‘Mad Men’ Meal for the Gluten-Free

You know you’re all into the mid-century ad business/out of wedlock sex/Roger’s Thesaurus happening on your basic cable, the AMC. In case you missed it last week, Mad Men came back and those clothes and hairstyles are getting wacky! Yep, times are changing for the crew at Sterling, Cooper, Draper, and Pryce (is it still Pryce? Unclear), and whatever Joan’s last name is. Since Don remains the same, the way we should eat and drink while enjoying watching that guy implode should remain firmly in that era as well.

Gluten-Free Lunch: Lentil & Smoked Salmon Salad

Say you feel like having a healthy lunch instead of nachos. It happens. Now say you’d like to relive your Paris vacation through food. Sure the possibilities of these two situations occurring at the same time are only likely if you’re me, but stay with me here.

After enjoying the crap out of a gluten-free smoked salmon and lentil salad at the Musee d’Orsay on the banks of the Seine (why yes, I am showing off), I realized I could make this bad boy at home. And now I’ve got a super delicious salad hanging around my house just waiting to transport me back to that moment when I was footloose and fancy free in Paris. If only it were so easy to get a cheap flight and a babysitter for a week. Still, food!

Here’s how you can pretend to be enjoying lunch after a morning of Monets. 

Gluten-Free 4th of July Party in Your Mouth

For someone who hasn’t been invited to even one 4th of July shindig (ahem), I sure have been planning what I would bring if that were to happen. Something gluten-free, n’est-ce pas? (I realize how un-American that just was.) Even if our plan is to stay home and grill up gluten-free hot dogs and burgers, sans bun (there I go again with the Francais!) I’m still going to make this delicious watermelon, cucumber, and mint salad that’s become a fave of mine in the summertime. Hers too -

I originally got this recipe from Gourmet but started to skip the tzatziki when I realized I really don’t like yogurt that doesn’t come frozen. So I just let it freeball without a dipping sauce. But if you enjoy that kind of thing, there’s a lovely recipe for tzatziki here. Dip your melon, and have an awesome fourth. Or take this naturally gluten-free recipe to a Labor Day party. I don’t care how you get your party on, or when. Just do it.

Here’s how to throw the ingredients together.

The Perfect Gluten-Free Summer Salad For Salad-Haters

Found it! Even for a lady who doesn’t really believe a salad is a meal, this particular gluten-free quinoa-filled salad just might satisfy all of your dinner urges. As long as those urges don’t include tacos. Which I realize is a tall order. Still, bust out your picnic table or whatever it is you do, and get ready to enjoy the salad of the year that is filled with green beans, corn, grilled chicken and goat cheese. Mmmmmmmmmmmm.

I found the basic makings of this summer-rific recipe on Epicurious, but first I had to kick out the dirty, dirty, farro. Then I realized if you’re not a meat-eating type you’re going to want to boot the chicken. You could easily substitute tofu, prepared the same way, or just skip it altogether. Make it vegan? You don’t really need that goat cheese either. I mean, I need it but you may not. Really, it’s a mix and match salad for your own needs. Next time I’m going to throw roasted almonds on top too. Oh yeah, I’m going there. Nothing can stop the amazingness of this salad. Except, obviously, a taco.

So go ahead and say yes to those potluck invites, people. This summer salad has you covered.