I have cut and baked my regular pie crust into toppers for stews so that's a workable alternative.

In this scenario, my preference would be to make a crumb topping like I'd use on an apple crisp or apple crumb pie (butter, brown & white sugar, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg). I'd spread the topping on a baking sheet about 1/2 inch thick, bake until browned and then crumble it up. A bowl of crispish crumbs would probably look and taste good sprinkled over the apples and/or ice cream and it also could be baked ahead of time.

That's a great idea! Thanks!

I have a lot of experience with phyllo/filo. By they time you made it into something enjoyable on its own, you'd have finished pie crust cookies twice over and put them away.

Do you have a food processor pie crust recipe? Rhome410 has one on her blog which is quite good, and in the more cookie-able end of the pastry spectrum. It's dead easy, and should hold together well as you serve it.

Why not make a gluten free crumble so more of your guests could enjoy it?

ý cup almond flour
ý cup gluten-free, old-fashioned oats
ü teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
ü cup chopped pecans or walnuts (whichever you prefer)
ü cup honey
3 tablespoons butter

I agree, the crumble would be lovely. I make a quick and easy apple crisp with a sprinkle of granola over the apples, so I like the crisp stuff on top.

I also cut pie crust into shapes and bake them on top of pies, and squares of puff pastry sprinkled with sugar are good too, if you don't want to make pastry.

Annie

I agree that Olychick's crumble sounds good (I saved it for my GF girl). I made a crumble once with GF pie mix, and neither the pie crust per directions, nor the crumble, were any good. OTOH, oats, nuts and honey stuck together with butter couldn't be anything but good. :) It's not zero carb, but it's not high, though maybe you could do some with and some without.

Thank you for the insights and suggestions. I think the homemade pie crust could work well....I think I'd prefer that to the crumble, though that would be good too. But for the one gal, it'd have to be grain, dairy and sugar free with no gum or chocolate, and last time she wouldn't eat nuts either. So I think I'll serve her water...she can have a plain apple or some strawberries if she wants.

"So I think I'll serve her water...."

Annie, I've discovered that lately because of food preferences and personal choices (NOT medical issues) that the Women's Group I've socialized with for decades has become too challenging to feed. It's too much stress and effort to accommodate all 6 of them. And this is from someone who enjoyed cooking and hosting.

I've left salads undressed and served several dressings on the side, only to watch some disassemble everything on their plate and just eat the greens. I've made gluten free tea cake with natural sweetener only to have it passed over because it contained almond flour. The last straw was a lunch where vegetables/juices/yogurt, etc. were set out with the Vitamix for a make-your-own juice drink. One person passed because she doesn't feel well after eating apples and none of the other sweeteners suited her.

In all other respects these are lovely women, but I will no longer put myself out to conform with the picky eating. I'll continue to enjoy meeting them out for lunch at a restaurant where they can question and tweak the offerings to their tastes and desires, but the fun of cooking for this group is gone for me.

I agree, amck. Another gal just informed me that she too has dietary issues and would only eat strawberries, maybe just a touch of ice cream....and she requested only heavy cream to add to her coffee.

So the stewed apples are out as are any toppings. I think I'll do a platter of fresh pineapple chunks and strawberries. I could make a delish fruit dip with greek yogurt and brown sugar and cinnamon, but that's probably out too.

It's very frustrating as I feel part of being a good hostess is making sure no one goes home hungry. I cook well and get pleasure out of seeing people enjoy my cooking. I hate being deprived of that.

Perhaps rocks. They're high in minerals and 100% natural, no gluten, no dairy, nonchocolate, no artificial sweeteners, low salt and are crunchy too! Do you suppose that will do?

I'm going to have a great time too considering we just got 2 new kittens and I know at least 2 of the gals are allergic to cats!

Maybe you should serve antihistamines, ephedrine, and epi-pens?

Cute, plllog...with a side of tissues!

I agree, the food issues are just getting crazy. No medical issues, no allergies, just "I feel better if I live on sprouted grains and air". It's getting to be extremely annoying.

That said, I probably would just have a platter of fruit, make the stewed apples and crust and ice cream and let people choose. (shrug) Be sure you have filtered water, as I'm sure coffee and tea are out (although they are filled with antioxidants), but at least YOU get to have your own dessert.

Those who can't find anything to suit themselves can make their "sneak" stop at the McDonald's drive-through on the way home. And yes, I know a couple of people who do this after they give me long lectures about the evils of meat, gluten, sugar and dairy.

I do my best to please everyone in my family, and usually manage to feed everyone something. The only true health issues in my group are my daughter with diverticulitis who is also lactose intolerant, my mother who is allergic to lemons and my stepdaughter and an aunt who are celiac. Everyone else just has a personal choice so I make sure I hit the health issues so I don't sicken anyone and let everyone else pick out what they don't like.

And, if I were going to put cream in my coffee, I'd also vote for the heavy cream, LOL, but if you don't have it on hand, I suppose she'll drink it black or bring her own.

Annie

Hahaha...heavy cream is the one thing I DO have...I use only it in my tea...don't seem to drink coffee anymore.

Apparently they are following a diet I never heard of...the "specific carbohydrate diet". As best as I can tell, you need a spreadsheet to determine what is and isn't allowed.

So I give. I'll serve a thing of just cut up fresh fruit and I'll get some yummy cookies we like to serve on the side and they are free to eat or not as they wish. And if they don't eat them, we will.

" And if they don't eat them, we will."

That is always a good plan!

Some problems are genuine and serious, (Celiac' for example) but I just don't have any patience with all this "I can't eat this or that" nonsense. If people over here can eat normal food without putting such a series of demands on the hostess then surely Americans can too! I would, as a guest, accept what I was offered and say thank you!

So the gals came and I served a fresh fruit cup....bananas, strawberries, blueberries with a squeeze of lemon juice...and one of the girls passed on the bananas. Sigh. But I did serve it in margarita glasses so it looked pretty. Would've put a mint leaf on it for decoration if I had any. IAC, it was better than just having water.

Did you at least have a good time? If not, next time, do the fruit and something naughty but scrumptious that your family will like to eat and see what happens... :)