Thanksgiving, In the The Netherlands

So today I began cooking the Thanksgiving feast for Bryan and my friends tomorrow. It is going to be a completely Gluten Free holiday...and im totally stoked! I have been making most of the food, due to the fact that im the American and have the allergy, but I really enjoy it. Though, I do wish I had my mom and grandma here to work in the kitchen with me.

I thought about what we have for hors d'oeuvres and realized I didnt have any. So..I decided to use my noggin and make some stuff from left over ingredients. First I came up with Brie and GF butter crackers (from Schar) I also picked up some crackers that taste a bit like cheese. Then, it occured to me that my familys favorite hors d'oeuvre wasnt in the mix. SPINACH DIP! I thought about it while standing in line and the freezer section was so close I couldnt pass up the opportunity. The box of spinach WAS HUGE, but was € .79, this was a definite COULDNT pass up. I googled "Gluten free spinach dip" and found one I liked on Gluten Free in Georgia....Finally's website.

*Side note...The blog link is GFINGF (Like Gluten F-ing Free, or gluten free in georgia).blogspot.com.

Anyways, her recipe for spinach dip was featured in a food magazine for GF foods, but I didnt have all of the right indredients, so...This is what I did.

Origional Recipe:

2 boxes of frozen spinach thawed and well drained (squeezed dry.)

2 cup sour cream (light OK) (Dairy Substitute OK)

1 cup mayonnaise (regular is better, I use Duke's)

½ tsp lemon juice

½ small onion, shredded ( I use 3 T. (or more) Penzeys freeze fried shallots)

2T finely chopped fresh flat leaf parsley

2T chopped chives

2 green onions, chopped (I forgot this in my recipe submission!)

2 T. chopped tarragon

2T fresh dill

salt, pepper TO TASTE

1 T. garlic powder ( I use Mrs. Dash Garlic and herb, which is GF)

I can water chestnuts drained and coarsely chopped


Mix in advance, and let sit at least two hours.

Mine...It started out the same

Large box frozen spinach

2 cups sour cream (I used like full fat since I cant seem to find certain NON fat things here)

1 cup Calve Mayo

Garlic Powder (Sprinkle about 2 table spoons...?)

Chopped parsley

1/2 pink onion

Celery Salt (I just sprinkle on however much I think will be good)

Dried coriander leaves (cilantro)

2 chives chopped (about a tbs)

salt and pepper coarse ground ... about teaspoon each)

Bryan, MY taste tester (I like that the GF goddess calls her husband this) who LOVES LOVES LOVES Spinach dip, approved it. His eyes lit up and said "ITS REALLY GOOD, LIKE REALLY REALLY GOOD!!!"

Something extreme that happened recently; Bryans ex-girlfriend, Mandy and I began hanging out. Her stomach was growling yesterday and she groaned and told me that her stomach always does it. She explained that her doctor diagnosed her with an intestine problem, which I later found out was IBS. I was diganose with IBS also. I asked some other questions. I found out that she had also been to the doctor for major joint pain, so bad that she began to think she was developing arthritis. I jumped and told her, I had the same symptoms. She is going to talk to her DR. on monday, but until then try to be GF. She is worried about her health and hates feeling bloted after eating pizza, and any other gluten product. She started thinking about her history of stomach pains, did research and is sad about giving up cup-a-soup and broodjes. Same withdrawl saddness I went through.

It has to be explained, from my point of view, that it SUCKS being 24 and knowing that sourdough bread, french bread, any bread is the tastiest stuff on the planet and you can no longer eat it. No more pizza, quiche, pie from the bakery in SF that makes amazing pie. No more going into ANY bakery and having a fruit tart with my boyfriend. It makes me want to cry most times, and then I remember. Gluten was killing me. It was making me tired, sick, malnutrition, I was in pain and though I wasn't dying, I wasn't happy.

I miss bread, and its a pain in the ass to make sure the every cook in the world gives me GF food when I go out to eat, BUT Im healthier, happier, not tired and NOT in pain. I sacrifice my love for food, for my love of life and the want to try new foods, and learn to make them because I have to make sure they are RIGHT.

It is sad to me that people are scared to think they may be missing out on an easy way to eat, convenience. That doctors don't look at all the facts. That so many people go misdiagnosed.

Its heartbreaking that there are children suffering from stomach pain and random pain they cant explain...thinking they cant run anymore because their knees hurt or their hips give out. Only to find, changing one way of eating, makes it all better.

Thanksgiving in Holland is tomorrow. I still have lot to cook. =)