My Gluten Free Pantry

How to stock a gluten free pantry...

***THIS IS NOT A COMPENSATED POST***

***ALL OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE MY OWN***

Let's face it - our lives are so hectic and frantic these days.  Between Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Venture Crew, 4H, church youth group, and other volunteer time, the Suburban Prairie Home sees its fair share of commotion, especially at dinner time.  It's so nice to be able to have staples on hand to cook with.

But when you stare down all those aisles at the store, how do you know what's safe for those with gluten issues and what's not?

With the literally thousands of items in any supermarket, it would take you a lifetime to read all those labels, check all the websites, and call all those companies.  Enter Triumph Dining.  For us, their books and other products have made a world of difference.

For example, The Essential Gluten-Free Grocery Guide lists products on any supermarket shelf that are safe.  And I do mean any supermarket - everywhere from Albertsons to WalMart!  This book allows me to walk in to our local stores, with a list of safe name-brand and store-brand items.  And, believe it or not, WalMart's store brand, Great Value(R), pops up pretty much in every category.  Last fall, when Princess wanted to try a recipe, one of the main ingredients was chili sauce.  This was a new ingredient to the Suburban Prairie Kitchen, and you can imagine how hesitant I was at first.  So, I looked up chili sauce in the book.  Sure enough, there it was, and it was Great Value(R) brand.  This allowed me to try a new product without breaking the bank.

Be sure to visit the website, and sign up for their newsletter.  It's got gluten free recipes and other goodies, too.

So what to keep on hand in your own gluten free pantry?  I made a master list yesterday of everything I keep stocked up on and the brands, and I'd like to share that with you.

Baking mixes:  Betty Crocker, Gluten Free Pantry, Gluten Free Bisquick, Pamela's Baking & Pancake Mix, Breads by Anna

Hershey's cocoa (the baking cocoa) and baking chips

Heath (brand) toffee baking chips

Beans - canned (365 Organic brand) and dry

Rice, millet, amaranth, quinoa and salba; also Lundberg Organic Gluten Free Couscous (plain and savory herb)

Fruit - frozen (365 brand - organic when possible) and canned (store brand); also fresh when in season.  We almost always have fresh apples, bananas, oranges, and lemons on hand, and also orange juice.

Vegetables - same as the fruit; we almost always have fresh carrots, celery, potatoes and onions on hand.

Snacks - Smoreables graham crackers, Glutino pretzels and chocolate sandwich cookies, Kettle (brand) potato chips, Xochitl corn chips, Lara Bars; occasionally, we also have MnM's (R) and Butterfinger (R) bars.

Cereal:  Chex (rice, corn, honey, cinnamon) and Gluten Free Rice Krispies (R)

Pasta:  Annie Chun's Pad Thai Brown Rice Noodles

Tomato products:  Muir Glen salsa, pasta sauce, tomatoes and tomato paste

Annie's Naturals BBQ sauce (sweet & spicy and smoky maple)

Great Value chili sauce, mayonnaise, non-dairy creamer (french vanilla and plain), non-fat dry milk, corn syrup

Jello (brand) pudding and gelatin

Pacific Foods organic beef broth, organic free range chicken stock, organic cream of chicken soup

Gluten Free Cafe gluten free chicken noodle soup

Agave nectar, local honey, maple syrup, organic sugar

Smucker's (brand) ice cream toppings (butterscotch, hot fudge, and milk chocolate - in glass jars) - occasionally

Marshmallows (occasionally)

Breads:  Udi's (brand) white bread, whole grain, and millet chia;  Against the Grain baguettes and pizza crusts; Van's frozen gluten free waffles

Meats:  CSA share, Applegate Farms frozen chicken nuggets and tenders, lunch meats (ham and turkey)

Dairy/Non-Dairy: cheese (sliced and shredded), lactose free milk, half-n-half, heavy cream, frozen non-dairy whipped topping, sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, butter, chocolate Silk(R), cream cheese

Frozen:  Udi's cheese pizzas, Amy's frozen meals (favorites in my house are the enchilada meals, tamale meals, and gluten free garden vegetable lasagna)

Condiments & Misc:  Organicville Ketchup, 365 Organic Dijon mustard, frosting, homemade jams and jellies, peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter,

I think that's everything.  Do I have every single item on hand every single day?  No.  We all run out of things, and if I'm not making certain recipes, then some of the items tend to be left at the store.  Some things go faster than others, especially with a teenage boy in the house.  I just wanted to give you an overview of what's possible.  You'll notice we have our fair share of convenience items and snack foods, just like any other household.

Hopefully, this will encourage you on your gluten free walk.  When folks tell you there's nothing to eat when you go gluten free, show them my list.  Better yet, show them your shopping cart full of groceries!

Have a great Wednesday!