12

So, valentine's day with no chocolate? That is probably one of the hardest things about a restricted diet, holidays and special events. I am a HUGE lover of sweets, especially chocolate, so that has been quite a test for me. It took me a while to figure out some alternatives, but there are some great ones!!! First off, I prepare. I know that everyone is going to be eating candy and goodies, so I make sure that I have something on hand that I can enjoy too. For me, I bought a cake mix from the store, and it is made by Gluten Free Pantry. They make delicious mixes!!!! I got chocolate of course, but their brownies are excellent too. On the back of a lot of the gluten free mixes it gives you options for dairy free and egg free too. I love that, I don't have to think about it!! I then made my variation of Betty Crocker's Vanilla Buttercream Frosting, and I have a super yummy treat for me and my family!!!:) Betty Crocker also is starting to make a few gluten free mixes that you can find almost anywhere. I can get brownie and yellow cake mix at Walmart. They are nice in a pinch, but I prefer the Gluten Free Pantry mixes, they taste less "gluten free"!!!:) I think preperation is key, that way you don't feel like you missed out, and you aren't tempted to cheat.

I also have been seriously craving Chinese food, but I'm just not willing to risk an allergy attack with Eloise, so I can't bring myself to go to the resturaunt. I'm not sure what they use in there batters for the fried dishes, and I'm not sure if butter is used. I love Mar Far Chicken though, so we compromised. I found a really great recipe online, and we altered it. We have tried this with three different flours (white rice, brown rice, and quinoa), and have made it for ourselves, and both our parents. It is a winner!!! I'm sure it is not low fat, but I am also sure that it is gluten and dairy free. It is definetly one to try!!!:)

Mar Far Chicken

• 1lb Chicken breast meat cut into chunks (uncooked)
• 3/4 Cup White Rice Flour
• 1 tsp.Baking Powder
• 1 egg
• 2 to 3 tsp. Soy Sauce (we found gluten free soy sauce @ Food 4 Less)
• oil for frying
• 1/2 to 3/4 cup Rice Milk
• Extra White Rice Flour, for dipping chicken in before battering

To prepared batter, measure white rice flour with salt and baking powder into beaten egg, rice milk, and soy sauce. Mix thoroughly. Dip chicken in flour first, then dip into batter.
Add more milk to batter if it seems too thick on chicken.
Fry 365° F. on thermometer in deep fry.
Drain on absorbent paper

SO YUMMY!!!!:)

11

I'm going to give you my no bake cookie recipe. It is dairy free, but it does contain oats and peanuts. I know some people who are wheat free still do oats, but some do not since they are often processed in the same place as wheat and can contain traces. I did however find some Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Oats in the natural food section of my grocery store (food 4 less). I love my grocery store! They have so many great alternatives, I could probably spend hours looking through all of it getting ideas, but alas, I have three kids so that will not be happening!!:) Okay, here's the recipe

No Bake Cookies

• 4 cups Sugar
• 1 cup Rice Milk
• 1 cup Nucoa
• 6-8 Tbs Cocoa

Put all these ingredients in a large microwave safe bowl, and microwave them for about 5 minutes. Remove and stir until mixed. Next add the final ingredients.

• 1 cup Chunky Peanut Butter
• 5-6 cups Oats
• 2-4 tsp Vanilla

Drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper, or cookie sheets, and let cool.

This recipe makes a LOT of cookies. Its great for the holidays, when you want to give some away, or you can always freeze some for another day. My kids would prefer me to let them eat them all day long until they are gone, but I think I'll opt for freezing some!!:)


Here's the crock pot meal we made tuesday too

Lundgren Special (ala my mother in law)

• 1lb Ground Meat (we used turkey)
• 1 Onion, slivered or chopped
• 4-5 Russet Potatoes
• Ketchup
• Salt and Pepper
• Garlic Powder (I added this, we use it in almost everything!!:)

In the crock pot layer: meat, seasoning, ketchup (cover the meat probably 1/2-1 cup), onion, potato, seasoning, ketchup. If your crock pot is small and tall, you may want to layer it 2-3 times, if you crock pot is large like mine, we only layered it once. Cook on high for 5 hrs, or low for 8-10hrs.

I hope you enjoy these!! We sure did, then again I think my kids will eat just about anything, if they get to have a no bake cookie afterward!!:) No worries though, it is very easy, and very tasty!:) Have a great day!!:)

Tonight: I get the night off!! My totally awesome Mom invited us over for dinner, YAY!!

