Thanksgiving and Chocolates

Ok, got the layout in acceptable shape! I figured I'd make a quick post before going to bed.

So this past Thursday was annual turkey day, AKA Thanksgiving.  A beautiful holiday where people everywhere eat until they're no loner to move under their own volition--something I like to call AWESOME.  It's not uncommon that I eat until I can't walk, so a day where this is not just socially acceptable but encouraged is good in my book.  Typically my family has a big dinner together, but a variety of work and life situations left us dispersed this year.  Instead of eating with my family, I ate at my boyfriend's sister's house.  Anna and her boyfriend Marcelino were quite the GF hosts, I think all the food was gluten free.

Now, the thought of going over to someone's house and just sitting down and trusting the food probably sends most Celiacs (myself included) into a panicky fright.  I'll admit I was nervous to see what they came up with, because they were very reassuring everything would be fine (normally people are perplexed and confused at the thought of cooking GF).  But after getting there, I was really impressed with what they came up with.  Both Anna and Marcelino work at Wegmans, and any of my east coast homies know how wonderful Wegmans is about GF food.  So they got the inside scoop on what bread/crackers/flours to buy, etc.  It was pretty cool

I know Udi's products have been gaining popularity lately.  Did anyone else try using their bread for stuffing/dressing? Marcelino had the whole grain sandwich bread and he was a little frightened over how much chicken stock it absorbed.  Compared to what I usually make, it was a bit on the mushy side.  I know Udi's makes amazing sandwiches, but I don't think that soft texture is fit for stuffing.  I usually make my stuffing out of the bread I'd never make a sandwich with, just because it handles all the butter and chicken broth I use.  So I do have that observation.  I'm curious what worked/didn't work for other GF stuffing recipes.

So the day after Thanksgiving, my cousin came to visit me at my apartment downtown.  We wanted to get coffee, and decided on Chocolate and Vines on University Ave in downtown Rochester.  I have been eyeing this place ever since there was a groupon for there a couple weeks ago which I (regrettably) did not buy.  I was so impressed!! I tried two chocolates: mango, and eggnog.  SO GOOD. Holy cow.  I also got a cup of tea.  I was so excited when I noticed on the menu that gluten-free crackers are available upon request for their cheese/wine plate.  Needless to say, I will return to there.

As the weekend winds down, I was left feeling stuffing deprived as I normally make my joy of cooking recipe for Thanksgiving dinner.  Feeling lazy and realizing I don't own the Joy of Cooking (used to steal it from my mom), I bought a GF store-bought stuffing mix I found at Wegmans tonight.  I think it's from The Grainless Baker.  The packaging looks a little primitive, but I was hopeful.  I cooked it up, hoping to be wowed by flavors of sage and chickens:

But sadly, it was reminiscent of the soggy Udi's stuffing.   Two thoughts crossed my mind: Flashbulb memories of eating stuffing on Thanksgiving are amplifying the "wow" flavors I am thinking of, or, I'm going to have to buy a poultry and stuff it and then eat that stuffed bird to satisfy my itch.  Not really sure how that situation will turn out as I'm kind of lazy.  But, in conclusion, I declare the food I ate this past week a success.