Ordering Gluten-Free Pasta Straight from Italy (Plus a Cross-Country Adventure)
Meal planning has gotten so much easier since I started using the chalkboard in my kitchen. It may not be the latest electronic gadget, but it keeps my thoughts—and our meals—organized in one convenient place.
My Gluten-Free Meal Planning System
At the beginning of the week, I do a complete brain dump on the board. I jot down meal ideas, check the pantry, refrigerator, and freezer, and make a shopping list for anything we’re missing. Then I add another list of the things I can prepare ahead of time.
The same system works beautifully when I’m planning a large family gathering. Instead of trying to keep every menu item, ingredient, and task spinning around in my head, I can see the entire plan right in front of me. There is something deeply satisfying about crossing off each item as it is finished!
Of course, not everything gets crossed off as quickly as I would like.
Meatballs have been lingering on my “to make” list because I haven’t found time to make them. I have a wonderful recipe adapted from The Fannie Farmer Cookbook—I add one pound of Italian sausage and substitute rice for the breadcrumbs in the recipe. They will eventually accompany the Bolognese sauce I made and is now waiting patiently in my freezer.
At least I already have the pasta...after two cross-country excursions.
Zia Pia: Our Favorite Gluten-Free Pasta
Earlier, I placed a large order with Zia Pia, a boutique importer offering Italian foods sourced from family-owned producers throughout Italy. They carry several shapes and cuts of pasta that are difficult to find in grocery stores—including some wonderful gluten-free choices.
Honestly, their pasta is the best gluten-free pasta I have ever eaten. When we lived in Illinois, I bought it at Baby Doll Bakery and was hooked. Now that we live in Texas, I order it directly from Zia Pia.
My most recent order, however, took a little unexpected trip.
When ordering, I entered the correct street address but somehow paired it with the wrong city and state. I didn’t realize what I had done until I received a notification from the shipping company saying it couldn’t locate the address.
Weird, right?
I checked the order and immediately discovered my mistake. Ugh! I emailed Zia Pia, explained what had happened, and waited while my poor pasta wandered around the country.
Their customer-service team was gracious and helpful. Once the package was returned to them, they shipped it again—this time to the correct street, city, and state. After all those miles in the back of a delivery truck, the box finally arrived.
Best of all, not one noodle was damaged!
The Right Gluten-Free Pasta is Worth It
My husband could eat pasta every day. He says their gluten-free pasta is as good as any traditionally made pasta on the market, and I agree. It costs a little more than an ordinary package from the grocery store, but the flavor and texture make it well worth the price for us.
Now I have the pasta. I made the Bolognese sauce. The meatballs are still written on the chalkboard.
Maybe today? But it’s grandparents night at the kids' school. Maybe tomorrow.
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