S'mores Cookie Cups

Longing for a way to enjoy S'mores without the campfire?  I've got the answer for you! S'mores Cookie Cups!  The original recipe came to my attention on Facebook, click HERE to go to it! Needless to say, it wasn't allergy friendly for our household, so we did some tweaking in the kitchen, and came up with a delicious dessert, best served warm and gooey!

Tortilla Soup

This hearty Tortilla Soup will become a year round favorite! The big flavors of a taco dinner, with the convenience of a one pot meal!  This big batch soup is perfect for a filling dinner, or for keeping in the fridge for hungry kids to snack on during the day.  The recipe, as I have written it, is vegan, but I've included variations that utilize chicken, turkey, or beef at the the end of the post! Check out my recipes for Taco Seasoning, and Pico de Gallo, both of which I used in this soup! 

By ingredients, this recipe for Tortilla Soup is peanut-free, tree nut-free, dairy-free, egg-free, fish-free, soy free, and shellfish-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! (This recipe is not marked gluten free because certain spice manufacturers have a high rate of  cross-contamination.  Here's a LINK to more information!)

Knife Skills for Children - Slicing

Today, I'm sharing some tips and tools to help you teach your children to become comfortable using a knife for slicing veggies in the kitchen. 

Photo Credit: Aidan Van Horn

Towering Taco Burgers

When I sit down to make the grocery list and meal plan for the week, I often ask my children if there's anything they would like to request.  The two most frequent responses are tacos, and turkey burgers.  And now...behold the meal that wins everyone's hearts, the meal that combines the two most frequently requested meals in The Allergy Safe Kitchen...The Towering Taco Burger!!!

Pork "Ropa Vieja"

Picture this: It was a chilly morning, I had defrosted 2 pork loins and had no meal plan for them. I was casually scrolling down my Instagram feed, (Whaaat?!  You don't follow me on Instagram yet? Click here and follow!) and lo and behold, there appeared Clinton Kelly's Ropa Vieja slow cooker recipe. Jackpot. My little guy is allergic to beef, which the recipe calls for, but I was pretty sure I could achieve familial culinary satisfaction by using pork. I was right! As it bubbled away in the slow cooker, children would wander in, drooling, and ask hopefully "Is that dinner?" 

Kitchen Tip Tuesday! Reduce waste: Parsley Stems

The grocery budget in a food allergy home can often be a bit overwhelming, so I love making use of every possible part of a food item!  Most people just toss out their parsley stems, but I have news for you: they have flavor! Don't waste them!

Turkey Cutlets with Marsala Gravy

This twist on "Turkey Marsala" is a great weeknight dinner.  It cooks up quickly by using thin sliced turkey cutlets, and pre-made turkey gravy. I always have a stash of homemade turkey gravy in my freezer, but you could substitute your favorite can/jar turkey gravy. (Click HERE for my turkey gravy recipe.) 

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! 

Guest Blogger: Kathy Thornburg from Food Allergy Jams!

I have always enjoyed cooking, which you realize is a tremendous blessing when food allergies enter your family! I remember spending time in the kitchen with my mom as a child and learning by watching her and helping her prepare meals. She was always fearless with a frying pan! She wasn’t afraid of tackling a new recipe, which I have always admired.

Now that I have children of my own, it’s important to me to share my love for cooking and baking with them. I enjoy making memories with my son Milo (age 3) as we prepare dinner or a special snack together. He knows just what to do when I start to drag our long heavy bench up to the kitchen counter. Without missing a beat, he runs to his room, opens his dresser drawer, and grabs his oven mitts, apron, and chef hat.

As we cook together, we talk about the ingredients we are using, we read labels together, and we don’t worry too much if we make a little bit of a mess as we mix the ingredients together. 

My son loves to cook, but that’s not the only thing he enjoys. He LOVES music! When I was struggling to find an age appropriate way to teach Milo about his allergies, (peanuts, eggs, and dogs) I decided to try writing him a song. He loved our song, “No No Peanuts” and quickly memorized it and started singing it on his own. I continued to write, we continued to sing, and he continued to learn! Now, we are nearing the end of our journey on Kickstarter to fund a professional recording of our CD, Food Allergy Jams, with Kurt Heinecke (creator of VeggieTales music).

We have until Wednesday, November 19^th at noon to reach our $35,000 goal to make our CD a reality! If you would like to learn more about our project and make a pledge to help us reach our goal, I encourage you to check out the link provided below. With your pledge, you not only get to choose from some great rewards, but you also get to go with us on this adventure of making our music CD come to life!

