Showing posts with label cooking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cooking. Show all posts
Monday, November 3, 2014

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! 

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Kitchen Tip Tuesday! Egg Replacement


There are specialty egg replacement products out on the market, but if you don't want to buy a whole box, what can you do?  Or maybe, you and your family aren't egg-free, but you want to make a cake for a friend, or relative with an egg-allergy.  Well, awesome!  Bake away!  Here's an easy egg replacement that you can make with ingredients that you already have in your pantry!  

1 1/2 Tablespoon Water
1 1/2 Tablespoon Vegetable Oil (I prefer canola)
1/2 Tablespoon Baking Powder (I prefer Rumford Aluminum Free)

Mix these three ingredients together, vigorously, in a mug, and use immediately.  This will replace 1 egg.  Double to replace 2 eggs.  



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

Photo Credit: Aidan Van Horn
Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Kitchen Tip Tuesday! Wet and Dry Measurements



Cooking is an art.  Baking is a science.  Baking requires that all of the elements in a recipe work together to get the right lift, moisture, and density.  When eggs and dairy are removed from a recipe and are replaced with other leavening agents and liquids, a recipe can go south, fast.  

One way to combat recipe failure, and ensure great, consistent results is to measure carefully.  Use dry measures for dry ingredients and wet measuring cups for liquid ingredients.  

             

There is a slight difference in calibration between wet and dry measures. Keep a set of both in your kitchen to turn out perfect egg-free, dairy-free baked goods every time!  



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







Monday, October 13, 2014

Turkey Slop - I swear, it's better than it sounds.

When I was in high school, there was one meal that was legendary, and we called it "Turkey Slop." This might sound like a questionable moniker, but in reality there's just nothing wrong with a scoop of mashed potatoes, scooped out with an ice cream scoop, and hot gravy...with the Turkey. Right. In it. This is the warm comforting goodness of a Thanksgiving meal at its most efficient.



I have taken this humble meal and elevated it to a Fall family favorite in our home.  As soon as the leaves start to turn, and the air gets a little chillier, the kids start begging me to make Turkey Slop. And yes, I do use an ice cream scoop to dish out the mashed potatoes.

*This recipe is peanut-free, tree nut-free, dairy-free, egg-free, soy-free (using soy free Earth Balance), fish-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!

If you already have tried and true recipes for roast turkey, mashed potatoes, and gravy, then simply chop up the turkey meat and add it to the gravy.  Serve over mashed potatoes!  If you don't know how to roast a turkey, or need some assistance in the gravy department, keep reading!  If you need a recipe for mashed potatoes, click HERE! 

Ingredients for Simple Roast Turkey:

Whole turkey (I like to stay under 12 pounds)
Kosher Salt
Ground Black Pepper
Olive Oil
1/2 onion
1/2 lemon

Directions for Simple Roast Turkey:
*I make the turkey the day before I want to serve the turkey slop. No need to try to do everything all in one day!  Relax, take your time, enjoy the process!
  • Make note of how many pounds your turkey is before you throw away the packaging. 
  • Remove neck and giblet pack from turkey
  • Place the turkey, breast side up, in a roasting pan, pat the outside dry with paper towels.
  • Let the turkey sit (out on the counter) for about an hour (this will dry the skin out a bit, and yield a crispier skin, and bringing the meat closer to room temperature will yield a juicier turkey!) 
  • Preheat oven to 450 degrees F
  • Season the cavity with kosher salt and pepper
  • Stuff cavity with 1/2 an onion and 1/2 a lemon
  • Rub outside of turkey with olive oil and season liberally with kosher salt and pepper
  • Roast at 450 for 20 minutes, and then reduce heat to 350 degrees F
  • Continue roasting 13-15 minutes per pound at 350. *If the outside seems be getting too brown near the end of cooking, cover the breast of the turkey with some foil. 
  • Insert a meat thermometer into the outer thigh, inner thigh, and breast.  All places should have a temperature of 165 degrees F or above. 
  • Let the turkey rest before carving!
Ingredients for Simple Turkey Gravy:
*I make the stock early in the day.
Turkey stock (Click HERE for a crock pot stock recipe - substitute                  the word "turkey" every time you see the word "chicken")
Flour
Fat (dairy-free margarine, canola oil, turkey fat skimmed from the top of the turkey stock, schmaltz, etc.)

