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Raw "Cheese" Crackers ~topped with English cucumber & heirloom tomato
I don't typically serve an appetizer, I know. But it's Friday - our last evening meal together, and I wanted to make it special.

The truth is, I'm going to miss these little dinners we've shared throughout April. I've enjoyed sharing my family's meals with you, as well as chatting about all of the products I've been fortunate enough to showcase throughout the month, courtesy of my phenomenal Contributors.

Your feedback and comments have been appreciated more than you know! Some of you have been with us each night for dinner, and that is an amazing gift to me! Thank you!

Now, my gift to you is this meal (and a little something new at the end of the post!). Here's your menu:

Raw "Cheese" Crackers (I'll link the cracker recipe up over the weekend, but now I really need to spend some time with the family! I know you understand.) with English cucumber & heirloom tomato - cracker ingredients courtesy of Return to Eden be sure to look for a special coupon code on the right side bar later tonight!

Twice Baked Potatoes on a bed of baby spinach with a Rainbow Veggie Flower & Turkey Dijon Red Pepper Rollups

My Favorite "Thank You" Dessert

Let's eat!
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What am I making for dinner tonight?
So I guess you could say that I cheated on tonight's dinner. Not cheated as in I didn't really make it, or as in I bought it at my favorite gluten-free restaurant and am passing it off as my own. More along the lines of I revisited a recipe from one of my favorite gluten-free blogger pals and finally decided that I'd adapt it and see how it turned out.
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Did you have a sweet Easter weekend? I sure hope so! We did. There was lots of food, an egg hunt, baskets full of bunnies and fluffy stuffed critters, and time with the family. But today we're back at it, and I'm glad you decided to come for dinner!

For some reason the majority of my photos for tonight's meal were blurry, so I spared you those. I think you already knew I'm not known for my stunning photography. And the cake, well, I think the name says it all. But, as they say, the show must go on, so here we go!
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Yeah, baby! It's gluten-free! Pure Knead Hoagie Roll
There are some days when you just feel charmed. That means different things to different people, I realize, but to me, today was one of those charmed days. A truly Good Friday. A terrific Earth Day, spent in places where people sincerely care about protecting our planet.

If you follow my Tweets (Thank You!), you know where I was, but for those of you who do not follow, I visited foodie friends, old and new today. 
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Whole Foods Market~Alpharetta Harry's
You already know my "old" friends at Whole Foods Market~Alpharetta Harry's from all the wonderful meats, produce, and other goodies we've been enjoying for the past three weeks. I had such fun chatting with my pals in the wine department (have you seen those sales??), meats, and everywhere else in the store. And guess what I got? Some of the very first vidalia onions of the season - sweet and mild, they show up in tonight's meal. If that isn't awesome enough, I also got some great inside info - next Friday, April 29, fresh strawberries will be on sale for $1.99/pound! It's their fabulous 1-day sale, so you know where I'll be! If you're local and you get in on this sweet deal, tweet about it and let me know!

Speaking of local...I want to introduce you to my new friends...
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I was curled up with food mags last night, and I ran across a recipe for poisson en papillote - you know, fish in parchment - or "No Dish Fish", as I like to call it. I haven't wrapped fish neatly in a parchment packet since last summer when we had plans to grill some fresh wahoo and realized that our propane tank was dead on empty.

Funny, we always figure this out the exact same way - tray of grill-ready food in hand, cocktails flowing, and all out of gas. Whatever.

But tonight, no grill needed. I had a nice bit of flounder from Whole Foods Market~Alpharetta Harry's, and decided that I'd make No Dish Fish for you tonight. Not only will I make it for you, I'll show you how I wrap it up - easy as...well, not pie, but pretty darn easy!

What else are we having, you ask? Well, you finish that cocktail and I'll get right to it. Here's your menu:

No Dish Fish (or if you're still feeling the French vibe from last night's meal, Poisson en Papillote) ~ with lemon, garlic, sea salt, pepper, olive oil, and sweet potato "matchsticks" - but don't check out my knife skills!)

