Author: Leslie

Gluten Free Cranberry Muffins

Cranberry muffins taste like Christmas all year long!  These gluten free muffins are bursting with bright fresh cranberries, and the aroma as they bake will transport you into holiday mode!

Did you know that unlike other berries, cranberries are harvested in the fall?  How convenient that these gorgeous red berries arrive just in time for holiday baking!

For best results with this recipe, I recommend that you weigh your flour.  And don’t skip the orange zest!  It adds a pop of flavor and freshness to the muffins.

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Ingredients:

  • 260 g. gluten free all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/8 tsp. cardamom
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup canola oil
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp. almond extract
  • 3/4 cup milk (I used 2%)
  • 2 cups fresh cranberries + 1 tbsp. additional flour
  • grated zest of 1/2 orange
  • 1 tbsp. melted butter, for glaze
Yes! You need a zester!

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 350º.  Mist a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray.

Whisk together the dry ingredients, flour through cardamom in one bowl.  In another bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients, eggs through milk.

Stir the dry ingredients into the wet.  Toss the cranberries with 1 tbsp. flour and add to the batter along with the orange zest.

Let the batter rest for 15 minutes, then spoon into 12 muffin cups.  Smooth out the tops with a small spatula.

Bake for 25 minutes (check with a toothpick).  Brush the tops with melted butter then cool in the pan for 10 minutes.

Transfer to a rack.  If not serving immediately you can store them at room temperature in an airtight container for 1 day.  Leftovers, if you have any can be frozen.

Notes ♪♫ I used and recommend Better Batter Original Blend in this recipe.  With Better Batter, your favorite recipes for muffins and quick breads are easily converted to gluten free.  Just substitute 130 grams of Better Batter flour per cup.

Don’t forget to use my Promo Code MGFC30 for 30% off your purchase at Better Batter!

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Honey Glazed Pork Loin Roast

This pork roast was SO good, that I will be making it on repeat over the winter.  It’s perfect for families, dinner guests or any time.  The simple honey glaze perfectly complements the pork without overpowering it.

For this recipe, I used a pork loin roast.  Not to be confused with tenderloin, the pork loin is a rectangular shaped roast with a layer of fat, or fat cap, which helps keep it juicy as it bakes.

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Ingredients:

  • 2 lb. pork loin roast
  • dry rub (I used this one)
  • olive oil
  • 1 tbsp. honey
  • 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 tbsp. gluten free soy sauce (tamari)
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 450º.  Heat a stainless-steel skillet with olive oil.

Season the roast all over with your dry rub of choice.

Sear the roast in olive oil, browning all sides.

Next set up a small roasting pan with a rack, and mist with cooking spray.  Add the roast and brush with half of the honey mixture.

Place the roast in the oven on the middle rack and lower the heat to 375º.  Insert a thermometer and bake for 25 minutes.

After 25 minutes, carefully brush with the remaining glaze, tent with foil and continue roasting until the internal temperature reaches 140º, about 35 minutes longer.

Remove from the oven and let it rest 10 minutes before slicing.  As it rests, the internal temperature should continue to rise to 145º, which is perfect for me.  If you like your meat well done, you can leave it in the oven a little longer.

Doesn’t that look great?  SO juicy!  I served it with potatoes and carrots, but this versatile roast would go equally well with rice or noodles.

Notes ♪♫ This is not an ad, just a recommendation to try the Ginger Chile Espresso Maple Rub from The Spice House, which is what I used in this recipe.  It is currently one of my favorite seasoning blends and goes especially well with pork dishes!

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Gluten Free Bruschetta Cod

If you are a seafood lover like me, you’re going to want to try this light and easy dish.  Great for Seafood Friday and fast enough to prepare when you get home from work.

For those who celebrate La Vigilia (The Feast of Seven Fishes) for Christmas Eve, this would be a great addition to your menu.

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The recipe is easy and straightforward; made with common ingredients.  Fresh tomatoes and basil are a must here (don’t use canned!).  If you grow your own or can get them from a farmer’s market that would be great.  But for everyone else, plum tomatoes from the grocery store are the best choice.

Try to choose portions of fish that are all the same size and thickness, so that they all finish cooking at the same.  For end pieces, tuck the thin side underneath to keep it moist.

Dinner for two (recipe can be doubled or tripled)

Ingredients:

Preparation:

Cut the tomatoes into small dice, discarding the core and as many seeds as possible.

