Garden of Eatin Organic Tortilla Chips $1

Here is a great coupon/sale match up for you. If you live near a Kroger, they have Garden of Eatin Tortilla Chips (9 oz) bag on sale for $2. Click here to print a $1 off coupon and you only pay $1 for a bag organic tortilla chips. I served the Blue Chips with my black bean salsa and they are great; love em'...love em' more for a buck! Kroger deals end Saturday 3/21.

Taco Shells

I didn't know how much I loved taco shells (and corn tortillas) until I had to eat Gluten Free while I was nursing Brody and realized that they were safe!

I recently found Trader Joe's Taco Shells and I love them because they have no artificial colors, flavors and no preservatives. They are also certified organic, gluten free, vegan, low sodium and you get 12 shells for $1.99! I just wish Trader Joe's was closer to my house, but I am willing to drive...it is worth it.

Yum...I think I am going to make some Tacos tonight :)

On the back of Trader Joe's products it says

Our vendors follow good manufacturing practice to segregate ingredients to avoid cross contact with allergens.

Trader Joe's Organic Pops

I am excited about Trader Joe's Organic Pops (a friend of mine told me about them...thanks Katrina). They are similar to Yummy Earth in the fact that they do not have artificial colors/dyes, are flavored with natural flavors and they are allergen free.

There are 25 lollipops in the container (5 of each flavor), which costs $2.99 (these are less expensive than Yummy Earth) and the flavors that you get are watermelon, pomegranate, orange, lemon and raspberry.

-Fat free

-No gluten ingredients used

-Parve

-Kosher

-Certified Organic

Ingredients: organic evaporated cane juice (sugar), organic tapioca syrup, citric acid, natural flavors (watermelon, pomegranate, orange oil, lemon oil, raspberry), vegetable color (red cabbage, purple carrots, turmeric, annatto)

*Yummy Earth even says on their website that they are big fans of Trader Joe's Pops and Drops and that if you live near a Trader Joe's you should try some.

Options for Chocolate Chips...

I was so excited when we started this allergy journey that there were safe chocolate chips. I thought that chocolate would always be out because of milk, but I have found that that is not so (THANK GOODNESS!) Here are a couple of options that vary in price.

Kroger Value Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (these are regular size chocolate chips) and they only contain soy. There is nothing on the bag that says, "made in a facility that contains..." but my friend Ginger has given them to her food allergic son and I have given them to Brody and they have had no reactions. They are usually $2 or less for a 12 oz. bag.

Ingredients:

sugar, chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, salt, vanillin. Contains: SOY

Enjoy Life is free of the 8 common allergens and has dairy, nut and soy free semi-chocolate chips (the chips are very small). They are made in a dedicated nut and gluten free facility. You can buy these at Whole Foods and they are usually about $4.39 for a 10 oz bag. Always check Enjoy Life's website, because they usually have a coupon that you can use to help bring down the cost. When I bought them the other day, I used a .55 off coupon from the website. I will splurge and buy these chocolate chips to make mini chocolate chip banana muffins because I love the small chips in the mini muffins (perfect size!)

Ingredients:

evaporated cane juice, chocolate liquor, non-dairy cocoa butter

Divvies has no nuts, no eggs, and no dairy chocolate chips (these look like regular size chocolate chips). They have a 1 pound bag for $6.50 (plus shipping) or you can buy a 5 pound bag for $30 (plus shipping...shipping depends on the weight of what you are buying). Right now, if you order from Divvies, you can enter the code "MARCH" at checkout and receive 20% off your order. *They have really cute 4 oz. solid chocolate bunny for Easter, it is $8.50 (it contains soy)

Ingredients: Sugar, Chocolate Liquor, Non-Dairy Cocoa Butter, Soya Lecithin (Added as an Emulsifier), Vanilla Extract, Salt. Contains: SOY

Black Bean Salsa

The other night, I taught a Wellness Workshop and I made this salsa that is healthful and easy, because you can make it in advance and let the flavors come together. This can be used as an appetizer or as an accompaniment to grilled chicken breasts, etc.

