By request: My gluten-free Christmas stuffing recipe

December is definitely a month that has the spirit of feasting and nibbling on tasty little morsels alike ingrained in its very fiber. In fact, a solid argument could be made that it's the most food filled month of the whole year for many around the world, and there's little exception to that point around our house.

Over the years I've had to radically change they way I eat on account of some of my medical conditions, but no matter how many foods I’ve lost, recipes I’ve had to alter, or dishes I have to pass up, nothing can shake my love of cooking - especially when it comes to the holiday season.

I now make a completely gluten and egg-free Christmas dinner, so that I can eat it more safely, with the same (or a relatively similar) meal showing up earlier in the year on Thanksgiving, too. And speaking of Thanksgiving, last month when I shared the outfit that I wore on Canadian Thanksgiving here, I mentioned the gluten-free holiday meal we'd had at my mother's house, for which I'd brought the stuffing and one of the desserts. A request was then made in the comments by the immensely lovely Jitterbugdoll for my stuffing recipe, and today I'm pleased to share that recipe with you.

Throughout my life I've always been keen on creating my own recipes, and such has continued to be the case in in the face of eating for/around chronic health problems. This particular stuffing recipe is one that I came up with the first Christmas that after I had to go gluten-free, and I really haven't altered it much since then.

I should point out that I've not, to date, tried cooking it inside of a bird. Instead I've cooked it along side (or before or after) the bird in a casserole dish. I have made other gluten-free stuffings inside of chickens and ducks, however, and those recipes have been quite similar, with just a little less liquid used.

By all means use whatever brand of gluten-free bread you like (I use the one I do because it’s egg-free, which is important as I have an egg allergy), or if you happen to have any on hand, use some fairly hearty homemade gluten-free bread. Keeping in mind that you’ll want a somewhat dense, compact bread here to help ensure the finished stuffing is able to hold it’s shape well.

A couple of other things to note are that I personally like a fairly moist stuffing. Indeed, I'd rather my stuffing be too moist than too dry any day of the year, but certainly wouldn't call the finished product here soupy at all. The bread is is not pre-dried, but instead used straight from the package, as it already has a much drier consistency than your average bread that contains gluten. If you wanted to dry it out, say overnight, you certainly could, but I haven't found doing to to be necessary in ensuring this stuffing turns out nicely.

This recipe produces a moist, wonderfully flavourful classic sage and onion stuffing that holds its shape quite well. And lastly, I want to mention that this recipe as it is now doesn't produce a huge volume – I'd say it serves four to six moderately as a side, but you can easily double, triple, etc this recipe as needed (so far I've only needed to double it, but had zero problems with the recipe when I did so).

So with those thoughts in mind, let's jump right into whipping up a batch of the very stuffing that I'll be making in ten days time for my family's holiday feast this year.




Gluten-free, egg-free Christmas Stuffing

Ingredients

-1 loaf Ener-G Tapioca gluten-free bread (I've also, in a pinch, used a six pack of Ener-G Tapicoa gluten-free dinner rolls), or your favourite sturdy gluten-free bread

-1 litre (34 ounces) gluten-free chicken, turkey, or vegetable stock (when cooking for Thanksgiving or Christmas I like to Kitchen Basics gluten-free turkey stock, which I buy at Choices Market in Kelowna)

-1/2 cup (or more if desire) finely chopped white or yellow onion

-1/3 to 1/2 cup dark or golden raisins (optional, but if you're a raisin fan, I highly recommend them)

-1/3 cup olive oil

-1.5 tsp poultry seasoning

-1 tsp ground sage

-1 tbsp dried thyme or 3 tbsps fresh thyme

-1/2 tsp freshly cracked black pepper (or more to taste)

-1/2 tsp sea or kosher salt

-Olive oil, butter, margarine, or vegan margarine to lightly grease your baking dish with

Directions

Preheat your oven to 400F/200c/gas mark 6.

Over a large mixing bowl, begin tearing (or if you prefer, cutting with kitchen shears) the gluten-free bread into roughly bite sized pieces (don't worry at all about uniformity, they're all getting smooshed together in the end).