Directions for Simple Turkey Gravy:

To make a delicious gravy in a large amount or small amount, you need only memorize a simple formula: 2T fat + 2T flour + 1 cup stock = gravy!  

  • First, know how many cups of stock you have to work with, that will determine how much roux you will need to make.
  • Heat your stock to a gentle boil and in the meantime....
  • Make your roux.  The roux is the thickening agent, it is the combination of the fat and flour, cooked together. (Cooking the flour in the fat gets rid of that raw flour taste, and allows it to incorporate more smoothly into the stock.)
  • To make the roux, melt/heat the fat in a saucepan, and whisk in the flour.  *Equal parts fat and flour!  Cook for a couple minutes. 
  • Whisk the roux slowly into the stock and then bring the whole thing to a simmer.  It will start to thicken right away, and you can continue simmering away to continue thickening.  
  • Check your seasoning - gravy requires a decent amount of salt and pepper! 
  • Add in the chopped turkey and serve over a scoop of mashed potatoes! 
Trust me, this is heaven in a pot! 


 As always, from The Allergy Safe Kitchen, I wish you "Good Cooking, and Safe Eating"!
Thursday, October 9, 2014

Concord Grape Jam





Fall is in full swing in Upstate New York!  One of the amazing, fragrant offerings of this season is the dusty, gorgeous Concord Grape. A hefty amount of grapes arrived in our CSA crate, and I was inspired to try my hand at making and canning Grape Jam.  My kitchen has never smelled so sweetly delectable!  (Can you tell that I'm in love with the smell of Concord Grapes?)

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

Ingredients: Concord grapes (at least 2 quarts), water, sugar

Directions:

First, separate the skins from the pulp.  If you've never peeled Concord Grapes before, you're probably thinking that peeling all these little jewels will take FOREVER.  And while it does take a little time, it's not as hard as one might think.  Concord Grapes are a "slip skin" variety of grape, which means a little squeeze at one end of the grape, sends the pulp right out of the skin!  


Place the skins in one large bowl, and the pulp in another.  The pulp will have seeds, but you'll be separating those out after you've cooked it down, trust me, it's easier that way.


Cook the skins over medium-low heat for about 20 minutes, with just enough water to keep them from sticking to the bottom of the pan.  Cook the pulp down, over medium heat, until it is very soft.

Once the skins have cooked down, I like to use my immersion blender to break them up even more. (You can chop them before cooking them, but I find it to be VERY messy.)

I also use a potato masher to break up the pulp while it's cooking.

Strain the pulp through a mesh sieve (or use a food mill, if you're fancy like that), into the pot with the skins.  I prefer to use a wooden spoon to mash the pulp through, so I'm truly left with only the seeds and really stringy pieces in the sieve.

At this point you may want to stop and wipe the drool off of your chin so it doesn't contaminate the jam.  Oh, and resist the urge to put your face in the pot to smell the goodness...this stuff is hot! (Although, a "Grape Steam Facial" does sound like something you'd pay a lot for at a spa...)

Stir the skins and pulp together and add up to 6 cups of sugar per 2 quarts (starting measurement) of grapes. We prefer our jam to be a little more tart, so I cut the sugar to approximately 4 cups per 2 quarts.

Gradually bring the mixture up to a boil, and continue stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved. Continue stirring while boiling rapidly until the jam reaches the gelling point.  

I test the gelling point by placing a little jam on a cold plate and bringing it to room temperature by cooling it rapidly in the freezer. Once cooled, drag your finger through the middle, and see if the jam holds the separation you've made. 

Ladle into glass jars that have been warmed in a hot water bath. (Hot jam in cold jars = broken glass!!) 



*If you are planning on canning/preserving the jam, leave 1/4 inch headspace and process 15 minutes in a boiling-water canner. 


