Hi! My name is Nancy and I am the mother of a child who has food allergies -wheat, soy, dairy, chicken and beef. When I found out I did what any parent would do -I stocked up on cookbooks dedicated to those with allergies and then cleaned out the kitchen of all the offending foods. Afterall, we weren't going to eat lasagna in front of our son while he snacks on a rice cake.

Now nearly a year into this I've figured out how to alter recipes, seperate ingredients and give my family food that they all love (and can eat) without me having to make multiple meals.

Please take advantage of what I've learned!

Monday, October 31, 2011

Stuffed Peppers

This recipe is: gluten free, wheat free, corn free, soy free, nut free, egg free

Contains: beef, pork, rice, dairy

Alterations: This recipe is easily altered. To make the pepper dairy free just omit the cream and cheese ( I did this with the peppers I gave to my son and he said they were delicious), to make this recipe vegan or vegetarian substitute the meat and pork for kidney beans and soy ground.




1/2 cup rice
2 tbsp olive oil, divided
1/4 cup minced carrots
1/4 cup minced celery
6 red or green bell peppers
1/2 lb ground beef
1/4 lb lightly smoked bacon, diced
1 1/2 cups marinara sauce (I like Barilla mainly because they don't use soy oil)
1/4 cup red wine, Merlot makes a good pairing
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1/3 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup grated Parmesan, divided

Preheat oven to 375. Cook rice.

Heat 1 tbsp in large skillet over medium heat. Add carrots and celery, cook until tender. Add beef and bacon, cook until brown and crumbly. Drain fat. Add marinara sauce, wine and red pepper. Stir in cream, 1/2 the Parmesan and rice. Simmer for 5 minutes.

Cut tops off peppers, take out the ribs and seeds.Rub peppers with remaining olive oil. Fill with mixture and place in baking dish. Pour the remaining sauce into the bottom of the dish. Top with remaining Parmesan cheese.

Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes, remove foil and bake an additional 10 to 15 minutes.

Plate peppers and drizzle with sauce in the bottom of the dish..

Friday, October 21, 2011

curried lentils

This recipe is: dairy free, wheat free, GFCF, egg free, nut free, corn free and Vegan.

Contains: lentils, rice

This was so delicious! So good in fact that my husband, David, and I gobbled it down in record time. On the other hand it took our son a little longer to warm up to it. At first he proclaimed with great conviction that he didn't like it (before he'd even tried it) when I finally convinced him to take a bite he decided that it was "kind of interesting". Sure, it took a little coaxing but in the end he happily finished it and David asked why I hadn't made this sooner. In all a great success!!




3 tbsp vegetable oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 piece fresh ginger (about 2 inches long), peeled and finely grated
2 tsp curry powder
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
coarse salt
1 15oz can tomato sauce
2 cans cooked lentils, rinsed and drained (or 1 package cooked lentils from Trader Joe's from the produce section)
juice from 1 lime
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
cooked basmati rice for serving
sliced tomatoes for serving (optional)
naan (optional)

In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium. Add onion and ginger; season with salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until it begins to brown, 5 to 8 minutes.

Add spices; cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 to 60 seconds.

Add tomato sauce, lentils and about 1/2 cup of water. Simmer until slightly thickened, 5 to 10 minutes. (If needed add more water.) Squeeze in the lime juice and cilantro; season with salt.

Serve with rice: garnish with sliced tomatoes and cilantro if desired.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Coconut-Apricot Macaroons

I really wanted something tasty but cookies just didn't seem right so when I came across this recipe in Everyday Food I thought why not? I knew that at the least Fabrizio would have fun making them even if he didn't love eating them. As it turned out it was a win win situation.

This recipe is: wheat free, gluten free, vegetarian, dairy free, corn free, rice free, and soy free.

Contains: egg, almond, coconut

Alterations: If you have a nut allergy, simply omit the almond extract.



3 large egg whites
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 tsp pure almond extract (optional)
1/4 tsp salt
1 package (14 oz) sweetened flaked coconut
1/2 cup soft dried apricots coarsely chopped (I love the apricots from Trader Joe's)

Preheat the oven to 325. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl whisk together egg whites, sugar, almond extract and salt until frothy. Add coconut and apricots; mix to combine.

