Lotsa "kisses" going around today! It's St. Patrick's Day! (And yes, I am actually Irish. I am not faking that lol) ♣
Today I was reading a couple of articles online and I started thinking, ALLERGIES! Not tree pollen and pet dander but food allergies (I love food. Can you tell?). So today is more of a public service announcement.
People who's children have actual food allergies are a little hard core when it comes to things like cross contamination, hidden sources for that allergy, what you serve at your home for food. Here are a few little statistics and info bits to stew over while snacking or sipping on one of my previous recipes :)
• Just because you "washed" something does not mean the allergen does not exist on that dish/utensil anymore.
•It takes 1/44,000th of a drop of peanut oil to cause an anaphylactic reaction in someone who is allergic to peanuts. That is inconceivable to the human eye. Too small to see or taste or comprehend.
•Steak knives, bread knives and anything with a seraded edge is GREAT for hiding allergens and bacteria... better soak those puppies in some bleach/soap/water mixture before scrubbing.
•Cutting mats are bacteria cesspools! Replace them every 3-6 months. Really.
•Change your sponge for dishes! I mean it! Buy a 12 pack for a buck and use a new one every time you do dishes! It isn't very environmentally friendly but neither is the bio hazard waste that is accumulated when you end up i the hospital over something that could have been prevented. Not only are the sponges gross after a use or two... they easy trap little microscopic amounts of food in them and BOOM cross contamination can happen! It sounds insane but, it happens.
•If you use a toaster for bread with wheat or milk in it, you can not use that same toaster for GF or CF or GFCF bread. Ever. The bread sticks to the grill inside, cross contamination will happen! Every bloody time!
•There is dairy, nuts, soy, wheat, ALLERGENS hiding in everything! Lac = milk so does Whey, Skim Milk, Milk ingredients, Cheese, Cheese powders, Lactic Acid, Lactylate, Lactate... all of these would send my child over the edge! And they are in chips, crackers, some juices, vitamins, cakes, baking mixes, margarines, food spreads, deli meats, sausages, hot dogs, frozen foods, fries... I could go on for days. Reading labels is not always good enough. Some more education into what chemical based ingredients are is KEY!
•When in doubt, SO OLD SCHOOL! Cook a roast with the carrots, potatoes and onions in the pot with the roast! Natural flavor with NO CONTAMINATION! YAY!
Many spices and seasoning "blends" are contaminated with allergens. Salt and Pepper to taste is usually (but not always) safest. This dinner though, is 99% of the time SAFE for all who aren't vegan (that's another post though lol)
•Yes, I bring my own foods alot! Some people will be offended but trust me on this! They will be way MORE offended when you or your child end up puking on their floor due to an allergic reaction or having a reaction while still at the dinner table.
•Learn to cook and have the dinners and potlucks and events at your house! It would be easier in the long run and true friends would go out of their way to help you out, others can go straight to hades :) If they don't "get" it they can find others to play with.
•When in doubt, look it up! This is a great site to find out what is safer (nothing is 100%) when eating out! Whatcha got in that burger?
•Last but not least. What you eat stays with you. It's in your mouth and on your lips. If you wiped your hands on your shirt or dropped some well, it's there too! Always think before you hug and kiss or shake hands. WASH your hands, hand sanitizer is great and all but washing is best with LOTS of soap and warm water!
Now just air kiss your Irish friends and fam today :) ♣
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Spring is in the Air...time for a drink!
It's getting warmer and sunnier and the days are longer (well on my side of the earth anyways) and today the kids, along with their friends, were talking about why I don't drink cold pop. I just don't. I very rarely put pop in the fridge, never have. Nope, I don't know why. And then I said, "Oh today we have to make some lemonade iced tea!" I got 2 looks of MAKE? HUH? And then I explained why I make iced tea at home rather than buy it in 2 liter bottle at the store. It is way cheaper and full of flavour and way healthier to do it in your kitchen!
Basic Iced Tea
Boil water, add about 3 or 4 tea bags for a liter of boiling water, put it in the tea pot as if you were making regular tea. Add sugar (I use either Agave Nectar or Stevia instead, you can use splenda too but this has to be done while the water is HOT so it mixes) Stir it gently for a couple minutes with a wooden spoon (metal spoons rip tea bags) and then take the tea bags out.
Pour this into a pitcher. Add 1 liter of COLD water and some ice cubes. Put it in the fridge til cold and you have iced tea. Now what did that cost to make? 30 cents? maybe 50 cents at most? Easy and cheap! (Hell even chemical laden kool aid costs more!)
Now to sass it up!
Tyler loves lemons and limes. So when I make citrus iced tea, I take citrus flavored or white tea and then when adding the cold water, I toss in a sliced lemon or lime. It looks cool and its "LEMONY" as he says!
Berry tea, easy! Summer berry flavor teas, when adding cold water add some sliced strawberries or whole raspberries or blueberries.
Apple cinnamon iced tea... now this is an acquired taste. Ty doesn't like it but, Bill does. Make your flavored tea, add a dash of BROWN sugar to the hot water! And a small shake of cinnamon... now I make this with Apple juice instead of the cold water and it. is. excellent. (Thanks to inspiration from Starbucks!)
Blueberry peach tea. This one is fun! We take blueberry tea (with 6 bags instead of 3 or 4), make our iced tea, add a can of sliced peaches with nectar juice to the jug instead of water but, add about a cup and a half of ice to it as well. YUMMY and sweeeeet!
There is no reason to break the bank in the warmer weather. ALL of these can easily be made into popsicles and flavored ice cubes! As well, it is a great treat especially for folks with a limited diet or special dietary needs!