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


*Photo credits: All photos taken by Aidan Van Horn
Saturday, July 12, 2014

Kicked Up Sloppy Joes



Who doesn't love Sloppy Joes?  This is an often requested dinner in our house.  Here's my original recipe for Kicked Up Sloppy Joes.  I replace the "pre-made" Manwich sauce with tomato sauce and spices for a relatively additive-free meal!  I also use organic ground beef for a more tender texture and frankly, better flavor.  (Ground turkey works well too.) Organic meats can be expensive, but buying organic ground meat is a budget conscious way to get a higher quality meat into the menu rotation, even for a big family like ours!

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


Ingredients:
2 pounds organic ground beef
1 15oz.can tomato sauce
1 15 oz. can fire roasted diced tomatoes
3 Tbsp. Tomato paste
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 yellow bell pepper, diced
1 poblano pepper, diced
1 large sweet onion, diced
4 cloves minced garlic
chopped parsley
kosher salt

Directions:
1. In a large skillet, brown the ground beef. Remove from skillet,
    and set the beef aside.
2. Sauté peppers and onions until slightly softened.
3. Add garlic and sauté for 1 more minute.
4. Add beef back into the skillet.
5. Add 2 cans tomatoes, onion powder, garlic powder, and a
    hefty pinch of kosher salt.
6. Heat through, finish with parsley and serve! (Serve on top of      
    your family's favorite buns!)



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


Friday, June 6, 2014

Can I make you a meal?

Food is a language.  We speak it in our family, our community, our culture.  We speak a language of celebration through food at birthday parties, holidays, awards banquets, date nights, graduation dinners, and any number of accomplishments that deserve a "special meal".  We speak a language of community through food in church potluck suppers, fundraiser pancake breakfasts and spaghetti dinners, neighborhood barbeques.  Every culture is loaded with food that speaks a distinctive language of spices, textures, techniques, and flavor profiles.   The tradition of breaking bread together is universal.  It strengthens the bonds of a family, or of a community, of a culture. 

So what happens when food allergies change the way we participate in that food conversation?  Well, a lot happens.  People may feel left out, put out, worn out, and decide to just sit it out.  I'm sure we could share countless stories of family members and friends who just don't understand, church or school functions that become a stressful maze of dangers to be navigated, and traditions that seem impossible to carry on and pass down in a safe way.  The honest truth is that the weight of food allergies is sometimes heavy and burdensome. Sometimes the weight of life events are heavy and burdensome too, or in other cases, happily unwieldy. When that happens, my instinct is to cook.  To nourish and feed the soul through food. 

I don't know about you moms out there, but nearly every "moms group" I have ever belonged to has a well oiled automatic "food brigade" that rolls into action with every birth, death, and major life event in the families of the member moms. "Judy had her baby?  I'll make her a meal!", "Norma's father died?  I'll make a meal for her.", "Susie's husband will be out of town for a month?  I'll bring her a meal while he's gone!"... does any of this feel familiar?  

When we had our twins, so many people  asked if they could cook for us, and truthfully, most of the time I turned them down. It's too hard to know if someone REALLY understands that "just a little", or even just cross-contamination could send us to the ER. Nearly all the women whose offerings I accepted and fed to my family have food allergic children of their own.  Unfortunately, the people who offer and get turned down get their feelings a little hurt, and that's not good either. So what's the answer?  Well, there are a few ways to handle this without hurt feelings, and without isolating yourself and your family in times of "big life stuff". 

First, get prepared for the people who want to help, but don't understand how to safely cook for your family.  Make a list.  Make a list of things that would be helpful that don't include cooking. The list might include things like:
- taking your kids to the park, to give you a break,
- coming over in the evening and folding laundry with you and
  keeping you company,
- ask if they would be willing to go to the grocery store for you,
- in the case of a death in the family - ask a few close friends to
  make phone calls for you,
- in the case of a birth, ask someone to come and hold the baby so
  you can take a shower!
- anything that would ease your burden or make life a little easier.

Then, get prepared for the people who want to help, and that you trust to cook for your family.  Have a file saved on your computer that lists your family's food allergies.  When someone you trust to cook, calls and says "Can I make you a meal?" say YES!, and send them the file as a reminder of the foods that need to be avoided.