Using your hands, shape mixture into mounds, each equal to 2 level tablespoons; place 1/2 inch apart on prepared baking sheet (macaroons will not spread).

Bake until lightly golden, 35 to 40 minutes, rotating sheet halfway through. Transfer macaroons to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container at room temperature, up to 1 week. Makes about 20.


* Recipe from Everyday Food Magazine.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Vegetable Enchiladas

This recipe is: vegetarian, egg free, soy free, nut free, rice free

Contains: corn, wheat, gluten and dairy

Alterations: To make this recipe wheat and gluten free substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten/wheat free flour. To make this recipe dairy and casein free substitute the cheese with a non dairy version. We like daiya.


Enchilada Sauce:
2 tbsp olive oil, plus more for baking dishes
3 tsp ground cumin
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup tomato paste
2 cans (14.5 ounces) vegetable broth
coarse sea salt and ground pepper

Enchilada Filling:
2 cups (16 ounces) grated pepper Jack and Jalapeno cheese
1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 box (10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1 box (10 ounces) frozen corn kernels, thawed
6 scallions, thinly sliced,  white and green parts (reserve some of the green part for enchilada topping)

16 corn tortillas (6-inch)

First make the sauce: In a large saucepan heat oil over medium. Add 2 teaspoons cumin, the flour and tomato paste; cook whisking for about 1 minute. Whisk in broth and add 1 1/2 cups water; bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook until slightly thickened, 5 to 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.

Next make the filling: In a large bowl, combine about 14 ounces of the cheese, beans, spinach, corn, scallions, 1 tsp cumin; season with salt and pepper.

Preheat the oven to 400 f. Lightly oil 1 16-inch baking dish or 2 8-inch baking dishes; set aside. Stack 4 tortillas, wrap in damp paper towels and microwave for 40 seconds. Repeat, until all 16 tortillas have been warmed and softened. Top each tortilla with 1/3 cup of filling; roll tightly and arrange, seam side down, in prepared baking dish.

Sprinkle with remaining cheese and top with sauce. Bake uncovered until hot and bubbly, 15 to 20 minutes. Allow 5 minutes to cool and garnish with green scallion tops.

Monday, April 11, 2011

tortilla espanola

This recipe is: dairy free,  vegetarian, soy free, wheat free, gluten free, corn free, nut free, rice free
Contains: Eggs and Potatoes




1 pound waxy potatoes
2 cups olive oil
2 small onions, chopped
2 large eggs
salt and pepper
Italian flat leaf parsley

Heat oil in a large heavy-bottom skillet. Add chopped potatoes and onion, lower the heat and cook for about 20 minutes. Stir frequently.

Meanwhile, beat the eggs lightly in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper.

Take another large bowl and place a strainer or colander over it. When the potatoes are cooked pour them into the strainer so that the bowl catches the oil.

When the potatoes are well drained gently stir them into the beaten eggs.

Wipe the skillet clean and add 2 tablespoons of the reserved oil to prevent the tortilla from sticking. When hot, add the potato mixture. Lower the heat and cook for 3-5 minutes or until the underside is set. Use a spatula to push down the potatoes so that they are completely submerged.

Now comes the tricky part. Cover the tortilla with a plate and carefully flip the tortilla onto the plate. Then slide it back into the pan. The top should now be the bottom. Don't worry if it breaks apart as you can use the spatula to mash it back into place.

*Recipe from tapas

Monday, March 28, 2011

Indian stir-fry vegetables

This recipe is: vegan, wheat free, dairy free, nut free, egg free, rice free, corn free, soy free, gluten free, potato free.

Variations: This recipe is incredibly flexible. Just subtract anything that you are allergic to and substitute it with something you love. It's all in the spices!



2-3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1-inch piece fresh ginger, grated
1 teaspoon chili powder
2 teaspoons ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 pound diced mixed vegetables (ie. cauliflower, carrots peas, garbanzo beans, potatoes)
4 tablespoons lemon juice
salt

Heat the oil in a large wok or heavy-bottom saucepan. Add onion and gently fry for 5-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Add the garlic, ginger, chili powder, coriander, turmeric and a pinch of salt. Fry for 2-3 minutes, add the diced vegetables, and stir-fry for another 2-3 minutes.