There are so many options out there besides chemically based drinks and sugar packed crap! These will please many and the kids will love the flavor. My super picky eaters have always enjoyed these!
You can find flavored teas in the tea/coffee aisle in the grocery store or you can contact an independent tea dealer through companies like Steeped! I have a friend who sells it. If you are interested, let me know! :)
Basic Iced Tea
Boil water, add about 3 or 4 tea bags for a liter of boiling water, put it in the tea pot as if you were making regular tea. Add sugar (I use either Agave Nectar or Stevia instead, you can use splenda too but this has to be done while the water is HOT so it mixes) Stir it gently for a couple minutes with a wooden spoon (metal spoons rip tea bags) and then take the tea bags out.
Pour this into a pitcher. Add 1 liter of COLD water and some ice cubes. Put it in the fridge til cold and you have iced tea. Now what did that cost to make? 30 cents? maybe 50 cents at most? Easy and cheap! (Hell even chemical laden kool aid costs more!)
Now to sass it up!
Tyler loves lemons and limes. So when I make citrus iced tea, I take citrus flavored or white tea and then when adding the cold water, I toss in a sliced lemon or lime. It looks cool and its "LEMONY" as he says!
Berry tea, easy! Summer berry flavor teas, when adding cold water add some sliced strawberries or whole raspberries or blueberries.
Apple cinnamon iced tea... now this is an acquired taste. Ty doesn't like it but, Bill does. Make your flavored tea, add a dash of BROWN sugar to the hot water! And a small shake of cinnamon... now I make this with Apple juice instead of the cold water and it. is. excellent. (Thanks to inspiration from Starbucks!)
Blueberry peach tea. This one is fun! We take blueberry tea (with 6 bags instead of 3 or 4), make our iced tea, add a can of sliced peaches with nectar juice to the jug instead of water but, add about a cup and a half of ice to it as well. YUMMY and sweeeeet!
There is no reason to break the bank in the warmer weather. ALL of these can easily be made into popsicles and flavored ice cubes! As well, it is a great treat especially for folks with a limited diet or special dietary needs!
There are so many options out there besides chemically based drinks and sugar packed crap! These will please many and the kids will love the flavor. My super picky eaters have always enjoyed these!
You can find flavored teas in the tea/coffee aisle in the grocery store or you can contact an independent tea dealer through companies like Steeped! I have a friend who sells it. If you are interested, let me know! :)
Sunday, March 13, 2011
But, but, but I don't like veggies Mom!
That's ok. Your Mom is reading my blog lil one. You are about to be duped! BAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
My kids refused veggies. They would eat them off the vines in the garden no problem but, once on a plate it was NOT happening. Ya, kids suck when it comes to meal time. So, what's a Momma (or Dadda) to do? Get sneaky! Kids are sneaky... we all were at one point in our life so, tap into that inner child and think hmmm what would my Mom do if she was cool? (Eating veggies at gun point is never fun so you have to think coolness)
SHRED 'EM!
Yes, get out your food processor (or cheese grater if you got one) and shred those veggies and fruits! But do not do this in front of the kids!
I take zucchini's and summer squash (the yellow lookin' zukes) and I shred 'em up! I then put 1 cup or 2 per freezer bag and freeze 'em! They stay good frozen for about a year and a bit and I add this to cakes, cookies, chili, spagetti, soups... they go transparent when cooked like this and BOOM something becomes extra healthy! Chocolate cakes are amazing at hiding veggies!
Carrots... shred shred shred! I am serious! Carrots in a chocolate cake... I told my boys that it must have had "gold chocolate" in the flour of the cake! Suddenly, the cake becomes something awesome to eat. Kids react the way you react, think buried treasure/pirate but without the growling voice. lol
Broccoli. Ya, I know a lot of kids don't eat it and they won't especially if you call it BROCCOLI! OMG that word to a kid is intimidating and gross. We never ate broccoli. We ate "Little Trees". My kids saw the plants in the garden looked like little trees so, they associated what I was cooking with something from the garden. It was the one thing they would eat... but "Only eating the leafy parts Mom, you aren't supposed to eat the tree trunk!" was Jake's declaration when he was 7. I didn't care. He was eating broccoli. Mom 1. Kid 0. :) Now cut your little trees smaller. The big chunks are too intimidating and LOOK LIKE BROCCOLI! Make them look like little trees instead!
Carrots. I called carrots "sun sticks". My kids couldn't talk as toddlers but, they understood every word out of my mouth! So I called carrots sun sticks and told the kids lepherchans collected them from the base of rainbows. They like lepherchauns so they were cool with that explaination. Once Bill was 8 we called them carrots and I used to serve them carrots cut in slices with a bit of honey. Natural and cheap and good :)
Cut your veggies to look like french fries! Why? Because kids like sticks! And with a little dip anything is edible! My favorite dairy free dip... Honey mixed with some dijon mustard. Sweet and spicy! Or some thai chili sauce with some mayonnaise! Looks like ketchupy dressing but it is a dip!
Once you have been able to sneak some extra "goodness" into their diets, try making a veggie packed chili! Corn, mushrooms, peppers, tomatoes, black beans, kidney beans and serve it with nachos. The kids will eat it like salsa and chips and BOOM you win again... please do your happy dance in the other room away from the kids so they don't know they were duped yet again!
I WANT CHIPS!!!
No problem. Here is a SUPER AWESOME trick. You know the side of your cheese grater that is a slicer... its about to get a work out! (Or use your food processor like I do, I am lazy, I admit it) Wash carrots, small beets, potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams (yes they are different from sweet potatoes) and scrub em down GOOD... no dirt or freaky things on them ok? Now thinly slice them in the processor or the cheese grater thingy, cutting them with a knife they are too thick and won't cook!
now heat up the deep fryer or oil in a deep pot on the stove (I never use more than a liter of oil at a time) and then deep fry those veggies, NO COATING just make chips.
