Allergy-Free Wednesdays: February 22, 2012

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Cook

We had another great showing for last week’s Allergy-Free Wednesday! I continue to be totally inspired by all the creative deliciousness. Thank you!

——————————–

~The Willing Cook’s Featured Favorites~

Healthy Deep Dish Cookie Pie from Blissful Bites by Micha

Braised Short Ribs with Gravy from Real Food Forager

Grasshopper Cookie Pie from Pumpkins Pantry

~Reader Favorites~

Peanut Butter Protein Balls from Veggie Wonder

Tiramisu – DF, SF from Canned Time

Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Bars from Against All Grain

Feel free to grab the Allergy-Free Wednesdays button below and share it on your post. Be sure to check out the other blog hop hosts to see what recipes they chose as their featured favorites.

——————————————————-

Allergy-Free Wednesdays is a blog hop dedicated to allergy-free living and eating. You can share your allergy-free recipes, knowledge about allergy-related topics/issues, and connect with others within the allergy community. We hope you will glean much from your time spent here.

This blog hop is hosted by myself and four other allergy-friendly bloggers. When you link up your post below, it will automatically appear on all 5 blogs! Each of us will choose a favorite recipe/post to feature each week, so be sure to check in every Wednesday. Allergy-Free Wednesdays is hosted by…

Amber @ The Tasty Alternative

Janelle @ Gluten Freely Frugal

Laura @ Gluten Free Pantry

Michelle @ The Willing Cook (that’s me!)

Nancy @ Real Food, Allergy Free

Tessa @ Tessa the Domestic Diva

Allergy-Free Wednesday Guidelines

Any linked recipes should be allergy-friendly in some way.
Provide a link directly to your post, not your homepage.
Please link back to this site. It’s good blogging etiquette. Feel free to grab the bottom below to display on your post. In order to be featured next week, you must link back.
Current and past recipes/posts are welcome.
It’s helpful if you provide a little description with your recipe (i.e., GF, DF, EF, Paleo, GAPS, etc.).
You can link-up as many as 2 posts weekly.
No giveaways, please!
Leave a comment telling us about your submission, and visit other bloggers submissions too! It makes us all feel loved.
Entries that do not comply with these guidelines will be kindly removed.

Print Friendly

Posted in Allergy-Free Wednesdays | 5 Comments

Some Whole Foods Market Tips & Our Allergy Home Meal Plan

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Cook

Did you get the great $1.99/lb organic whole chicken at Whole Foods on Friday? I didn’t! I missed it! I went too late and they were all gone. Actually, I was kind of perturbed by it because I went at the only time I could on Friday and drove out of my way to get them, only to be shot down.

Taking on the whole “scene” we walked into on Friday, got me thinking. There are a few good tips about shopping at Whole Foods that everyone should know. Now, I am by no means dogging WF. I actually have grown quite an affection for the store. I still only buy a few choice items there though because I can find comparable items cheaper other places.

So, here are a few tips for shopping at Whole Foods Market…

For the Friday One Day Sale, try to get there as early as possible. If you don’t, you run the risk of them being sold out of the item.
Try to avoid Wine or Beer Tasting Night, if you are not taking part in it and you have 3 small children with you. (Obviously, we missed the memo on this tip from this past Friday’s wine tasting. Let’s just say that it was packed, they were out of the chicken, I had 3 kids with me, and I wasn’t participating!)
You are allowed to use more than 1 store coupon per item and stack with manufacturer coupons, but you do have to jump through a hoop or two to do it. Just stick to your guns, if you want those savings, and make sure you get them.
WF offers a 10% case discount on anything in the store that you buy by the case. People really love this feature (So I’ve heard. I haven’t actually used it myself.), but I have heard of a few issues as well when the discount wasn’t applied. Be sure you pay attention to this little saving.
I buy most of my vitamins at Whole Foods, and if possible, their brand. It has happened on more than one occasion that they have been out of stock. Upon request, I have either been given another brand at the WF brand price or even completely free. Be sure you ask about this for any product.
I hate the thin, static-clinging bags in the bulk section. Sometimes I feel like it’s not worth the pain of getting the last bit out of the bag. I have used the peanut/almond butter containers before as an alternative. I have also seen people bring in ziploc bags. A third option is to bring in your preferred container, have them weigh it while it’s empty, then subtract that weight from the total once the bulk food is in it.
If you frequent Facebook, “like” your local Whole Foods to get unexpected sales, tips, and offers.
My local Whole Foods has deals throughout the week. For example, Tuesday (I think it’s Tuesday) is Take ‘n Bake Pizza B1G1 Free, and Friday is Homemade Hummus 2/$3.00. Check with your local store to see if they have ongoing daily deals.
Reader Tip: Bring your own bag and save 5¢ per bag off your total.