Add the lemon juice. Stir well and add a little water. Cover and cook gently for about 10 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender, adding a little more water if needed, to prevent the vegetables from sticking to the bottom.

Serve with rice and/or naan.

* Recipe  from Complete Indian

Monday, March 21, 2011

lentils with white wine

2 tbsp olive oil
1 carrot, chopped
4 small shallots
2 1/2 cups dried green lentils
6 cups vegetable broth (gluten free)
1 16oz can whole peeled tomatoes, drained and chopped
1 cup dry white wine (plus one glass for the chef)
A handful flat leaf parsley, chopped
1 bay leaf
pepper to taste

chopped cilantro
limes, halved

In a large pot, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the shallots and carrots, saute for 5 to 10 minutes, until the onion is translucent.

Add the lentils and stir to coat with oil. Add the broth, tomatoes, wine, parsley, bay leaf and pepper. Let simmer over low heat with the lid ajar until the lentils are tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed, about 1 hour.

Serve in shallow bowls with a sprinkle of chopped cilantro and lime juice.

**If you can eat dairy, top with a dollop of sour cream or creme fraiche.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Shrimp Sushi Rolls

It's been just over 5 years since David and I visited Japan, a country which I immediately fell in love with. All these years later my love of all things Japanese has grown into what amounts to a small obsession. It's fair to say that if I get a choice I'll come back in my next life Japanese...or French, but that's another story. So in light of the horrible events the Japanese people have suffered over the past week I decided to pay tribute in one of the only ways I know how - I cooked. Not only was it delicious but it was fun to make. I have to admit that getting Fabrizio to eat the nori was a little challenging but I figure that the more exposure he gets the better. In the end I deconstructed most of his rolls but David and I went to town.

Of Course you can add anything you like when making your rolls.

Contains: Rice, Shrimp, Soy

Variations: If you're vegetarian or vegan simply replace the shrimp with some of your favorite veggies, just make sure to julienne them. Or sub the shrimp for tofu. The soy sauce is optional and there are plenty of other sauces out there that you can experiment with. I know it's a little gross but my son liked dipping it in ketchup. I know, I know but I figure it's more important that he has the experience of a variety of foods.

Sushi:

1/3 cup seasoned rice vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cup short-grained sushi rice
1 1/2 cups water
4 sheets toasted nori

Fillings:

1/2 regular cucumber, seeded and cut into matchsticks
1 avocado, peeled, thinly sliced lengthwise, sprinkled with lemon juice
8 large cooked shrimp, peeled and cut in 1/2, lengthwise
Equipment: Bamboo sushi mat

optional for dipping: soy sauce and wasabi



Mix together vinegar, sugar, and salt.

Rinse the rice with cool water in a colander; drain. Put the rice and water in a rice cooker if you have it. If not, add the rice and water in a medium saucepan with a tight fitting lid. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce heat to very low and simmer, tightly covered. Cook until all the water is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Remove the rice from the heat (don't uncover), and set aside for 10 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork and transfer to a large bowl. Add the vinegar mixture and toss with a wooden spoon. Spread the rice out on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Fan the rice continuously with a fan or magazine until cooled. Cover the rice with a damp towel.

To assemble rolls:
Place the sushi mat with the slats running crosswise directly in front of you on a clean work space. Lay a sheet of nori shiny-side down and lined up with the closest edge of the mat. Light moisten fingers with water, and evenly press about 1/4 of the rice onto the nori, with 1 1/2-inches uncovered at the far edge. Line up the fillings about an inch from the closest near edge, evenly across the rice. Leave 1 inch of rice uncovered at the far edge.

Beginning with the near edge of the mat, tightly roll up the nori, rice, and fillings into a cylinder. Firmly tug on the rounded mat over the roll as you pull on the far edge of the mat to tighten the roll. Open the mat, dab unsealed edge of nori with a bit of water and roll the sushi forward to seal. Transfer the sushi to a plate and cover with damp paper towels. Repeat with remaining rice and fillings.

Cut each sushi roll, crosswise, into about 8 pieces with a sharp wet knife.
Serve with bowl of soy sauce and wasabi for dipping.