A big thanks to Beth and The Allergy Safe Kitchen for allowing me to write on her blog and for supporting Food Allergy Jams with a pledge on Kickstarter!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/508784083/food-allergy-jams-music-cd-for-kids

Veggetti Review

I have been eyeing this product for a while now.  I'll be honest, my initial reasons had nothing to do with food allergies, I just was looking for a way to cut down on carbs...my clothes are feeling a little tight. In a family of nine, pasta is an inexpensive weekly meal, but I was looking for something lighter for myself.  However, this is a way to have gluten free "spaghetti," and to get lots of good nutrition in any "free from" diet. This week, I took the plunge and tested out this kitchen gadget! Today's review: The Veggetti!

I used the recommended veggies: yellow squash, zucchini, and carrots, to make a veggie pasta.  I sauteed some garlic, leeks, peppers, tomatoes, and steamed baby broccoli in extra virgin olive oil, and added those to my veggie pasta. I also heated up some homemade spaghetti sauce to entice the reluctant veggie eaters. Here are my pros and cons:

Pros:  Easy to use, clear instructions.  My nine year old daughter, and 7 year old son both really wanted to try it, and they were able to manage it just fine.  Anything that helps to get allergy kids cooking deserves points in my book! The yellow squash and the zucchini ended up in colorful ribbons of veggie pasta.  Very appealing to the eye! The cooking time was short, I simply sauteed the veggie pasta in a skillet with extra virgin olive oil, kosher salt, and black pepper. 

The end result was tasty, and surprisingly filling!  I loved it, as did my husband.  

The Veggetti is small, and easily stored in my cabinet. 

Cons: Although the yellow squash and zucchini worked beautifully, the carrots did not.  We couldn't get a nice strip of carrot noodle, it ended up looking like shredded carrots, but was more frustrating.  (My daughter thinks our carrots were too skinny, and we should try thicker ones next time. Duly noted.) The kids' opinions ranged from "Just ok" to "Don't serve this again." 

One last con - more of a caution, really, is that although the kids had no trouble using it, there are exposed blades, so close parental supervision is a must. 

So, here's my bottom line:  The end result, the Veggetti pasta, was a hit for the adults, and so-so for most of the kids.  Instead of trying to serve it as a meal to the family, next time, I will use the Veggetti to create a side dish for the kids (main meal for me, I still need my clothes to fit better!) I'm happy with my purchase, and I'll be using it again.  

To purchase a Veggetti for your family, click HERE!

*Please read all labels when purchasing products for your food allergic family and friends, to ensure that the product meets your allergy needs.  

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

Tilapia with Lemon Dill "Almost Aioli"

My whole family loves fish.  The kids have tried a lot of different types of fish, and two of their favorites are tilapia and catfish. (These two varieties happen to be a little easier on the wallet, too!) Here's a simple preparation that lends itself to a quick weeknight meal! 

Kale Chips

So simple.  So healthy.  So yummy!  The joy of kale chips!  We got a LOT of kale in our CSA box this week, so we made some kale chips instead of popcorn for our family movie night! Get your kids in the kitchen to help rip some kale!

This recipe is peanut-free, tree nut-free, dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free, soy-free, fish-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! 

Ingredients:

Kale
Olive Oil
Kosher Salt

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. *Remove kale leaves from their tough stems, and roughly chop into large bite sized pieces. 
3. *Toss with olive oil, sprinkle moderately with kosher salt. 
4. *Spread onto baking sheets in a single layer.
5. Bake for 12-15 minutes. 

It really couldn't be easier to make this healthy snack!  My 10 year son is getting braces, and popcorn will no longer be on the movie night menu for him.  I felt so proud when he exclaimed (with genuine excitement): "At least I can still have kale chips on movie night!"

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

Brownie Stackers - Video tutorial!

Wondering if there's a special sweet treat you can serve for the "big game"?  Here's a tutorial for:

Brownie Stackers - 3 Ways!

 

 

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

Leek tops - another valuable freebie!

One of my family's favorite winter dinners is Potato Leek Soup with homemade artisan bread.  The recipe calls for a lot of leeks, which leaves me with a counter full of beautiful bright green leek tops. I try to make the most out of each food item I purchase, so I always save my leek tops for making stock.  Here's how I do it!

 

 

 

Rise them just as you would the white tender part that gets cooked.  Fill a deep bowl with cold water.  Roughly chop the leeks and add them to the water.  Agitate them a bit with your fingers and then let them sit for 10-20 minutes while you give yourself a manicure. (Just making sure you were paying attention there...) The leeks will float and the dirt will sink to the bottom.

 

 

Lift the leeks gently from the water, place them on paper towels, and pat dry.

 

 

Look at all the dirt left in the bowl!  That definitely doesn't belong in my soup!

