For All of You Food Allergy Sufferers....

A couple of weeks ago I stumbled upon an awesome site called Navan Foods!

The breakout on his face happened immediately after eating chocolate.
Poor little guy!  

While he doesn't go into anaphylactic shock, his allergy reactions
include stomach upset, itchy rash (sometimes hives, sometimes
eczema flare), and fatigue.  We've had a couple of really rough nights after he got a hold of something he can't eat.

A little background before I tell you about the site:  My youngest son has several food allergies that include gluten, dairy, corn, and chocolate.  Gluten and dairy fall into "The Big 8" category.  Most companies list these ingredients on their packaging and chocolate is a no-brainer.

Corn, on the other hand, is problematic.  Many chemicals and ingredients may or may not be derived from corn.  Companies don't have to list corn as an ingredient.  Every time I see "xanthan gum" or "dextrose" or "maltodextrin" (the list goes on and on) I have to call the company and ask if it is made from corn.  In the past I have simply avoided any sort of prepackaged food.  I am okay with that most of the time, but sometimes I need a break from cooking and baking.  Sometimes I want to pick up a package of cookies or crackers or hamburger buns instead of making them from scratch.

So, when I came upon this website I was so excited!  Navan Foods is a natural food store in Virginia that specializes in allergy free foods.  In the store each product has an information card that tells you what it does NOT contain.  I don't live in Virginia, so what's all the fuss?  Navan Foods has an online store and a search function for allergies and special diets.  You can click little boxes for all your food allergies and it will display a long list of products that are okay for you.  Navan Foods has done all the homework.  They have called the companies and done the research.  How great is that!

When I clicked all of my son's allergies it even produced boxed mac-n-"cheese!"  I would not serve this on a regular basis, but how nice is it to have that back up box when life gets crazy and I need to feed the kids in a jiffy!

Along with pastas, breads, and cereals, the product search results showed candy without corn!  Again, not a staple in my kids' diet, but candy without corn is a major score.  Almost all prepackaged candy contains corn (or chocolate or dairy).  Hello, lollipops!

Navan Foods offers reasonable shipping options too.  They have flat shipping rates depending on the total cost of your order.  Over $100 is free!

I hope if you or a loved one have food allergies that you will visit Navan Foods.  The product search button is a black rectangle that says "Search By Dietary Requirement" and is located on the right hand side bar.  I'd also encourage you to place your order through Navan Foods if you use their search feature.  They have done so much work to provide you with some great information.





*** I did not receive any compensation for this post.  


Another Feed Me Tweet Me Follow Me Home Friday at a Moderate Life!

Menu Monday 4-25-11

We've moved into a bigger house which means we can spread out, but it also means I have a whole lot more house to take care of and my toddlers are off in many different directions.  In a tiny house I pretty much knew where all 5 of the kids were and what they were up to.  In this house I am up and down stairs constantly checking.  It means I have less time in the kitchen, so, I am trying to simplify my menus.  I can't spend lots of time baking, and cooking, and cleaning dishes (I'm not complaining about the last one).  Soon those toddlers will be preschoolers and I'll have more time to create and prepare more elaborate meals, but for now simple is the best choice.

Photo Credit
Disclaimer:  This is not our house.  My camera is broken.

I am really enjoying evenings on the porch swinging with the little ones.  This is the first time we've had a true front porch!  After the twins are snug in their beds, I've spent some time cuddling on the couch with the bigger kids.  We've been watching Bugs Bunny a lot.  Looney Tunes, after all these years, is still entertaining us young and old!  I love it!


Monday
Breakfast:  Honey Muffins
Lunch:  Leftover Easter Ham Sandwiches, Veggie Sticks (Gluten, Dairy, & Corn Free!)
Dinner:  Eating with my parents

Tuesday
Breakfast:  Cinnamon Toast
Lunch:  Peanut Butter Apples, Mary's Sticks and Twigs (Gluten, Dairy, & Corn Free!)
Dinner:  Tacos with Ground Turkey [1], Salad

Wednesday 
Breakfast:  Coconut Flour Waffles
Lunch:  "Buttered" Noodles [2], Peas
Dinner:  Bacon & Eggs

Thursday
Breakfast:  Breakfast Cookies
Lunch:  Hot Dogs, Carrots
Dinner:  Leftover Tacos, Salad

Friday 
Breakfast:  Granola
Lunch:  Kids at my parents :)
Dinner:  Pizza

Saturday
Breakfast:  3 Ingredient Banana Pancakes
Lunch:  Leftover Pizza, Strawberries
Dinner:  Chinese Chicken Salad [3]

Sunday
Breakfast:  Bacon & Eggs
Lunch:  Pb&j's, Applesauce
Dinner:  Leftover Chicken Salad


Footnotes:
[1] I am going to fool around and see if I can come up with a homemade gluten free/corn free taco shell for Griffin.
[2] "Buttered" Noodles are gluten free, corn free noodles tossed in coconut oil and sprinkled with nutritional yeast and salt.  I cook my noodles in homemade chicken stock to add nutritional value.
[3] I hope to post this recipe later this week.