*Recipe adapted from www.foodnetwork.com

Monday, March 14, 2011

turkey bolognese -super easy, super good!


1 package fettucine (wheat/gluten free if need be)
1 lb ground turkey
1 jar of pasta sauce, your choice
2 carrots, cut in big chunks
2 celery sticks, cut in big chunks (or cup of broccoli)
½ onion
1 garlic clove
1 tbsp olive oil
salt
pepper

In your food processor, put the carrots, celery, onion and garlic in and pulse till it’s finely minced into a mush like substance. Heat olive oil in a skillet over med-high heat. Add the veggie mixture and cook for about 5-10 mins or until cooked through. Push it to one side of the pan and add the ground turkey, cooking until browned. Stir the turkey into the veggie mush and add your pasta sauce until saucy to your liking. Meanwhile, cook the pasta as directed by the package. Toss with some pasta sauce and spoon the turkey mixture over the pasta into bowls. Voila, you have a perfect pasta dish your child will surely love.

We put the bolognese on gluten free pizza crust and it was amazing!

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Mashed Potatoes

This recipe is: dairy free, soy free, and vegan
Contains: potatoes

So easy and good you won't even miss the dairy!

4 Yukon potatoes, peeled and quartered
1/2 cup water
salt to taste

Boil potatoes until cooked through. Drain water and mash either manually or with an electric hand mixer. Add water a little at a time. Add salt to taste, mix in well and serve. That's it, amazing.

Monday, March 7, 2011

Oven roasted pork ribs with honey

This recipe is: gluten free, wheat free, egg free, nut free, dairy free, soy free
Contains: Honey

Easy to prepare and full of flavor, this dish will make you feel decadent!!

1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 tsp coarse sea salt
2 cloves garlic, lightly crushed
1 1/2 tsps dried rosemary
2 lbs pork ribs, cut into individual pieces

In a small bowl whisk together the honey, oil, vinegar, salt, garlic and rosemary. Place the ribs in a large plastic bag and pour in the marinade. Refrigerate for about 3 hours, turn occasionally.

Preheat oven to 300.

Arrange the ribs in a single layer on a large roasting pan. Bring the marinade to a boil in a small sauce pan and then pour it over the ribs. Place in oven and roast for 2 to 3 hours.

Serve with vegan mashed potatoes.

**This recipe is from the book Lunch in Paris.

Monday, February 28, 2011

Falafels (Gluten Free)

This recipe is: dairy free, egg free, soy free, wheat free, gluten free, vegan, rice free, corn free
Contains: As far as I can tell it is allergen free. The choice of flour is up to the chef so anything can be avoided.

1 cup dried chickpeas
1/2 large onion, roughly chopped (about 1 cup)
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried hot red pepper
4 cloves of garlic
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon baking powder (gluten free)
2-4 tablespoons brown rice or potato flour (really any will do)
vegetable oil for frying


Place the drained, uncooked chickpeas and the onions in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Add the parsley, cilantro, salt, hot pepper, garlic, and cumin. Process until blended but not pureed.
Sprinkle in the baking powder and 2 tablespoons of the flour, and pulse. You want to add enough flour so that the dough forms a small ball and no longer sticks to your hands. Turn into a bowl and refrigerate, covered, for 15 minutes.

Form the chickpea mixture into balls about the size of walnuts.  Heat the oil on high in a deep pan and fry 1 ball to test. If it falls apart, add a little flour. Then fry about 6 balls at once for a few minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.

Goes great with the quinoa tabbouleh...



Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Vegan Stir Fry

This recipe is: gluten free, wheat free, corn free, dairy free, soy free, vegan, nut free, egg free
Contains: Rice, Sesame Seeds

Alternatives: If you need to do without the rice, try blanching some baby potatoes and adding it to the mix. Sesame seeds and oil do add to the flavor but if you must do without try peanut oil and crushed peanut to top. (If peanuts are out of the question just add a bit more olive oil. It will still taste great but you may need to add more herbs, salt or peppers.)

Who doesn't love stir-fry? But when you have a soy allergy getting your fix can be a little bit of a challenge. So after a little research I began to see ways of getting around this pesky ingredient. Thankfully not much trial and error was involved since the majority of the ingredients are bursting with flavor.


