Planning a Completely Gluten-Free Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is almost here?

Oh, right. It is November and we've already had our first snow of the season and the leaves are still falling outside and the colors are gorgeous and I'm trying to dream up birthday gifts at the same time as Christmas gifts and it was pitch black on my drive home from work last night.

Right. It's time for Thanksgiving!

I love this holiday. It's all about food and being thankful and food and family and food.

It was only a few years ago that this holiday brought terror into my newly gluten-free heart.

Now, I know how to do this holiday completely gluten-free. It certainly helps when I'm doing the cooking. And that is exactly what I plan to do!

Don't think that this a cinch.  Don't think you can throw a few cans of this together with a couple bags of that. No, I'm talking about homemade.

Homemade everything. Homemade everything gluten-free.

Stuffing. Gravy. Biscuits. Green Bean Casserole. Pie. Another pie.

It is a lot of work, no doubt, making everything myself and making everything gluten-free. But the rewards are well worth it!

Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Dinner

Here are our plans for this year.  We are only cooking for four, so we've opted to skip a few dishes, like sweet potatoes and/or yams.  There is already likely to be far too much food.

Turkey

Gluten-free Stuffing
    gluten-free bread (based on gluten-free sandwich bread, but done in a bread machine)
Gluten-free Gravy

Mashed Potatoes

Gluten-free Green Bean Casserole
    gluten-free mushroom soup (can't find the recipe from last year --- bummer! It was so good!)
    gluten-free French fried onions

Gluten-Free Buttermilk Biscuits

Cranberry and Orange Relish

Green Salad

Gluten-free Pecan Pie
    gluten-free pie crust

Gluten-free C 'n' E Lime Meringue Pie (by request, for the birthday that falls on Thanksgiving this year)
    gluten-free graham cracker crust

Remaking Gluten-Free Leftovers

After we have had a day eating seconds of the complete feast, I will be remaking much of what's left into other dishes.  Here are some very likely candidates:

Gluten-free Turkey Pot Pie

    new gluten-free pie crust

    leftover gluten-free mushroom soup

    new peas

    new carrots

    leftover gluten-free green bean casserole (if any left)

    leftover turkey, chopped

Gluten-free Turkey Enchiladas ?

Gluten-free Turkey Tacos ?
Gluten-free Turkey Tetrazzini ?

I don't know how many leftovers we will freeze and how much we will just eat.  Last year I did make the gluten-free turkey pot pies and they were great!

Isn't it great having options?! Who said this holiday was impossible for gluten abstainers? Like I said... it's a lot of work, but it is so worth it!

Happy, happy Thanksgiving!