Summer Time Fun!

Hey everyone! School is out for the summer, and it's time for some serious blogging! Here are some gluten-free summer tips for you:

1. It's BBQ season! Make sure when you are invited to a BBQ, that you always offer to bring something to eat. Often times when people who do not have a gluten allergy are hosting a BBQ, they get whatever hotdogs or burgers are on sale, and a majority of the time, those include fillers, and are not gluten free. Also, that potato salad that everyone is raving about that your Aunt made? There is a very good chance she used a spice packet, which 90% of them include MSG (a really big NO NO for those on a gluten free diet). Show how do you cope?? I often offer to bring things like potato salad, or cole slaw, or even bring my own hot dogs. Most hosts are more than happy to throw something of yours on the grill. Make sure you bring enough to share!

2. Beach parties! I. LOVE. BEACH. PARTIES. 99% of the time, the food is gluten free. Why? SEAFOOD! Seafood, for those of you who do not have an allergy to it, is a wonderful summer food (or just food in general). Beach parties often include clam bakes, or lobster boils or all sorts of delicious foods that are simply roasted or boiled or steamed in their natural state! It's wonderful for those who have picky diets, as the only ingredients are the seafood and the pounds of butter you will be soaking it all in.

3. Picnicking in the park?? If you live in the Boston area, there is a wonderful summer event I love to attend called Shakespeare on the Common. It's a wonderful production of a Shakespeare play on the Boston Commons, and the best part is, you get to bring your own food and drinks! This is the perfect opportunity for you to show off some awesome gluten free recipes to your friends! I recommend investing in some Chinese food takeout boxes (I get mine at a local craft store), instead of packing large bowls of things and serving them onto plates. It's less stuff to clean  up, and everyone enjoys getting their own little takeout box to eat from!

I'll post some blog entries this week with some picnic ideas and some more fun summer recipes. Also, I'll be posting about some tasty gluten free summery drinks! Hope you are all staying cool!