My menus have footnotes.  :D

Raw Tortilla Chips - April In The Raw

April In The Raw is a month long event organized by Brittany at Real Sustenance.  Each day in the month of April a different blogger is sharing a raw recipe.  I am excited to be a part of it!  There have been many great recipes so far and we have another week left.  Can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!

Brittany has posted a link party as well so you can share your wonderful raw recipes too!

My original idea was potato chips and dip.  I was pumped about this great new recipe and I went out and bought a mandoline so I could make paper thin, crispy chips.  It was going to be great!  The problem is that I am extremely clumsy, not just out-and-about, but in the kitchen too.  I keep Band Aids in a drawer right next to the sink because I frequently need them for my many cuts and burns.

I am telling you this because I had my best kitchen injury to date with my new mandoline.  I sliced off the tip of my finger and then just for good measure, I gave the mandoline another go and cut two more fingers.  Needless to say, the mandoline has been put away and my potato chips recipe was laid to rest.

I am happy to report that the recipe that I am sharing today came with no cuts, scrapes, or bruises.  Well, maybe I bumped my head on the corner of a cabinet.  

3 cups corn

1 1/2 cups flax seed meal

1 cup water
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
2 Tbsp taco seasoning***

In a food processor, process all ingredients until smooth.  Pour onto Teflex sheets and place in dehydrator.  Set dehydrator to 115 degrees and after 1 to 2 hours peel chip dough away from the sheets.  Cut into triangles or squares and place back in dehydrator and wait until they get nice and crisp.

Many of the recipes I looked at for raw tortilla chips said it took only a few hours to 24 hours.  Um, mine took 4 days.  Yes, you are reading correct.  It took my chips 4 days to go from chewy to crispy.  Talk about slow food!

My husband played taste tester for me and gave them a thumbs up.  I liked them as well, but I would much rather stick them in my oven and have them done in less than an hour.  

*** I like Amy's Taco Seasoning Recipe at Simply Sugar and Gluten Free

A bonus raw recipe that was developed as I have been scurrying around to come up with an Easter basket for a child who is allergic to gluten, dairy, chocolate, and corn:  

Raw Easter Egg Cake Balls

Dough:

2 cups pitted dates

1 cup coconut flour

3/4 cup honey

Frosting:

1 cup coconut oil

l/4 cup honey

1/3 cup puree

Process dates and add honey and coconut flour.  Continue to process until a dough forms.  Roll 2 Tbsp at a time into balls.  

For the frosting process ingredients together.  I used strawberry puree to make pink, but beet juice would work really well.  I used spinach puree for the green and pineapple for the yellow.  Carrot juice makes an excellent yellow.  I thought it would be orange, but if you add it in slowly, you can achieve a vibrant yellow!  Dip the balls in the frosting and coat.  Place on wax paper on a cookie sheet and refrigerate.  The frosting will harden somewhat so you can pick it up without making a mess.

My camera has died on me and so I don't have a picture, but they turned out really cute.  My toddlers loved them.  This recipe makes about 18 balls unless you have little ones coming into the kitchen asking for dough.  

Do You Hear Crickets When You Visit My Blog?

Oh, dear friends, my internet service at my new house is not so great.  We have Clear and it worked brilliantly at our old house.  At the new house our reception is horrible!  I have not been able to get on the internet for days at a time!  I miss my blog and all of you!

Don't fret though!  We are looking for a new internet provider and hopefully I'll be back on track soon!

In the meantime, look for my April In The Raw post on Saturday.  It will be a special Easter raw treat that you don't want to miss!  There have been many delicious raw recipes posted by lots of talented, dedicated bloggers. Please visit their sites and join in on the month long event by entering your own raw recipe over at Real Sustenance!

See you on Saturday!  I am going to post this recipe no matter what!  Even Clear can't stop me!  (because I have parents who live close and they don't mind me popping over to borrow their computer).

