right now for Halloween, Cup & Top in Florence, MA has these fabulous looking (and tasting) gluten-free cupcakes! Jen’s in the back whipping up all sorts of fun Halloween pastries for the season, and I’m happy to give them a try!  These orange tops are a butter cupcake with a cream frosting.

Seasonally spiced latte love! (Photo credit: Sienna Wildfield)

Paired with a Pumpkin Spice latte, and zooooom …  you’ll be ready to go!  Check out the fine artistry of their barista Liz who served up this luscious warmth with a whole “latte love!” They also have Gingerbread lattes and fresh mulled apple cider – all gluten-free.

They’re here! Gluten-Free Pancakes in Ashfield!

Nan Parati, proprietress of Elmer’s in Ashfield, MA writes:

We now have the technology to make really, really good gluten-free Pancakes! And I ain’t kidding—I ate two! Our Pal and Cook Joey eats gluten-free and he spearheaded the effort and it was successful!

I hear from a number of gluten-free eaters that the hardest thing to find is GOOD gluten-free pancakes, but we got ‘em! We have to note here that we will attempt to keep all extraneous glutenous molecules out of those pancakes, but this is a kitchen that contains flour (and nuts and bananas and a number of other allergens.) But we are trying. Come in and try them; We will begin serving them on Saturday of this week!

Stop in and give them a try … and share your feedback! Elmer’s is located at 396 Main Street, Ashfield, MA – (413) 628-4003

Karma is Gluten-Free

Carla Racine sent us the following review/promo for Karma in Northampton:

I have been working at a great new restaurant at 48 Main St. in Northampton, MA called Karma. We specialize in Vegan Cuisine. The owners Brian and Coree Aussant are truly good people with the ideal of bringing health to the community through food and education.

Over the first month of our soft opening we came to realize that there were many reasons for people to eat vegan cuisine. We started off fully organic raw vegan cuisine and have evolved into ORGANIC, GLUTEN-FREE, COOKED AND RAW VEGAN CUISINE. Our entire menu is gluten-free! People really needed it and really there were only a couple pieces to fix, we replaced nama shoyu with coconut aminos and being that we were already raw we just looked into recipes for the bread on our newly added cooked side of the menu that were Gluten-free. There were so many people telling us how wonderful it was to have so many options and that we should mark the menu items that were Gluten-Free. When we realized there were literally 4 items we adjusted and actually became Gluten-free!

We have started to offer most of our new menu items, including nearly all of our cooked dishes. Though we are still waiting for the final touches to be done on our printed menu as of right now Karma is Gluten-free.

GRAND OPENING

On November 6th, 2010 we will be having a special event celebrating the Grand Opening of the Karma Holistic Studio on our third floor. This will be the true Grand Opening of the entire Karma facility; from restaurant to retail store to teaching kitchen to holistic studio! We will be offering an array of wonderful classes and workshops, from yoga to herb classes and more in our lovely studio. Additionally, the third floor has 2 beautiful treatment rooms for massage, reiki, and other personnel sessions, and an infra-red sauna. Oh and lets not leave out that Karma will launch the first Elixir Bar in the Northeast!

Our new menu will be posted on our website with in a week. I hope you pass on the word about Karma, as it is a place with unlimited options for people living a gluten-free life. www.bekarma.com

Wednesday Theater: Gluten Free

On October 20th the Wednesday Theater at Whole Foods Market in Hadley, MA will be Gluten Free.

Gluten-Free Halloween Treats

The Great Pumpkin in Ashfield, MA (Photo Credit: Sienna Wildfield)

Halloween is a particularly tricky time, for gluten-free children. Wheat and other gluten-containing grains are often used as a thickener in candies. While other children are eagerly amassing piles of Halloween treats, gluten-free children are only able to ‘look, not eat’ or give away their loot.

With a little advanced work, parents and teachers can have their own GF Halloween parties or treats to give eager ‘trick or treaters’.  One idea is parents can make mini-sized treats and individually wrap them for ‘trick or treaters’ on Halloween. Remember to put a tag with your name, address and phone number on them, so that people know whom the treats are from.

Not into baking? Recently, Pamela’s Products earned the Kid Kritics Seal of Approval; so parents can be assured that their children will enjoy all the delicious gluten-free treats available to them.  Selections include Peanut Butter & Chocolate Filled Brownie Cups, Simplebites Cookies, German Chocolate Brownies, Cherry Chip Cookies, cookie Two-Packs, cupcakes of all sorts are on the menu…along with a scary Gingerbread House.

Looking for gluten-free Halloween candy to handout at the door?  Check out this great Gluten-Free Halloween Candy List.

Gluten-Free Pancakes in the Hilltowns

Elmer's Store on Main Street in Ashfield, MA (Photo credit: Sienna Wildfield)

Guess what!!! Elmer’s Store in Ashfield, home of the “Best Pancakes in New England,” will be serving up Gluten-Free pancakes for breakfast in the weeks to come. I’m so there!