Slow Cooker General Tso's Chicken

Along with my children's combined list of food allergies, and my daughter's OAS symptoms to certain fruits, I have a  sensitivity to MSG. And, honestly, I just miss Chinese take-out. But the instant migraine and hours in the bathroom (ahem) after eating it just isn't worth it. So, I found a solution!  Slow Cooker General Tso's Chicken! It is spicy, filling, and so delicious. I have even eliminated the pineapple juice, (but retained the sweetness), so common in General Tso's Chicken recipes because of my daughter's OAS. Freshly ground ginger, and sauteed fresh broccoli florets take this classic take-out dish to the next level of food bliss. Get that slow cooker out, and stay in tonight with this homemade version of a take-out staple! 

By ingredients, this recipe for Slow Cooker General Tso's Chicken 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! 

* This post contains affiliate links. You are not charged any extra money by purchasing through these links. It is a way to help support to my family, and keep my costs down. Thank you for supporting "The Allergy Safe Kitchen" through affiliate links. 

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!

Pulled Pork and Coleslaw

I really love to  utilize the slow cooker in the Summer.  I know a lot of people associate slow cookers with Fall and Winter favorites like pot roasts and hearty stews, but when the weather is nice, I want to spend most of afternoon and early evening outside, not heading into the kitchen to make dinner! One of my family's favorite summertime slow cooker meals is Pulled Pork with Coleslaw.  Deep flavor, contrasted with crisp, tangy Coleslaw, all on a bun or in a tortilla!  Pull out your slow cooker, and let the kids help you get this one going in the morning before heading out for a day of summer fun.  By the time you get home, dinner will be waiting for you! 

*By ingredients, this Pulled Pork and Coleslaw recipe is peanut-free, tree nut-free, dairy-free, egg-free, wheat-free, gluten-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! 

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!)

Red Quinoa and Avocado Salad

Add this side dish to your summer menu!  Red quinoa is gluten free, high in protein, and contains essential amino acids. Low in cholesterol and high in magnesium, quinoa is certainly a trendy superfood, but above all, in this side salad, it's delicious!  Make it in the morning and stash it in the fridge to chill for dinner. No need to spend hours in the kitchen midday during the hot summer months! Perfect for dinner at home, or for a pot-luck picnic! 

*By ingredients, this Red Quinoa and Avocado Salad is peanut-free, tree nut-free, dairy-free, egg-free, wheat-free, gluten-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!

Tex Mex Chicken Dinner

Fire up the grill, make a salad, and utilize some of the most popular recipes on this blog! Bright flavors, great textures, and simple to pull together on a summer night! Winner, winner, Tex Mex Chicken Dinner! 

Guacamole Dressing

I created this Guacamole Dressing for our Tex Mex Chicken Dinner. (Click HERE to go to that post.) I wanted something that had the bright taste of guacamole without having to actually make guacamole...so I guess this dressing was created because I was feeling a little lazy!  This dressing is creamy, tangy, and refreshing.  Best of all, it's dairy free and egg free...a rare combination for a creamy dressing!  

*By ingredients, this Guacamole Dressing recipe is peanut-free, tree nut-free, dairy-free, egg-free, soy-free, wheat-free, gluten-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!

Refrigerator Pickles

One of our favorite summertime uses for an abundance of cucumbers from the garden or the local farmer's market, is the crisp, tart Refrigerator Pickle!  These pickles don't require any canning heat, so they stay cold, crunchy, and bright tasting!  I make a couple jars each week because it's so simple, and my kids fly through them, adding them to burgers, sandwiches, or just eating a few as a snack! So, grab a few cukes, roll up your sleeves, and let's pickle!!

*By ingredients, this pickle recipe is peanut-free, tree nut-free, dairy-free, egg-free, soy-free, wheat-free, gluten-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! 

Hearty Chili Stoup

I love shopping for beautiful produce, wandering through the aisles, basking in locally grown, colorful veggies and fruits.  I love knowing that the food I serve my children is most often fresh. I admit, I'm a food allergy foodie. But...sometimes I need something from the pantry.  Sometimes, we get snowed in. Sometimes, I just don't make it to the grocery store before the fridge looks empty. Sometimes, the day gets away from me and it's 5 o'clock before I know it. Anyone with me here? Don't worry, I've got you covered with this recipe for Hearty Chili Stoup, my version of "7 can soup."

By ingredients, this recipe for Hearty Chili Stoup 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! If you have a gluten free chili powder that is safe for you, then cook away!)

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!!!

Easter and Food Allergies - How to stay a Safe Bunny!

As Easter approaches, and family gatherings are imminent, I just wanted to share my encouragement to food allergy families.  This can be a difficult holiday...so much candy, eggs everywhere, and nearly every popular side dish for that traditional Easter ham is loaded with dairy.  Attending family parties can be like navigating a field of land mines. Take a deep breath, and read over these Easter tips!

Kitchen Tip Tuesday: Quickly Cool Soup

With lots of little mouths in our household, we've tried many ways of quickly cooling down hot soup. Stick the bowl in the freezer for a few minutes, pile in a few (or many) ice cubes, dish out those bowls 10 minutes before it's time to sit for dinner...there are a lot of ways to get to the goal of perfectly warm-but-not-scalding soup.  

Breakfast Sushi

We have become slightly obsessed (I like to think endearingly so), with a new kitchen gadget, the Sushi Quik!. You can read my official review HERE.  We have been making sushi for lunch, sushi for snack, sushi for dinner...but what  about sushi for breakfast?

Neither my 11 year old nor I are huge "breakfast food" fans.  We're not into cereal, toast, etc. We are an egg free home, so omelets are also a no-go. He and I are most likely to be eating reheated dinner for breakfast, so the two of us put our heads together to come up with a way to use our Sushi Quik for breakfast!  

Tangy Black-eyed Pea Salad

This side dish is tangy, bright, and cheerful. And...it's so simple! I got the original recipe from Food Network Magazine, and made just a couple changes based on personal preference! (I'm definitely adding this one to my list of Spring/Summer potluck offerings.) It is delicious alone, and also great as a topping for burgers. We paired this side dish with turkey burgers and a green salad! 

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! 

Dairy Free Creamed Corn

Have I got a simple one for you!!  This Dairy Free Creamed Corn has ONE main ingredient: corn.

This dish was a huge hit with my kids. The CSA we joined this summer gives us anywhere from 24-36 ears of corn a week.  My oldest son LOVES corn on the cob, and has just recently gotten braces. (You can see where this is going, can't you?)  I needed to find a way to utilize large quantities of corn AND allow my sad kiddo to partake in the bounty.  Enter: Dairy-free Creamed Corn. 

*Usually there is an allergen statement here. So, here it goes:  this recipe contains nothing but corn. Ok, a little salt too...

Coleslaw

Coleslaw is our "Super Easy Side" regularly.  Crunchy, sweet, tangy, and soooo easy!  This is a great way to get more veggies onto your children's plates.

Traditional recipes for cole slaw call for copious amounts of mayonnaise, which, of course, has eggs in it.  I bypass that problem by using the amazing Follow Your Heart Vegenaise!  Let's be honest, some mayo substitutes just taste gross.  We've tried our share of yucky ones!  Follow Your Heart Vegenaise tastes great and is a direct substitute for mayonnaise. There are several different varieties, but my whole family prefers the Original! 


I usually make coleslaw the night before I intend to serve it.  It needs to sit at least 2 hours before serving, and I can cut down on dinner prep time by making it the night before. Because this recipe involves very little chopping, and a lot of whisking and mixing, this is a great time to get the kids in the kitchen with you to learn how to cook! Hand over that whisk and let them have at it!

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