what are your comfort foods?

Pasta, garlic bread, mac and cheese, cupcakes, and bagels :( I was raised vegetarian and basically on prepared foods and pasta :( I like cooking, and I've been trying new recipes but I'm just struggling.

I can't seem to let my old foods go..

brown rice pasta is pretty good-- i'm not overly fond of it in mac & cheese, but with tomato sauce, decent. I really like it with vegetables and lots of garlic and your grating cheese of choice (asiago, parmesan, pecorino romano).

bagels, well... sorry?

learn to like polenta. cornbread can be your friend. Either cornbread or polenta with cheese is very comforting. Polenta is pretty easy to make or you can buy it in these sausage like tubes. Throw some toppings on it and you're good. It's similar to mac n cheese. You can also try scalloped potatoes (potatoes baked in a cheese sauce), or baked potatoes with cheese.

The only decent GF cupcakes I've tasted were homemade by this amazing baker and the list of ingredients baffled me. And I cook. So... pudding. Start eating rice pudding. tapioca pudding. Chocolate pudding... creme brulee... etc.

Garlic bread-- ummm, roast 6-8 cloves garlic (I break the cloves apart without peeling, and toss them in a small skillet until lightly browned on each side). Puree with 1 can white beans, olive oil, salt, pepper, any basil/oregano, and use it as a veggie dip. Or if you can get good GF crackers/tortilla chips, use them. Call it upscale.

I just don't do bread, but rumor has it there are some decent varieties out there. To make your own: chop 5 cloves garlic and mix with 3 tablespoons soft butter and 3 tablespoons olive oil. Spread on bread and bake until toasted.

Couple of quick and easy suggestions:
- Microwave sweet potato. Top with black beans, salsa, and cheese (guac, sour cream, etc)
- Scrambled egg with baked potato and frozen veg of choice.
- True corn tortillas with refried beans and cheese.
- Play with Asian rice noodles in different broths. Basically, make your own ramen. Boil broth, add a handful of veg, some noodles, and either egg or tofu. (If you eat meat now, a slice a pork is traditional.) Chili sauce optional, fresh lime and basil excellent but more work.
- Look for some packaged rice things that appeal. Add some frozen veg and an egg or beans. Call it a meal.
- Fruit and cheese. Or fruit and nuts.

Good luck. If you have the budget, check around to see if there is anyone doing GF cooking lessons or who could be hired for private lessons.

I love corn pasta!! I use it for Lasagna, Spaghetti, and Mac N Cheese.
I don't have cupcakes but I do make cookies.

1 cup white sugar, 1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 cups peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups chocolate chips

...they taste more like chocolate chip cookies then peanutbutter

I do a nice pasta salad with the corn pasta but I make sure all my corn pasta is NON GM or GMO.

Plus it makes an awesome mac and cheese substitute. If you are able to find Annies GF mac and cheese I hear that is pretty good.

Betty Crocker has GF cake mix you can make cupcakes out of.--I don't eat it but I know people that do.

I have never had polenta but I want to try it. Thanks for the suggestion.

Wow thank you so much!!! YAY! I feel better already!

I'm new to the celiac thing to, and it's so amazing to find people that know what I go through. I have friends that have called me negative because I cannot eat what they eat. I have somehow managed to gain weight with my GF diet, and I eat about half of what I used to. Honestly I was terrified when my doctor said that gluten was in bread and pasta, because that was all I ate before.
I have become very good friends with spinach, surprisingly! I also found this amazing bread that tastes just like regular bread, I believe it's "Udi's". I don't have it with me now, but it's about the best I've found. My mom finds recipes and what not for me and bakes, so it's out there...I think she googles most of it. Also, Betty Crocker has 4 gluten free box mixes, brownies, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate cake, and angel food cake!
Hope this helps!!
Best of luck!!

where do you get the UDI's bread? I have gotten comfortable in eating my corn tortillas instead of bread.