GLUTEN-FREE ST PATRICK'S DAY POTATOES AND CABBAGE 1

If you'd like your meals to tip a hat to St Patty's without having to repeat the ancient dishes ad infinitum, here are some ideas. Above, a very cabbage-y hot dish, but with some south of the border excitement. The Fiesta Casserole. 

This is a real country style soup, great for Lent and all year round when you want some non-meat stick-to-the-ribs food, which is, by the way, no oxymoron.

Here are some ideas on how to make your roasted potatoes particularly tasty. This is one of those flexible, fantastic "recipes" where your own creativity is the central player. Begin by heating the oven to 375 degrees, then washing and cubing some potatoes, any kind. They can be fancy heirloom fingerlings that you cut in half, big old russets or even eastern potatoes that you found on sale and cut into 1-2" chunks.

Oil a roasting pan by spraying it with olive oil or cooking oil, or if you have neither spray, then coat the bottom of the pan with sprinkles of oil, or if you're out of oil, bits of butter or margarine. Add salt, pepper, and if you've got fresh thyme or rosemary, add that, too. If there's nothing fresh around, use dried thyme and rosemary, and maybe add some oregano as well. Some uncut, but peeled, garlic cloves, or if you're out of fresh, garlic powder. How about some diced onions and green or red peppers added to the mix?  And if you've ever tasted smoked Spanish paprika, you know that's a great addition to a pan of roasted potatoes (just remember to omit the black pepper if you do decide to include it)! You get the picture: whatever you've got around that you feel might work. Toss the potatoes to coat well with herbs and roast until browned and cooked through. (Rotate pan and toss potatoes at least once after the first fifteen minutes.)

Using naturally gluten-free foods is one of the best ways to trim a grocery budget. Anything that doesn't require a "gluten-free" printed label attached to it is going to save you cash, and in this case, delight your taste buds as well.

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