Do you have any Whole Foods Market Tips to share?

———————————–

Our Food Allergy Home Meal Plan for the Week of February 19, 2012

Sunday: Fish ‘n Chips (our standard), Spinach Salad

Monday: Beef Stir-Fry — This was really good. I used broccoli instead of snow peas and left the meat out of the soy sauce for my husband. Quick, too!

Tuesday: Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day (I just heard of this little tradition from a friend and thought it would be fun. We don’t participate in Lent, but some of the traditions {i.e., Mardi Gras} are fun.)

Wednesday: Italian Chicken Soup (from the freezer)

Thursday: Slow Cooker Chinese Orange Chicken

Friday: ???? Not sure yet. We’ll see how the week pans out.

Saturday: Date Night/Kid Swap – We’re the “babysitters” this month, so that means easy and kid-friendly dinner. Any suggestions???

Meal-for-Hire: Shepherd’s Pie, Fresh Fruit, Sweet Potato Pie (modifying my Pumpkin Pie recipe to meet her allergy needs)

If you have a meal plan that you liked to share, do so in the comment section.

Post shared at Hearth and Soul Hop, Fat Tuesday and Traditional Tuesdays.

Print Friendly

Posted in Meal Planning | 15 Comments

Grace for Today

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Cook

My grace for today….

I’m taking the day off from blogging!

♥My children are off school and I’m going to try to enjoy every minute of it.♥

I’m still linking up to grace laced mondays, so that each of you can benefit from the other posts.

I hope you have a grace-filled President’s Day. See you back here tomorrow.

Print Friendly

Posted in Grace Laced Mondays | 2 Comments

Frugal Friday, 2/17/12

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Cook

I didn’t find too many good deals this week when I was out and about, except for the Rice Crackers at Aldi. I am planning trip to Whole Foods later today to stock up on some great organic whole chickens.

Did you find any deals worth reporting this week?

Grocery Store Deals

Aldi (stores may vary) is now carrying Rice Crackers (ingredients: rice flour, safflower oil, sea salt), 3.5 oz for $1.49. This is a fantastic deal over competitors. Plus, some of the competitor brands contain top allergens.
Aldi: Cantaloupe for $0.99.
Whole Foods One Day Deal: Organic Whole Chickens, $1.99/lb.
Meijer: Egglands Best Omego-3 eggs, 2/$4.00 — use coupon to get 35-70¢ off.

Printable Coupons

Whole Foods Printable Coupons (can be stacked with manufacturer coupons)

Print Friendly

Posted in Budget Tips | 3 Comments

Recipe: Potato Nachos

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Cook

Aka, “Irish Nachos”. I discovered a couple of weeks ago when I had Potato Nachos on our menu that there are a number of people who aren’t familiar with this very easy and very kid-friendly meal. So of course, I thought I should share it. There is really nothing special about it. It’s very versatile to whatever flavors you like.

Perfectly Allergy-Friendly

Potato Nachos

Top with whatever toppings you like. Use chicken, beef, or leave it vegetarian. A great way to use up leftover taco meat.

Ingredients

6-8 russett potatoes
1-2 tablespoons olive oil, extra-virgin
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoons black pepper
1 teaspoons garlic powder
1/2 teaspoons nutmeg, ground

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

1. Wash and slice russett potatoes into 1/2 inch thick slices. Place on large baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and garlic powder. Bake for about 30 minutes or until cooked through, flipping/stirring every 15 minutes.

2. Get toppings ready while potatoes are cooking. Suggestions: taco meat, crumbled bacon, salsa, sliced avocado, cheese, sour cream.