 

Portion the leeks out into several quart sized freezer bags.  I always label my bags with a "Use By" date so I don't end up with a freezer full of freezer burned foods.  (I have a full sized, stand alone freezer, so I'm pretty comfortable with 1-3 months for most of my frozen foods.)

 

Next time you are making stock, add a bag of frozen leeks instead of an onion! Leek tops are another valuable "freebie" in my kitchen!

 

 

 

 

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

Top Ten Stocking Stuffers! All under $15!

Stuff the Stockings With Kitchen Gear!

We're getting very close to Christmas and I know that some of you are looking for awesome stocking stuffers. Here are 10 of my favorites that just might make Christmas a little more merry for the cook in your household!  And here's the bonus: they're all under $15!

 

Number 1: My book, of course!  "Love Letters from My Kitchen"

                  is a wonderful gift for anyone in your family, or in your

                  life who bakes, or wants to bake, for someone with food

                  allergies. Cookies, breads, cakes, waffles, brownies, and

                  more, it's all in here!

 

 

 

 

Number 2: Unique measuring spoons!  Add some charm or color to

                  the baking experience. This double-sided, rainbow-

                  colored set nests and clicks together, so I'm never       

                  searching through the drawer for the elusive 1/4   

                  teaspoon. The elongated bowl of the narrow end is

                  perfect for fitting into spice jars!

 

 

 

 

 

Number 3: Microplane! I adore my microplane.  I use it most often

                  for zesting citrus, grating nutmeg, and grating fresh

                  ginger.



 

 

Number 4: Silicone baking mats!  These are a must for a budding

                  or serious baker.  Cookies slide off easily no matter how

                  sticky or delicate.  Eliminate the need for parchment

                  paper, and make clean-up easier with these mats. The

                  mini-marshmallows in my "Mega-Mash-Up

                  Cookies" (page 42 "Love Letters from My

                  Kitchen") stay perfectly gooey and manageable when I

                  bake them using my silicone mat!   

 

Number 5: Curious Chef products!  Do you have a young chef-in-
                  the-making in your home?  Curious Chef products are
                  durable and perfectly sized for little helpful hands.  The
                  line includes mixing spoons, spatulas, knives, aprons,
                  measuring spoons and cups, peelers, whisks, cookie
                  cutters, oven mitts, and more! My kids love to help me
                  cook dinner and make dessert, they each have their own
                  little knife and spoon set of Curious Chef tools.  Kids
                  with food allergies need to know how to cook, so get
                  them in the kitchen with you!

 

 

Number 6: Non-stick spatulas!  Choose a set that has one larger and

                  one smaller spatula.  You'll use both for different

                  applications in baking and cooking.  I like that these

                  sturdy red spatulas are one piece construction, because I

                  have been known to snap the tops off of cheaper ones

                  with my vigorous stirring! 

 

 

 

Number 7: Glass bottles with rubber stoppers! These beauties are

                  perfect for making and storing homemade salad

                  dressings, and making your own extracts.   

 

 

 

Number 8: Cookie scoops!  My kids love these scoops almost as

                  much as I do. My favorite sizes are 3 Tablespoon (size

                  20) for muffins and cupcakes, and 2 teaspoon (size 60)

                  for any manner of drop cookie.  Ensure consistent

                  results by using scoops for uniform baked goods!    

 

 

 

 

Number 9: Off-set spatula!  Get a few in a variety of sizes!  Perfect

                  for smoothing frosting, or gently moving rolled out

                  dough to a baking sheet.  

 

                          

 

 

 

Number 10: Organic Vanilla beans!  I always try to have a few high

                    quality, organic vanilla beans on hand for making

                    "Honey Vanilla Spread" or just boosting vanilla flavor

                    in my baked goods.  Buy a glass bottle and some

                    vanilla beans, then package as set for

                    making homemade vanilla extract.  (You can find a

                    recipe for both "Honey Vanilla Spread" and vanilla

                    extract in my cookbook, "Love Letters from

                    My Kitchen"!) 

 

 

 

Happy Shopping!  Now, go fill some stockings!

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why "The Allergy Safe Kitchen"?

I love to see my kids invested in, and excited by their cooking! 
This is critical life-training for all food allergic children!

I've been meaning to write this particular post for a while now, but today I read an article that prompted me to sit down and devote some time to explaining why "The Allergy Safe Kitchen". The article was brought to my attention through Robyn O'Brien's "Allergy Kids foundation" FB page. In it, a 19 year old girl describes her life with a peanut allergy and how it has contributed to panic attacks, anxiety, and a battle with an eating disorder.  She equates food with possible death, and feeling empty/hungry with being safe.  She claims her parents didn't make her fresh food because it was too much trouble.  Which means that they also didn't teach her to cook safe food for herself.   She is being sent out into the world without the skills to keep herself safe and healthy. She is afraid of food. Is your heart breaking yet? Mine is. 