Once that's done, stir in the chopped onions, raisins, seasonings, and olive oil. Mix well, coating the bread fairly evenly with the seasonings. Next, begin adding your stock to the stuffing mixture in 1/2 cup increments, stirring well after each addition. Preferring a most stuffing, I usually use 3/4 to 1 full litre of stock, but recommend you let your personal tastes dictate here. At the very least, unless you want an especially dry stuffing, I'd use at least 2/3 of a litre of stock.

When the stuffing mixture has reached your desired moistness level (keep it mind, some of the moisture will evaporate during cooking), lightly grease a nine or ten inch glass or ceramic casserole dish with olive oil, butter or margarine. Pour all of the stuffing mix into the casserole, spreading it out quite evenly, and then press down on it with your hands or a mixing spoon to help compact it. I find this step is important if you want a nice, solid stuffing once it comes out of the oven.

Cover your casserole dish with tin foil and bake for approximately 45 minutes. After that time, remove the foil and check on how nicely browned the top of your stuffing looks. Continue cooking the stuffing for 15 to 20 minutes, or longer if needed, until desired degree of golden brownness appears on the top of the the stuffing and a fork or skewer inserted into it indicates that the stuffing feels firm and the liquid been absorbed by the bread.

Remove from oven and allow to stand for at least ten minutes (I usually give it more like twenty) before serving.

Any leftovers can be stored in the fridge and reheated for up to three days afterwards. I have not, as of yet, tried freezing this stuffing in either its raw or cooked form, so I can't say definitely how well it would hold up in the freezer.




{No matter how big or small your Christmas dinner is going to be, it just wouldn't be the same without a hearty, fragrant bowl of stuffing on the table. So why not don your favourite holiday apron - like this lovely 1950s homemaker - and try your hand at today's delicious gluten-free version? Image via Salty Cotton on Flickr.}



This stuffing, though my own recipe, is based on my mother's classic Christmas dressing, with only minor alterations (aside from the use of GF bread) being made. To me it really is the perfect holiday stuffing and one that I adore slathering with a generous dollop of GF gravy or simply tucking into on its own later in the evening as a midnight snack.

I hope that if you give it a spin, it turns out wonderfully for you (please note that the brand of GF bread you use here may play a roll in how the finished stuffing comes out/tastes), and that it helps to make your gluten-free Christmas feast an even more merry and deliciously festive one.

Happy holiday cooking, everybody!

Trying my luck with tartan

Outfit details
Prescription eyeglasses: (frames) Venus Eye Design V-12
Black hair ribbon: saved from the packaging on something I bought
1940s/50s tartan dress: etsy seller Vanity
Dangle charm kilt pin: eBay
1940s/50s ruched mustard yellow gloves: eBay
Faux pearl stretch bracelets: Real Canadian Superstore
1950s red belt: came with a different dress
Faux leather bow clutch: Bentley
Nude with black seamed stockings: eBay
T-strap suede peep-toe heels: Nine West
Lip colour: MAC Russian Red
Photography by Antonio Cangiano  










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When I think of tartan, aside from its obvious Scottish heritage, two things spring to mind first: a darling little tartan cross body bag I had when I was about five years old (complete with cute tassel), and secondly, the packaging on Scotch Tape. It is the latter that we'll soon be turning to as we wrap Christmas gifts this month, and so this dress seamed especially well suited to the approaching winter season.

No snow in sight on the day when these snapped were grabbed a bit earlier this fall however, in fact it was sunshine aplenty - carrying on the theme of beautiful days that we were often treated to this autumn.

This dress was one of those pieces that I feel in love with at first sight, yet was slightly cautious about, as I know from experience that certain necklines don't always work on me, and high set, close fitting round necks often fall into that category. Thus I kept it sitting in my etsy favourites for a while, looking at each photo and trying to decide if I wanted to take a gamble with the neckline.

I'm very glad that I did, because as it turns out, the eye-catching pattern, double breasted buttons, and slightly offset shape of the neck (it's a tad squared on one side) help, I feel to ensure that it does indeed work on my petite, curvy figure.

Though the seller listed this dress as being from the 1950s, and it could very well be, to me it simply screams 40s - in fact, I'd be so bold as to say you could even style it, convincingly, as a late 30s piece. In fact, I was so surprised by how "unfifties" it looked (save for the single hip pocket) when I wore it for the first time (in these shots), that I just knew I was going to take it in a fairly early 40s direction, with a bit of a nod to the 30s thanks to the classic black t-strap peep-toes.