3. When potatoes are cooked. Place them on a plate and top with your favorites toppings.

Serves 4. Enjoy!

Do you make a similar recipe for potato nachos? Please share some of your favorite ways to serve this family-friendly dish.

Recipe shared at Allergy-Friendly Friday, Real Food Wednesdays, Gluten-Free Wednesdays, and Slightly Indulgent Tuesday.

Print Friendly

Posted in Allergy Cooking, Recipes | 2 Comments

Allergy-Free Wednesdays: February 15, 2012

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Cook

Almost 100 submissions for last week’s Allergy-Free Wednesdays!! Amazing! The only problem with it is trying to find the time to prepare them all Again, thank you, thank you, thank you for your continued contribution and support of the Allergy/Gluten-Free community.

A few things to take note of this week: We are now limiting the submissions to 2 posts per person. If we don’t, none of us will ever get through all of them. Thank you for understanding!

Welcome to Janelle from Gluten Freely Frugal!!!! Janelle is joining as a host of Allergy-Free Wednesdays. Be sure to visit her site and give her a warm welcome.

——————————–

The Willing Cook’s Featured Favorites (This was so very hard to narrow down, so I just picked a sampling! I think I may need some more chocolate in my diet I hope to get images up of the features for next week.):

Green Rice from Suzanna Winter
Dark Chocolate Banana Cake from Raia’s Recipes
Grain Free Cinnamon Swirl Raisin Bread from Simply Living Healthy
Almond Coffee Chocolate Chip Cookies from Gluten Free Easily
Chocolate Chip Scones from Premeditated Leftovers

Reader Favorites…

Decadent Fudgy Brownies from The Nourishing Home
Chocolate Coconut Mousse from Cooking with Karyn
Maple Glazed Banana Donuts from Gluten Free Gidget

Feel free to grab the Allergy-Free Wednesdays button below and share it on your post. Be sure to check out the other blog hop hosts to see what recipes they chose as their featured favorites.

——————————————————-

Amber @ The Tasty Alternative

Janelle @ Gluten Freely Frugal

Laura @ Gluten Free Pantry

Michelle @ The Willing Cook (that’s me!)

Nancy @ Real Food, Allergy Free

Tessa @ Tessa the Domestic Diva

Allergy-Free Wednesday Guidelines

Any linked recipes should be allergy-friendly in some way.
Provide a link directly to your post, not your homepage.
Please link back to this site. It’s good blogging etiquette. Feel free to grab the bottom below to display on your post. In order to be featured next week, you must link back.
Current and past recipes/posts are welcome.
It’s helpful if you provide a little description with your recipe (i.e., GF, DF, EF, Paleo, GAPS, etc.).
You can link-up as many as 2 posts weekly.
No giveaways, please!
Leave a comment telling us about your submission, and visit other bloggers submissions too! It makes us all feel loved.
Entries that do not comply with these guidelines will be kindly removed.

Print Friendly

Posted in Allergy-Free Wednesdays | 8 Comments

Sweetheart Treat & Our Allergy Home Meal Plan

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Cook

In honor of Valentine’s Day (which we don’t really celebrate because my husband thinks it’s a Hallmark holiday), I made some heart-shaped cookies. I made them primarily for my son to have an alternative treat at his school V-Day party. I decided to also make them gluten-free so that my husband could enjoy the love too. They turned out so yummy and cute!

I put the cookie dough in a heart-shaped cookie cutter in hopes that they would keep their shape. Because the batter is so thick, they didn’t even budge. For this reason, they are kind of like a cookie brownie. They are so thick and filling that we got plenty by cutting them in half.

Do you still need an allergy-friendly Valentine treat for your sweetie? Try this recipe, I think you’ll get lots of love in return. And, hey, add some sprinkles to make it extra festive.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownies, GF (Grain & Gluten-Free)

Optional: Add 1/2 cup shredded coconut or chopped nuts to cookie batter. If almonds are not allowed, substitute 1 cup coconut flour for entire recipe. Recipe adapted from tropicaltraditions.com

Ingredients

4 EnerG egg replacer
1/2 cups grapeseed oil
1/2 cups brown sugar
1 teaspoons vanilla
1/4 teaspoons salt
1/2 cups almond meal/flour
1/2 cups coconut flour
1/2 cups mini chocolate chips (like Enjoy Life)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.

