Not Nice Spice
When Chickadee was starting solids Stud noticed a rash on the back of her legs. When we realized it was eczema, I immediately started an elimination diet. Surprise, surprise it was one of the first we focused on—gluten! Since Stud and I do not have allergies, this was a whole new venture for us. Thankfully, Trader Joe was there to support us! We made a few easy switches for things like pasta and bread, but baked goods and those mouth watering Italian dishes I had to do a little more digging. We've since had to sort through egg-free, dairy-free and protein sensitivities (FPIES). All in all, we've survived and learned way more than necessary. Any recipe I make I tend to adapt to add as many extra boosts as I can. For us that includes, local raw honey, local farm eggs, raw milk, local grown small farm veggies, fruit and meat. Adding in shredded carrot and squash, purred pumpkin, sweet potato, avocado and spinach. Boost with chia seeds, ground flax seed, vitamin C, magnesium, fish oils and power greens (wheat grass, kale, moringa, spirulina). When all else fails, pack everything you can into the blender and serve up smoothies! Here are some of our kid friendly favorites: Our latest favorite, Amish baked Oatmeal! After ordering some at a local cafe we started making it at home. Perfect for littles and satisfies my ever so picky Little Old Man. I line the dish with parchment paper, add half a chopped green apple to the bottom and pour the batter over to bake. I cut the sweetener to a quarter cup and we use local raw honey. This can be dairy free but we've only baked it using local raw milk and Kerrygold butter. Alternatively, we would use Almond milk and coconut oil. I divide servings into bowls and top with berries, banana, apple, walnuts and pour milk over. Growing up I don't remember eating biscuits, but having three sprouting littles has forced me to up my breakfast for dinner game. Against All Grain's Paleo Honey Biscuits pair perfectly with a frittata. I have added onion, minced garlic, rosemary and french herbs, but the kids are plenty happy with a big glob of Kerrygold butter! Usually I bake based on whatever ingredients we have on hand. I probably-maybe had A Seven Layer Bar once at a church potluck, so I couldn't give a fair comparison. BUT, everyone was asking for me to make these copy-cats again and again. Real Food with Jessica made this Paleo Magic Bar that is de-VINE! It's certainly a treat, so I swap all sweeteners for local raw honey and lower it in each section to a quarter cup. I also reduce the chocolate chips to half a cup. Our forever favorite go-to banana bread recipe! I discovered this early on in our gluten free journey and have it memorized as it's a cold weather must. The key to this recipe is turning the oven off and leaving the bread in for ten minutes at the end. The recipe is easy enough that I don't mind making it for breakfast or during nap-time for a warm snack when they wake. Typically I double the recipe so Stud can snag a few slices. If not the littles will eat nearly a whole loaf with a generous amount of Kerrygold. I also cut the honey to a quarter cup of local raw honey and hand mash, then whisk the ingredients because washing the blender may just be the death of me. Have you discovered a recipe while very much pregnant? It's never a good idea, I assure you. By chance, though, you need to bring a sweet treat to a get-together (how scandalous!) or want to have something on hand for a spontaneous play date, these are the perfect paleo cookie! They freeze really well and come to room temperature quickly, so they're great on the fly. I top with either jam or a blueberry compote (I simmer frozen wild blueberries, a little lemon and a tablespoon of raw local honey). Let's be honest, anything in a mason jar just tastes better. Chia seed pudding is no exception! These are so so belly good and my littles can't get enough. I've used these recipes and made variations with raw milk, though the dairy free are equally delish. Since I use the blender I add in frozen spinach or an avocado (extra thick pudding) to get a little extra green in. We cycle through chocolate peanut/almond butter or the mixed berry. When choosing a new gluten or gluten free recipe, a huge factor is that there is an added nutrient benefit. Did you know Oreos are dairy free?! The things you learn during an elimination diet! We might not be eating anything double stuffed but these chickpea blondies will definitely fill you up! Again, I only use a quarter cup of local raw honey and I add one local farm egg (though these can be vegan). I made these without egg once and it definitely is googey-goodness! I also add in ground flaxseed and walnuts when I can. On a girls trip to Boston I discovered hummingbird cupcakes. So simple and sweet! Call me a late bloomer, but I quickly found a healthier version and they now cycle through our baking routine regularly. Canned pineapple isn't an all time favorite. It's easy enough to pulse fresh pineapple in the blender. If there isn't enough juice add a few splashes of coconut water. I've never made the streusel or the icing, and I cut the sweetener to a quarter cup of raw local honey- surprise! I swap out the traditional flour for Bob's Red Mill gluten free flour and melted (and cooled) coconut oil instead of vegetable oil. A good pancake recipe took numerous attempts. Prior to having kids pancakes weren't on my mind, but they are surprisingly a great grab and go breakfast on chaotic days. This is another I make a double batch and save the extra for breakfast over the next two or three days. We changed a few things in this recipe and they've come out delicious every time! Swap out sugar for honey, vegetable oil for olive oil, and increase the milk to 1 cup. We rarely deviate from Bob's Red Mill 1-1 Gluten Free Flour (blue bag). We have successfully made these with dairy free milk and powder egg replacer, too! When Stud and I met he didn't know how to boil pasta, but here were are nine years later and he loves to make gluten free meatballs for the kids. What a dad! He randomly found a recipe and now he makes his own concoction. Stud doubles the recipe and uses a pound of ground beef with a pound of ground pork, Trader Joe's gluten free rice bread crumbs and is very generous with garlic and herbs. Once they cool, place them in the freezer on a tray; once frozen transfer to a freezer bag. Fountain Avenue Kitchen has a great recipe to start with and tweak. How do you sneak veggies onto your kids' plates? For whatever reason if it's cut into a stick they chow down! Stud and I love having squash all year, but it's the one veggie that can be hit or miss with the littles. We've used recipes similar to this from The Healthy Family and Home, but tend to just wing it. I quarter the squash and keep around 2 inches long. Also, I prefer to use Trader Joe's rice crumbs because we always have it on hand.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Kate FrancesWhen you don't know what else to do, then it's time to write. Then write a little while longer for good measure. Archives
February 2020
Categories |