Serve with a little dip and they will eat them! If Ty will eat them anyone will! lol
Hope these ideas help you find ways to get sneaky and out think your kiddos. There is hope! Bill and Jake are teenagers and gladly eat vegan meals with no complaining.
Happy faking folks!
My kids refused veggies. They would eat them off the vines in the garden no problem but, once on a plate it was NOT happening. Ya, kids suck when it comes to meal time. So, what's a Momma (or Dadda) to do? Get sneaky! Kids are sneaky... we all were at one point in our life so, tap into that inner child and think hmmm what would my Mom do if she was cool? (Eating veggies at gun point is never fun so you have to think coolness)
SHRED 'EM!
Yes, get out your food processor (or cheese grater if you got one) and shred those veggies and fruits! But do not do this in front of the kids!
I take zucchini's and summer squash (the yellow lookin' zukes) and I shred 'em up! I then put 1 cup or 2 per freezer bag and freeze 'em! They stay good frozen for about a year and a bit and I add this to cakes, cookies, chili, spagetti, soups... they go transparent when cooked like this and BOOM something becomes extra healthy! Chocolate cakes are amazing at hiding veggies!
Carrots... shred shred shred! I am serious! Carrots in a chocolate cake... I told my boys that it must have had "gold chocolate" in the flour of the cake! Suddenly, the cake becomes something awesome to eat. Kids react the way you react, think buried treasure/pirate but without the growling voice. lol
Broccoli. Ya, I know a lot of kids don't eat it and they won't especially if you call it BROCCOLI! OMG that word to a kid is intimidating and gross. We never ate broccoli. We ate "Little Trees". My kids saw the plants in the garden looked like little trees so, they associated what I was cooking with something from the garden. It was the one thing they would eat... but "Only eating the leafy parts Mom, you aren't supposed to eat the tree trunk!" was Jake's declaration when he was 7. I didn't care. He was eating broccoli. Mom 1. Kid 0. :) Now cut your little trees smaller. The big chunks are too intimidating and LOOK LIKE BROCCOLI! Make them look like little trees instead!
Carrots. I called carrots "sun sticks". My kids couldn't talk as toddlers but, they understood every word out of my mouth! So I called carrots sun sticks and told the kids lepherchans collected them from the base of rainbows. They like lepherchauns so they were cool with that explaination. Once Bill was 8 we called them carrots and I used to serve them carrots cut in slices with a bit of honey. Natural and cheap and good :)
Cut your veggies to look like french fries! Why? Because kids like sticks! And with a little dip anything is edible! My favorite dairy free dip... Honey mixed with some dijon mustard. Sweet and spicy! Or some thai chili sauce with some mayonnaise! Looks like ketchupy dressing but it is a dip!
Once you have been able to sneak some extra "goodness" into their diets, try making a veggie packed chili! Corn, mushrooms, peppers, tomatoes, black beans, kidney beans and serve it with nachos. The kids will eat it like salsa and chips and BOOM you win again... please do your happy dance in the other room away from the kids so they don't know they were duped yet again!
I WANT CHIPS!!!
No problem. Here is a SUPER AWESOME trick. You know the side of your cheese grater that is a slicer... its about to get a work out! (Or use your food processor like I do, I am lazy, I admit it) Wash carrots, small beets, potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams (yes they are different from sweet potatoes) and scrub em down GOOD... no dirt or freaky things on them ok? Now thinly slice them in the processor or the cheese grater thingy, cutting them with a knife they are too thick and won't cook!
now heat up the deep fryer or oil in a deep pot on the stove (I never use more than a liter of oil at a time) and then deep fry those veggies, NO COATING just make chips.
Serve with a little dip and they will eat them! If Ty will eat them anyone will! lol
Hope these ideas help you find ways to get sneaky and out think your kiddos. There is hope! Bill and Jake are teenagers and gladly eat vegan meals with no complaining.
Happy faking folks!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Mmmmm meatloaf! Baked and Caked in flavour!
Ah meatloaf. It is a fall/winter comfort food that is surrounded in controversy! Everyone's Mama thinks theirs is best and I am sure some have been throughly insulted when others do not agree! lol
My Mom made great meatloaf. She really did. Hasn't made it in years! Why would she? I now make it and bring it to her! Mom had a great recipe. I don't even remember where she got it from or how long she has made it but, I can not remember not having it. Once I had the boys and have picky little divas in training to feed, I revamped Mom's meatloaf recipe! And thankfully, Mom approved.
Now this recipe requires a muffin tin pan or 2 and it is delicious!
Mini Meatloaves!
(makes about 12, give or take)
2 pounds ground beef, lean
1 egg (or use equivalent of egg replacer)
1 1/2 cups of GFCF flaked cereal OR if you use them, Soda crackers Crushed
1 heaping tablespoon of dried basil
pinch o' salt
dash or 3 of black pepper
2 small cans of tomato paste
Shredded Cheese OR Daiya "cheese" for topping
Alrighty, get a big bowl, mix the beef, egg, flakes or crackers and basil. Knead it like bread. I know it feels gross but this stage is important or nothing will stick together!
Now, Spray your Muffin tins (Yup that pan not the loaf pan) with cooking spray or wipe each muffin hole (I don't know what to call it... it's too early to remember) with a little olive oil.
Take about a half a handful of beef mix, press it into the tin so it is about half full. Now take a teaspoon of tomato paste and plop it on top of the beef. Take another half a handful and squish it on top of that! Now your muffin hole tin thingy should be full to the top! :) Yay! You did it! Congrats!