Place the diced tomatoes in a small bowl, and toss with 1 tbsp. olive oil, the balsamic vinegar, sea salt and ground pepper.  Cut one large basil leaf into thin strips (chiffonade) and stir into the tomatoes.  Let the mixture stand for about 30 minutes at room temperature.

Preheat the oven to 350º.  Coat a baking dish with cooking spray and arrange the cod with space in between.  Drizzle with the remaining olive oil and a pinch of sea salt.

Top each piece of fish with 1 tbsp. of breadcrumbs, then divide the diced tomatoes evenly over each piece.

Bake for 25 minutes.  That’s it!  Plate with a garnish of fresh basil leaves.

I served my Bruschetta Cod over risotto, and it was SO delicious.  If you don’t know how to make risotto, jump over to this post where I explain it step-by-step.

Notes ♪♫ Bruschetta Cod is not only healthy, but you can be assured the fish will be moist and juicy when prepared this way.  I hope you try this extra special dinner!

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Honey Balsamic Grilled Chicken Breast

Need a fast weeknight meal?  Honey Balsamic Grilled Chicken Breast is a quick cooking main course that you can enjoy any night of the week.  With minimal prep, and one pan for easy cleanup.  This recipe makes 4 servings, assuming each breast weighs 12-14 oz. (1/2 breast per serving).

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Ingredients:

  • 2 large (12-14 oz.) boneless chicken breasts
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 3 tbsp. honey
  • 2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tbsp. Dijon mustard
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil, plus more for grilling
  • 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp. basil
  • 1/4 tsp. thyme
  • 1/4 tsp. rosemary

Preparation:

Butterfly the chicken breasts and open them up, try to slice them to an even thickness.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Whisk together the remaining ingredients, (honey through rosemary).

Brush 1 tbsp. of the honey mixture over the chicken and let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Preheat your grill pan.  Coat it with cooking spray and add the chicken breast.  Spoon half of the honey mixture over the chicken, cover and cook for 5-7 minutes.

Turn the chicken and drizzle the remaining honey balsamic mixture over the top.

Continue cooking with the cover off, allowing the liquid to bubble up and thicken.

Chicken is finished when it reaches an internal temperature of 165º.  Transfer to a serving dish and drizzle some of the pan juices over the top.

Serve with rice or potatoes, along with your favorite veggies.

Notes ♪♫ I used an indoor grill pan for this recipe, perfect for stovetop cooking.  To make it on your outdoor grill, you will need something (like this) without perforations, or you will lose all of that delicious sticky sauce.

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Gluten Free Sourdough Pain d’Epi (Wheatstalk Bread)

When I began baking with gluten free sourdough a couple of years ago, I couldn’t imagine all the things that I would make with my starter “Sophie“.  I started out with the usual rolls and loaves, made pancakes with discard, and even a quick bread.

Then one day, I decided to step out of my comfort zone with this beautiful Gluten Free Pain d’Epi, also known as Wheat Stalk Bread (I know, ironic).

Of all the bucket list recipes I had to try once I got my gluten free sourdough starter established (read about it here), this one was at the top of the list.

This was my first time making a gluten free version of Pain d’Epi and it was SO good.  The most important thing you need to know about this recipe is that your starter needs to be fully active, discard will not work.  That means there is some forethought involved, you will need to plan ahead depending on how long it takes for your starter to get up to full speed.   Also take into account the overnight proof, and you will likely need at least 2 days of (mostly hands off) time for preparation.

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The Flour

For the flour, I used the Artisan Flour Blend from Better Batter and as usual it did not disappoint.  The flavor was fantastic, and the bread was perfect for dipping.  You can absolutely use their Gluten Free Bread Flour, if you prefer a white bread.  Or use 100g of each, I love doing that!

Ingredients:

Preparation:

Combine the flour and salt and whisk well.  Add the starter, honey and olive oil to the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment. Gradually add the flour mixture with the warm water.  Increase the speed and knead for 5 minutes to form a soft, supple dough.

Transfer the dough to an oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap and proof in a warm place for 4 hours.  I used my proofing box.

Here is the risen dough.  Place it in the refrigerator overnight to really develop the flavor.

The next morning, bring to room temperature.  You can see how nicely the dough has puffed up, and there are lots of happy air bubbles!

It smells so good already!

Preheat the oven to 425º while you shape the dough.

First, transfer the dough to a floured cutting board and gently roll and shape it into a long thin baguette, about 15″ x 2″.  Don’t apply pressure, you want to deflate as few of the air bubbles as possible.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and sprinkle cornmeal down the center where you will lay out the loaf.

