Coconutty Cacao Yum!

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So our life seems to always be changing.  Changing job, changing houses, changing activities, changing ages, changing stomach issues.... Lately, the honey man seems to be having more gut issues and we have been tweaking some dietary things. I've been experimenting with some raw foods and no-grain "cooking" for a while and trying all kinds of fun new things. Coconut flour, coconut sugar, almond flour, flax seed meal as flour, and cocoa nibs are some fun new things. 

So honey loves him some dark chocolate but does not need the dairy and sugar. We were eating at a fellow gluten-free-ers home one night when she whips out these scones with little flecks of chocolate in them! (You should be drooling about now.) After inquiring a little to the ingredients we all pretty much cleared off that plate of scones. Then we asked, "What did you do for the chocolate?"  And the answer was, "cacao nibs." 

A little research on these wonderful little crisps showed some pretty amazing benefits. (Click here for a link to some great info on Cacao Nibs.) 

So, for those who "NEED" a fast chocolate fix in your life without the diary and mounds of sugar...

Coconutty Cacao Yum

1     tsp Organic Cacao Nibs
1-2  tbsp Coconut Oil
Unsweetened Shredded Coconut (to taste)

Mix together in a small bowl and roll out into balls or spread on some yummy GF toast.


NOTE:  Well, of course, you can add sugar if you want. And feel free to double up the recipe and share!!!

No Tomato Chili

For those looking to avoid night shades to avoid any inflammation they made contribute to....

No, it's not "the same" as "real chili"... but it sure is nice and yummy on a cold winter night!

No Tomato Chili

1 lb of ground meat (lean turkey, beef, chicken)
2 cans of beans (light/dark red kidney beans or mix one can of black with one can kidneys)
1 small onion (if tolerated)
1 Tbsp garlic
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp cilantro
salt (to taste)
black pepper (to taste) 
1 15 ounce can of pumpkin (or carrots)
1 15 ounce can of beets
1 small can mushrooms (optional, if tolerated)
Extra water

1) In an adequate sized pot, brown ground meat, onion, and garlic in a skillet on med/high heat.
2) While meat is browning, place canned pumpkin and beets in a food processor and puree'.
3) Add seasonings into pot with the browned meat mixture.
4) Finally, mix in pumpkin mixture and simmer on low heat until seasonings blend through.

Helpful Hints:
*For those unable to use canned ingredients or those just wanting to save $$$, dried beans can be soaked and cooked ahead to add to this recipe. Also, fresh pumpkin/carrots/beets can be steamed and pureed for the  sauce.

*We like our chili rather "stew-ish."  You may prefer a chili with more liquid (hence the "Extra Water" in the ingredient list). Do what works for your pallet! 

*You will note that there is no chili seasoning in this chili. That is because of the nightshades in the red pepper  in the seasonings. If you can tolerate night-shades, by all means add in chili seasoning! It adds to the flavor immensely.

Grain Free, dairy free, egg free Pancakes

One of my latest muses has been working towards less grain in our diets. Yes, we are already gluten-free, but my dear husband seems to be reacting to oats. A friend introduced me to coconut flour a while back and I gotta say it has been a fun addition to our diet. Not only do you increase your fiber without increasing your glycemic load, it's yummy!

Since pancakes and waffles seem to be a weekly necessity at our house, I'm experimenting with a recipe that works with no eggs.  

Ingredients:

1/2 c. coconut flour

1 tsp baking soda (gluten free)

1/4 tsp salt

8 Tbsp warm water

4 Tbsp milled flax seed

3/4 c. coconut milk/almond milk (my favorite is the mixed one)

1 tsp vanilla

1 Tbsp honey or aguave

coconut oil/olive oil

1) Place milled flax seed and warm water in mixer. Whip until frothy.

2) In separate bowl mix dry ingredients together.

3) Gently mix wet ingredients into dry mixture, then add in flax seed mixture.

4) Preheat griddle and lightly grease with oil, drop approximately 3 tablespoons of mixture onto griddle and flatten out to shape pancake. Lightly brown one side then flip and brown second side.

Try them and let me know what you think! 

Rice Yogurt! Coconut Yogurt!

I just love discovering new things.  I've always been a yogurt fan... long before it was cool and people even knew what "probiotics" were.  After we found out about the diary allergies we switched to soy yogurt for the kids.  However, my hubby and now forth child just can't do soy.  (Little man breaks out in hives!)  So yogurt has only been snuck into the house when no one was looking and eaten behind closed doors.(Seriously.... it's sad... I know...)

