4th of July celebrations gluten-free style… 5 dishes “pop” with color & taste

Patriotic Toast (www.allergyawesomeness.com)

4th of July celebrations create exciting opportunities to show off your awesome gluten-free cooking and baking skills to friends and family.  In anticipation for your upcoming get-together, I’m sharing five recipes I found to tickle your taste buds.  Make your gluten-free 4th of July picnic “pop” with color and taste!

Look how simple this Patriotic Toast is from Allergy Awesomeness.  Such a fun way to start your 4th of July morning.  It’s gluten, dairy, egg, soy, peanut, tree nut, and vegan- free!  Their website contains a LOT of great information and recipes… take a look and get inspired!

Red, White & Blue Fruit Salad (www.lifemadesimplebakes.com)

Keep your fruit salad festive!  Life Made Simple Bakes’ website makes this delicious, simple Red, White & Blue Fruit Salad.  Drizzled with a light honey citrus dressing, and voila, it’s ready to serve.  (An alternate could be to cut the pineapples into small squares, and use a star cookie cutter to create star watermelon pieces.)

Pineapple Guacamole (www.gimmesomeoven.com)

This recipe might not look patriotic at first glance, but it sure does look refreshing!  Gimme Some Oven’s website contains fresh ideas.  I love pineapple salsa, and this Pineapple Guacamole recipe is definitely something I’m going to make.  Serve it with red, white, & blue corn chips (Trader Joe’s sells them) and presto,  you’ve got color!

Balsamic Steak Skewers (www.julieseatsandtreats.com)

Fire up the grill and add some Balsamic Steak Skewers (or Balsamic Chicken Skewers) to your meal.  With only 5 ingredients, 10 minutes prep time, and 10 minutes grill time, no one will need to be grill master too long!  Julie’s Eats And Treats website contains A LOT of recipes – make sure to use gluten-free ingredients when prepping their dishes!

Gluten-free Brownie & Berries Dessert Pizza (www.bettycrocker.com)

We have so many options for delicious gluten-free desserts, and dressing them up patriotic-style is as easy as adding fresh fruit slices.  Betty Crocker posted this delicious Gluten-free Brownie & Berries Dessert Pizza recipe, which takes about 20 minutes to bake, and an hour in the fridge (to set the cream cheese and apple jelly).  It just might make it to our 4th of July picnic spread!

However you are celebrating your 4th of July, remember, holidays are a perfect time to introduce your friends and family to gluten-free foods.  One day they may spread the good word when meeting others following this lifestyle, based on their positive taste-test with you.  Make it fun with a colorful, delicious, gluten-free treat!

Happy 4th!

   – wendi :O)