Gluten Free Mini Tarts

 I served gluten free mini tarts on Saturday to Austin's friends

at our pre-prom dinner.  I ordered a large quantity of the tart shells a couple

of months ago from Amazon.  They were shipped frozen and I stored them in the freezer. 

This was the first occasion I had to use them. 

I made cheesecake tarts garnished with a raspberry and

lemon tarts garnished with a blueberry. 

Everyone ate them and enjoyed them. Nobody noticed they were gluten free.

This was an exciting accomplishment for me.

I have added another GF item to my list of afternoon tea menu items.

As you can tell, it doesn't take much to make this gluten free tea lady happy! 

Gluten Free Soup and Crackers

The above Gluten Free Organic Creamy Tomato Soup from Trader Joe's

 is delicious, and would be an easy store-bought short cut

to serve for afternoon tea.

Wouldn't it be pretty served in a teacup with a little garnish? 

  

I recently discovered Lance gluten free snack crackers at Meijer, 

and have been very pleased with all varieties.  

Fruit Jellies

 Trader Joe's Fruit Jellies are gluten free and delicious,

and an easy addition to an afternoon tea dessert plate. 

Tea Time Magazine Includes Gluten Free Recipes

I am so pleased Tea Time includes Gluten Free 

recipes in their beautiful magazine.  

The gluten free recipes are marked in the recipe index 

on the back page of each issue. 

I have every issue, but discovered the best way 

to find all their gluten free recipes is to look on their website

under recipes then Gluten Free. 

Tea Time's photography (example above) always inspires me when
afternoon tea menu-planning. 

Family Favorite Gluten Free Cupcakes

Photo: From Betty Crocker™

Gluten Free Banana Cupcakes with Browned Butter Frosting

From: Betty Crocker™     Servings: 17

Cupcakes

1 box (15 oz.) Betty Crocker™ Gluten Free yellow cake mix

1 cup mashed ripe bananas (2 medium)

1/3 cup butter, melted (not margarine or vegetable oil spreads)

1/3 cup water

3 eggs, beaten

2 teaspoons gluten free vanilla Heat oven to 350 degrees F.  Place paper

baking cups in each of 17 regular-size muffin cups. 

In large bowl, stir cupcake ingredients just until dry ingredients

are moistened.  Spoon batter evenly into muffin cups.

Bake 16 to 18 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Remove from pan to cooling rack.  Cool completely, about 30 minutes.

Frosting

1/3 cup butter (not margarine or vegetable oil spreads)

3 cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 to 4 tablespoons milk

In a 1-quart saucepan, heat 1/3 cup butter over medium heat just until light brown,

 stirring occasionally. (Watch carefully because butter can burn quickly.)

Remove from heat. Cool slightly, about 5 minutes. 

In medium bowl, beat butter, powdered sugar, vanilla and enough milk

until smooth and spreadable.  Spread frosting over cooled cupcakes. 

Note from Linda:  Our gluten free and non-gluten free family members love these cupcakes! 

Gluten Free Cranberry Scones

Recipe from Your Gluten Free Kitchen

Cranberry Scones with Orange Drizzle

Ingredients:

1 ¾ cup gluten free flour blend(xanthan gum added)
1 Tbsp. sugar
½ Tbsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. salt
3 Tbsp. butter, cut into squares
1 egg
1/3 cup and 1 Tbsp. whipping cream
½ tsp. gluten free vanilla extract
¼ cup dried cranberries
¼ tsp. orange zest
Orange Drizzle, recipe follows

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.

Whisk the gluten free flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Sprinkle the butter on top. Use a pastry blender or two knives and cut the butter into the flour. Cut in until it resembles coarse crumbs.

Mix together the egg, 1/3 cup whipping cream and vanilla extract together. Stir in the cranberries and orange zest. Add the wet ingredients to the flour mixture and stir together just till combined. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface (my counter works best). Gently F\form into an 8″ circle and cut into wedges (using a bench scraper makes it easy). Pull the wedges apart just a little bit.

You can also use a non-stick scone pan instead of free forming your scones. Brush the tops with the 1 Tbsp. whipping cream (use a silicone pastry brush). Bake for 18-22 minutes or until light golden brown.

Allow to cool for 5 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Spread with Orange Drizzle

Makes 8 regular size scones or 16 bite size scones.

Orange Drizzle

1 cup powdered sugar
2 tsp. orange juice

Mix the powdered sugar and juice together until smooth. If needed, add more juice or sugar to get the consistency you want.

Drizzle or spread on the tops of the scones.

Note: I usually serve my scones with Devonshire cream and jam, without a "frosting" , but I love cranberry and orange sweet breads and this orange drizzle sounds very good! 

Gluten Free Afternoon Tea in NYC

 We enjoyed a lovely afternoon tea at The Lowell Hotel, Pembroke Room

while visiting New York City in late June.  

We would return to this tea venue in a flash.  

The foods and the tea selection were fantastic! 

 There is a valuable lesson to be learned here. 

Can you see how small the "closed" sandwiches are cut? 

Gluten free bread makes a very dry sandwich.   

The open-faced were more "normal sized."  

I have been making all my gluten free sandwiches open-faced to avoid being too dry. 

Smaller works well!  

 The scone is a bit too brown, but it was delicious! 

What Is Gluten?

Gluten is a protein found in the grains wheat, rye and barley.

The easy part is yes, we know that includes most breads and pastas, 

but did you realize gluten appears in additives and flavorings used 

in many packaged foods, such as soy sauce?

