Learning to eat gluten-free has been a challenge. I’ve found that I cannot eat most convenience foods; I have to prepare the majority of my meals – there’s no grabbing and going from the refrigerator or pantry. Just before I made this diet change, I was invited to be a member of the WORLDFOODS Maryland Fusion Taste team by Liza of (a)Musing Foodie. WORLDFOODS makes ready-to-use sauces in a variety of Asian flavors. I panicked a little. How was I going to review Asian flavors with my diet restrictions? Fortunately, the hamper I received from WORLDFOODS was complete with gluten and dairy free sauces. Score! And the flavors are amazing – very robust, just the right amount of spice, perfect for dressing up any dish. Seriously. I improvised with what I had in my pantry and the Thai Green Curry Paste and I now have a new favorite dish. This side-dish is so good, I’ll eat it as a meal. And I don’t share. Go make your own! Easy Chickpeas-y Curry … [Read more...]
Minerals on a Mission
I had no idea when my son was diagnosed with multiple food allergies that I would be embarking on a more natural way of living, that I would be concerned with not just the ingredients in our food but in the products we used as well. But I’ve learned a thing or two over the past two plus years of reading labels and I’ve started to care about seeps into my body through my skin as well as my mouth. That’s why I switched from liquid foundation to mineral powder makeup and I love the way it makes my skin look. I’ve used several product lines and have recently discovered Mineral Fusion, although, I haven’t tried their makeup…yet. But I have tried their skin care line. I was going to wait at least two weeks before writing about it; I wanted to give it time. But after a day, I was in love. I. kid. you. not. I like the scent – kind of a deal breaker for me – reminds me of going to the spa. And I love that the products are paraben free, which means natural in my book. I love these … [Read more...]
The Digital Mom Handbook
I’ve been drawn to “how-to” books lately. (I’d love to get lost in a novel but I don’t seem to have the desire when I’m picking which book to read next.) So I was drawn to The Digital Mom Handbook by its tagline “How to Blog, Vlog, Tweet, and Facebook Your Way to a Dream Career at Home.” Specifically, I was interested in vlogging because its something I’d like to learn more about. And if I can figure out a way to supplement my income from home, even better. I ordered this book from Amazon on Monday. It arrived by Friday. And I devoured it by Sunday. If you’re looking for a book to help you get started in blogging, this is a good choice. It lacks the technical information you might need – the nuts and bolts of starting a blog – but it more than covers the bigger issues all bloggers should consider before starting a blog with the hopes of making money from it. The book is written for would-be bloggers but experienced bloggers will find it worth the read, too. I’ve been blogging for … [Read more...]
The Food Allergy Mama’s Baking Book
I made a cake the day my son was first diagnosed with food allergies. No, not to celebrate. I was taking a cake decorating class and had made it in preparation. Before his appointment, I suspected he was allergic to milk but it wasn’t until after that we learned about his egg allergy. And I had made the cake with eggs. I didn’t know any other way to bake a cake. Now I had this delicious yellow cake ready to eat and I couldn’t take a bite because I was breastfeeding and he was allergic to its ingredients. I was heartbroken. That seems silly now given that its just a cake but I love to bake and it looked like my new hobby was coming to a screeching halt. Since that day, though, I’ve discovered numerous recipes for baked goods – some good, some not so much – that are dairy, egg and nut-free. One source in particular is the Food Allergy Mama blog. I’ve been following Kelly Rudnicki’s blog for a while now. I think she hooked me with a confessed love for anything apple – or maybe it … [Read more...]
How to Make Pumpkin Soup
I love soup, especially in the winter, but I stopped buying it when my son was diagnosed with food allergies. I couldn’t find a soup that did not contain a milk product. It was probably for the best given the amount of sodium in most soups. I never thought about making soup myself until this fall when a plethora of butternut squash from the CSA begged to be pureed into a hearty soup. Making the soup was easier than I imagined and the end product was delicious. I was hooked! So when I checked out Kitchen Play’s progressive menu for December, sponsored by My Spice Sage, I knew right away I was going to give the Spicy Pumpkin Soup Shooters a try. I, of course, had to put my own twist on it. (Translation: adjust the recipe to accommodate the ingredients I did and did not have). I used less than a full can of pumpkin puree (hubby had used some for a cheesecake); I substituted soy milk for 2% because we don’t have cow’s milk in our house due to allergies; I added a little bit of sugar … [Read more...]
