In celebration of Celiac Awareness Month, we will be providing gluten free recipes all month long! Many people have heard about this new gluten free craze, but what is it and how does it help people with celiac disease? According to the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness website, celiac disease is an autoimmune digestive disease that damages the villi of the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. What does this mean? Essentially the body is attacking itself every time a person with celiac consumes gluten. Gluten is a protein, which is found in wheat, barley and rye. When people with celiac disease eat foods containing gluten, their immune system responds by damaging the finger-like villi of the small intestine. When the villi become damaged, the body is unable to absorb nutrients into the bloodstream, which can lead to malnourishment.

Menu 1: Dessert first! Try this deceptively delicious beet cake from Elana’s Pantry, the Purple Velvet Torte or a no-bake Mango Pie with Coconut Crust.

Menu 2: Onto breakfast with these delicious, to-live-for Gingered Grapefruit Doughnuts or opt for these rustic Carrot Cake Muffins and you’ll start your morning with a smile. Gluten free never tasted so good!

Menu 3: Snack on your snow peas and then enjoy a light lunch of Kale Salad with Quinoa, Tangerines and Roasted Almonds that will fill you up and give you plenty of energy to get you through the rest of your day. Substitute the tangerines in the recipe for your local box oranges and be the envy of the office.

Menu 4: Now that you have 3 gluten free meals under your belt, you’re sure to be a pro. Put a healthy spin on an old dinner favorite with these classic Tacos! Use your hearty cabbage with the grape tomatoes, and throw in some grilled summer squash with your peppers and onions.

The weather is starting to heat up and so is the excitement for summer time! This week’s Local Box has a sneak peek of the summer with squash and mangoes! What activities are you looking forward to this summer? Why not dust off your picnic basket and enjoy these picnic friendly meals.

Menu 1: What says picnic more than fancy finger food? Along side your favorite crusty bread and some local cheese, you can try your hand at pickling the carrots, radishes and beets with this simple refrigerator pickle recipe from Food in Jars.

Menu 2: Surprise your sweetie with a picnic brunch and include these Blackberry Mango Muffins and Purslane Pancakes! Top it off with some mimosas and it will be a brunch you won’t forget. Swoon!

Menu 3: Let’s talk tortillas and how you can put anything inside a tortilla! They are portable, easy to handle and {usually} not messy which makes them perfect for a picnic. Try this Quinoa and Grilled Summer Squash recipe, top it with the gorgeous sorrel and then wrap it up in a tortilla! Easy as pie!

Menu 4: Want to fire up the grill on your picnic? Impress your friends with something they have probably never seen – Grilled Cabbage! Prepare the spicy lime dressing and spring onion garnish before you leave and you’ll be the master of the grill!