1. Whisk together EnerG replacer for 4 eggs (6 tsp powder + 8 Tbsp water). Whisk in oil (you can also use melted palm shortening, coconut oil, or butter). On medium speed, mix in sugar, vanilla, and salt.

2. Add almond and coconut flour; mix well. Add chocolate chips; mix until blended.

3. Drop cookies onto cookie sheet and form into desired shape (batter is really thick, so cookies do not change shape as they cook) - use a cookie cutter, if desired. Make cookie about 1 inch thick.

4. Bake cookies for 12-15 minutes, or until golden and cooked through.

Makes 10-12 cookie brownies.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

—————————————–

Our Food Allergy Meal Plan for the Week of February 12, 2012

Sunday: Breaded Mahi Mahi, Steamed Vegetables, Homemade French Fries

Monday: Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Marsala

Tuesday: Black Bean and Yam Stew with Cilantro Cabbage Slaw

Wednesday: Zucchini Fritters

Thursday: Spaghetti (upon my son’s request)

Friday: Hamburgers

Saturday: OYO (On Your Own) – My daughter has a pizza party.

Meal-for-Hire (I’m cooking an allergy-free dinner for a friend 1xweek): Tuscan Soup,Crunchy Cabbage Salad, Medeterranian Zucchini Bread, Heart-Shaped Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies, and Homemade Beef Jerky (for a snack)

If you have a meal plan that you’d like to share, please do so in the comments.

Recipe shared at Slightly Indulgent Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, Hearth and Soul Blog Hop, Full Plate Thursday, Sweet Tooth Friday, Lunchbox Love, and Traditional Tuesdays.

Print Friendly

Posted in Allergy Cooking, Meal Planning, Recipes | 7 Comments

Grace for Mom Guilt

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Cook

I’m sorry for the delay in today’s post. I gave into laziness yesterday afternoon and evening, and it was wonderful. But now I’ll see how I pay for it all day. I hope you had a blessed weekend.

———————————

For us moms, we all carry around “mommy guilt” in one form or another. This is my story of mom guilt. This is one aspect of my mom guilt as it relates to my son’s food allergies. I have mom guilt for my daughters, too.

I read the article, Child, Heal Thy Mother, by a doctor/mom about the guilt that surrounds allergy-moms. As she described the various thought processes that go through our heads as we try to understand this disease (rather, attempt to control it), I sort of laughed at it, but also sighed of its truth. Thoughts like “I introduced solids too early,” “I didn’t introduce solids early enough,” “I ate too much peanut butter when I was pregnant,” and so on. In our attempt to control everything that occurs around us, we turn to the blame game. Who better to blame than ourselves when our little ones suffer.

My blame game:

I introduced dairy too early.
I gave my son cow’s milk when I was in auto-pilot mode.
I shouldn’t have just assumed the restaurant food was okay even though I took the same precautions as always.
I should have known our friend brought the exact same sippy cup for their son with milk in it as our son’s sippy cup.
I shouldn’t have waited until his lips were blue from his first asthma attack before taking him to the doctor (and ultimately an overnight stay at the hospital).

That’s just a sprinkling of my allergy-mom guilt….

If I succumb to that guilt, or any mom guilt, I can dig myself into a very deep hole. What have I to do with the “what ifs” or “if I only had dones?” Nothing. I can’t.go.down.that.road! ….but for grace. Recall part of our definition of grace from weeks ago: “an act of clemency.” Another word for clemency is forgiveness. How do I forgive myself from things that I want to control, but have not? I don’t know that I can, not fully, at least. I have to get hold of this thing called forgiveness and grace everyday, and ultimately, be grateful for my lot and my portion in life.

Instead of going all psychological on this whole thing of mom guilt, I decided to post the lyrics of a song that say it quite well. Grace Upon Grace is a song by Sandra McCracken, an artist who I have come to love. Every word in the songs on this album, The Builder and the Architect, as well as her follow-up album In Feast or Fallow, is rich and full. I’m not your K-Love kind of Christian music listener. I listen to Sandra McCracken and Indelible Grace over and over again, with a few others sprinkled in. They nourish me.