To create the wheat stalk pattern, use scissors to snip the loaf every few inches (cutting about ¾ of the way through), and as you snip each section, pull it over to one side, alternating left and right.

Now brush the loaf with olive oil and sprinkle with coarse salt.  I infused my olive oil with garlic and rosemary, and the aroma as it baked was wonderful.

Bake for 30 minutes on the middle rack.  The internal temperature should read 210º.  Cool in the pan for 10 minutes.

I love the smell of freshly baked bread filling my kitchen and was so pleased with how this loaf came out.

I recommend you allow the bread to cool for at least 4 hours before slicing, so the center won’t be gummy.  Trust me, you will have a hard time waiting!

You can cut it into slices or just tear off a section and dip it in olive oil.  I made up a dipping oil with Tuscan seasoning, fresh garlic and rosemary.

This bread is best eaten the day it is baked.  Leftovers can be refreshed in the microwave or toasted.  Store at room temperature up to 1 day and freeze any remaining.

Notes ♪♫ A sourdough starter will take your gluten free baking to the next level with results you never dreamed possible.  Read about my sourdough starter Sophie here.

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Gluten Free Veal Osso Buco

Osso Buco is a classic Italian dish of Milanese origin.  Traditionally made with veal shanks, slowly braised in an aromatic wine sauce, it is the perfect dish for a Sunday afternoon.  Serve it over risotto, polenta or pasta for a 5-star meal.  This would be an amazing dinner for 2, that will really impress your special someone!  Or, you can double or triple the recipe for a dinner party.

Dinner for 2

Ingredients:

  • 2 veal shanks
  • 1/4 cup gluten free flour
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 sweet onion, diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 2 small carrots, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 cup red wine
  • 1-1/2 cups beef stock
  • 1 can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes
  • fresh rosemary, thyme and bay leaf
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • Italian parsley for garnish

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Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 325º.

Pat the veal shanks dry with paper towels.  Tie them with twine, then sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper.

Add the flour to a bowl or breading tray.  Dredge the veal shanks to coat both sides with the flour.

Heat olive oil in an ovenproof deep skillet with cover.  I used a stainless-steel everyday pan.  Brown the veal shanks on both sides then remove to a plate.

Next add the carrots, celery, onion and garlic to the skillet with salt and pepper to taste.  Stir frequently for 2-3 minutes.

Add the wine, stir well and simmer a few minutes, to let some of the alcohol evaporate.

Finally, add the beef stock and tomatoes to the skillet and nestle the veal shanks in the center.  Top with the fresh herbs.

Cover and place in the oven for 2 ½ hours.

To serve, transfer the veal shanks to dinner size bowls, one shank per person and keep warm.  Remove the herbs from the skillet and puree the veggies into a sauce.  Simmer with the cover off to thicken.

Spoon sauce over the veal shanks and garnish with Italian parsley.

I served mine with Taste Republic Gluten Free Tortellini and this dinner was amazing!  You can serve the veal with regular pasta or risotto and don’t forget to bring grated cheese to the table.  

Notes ♪♫ This is another great Italian recipe that is easily converted to gluten free.  The only ingredient that I had to change was the flour.  Use any gluten free all-purpose flour, or a single grain flour like a fine grain rice flour.  Check labels on prepared ingredients, like beef stock.  I used Swansons, my favorite brand as far as flavor and their beef stock is gluten free.

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Where to Find Gluten Free Soup Pasta

Soup’s On! – Updated for 2025

The first few years of my gluten free life, I searched high and low for soup pasta.  There are so many more options available today, but if you are struggling to find gluten free pasta for your holiday soups and winter comfort food, here are some ideas that I hope you find helpful.

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Gluten Free Orzo

Probably the most familiar of all soup pastas, now you can have Gluten Free Orzo pasta from Delallo.  Try it in my Venus de Milo Soup.

Gluten Free Anellini

This one makes me nostalgic for my grandmother’s kitchen. 👵🏻 When I was little, she would make it for me, with just a pat of butter.

Gluten Free Ditalini

Another classic shape from Le Veneziane, this gluten free ditalini is perfect for making Pasta e Fagioli.

Gluten Free Acini di Pepe

I was especially thrilled to find this one, as it was the pasta my mother used in her Chicken Escarole Soup, a holiday tradition!

Gluten Free Stelline (Little Stars)

Who remembers Chicken and Stars?  Recreate this childhood favorite with gluten free stars from Jovial, one of my favorite pasta brands!