Black Bean Salsa

This recipe is free of milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, peanuts, fish and shellfish

Ingredients

2 cans of black beans drained and rinsed

*I like to use organic black beans or whole foods 365 black beans (they are only .89) and they do not have preservatives or added salt.

1 small bag of frozen corn (not in sauce), drained

* I can practically get frozen veggies free when I combine sale/coupons

1 lime OR lemon (for juice)

1 Haas avocado cut into pieces and soaked in fresh lime or lemon juice to preserve its color

*You might want to do this right before you serve this dip so the avocado is at its freshest

1 small onion, diced

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 mango, diced OR pineapple, diced (I used pineapple because when I cut open my mango, it was yuck...no flavor)

4 tbsp olive oil

4 tbsp white wine vinegar

fresh cilantro, chopped

Directions

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Cover. Let refrigerate at least 30 minutes or until ready to serve. Stir before serving.

Serve with tortilla chips

Dinner Idea

*We had some extra black bean salsa left over, so I marinaded some chicken breasts in Annie's Naturals Mango Cilantro Marinade (does contain soy ingredients), threw them on the grill and served this salsa on top....SO FRESH AND SO DELICIOUS!

The Food Allergy Mama's Baking Book

I have been following Food Allergy Mama's Blog so I wanted to get her new baking book. I made her chocolate chip banana muffins (recipe from her blog) the other day and KNEW that I had to get this book (a friend of mine tasted them and said they were the best "Brody Safe" treats that she has had)

Borders carries the book and you can go to Borders.com to request it (just to make sure they have it) and they will hold it for you for one day (they will send you an email saying they have it and it is being held for you...isn't that cool?) Then, I signed up with Borders Rewards a while ago and I get sent coupons all of the time for various amounts (25%, 30%, even 40% some times...I use these coupons matched with sale items on kid books, etc. to buy inexpensive, nice birthday presents for parties that we go to). So, I used my 30% off coupon for The Food Allergy Mama's Baking Book (which is $19.95) and I got it for $15.25 (with tax and all). I just flipped through it yesterday and looks like there are a lot of good baking recipes. I also love that it has lots of pictures, I am such a visual person.

FYI: Did you know that if there is a book that you want from Borders and they don't have it in the store that you can order it online, get it shipped to the store for free and use the promo code from your coupon.

If you already have The Food Allergy Mama's Baking Book and have a favorite recipe, let me know in the comments. I will have to try those first :)

*Also, if you are wheat free/gluten free, I bet you could substitute all purpose GF flour in her recipes.

FiddleCakes: Bakery.Cafe.Coffee

FiddleCakes sponsored our FACTS meeting the other night and brought delicious Vegan pumpkin chocolate chip cookies (they were divine!), gluten free brownies, regular chocolate chip cookies and other treats for us to sample. Everything was yummy and moist!

FiddleCakes offers a variety of Vegan and Gluten Free baked good daily (they can even make cakes upon request...this is wonderful for us allergy moms), and Vegan and Gluten Free sandwiches, soups and salads are available upon request. They said they can accommodate any request that you may have (this is SO great!) Check out the menu on their website.

Besides being Allergy Friendly, they use local and organic ingredients (love this!)

FiddleCakes is located in the historic 8th Avenue district, an area largely known for its antique malls and thrift stores. If you haven't discovered this neighborhood yet, you are missing out! Come in for a treat and take a look around.

Fiddle Cakes Offers

• Vegan and Gluten-Free Offerings



• One-Stop shop for coffee, food and baked goods



• local and organic ingredients



• specialty dog treats



• gifts and party supplies



• free Wi-Fi

FiddleCakes

2206 8th Ave. South Nashville, TN

615-457-2127 (if you need additional information regarding allergy concerns, give them a call)

http://www.fiddlecakes.com/

Monday-Friday 7-pm/Saturday 8-2pm/Closed Sunday