Now continue til you run out of beef mix. This usually makes about 12-14 for me.
Oh ya, preheat the oven to 350F and then you bake these for about an hour.
10 minutes before time is up I just pull out the pan a little bit and top each loaf with a spoonful of tomato paste and a light sprinkling of cheese or Daiya then continue baking for those last 10 minutes.
I usually serve this with alfredo noodles and some veggie based pasta sauce! If you are in a crunch you can even use one out of a can or jar (just always read the labels folks, companies change ingredients all the time). I plop the loaf right on top like a big meatball and Tyler's eyes light up like a christmas tree!He loves his "big meatball loaf muffins". That is what he calls them.
This is great to make ahead and freeze too! I freeze the mini loaves individually into freezer bags for quick dinners for the boys or for lunches!
Anyone can make this and AMAZE their family and friends! The debate will then continue.... who's mama makes the best meatloaf?
I think Bill, Jake and Ty's Mama does ;)
My Mom made great meatloaf. She really did. Hasn't made it in years! Why would she? I now make it and bring it to her! Mom had a great recipe. I don't even remember where she got it from or how long she has made it but, I can not remember not having it. Once I had the boys and have picky little divas in training to feed, I revamped Mom's meatloaf recipe! And thankfully, Mom approved.
Now this recipe requires a muffin tin pan or 2 and it is delicious!
Mini Meatloaves!
(makes about 12, give or take)
2 pounds ground beef, lean
1 egg (or use equivalent of egg replacer)
1 1/2 cups of GFCF flaked cereal OR if you use them, Soda crackers Crushed
1 heaping tablespoon of dried basil
pinch o' salt
dash or 3 of black pepper
2 small cans of tomato paste
Shredded Cheese OR Daiya "cheese" for topping
Alrighty, get a big bowl, mix the beef, egg, flakes or crackers and basil. Knead it like bread. I know it feels gross but this stage is important or nothing will stick together!
Now, Spray your Muffin tins (Yup that pan not the loaf pan) with cooking spray or wipe each muffin hole (I don't know what to call it... it's too early to remember) with a little olive oil.
Take about a half a handful of beef mix, press it into the tin so it is about half full. Now take a teaspoon of tomato paste and plop it on top of the beef. Take another half a handful and squish it on top of that! Now your muffin hole tin thingy should be full to the top! :) Yay! You did it! Congrats!
Now continue til you run out of beef mix. This usually makes about 12-14 for me.
Oh ya, preheat the oven to 350F and then you bake these for about an hour.
10 minutes before time is up I just pull out the pan a little bit and top each loaf with a spoonful of tomato paste and a light sprinkling of cheese or Daiya then continue baking for those last 10 minutes.
I usually serve this with alfredo noodles and some veggie based pasta sauce! If you are in a crunch you can even use one out of a can or jar (just always read the labels folks, companies change ingredients all the time). I plop the loaf right on top like a big meatball and Tyler's eyes light up like a christmas tree!He loves his "big meatball loaf muffins". That is what he calls them.
This is great to make ahead and freeze too! I freeze the mini loaves individually into freezer bags for quick dinners for the boys or for lunches!
Anyone can make this and AMAZE their family and friends! The debate will then continue.... who's mama makes the best meatloaf?
I think Bill, Jake and Ty's Mama does ;)
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Sweet & spicy
My boys are very much apart of what is produced in my kitchen. Tyler is so picky, he is also very demanding. If Bill doesn't like it chances are no one will and Jake is my partner in crime. He is the one who mixes and pours and blends plus, he sometimes has some awesome suggestions. As we create, Tyler supervises and tells us "I don't want it" if we use an ingredient he doesn't like. Ah, the joys of Autism!
For those who don't know all 3 of my boys have some form of Autism. It makes life difficult sometimes, other times it is a good thing. In the challenge of a disability also comes food intolerances, allergies, medication reactions, sleep deprivation and the list goes on and on. Food became my comfort and I pride myself on being a great (not just good) cook! Those who have said I am not a good cook well, I am sorry you can't handle culinary goodness!
So with that being said, I have had some major struggles from my own kids and others in my life with food choices. I love how what is in my kitchen becomes drama for others. Hmmmm. They need a hobby, maybe a therapist or two. lol Anyways, today I thought I would write a bit about food substitutes when it comes to kitchen basics.
Sweet things.
Ah, sugar, how we crave thee! How that sweetness tempts our tastebuds and makes us drool at the sight of sugary covered.... whatever! Let's face it, it doesn't matter if it is a chocolate cake or a butter tart or a piece of strudel! I crave it! I do. I never used to like sweets and now I am a junkie. So, how do you get rid of sugar but satisfy the sweet tooth? I found some solutions!
Stevia. It's natural! It's in a little bottle! It's fairly cheap (about $7 for 1000 drops) and its ok. I use stevia to sweeten milk, puddings, tofu when I am baking but, its just ok. (in my opinion) Others I know swear by it. I am like "Ya, its good to have on hand."
Agave nectar. *TEQUILA* lol kidding! Agave nectar IS used to make tequila but, this is also a nice substitute for sugar. It is sold in a glass or plastic bottle for about $6. One bottle lasts us about 6 weeks and it works better for me than Stevia.
Sugar Twin. Eww. Yuck. Gross. I will be honest. I don't like this chemically induced formula of crap. It comes from aspartame and even though I love it in my diet coke, keep it out of my cakes, cereals and tarts!