Wide rice noodles

These Wide Rice Noodles from Taste of Thai are perfect in my Ginger Bok Choy Egg Drop Soup!

GLUTEN FREE CAVATELLI

Like something a little larger in your soup?  Try this Gluten Free Cavatelli from Farabella.  I used it in this “made from the pantry” Chickpea Soup.

BABY MAFALDA

I used this Gluten Free Baby Mafalda in my Beef Stroganoff recipe.  I’ll bet it would be great in a soup as well. 

CHICKPEA Rice

If you like chickpea pasta, try the chickpea rice from Barilla.  It’s high in protein, vegan and gluten free.  Stir gently as it tends to break apart in soup.

 

I hope you found this post helpful.  What other gluten free soup pasta have you found?  Have you made your own?  Tell me in the comments!

Notes ♪♫ Some gluten free pastas, especially those made with corn flour will release a huge amount of starch into the water when cooked, and it can be a gummy mess.  For that reason, I recommend that these pastas be cooked separately and rinsed before adding to your soup.

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Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread

Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread

🎃

Looking back at my recipe notes, I was surprised to find that I have not made Pumpkin Bread since 2013.  Why I don’t know, because I had a really good recipe that everyone enjoyed.

So, this week I decided to dust off that old favorite and give it a gluten free makeover.  Would you believe, the only ingredient that had to be changed was the flour?  I find that’s the case with so many recipes.

For my Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread, I used Better Batter Original Blend.

This easy pumpkin bread is super moist!  Serve it with ice cream for dessert and have the leftovers for breakfast!  It would be a fine addition to your Thanksgiving breadbasket.

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Ingredients:

Dry Ingredients:

Wet Ingredients:

  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/4 cup softened butter (1/2 stick)
  • 1/4 cup canola oil
  • 1 cup Pumpkin Puree
  • 1/4 cup milk (I used 2%)
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar

Use my Promo Code MGFC30 for 30% off at Better Batter!

Preparation:

Whisk together all of the dry ingredients.  Combine the wet ingredients in a separate bowl and whisk until smooth and the butter breaks down into little bits.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet, and fold with a spatula just until moistened.  Let the batter rest while you preheat the oven to 350º.

Scrape the batter into a greased 1 lb. loaf pan (8″ x 4″) and smooth it out evenly.  Bake for 60-65 minutes.

Test with a toothpick, it should come out clean, and the loaf will be starting to pull away from the sides of the pan.  Cool in the pan for 10 minutes then slide a thin spatula around the edges.  The loaf should remove easily.  Allow it to cool for at least 2 hours.  Bet you’ll have hard time waiting!

I let mine cool to room temperature, then stored it in a plastic bag on the counter overnight.  Look at that beautiful color! 🎃

I sliced my Pumpkin Bread into nice thick pieces and wrapped a few individually for the freezer.

I ate the 2 end slices on the spot (had to taste test!), then had another big slice for breakfast!  SOOOO good!

Notes ♪♫ Pan size is important.  Be sure to use a 1 lb. metal loaf pan.  I like this one, from USA Pan.  Larger loaf pans, like a 1.25 lb. pan will change the height and width of the loaf, as well as the cook time.

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Gluten Free Sausage Ragu

This hearty Sausage Ragu was inspired by one of many regional dishes originating in Sardinia, Italy.  It has an incredible flavor profile starting with Italian pork sausage, combined with aromatic veggies, tomatoes, wine and saffron.  Check out the full recipe below.  This sauce pairs perfectly with the Malloreddus Pasta that I made in the previous post.  The dish is traditionally finished with Pecorino Romano cheese, and I added some fresh parsley from my herb garden.  Mangia!

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3-4 servings

Ingredients:

  • 4 links gluten free Italian sausage, about 10 oz.
  • 15 oz. can crushed tomatoes
  • 8 oz. can tomato sauce
  • 2 tbsp. tomato paste
  • 1/2 cup onion, diced
  • 1/2 cup carrot, diced
  • 1/4 cup celery, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tsp. basil
  • 1/2 tsp. oregano
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1/4 cup red wine
  • pinch of saffron, combined with 1 tbsp. water

Preparation:

Heat a deep skillet with 1 tbsp. olive oil.  Cut the carrots, celery and onion into small dice.  Add them to the skillet and cook for 5 minutes over low heat.

Remove the sausage casings and cut the sausage into small pieces.  Add to the skillet with the veggies.

When the sausage starts to brown, push the meat and veggies to the sides of the pan and add the tomato paste in the center.

