Don’t Chow Down On This Chowder

My girlfriend has a family recipe for clam chowder that is AMAZING. She has invited one of her friends over for dinner. This particular recipe calls for a thickening agent in order to make it proper “chowder thickness”. Earlier in the day of the dinner, she hands me a bowl of chowder.

Me: “Oh, this is good. And it thickened up really nicely!”

Girlfriend: “Yeah, I put about half a cup of flour in it.”

Me: *Freezes* “In… in the pot?”

Girlfriend: “Yeah.”

Me: “In the whole pot?”

Girlfriend: “Yeah?”

Me: “In the pot you were planning on feeding to [Friend with Celiac disease]?”

She stares at me for a few seconds in growing horror before facepalming HARD.

Girlfriend: “HOW DID I FORGET THAT?!”

Prior to cooking the chowder, we had discussed various gluten-free thickeners she could use, but when the time came, it just completely vacated her brain. She ended up serving salad. Her friend was quite good-natured about it.