Splenda. For baking this is a GIGANTIC 2 thumbs up! I am one of those people who can taste when something is different in a recipe and I honestly can not tell the difference between a chocolate cake made with sugar or one made with Splenda! It comes from sugar. It is the alternatives for diabetics and I tell ya, I buy it in the big bag at Costco. I always have splenda for baking. If I need a little sweetness added I use Stevia or Agave Nectar with it.
Coconut. My friend Shannon, ahhh I love her. I was chatting with her on MSN years ago and we were talking about the diet. I told her I used Coconut milk in place of regular milk in my cooking. (Oh ya I forgot to mention that in the milk post.. bad Indigo!) anyhoo, she said "Coconut is great for sweetening and I swear by coconut oil" Now coconut oil is not sweet... so don't think it is. But adding shredded coconut, coconut milk, coconut flavoring does add sweetness to a dish or baking pan! Experiment a little and see what you can come up with!
*Coconut milk IS fattening. Suck it up! It's not like you will be drinking it 3 times a day or cooking with it daily. Everything in moderation. A can runs about 99 cents. I will not pay more for a can of this milk. Some stores it is $4! I say no thanks... the other store down the street has it for cheaper! :)
Sexy Spice!
Ahhh spice. I love spice! I do. I love thai and jerk chicken and spicy goodness in my food! Peppers and garlic and ohhhhh my! Food should taste GOOD!
Most spices at the supermarket say "May contain wheat". Crappy. I know. It sucks. Especially when you are omitting it from your diet. GFCF spices can be insanely expensive too. What's a cook to do? GO NATURAL!
Peppers.
I love peppers. From green pepper to jalepenos to habanero to you name it! For hot peppers (used in ethnic cooking) I put my my gloves, I seed them, chop em down to sweet nothings then I dry them in the oven on a cookie sheet covered in parchment paper! Then I grind em in the grinder. Now you have wheat free, milk free peppers. Store in an air tight container. :)
Black pepper.
Yup, chances are that pepper in the container at the store has come into contact with something you don't want in your diet. It is sad. I hear ya! But, peppercorns are generally safer and all you need is a pepper mill from the dollar store to grind em up fresh! Problem solved!
Salt.
Honestly, I don't use it. A pound of salt lasts us 2 plus years. I use it in baking, in baths for us but that is it. From what I understand it is safe. Check labels and companies to be safe.
Garlic.
Basil, Parsley, Oregano (Rosemary, Thyme, Dill, Cilantro)
I use these fresh. But when I can't I buy them fresh at the store, bring em home, wash them really good then I pat them dry with paper towel and dry them in the oven! Crush/grind them up and pop them into separate labeled jar! Your own fresh made herbs! WOOHOO! Or you can get a window kit and grow your own to cut, dry and grind! Easy and fun! Get the kids to help!
The spices we use the most are Black pepper, garlic and basil. If I have those 3 I am happy. Chili powder is another I like to always have but, I run out a lot.
Well, if you got this far congrats! (Wow I wrote a lot again today!) Now want the recipe to my favorite homemade spice blends? Ya, you will like 'em!
I don't remember where I got this recipe from but I added my own stuff.
Homemade chili powder
1 dried ancho chili or habanero
1/4 cup dried oregano
1/4 cup cumin seed
1/4 cup coriander seed
1/4 cup paprika
1 tbsp of splenda
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp salt
Grind ingredients in a grinder and store in a jar.
Happy Cooking all! :)
For those who don't know all 3 of my boys have some form of Autism. It makes life difficult sometimes, other times it is a good thing. In the challenge of a disability also comes food intolerances, allergies, medication reactions, sleep deprivation and the list goes on and on. Food became my comfort and I pride myself on being a great (not just good) cook! Those who have said I am not a good cook well, I am sorry you can't handle culinary goodness!
So with that being said, I have had some major struggles from my own kids and others in my life with food choices. I love how what is in my kitchen becomes drama for others. Hmmmm. They need a hobby, maybe a therapist or two. lol Anyways, today I thought I would write a bit about food substitutes when it comes to kitchen basics.
Sweet things.
Ah, sugar, how we crave thee! How that sweetness tempts our tastebuds and makes us drool at the sight of sugary covered.... whatever! Let's face it, it doesn't matter if it is a chocolate cake or a butter tart or a piece of strudel! I crave it! I do. I never used to like sweets and now I am a junkie. So, how do you get rid of sugar but satisfy the sweet tooth? I found some solutions!
Stevia. It's natural! It's in a little bottle! It's fairly cheap (about $7 for 1000 drops) and its ok. I use stevia to sweeten milk, puddings, tofu when I am baking but, its just ok. (in my opinion) Others I know swear by it. I am like "Ya, its good to have on hand."
Agave nectar. *TEQUILA* lol kidding! Agave nectar IS used to make tequila but, this is also a nice substitute for sugar. It is sold in a glass or plastic bottle for about $6. One bottle lasts us about 6 weeks and it works better for me than Stevia.
Sugar Twin. Eww. Yuck. Gross. I will be honest. I don't like this chemically induced formula of crap. It comes from aspartame and even though I love it in my diet coke, keep it out of my cakes, cereals and tarts!
Splenda. For baking this is a GIGANTIC 2 thumbs up! I am one of those people who can taste when something is different in a recipe and I honestly can not tell the difference between a chocolate cake made with sugar or one made with Splenda! It comes from sugar. It is the alternatives for diabetics and I tell ya, I buy it in the big bag at Costco. I always have splenda for baking. If I need a little sweetness added I use Stevia or Agave Nectar with it.
