Chicken, Black Beans & Rice and Plantains

I grew up in South Florida, so I love Cuban food. This meal always takes me back! Let me tell you, Brody can eat some black beans and rice! I LOVE it!

This recipe is free of milk, eggs, wheat, soy (if you do not serve the Publix brand platanos maduros), peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish

Chicken with Onions
Ingredients
4 Chicken breasts flattened (you can do this by putting your chicken in between two pieces of wax paper and then pounding it with a large can from your pantry).
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Coarse ground pepper
1/2 large onion (save other half to put into the beans) cut into thin slices
1 lime (save some lime juice to squeeze over top of the Platanos Maduros)

Directions
Rub olive oil on your chicken breasts and then grind your course ground pepper onto both sides. In a large skillet, cook your chicken breasts until cooked through and browned.

When you are done cooking your chicken, set aside. Put some olive oil in the pan and cook your onions until tender (I keep them covered while cooking...goes faster). Put onions in a bowl to serve on top of your chicken. Squeeze lime juice over top of chicken and onions when serving.

Black Beans and Rice
Ingredients
2 cans of black beans (frijoles negros) undrained
1/2 large onion chopped
2 cloves garlic, pressed
2 Tbsp distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
Oregano (to taste) I throw some in from my garden, but dried will work just as well
Rice (4 servings)

Directions
Put a little bit of olive oil in the pot. Saute onions and garlic. Add beans, vinegar and oregano. Let simmer until thickened (approximately 20 minutes). Cook rice according to package. Put some rice on the plate and top with beans.

Platanos Maduros (Ripe Plantains)
*There is soy in the frozen Publix brand if you are allergic, but you could find a recipe and make from scratch if you are adventurous*
I buy these frozen from Publix, they are about $1.39 and go perfectly with this meal. Cook according to package and squeeze fresh lime juice over top when done. YUM! It's like having dessert with dinner...I promise! My boys eat these up!

If you do not have food allergies, serve with Guava Pastries (Publix has these in the bakery department)....oh my...if you are eating these...I am jealous! :) Serve with Cafe con Leche (Coffee and Milk) and you are good to go!

HEINZ Distilled White Vinegar

I looked at the ingredients on my HEINZ Distilled White Vinegar the other day because one of my readers mentioned that distilled vinegar could possibly have wheat in it. This is what it said:

Ingredients: Made from select sun-ripened grain, diluted with water to a uniform pickling and table strength of 5%(50 grains) acidity.

My heart dropped, I thought...oh no, I have been so strict about no milk, eggs, peanuts and wheat and here I am making BBQ pork and pouring distilled white vinegar in the recipe.

I got on the phone with HEINZ and they told me that the "sun-ripened grain" that they use is CORN...I was relieved (I should have looked at the picture from the website, that would have answered my question :). The representative was very helpful and said they have strict standards and that any potential allergen would be listed under the ingredient list (he even mailed me a huge list of their products that are free of gluten).

Our rule around our house is, if it doesn't have a label...we don't eat it; especially now that Brody is eating what we are...we now have the Epi-Pen Jr. just in case...

If you have any questions, contact HEINZ at

1-800-255-5750

Straight from the Kid's Mouths....

Take a few minutes to watch this video...really puts things into perspective! I loved hearing from the kids what it is like to live with food allergies. So informative! I am not going to lie....some of their comments made me tear up.

Thanks Support for those with Food Allergies for sharing!

O's for Brody

One of the first finger foods that I enjoyed giving to my older, non-allergic son was Gerber Puffs and Cheerios. The Cheerios were my favorite because I didn't care if some of them (or most of them) fell on the floor because they were so inexpensive (I always bought them on sale and there are always coupons available). Well, I had a problem when it came time to feeding Brody easy finger foods because Puffs are made with wheat starch and wheat flour and Cheerios contain wheat starch. And so began the search...

I have found an awesome substitute for the Cheerios and Brody loves them. They are called Trader Joe's Triple Berry-O's (Honey Oat O's with Dried Blueberries, Strawberries & Raspberries). They are $2.99...not a bad price in my opinion.

This cereal is great is even if you don't have food allergies!


