Gluten Free and Allergy Friendly Expo (Worcester, MA July 25, 2015) - Part 1

Over the weekend I attended the Gluten Free & Allergy Friendly Expo (http://gfafexpo.com/) in Worcester, MA. I thought it was great! I got to try so many products. Some I have seen and have been wanting to try. Some I have never heard of. There were so many vendors!! The expo goes to different locations. I would definitely recommend joining the mailing list and if it comes to your area, you should attend. You can also suggest cities for the expo to come to.

Not only were there a ton of vendors, samples and coupons, there were also a couple of very interesting classes/lectures.

My favorite class was "Gluten-Free Recipe Makeover" taught by Jilly Legasse. Jilly is the daughter of chef Emeril Lagasse, also she has celiac disease. She presented ways of making everyday recipes gluten free. Cooking and baking is trial and error as it is, gluten free is no different! It takes lots of batches and dishes to make the recipe just right!

Some of Jilly's suggestions include:

• Use sparkling water in place of any liquid to make your baking more fluffy
• Xanthum Gum – If you are baking something that calls for Xanthum Gum and it doesn't turn out as you want it, try using double the amount
• Using yeast or cream of tartar to make light and fluffy 
• For meatballs, in place of breadcrumbs, use Parmesan cheese

Jilly also has a website and she has written a couple of cookbooks with her sister. I am very interested in purchasing these:

Jilly Lagasse's Website: http://www.jillylagasse.com/

• "The Lagasse Girls' Big Flavor, Bold Taste--and No Gluten!: 100 Gluten-Free Recipes from EJ's Fried Chicken to Momma's Strawberry Shortcake"
• "The Gluten-Free Table: The Lagasse Girls Share Their Favorite Meals"

Jilly also recommended some other cookbooks by Nicole Hunn. I am also interested in checking these out.

Nicole Hunn's Website: http://nicolehunn.com/

• "Gluten-Free on a Shoestring: 125 Easy Recipes for Eating Well on the Cheap" 
• "Gluten-Free on a Shoestring, Quick and Easy: 100 Recipes for the Food You Love--Fast!" 
• "Gluten-Free on a Shoestring Bakes Bread: (Biscuits, Bagels, Buns, and More)"
• "Gluten-Free Classic Snacks: 100 Recipes for the Brand-Name Treats You Love (Gluten-Free on a Shoestring)"