Wheat-Free Italian American Thanksgiving

Fumbling Towards Evolution with Dina

Happy Thanksgiving my Wheat-Free tribe!italians be like

Here I have compiled a list of my recipes that will help to make your holiday wheat-free and manageable, and still taste delicious!

I didn’t bother with the Turkey, because everyone has their own way of making the bird. However, if you want the best tasting turkey you’ll ever have I do have a couple of suggestions for a flavorful brine and basting.

Brine

  • I like to soak my bird in Sea Salt, these days its Himalayan Sea Salt. Apple Cider Vinegar, Cloves, Nutmeg, and Bay Leaves overnight and completely immersed.

Basting

  • Rubbing the bird down with herbed butter gives the skin a nice crispy texture. I like grassfed butter with oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary, parsley, and paprika.
  • I also like to wrap the entire breast of the bird with nitrate-free bacon. I used a smoked version if I can find it. The drippings make for an excellent gravy thickened with xanthum gum or coconut flour.

Before I send you off to peruse my Thanksgiving Lineup I would remiss if I didn’t mention the key part of an Italian American Thanksgiving…the Italian part. If you know any true Italian Americans then you’ll know we don’t just do turkey with all the traditional sides. We have a seven course meal that includes antipasto, pasta which is usually baked ziti, lasagna, or mancotti. We also make a meat sauce with all various meats, like meatballs, sausage, pig skin, pork meat, and braciole .  There’s a break in which we all feel like we might die from all the food…and then the American part of Thanksgiving rolls out. Then it’s followed by raw fennel, nuts, and fruit. Topped off with pastries, cakes, and desserts with espresso or coffee. Then coma…LOL

The American part is usually played down but never left out. We have turkey, stuffing, potatoes of some kind; usually roasted, two or three vegetables but usually one of them is  definitely broccoli rabe with garlic and oil. We stuff the hell out of everything so there’s usually stuffed artichokes, stuffed peppers, and stuffed mushrooms too! On occasion a non-Italian American family member will bring some kind of casserole or something that may work it’s way to the table, but usually stared at with passive-aggressive contempt.

Yeah, I know what you’re thinking…why so much food???? It seems like the epitome of gluttony…right?

Wrong!

I’ll tell you why…most Italian Americans came from Italy in poverty. Having meat at the table was rarity or gift. For Italian Americans the more food you have the luckier you are.  A full table with lots of family around are signs of success and sustainability. It means you came here, made it, and here’s all the proof. Most of all, food is love to Italians. It’s a fathers and mothers hard-earned money providing for their family, a grandmothers gift of special treats only made on certain holidays. It’s old school, it’s tradition, but at the core it’s gratitude. Thankful for food, the chance at a new life, and remembrance of our ancestors who had much less but took a chance. Isn’t that what Thanksgiving is about….people from other places coming here to make a new start?

Far be it from me to change tradition…well maybe bend it a little.

My Thanksgiving will have all of these things, but will be wheat-free of course.

Italian Thanksgiving Dishesitalian girl problems

 Gravy

The Sides

Desserts

Crusts/Rolls/Breads/Breadcrumbs

Cocktailsfamily drinks

 Cocktail Cheat Sheet from Paleo Girls Kitchen

Thank you following me and enjoying my recipes. Thank you for enjoying my little antidotes about my journey. I’m blessed with great family and friends, and network of people who find my rantings worthwhile. Happy Thanksgiving…and as always

Evolve With Me

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