Lazy Samoas

I have memories of eating Girl Scout cookies as a little girl and I didn't want Brody to miss out on tasting one of my favorites...Samoas! A friend shared this vegan recipe with me last year and I think they are a great substitute!

This recipe is free of: milk, eggs, peanuts, fish and shellfish 

*Could be Gluten Free if you used a GF all purpose flour

This recipe from is from Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar, by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero.

Lazy Samoas

2 cups grated sweetened coconut

1/3 cup unrefined coconut oil

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/3 cup nondairy milk

1 tablespoon ground flax seeds

1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

For Decorating:

1 cup chocolate chips

2 Tablespoons unrefined coconut oil

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper

2. Pour the grated coconut into a large heavy skillet and toast over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally and toast coconut to a light golden brown, about 8 to 10 minutes. Watch carefully to avoid burning. Promptly remove the coconut from the heat and stir occasionally as it cools. If the coconut continues to turn overly brown promptly pour from the skillet into a large dish and spread around to hasten cooling and stop cooking.

3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the coconut oil [warm a bit if it's too solid], brown sugar, nondairy milk, ground flax seeds, and the vanilla until well blended and smooth. Sift in the all-purpose flour, baking soda and salt and mix to form a batter. Fold in the coconut.

4. Scoop about 1 Tablespoon of dough 2 inches apart on the cookie sheets. Flatten each cookie with the back of a measuring cup and use your fingers to work a small hole into each center. Bake for 8 minutes, until the edges of the cookies are golden.

5. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer them to wire racks to cool completely. Transfer the cooled cookies onto waxed paper, then place them on the onto a cutting board or other firm surface that can be easily slid onto a refrigerator shelf.

6. while cookies are cooling, melt chocolate chips in a microwave or double-boiler, then stir in the coconut oil into the melted chocolate. Allow the chocolate mixture to cool for about 5 minutes to thicken slightly. Dip cookie bottom into the chocolate and return them to the waxed paper. Now drizzle the remaining chocolate over the cookies, either by dipping a fork into the melted chocolate or by pouring the chocolate into a pastry bag fitted with a very small round tip. Chill cookies for at least 30 minutes to completely firm up the chocolate. Store the cookies in a loosely covered container in a very cool place.

Healthier Virgin Pina Colada Shake

This is a delicious recipe that is perfect for the hot summer days :)

Healthier Virgin Pina Colada Shake 
Free of milk, eggs, soy, peanuts, fish, shellfish, wheat


1-14 oz. can light coconut milk
1 cup pineapple juice OR R.W. Knudsen Pineapple Coconut Juice (@ Whole Foods)
2 ½ cups frozen pineapple
2 frozen ripe bananas
2 tbsp. local honey
1 tsp. vanilla OR coconut extract
2 scoops of So Delicious Vanilla Ice Cream or Coconut Milk ice cream (if you are allergic to soy)
1 cup of ice cubes
Unsweetened Coconut flakes (I like no sulfites or perservatives)

Throw everything into the blender and puree until smooth. Pour into a pretty glass & top with coconut if desired. Serves 6. Enjoy :)


*Picture from inmagine.com

Amanda's Own Confections

Before Easter, I was looking safe chocolate for Brody. Not just any chocolate, but SPECIAL chocolate that was in cute seasonal shapes. I really was looking for little bunny shapes instead of a big bunny that he would have a hard time eating . For holidays, it is more difficult to find candy that is special for children who have food allergies, etc.

I could have bought him an Enjoy Life chocolate bar, but I felt he deserved to have some sort of bunny chocolate like other kids are able to eat :) I don't want his food allergies to keep him from having special memories. I remember, as a child, having special chocolate in my Easter basket and wanted to see him enjoy a special treat.

I was searching allergen free chocolate on the Internet and came across Amanda's Own Confections. I discovered that the chocolate was dairy free, egg free, gluten free, tree nut free and peanut free. I was really excited to see all of the options to choose from for holidays and for special occasions.

Amanda's Own Confections was developed as a result of their daughter Amanda's life-threatening food allergy to diary products. Her parents did not want her miss out on all of the chocolate for holidays or other special occasions.

They started making chocolate that was totally diary free, tree nut free, peanut free, egg free and gluten free for Amanda, and she loved it. They they began to share the chocolate with friends who have children with food allergies and it received such a positive response in regard to the great taste and safe ingredients, that Amanda's Own Confections was created to offer safe chocolate for others!

