By Jamie Bateman
Food photography by Jamie Bateman

Family dinner is a special moment to gather around the dining room table and enjoy the blessings that have been prepared. Growing up, our family ate every meal at the table. It was a known fact that when it was time to eat, you had a special seat that was yours. Those dedicated seats aren’t just for church pews.

This family tradition was carried over to our kids and continues to this day. We gather, give thanks for our meal, and dig into the bounty laid before us. That’s when the fun begins. The chatter commences, the stories start to come out, and before you know it, there is so much conversation happening that it’s hard to hear yourself think. The laughter, the joy, the moments that are being created are all for the simple reason that we are gathering to eat.

A dish isn’t just an item that is passed around the table for all to enjoy. Sure, it feeds the cravings, but it’s more than that. It’s a staple. A story behind each one. It’s a favorite item or one that has been passed down from generation to generation. It’s a well-known dish that when you taste it, you know you’re home.

Over the years, our dishes had to make a slight change in how they were prepared. Following the discovery of having to ward off gluten and wheat, we had to quickly shift gears on learning how to make those beloved family dishes.

Here are some of our family’s gluten free recipes.

There’s just something about a cake that brings a smile to everyone’s face. When you combine the sweet indulgence of each bite paired with the sophistication of who the baker is, then you have a winning combination.

A few years ago, I had the privilege of hosting a community event for a local charity in Wauchula. For those who aren’t familiar with this sweet, southern town, when you visit, you will find that the culture of the community is just as welcoming as each person who calls it home. So, it wasn’t a surprise when we had a sold-out event, mainly due to the amazing support that this town has always been known for. What did come to me as a surprise was the enthusiastic approach that each guest had over the main event, a cake auction. From the stories told by locals, some of the world’s best bakers just happened to live in this little town, and, as luck would have it, many had entered their cake to be auctioned off.

The parade of cakes was met with loud cheers and excitement from the crowd. There were a variety of cakes, from a Red Velvet Cake baked by a local senator to a Key Lime Cake and a Calamondin Cake that charmed the audience. However, the one that truly captivated me was the exquisite Hummingbird Cake. This multi-layered, elegantly sugared creation stood proudly on a simple glass cake platter, almost as if it radiated its own light. As the auction commenced, bids poured in, spurred by the reminder of the cake’s creator. This wasn’t just any Hummingbird Cake; it was crafted with sophistication, pride, and the authentic flair of southern baking by a lady who knew exactly how it should be made. That sealed the deal, and soon enough, the bids for this cake soared, significantly contributing to our event goals. The winner joyously shared their triumph by slicing a generous piece for anyone who wished to savor the dessert.

Like many cakes, I delight in transforming these beloved desserts into gluten-free versions that are nearly indistinguishable from the originals. With the vivid memory of that Hummingbird Cake at the forefront of my mind, I diligently experimented with flour substitutions and created a rendition that has since become one of my most requested cakes. While I could never have hoped to replicate Mrs. Clark’s masterpiece, this version will always be remembered as a close second.