1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp sesame oil
2 scallions, finely chopped (white and green parts)
1-inch piece fresh ginger root, peeled and finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 lb fresh asparagus, woody ends removes, cut into 3 inch strips
10 oz sugar-snap peas
1 small orange bell pepper, chopped
1 package bunapi mushrooms (white beech mushrooms)
1/2 cup toasted sesame seeds
2 handfuls chopped cilantro leaves
1 handful chopped mint leaves
Add salt and red chili peppers to taste

Heat both the oils in a wok over high heat. Add scallions and cook, stirring continuously, about 1 minute. Add the ginger, bell pepper and garlic. Stir in asparagus and cook, stirring continuously, 1 minute.

Add the snap peas and mushrooms, cook an additional 3-4 minutes. Finally stir in the chopped herbs and sesame seeds. Add salt and red chili flakes to taste. Serve over rice or rice noodles.


**Recipe adapted from A Cook's Bible

Monday, February 21, 2011

Roasted Pork with Black-Eyed Pea Salad

This recipe is: wheat free, gluten free, rice free, nut free, dairy free and soy free
Contains: Corn

I found this in Everyday Food and like all the recipes I've found in this cookbook it didn't disappoint.



For the pork:
1 tbsp paprika
1tsp dried thyme
1/4 to 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
Coarse salt and fresh ground pepper
2 pork tenderloins (10 to 12 ounces each)
1 tbsp vegetable oil

For the black-eyed pea salad:
1 tsp Dijon mustard
2 tbsp cider vinegar
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 can (15 ounces) black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
1 package (10 ounces) frozen corn kernels, thawed
2 scallions, thinly sliced
Coarse salt and fresh ground pepper

For the pork, preheat the oven to 450. In a small bowl, combine the paprika, thyme, cayenne, 1 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper.

Place the pork on a rimmed baking sheet and rub with oil. Sprinkle the spice mixture all over and rub in gently. Roast about 20-25 minutes; let cool for a few minutes before slicing. thinly

For the salad, in a medium bowl whisk the mustard, vinegar and oil. Add the vegetables. Season with salt and pepper; toss to combine.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Quinoa Tabbouleh

This recipe is: vegan, dairy free, wheat free, gluten free, soy free, egg free, nut free, rice free, corn free

Pair with gluten-free, vegan falafels and you've got a winner!


3/4 cup quinoa
2 large vine ripe tomatoes
2 scallions, finely sliced
a handful of mint
a handful of Italian flat leaf parsley
1 lemon, juice of lemon only
4 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper

In a saucepan add quinoa and 1 cup of cool water, bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 15 minutes or until water is absorbed.

Empty cooked quinoa into a large bowl to cool. Meanwhile, cut an X into the tops of the tomatoes, place in a heat proof bowl and cover with boiling water, let steep 2-3 minutes. Remove from water, peel off the skins, take out the seeds and dice.

Add tomatoes and the rest of the ingredients to the bowl of quinoa and mix. Serve at room temperature.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Green Chili Pork Burritos (aka, Carnitas)

This recipe is: dairy free, soy free, nut free, egg free
Contains: gluten, wheat

Alternatives: If you're allergic to wheat or gluten like my son is substitute the beer for water.

This is a recipe contributed by my dear friend Jennifer and I can't thank her enough. It is flavorful, juicy and just plain delicious!! She sent me this recipe a few weeks ago and I was saving it for when we were on our ski trip in Colorado. For some reason I just new that this would be the perfect place to try it out. It worked perfectly for our post ski meal and I'm pretty certain it would be great on a hot day with a couple of margaritas.



