This recipe is sooo easy and really tasty.  It quickly becomes a family favorite as the sauce is so creamy it resembles homemade macaroni and cheese.  A great winter comfort food kind of recipe, you will have little to none left over once you’ve introduced this dish.

Every pasta dish to come out of my kitchen is gluten free and for this recipe I used a Trader Joe’s corn pasta, tasty and inexpensive.  If you’re a dairy free family you could substitute out the cheese for the selection of soy or rice based cheeses or not do the cheese at all.  The sauce still has a fantastic flavor and the addition of the cauliflower is a surprising bonus.

Ingredients:
2 T olive oil
2 T butter
3 cloves crushed garlic
1 tsp basil
1 bay leaf
1 head cauliflower
2 cups tomato sauce
2 cups shredded cheddar & parmesan cheese
1 bag Gluten Free fusilli pasta (I used a corn pasta for this recipe)

Heat the olive oil, basil and bay leaf until warm.  Add crushed garlic, sauté for a few minutes. Add cauliflower, chopped to 1 inch pieces to the pan.  Sometimes I add a ½ cup water, cover and steam until soft.

Meanwhile bring the pasta water to boil. Pour the tomato sauce over the cauliflower and simmer for 15 minutes. While this is simmering and pasta water is coming to a boil, shred the cheese and set aside.

Cook the pasta, drain and pour into a bowl, drizzle with olive oil, stir in the 2T butter and half the cheese.  Once mixed, pour tomato/cauliflower sauce over the pasta and top with remaining cheese.
Serve with a mixed greens side salad, and I guarantee you’ll hardly have any left over!

Following is a Guest Post by my friend, Nichi Hirsch Kuechle, President, My Healthy Beginning on how to have a wonderful Gluten Free Holiday!!

Got the Post Turkey Day Blah's?  Get outside and start moving.  The fresh air will revive you and the exercise will jump start your metabolism...and, stay the heck off so much sugar and gluten if you want to feel great!

Over the holiday I was thinking about how many people struggle with how to make or serve gluten free holiday fare.  I know how far we can take our oldest daughter in the world of gluten, and haven't tested it on Annie (our almost 4 year old).  I made egg rolls on Friday night as a special treat.  They are made of wheat flour so I knew I was doing the forbidden with her by allowing her to eat them.  Then Saturday on Christmas Cookie day at my sister's and I allowed her to have one cookie with wheat, all the while there were two batches of goodies that were wheat free made with our girls in mind.

By Saturday night snuggling before bedtime, she was already covered in a rash.  Clearly allowing wheat wasn't a good idea.  Last night she started itching, and this morning she's still covered.  Way to go, mama, way to go.

Needless to say it inspired my post today as a reminder that it really isn't difficult (at all) to go gluten free, for the holidays or otherwise.  If you want to know what your food sensitivities are, take SuNu Wellness up on their offer below for Nutrition Response Testing and free yourself from wonder!

Blessings,

~Nichi

Feature Article -5 Ways to a Gluten Free Holiday

When I first taught this workshop I knew the topic interested me and I was teaching it for a chiropractic clinic, though wasn't sure how the topic would fare with that crowd who was showing up because the workshop was a part of their wellness plan versus something they could choose on their own.
I was surprised at the authentic curiosity this group had in understanding how easy it is to create your holidays as a gluten free experience.

These days we all know somebody who either has a mild sensitivity or a full blown allergy because it's everywhere.  Even those undiagnosed are easy to pick out at the family holiday table:  dark circles around their eyes, clearing their throat often while eating and for a time after, and often what's on their plate includes only the foods they are adverse to.  Funny how that works.

The questions asked of me that day encouraged me to teach this again as there are a few basics people forget.

1-You don't have to serve traditional holiday fare.  Two years ago I cooked up authentic Mexican cuisine for Christmas and it was a huge hit.

2-We tend to forget that produce and meat are gluten free as they stand alone.  It's the sauce and the dressings that often contain gluten.  Depending upon what you're serving, there are alternative sauces or ways to serve your favorite foods to consider that are just as delicious.

3-Make a nice nutty brown and wild rice pilaf in place of good ole Stove Top Stuffing.  It's fantastic and your house will smell great.

4-There are gluten free pie crusts out there, or fruit crisps and crumbles are easy to make gluten free and really delicious.  There are several pie, cake and cookie recipes that are fantastic, you may just need an additional resource or coach (enter shameless plug here!), to point you in the right direction.

5-Just ask.  Dial up the person or family member you are having as a guest and ask them straight up how you can support their gluten free lifestyle.  They may be willing to bring their favorite dish or share with you a tip or idea on how easy it is to create something everyone can enjoy.

“Nichi Hirsch Kuechle supports moms during pregnancy, birth, postpartum and beyond as a Parent Coach, Craniosacral Therapist and Birth/Postpartum Doula in Minneapolis. She publishes a weekly e-zine called Natural Family, which offers tips, ideas and resources for growing healthy babies. She also teaches a variety of live and virtual workshops. http://www.MyHealthyBeginning.com.