Coconut. My friend Shannon, ahhh I love her. I was chatting with her on MSN years ago and we were talking about the diet. I told her I used Coconut milk in place of regular milk in my cooking. (Oh ya I forgot to mention that in the milk post.. bad Indigo!) anyhoo, she said "Coconut is great for sweetening and I swear by coconut oil" Now coconut oil is not sweet... so don't think it is. But adding shredded coconut, coconut milk, coconut flavoring does add sweetness to a dish or baking pan! Experiment a little and see what you can come up with!
*Coconut milk IS fattening. Suck it up! It's not like you will be drinking it 3 times a day or cooking with it daily. Everything in moderation. A can runs about 99 cents. I will not pay more for a can of this milk. Some stores it is $4! I say no thanks... the other store down the street has it for cheaper! :)
Sexy Spice!
Ahhh spice. I love spice! I do. I love thai and jerk chicken and spicy goodness in my food! Peppers and garlic and ohhhhh my! Food should taste GOOD!
Most spices at the supermarket say "May contain wheat". Crappy. I know. It sucks. Especially when you are omitting it from your diet. GFCF spices can be insanely expensive too. What's a cook to do? GO NATURAL!
Peppers.
I love peppers. From green pepper to jalepenos to habanero to you name it! For hot peppers (used in ethnic cooking) I put my my gloves, I seed them, chop em down to sweet nothings then I dry them in the oven on a cookie sheet covered in parchment paper! Then I grind em in the grinder. Now you have wheat free, milk free peppers. Store in an air tight container. :)
Black pepper.
Yup, chances are that pepper in the container at the store has come into contact with something you don't want in your diet. It is sad. I hear ya! But, peppercorns are generally safer and all you need is a pepper mill from the dollar store to grind em up fresh! Problem solved!
Salt.
Honestly, I don't use it. A pound of salt lasts us 2 plus years. I use it in baking, in baths for us but that is it. From what I understand it is safe. Check labels and companies to be safe.
Garlic.
Basil, Parsley, Oregano (Rosemary, Thyme, Dill, Cilantro)
I use these fresh. But when I can't I buy them fresh at the store, bring em home, wash them really good then I pat them dry with paper towel and dry them in the oven! Crush/grind them up and pop them into separate labeled jar! Your own fresh made herbs! WOOHOO! Or you can get a window kit and grow your own to cut, dry and grind! Easy and fun! Get the kids to help!
The spices we use the most are Black pepper, garlic and basil. If I have those 3 I am happy. Chili powder is another I like to always have but, I run out a lot.
Well, if you got this far congrats! (Wow I wrote a lot again today!) Now want the recipe to my favorite homemade spice blends? Ya, you will like 'em!
I don't remember where I got this recipe from but I added my own stuff.
Homemade chili powder
1 dried ancho chili or habanero
1/4 cup dried oregano
1/4 cup cumin seed
1/4 cup coriander seed
1/4 cup paprika
1 tbsp of splenda
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp salt
Grind ingredients in a grinder and store in a jar.
Happy Cooking all! :)
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Hidden sources of Milk/Dairy & things that will make you go UGH
I started the first kick at a GFCF diet with 2 things. A book and my kid's doc saying "You gotta do what you feel is right!" Dr. Geiger was a great doctor. He knew my struggle, never questioned me and knew I was doing the best I could. He was a treat. I really miss him.
The book was Unraveling the Mysteries of Autism. I read it (was totally overwhelmed but powered on), referenced it and when we went back to regular food 2 years later I passed it on to a young mom with one ASD child. She then passed it on as well. The book was well used.
Now, I read the book. I know food (as I am a certified food inspector) and I know what to look for, what labels mean, what "hidden" sources of contaminates are.
I am going to share some basic knowledge with you. Do not feel overwhelmed as there is always a solution to everything!
1) If the ingredients say "Spices" it probably has trace amounts of what you are trying to avoid, whether it is milk or gluten... Find GFCF spices. They are available at your local organic or alternate grocer.
2) Lactic acid, Lactylate, Sourdough. All 3 are milk UNLESS it is listed that the lactic acid is derived from Beets(and the label will usually say so). There is one bread we can buy locally that is dairy free. It is Golden Vienna. The rest, every other bread, has milk products in them.Most crackers (even soda biscuits) have milk in them!
3) The people that work at the store do not know what is in it. Seriously, they have no idea. They try but, they don't know. They are not experts, they are paid to stock shelves. When in doubt, do not buy and come home to google! (I love google.... but you knew that right?)
4) Yogurt, pudding, margarine, butter, ice cream, cream/creme, have dairy in them. Becel Vegan Margarine is safe. Earth balance products are vegan. But, read the labels! Some gelatos I have found are 100% dairy free but not all brands are. You need to be aware.
5) Family and friends will try but, they will fail by giving your child something they shouldn't have. I bring my own food to even my mom's house. I have stocked her freezer with GFCF burgers, wieners, rice milk and daiya cheese. She tries (she really does) but, we both feel safer with me doing what I do. It works better then we don't have any issues. Always plan ahead.
6) What are you using for bath and beauty products? Are they GFCF? Probably not. You need to watch for these things. Some soaps, shampoos & bath bombs have skim milk powder in them. Many have wheat protein (check hair dye ingredients too). Hidden sources can kill anything you are trying to accomplish.
7) Just because it says "Not tested on animals" does not mean it is animal free.
8) The deli. I love the deli. I love deli meats, pepperoni, kielbassa! I do. Yum! BUT cheese is cut on those blades as well AND! Milk ingredients (Like Lactylate) are a preservative and used in the curing process. Deli meats are dangerous to a milk allergy. And a gluten allergy as well. We now only buy from the alternate grocers deli or make our own meat mixes at home (I will post these recipes soon)
9) Vitamins. YUP! Not all are free of contaminates. Check labels and when in doubt come home and google!