Last, but not least, cook for others!  We all build up that network of food allergy families in our lives, so be sure to cook for them when the going gets tough! They are probably saying "no" to countless, well-meaning friends, so be the friend they can say "yes" to!

Here are my tips for making a meal for a food allergy family:

- Ask for a list of foods to avoid.
- Use new containers of ingredients if possible, to avoid the risk of 
  cross-contact.
- Double check the labels on all ingredients you will use.
- Make something freezer-friendly.
- Freeze in a family sized portion, and also in a few individual sized
  portions so a family member can grab a quick hot lunch.  (This is
  especially helpful for new moms, and nursing moms!)
- Use disposable freezer containers so no one has to get a dish back
  to you!
- Write out the list of ingredients (including brands), or the recipe,      and attach it to themeal, so the family knows exactly what's in the    meal.  During times of stress, what you say on the phone or at the    door about the ingredients might not be remembered when it's          time to make dinner.






 As always, from The Allergy Safe Kitchen, I wish you "Good Cooking, and Safe Eating"!
Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Epic Tomato Soup


I am generally not a fan of tomato soup.  I REALLY don't like tomato soup out of can, and I was hesitant to try this next recipe.  BUT!...I knew I needed a few new "go-to" meatless recipes for Lent, and I am always encouraging my children to give the new menu offerings at our house a fair try, so I jumped right in!  I'm thrilled to report that I love this soup and it was a cinch to make!

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

Ingredients:

4-5 TBSP bacon fat
4 finely diced onions
6-8 cloves of garlic
8 cups chicken or vegetable stock
2  28oz. cans San Marzano tomatoes
Pinch crushed red pepper flakes
1 cup orzo or ditalini pasta
2 TBSP corn starch mixed with 2 TBSP cold flax milk
2 tsp Kosher salt

Directions:

1. In a large Dutch oven, heat the bacon fat.  Add onions and cook
    on medium-low until soft and just golden.  10-15 minutes,
    stirring occasionally.  Add garlic and crushed red pepper flakes,
    and cook for one more minute, just until garlic becomes fragrant.
2. Before adding in San Marzano tomatoes, break them up by hand
    in separate bowl. Then add to the Dutch oven along with the
    chicken stock and salt.
3. Bring the soup to a boil and lower the heat. Simmer for 15
    minutes.
4. While soup is simmering, bring a medium pot of water to a boil 
    and cook pasta for 7 minutes.
5. Drain pasta and add to soup.
6. Cook for 8 more minutes, stirring frequently.
7. Make the slurry of corn starch and flax milk in a small cup.  Stir
    into the soup and continue to cook for 2-3 more minutes.

Serve with toast for dipping, or oyster crackers.  Or, if you want to be classic, make a grilled "cheese" sandwich with Follow Your Heart Vegan Mozzarella Cheese!  (use olive oil in place of bacon fat for a vegan soup)

I'm telling you, the balance of the smokiness from the bacon fat, the richness of the San Marzano tomatoes, and the small bit of heat from the crushed red pepper flakes will have you going back for seconds!  Enjoy!
.

 As always, from The Allergy Safe Kitchen, I wish you "Good Cooking, and Safe Eating"!
Tuesday, January 28, 2014

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"!

Friday, January 24, 2014

The Most Valuable Freebie in my Kitchen...

There is one food "freebie" that I use religiously in my kitchen.  It is...bacon fat!  I'm going old school right now, and suggesting that all of you, my dear readers, maintain a jar of bacon fat.  Once you start cooking with it, you'll be seeing that beautiful white deliciousness as culinary gold. 



To collect it, simply drain the fat out of the pan, or out of one of those nifty microwave bacon racks, into a heat safe container, I usually use a bowl.  Allow the fat to cool a bit before moving it to a mason jar.   Then, cover and store. I prefer to store mine in the fridge, but you could store it in the freezer if you have a copious amount that you won't use within a month or so.



