Thursday, June 24, 2010

Semi Raw Vegan Homemade Brownies

Treats we make to share with friends...
no wheat, no eggs, no dairy, no peanuts.
They always get a big "thumbs up"!

I think this is a great recipe to start out with...
tastes amazing and begins introducing you to the wonderful world of "raw foods".
I can't remember which books
some of this came out of..
so I apologize that I can't give an accurate reference.

Vegan Black and White Brownies:
* 2 cups pecans (or any nuts you like)
* 2 cups dates pitted and soaked in water for 5-10 min.
* 2/3 cup raw cacao powder (available at Whole Foods or health foods stores)
* 2 tsp vanilla extract
* pinch of sea salt

Blend dates in a food processor or high speed blender till a paste.

Separately grind nuts in a blender or chopper. Mix all ingredients in a bowl with your hands and press in a glass pan. Refrigerate for at least 10 minutes to set up.

When set, cut into squares, remove from pan and place on a platter, top with the frosting below and drizzle with the chocolate syrup below.

The chocolate syrup turns into a shell when refrigerated! yum

Frosting:

“Pamela’s Products” Vanilla Frosting Mix (available at natural food stores or Whole Foods)
I use Earth Balance in place of the butter to eliminate the dairy.
Just follow the package directions.

Chocolate Sauce:

½ cup Raw Cacao Powder (available at Whole Foods or health foods stores)
¼ cup Coconut Oil
¼ cup Agave syrup
mix by hand in a small bowl till smooth
* great on any dessert!

* Note: I did non create these individual recipes
but I did combine them to make these yummy treats.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Vegan, Dairy Free Mozzarella Style Shreds - Daiya

So I already posted about the cheddar flavor shreds from this company,
a nice option...

But yesterday, I tried these...the mozzarella style

I think I'm in love.

I made a little toaster pizza type thing
using my "safe" sliced bread
some tomato sauce
and these shreds...
yum!!

and that coming from a recovering cheese addict.

They look a little weird, sort of ruffled
but when I took a bite, the texture was like dairy mozzarella.
Creamy, stretchy, smooth.

Today I took two "safe" pumpernickel type bread rounds, toasted them with the mozzarella type shreds and then topped it with some cool, fresh, smashed avocado...with a little nutritional yeast mixed in...
it was delicious.

But the BEST part was that it was allergen free for me.
That is a true gift.

Let me know if you try them...

Dairy, lactose and casein free,
Gluten and soy free,
Cholesterol free.
 

Monday, June 21, 2010

Pre-made, Allergen-Free, Vegan Cupcakes - Izzi B


These were a real find!

Totally decadent and pretty to look at.
We found them at a small natural foods store in New Canaan, Connecticut but I think they can be ordered online or by phone.

We shared them with non-allergic friends and they didn't know they were so allergen free!

Izzi B's promotional material states:
No wheat
No soy
No eggs
No gluten
No dairy
No nuts
No casein
No refined sugars
No honey
No seeds
No apples
No trans-fats
No preservatives
Celiac-friendly
Vegan
All Natural...
-whew!

One would assume that that would translate into
No taste...but no!
They were super yummy.

Let me know what you think...

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Food Safe Allergy Testing - Finding Hidden Food Allergies



So this is what I received last year,
telling me that I was mildly allergic to most of the foods I ate on a regular basis.

Good news, because my symptoms finally had an explanation.

Bad news, because I was going to have to completely change the way I eat, think, plan, cook, etc...

It has been interesting, to say the least...
and a bit of a blessing too.

You can have this test done through your doctor
or by contacting the company directly.
They send you a kit and you send back a blood sample. Very simple.

If you think you might be sensitive to certain foods,
or if you have unexplained symptoms,
you might want to see if it's what you are eating.

From what I have learned, there are over 200 possible symptoms that stem from this kind of delayed food allergy. Way too many to piece together on your own without doing an elimination diet.

This was a gift...not to think I was going crazy, or imagining my symptoms.
Knowing that it wasn't something that was going to be solved with more prescription meds and creams.

I had to be proactive...I had to keep asking questions, search for a doctor that understood a more natural approach, read, etc...

It was totally worth it!

Let me know what you find.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Book - Vegan The New Ethics of Eating

A new book I bought using my Mother's Day gift card.

I was actually looking for a vegan cook book and then I stumbled on this and it spoke to me.

I have just begun to read it but I am horrified and hopeful at the same time.
I will let you know how I feel when I finish.

let me know if you have read or decide to read it.
A little scary.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Allergen Free English Muffins - Joan's Great Bakes


OMG!
We were visiting family friends in Connecticut last week and stumbled onto a wonderful small, local
natural foods store in New Canaan.

I asked the owners if they had any local bread options for people with dairy, wheat and egg allergies.
I am always trying to find tasty bread...no small feat!

They recommended these English muffins...found in the freezer section.
Because of past experience, I have avoided trying allergen free bread from the freezer section.
Not great texture and taste but...

These were amazing!!
Like REAL English muffins!

I haven't tried any of their other products yet but unfortunately from a quick scan of their website, 
 I don't think many of them are free of all of these allergens.

I am just grateful they created these!
Now I have to figure out how to get them...
order online?
Ask my local health food store to carry them?
You can be sure, I will find a way!

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Cheddar Style Cheese Shreds - Daiya


So, if you know me,
 you know that it makes sense
that I would write about a faux cheese product first!

I have a slight 
(maybe not so slight)
addiction to cheese
and was devastated but not shocked last year
when I found out that I have a
mild, delayed reaction allergy to dairy products.

I have avoided them in hopes
that I would be able to reintroduce them at some point...
alas, no.
I am still having a reaction...yuck.

So over this last year, I have been on a hunt for yummy dairy free cheese-like options.

Most are not very tasty or have a bad texture.
There are some made out of almonds (which I can't eat)
There are some made from soy (which I can't eat)
and some made from rice...which I CAN eat.

Two days ago I stumbled on this brand at Whole Foods.

I hadn't seen it before and haven't really done any research into the company and their other products yet but I wanted to pass on the info.
It is pretty good!

Eaten on it's own it actually tastes like cheddar.
It melted fairly well and was stretchy like real cheese.

They had a mozzarella version too but I didn't try that yet.

Looks a bit weird and curly...but worth a try.

Dairy, lactose and casein free,
Gluten and soy free,
Cholesterol free.

If you try it, let me know what you think! 
Enjoy!

Daiya is made with only the best planet based ingredients

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Building a Blog

I am very busy organizing information, taking pictures and compiling tips and products to share. I have learned a lot over the past 8 years or so and it really brings me joy to pass that information on.

There are so many options for healthier versions of favorite foods and small daily choices add up to significant change.

Be back soon,
Pam

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Welcome

As a labor of love, I created this blog to help others move easily along the path of food choices, based on dietary restrictions...due to medical needs or personal choice.

A little over a year ago, my then 9 year old son and I were both diagnosed with multiple delayed reaction food allergies, and while not life threatening at this moment, they have caused us to alter our lifestyle and food choices dramatically.

Everything is different.

Traveling, parties, events, celebrations, picnics, school lunches, snacks...everything.

In our case, it has been, for the most part, a blessing in disguise. It has caused us to look at our eating patterns and change our bad habits. It has also filtered into the rest of our family and beyond.

I hope to share our discoveries and knowledge in an effort to help others in our situation.

It's not the end of the world...and we are not alone!

Till next time...
Pam

Monday, June 7, 2010

Coming Soon!

Resources and information to help you navigate through the confusing and sometimes frustrating world of food!

Stay tuned...