10) Alcohol. Now, I hope your kids are drinking yet! But, there are lots of alcohols that are derived from wheat and yes, if its creamy (Tequila Rose, Irish Creme, Doodley's) it is MILK. Most alcohol is not gluten free.
11) What you eat can easily be passed on to someone else. Have you eaten cheese and then kissed our kiddos good night? Come into contact with milk them hugged someone? That is cross contamination.
12) Just because it is dairy free does not mean it is gluten free or vice versa! ALWAYS read the labels. And double check! Companies change their ingredients all the time so just because 6 months ago it was CF does not mean it is now!
Ok that's all I can think of for now. I now just feel like I am rambling! (I do that) So, I hope this helps someone and if you have questions PLEASE post 'em! :)
Happy Shopping!
The book was Unraveling the Mysteries of Autism. I read it (was totally overwhelmed but powered on), referenced it and when we went back to regular food 2 years later I passed it on to a young mom with one ASD child. She then passed it on as well. The book was well used.
Now, I read the book. I know food (as I am a certified food inspector) and I know what to look for, what labels mean, what "hidden" sources of contaminates are.
I am going to share some basic knowledge with you. Do not feel overwhelmed as there is always a solution to everything!
1) If the ingredients say "Spices" it probably has trace amounts of what you are trying to avoid, whether it is milk or gluten... Find GFCF spices. They are available at your local organic or alternate grocer.
2) Lactic acid, Lactylate, Sourdough. All 3 are milk UNLESS it is listed that the lactic acid is derived from Beets(and the label will usually say so). There is one bread we can buy locally that is dairy free. It is Golden Vienna. The rest, every other bread, has milk products in them.Most crackers (even soda biscuits) have milk in them!
3) The people that work at the store do not know what is in it. Seriously, they have no idea. They try but, they don't know. They are not experts, they are paid to stock shelves. When in doubt, do not buy and come home to google! (I love google.... but you knew that right?)
4) Yogurt, pudding, margarine, butter, ice cream, cream/creme, have dairy in them. Becel Vegan Margarine is safe. Earth balance products are vegan. But, read the labels! Some gelatos I have found are 100% dairy free but not all brands are. You need to be aware.
5) Family and friends will try but, they will fail by giving your child something they shouldn't have. I bring my own food to even my mom's house. I have stocked her freezer with GFCF burgers, wieners, rice milk and daiya cheese. She tries (she really does) but, we both feel safer with me doing what I do. It works better then we don't have any issues. Always plan ahead.
6) What are you using for bath and beauty products? Are they GFCF? Probably not. You need to watch for these things. Some soaps, shampoos & bath bombs have skim milk powder in them. Many have wheat protein (check hair dye ingredients too). Hidden sources can kill anything you are trying to accomplish.
7) Just because it says "Not tested on animals" does not mean it is animal free.
8) The deli. I love the deli. I love deli meats, pepperoni, kielbassa! I do. Yum! BUT cheese is cut on those blades as well AND! Milk ingredients (Like Lactylate) are a preservative and used in the curing process. Deli meats are dangerous to a milk allergy. And a gluten allergy as well. We now only buy from the alternate grocers deli or make our own meat mixes at home (I will post these recipes soon)
9) Vitamins. YUP! Not all are free of contaminates. Check labels and when in doubt come home and google!
10) Alcohol. Now, I hope your kids are drinking yet! But, there are lots of alcohols that are derived from wheat and yes, if its creamy (Tequila Rose, Irish Creme, Doodley's) it is MILK. Most alcohol is not gluten free.
11) What you eat can easily be passed on to someone else. Have you eaten cheese and then kissed our kiddos good night? Come into contact with milk them hugged someone? That is cross contamination.
12) Just because it is dairy free does not mean it is gluten free or vice versa! ALWAYS read the labels. And double check! Companies change their ingredients all the time so just because 6 months ago it was CF does not mean it is now!
Ok that's all I can think of for now. I now just feel like I am rambling! (I do that) So, I hope this helps someone and if you have questions PLEASE post 'em! :)
Happy Shopping!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Milk.... how to fake it like a pro!
Ah Milk. Cereal is awful without it, most baking recipes require it and I can easily live with out good ol' cow's milk! (My Grandfather just rolled over in his grave... He was a cattle farmer!)
My guys have been off cow's milk for months. Years ago we went GFCF and they were used to soy milk (which is a good place to start) then we gradually switched to Rice or Potato Milk. Rice milk can be watery, potato milk is delicious but, hard to come by in Canada without purchasing in bulk.
Vance's Dari-Free is available from distributors! Medallion Milk in Winnipeg, MB carries it for Canadians. In the US it is more widely available.
You can find more international distributor links here! It is a nice consistency and kinda creamy.
Now, I can't get potato milk all the time. So, at the local grocery store we have the options of Soy Milk, Rice Milk and Rice "Beverage". They are ok, especially in a pinch but, we like different milk now.
At Goodness Me in Hamilton, they have an incredible selection of various milks! And it really does make a difference between a noname brand (store brand) and a "name" brand. We use Almond milk for the most part. If the Hemp Milk is on sale we buy that (the kids LOVE hemp milk).
The Almond Milk is Blue Diamond Almond Breeze. The Boys like the chocolate and the original. We haven't tried others yet. We cook with it like you would cook with cow's milk and they haven't said EWWWW yet! lol
Hemp Milk is called Hemp Bliss. Delicious and is Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Nut free and 100% Vegan! It is expensive though. About $5 a liter here in Canada but when it is on sale 2 for $7 I buy a few and we use it sparingly!
