Wednesday, May 6, 2015

A Gluten-Free Pantry and Provisions ~ Free Printable Labels


"You should just see our pantry. It's a sight to behold."
~ L. M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

As many of our friends and family members are finding out they are gluten-intolerant, I noticed I am adding different foods and flours to my pantry. Because of this, I prepared an additional set of labels for some of the newly acquired items (we are sharing this printable below if you are interested).



Though challenging to think of appropriate meals in the beginning, you will eventually succeed and have some great go-to recipes that everyone will enjoy. Besides the obvious meat and vegetable combinations, here are some basic pantry staples that our family finds useful to have on hand:
  • Brown rice spaghetti is delicious and the possibilities with pasta are limitless (our favorite is from Trader Joe's).
  • Corn tortilla chips is another excellent item to stock as you can prepare impromptu salsas and bean dips for a gluten-free guest.
  • Corn tortillas are also very versatile and freeze well. With those, you can prepare enchiladas, soft tacos, tostadas, and fried tacos for a meal using either chicken, beef or budget friendly beans (Can you tell we like Mexican food?).


We have found that keeping an all-purpose gluten-free flour blend in our pantry is also very helpful. Simple Foody shares how to make your own five pound bag in order to cut down on costs. We have been making it with good results although we substitute half of the brown rice flour for white rice flour in her recipe.



Being hospitable and stocking your pantry go hand in hand. It is such a blessing to your loved ones when you can conveniently prepare food for them when they enter your home. Just as the grocery stores now have a gluten-free section, so does our pantry!


Are you gluten-free or any of your loved ones? Do you have any tips or recipes to share? This is all new to me and I would appreciate any information you can offer. We have a few recipes to share soon as well as our new favorite and convenient {gf} pizza crust mix-in-a-jar.



For our gluten-free pantry label additions, simply download and print the free PDF file HERE. You can either print them out on plain paper, cut to size and affix to your containers with glue (or decoupage) or print them out on sticker paper and cut to size. If you choose the first route, you may want to place a piece of packing tape or clear contact paper over each label to protect them. For our complete set of "Basic Pantry Labels", visit here (which doesn't include this gluten-free page). You may also be interested in our "Nuts and Seeds" labels and our matching "Seasonings, Spices and Such" set.  I invite you to subscribe to this blog (located on the sidebar) to get updates and access to future homemaking printables.


*For those who were asking where I purchased my red lidded pantry jars, they were found at a local hardware store. Here is the closest I have seen like them on Amazon. Hope this helps! 

40 comments:

  1. It's a beautiful pantry, and I love the labels. One of our family members is gluten-intolerant. It's pretty easy, once you get use to it. Oat flour can be gluten-free too and corn meal too. Soy sauce and most beers have gluten. xoox

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  2. It seems as if more and more people these days are finding out they are gluten intolerant so your subject is really something to consider if we want to be able to accommodate those who are. I don't know of anyone in my family who is gf, but I've wondered if some are but don't know it. Thank you for providing the labels. I have a folder just for your labels. :)

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    1. Yes, whatever they are doing to the food supply is really wreaking havoc on our health :(

      Thanks for sharing!

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  3. We aren't gluten intolerant but, due to health issues, have to eat low carb. Our pantry includes lots of things that are low carb now that it didn't use to. Love the labels!

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    1. Isn't it interesting how our pantries change over the years with different seasons. When you have little ones, there is lots of snacks and as we grow more informed, we continue to change the contents based on our health! :) Thank you for sharing Patsi!

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  4. Your pantry and labels are always so beautiful. Those jars a great too. Hubby doesn't eat 'wheat' which is a natural inflammatory and appetite stimulant (so they put it in everything.) He can eat oatmeal, spelt, and other ancient grains with no problems even though spelt has more gluten than wheat. I have found that mixing millet & spelt results in a workable product. (Millet is gluten free.) We've also began using almond & coconut flour for a few things.

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    1. Interesting! I didn't realize that spelt was full of gluten too... We have never tried millet. I am going to have to give it a go. Thank you for sharing! :)

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  5. These are great labels! Our pantry is drastically different than it was two years ago. Living with fibromyalgia has changed not just my diet, but my whole family's diet. No more gluten, less carbs, and more home cooked meals.

    I found your post at Coffee & Conversation link party.