There are two camps on whether or not to strain out the little brown bits from your bacon fat. Some cooks always strain it, and some never do.  If you are going to use it fairly quickly, I vote to leave those golden brown bits in for the extra flavor they bring to the party.  However, if you'll be storing the fat for a while, strain them out, as they contribute to turning the fat rancid more quickly. 



Apple Maple Chicken Sausage browned with bacon fat. 
Breakfast doesn't get much better than this.
 *I also suggest using organic bacon.  Yep, I used the "o" word.  Calm down, I know, I can hear you now..."It's so expensive!"  Yes, it is a bit more pricey than "regular" bacon, BUT, you are getting a quality product that does not contain synthetic chemicals, additional nitrites and nitrates, or GMO laden ingredients. AND if you save the rendered fat, you'll have beautiful organic cooking fat for other dishes. This is one instance where I recommend consistently buying organic.


 As always, from The Allergy Safe Kitchen, I wish you "Good Cooking, and Safe Eating"!
Friday, January 17, 2014

Crock Pot Stock

For years, I've been making delicious homemade chicken stock in my giant pot.  And, if I need a LOT all at once, I'll still do it that way.  But, recently, I've started making amazingly rich stock while I sleep.  Yep, while I sleep.  This isn't some kind of domestic diva transcendence, I'm just putting that workhorse of the kitchen to good use: the humble slow cooker, a.k.a. the crock pot. I make one or two whole chickens per week in the crock pot.  I use them for chicken salad, sandwiches, for chicken with pasta, to provide tender meat for the babies, etc.  I have done this for a long time, and I always got a little bit of concentrated stock in the bottom of the crock pot.  In the past I would save it, freeze it, and then add it to the "big pot" when making a big batch of stock.  No more, readers, No. More.  Now I have realized I can get a whole crock pot full of that amazing, concentrated stock with very little extra effort!  Here's how:

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

Crock Pot Stock

Ingredients:
1 whole chicken (3 lbs-ish)
1 bay leaf
Kosher Salt
2 peppercorns
2 sprigs of thyme (optional)
1 large carrot, roughly chopped
1 stalk celery, roughly chopped
1 slow cooker
1/4 cup water

Stock bubbling away - I wish you could smell it! Yum!

Directions:
1. Place the carrots and celery in the bottom of the slow cooker.
2. Place the chicken in the slow cooker.
3. Add bay leaf, thyme, peppercorns, and water to the slow cooker.
4. Salt liberally with kosher salt.
5. Put the lid on, turn on the slow cooker to low and cook for 4
    hours.
6. Remove just the chicken from slow cooker and strip all the meat
    off the bones. Use this for chicken salad, sandwiches, fajitas, etc.
7. Place all the bones and skin back into the slow cooker and fill
    with water.
8. Cook on low overnight, up to 24 hours.
9. Strain solids out of the stock. 
10. Place stock in a container and refrigerate until the fat coagulates
    on the top.
11. Skim off fat and store it in a mason jar in the fridge for future
    cooking.
12. Now, your stock is ready to use or freeze! ( I usually get
    between 4-6 cups per crockpot)



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

 
Tuesday, December 17, 2013

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"!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

"Supermom Cinnamon Rolls", Sunday Mornings Will Never be the Same!


The welcoming smell of cinnamon, the feel of sweet orange icing oozing over fingertips, the decadent warmth of a cinnamon roll on a Sunday morning before the kids get up... Ok. Stop drooling, I'll share my secret to making this blissful scene a reality - without any dairy, eggs, or nuts!  My secret?

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Serious Comfort Food Series - Potato Leek Soup

Potato Leek Soup

This is a wonderful, hearty, healthy soup for a cold day.  My kids actually request leftovers the next day!  There isn't any dairy in this recipe, and yet blending the soup with an immersion blender yields a creamy potato texture.  Substitute vegetable stock for chicken stock for a vegan soup. This Potato Leek Soup recipe freezes and defrosts beautifully, so make a pot and save some for later! 





*This recipe is peanut-free, tree nut-free, dairy-free, egg-free, soy-free, wheat-free, fish-free, and shellfish-free. Top 8 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!