Now, it wouldn't be me without a cheaper way to do it! :) I have found some homemade milk recipes online (Thanks to the help of some friends)!
This is the Almond milk recipe I use weekly! From Novel Eats, it is simple and fun for the boys to get in on some cooking skills! We use Stevia to sweeten and I add a couple drops of GFCF Vanilla (I get this at the Bulk Barn which has a decent GFCF section).
I have found several recipes for Rice Milk and Hemp Milk online (I am educated by Google!) but, I haven't tried them yet! When I do you all will be the first to know :) Sharing what I can.
Honestly though, do not give up on cowless milk... there are several options and there is one out there for you! If my kids can give it up, anyone can.
And, buy a pound of almonds, soak 'em in water and try that recipe from Novel Eats. Sweeten to your liking (Using Agave Nectar or Stevia), or add some vanilla or chocolate flavouring (Make sure its GFCF). How often can you say "I make my own milk" lol
I use the almond meal leftover after processing to add to cakes, cookie recipes and pancake batter. I freeze it into little scoops (about the size of 3 tablespoons). Options are endless!
My guys have been off cow's milk for months. Years ago we went GFCF and they were used to soy milk (which is a good place to start) then we gradually switched to Rice or Potato Milk. Rice milk can be watery, potato milk is delicious but, hard to come by in Canada without purchasing in bulk.
Vance's Dari-Free is available from distributors! Medallion Milk in Winnipeg, MB carries it for Canadians. In the US it is more widely available.
You can find more international distributor links here! It is a nice consistency and kinda creamy.
Now, I can't get potato milk all the time. So, at the local grocery store we have the options of Soy Milk, Rice Milk and Rice "Beverage". They are ok, especially in a pinch but, we like different milk now.
At Goodness Me in Hamilton, they have an incredible selection of various milks! And it really does make a difference between a noname brand (store brand) and a "name" brand. We use Almond milk for the most part. If the Hemp Milk is on sale we buy that (the kids LOVE hemp milk).
The Almond Milk is Blue Diamond Almond Breeze. The Boys like the chocolate and the original. We haven't tried others yet. We cook with it like you would cook with cow's milk and they haven't said EWWWW yet! lol
Hemp Milk is called Hemp Bliss. Delicious and is Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Nut free and 100% Vegan! It is expensive though. About $5 a liter here in Canada but when it is on sale 2 for $7 I buy a few and we use it sparingly!
Now, it wouldn't be me without a cheaper way to do it! :) I have found some homemade milk recipes online (Thanks to the help of some friends)!
This is the Almond milk recipe I use weekly! From Novel Eats, it is simple and fun for the boys to get in on some cooking skills! We use Stevia to sweeten and I add a couple drops of GFCF Vanilla (I get this at the Bulk Barn which has a decent GFCF section).
I have found several recipes for Rice Milk and Hemp Milk online (I am educated by Google!) but, I haven't tried them yet! When I do you all will be the first to know :) Sharing what I can.
Honestly though, do not give up on cowless milk... there are several options and there is one out there for you! If my kids can give it up, anyone can.
And, buy a pound of almonds, soak 'em in water and try that recipe from Novel Eats. Sweeten to your liking (Using Agave Nectar or Stevia), or add some vanilla or chocolate flavouring (Make sure its GFCF). How often can you say "I make my own milk" lol
I use the almond meal leftover after processing to add to cakes, cookie recipes and pancake batter. I freeze it into little scoops (about the size of 3 tablespoons). Options are endless!
Ohhhh I am a slacker but,
This should make up for it! Life got busy and let's face it... I can be soooo lazy (But at least I am honest!) So here is the Faked & Baked Scalloped Potato recipe I promised some of you over a month ago!
Faked & Baked Scalloped potatoes!
You need:
6 or 7 decent sized potatoes sliced (I use my food processor for this)
1 cup rice milk (Original flavor)
3 heaping tbsp of Potato flour (I am sure any GFCF flour would do! I just had potato)
2 tbsp of melted VEGAN GFCF Margarine
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup of Daiya Mozzerella Cheese (GFCF product)
1/2 cup of Daiya Cheddar Cheese
Ok so you slice the potatoes. Place 'em in a greased 9x13 pan.
Mix the milk, flour and margarine..... shake/stir well and pour over the potatoes! Shake a lil salt and pepper on top (We love pepper so I am liberal with it) and then sprinkle the cheeses on top.
Cover with Foil and bake @ 350F until tender.... about an hour.
We had this will pulled pork and we have had it with Ham steaks... delicious and my guests were impressed that the recipe is GFCF!
Totally faked! Just the way we like it! lol
More to come shortly! I got lots more to share!
Happy Faking!
Faked & Baked Scalloped potatoes!
You need:
6 or 7 decent sized potatoes sliced (I use my food processor for this)
1 cup rice milk (Original flavor)
3 heaping tbsp of Potato flour (I am sure any GFCF flour would do! I just had potato)
2 tbsp of melted VEGAN GFCF Margarine
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup of Daiya Mozzerella Cheese (GFCF product)
1/2 cup of Daiya Cheddar Cheese
Ok so you slice the potatoes. Place 'em in a greased 9x13 pan.
Mix the milk, flour and margarine..... shake/stir well and pour over the potatoes! Shake a lil salt and pepper on top (We love pepper so I am liberal with it) and then sprinkle the cheeses on top.
Cover with Foil and bake @ 350F until tender.... about an hour.
We had this will pulled pork and we have had it with Ham steaks... delicious and my guests were impressed that the recipe is GFCF!
Totally faked! Just the way we like it! lol
More to come shortly! I got lots more to share!
Happy Faking!
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