2 lbs pork tenderloin, cut into chunks
1 bottle of beer
1 (7 oz) can diced green chiles
1 tbsp fresh garlic, chopped
2 tbsp fresh cilantro chopped
Serve with:
3-4 tbsp fresh cilantro chopped
1/2 small white onion, finely chopped
2 limes, cut into 8 pieces
1-2 avocados, sliced
1 cup cooked rice
corn tortillas, warmed
1 can black beans, rinsed
salsa

Cube the pork into chunks that will allow them to brown evenly in a sauté pan. Coat the pork chunks with olive oil, salt and pepper. Preheat a sauté pan until very hot. Evenly brown the pork on all sides to a dark caramel color. Place the pork, beer, diced green chiles, fresh chopped garlic, and fresh cilantro into a slow cooker and cook for 8 to 10 hours on low or 4 hours on high. When done, remove the pork from the cooker and reserve the liquid. Shred up the pork and spoon sauce over pork. Fill tortillas and serve with rice and beans! Great with guacamole and sour cream!

It can also be served as a bowl, which I did with the leftovers...muy bueno!





Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Rice Pasta with Spinach and Raw Garlic

This recipe is: vegan, vegetarian, soy free, dairy free, wheat free, gluten free, nut free, egg free
Contains: Rice

This recipe was a creation on hunger with little in the kitchen. Sometimes these are my favorites because you never know what exciting meal you will create.



1 package brown rice noodles ( I like the Trader Joe's brand)
4 to 6 tbsp olive oil
1/2 onion, chopped
juice from half a lemon
1 10oz package fresh baby spinach
4 cloves of garlic, good size (use more if smaller)
salt and pepper to taste

Cook pasta according to package. Meanwhile in a large pan sautee the onion in 2 tbsp olive oil; about 5 minutes. Add spinach and cook down; about 2 minutes. Add the pasta, juice from half a lemon and another 2 tbsp olive oil, toss. If the pasta seems dry add a little more olive oil. Season with salt and pepper, mix well. Serve and top with raw garlic

Monday, February 7, 2011

Moroccan Turkey Meatloaf



This recipe is free of: soy, dairy, nuts, gluten, wheat, beef
Contains: egg and rice
Substitutions: If egg is an issue try subbing the egg for 2 tbsp oil. You can also sub the rice for quinoa or couscous (couscous contains wheat and gluten).

1 1/2 cups raisins
1 small red onion, chopped
1 cup cooked rice
1 tsp salt
1 tsp curry powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 lb ground turkey
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 pint grape tomatoes



Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. In a large mixing bowl combine 1 cup of the raisins, half the onion, the rice, salt, curry powder and 1/2 tsp of the cinnamon. Add turkey and egg; mix well. Pat mixture into a foil lined greased 8x8x2 inch baking pan. Bake in the top third of the oven for about 20 minutes or until cooked through.

Meanwhile for the chutney, in a saucepan combine the remaining 1/2 cup raisins, half of the onion, remaining cinnamon, the tomatoes and 1/4 cup water. Cook, covered, over medium high heat, until tomatoes pop. Lift meatloaf from pan with foil. Cut into slices and serve with tomato chutney.

* Recipe adapted from Better Homes and Gardens

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

German Potato Salad

This recipe is: gluten free, wheat free, dairy free, soy free
Contains: eggs, bacon, potatoes
Alternatives: To make this egg free chose a vegan mayonnaise, to make it vegan omit the bacon


At the local farmers market I came across an stall selling locally made sausages. While I am not a bratwurst fan, my boys are and at being gluten and casein free I was sold. The potato salad made a perfect pairing.


1 1/2 lbs potatoes, scrubbed
1 tbsp olive oil
4 strips bacon, chopped
2 tsp lemon juice
2 to 3 tbsp relish
1 stalk celery finely chopped
1 tsp Dijon or German mustard
3 tbsp dairy free/soy free mayonnaise
2 tbsp chives, chopped (red onion also works)
1 tbsp parsley
salt and pepper to taste


Cook the potatoes in a pot of salted water for 15 minutes, or until just tender. Drain and let cool for 5 minutes, then slice thickly and set aside in a bowl.
Meanwhile, in a fry pan cook bacon until crispy. Set aside on paper towels to drain.
In the fry pan keep 2 tbsp bacon grease, add lemon juice and olive oil then pour over the sliced potatoes. Add the celery, onion or chives and half the bacon. Mix well. Let cool.
Blend the mustard in a small bowl with the mayonnaise, parsley and salt and pepper. Add to the potatoes and toss well to coat. Spoon the potatoes into a serving bowl or onto plates and top with remaining bacon.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Rice Noodle Wraps

This recipe is free of: soy, gluten, dairy, meat, wheat, nuts
Contains: rice

This recipe came out of pure and total creativity...and a little boredom but it works. Better than that my son LOVED it!!