Here is the statement about food allergies that made me feel confident in the product I would be receiving:

The purity of our dairy-free, tree nut-free, peanut-free, egg-free, gluten-free chocolate is of the greatest importance to us, as the safety of our child and yours depends on it.

The chocolates were delicious and the shapes were adorable. It made me so happy to see Brody eating special chocolate for Easter. My older son enjoyed it and loved it too.

I connect with why Amanda's Own Confections was created and I am thankful for those who are passionate about helping other children have yummy, healthier treats. I love supporting companies like this.

I know I have said this before, but I truly believe some of the yummiest, healthiest food is the allergen free food.

You can find Amanda's Own Confections on Facebook

Tis the Season....

To be honest with you, I have been struggling this holiday season with working around the food allergies. It seems that so many activities center around food, which of course I love, but it does create some stress when trying to avoid allergens for my two-year old son.

In the past week, Brody has had two reactions due to cross-contamination. Not life-threatingening, but enough to scare us and have the epi-pen in hand (thank goodness for Benedryl, we don't leave home without that or our epi-pen). It is stressful when you think you are keeping your child away from the potential "dangers" and they still have reactions and you are not exactly sure how it happened.

We are preparing to go on a Polar Express train ride with my family a couple hours away. This will be the first time that we have traveled somewhere that wasn't to family's house where things were bought and prepared that were safe. We are not going away long, but I have felt anxiety as I have been getting things ready to go. It is in these times, that I feel sadness that I can't just pack up our clothes, etc and eat out at any restaurant we want and just enjoy being away from home. As a mom who has a child with food allergies, I have to think about what I can pack for him for meals, etc and feel as though I can't just fully relax.

On the Polar Express train, they will be serving the children cookies and hot chocolate as they ride to the "North Pole" in their pj's. This is great for my four year old, but Brody is now at the age that he understands and wants to have what his big brother is having. I have to make sure that I deliver very close to (or better than) what everyone else is having.

I went on a mission yesterday to find some non -dairy hot chocolate (also without partially hydrogenated oils, which is trans fat). I know I could probably make homemade mix, but things have been so busy that I do not have time to buy a ton of ingredients and it turn out bad. Hot chocolate is not complete without marshmallows, so I was also looking for some that do not have dyes in them (we try to avoid dyes).

The last special item that I that I wanted to find was safe candy canes that didn't have dyes (red #40 in them).

Whole Foods delivered with all three items!

I almost cried as I saw the non-dairy hot chocolate mix...I don't know if it was the excitement, or the price :) I have learned that it is necessary to splurge on some items so Brody can feel included and be a part of what we are doing.

AH!LASKA Organic Cocoa Non-Dairy Chocolate Mix

-I am having a cup as I write this blog, and I will tell you that is not as sweet as other dairy-filled brands, but what a wonderful option to have, and I fill much better about the ingredients list (even for the rest of my family).

Besides being non-dairy, it is also wheat and gluten free.

-It is made in a facility that processes peanuts, sesame, dairy, eggs, fish and soy.

(for my family, I have been comfortable that it is made in a facility with....I am not as comfortable when it is made on shared equipment and there is not a note stating that the venders follow good manufacturing practices to segregate ingredients to avoid cross contact with allergens). Make sure you do what makes you feel comfortable.

Eylon Marshmallows

-In my opinion, I think they are better than regular marshmallows. They are sweeter so you might not need as many. They come in small sizes for hot chocolate and baking and larger sizers for making smores, etc.

They are Gluten Free, Kosher and Parve (dairy free), but they are made with kosher fish gelatin, which would not be appropriate for someone who is allergic to fish.

tru sweet organic candy canes

-the red stripe on the candy cane is not as pronounced, but there are perfect!Fruit juice is used instead of the dyes, which I LOVE!

They are gluten free, vegan kosher and also organic and corn syrup free.

Produced on dedicated nut-free and gluten-free equipment in a segregated area of a facility that also processes diary, eggs, peanuts, soy, tree nuts and wheat.

I hope that these simple items can make it easier for you to make memories with your family and allow you or you or your child to feel included :)

Anyone else feel more stressed around the holidays in regards to food allergies?