If you have found any other inexpensive finger foods that are free of milk, eggs, peanuts and wheat...please let me know. I am going to make this even harder by saying that I would prefer not to use a product that has the disclaimer "may contain traces of." We are going to see an allergist (Dr. Brothers for those of you around Nashville) in a few weeks and I can't wait to hear what he has to say! Maybe my food journey will get easier...who knows....here's to hoping :)

CLICK HERE to see if there is a Trader Joe's near you

Apple Oatmeal

One of the breakfast foods that Brody has been enjoying lately has been Earth's Best Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal. It had been on sale and I had coupons, so I bought some for convenience sake (especially if we were going to be having breakfast somewhere). The other day, I ran out of it, so I decided to make my own. Here's my go at it...

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

Ingredients

1 cup Old Fashioned Oats

2 cup of water (or milk substitute such as rice milk)

1 apple chopped into small pieces (or other fruit such as peaches, pears, bananas, etc...be creative!)

a dash of cinnamon

Directions

Boil water, stir in oats and fruit of choice if it needs to be softened (a banana could be stirred in at the end), cook about 5 minutes over medium heat. Stir occasionally. Sprinkle a dash of cinnamon into oatmeal and serve.

*You could cut this recipe in half, but I wanted to make more so that I could keep it in a Tupperware container in my refrigerator and have breakfast ready in about 30 seconds. I put the amount of oatmeal that I want to use in a microwavable bowl, add some rice milk and heat for 30 seconds. Stir well. Adding the rice milk brings the consistency back to what you need (it will be hard and clumped together in the refrigerator). If the oatmeal is too warm, add some cold rice milk. I sprinkle with additional cinnamon and serve. So quick and easy...AND affordable!

Concerned about using oats if you are allergic to wheat? Read what Emily Harris who wrote Sophie-Safe Cooking has to say about oats for the wheat allergic individual

Crispy Chicken Tenders

Brody LOVES this recipe. You could always make more tenders than you need, freeze them in a freezer bag and pop them in the oven when you need a quick lunch or dinner (or if your child decides not to eat what you have made for dinner :)

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

Ingredients
3 boneless, skinless, chicken breasts cut into strips, washed off with water, then pat excess moisture off (leave some water on the chicken so it is easier to roll in the chips)
Crushed Plain Potato Chips (I used Lay's Wavy Original)
*You could also use corn flakes for a different taste
Fresh ground pepper (optional)
Parsley (optional)

Directions
Mix all ingredients except for the chicken. Roll chicken strips in dry mixture. If chicken is too dry for the mixture to stick to it, dip the strips in water before rolling in potato chip mixture.

Bake on a lightly greased cookie sheet (I used my pampered chef stone, so I didn't need to grease) for 16 minutes (or until crispy) at 450 degrees.

I served the kids crispy chicken strips, frozen green peas and applesauce. Easy and good!

Recipe from Sophie-Safe Cooking

Healthy Times Maple Arrowroot Cookies

I have to tell you how much I love Healthy Times! They sell Premium Organic Baby Food and Baby Care. I am so thankful that they have some safe toddler products for Brody. Right now, Brody is LOVING the Maple Arrowroot Cookies (they are Soy free, Wheat free and Dairy free)! It is so nice to have a yummy cookie that he can eat that is age appropriate. These cookies are great because he can hold them well because of their shape and once in his mouth, they dissolve/break apart quickly so I don't worry about choking. Brock (my non-allergic child) likes them too...so there you go!

Premium Organic Arrowroot Cookies are made with a unique blend of organic ingredients for growing toddlers. They are a good source of calcium, iron and zinc for healthy growth and development. The smooth texture, special shape and delicious taste make Healthy Times Premium Organic Arrowroot Cookies the perfect snack for your child's first cookie.

Ingredients:

Organic Whole Oat Flour, Organic Whole Grain Barley Four, Organic Cold Pressed Safflower Oil and/or Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Evaporated Unrefined Cane Juice, Organic Unsulphured Molasses, Organic Arrow-root Flour, Natural Flavors, Aluminum Free Baking Soda, Mixed Tocopherols (Vitamin E)Vitamins And Minerals:Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin A (Palmitate), Niacin (B3), Electrolytic Iron, Zinc, Riboflavin (B2)

You can order online at http://www.healthytimes.com/

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