Anyway, as you read these lyrics, think on how mom guilt affects you? How do you deal with it? I’d love for you to share with me in the comments.

1. In every station new trials and troubles

call for more grace than I can afford

where can I go, but to my dear Savior

for mercy that pours from boundless stores.

Chorus: Grace upon grace every sin repaired

every void restored, you will find him there

in every turning he will prepare you

with grace upon grace.

2. He made a way for the fallen to rise

perfect in glory and sacrifice

in sweet communion, my need he supplies

He saves, keeps and guards my life.

Chorus

3. To thee I run now with great expectation,

to honor you with trust like a child

My hopes and desires seek a new destination

and all that you ask, your grace will provide.

Chorus

words by SANDRA MCCRACKEN. © 2005 SAME OLD DRESS MUSIC (ASCAP), admin. by SIMPLEVILLE MUSIC, inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

As always, I’m linking up today with Ruth for grace laced mondays. I encourage you to visit all the linked up stories of grace in the everyday. They are so encouraging.

Print Friendly

Posted in Grace Laced Mondays | 10 Comments

Frugal Fridays, 2/10/12

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Cook

Did you have any moments of frugality this week? :) That question kind of makes me laugh. Anyway….I was so excited to find 3 – 3lb bags of organic apples at Meijer marked down to $2.50 each. They also had organic bananas marked down to 44cents per pound. If you live near a Meijer, I’m telling you that you need to frequent their discounted produce. Ask the manager the time(s) that they put out their mark downs. It is so worth it!

Whole Foods

Deals for the Week of February 8-14
One Day Deal is Coldwater Lobster Tails, $5.99 each (save $3)

Tropical Traditions

Printable Coupons

(There aren’t many coupons this week, but the So-Delicious Almond is a great one to print.)

Non-Food Deals

I’m working on trying to find more deals for Frugal Fridays. If you know of any that aren’t mentioned here, please share in the comments. I try to keep it to allergy-friendly (and non-food) items. Thanks!

Print Friendly

Posted in Budget Tips | 2 Comments

Recipe: Banana Nut Butter Balls

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Cook

No-Bake Energy Bites are all the rave these days. With great reason; they are delicious and quite nutritious! I told you on Tuesday that I made a modified recipe for my friend with extensive food allergies. Well, here you go…Banana Nut Butter Balls!

Banana Nut Butter Balls does not contain oats like the aforementioned recipe because my friend has an oat allergy. I like the addition of the oats in the Energy Balls though, so if you’re allowed to have them, I’d add up to 1 cup in the below recipe. However, it is not necessary, particularly if you’re paying the high price for certified gluten-free oats. Because I did not use oats here, I chose to use a crunchy peanut butter to add a little more texture. (Yes, I did use peanut butter. My friend is allergic to some tree nuts, but not peanuts. I was happy to give her this added protein punch.) You can find many non-peanut nut butters that are crunchy. Finally, the addition of a banana is a very nice touch to this recipe and I do not recommend leaving it out. It gives it a nice hint of banana, and who doesn’t like bananas, chocolate, honey, and so on?

The next time you want a treat with a little extra energy and protein punch, whip up some Banana Nut Butter Balls. I promise that you’ll enjoy them!

Banana Nut Butter Balls

Recipe adapted from http://smashedpeasandcarrots.blogspot.com - No Bake Energy Bites. If oats allowed, I recommend adding 1/2-1 cup to the recipe below.

Ingredients

1 bananas
1/2 cups Nut Butter (peanut, almond, sunflower seed, cashew, etc.)
1/3 cups honey
1 teaspoons vanilla
2 tablespoons ground flaxseeds
3/4 cups coconut, shredded
1/3-1/2 cups mini chocolate chips (like Enjoy Life)

Instructions

1. Throw all the ingredients into a mixer. (I recommend using a "crunchy" nut butter to add more texture, but it's not necessary.)

2. Mix on medium-high until ingredients well combined.

3. Put mixing bowl in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, or until mixture chills and stiffens up enough to roll into balls.

4. Roll into about 1-inch balls and keep in refrigerator until ready to serve.