Gloves (or at least long sleeves) are pretty much a must as fall winds down, and I was delighted to partner a cheerful mustard yellow vintage pair with this tartan patterned frock. I've had the clutch for a few years, but haven't used it that often, so I was glad to bring it out for some fresh air that day (ditto for the shoes).

A dress like this doesn't need a lot of jewelry competing for attention with the vivacious pattern, so a cute kilt pin (how could I resist with so much tartan going on?) and my beloved faux pearl stretch bracelets were all the (subtle) bling this look called for.

While out and about running errands with Tony on the day these photos were snapped, I received some very sweet compliments, was brazenly hit on (with Tony standing right there beside) me by an a guy who was probably about 35 years my senior, and told by a very nice middle aged woman working at Safeway that she "wished she could dress like that, too".

As I'm sure many of you do, I encounter similar comments from “vintage curious” folks quite often when out and about, and always try to encourage the person as best I can, that if they want to, then by all means they should give wearing vintage a spin.

Is there a degree of art and skill that goes into wearing vintage fashions, hair and make-up? Absolutely, but I fully believe that the ability to successfully do so is something that just about anyone with the desire to do so can master - and at any age, I should add.

My take is, if you want to dress a certain way, than - as many a Nike ad has proclaimed over the years - just do it. It's never too early or too late to embrace wearing vintage, and I can't help but hope that maybe some day one of the people who stop and say that they wish they could, will heed my encouragement and embark on their own journey into wearing vintage fashion.

Fashion, after all, is about having fun and taking risks, a bit like I did when I ordered this dress, not quite knowing for sure if it the neckline would work. It did, I love it, and am really happy that my little gamble paid - or should I say "plaid" - off!

Vintage Holiday Shopping Guide: Stocking Stuffers

Once long, long ago...okay, technically not that long ago, rather three years ago, in the equally chilly days of December 2009, I wrote my first two vintage holiday shopping guides. One was devoted to gifts for children, the other to gifts for home decor lovers. I had a blast putting both together and had hoped that they would be the first in an ongoing (annual) series of guides. Life had other plans however, in the two years that followed, and so this series went on a wee bit of an unintentional hiatus.

Today however, I'm pleased as punch (or should I say "pleased as wassail", given what time of the year it is) to announce that this delightful series is back and that this year's edition is devoted to one of my very favourite areas of holiday gift giving: stocking stuffers.

Perhaps it’s because I've always been drawn to collecting various small things (brooches, miniature toys, buttons, etc) or maybe it's that there have been Christmas when I felt the gifts I received in my stocking were my favourites of all, whatever the case, I've always truly loved shopping for, and also receiving, those fun, charming, sometimes silly, sometimes breath-takingly special presents that one pulls merrily from their stocking each Christmas morn.

Stocking stuffers (also known as stocking fillers in some parts of the world) are, by their very nature, generally small presents that are meant to supplement or accompany a larger gift or gifts, that is often to be found under the Christmas tree. Sometimes however - say, for example, if you were giving someone a gorgeous antique sapphire ring - one of the presents nestled into a stocking could certainly be the most important (and/or expensive) gift you're giving.

More often than not however (at least when I was growing up) stocking stuffers were not particularly costly presents at all. Toys, beauty products, small items of clothing (socks, ear muffs, mitts, belts, jewelry, etc), Christmas ornaments, candy, mandarin oranges (there was always an orange in the toe of our stocking when I was a child), pens or pencils, tiny handmade crafts, and practical day-to-day items were the most common, just as they still are for many folks to this day.

While it's not usual for people to keep the price of each stocking stuffer to less than $20 or even $10, as everyone has a different holiday budget that they're comfortable working with the items in today's post will all come in under $40.00, with some costing less than five dollars. (Please note that all prices are in US dollars unless otherwise specified and that they were accurate as of the time of writing.)

Each one of these Thirty gift ideas covers a broad range of individuals who may enjoy receiving them. They’re tied together by the fact that they have a vintage, beautifully classic, timelessly practical, or just plain adorable feel to them that make them absolutely ideal for all the vintage lovers on your shopping list - as well as for yourself, if you happen to have anyone asking you what you might like in your own stocking this year.