10

Hi there!!:) It's been a few days, we were struggling a bit with illness, but I think we are on the mend! It seems to be getting easier to think "free" and find things that we can eat almost anywhere. I ate out twice this weekend, once at fast food, and once at a sit down restaurant. The only other time I have gone to a sit down restaurant, since Eloise's allergies, was on our anniversary in December. I am now one of those people who asks tons of questions, and eats something small and simple. My main question was what the foods were cooked in, oil or butter. Also making sure nothing questionable was within Eloise's reach. When we ate at the fast food restaurant, I had to order my sandwich with no bun and no cheese, which got a strange look from the server. He did finally ask me why, instead of just looking at me funny!!:)


We are on about our third week now, and I'm anxious to see if the bumpy skin on my kids arms will start to fade. We haven't been strict when visiting others however, or we might already have seen bigger results. I'm just glad to have them eating healthier and a larger variety of foods.


Recently we have made tacos with turkey meat, that were really good, sweet and sour pork (thanks to my father in law), dairy free no bake cookies, and tonight a new to me crock pot dish. If I get a chance later I will give that recipe, as well as the no bake cookies.!!:)

9ish

Wow, what a week!! We started out with Penelope having a random virus, but now Eloise is sick too! That's why I haven't been keeping up this week. Due to illness, we didn't hold as tight to my pre-made menu, but we did still keep wheat out for the most part. We have been enjoying lots of yummy left overs for most of the week. Tuesday we made BBQ Beef in the crock pot (Eloise didn't eat this) with rice and veggies. Yesterday though, we had a long afternoon at the doctors office so I caved and we went through the drive through. We did go to Taco Bell, and you can for the most part eat wheat and dairy free there if you want to. I had two crunchy tacos with no cheese. Pretty inexpensive and safe for me and Eloise. Depending on how today goes with sick kiddos we will either have left over BBQ Beef, or potatoes and brats for dinner. Also for a treat I made chocolate frosting, I know super healthy!!!:) But when you really want something sugary and chocolaty, it works!!! I just alter the Betty Crocker Chocolate Buttercream frosting:

• 3 Cups Powdered Sugar
• 1/3 Cup Nucoa (melted so it blends better)
• 2 tsp Vanilla
• 1/3 Cup Cocoa
• 2 Tbls Rice Milk

Add all ingredients and mix together until creamy

The frosting is great for licking, putting on cakes, brownies, ect., Chad puts the frosting on graham crackers, and you can get a gluten free alternative at Food 4 Less.

day 7/8

Hi there!!! I didn't get a chance to write last night, we had an unexpected rash happen that looked a lot like an allergic reaction, which meant a trip into town to see a doctor, but ended up being a viral rash....whew!!! Glad for that!!:)
Otherwise yesterday was fairly productive. I made two new recipes and both of them were keepers!! First we had GF/DF mac and cheese for lunch, then I made the chicken nuggets I was hoping to get to. I even had enough to put some in the freezer! One of the good things about the vegan cheese is the color, it is very close to the same color as cheddar cheese, which is why I think my kids dove right in to the mac and cheese. They were also thrilled that Eloise could eat it too, very sweet!!!:) My husband and I liked how filling it was! We made one box of Quinoa macaroni, I think it was about 10-12oz, and all five of us ate with left-overs! Our only suggestion is to make sure you remember the salt!!:) Okay, here's the recipes!!

Macaroni and Cheese


Cook Quinoa macaroni as directed on package


Cheese Sauce

• 4 Tbls Nucoa or Olive Oil
• 4 Tbls White Rice Flour
• 2 Cups Rice Milk
• 4 Oz Vegan Mild Cheddar Cheese
• 2 tsps salt

While the macaroni is draining, make the white sauce. If you use the nucoa, melt it first in the microwave if possible, then mix together with rice flour. Add to sauce pan, and turn heat to medium high. Slowly add the rice milk and stir constantly to keep from having lumps. When this begins to boil reduce heat to high simmer then begin adding cheese. You can either break up the cheese to help it melt faster, shred it, or melt it in the microwave first. Once cheese has melted and is mixed add salt and then the drained macaroni, enjoy!!!:)



GF/DF Chicken Nuggets

• 2 pounds chicken breast meat cut into chunks
• salt
• 3-4 Cups Rice Crispies Crushed
• 1 Tbls Garlic Powder
• 1 Tbls Onion Salt
• 4 Tbls Olive Oil

Salt chicken, then in a Ziploc bag, or on the counter combine the dry ingredients. Roll, or shake(if using a Ziploc) until well coated.(I used 1 pound of chicken at a time, and that also fit better in my large skillet.) Spray large skillet with non-stick spray, then add 2 Tbls oil. Heat on medium high until oil is hot. reduce to a high simmer and add chicken. Cook for 3-4 minutes, or until golden brown, then turn and cook until the chicken is no longer pink in the middle, you may have to reduce the heat further if the crust is cooking to quickly. Repeat directions with the other pound of chicken. Enjoy!!:)


Dinner Tonight: Shrimp Scampi with Rice and Green Beans