Potato Spinach Ramekins with vegan "cheese" ~ a little lemon, salt , pepper, herbs de Provence (what is it with me & Provence? Am I trying to tell you something??)

Coconut-Mixed Berry Trifle - or at least a nod at trifle. It's not a trifle at all, but I made it up, so let's call it that because it sounds legit. (You were going to have coconut cream pie, but then I walked into the kitchen, and changed my mind.)
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A loose interpretation of a Provence tart.
Is is really only Wednesday? If so, then why am I ready for a weekend? I want sunshine, not the rain we're having today, and I want to lounge on the patio without a care in the world. And I'd like a giant Greek salad to go with that wish. And maybe a limoncello cocktail. You didn't make that did you? Didn't think so.
Well, that's ok. Besides, I invited you for dinner. With the dreary day, I thought we needed something warm and savory, but with my longing-for-the-weekend mood, it turned into a very rustic meal.

Here's what we're having:

Onion Tart with Rosemary & "cheese" (were I not dairy intolerant, the vegan shreds would be finely shaved Parmesan, so if you can do so, go for it!)

White Beans with Roasted Red Pepper & Roasted Garlic puree

Braised Bok Choy

Honey "Graham" Wafers
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You can have your 'Q' & eat it, too (even if you're vegetarian/vegan)!
You already know that I'm a meat eater, and I make no apologies for it. The truth is, I spent a total of 8 years of my life as a vegetarian (this was split into 2 different periods). It was totally a personal choice, not influenced by what was "trending" or "cool" at the time...just my preference.

I've never been a big meat eater, really. For most of my life, it's been a take it or leave it thing with me - more often than not a "leave it". I still cannot stomach pork, and always pay the price if I decide to try it again.

And it's not a topic I like to debate. I rank dietary preference right up there with politics and religion in regard to what should probably be off-limits in chats among friends. We all come from different places and have different reasons for our beliefs, and I respect that.

In my recent post for April in the Raw (see my recipe for Raw Nut-free Fudge), I mentioned my interest in diets other than my own, and that includes my vegetarian and vegan friends. A lot of my recipes are vegan, and that is due to the need to eliminate dairy & egg for health reasons (see more about that HERE). For those same reasons, though, I need to consume lean meats to get enough heme iron.

So why a vegan BBQ if I eat meat? Well, remember, I just told you that I'm not such a huge fan of meat - I'd rather have chickpeas. 

Over the past 2 weeks, I have been thinking BBQ - you know, something tender and juicy slathered in a rich spicy-sweet sauce. 
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For a simple tangy sweet sauce, I mix these ingredients (and a touch of hot sauce).
Then I made Lemony Cabbage Avocado Slaw for one of our Now Gigi Serves Dinner! side dishes. During that meal, while eating baked salmon, my mind was on BBQ. Then my friend, Debi, at Hunter's Lyonesse made Lemony Slaw, which reminded me of a lemony basil slaw that I served with...you guessed it...BBQ. It was bound to happen.

I'll give you the menu before you click on to see how I made this yummy vegan Q!

Don't forget to check out my Contributors page! All the dreamy goodness here came from one of them!

Vegan BBQ patties with sweet & tangy sauce

Oven-baked fries with Rosemary Sea Salt(click to see how I make mine)

Simple Spinach Salad with Creamy Cilantro Dressing (click for recipe)

Individual Vegan Chocolate Pies with Chocolate Granola Crust (I'm loving my Enjoy Life Foods Chocolate Granola)
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You’re invited…
What: dinner at my place

When: every weeknight during April, beginning April 4th
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Ever wonder what food bloggers eat for dinner? Well, stop by here each evening for Now Gigi Serves Dinner to see photos and a description of what I serve my family. We’re Nut-Gluten-Soy-Dairy-free, and sometimes, we have dinner on the fly!
It may inspire you!

                    It may surprise you!

                                     Maybe it’ll even make you laugh!

You'll find daily dinners HERE beginning April 4th!
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