"Ice Cream" Sandwiches

All Natural SO Delicious Coconut Milk Minis have been a wonderful treat this summer. They are rich and creamy and are just the right size to satisfy your sweet tooth, since they are Minis. We LOVE them! The coconut milk "ice cream" has such a decadent flavor. And of course, much healthier ingredients than regular ice cream sandwiches. I won't go back to the regular ones :)
All Natural So Delicious made with coconut milk non-dairy frozen dessert

• Agave sweetened center
• 100 calories per serving
• Dairy free
• Rich in medium chain fatty acids

Click HERE to print a coupon

Allergen Information: CONTAINS: Coconut, Gluten/Wheat, Soy
I have to tell you, I LOVE Turtle Mountain! On all of their products, they state this
Allergen Information: Turtle Mountain applies strict quality control measures in an effort to prevent contamination by undeclared food allergens. To assure our preventive measures are effective, we sample test our products for the presence of dairy, peanut and almond allergens using state of the art testing methods. To learn more about our all allergen prevention program visit us at http://www.sodeliciousdairyfree.com/

They also have great dairy free ice cream....our favorite is Mint Marble Fudge, and we buy the vanilla to make milkshakes with :)
If you are gluten free, the Vanilla Minis Bars (does have soy) or Cookie Dough Ice Cream (they have it using soy ice cream or with coconut milk...both do contain soy though) would be a wonderful choice!
If you are soy free, they do have yummy coconut milk ice creams!

Cherrybrook Kitchen Fudge Brownie Mix

Yesterday, I was at Target, and I found a Cherrybrook Kitchen Fudge Brownie Mix on clearance. It was marked down to $2.58, but had been $5.19. Plus, I had a $1 coupon from when I had contacted the company (it did not have an expiration date). So for $1.58 I decided to try the box of brownie mix.

There is such a convenience of using boxed brownie mixes, but obviously most are not safe for Brody because you have to add an egg (I tried one time to do a gluten free brownie mix with egg replacer and it took us DAYS to get it out of the pan...seriously....it was a rock!) and a lot of the regular brownie mixes have hydrogenated oils and other stuff in them that we try to avoid.

The brownies were pretty good. Next time, I would cook them for less time to make them more "fudge like", but I think you could take these somewhere and people would not question them being allergen free. It was the first time Brody has ever had a brownie and my older son was very excited too! It was such a fun treat for them AND me since I didn't have to cook it from scratch. I just had to throw in some safe melted butter, water and vegetable oil and mix.

The only hang up I would have is paying $5.19 for a box of brownies next time, since I probably won't find them on clearance or have a coupon. Honestly, that is a deterrent for me. Maybe it would be a good deal to buy them in bulk from Amazon? Anybody know any other ways to get the $5 box of brownie mix cheaper?

Click HERE to see the ingredients (they do contain wheat and soy)

kateelayne is giving away their "Pull-Apart" cakes

At kateelayne, our goal is to bring a smile to the face of those affected by food allergies. In light of last week's devastating flood, that isn't so easy to do. It is especially not easy for those in our community who may be celebrating a birthday or special occasion. Over the next couple weeks, if you or someone you know has a food allergy and was affected by the flood, kateelayne would like to extend the offer of a free cake for that occasion.Please contact us at 615.942-8433 or carefreetreats@kateelayne.com

FOOD ALLERGY AWARNESS WEEK

May 9-15

Place an order with kateelayne and receive one dozen complimentary CINNADOODLES with your purchase in honor of those affected by food restrictions. Enjoy the Cinnadoodles yourself or pass them on to share a smile!

Pirate's Booty...Veggie Puffs

I was at a friends house the other day and she served Pirate's Booty Veggie Puffs to the kids. They were REALLY good. They tasted like cheese puffs, but without the cheese :) These are a perfect pair for sandwiches; and I love how it contains vegetables powders (spinach, kale, carrots and parsley).

• Baked Rice and Corn Puffs
• All Natural
• Gluten and Trans Fat Free

Ingredients:

cornmeal, rice, soy flour, rice flour, contains one or more of the following: sunflower, expeller pressed canola or corn oil, salt, spinach powder, evaporated cane syrup, broccoli powder, kale powder, carrot powder, cabbage powder, parsley powder, calcium carbonate, and sea salt. Contains soybeans



*Trader Joe's has something similar, but it contains wheat and soy.