{In these modern days of heating pads and central heating in our homes, many people no longer turn to hot water bottles for warmth and comfort. However, they remain as a useful and lovely a source of heat and soothing care as they ever have been, and this Scottie Dog Hot Water Bottle has to be one the sweetest to be had anywhere today. £11.95 from The Oriental Magpie.}




{Handwrite or type out a few of your favourite holiday recipes to include when you give this timelessly cute Pantry Design Yellow Recipe Box. £6.95 from Dotcomgiftshop.}



{If like me, you - or anyone on your holiday list - is as much a fan of the packaging a product comes in as what's housed inside, this immensely prettily, vintage inspired wrapped bar of Lollia Imagine Shea Butter Soap is sure to be a welcome treat. $10.00 from Layla Grayce.}




{Help ensure you're loved one's specs are always at hand, as well as safe and sound, with this Crystal Embellished Faux Leather Ladie's Eyeglasses Case. $16.95 from the Victorian Trading Co..}




{Treat everyone of the little outer space lovers in your family to a set of these Spaceboy Childrens Cutlery and watch their eyes light up like stars. £9.95 from Dotcomgiftshop.}




{Adorable and practical in one fell swoop, this darling Standing Cat Pewter Ring Holder measures 4.5 cm tall and 9 cm long with a 7 cm tail, and is a fantastic way to ensure that cherish rings never run the risk of getting misplaced again. £5.95 from The Oriental Magpie.}




{Treat the special gent in your life to a classic Ceramic Shaving Bowl filled with Mitchell's Woolfat Soap. This soap is known for its soothing emollient effect and is sure to turn even the most ardent foam-in-a-can-fan into a shaving soap convert. £21.00 from Rose & Co. Apothecary.}




{The holiday season is the best time of the year to go all out when it comes to glamour and sparkle, and this gorgeous, vintage looking Red Crystal Poinsettia Headband delivers both in spades. $19.95 from the Victorian Trading Co. (note, it's also available in clear crystal flowers).}

{To quote the site itself, "This vintage-inspired Marbles Tin Game is timeless, doesn't need batteries, won't break, is fun for children of all ages, and can be played by many people at once". Marbles are always a great way to pass a relaxing afternoon, so why not pick up a set for the young - or young at heart - in your family this Christmas? $9.99 from Retro Planet.}




{Help make getting those that mountain of post-holiday feast dishes more enjoyable - and definitely more fashionable, too - this this charming pair of latex-free, hypoallergenic Vinyl Dish Gloves that come adorned with lovely red, white and navy blue polka dot fabric ruffles (this is just one of many cute fabrics this brand offers). $22.00 from Carolyn's Kitchen.}




{Whether for use in Movember or all year round, give the facial hair fans in your life this charmingly fun Mustache Grooming Kit that comes in a great little carrying case shaped like a classic handlebar mustache. $12.00 from Fred Flare.}



{Give the Wizard of Oz or classic movie buff in your life a fun reminder of one of the most popular and beloved films of all time, with this cute pair of Ruby Slipper Magnets. $3.99 from Retro Planet.}




{If the lovely packaging alone doesn't sell you on this classic set of Three Round Biscuit Cutters, then their eternally practical purpose definitely will. £4.95 from Dotcomgiftshop.}

 
{It's always fun to unwrap a Christmas themed gift in your stocking, as this delightful tin of Strawberry Crush Glossy Lip Balm - featuring a beautiful vintage pin-up girl illustration - is an especially great way to do just that. (According to the website) This balm is infused with nourishing Fragaria Ananassa (strawberry seed) oil, Pure Golden Beeswax and Sweet Almond Oil, and is perfect for lips needing moisture and protection. £5.00 from Rose & Co. Apothecary.}




{The past meets the present in case of this wonderfully cute 1950s inspired Poodle USB Hub. $12.00 from Fred Flare.}




{Start saving pocket change up for next year's yard sale season, bingo nights, or simply to have a little mad money on hand whenever needed, in this timelessly pretty cabbage rose print fabric Kiss-Clasp Coin Purse that looks every bit like something our grandmas or great-grandmother's might have tucked into their handbags back in the day. $9.95 from the Victorian Trading Co. (also available in a floral on black fabric).}




