Entertaining the Gluten-free Way & a Recipe

What do you do when faced with hosting a party or cookout and you have to eat gluten-free? I used to get really anxious about hosting and worry about cross-contamination until I decided that I would just make all the food gluten-free. I don’t choose dishes that use expensive gluten-free specialty foods – I choose dishes that are made from naturally gluten-free foods. When I started doing this, there was so much less stress about whether or not someone had inadvertently contaminated a dish. When hosting a party, the last thing you need is more stress!

Here are some ideas for different themed events:

Cookout:

• Grilled or BBQ Chicken, fish or kebobs
• Corn on the cob
• Baked Potatoes or Homemade Potato Salad
• Fruit Salad
• Baked Beans
• Sorbet or Ice Cream for dessert

Taco Bar:

• Seasoned Ground Beef or Turkey (Old El Paso Original & Ortega are gluten-free)
• Corn Tortillas or Taco Shells
• Shredded Cheese
• Lettuce
• Tomatoes
• Salsa
• Sour Cream (most brands are gluten-free)
• Refried Beans
• Corn
• Flan for dessert (most recipes are gluten-free)

Appetizer Night:

• Veggie Tray with gluten-free dip (T. Marzetti’s is gluten-free)
• Cheese Tray
• Fruit Skewers with Dip (made from cream cheese & brown/powdered sugar)
• Cocktail Wienies (Made with Lil Smokies & Gluten-free BBQ sauce)
• Shrimp Cocktail (just check your sauce)
• Buffalo Chicken Dip served with celery & tortilla chips
• Chips & Dip/salsa (many varieties are gluten-free)
• Mini Crustless Cheesecakes (make in mini muffin pans)

Dinner Party or Holiday

• Salad with mixed greens & veggies
• Salad Dressing (many brands are gluten-free)
• Herb Roasted Pork Tenderloin (recipe to follow)
• Mashed Potatoes
• Steamed veggies (you choose the veggies)
• Baked Apples for dessert

So, as you can see above, there are many ways to host a meal & serve foods that are all naturally gluten-free. If a guest calls & asks me what they can bring, I usually tell them that I have it handled, but if they persist, I suggest wine, beer or other beverages.

Now, I am going to share one of my favorite recipes. This pork roast is now highly requested by my guests & has never disappointed. It is unbelievably simple.

Perfect Herb Roasted Pork Tenderloin

Ingredients

• boneless pork tenderloins or pork loin roast (my pork loin was 2 lbs 12 oz and I cooked it for 16 minutes and let sit in the oven for an hour after that)
• salt and pepper
• Dried thyme, rosemary, garlic powder, basil, oregano, salt & pepper

Directions

1. NOTE: The success of this cooking method will depend upon how accurate the temperature of your oven is and how well your oven retains heat. Adjust cooking time according your individual oven. I highly suggest an oven thermometer.
2. Get the EXACT weight of roast from the meat wrapper.
3. Weight will determine how long to cook the roast.
4. Preheat oven to 550 degrees, or as high as your oven goes – some only go to 500.
5. Remove roast from refrigerator. Season roast as desired. Place seasoned roast in an uncovered roasting pan.
6. Bake EXACTLY 5 1/2 minutes PER POUND.
7. Turn oven OFF and DO NOT open oven door for 1 hour.
8. Remove from oven and let rest 5 minutes to redistribute internal juices.
9. Roast will be done, very slightly pink in the center, and very moist.
10. NOTE: For anyone questioning this method of cooking, it really does reach the proper internal temperature on a thermometer.
11. If you have a thermometer that has a wire that goes through the side of the oven door, by all means use it and set alarm for 140-145 degrees.
12. It should go off before the hour is up.
13. After resting 5-10 minutes, the roast should reach 145-150 degrees.
14. Salmonella is killed at 138 degrees, and 145 is a safe temperature for pork, although the USDA recommends 160 degrees (meat will be drier).