Winner and A Coupon!

WINNER!!!!!   Congratulations to Michelle!  You have won a copy of The Everything Beans Book by Katie Kimball!  Yeah! 

Thanks to everyone else who participated!  If you would like a copy of  "The Everything Beans Book", Katie is offering an exclusive discount to my readers for 20% off!  Enter: NURFAM20 at checkout.  Click  here to buy your copy today and receive a big discount!  Offer ends April 23rd so hurry!

I'm so excited to host a giveaway for Kitchen Stewardship's The Everything Beans Book by Katie Kimball.

Money for us is tight right now.  I have really cut back on the amount of meat I prepare, opting for the affordable, edible egg and beans.  My kids love eggs.  They could have them breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Beans, on the other hand, have been more of a challenge.

Enter Katie's The Everything Beans Book.  I bought it 1) to learn more about how to properly prepare beans and 2) in the hopes that there were some recipes in there my kids would actually eat.  I was not disappointed on either fronts!  

Not only did I learn more about beans, I now have some bean recipes that my kids love!  Yeah!  So far I have made Spaghetti and Pinto Bean Chili, Cheesy White Chicken Chili, Veggie Bean Burritos made with Katie's Dosas, and the Chicken Rice-a-Roni Substitute.  All have been well received by my family.  I love when real food, frugality, and happy, full bellies all come together!  

My four year old's favorite so far has been the Chicken Rice-a-Roni Substitute.  I used Great Northern Beans because it is what I had on hand.  The color was a little dull.  Kidney beans or pintos would have made a more appealing presentation.

My son and I talked about different ways we could make it really colorful.  We decided next time I make it he would help.  He wants to add red pepper, green onions, and carrots.  Do I have a little chef in the making?

Although it is listed in the "Sides" category, I made Chicken Rice-a-Roni Substitute our main dish.  I may try adding some shredded chicken next time too.  If you go by the original recipe, it is a super fast meal, especially if you already have the veggies cut up and sitting in your freezer ready to pull out.

1-2 Tbs. butter or olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped 

1-2 stalks chopped celery

1-2 cloves garlic, minced 

1 c. brown rice

2 c. chicken broth 

1 15-oz. can of black, kidney or other beans, drained and rinsed, or 1 ½-2 c.

cooked dry beans

salt and pepper to taste (Katie suggests about 1 tsp. salt and ¼ tsp. pepper)

In a large pot heat a couple of Tbsp of oil.  Add onion and celery and saute until soft.  Add the garlic and saute for a minute or so longer.

While the celery and onion are cooking, in a separate pan, heat a couple of Tbsp of butter or olive oil, add rice and cook until slightly brown.  This will give it a more authentic Rice-a-Roni texture.  Once the rice is browned, add it to the veggies along with the chicken broth and salt and pepper.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer for 40 minutes or until the liquid is just about absorbed.  Add beans and continue to simmer, covered, for 5 minutes.

Mandatory Entry:
For a chance to win this great bean resource you must click here to see The Everything Bean Book at Kitchen Stewardship.  Please leave a comment that you did along with your email address.  I'd hate to draw your entry and have no way of getting in touch!

Want more chances to win?  Here are some extra entries!  Again, please leave your email with at least one of your entry comments. 

1. Read through the table of contents.  Come back and leave a comment about a recipe you'd like to try.
2. Browse the recipes or Monday Missions at Kitchen Stewardship and choose your favorite.
3. Follow Katie on Twitter.
4. Subscribe to Kitchen Stewardship.

Giveaway ends April 17th!  Good luck!

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Join in on the fun and make some new friends!  Click here!

Feed Me, Tweet Me, Follow Me Home Blog Hop

It's time for one of my favorite blog hops!  Hosted by Alex of A Moderate Life, April of the 21st Century Housewife, and Hella D of Helladelicious, I love this blog hop because it is specifically for all of us foodies!  Not that I don't love meeting new blogger friends who write about other topics, it's just especially nice to meet bloggers who share the same passion I do for food!  

The rules are easy.  Enter your link below and then subscribe to my RSS feed or email updates.  Follow me on GFC and Twitter too!  Leave a comment and your blog address and I'll return the favor :)  Repeat with as many blog links as you like. 

Moving....Up To My Ears In Boxes

Short post to say, I am moving (physically) and I am swimming in boxes and trying to take care of the kids at the same time. I won't be able to post for the next few days, but I have a really exciting giveaway to share with you on Monday! Please come back to see and enter for your chance to win!