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    1. Thank you for sharing! Our health is worth every bit of change that is necessary and I am sure the home-cooked meals taste better :)

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  6. This whole gluten intolerant is something we don't deal with, but...our oldest daughter gets migranes and although I have journaled to find what triggers them, I wonder if I should look into gluten more... Your labels are beautiful!
    Lori

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    1. Hi Lori, Unfortunately, migraines are a symptom of gluten-intolerance too. I would look into it... Glad you like the labels :)

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    2. I suffered from chronic migraines for 12 years and I decided to cut the wheat out of my die, and within two weeks the migraines were gone. And I ALWAYS had a migraine. Try it! I hope she has the same result as I did!

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  7. I definitely feel better if I avoid grains, but it's so hard to do that! They're everywhere! I'm thankful for the gluten-free choices we have now, although they have their issues, too. Thank you for these beautiful labels, JES! They are such a lovely way to display our GF ingredients.

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    1. Thank you for sharing Kimberly. It does seem like everything is tainted these days. I think the safest foods on are table are the ones coming off our farm! :)

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  8. We have a friend who is trying gluten-free for a month to see if that is what is causing his tummy troubles. They were coming for dinner Sunday, and I thought I had prepared a gluten-free meal, until at the last minute, I remembered that in my homemade mushroom soup that I had added to the meat, there was white flour :( So I had to quickly prepare a different choice of meat for him. It does seem that gf is helping a lot of people feel better, and this is a very timely post. Love your free labels too!

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    1. Thanks for sharing! This happened to me too. I was going to serve some beans that night for a gluten-free guest and read the taco seasoning (yes, yes, gluten in there too). Now I try and label my foods when I store them. Have a lovely week :)

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  9. JES, we've been eating gluten free for several years now in support of our daughter who is gluten intolerant. The difference in our energy levels and general feeling of wellbeing has been nothing less than astounding. It helps if you resign yourself to finding a new way of treating the tastebuds, rather than clinging to the same diet, made gluten-free. That said, Asian rice noodles are a fine and inexpensive substitution for Spaghetti or Fettucine, home made gluten free bread is almost as good as good old wheat flour bread (although the commercial alternatives are pretty yuk and expensive to boot), and a good commercial or home made gluten free flour blend can be used with great success for any favourite baking recipe. We used to miss porridge, but don't any more, although just typing 'porridge' has me dreaming of a piping bowl with cinnamon, brown sugar and cream....sigh, and pizza is now made with a hash brown or other vegetable base or as a pizza topping rolled into home made gluten free crepes. Gluten free crepes also make a great lasagna or wrap substitute, and it's just a matter of being flexible on your ideas of how things are 'meant to taste'. There's a slightly different mouth feel or texture with many gluten free baked goods, but your palate quickly adapts. Good luck. I don't think I know anyone who has gone gluten free, and regretted it. Mimi xxx

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    1. Thanks for the information and ideas! A better energy level would be worth a change for me. We have found a good gluten free pizza crust recipe that we are liking which is nice... But I agree. You can get used to many things. Like when we switched from white bread to whole wheat. It tasted bad in the beginning but now pure white bread tastes weird. Thanks for taking the time to share here Mimi. I appreciate your comments.

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  10. As always, love your labels and it is so nice of you to share! I can't wait to see your GF meals in a jar recipes!

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  11. Good morning, nice post I figured out on my own-as doctors were not informed 15-18 years ago about gluten. It was really hard back then too for me figuring out what to eat and how to bake as I make most everything from scratch and nothing was availble to purchase
    Now foods are availble everywhere it seems and so much more good information online too now-especially good gluten free food blogs.
    My all time favorite has always been Karinas blog http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/ I think she was one of the first years ago and I always suggest her blog-she does not try to sell you stuff either-her recipes are fail proof too, and for a newbie with these health concerns her blog is packed full of useful information.
    but do search for gluten free blogs etc-it is so much easier now-I also have a pinterest board for gluten free recipes One thing I would like to add-really search out a good gluten free flour blend-I ran into one that I modified that is better nutrition-if you look at most they are white rice flour and starches-no nutrition there-equal to using stripped down bleached white flour. which is ok to duplicate a dessert treat on occaison If interested I can give you my recipe that works for most things like cookies, muffins, fruit breads etc.
    also an excellent magazine which I ran across a couple years ago is Living Without's Gluten Free and More-the best I have seen for recipes that really work and always updated nutrtion information

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    1. Wow, great information! And yes, I would love your flour blend recipe. The one I have used so far has some brown rice flour and garbanzo bean flour along with the white rice (I added for taste) cornstarch and manioca flour (like arrowroot). But I would be interested in trying yours too. I will also look into the blog you suggested. Thank you Kathy!

