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/

13200 Kirkham Way, No. 104

Poway, CA 92064

Tel: (877) 548-2229

Fax (858) 513-1533

email: htbaby80@aol.com

Tacos

Tacos are a safe, go-to dinner for us. We love them!

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

Ingredients

2 lbs Ground beef

1 1/2 Tbsp. Chili Powder

1 1/2 Tbsp. Cumin

1 medium onion, chopped (save 1/2 for toppings)

2 garlic cloves, pressed (2 exta cloves if you want to put some in your refried beans)

Taco Shells (I love Trader Joe's)

Toppings

1 can refried beans (We put 2 garlic cloves, pressed and a dash of hot sauce/Tabasco in the refried beans when we heat them up)

lettuce, shredded

tomatoes, chopped

onions, chopped (left over from what you chopped to put in meat mixture)

salsa (during the summer, we love to use homemade salsa from the garden)

jalapenos chopped

cilantro (if you have on hand)

*cheese/sour cream if you are not allergic to dairy

Directions

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 Tbsp EVOO (extra-virgin olive oil), twice around the pan. Add the chopped onions, pressed garlic and beef to skillet. Brown meat. Season meat with the cumin and chili power. Cook for 5 minutes more, then add about a cup of water and reduce the heat to low. Make sure the majority of water has cooked off before you serve.

Heat taco shells according to package directions. Prepare toppings. Fill tacos and Enjoy.

*Serve with tortilla chips (we love Santitas Tortillas Chips...they are always "on sale" for $2) to scoop up the leftovers that have fallen on the plate or eat with the extra refried beans

Kraft Italian Dressing...Safe indeed

When we were looking for products that were "safe" at the beginning of this allergy journey, I was surprised to find that Kraft Italian Dressing was safe (it does contain soy). I was excited, because we use it as salad dressing, as a marinade and also in pasta salad, etc. Not to mention, it is always going on sale and there are coupons out there so I am able to purchase it for pennies. Also, another one of my favs that is safe is Kraft Creamy Italian (also contains soy) Makes my heart happy! Isn't it the little things?

I called Kraft and asked about the vinegar in the Zesty Italian Dressing (if it contained wheat) and they said if there is even a possibility of cross contamination that it would be listed in under the ingredients (ex: wheat, milk, eggs). This is good to know.

Any Questions? Contact Kraft
1-800-323-0768

Going Above and Beyond

Today, I attended a mom's bible study group at a friend's house. The hostess and one of the ladies that attended went out of their way to accommodate my special dietary restrictions. Drinks and food items were prepared separately for me without dairy products, etc. and Safe Rice Krispy Treats were made with me in mind.

Not to mention, the lady who made the Rice Krispy treats, took her two little ones in tow and drove out of the way to Whole Foods before the bible study and bought vegan butter to make the dessert. In my opinion, she went above and beyond. I was overwhelmed by the kindness that someone whom I had never met, showed me. I certainly do not expect people to accommodate me, but this was such a nice treat. Such a simple act, made me feel included and cared for. It is amazing how an act of kindness can impact one's day.

It brought to mind times in the past where I listened to someone talking about food allergies and thought, wow...that must stink. It's interesting how having a child with food allergies makes you look at situations differently, more thought through. I am more aware now and sensitive to food allergies, and for this, I am thankful. If I could go back, I would do some things differently, as a hostess and as a teacher. I don't know exactly why God has me traveling down this road, but I know I have been forever changed.

I hope that I can make someone else feel the way that I did today...I can't wait to pay it forward.

Rice Krispie Treats

Rice Krispie Treats

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

Ingredients


1/4 cup safe butter


1 pkg. (10 1/2 oz.) miniature marshmallows


1 pkg. (12 oz.) Rice Krispie Cereal (I am going to be finding a substitute that does not have High Fructose Corn Syrup)





Directions


MICROWAVE butter in large microwaveable bowl on High for 45 sec. or until melted. Add marshmallows; toss to coat. Microwave 1 1/2 min or until marshmallows are completely melted and mixture is well blended, stirring after 45 sec.


ADD cereal; mix well. Press firmly into greased foil-lined 13x9 inch pan. Cool.


CUT into 24 squares to serve. Wrap leftovers squares tightly. Store in a cool dry place.


Makes 24 servings, one square each

Please...Call it What it is

I now consider myself to be a good label reader. Before Brody was diagnosed with allergies, I always looked at the label to make sure the product I was purchasing did not contain High Fructose Corn Syrup, MSG or Dyes (example: Red #40, Yellow #5, etc.)

Now, I am looking at labels for the items mentioned above, plus milk, eggs, peanuts and wheat. I have found out since starting this new journey with food allergies, that not all food labels call these allergen by their "normal" name. The manufacturer lists some "AKA" names on the label, which makes the process somewhat of a hide and seek for the allergen game.

Here's a sampling of the unusual names and food sources for these allergens.


Allergen: Egg
Alternate Names: Albumin, lysozyme, globulin, ovumucin, vitellin, Simplesse™ (found in low-fat foods)
Food Sources: Egg substitutes, mayonnaise


Allergen: Milk
Alternate Names: Calcium, whey, lactose, casein
Food Sources: Cream, high-protein powder, sour cream, cottage cheese, cakes, puddings, hot chocolate, cheese, yogurt


Allergen: Fish or shellfish
Alternate Names: Agar, carrageenan
Food Sources: Worcestershire sauce, Caesar salad, dressing, cod liver oil


Allergen: Soy
Alternate Names: Guar gum, vegetable protein, lecithin, carob, starch, emulsifiers, flavorings, stabilizers
Food Sources: Vegetable broth or oil, tofu, soy sauce, tempeh, shortening, edamame, chorizo


Allergen: Wheat
Alternate Names: Gluten, semolina, modified food starch, MSG, vegetable gum
Food Sources: All-purpose flour, bleached flour, bran, American cheese, canned soup


Allergen: Peanuts
Alternate Names: Natural and artificial flavoring (read labels carefully to identify what kinds of artificial flavors might be in a food product)
Food Sources: Ice cream, chocolate, gravy, marzipan, egg rolls, candy, cookies


Allergen: Tree nuts
Alternate Names: Cashews, almonds, pecans, walnuts, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts (also called filberts), pine nuts, pistachios, macadamias, natural and artificial flavoring (read labels carefully to identify what kinds of artificial flavors might be in a food product)
Food Sources: Barbecue sauce, crackers, ice cream, foods with peanuts (may be cross-contaminated with tree nuts)


Elissa Sonnenberg is an editor at Cincinnati Magazine, in Ohio.

Article from Parents.com