One of the reasons I started this blog, was to empower parents of food allergic children to cook - and to teach their children to cook.  Those with food allergies need the kitchen to be a safe place, a place of control, a place of empowerment - not a place of fear and confusion. 

My children walk out the door, and nearly every single place on earth offers a potentially deadly danger from substances that most consider highly nutritious foods.  Peanuts, eggs, dairy...we are told these are all fundamental parts of a balanced diet, thus, most families eat them.  That means every playground, every store, every public place and lots of private residences are places where my children could encounter an allergen.  The chance for accidental contact is high and often times overwhelming.  A good friend of mine is afraid to take her daughter to the grocery store anymore, because she has had such severe reactions from riding in the "kiddie carts" that are often available in supermarkets.  There is an underlying and constant, serious stress that lies in the hearts and minds of our food allergic children and loved ones.  Every social event is cause for them to go on high alert.  And that is why it is not enough for us to have just one safe counter space, one safe spatula, or one area of a pantry that contains safe food.  That is why we have chosen an "Allergy Safe" kitchen for our family.  A kitchen that doesn't contain foods they are highly allergic to;  a safe pantry, a safe fridge, a safe counter, and safe utensils.

"The Allergy Safe Kitchen" allows my children the chance to let go of that underlying stress that will accompany them everywhere they go in their lives.  It gives them a space to exhale, to feel safe, to feel confident in their health.  To borrow a phrase from Dr. Phil - it gives them a "soft place to fall." Our kitchen is a place of learning, of becoming "friends" with food, of feeling welcome, of time with family.  Our whole kitchen is a safe place for EVERY member of our family. An added bonus to having an allergy safe kitchen is that  my non-food allergic children are learning compassion when we explain that we don't have certain foods in the home in order to protect our loved ones.  Eliminating potentially unsafe foods from the home can be rewarding on many levels!

Parents - learn how to cook safe food for your food allergic children, and then teach them how to do it. Turn your kitchen into an allergy safe kitchen that is a safe and welcoming place for EVERY member of your family. If the grocery store is safe for your food allergic children, take them with you and teach them to read labels and become discerning consumers. Kids, teens, young adults, take charge of your health, learn to cook, become informed, and speak up for yourselves at social events and with your friends.

A final note to allergy parents: your children will have plenty of opportunities to navigate the scary world of possible cross contamination - don't let those opportunities be in your home.  Let your home and your kitchen be the places where they can exhale and feel the stress melt away.  A place for peace can be a highly impactful gift to your children.

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

5 Minute Cake in a Cup



My husband has been working on a big project, and has been bringing work home every night this week.  Some nights he has worked until the wee hours of the morning; it has been a long and tiring week for him.  Last night he went digging around the kitchen looking for something "dessert-ish".  (I've been trying to lose some weight and I have been depriving the poor man of my usual baking efforts.)

I had run across a recipe for a microwave mini-cake earlier in the day, so I grabbed it and went to work!  It took me a few minutes to figure out some substitutions and after that - my husband had warm, yummy chocolate cake in 5 minutes!  Really - 5 minutes to gooey, decadent cake!  Here's my revised recipe and strategy:

"5 Minute Cake in a Cup"

Before microwave...

1 large (mocha style) mug                                                               
1/4 cup of unbleached flour
1/4 cup plus 1 tbsp granulated sugar
2 tbsp dark cocoa powder
dash of kosher salt
3 tbsp vegetable oil (whatever kind is safe for you)
3 tbsp vanilla flavored coconut milk (or soy milk)
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp water mixed with 1 1/2 tsp powdered egg replacer

Whisk dry ingredients together in the mug.  Add wet ingredients and whisk everything together until smooth.  Microwave for 2 minutes and 20 seconds (or until slightly puffed and not wet on top).  Top with a sprinkle of cocoa powder or powdered sugar and serve warm! 

...After microwave! I don't know why the cocoa powder looks so orange!
 It may not be the prettiest cake, but it's DELICIOUS!

  I also doubled this recipe (mixing it in a large bowl) and was able to divide the batter into 7 "tasting cups" for a perfect kid-sized sweet snack!  I placed all the tasting cups in the microwave at once and it took about 4 minutes for them to cook. Check out the reviews from my children:

I hope you enjoy this quick and easy dessert!  As always, from "The Allergy Safe Kitchen", I wish you "Good cooking and Safe eating"!