1 avocado sliced
1 small yellow bell pepper, julienned
1 medium carrot, julienned
1 small cucumber, julienned
a handful of mint
a handful of broccoli sprouts

16 pieced rice paper for rolling
3 oz rice noodles


optional sauces for dipping:
sunflower butter (for the kids)
Asian Coconut stir fry by World Foods (selected because it's soy free)

Cook noodles in boiling water for 5 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Soften rice paper if bought dried.

Assemble by adding a little of everything to the middle of the rice paper. Fold over edges and roll tight. Serve.

...the fried version is easier to eat since the rice paper gets a little crispy!

lentil walnut burgers w/ sweet potato fries

This recipe is: gluten free, wheat free, dairy free, vegetarian, soy free
Contains: nuts, eggs


3/4 cup lentils, rinsed and picked over
3/4 cup walnuts
1/3 cup GF breadcrumbs
3 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp ground coriander
coarse salt and pepper, freshly ground
4 tbsp olive oil
1 large egg

GF hamburger buns
mayonnaise
avocado
tomato
red onion

1-2 sweet potatoes, cut into fries

Preheat oven to 350. Place lentils in a small saucepan and cover with water by 1 inch. Bring to boil; reduce to a simmer, cover and cook until the lentils are tender but still holding shape, 15 to 20 minutes. Meanwhile, toast walnuts on a baking sheet, 10 minutes. Let cool.

In a food processor combine walnuts, breadcrumbs, garlic, cumin and coriander, 1 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. Process until finely chopped. Add lentils and 1 tbsp olive oil. Pulse until coarsely chopped.

Turn the oven up to 450. Toss the sweet potatoes with a little olive oil, salt and pepper. Lay flat on a baking sheet and cook until tender, 15-20 minutes.

In a large bowl wish egg. Add lentil mixture; mix well. Divide into 4 equal size parts and roll into balls, flatten with palms of your hands into 3/4 inch thick patties. If you have a young child eating divide one of the balls in half and flatten into 2 smaller, flatter patties.

Heat the remaining oil in a large nonstick skillet. Add burgers; cook over medium-low with a thin edged spatula, 8 to 10 minutes per side (less time if you're cooking the child size patties). Transfer to plate lined with a paper towel.

Serve on GF hamburger buns.

We coat the buns with mayonnaise and top the burgers with sliced avocado, tomato and red onion.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Risotto

This recipe is: Gluten free, Wheat free, Dairy free, Soy free, Egg free, Nut Free,Vegan
Contains: Rice

1 cup arborio rice
1 32oz container of Gluten Free Vegetable Broth
1 zucchini -sliced and cut into half moons
1/2 onion -finely chopped
1 leek -sliced thin and cut into half moons
1/2 package button mushrooms - stems removed and sliced
1/2 cup peas
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup dry white wine (plus a glass for yourself)

In a medium sauce pan heat the broth over low heat. In a large heavy bottomed pot heat olive oil. Add onion, cook on medium low for a few minutes until translucent. Add leeks and mushrooms cook another 2-3 minutes. Add the rice and stir until it turns clear. Add the wine and cook until it is absorbed. Then add a ladle of broth. Stir occasionally. When absorbed add another ladle. Repeat. When you've used half of the broth add the zucchini and peas. Mix together. Add more broth and repeat as before until finished.

**The best thing about risotto is that you can add just about any vegetables that you want. It's a delicious way to make use of left over veggies.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Muesli

This recipe is: wheat free, soy free, dairy free, egg free, nut free
Contains: Gluten

1 cup oats
3/4 cup apple juice
1 apple diced
1 banana sliced
 4 dried apricots diced
a handful of raisins
1/2 cup coconut, soy, almond milk or yogurt (optional)

In a medium size bowl soak oats in apple juice over night, cover with plastic wrap or towel.

Add apple and milk or yogurt if using, mix. Top with the rest of the fruit.

This is so delicious and refreshing...not to mention easy. The best thing is that you don't really need to stick to the recipe. This breakfast works well with any fruits.