The Verdict

Very very Yummy!!  That's the verdict to the dairy-free pumpkin pie recipe I posted a couple days ago.

Dairy-Free Pumpkin Pie

I want to share a pumpkin pie recipe that is dairy-free. It's not egg free, but I'm not convinced my daughter has an egg allergy.  What I do know is she can tolerate eggs in baked goods no problem.  But milk is a little different story.  It seems whenever she has more baked goods with milk in a week her dirty diapers are a little looser.    So, I decided to make this recipe for her.  It is very similar to most pie recipes.   And it doesn't have a lot of "unusual" ingredients.  By unusual I mean I have to go out the store and spend $20 for ingredients I will only use a 1/4 tsp and then it sits in my pantry for a long time.  I like when substitutions are simple.

I'll give an update after we try it tomorrow.  But I wanted to share today in case someone was searching for a recipe for the holidays. This one has some really good reviews.

Snack idea -- Chocolate No-Bake Crunchies

When my daughter was first diagnosed with a milk allergy, I was so disappointed that she might not have chocolate.  Well, of course I have now educated myself and have found several productes with chocolate that are dairy-free.  Here is a very simple snack idea that I read in Prevention magazine.  The original recipe calls for semi-sweet chocolate chips, which are usually milk-based.  I used Enjoy Life dairy-free chocolate chips and frankly I think they taste better.

Dairy-Free Chocolate No-Bake Crunchies

1/2 cup dairy-free chocolate chips, melted (use regular chocolate chips if no allergy)
1 cup corn flakes
1/4 cup raisins

1. Melt chocolate chips in microwave for 1 minute.
2. Gently stir in raisins and cornflakes. Be careful not to crush the cornflakes.
3. Spoon onto a cookie sheet lined with wax paper.  The recipe says it makes 36 pieces, but we made about 24.  It all depends on how large you make them.  Your choice.
4. Put in fridge for  45 minutes (we ran to the grocery store instead of waiting at home).

We really enjoyed making these and my daughter loved them.

Coupon Giveaway

Check out a review and Aveeno coupon giveaway on my other blog Reflections from a Mother's Soul!

Foam Soap for Sensitive Skin

If you have a child with food allergies, you are most likely dealing with sensitive skin issues as well.  I searched high and low for a foaming "fragrance" free soap to making washing hands fun for my daughter.  I couldn't find one.  For our regular foamy hand soap (that my husband and I use) I use a small amount of shower gel or bubble bath mixed with water.

I tried this with Aveeno Creamy wash.  I simply put a couple tablespoons in a well-cleaned soap dispenser and filled the rest with water.  Shake it up to mix it together.  I suggest adding a small amount of soap to see how it foams.  If you don't add enough it will be watery.  If you use too much soap it won't foam.  It's pretty easy to figure out and little one's just love foamy soap!  Plus you don't need to worry about itchy skin when you are just trying to clean messy fingers.

I stock up on Avenno soap (and other products) when it is on sale and couple the sale with manufacturer and store coupons at Target.  If you are patient you can get some really good deals.

New Recipes on Life as a Mom

Oh, if you are looking for recipes, be sure to check out Life as a Mom.  She has a recipe swap for special diets.  So many to sift through, I think I'll be looking all day!

I posted a recipe, too.  It's also a good way to see other's blogs with special diets.  Have fun!

Big Step

We have made a huge step with our daughter -- we have put in a drop in daycare at a health club that we recently joined. Thankfully, they do not allow food.  However they do allow sippy cups and bottles (for babies).  So it's a pretty safe place for our daughter, in terms of allergies that is.  I still am nervous each time we pick her up that she's going to be all rashy.  But so far, it's been nothing but fun for her.  She normally doesn't want to leave and has a lot of fun.  It's a big step for us to have her under the care of someone else.  It's a good transition for us since we are in the same building, but she is "away" from us.  Goodness, I don't what I'm going to do when she starts school.

Hooray!

Today my daughter ate a whole piece of her Sunbutter and Jelly Sandwich. I've been trying and trying to get her to eat it.  Each time I gave it to her she ate a little more.  Today she ate more than I could have ever expected.

I'm so happy about this.  I've been searching for an easy sandwich to take when we travel.

Oh, yeah...I forgot

We don't go out to eat very often.  When we do we bring several activities for our daughter to do.  If I haven't mention it before -- she's very active and needs to be occupied all the time.  I'll bring crayons, paper, small books that fit in my purse and of course, snack.  We also play I-Spy, although we don't call it that.

Last weekend, we decided to go to Texas Roadhouse.  I haven't been there in years and I remembered really liking their rolls.  I also wanted a salad to see how my allergic reaction to raw vegetables was doing.  We walked in and stepped on peanut shells.  We were seated at the smallest two-seater booth with a high chair.  I did my normal wipe down of the high chair.  The table had the rolls and butter in the center, which was only an arms reach from our daughter.  My husband and I looked at each other and I said "oh yeah, I forgot they have peanuts," as we looked at the big pail of peanuts pushed into the corner.  We had a free appetizer and that just added to the problem and then I got a salad with Ranch dressing and my husband had soup with cheese.  Are you getting the idea -- she was allergic to everything that was brought to this tiny table.  I only brought snack for her, which she was eating very quickly. I kept watching her snack deplete hoping our food would come soon.  I was relieved that the service was quick.  She started biting on her fingers almost itching them.  We kept saying, look up so we can check your chin.  I ordered shrimp (we still don't know if she's allergic to shellfish) and it came before I finished my salad.  Oh my, the butter was within reach again.  We were wiping our hands with Clean and Go Wipes often.  And I went to wash my hands after I ate.  My husband didn't feel secure walking on the peanut shells that were all over the floor (it was slippery), so he just used wipes.  Then she started taking her shirt off -- we were sure she was itching and uncomfortable.  My husband took her out while I paid.  It turned out she did NOT have any reaction of any kind. Thank goodness.

It was stressful.  Normally eating out is not that bad.  My advice -- avoid Texas Roadhouse if you or your children have allergies.

(Oh, I reacted pretty bad to the salad.  My throat hurt until I went to sleep that night.)

Dairy-Free Recipes

On my other blog I just went back through all my family recipes and tagged the several as dairy-free.  Some may have cheese buy you can easily substitute vegan or soy-based with the recipes I labeled dairy-free.  I'm not a fancy chef or anything -- just a regular Midwest mom.  Hope you can find something you enjoy!!

http://mommystimeout-mel.blogspot.com/search/label/dairy-free

Silk Soy MIlk Coupon -- 55 cents!!!

Here a link to a 55 cent off coupon for half gallon of Silk Soy Milk!  Enjoy!