Let it toast for a few minutes, then stir it into the sausage and veggies.

Add the wine, and saffron water, garlic, basil, oregano and bay leaf.

Let the wine cook off for a few minutes, then add the crushed tomatoes and the tomato sauce.  Stir well, and simmer 30-45 minutes with the lid slightly ajar to allow the sauce to thicken as it cooks.  Stir the sauce every 10 minutes while it simmers.

Serve this wonderful sauce over your favorite pasta and finish with grated cheese.  Pecorino Romano is traditional with this dish, but you can use Parmigiano Reggiano.

Notes ♪ You’ll want to choose a pasta that can stand up to a chunky sauce like this.  Corkscrew pastas like fusilli, or ridged pasta like rigatoni work especially well.  For a special treat, check out the Gluten Free Malloreddus Pasta that I made from scratch to go with this sauce.

Notes ♫ The sausage in this recipe contains plenty of salt, so if you are watching your sodium intake you can use unsalted tomatoes to balance things out.

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Gluten Free Malloreddus Pasta

What is Malloreddus Pasta?

Malloreddus pasta is a type of gnocchi originating in Sardinia, Italy.  There are a few things that distinguish this regional pasta from other types of gnocchi.  First, look at the ridges on the Malloreddus paddle on the left, vs. a typical gnocchi paddle on the right.  The ridges are wider and deeper on the Malloreddus paddle, to create the distinctive grooves.  They really soak up the sauce!

What about gluten?

Malloreddus pasta is traditionally made with semolina flour and water.  Of course, semolina is off limits on the gluten free diet, so for my gluten free adaptation, I used the new Gluten Free Bread Flour from Better Batter.  You can try this recipe with any one-to-one gluten free all-purpose blend.  I added water, salt and just a bit of olive oil, to help the dough come together.

Wait, no eggs?

Did you notice that there are no eggs in the ingredient list?  Traditional Malloreddus Pasta is egg free.  Only flour, water and salt.  I know that some of my readers can’t have eggs, if you are one of them then this pasta is for you!

Another unique feature.

Did you know that Malloreddus pasta is sometimes infused with saffron?  Just a pinch gives the dough beautiful color, it almost looks like I added an egg yolk!

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4 Servings (depending on your appetite!)

Ingredients:

For the pasta

Preparation:

For the pasta, add a pinch of saffron to 1/4 cup warm water.  Let it steep for 15 minutes.

Whisk together the flour and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer.  Pour in the infused liquid through a sieve, reserving the saffron threads.

Drizzle in the olive oil and mix on low speed with the paddle attachment.  You may need up to 1/4 cup of additional water to achieve the right consistency.  If the dough looks crumbly like this, it is too dry.

Add the remaining water 1 tbsp. at a time until you have a very soft, smooth dough, like this.

Hint– If you need to add the additional water, pour it over the strained saffron threads so you get more of the coloring.

Use a spatula to gather the dough into a ball, then cover and let it rest at room temperature for about 20 minutes.

When you’re ready, flour a cutting board and divide the dough into 4 pieces.  Working with one section at a time, roll the dough into a thin rope, about 1/2″ wide.  Use a bench knife or butter knife to cut the rope into 1/2″ pieces, (this is a small pasta, don’t make the pieces too large).  Working quickly, roll each piece between floured palms to form small marbles.

Now roll each piece over the Malloreddus paddle, you can use your fingers or a bench knife.  Be sure to keep the paddle generously floured as you work.  A flour shaker is convenient to have on hand.

Arrange the pasta on a lightly floured baking pan in a single layer.  I lined mine with wax paper.  At this point, you can cover the pasta with plastic wrap and refrigerate it until you are ready to start cooking.

For longer term storage, place the pan in the freezer for a few hours, then transfer the pasta to a freezer safe bag.

When your sauce is ready, heat a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil.  Add the pasta and set a timer for 3 minutes maximum.  Be careful not to overcook, as soon as the pasta floats to the top, it’s done!  Use a spider strainer to gently lift it out of the water, drain and place it directly into the sauce.  Finish with grated cheese and fresh Italian parsley.

I see you ogling that sauce! 😉 It’s a hearty Sausage Ragu, perfect for ridged pasta like this one.  Want to know more?  Be sure to check out the next recipe!

Notes ♪♫ Some of my readers have mentioned that they would like a gluten free pasta made without eggs.  This one is for you, friends.  The dough is every bit as soft and supple as egg pasta, so whether you can’t have eggs for dietary reasons, pricing or availability, this pasta is one you must try!

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