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  12. Where do you get your jars? I love the look of matching containers! Lovely labels too! :-)

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    1. Thank you Stephanie! I found them at a local family owned hardware store. I tried to find them on Amazon for you and the closet I found were these ~ http://amzn.to/1cbqg4H

      Hope this helps!

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  13. Your pantry is so nice and organized, JES. Just the inspiration I need to tackle mine. :)

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  14. We have been gluten free for about 5 years. There are many more options now!
    We often put chili in the crockpot on Sundays and serve with corn chips. Then no matter who we invite over, I know they can eat it because it's both gluten and dairy free. :-)
    A tip: Store your nut flours (almond, coconut) in the freezer to avoid rancidity.
    Also - we've had great success using the Namaste brand gluten free all purpose flour from Costco - just substitute cup for cup with your regular flour in a basic chocolate chip cookie recipe. They are yummy.

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    1. Great tips! Thank you very much for sharing Carol!! Every hint helps :)

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  15. Hello Jes, This is very timely as I do have a dear friend who is GF and I need to keep this in mind for her. Your jars are so nice and perfect for large storage. A well stocked pantry is a must!
    Blessings to you, and Happy Mothers Day...
    Hugs,Roxy

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  16. Hi Jes, thank you for sharing the wonderful labels for gluten free flours. I have been eating GF for 3 years. While I am not intolerant, I do have a sensitivity and was really sick from foods containing gluten and the inflammation they can give. I am so much better now. Loved seeing your organized pantry. Mine is like this and it sure makes cooking and baking so much easier.
    Thanks again for sharing.
    Wishing you a Happy Mother's Day
    Hugs and Blessings, CM

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  17. Yes, I am gluten-free. It was making me horribly sick, so the doctor had me go gluten-free, dairy-free and soy-free. I am now allowed to add a little dairy back in my diet and so enjoy eating "real" cheese occasionally. I still drink rice milk and use non-dairy sour cream and stuff.

    I can have soy as long as the label says gluten-free, so I was THRILLED to find a gf soy sauce so I could make my teriyaki chicken.

    The thing that amazed me was that gluten just seems to be in EVERYTHING! Even in taco seasoning and even in cream of chicken soup. Fortunately I was able to find a gf cream of chicken soup so I can make my tater tot casserole again, haha! My family can't believe how "normal" the gf pasta tastes.

    I feel so much better eating gf and feel like I have my life back now! I do miss how easy it was to just find something to eat at the store if you're running errands and hungry. So now I carry my own snacks with me all the time.

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    1. Yes, it is in everything! Thank you for sharing and for the tip on snacks! It seems like going gf is helping so many people!!

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  18. My daughter is GF andI am low carb which makes it more difficult as most GF flours are still high in carbs. Maybe more challenging to use in baking but good for low carb recipies are Coconut flour and ground flax meal. Both need to be mixed with good quanities of eggs but I can make coconut flour pancakes and a flax focacia style bread. I also love making a faux chocolate with cocoa and coconut oil and grasshopper slice with coconut oil, shredded coconut, cocoa, avocados and pepermint oil.

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    1. Thank you for sharing your ideas and recipes Debbie, much appreciated! :)

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  19. Oh, what a delightful pantry, my friend! I have several friends and a sister who are Gluten-Free and I try to keep things on hand that I can make for them. I think I need to "spruce up" my pantry :) Thanks for the inspiration. Hugs to you!

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  20. I love your new gluten-free section in your pantry. I'm re-organizing my pantry today and will printing these beautiful labels out to use.

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    1. Sounds like a fun project! Wish I could help :)

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  21. I've never heard of quinoa flour before.

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    1. I believe it is from Peru. It is starting to show up in some of the gf recipes we are finding.

      You can find it at Bob's Red Mill:

      http://www.bobsredmill.com/organic-quinoa-flour.html

      Hope this helps! :)

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  22. Thank you Jes for sharing these beautiful labels with us at Good Morning Mondays. More and more we are finding that people are gluten intolerant and we need to do things differently, so these labels will come in handy. Thanks and blessings

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  23. Thank you Jes for sharing these beautiful labels with us at Good Morning Mondays. So often now we are finding that people are gluten intolerant and we need to cook differently and these labels will really come in handy. Thanks and blessings

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