Taco Seasoning

I am always in favor of making homemade spice mixes.  You can control the ingredients, and adjust the flavoring to suit your family's preferences.  I am especially in favor of blending homemade mixes when there happens to be a wide reaching recall underway of a certain ground spice!  So I'm sharing my recipe for Taco Seasoning.  

How to Grind Your Own Cumin

With the current "ground cumin recall" still stretching far and wide, with no discernible end in sight, I thought I'd share a secret with you: I grind my own cumin.  I have for years, and it is SO easy!  

This post contains an affiliate link.  By purchasing these products through the links, I make a few cents at no additional cost to you.  Thank you for supporting The Allergy Safe Kitchen by purchasing through affiliate links!  

I did write a Kitchen Tip post about grinding spices in general, click here to read it, but I thought that perhaps a picture tutorial would be helpful for parents and children who have never had the joy of grinding a spice! This is definitely a child-friendly kitchen activity.  I recommend having a dedicated coffee bean grinder, just for spices.  I specifically recommend one that doesn't turn on unless the cap is in place. Click here for an inexpensive option!

After the cumin is ground and fragrant, and you just can't wait to make something with it, CLICK HERE to use it in my family's favorite homemade Taco Seasoning! 

Don't forget to check out my cookbooks on Amazon! 

Love Letters from My Kitchen

Together in the Kitchen: Easter

 As always, from The Allergy Safe Kitchen, I wish you "Good Cooking, and Safe Eating"!

Supreme Peeled Tiger Nuts - Review

Tiger Nuts.  That's right, I said "Tiger. Nuts." Before this review gets started, let's just all agree that the inner middle-schooler in all of us, thinks that this might be the most hilarious and awesome name for a health food.  Go ahead and giggle, I won't tell, you can maintain your sophisticated facade and no one will ever know that you laughed at "Tiger Nuts." Okay, ready? Now, on to the review!

Nut - Free Trail Mix

I often have a big batch of Nut - Free Trail Mix in the pantry.  It's a great 3 o'clock snack for me and for the kids, it's handy to take to the playground, on field trips, hiking, or to the beach.  It's so simple to make, that even my two year olds are able to help.  No stove, no oven, not even a microwave is needed!  Just a big bowl, safe ingredients, and a large spoon!

Kitchen Tip Tuesday! - Stainless Steel Kitchen Odor Eater

I looooooove garlic.  Really. Love. It.  I cook with it nearly every day.  Luckily, my family loves garlic too.  I have found, however, that I do not love the smell of garlic on my fingers, hours after scrubbing them.  Enter: Stainless Steel Soap! 

Simple Spaghetti Squash

Spaghetti Squash, nature's answer to low calorie (and gluten free) pasta.  I have long wanted to try Spaghetti Squash, but because I'm not a huge fan of acorn squash or butternut squash, I keep hesitating to make this allergy (and figure) friendly pasta replacement.  To be honest, I purchased a lovely looking Spaghetti Squash and procrastinated so long it went rotten!  After several requests for more GF recipes, and a deep desire to reclaim a healthy body after bearing 7 children, I bought another Spaghetti Squash and gave it a try.  I really should have done it sooner!

The Humble Jalepeno - Pico de Gallo and Guacamole

I love pico de gallo and guacamole.  I love to toss some chopped jalapenos into my chili.  I roast them on the grill and add them to roasted corn salsa, my husband's personal favorite. I've even been known to add one into my Kicked Up Sloppy Joe's.  The Humble Jalapeno, so small, so many uses, so delicious. Here are my recipes for pico de gallo and guacamole (or pico and guac, if you're super cool like that...and I know you are.) 

By ingredients, both the pico and guac are peanut-free, tree nut-free, dairy-free, egg-free, fish-free, wheat free, gluten free, soy free, and shellfish-free. Top 8 Allergen Free! As always, check this ingredient list and your local products to make sure that this recipe is allergy safe for your family and/or friends!

Steps marked with an asterisk (*) are child friendly!  

Click HERE for more information! 

Roma tomatoes, limes, jalapenos cilantro, and onions, with a little kosher salt, are all you need for a delicious pico de gallo. Just remember, it's all about the ratio!  A great pico is more than just chopped tomatoes with a little bit of everything else.  The best pico has an equal amount of tomatoes, onion, and cilantro. No matter if you are making a lot or a little, remember: equal parts! Then, add finely diced jalapeno.  For more heat, leave the ribs/seeds in, for a little less heat, remove the ribs and the seeds. Sprinkle with kosher salt, and squeeze a generous amount of lime juice (to taste) over top of everything. 

*Mix until ingredients are evenly distributed, cover with plastic wrap and let it sit in the fridge for a couple hours.  All the flavors with meld together and you'll be left with a perfect pico! 

What about the guacamole?!

You'll only need two additional ingredients, garlic and avocados, to make my "Auntie B's Guacamole!" (And an extra lime.) Even my mom, who does not usually love (or even like) avocados, has requested that I make this guacamole for parties. 

*Scoop the beautiful goodness out of your avocados and mash with a little extra lime zest and juice. (Zest for a flavor boost, juice to keep the green creamy goodness from browning.) Add minced garlic and *stir together. I usually add 2-3 cloves per 4 avacadoes. Then, *mix in a generous portion of your pico for a perfect guacamole!  

Now, you're ready to party!  Serve with tortilla chips, make sure they're gluten free, and you'll have gorgeous, flavor packed, Top 8 Allergen Free snacks for your family and guests!

Don't forget to check out my cookbooks on Amazon! 

Love Letters from My Kitchen

Together in the Kitchen: Easter

 As always, from The Allergy Safe Kitchen, I wish you "Good Cooking, and Safe Eating"!

Kitchen Tip Tuesday - Chopping Herbs

Chopping fresh herbs can be a frustrating experience.  Herbs go everywhere, don't get cut all the way through, half end up on the floor or at least off your cutting board...what a mess. Don't despair, and don't give up on adding fresh herbs to your meals!  There's a simple trick that will have you chopping like a pro! 

Foolproof Juicy Chicken Thighs

"If you give a man a fish, he eats for a day.  If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime." If I share one single recipe, it will teach you one meal.  If I teach you a technique, you can create many meals for your family.  Today, I will share a technique for one of my favorite, budget friendly, juicy cuts of meat: chicken thighs!

Ian's Sriracha Fire Sticks and Fish Sticks - Product Review

I became aware of Ian's Natural Foods when I attended The Food Allergy Bloggers Conference. What impressed me most about this brand was the variety of MEAL offerings.  There are a lot of food allergy focused companies specializing in snacks, desserts, safe baking items, etc.  But, few focus on providing a kid friendly, busy-mom-friendly, simple meal. Our family received a box of products from Ian's for review.

This review will focus on Ian's Fish Sticks and Sriracha Fire Sticks!