Until now....
Viola'!  Rice Yogurt!  Coconut Yogurt!!!! 
I soooo am digging out some cake recipes that use yogurt in them!  Just wait.... they are coming soon! However, smoothies will take on a new meaning.... fruit and yogurt swirled together, maybe even some agave nectar.... ummmm......

Sorry, I must go pull out the blender!

Have fun...
http://www.ricerafoods.com/
http://www.turtlemountain.com/products/coconut_yogurt.html

Addictive Gluten Free No Bake Cookies!!!

These lasted, oh... 5 minutes!

Warning: this post my be addictive to your taste buds, proceed with caution and lots of calorie reducing jogging.

So a few weeks ago I was having a conversation with some friends about "no bake cookies".  They were talking [and salivating] about how much they "loved" no bake cookies.  I heard them describe their late night kitchen excursions to make the craved for cookies.  I felt left out.  I don't recall ever having eaten "no-bake" cookies that tasted soooo good that I craved making them 20 years later after having been lovingly served them by my mother as a child. [What was I missing in life?  I've got to talk with my mom!]

I inquired about ingredients and cooking methods [confirming my suspicions that we would definitely have to make some substitutions].  Plus, those "no bake" cookies actually had to be heated up in a pot on the stove.  [So technically they were not baked... but did require some form of heating.  Hmmm...]  So, I did what I always do when my taste buds are piqued.... I went home and researched. 

Could there be a TRUE no-bake cookie that didn't require eggs or anything to make it rise while baking?  Was there a cookie that could be held together by something other than peanut butter?  Could it be made gluten-free?  Would it taste like something other than unbaked cardboard?  What about the usual cost factor?  Hmmmm.....

I have to tell you.... [jumping up and down at the computer right now]... what I came up with was phenomenal.... easy.... made with common ingredients... and totally addictive!!!!  They are light, yummy with a hint of chocolate and practically melt in your mouth!  Does telling you that we made them three times in the past week and a half help you understand?  [Mom... how could you have not ever made something like this for your precious darling daughter so many years ago??? It's o.k.... really.... it probably saved me many pounds on my torso... so I forgive you mom.]

Without further adieu....

"Gluten-free No Bake Cookies"

before being "rolled & powdered"

2/3 c. sugar

1/2 c. butter (or g-f margarine) softened

1 1/2 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa

1/2 tsp. g-f vanilla

2 c. g-f oatmeal  (I used the old fashioned kind)

"The Powdered Icing"

1/4 c. confectioners sugar

1/4 c. coconut flour (optional... you can just use the powdered sugar)

1) In a large bowl, cream the butter with the sugar, cocoa and vanilla.
2) Add oats and mix well
3) Squish together about a tablespoon size into a ball, then roll the ball around in the "powdered icing" and place on wax paper.  [Makes about 40 balls]

*** I'm just warning you... go ahead and make a double batch... those little things pop into your mouth and disappear before you know it! 

Options:  You can add things to this recipe like coconut or peanut butter or some flavoring.  You can even roll them in nuts also if you like.

Help! My kid has multiple food allergies!

Well dearies... here it is. I finally have done it. I have gone and started a blog for those of use who live in the world of "let me check that label before you give it to my kid!". Maybe I should just say the world of "Please don't bother trying to feed us... we'll bring our own food!"

Unfortunately in the allergy world one does not simply have just one allergy. It would be far to easy to cope with one allergy! [sarcasm] One genetic "tendency" seems to link to other "tendencies" until all the "tendency" possibilities send moms like me into a hive induced itch thinking about it. Most people tend to have multiple allergies. Well, most people also tend to have multiple children also... with some of the same genetic "tendencies" I might add. Therefore, you end up having to deal with...

Little Johnnie can't eat eggs and wheat... Oh, Suzy can't have wheat and all gluten products... but wait Junior is sensitive to dairy... and on it goes.

How does one cook for a kid with multiple allergies?
How does one cook for a family with various allergies?
Will my kid starve before we figure out what food they can eat?
How can I cook for my whole family and not make separate meals for everyone?
Do I have to buy all those strange ingredients?
Will I ever be able to afford my grocery budget?

I have spent many hours typing or talking with other moms (and sometimes dads/grandparents) about our allergy experiences over the last decade plus, how we coped [are still coping] and things we learned to make life good for us. Many family and friends have suggested writing a book or teaching a class to share the information and encouragement that we have learned along the way.

Well, there is a book in the making and I shall keep you guys posted on the progress of that. But, here on the blog I would love to just share....
... recipes, information.... stories of other families and what they've learned...
... and encouragement!

So, sign up on the feed, follow on blogger, become a face book fan... and hold onto your hats dearies.... we are blogging baby!