Cookerati

There was an amazing coincidence this past holiday visit to the family homestead in NJ.  One day before leaving I received a box of Katz gluten free-dairy free-nut free goodies to try out. That same day on a family forum, a discussion formed around my nephew’s girlfriend who as it happens has Celiac disease.  My mom was providing alternatives for her for the dinner, hoping it would work out.  I threw all of the desserts in a sack and took it with us.  I figured I could judge the taste just fine, but this was  an opportunity to share it and maybe make a holiday meal a little more fun.  My mom was making jello for her dessert, but I decided to wait and surprise the girlfriend and see what her opinion was.  Well, she was not only surprised but thrilled at eating some treats that she hasn’t enjoyed in years.

I want to say, for my part of the tasting that everything tasted exactly the way it would if you weren’t gluten free.  That was amazing to me.  Most of my experience with gluten free is that the foods come out doughy, or a little different tasting, though it’s still acceptable and even delicious.

  The chocolate chip cookies were crisp and great for dunking. Best gluten free chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever tasted. 

The challah rolls we had with dinner were a perfect accompaniment to the ham she had (and went well with turducken also).

  Rugelach tasted like cinnamon rolls but maybe a little flakier or crisper (exactly like rugelach is supposed to )  .

We didn’t share the chocolate rugelach because we wanted a taste of something before we brought it along.  It was so delicious.

The piece de resistance was the marble cake.  The marble cake is moist and divinely good.  That’s the one I had trouble parting with the most. 

I gave the leftovers to the girlfriend, though any of us could have and would have eaten it.  I know how dear gluten free products are in cost and availability.  I received a thank you note from my nephew letting us know how touched his girlfriend was that we brought desserts she could enjoy.  Like I said it was an amazing coincidence that I was thrilled worked out for everyone. 

My grade on all of the Katz Desserts products is A +.

My question to all of you who can’t allow gluten in their diet, how do you handle gatherings?  Do you bring your own?  Is it bought or homemade?

Disclosure: I was sent the Katz gluten free/dairy free/nut free products to review.  My review is unbiased and honest.  I regret not having more marble cake.