The "Gluten Free Diet" is not a fad.  

And, it's not a weight loss program. 

In fact, in my opinion it is not a "diet" at all.  

Eating gluten free is a necessity for people like my daughter, Melissa, 

who has Celiac disease, and for those like me who were not diagnosed with 

Celiac disease, but obviously have a huge list of ailments which have been

relieved by stopping eating gluten.  

I have Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS)

also referred to as Gluten Intolerance. 

Yes, my doctor is very much aware of my health issues,

and the relief I have received from stopping gluten.   

~

So, why the photo of the refrigerated Pillsbury Gluten Free Pie Dough above, 

and the refrigerated Pillsbury Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough below? 

In my opinion, 

although processed products like this may not be the most healthy choice,

they certainly have made my Afternoon Teas easier to prepare and more pleasant for me! 

I do not endorse products, but I will continue to share some of my favorites.  

Gluten Free Cookies for Tea

 Today I made a quick stop at HomeGoods while I was in Lexington.

I always look for gluten free food items when I am in HomeGoods,

T.J. Maxx or Marshall's. 

I found a "gold mine" of gluten free cookies, perfect for afternoon tea.

 The brand is Glutennetto™

and they are described as Artisanal Italian Cookies.

Each package was only $3.99. 

What a great and easy addition to gluten free afternoon tea menu!

 I only purchased one package of each cookie, and wish I had purchased more at this price.

I also purchased the Baked Frosted Rice Snacks shown above.

There are 10 packs of 2 in each pack. 

This is a product of Japan.  I can definitely see using these

as a base for fruit tart or other toppings.

I'm already scheming on how to return to Lexington in the next day or so.



Gluten Free Cafe and Bakery

While in Louisville, KY this week, I used the

Find Me Gluten Free phone app to locate

Annie May's Sweet Café on Frankfort Avenue.

 There are only four small tables, but by the time our

lunch was ready, a table for three opened up.

Delicious sandwiches for Glenn and me, pizza and broccoli soup for Austin,

and a box full of cupcakes and sweets to take home.

 



 

Note:  the Find Me Gluten Free app, in my opinion, is a necessity for travel.

 

First Banquet Luncheon

This was a beautiful luncheon, in my 2nd month of being gluten free in 2013.

All I could eat was the salad.  I love salads so it was "ok"



Fortunately, I took my own gluten free crackers and few snack things,

including Dr. Lucy cookies in the Snack 'n Go Packs.

They go great with a nice cup of tea.

~

The event was catered so there was nothing extra in the kitchen.

I learned a lesson!

I always carry gluten free snacks, in an insulated bag.

Carrots and other cut up veggies with GF hummus is a favorite.

I like "munchy-crunchy" rather than "soft and chewy." 

Lesson learned: Always carry gluten free snacks with you.

Note:

All product information is strictly my opinion.

Celiac Disease or Gluten Intol

This photo was taken 5 years ago on my 60th birthday.

Daughter Melissa surprised me with an afternoon tea party

at Greentree Tea Room in Lexington.

This was before she was diagnosed with Celiac.

I had many of the same symptoms, but for years thought

I would just accept them as a way of life.

She was diagnosed and I followed 1 1/2 years

later eating a gluten free diet on my doctor's suggestion that I go wheat free.

  I decided if I was going wheat free, I might as well go Gluten Free.

Oh my goodness! 

What a difference eating gluten free has made in my life! 



 

I had so many of the symptoms on the above chart! 

 



Gluten Free Scone Mix

Sticky Fingers Gluten Free  Lemon, Blueberry
and Original are my favorite GF Scone Mixes.  

I highly recommend these to my friends who own tea rooms. 

Why go to the trouble of making GF scones from scratch for 

one or two guests when these are easy and delicious?

Remember: Gluten Free folks don't expect their food

to look or taste like the everyone else's.

I have been Gluten Free for 3 years.
During that time, I have found GF foods I enjoy and
just as many that I don't enjoy. 
~
Any products I mention on the blog are strictly my opinion.   

My First Gluten Free International Travel

~ Travel to Greece and Italy in 2013 with the BCHS Travel Club ~

(high school students)

I couldn't work in a full afternoon tea on this trip, due to the hectic

schedule of a pre-planned group tour, but I did enjoy several cups of tea.



 

Below: the famous Greek yogurt and honey. 

Oh my!  Delicious! 

I ate a lot of potatoes, rice and chicken or pork throughout

the trip.  I was just in my 2nd month of being gluten free.

I did fine, and passed up all the pasta, fabulous breads and desserts.  

I found the following link to be very helpful

http://www.celiactravel.com/cards/

I printed the cards in Greek, Italian and French (for the airport)
I love, love, love bread so........If I can go Gluten Free, anyone can!!!



My First Gluten Free Afternoon Tea

 Daughter Melissa arranged to take me for my first gluten free

afternoon tea at Yesterday's Tea Room in Florence, KY

for my birthday in March 2013.

 Melissa had been diagnosed with Celiac about 1 1/2 years before.

We had a choice of salad and a scoop of chicken salad with GF crackers

 Or, a green salad, two GF sandwiches and the salad of the day.

Below our dessert a GF brownie. 

My gluten free journey began on February 15, 2013.

This was my first visit to a tea room and I was so happy! 

~

I probably should mention my Afternoon Tea Journey began in February, 1993.

Eating gluten free and afternoon tea don't go hand-in-hand

but, I have learned a lot since February 2013.