Survive July the 4th in gluten-free style

July 2, 4:26 PMAtlanta Gluten-Free Food ExaminerTiffany Janes

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Photo copyright Tiffany Janes

Summer is a time for grilling burgers and hot dogs and for some, enjoying a cold beer in the summer heat. Assuming one is using ground beef to make burgers, at least that part is easy enough to make gluten-free. It might be challenging for you to find a gluten-free bun you like but more about that in a moment.

Everyone knows that hot dogs are made with lots of things but unfortunately many brands contain wheat. For instance the famous Nathan’s brand states wheat clearly on their ingredient list. Several mainstream brands are gluten-free, though most are not marked as such so read the ingredients. Some less well known brands make gluten-free hot dogs or turkey dogs. Applegate Farms is a brand the comes to mind for turkey dogs.

Both The Grainless Baker and Island Gluten-Free Bakery make very good gluten-free buns. Atlantis Natural Foods carries The Grainless Baker buns and you can order buns from Island Gluten-Free Bakery and ship them ground to the Atlanta area. The buns from The Grainless Baker should be heated for best texture and the buns from Island Gluten-Free Bakery are edible unheated. There are also widely available buns from Ener-G and Kinnikinnick, though the taste and texture of either option won’t remind you of a gluten bun.

Now that you have your entrée figured out for the July 4th picnic, if you’re the only one there who’s eating gluten-free, you might not find many offerings that are safe for you to eat. Instead of stressing out yourself and everyone else, consider taking enough of your own food to fill you up. That way if there isn’t much except fruit that you can confirm is gluten-free, you won’t starve. If there is an array of gluten-free options for you to enjoy, just take the food your brought back home when the party is over. An easy gluten-free side dish you can take and share is potato salad, which is inexpensive to make a lot of. Publix makes several gluten-free ready made potato salads that are exceptional, but they come with a hefty price tag.

If like most people, you’re on a tight budget this year, take a watermelon for dessert and share with others. Or if you can swing the expense, make something fabulous like 123 Gluten Free pound cake or Gluten-Free Naturals brownies to share with others at the picnic. The pound cake can be topped with strawberries and whipped cream and adding extra chocolate chips and nuts to the traditional style Gluten-Free Naturals brownies makes them extra special. Both above products are available at Return to Eden. 

Either treat will disappear in an instant if people don’t know they’re gluten-free going in. In other words, let people try it before telling them they are eating a gluten-free treat. It’s unfortunate that most gluten eaters have a pre-conceived notion that gluten-free means taste free. Give them a break because you probably thought the same thing at one time. In any case, if you share great pound cake or brownies with party guests, you’ll have them saying "I can’t believe it’s gluten-free" and even asking for the recipe. Now that is a way to celebrate in gluten-free style that anyone can appreciate!

For more info: To buy exceptional gluten-free buns locally visit Atlantis Natural Foods and consider ordering buns from Island Gluten-Free Bakery for future summer grilling.  Publix and Kroger carry Redbridge gluten-free beer and Bard's Tale is sold at most Whole Foods in the area. Green's gluten-free beer (imported from Belgium) is also sold at Whole Foods.