{For all the adorable animal lovers on your list, this cuter-than-cute Chunky Silver Rabbit Ring is sure to be equally popular for Easter as it every other day of the year. £6.50 from The Oriental Magpie.}




{Flashlights are one of those things that no house can ever have to many of - especially if they have a thoroughly old school look to them like this terrific Vintage Metal LED Torch. £4.95 from Dotcomgiftshop.}




{Inject a fantastic dose of nostalgic holiday spirit into any kitchen or bathroom with this adorable 100$ cotton Retro Snowman Towel. $9.99 from Retro Planet.}




{Like something you just know Zelda Fitzgerald would have loved: (handmade) Circle Monogram Itty Bitty Post Earrings. $12.00 from etsy seller Elizajay Charm.}




{Measuring in at just 11cm wide by 6cm high, this wee little Bakelite Red Alarm Clock is a marvelous way to inject a vintage aesthetic into a bedroom or any other corner of the house (*please note that in the case of this product, the word "Bakelite" refers to the alarm clock's colour, not to the material it is made out of*). £9.95 from Dotcomgiftshop.}




{Make any night as festive as a luau with this cute 2 ounce Tiki Shot Glass, or why not give a few and ensure your recipient is always ready to throw a Polynesian themed shindig at moment's notice? $2.49 (per shot glass) from Retro Planet.}




{Infused with notes of coriander, white sage, birch wood, and tundra moss, Paper & Cotton No. 17 is a candle in a tin that is not to missed - especially when you factor into the beautiful 1950s illustration on the lid. $12.00 from Tokyomilk.}



{I have many fond memories of receiving arts and craft supplies in my stockings as a youngster, and would definitely pick up a pack each (especially considering how well priced they are) of these classic Traditional Crayons in their lovely vintage inspired box for my kids, if I had children. £1.00 from Dotcomgiftshop.}




{It may look like a classic peppermint treat, but one lick is all it will take to let you know that what you're enjoying is in face Bacon Candy. Packaged in a festive red tin with a great old-fashioned style font and illustration, this sweet snack is a must for all bacon lovers on your list this year. $6.79 from Retro Planet.}




{One of the best loved travel novels of all time lends itself to this fantastic Plot Your Course Passport Cover that is sure to appeal to literary fans and those with passion for wanderlust alike. $24.99 from ModCloth.}




{Whether for Junior or Grandpa, this cheerful, wonderfully fun red plastic and metal Harmonica In A Box is sure to be enthusiastically received. £2.95 from Dotcomgiftshop.}




{If you have a recipient on your list who adores both card games and watching classic TV shows, then this delightful deck of I Love Lucy Playing Cards might be right up their alley. $12.99 from Retro Planet.}




{Lend one of today's most current gadgets a definite sense of the past with this timelessly elegant Vintage Postcard Case available for iPhone 4, iPhone 5, Samsung S2 & S3. $16.99 from etsy seller On Your Case.}




{Whether for a child, paper crafter, Christmas lover, or snail mail envelope decorator, you'll be hard pressed not to find someone on your shopping list who wouldn't adore a tin of these preciously cute vintage inspired Christmas Stickers. $13.49 from Retro Planet.}

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I hope Santa is reading this post, because there's certainly a few items here that I'd be tickled pink to receive any year in my stocking, too! I am so happy that I was able to revive the vintage holiday shopping gift guide series this December, and look forward to putting together future editions next year and in future years to come as well.

Stocking stuffers are such a joy. They're like the appetizers of the Christmas present world, and can be such a fantastic way to give those special people in your life little presents you've picked up, or created, for them throughout the year that generally don't carry the same potential stress (will they love it, hate it, regift it the moment you leave the room) that larger presents can sometimes entail.

Whether you like to give put just a couple of gifts into a festive Christmas sock or cram it to capacity, I hope that that today's roundup of vintage stocking stuffers will give you plenty of holiday shopping ideas for this season and well beyond.

Now, time to go hang those stockings, stick a yummy candy cane into each, and fill - I mean, let St. Nick fill - them up for all the loved ones in your house.