Dairy-Free Cas Mac

When my husband and I were first married, one of our favorite meals was Cas Mac (re-named by my husband).  We ate it often and got a little tired of it.  But it is my go-to meal when I can't think of anything to make.  Our daughter and I were talking the other day about lunches, and it dawned on me that I could easily make a dairy-free version of Cas Mac for her.

Dairy-Free Cas Mac
(This is one of those recipes that I will take some of the ingredients from the main dish that I making and make a single serving for her.  Note: This make enough for about 4 servings).

1/2 pound Ground Beef, browned and drained
1/4 cup to 1/2 cup dairy-free cheese sauce, based on preference (this freezes well and can be pulled out for this meal to make it easier)
1 cup macaroni noodles (or any pasta you like)
1/2 can tomato soup (save the rest for a meal later in the week)
1/4 to 1/2 cup Frozen vegetable, (we like corn)

1. Brown beef.  Drain. Set aside.
2. Boil noodles for 8 minutes.  Drain. Set aside.
3. Make cheese sauce. Mix with noodles.
4. In casserole dish mix meat, cheesey noodles, tomato soup and vegetables together.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until baked through.

Pampers coupon Giveaway

I'm giving away some high value coupons on my other blog.  Check it out!

CSN Stores and Upcoming Review

Does your home need a little redecorating or new LED Lighting?  Maybe you feel the need to treat yourself to some new kitchen tools.  Or you are looking for that unique gift for the someone who has everything.   You won't be disappointed when you shop at CSN stores with more than 200 online stores to meet all your home and lifestyle needs.  You will find something for everybody from contemporary furniture, kitchen appliances, LED Lighting, cookware, shoes, bags, toys, and even pet accessories.  Be sure to explore the Ultimate Gift Finder to find that perfect gift.

Stay tuned for my review of a kitchen appliance that I hope will make a difference in making allergy-safe snacks at minimal cost for our daughter with multiple food allergies.  In the meantime, happy shopping at the CSN stores.

Calling all Moms with School-Age Children with Food Allergies

I have decided that it is time for me to go back to work.  I'm so excited.  I accepted a position at an Early Head Start center (read more here).  But this means our daughter is going to have expand from our "food" safe bubble. She's going to be going to a preschool daily.  I'm not so worried about her having a reaction or the teachers not knowing how to handle a reaction.  I think just the overall idea that I have to trust someone else to keep her safe is the challenge.

I think we are going to bring lunches and snacks from home in the beginning until I can go through and read labels.  Any suggestions or links would be really helpful. So far I have a pretty good list of foods and snacks, but am open to more ideas.  Also, any tips or resources to give to the staff that you have found useful would be appreciated.  Thank you in advance!

Anyone have experience with this website

My husband found this website that carries nut-free chocolate made by Nestle in Canada.  There are Kit-Kats, Smarties (which are like M&Ms) and Mars Bars (which are like Milky Ways).  While it doesn't appear to be dairy-free, it still might be a good option for those of us with nut allergies.  I'm still hopeful our daughter will outgrow the dairy allergy, but the peanut one is much less likely.  It's a Canada company and I'm not sure if it ships to the US.  Anyone have any experience with this or anything like this?

Fourth of July Marshmallows

I adapted this idea from here.  I'm not nearly that patient talented to make those amazing treats.  But we were able to make the marshmallow part.  Note our daughter did this one by herself!!  I think my toddler is turning into a preschooler!

Fourth of July Marshmallows

Large Marshmallows
Red sugar sprinkles
Blue sugar sprinkles
water
toothpicks
3 small containers

1. Fill each container.  One with the red sprinkles, one with blue sprinkles and one with about 1/2 of water.
2. Put toothpick on top of marshmallow. This is what you will hold onto to dip your marshmallow so you don't get too sticky.

3. Dip marshmallow in water.

4. Dip in blue sprinkles.
5. Use the same toothpick and put it through the top of the blue sprinkles.

6. Dip unsprinkled side in water and then red sprinkles.

**We made this for afternoon snack and our daughter ate it faster than you can imagine.  I guess you can't get better than sugar and marshmallows (except if only chocolate was involved, hmm there's an idea in waiting)**

For more recipes (not neccesarily dairy-free) go the Grocery Cart Challenge and Life as Mom!

Wacky Mac

I often get questions about what pasta we use that is egg-free.  Yesterday, we stumbled across a sale ($1) for Wacky Mac and thought we would give it a try.  The only allergen listed is "Wheat."  This pasta is high in fiber and protein.

When I told our daughter that she was going to have Wacky Mac for lunch, she told me "no."  I said "We will just try it."  She sat in her chair and looked at the Wacky Mac coated with tomato sauce and said "I love pasta."   Next thing I hear her say is "This is my favorite... More Wacky Mac please."  She absolutely loved it.  She liked the green shapes the best.  Case in point -- you just never know what children will eat.

 It was nice to pick up some "healthy" pasta for only $1 versus $4 or more. I know I've seen coupons for Wacky Mac online, too  I found it a chain grocery store in town -- not one of my normal stores I shop at to get allergy-free items.  This store does have organic and allergy-free food, but normally the cost is about 20 percent higher.  This was a good find.  So, check out your store and see if you can find.  I can only hope for you that it works well with your little one!

Van's Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Egg-Free French Toast Sticks

A reader recently mentioned Van's French Toast Sticks and I just had to give them a try.  Huge success with our almost 3-year-old.  They are a little pricey, but for an extra meal idea for the week I think it's worth it.

Don't feel sorry

If you have been reading this blog for some time you have read about my food allergies.  I have had food allergies since I was 4 years old to raw fruits and vegetables.  Just recently I found out I have a peanut allergy.  It's a mild reaction but I think it was contributing to other issues as well.

Since I found out about the peanut allergy I have avoided "commercial" chocolate. I have tried M&Ms and Milky Way candy since finding out about my peanut allergy just to see what might happen.  Sometimes nothing, sometimes a sneeze, sometimes a coughing fit.  Interesting.  So instead of the gamble I eliminated it all together.  Now I am a huge chocolate lover and this was very challenging to give up.  Not to stop eating it because when something you eat hurts you, you don't like it (even if you really do love the flavor). That part of it was easy.  Just accepting a good alternative was a challenge (mostly because of cost).  I found Enjoy Life chocoolate chips and Boom Choco Boom bars to be a very acceptable replacement.  It so odd to me to eat a piece of chocolate and to feel such a "clean" taste.  I never noticed it before until I took the peanut out of my body.

Yesterday I was watching a commercial for Dairy Queen Blizzards.  A part of me got a little sad.  I may never eat one of those again.  They showed a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup.  Again I thought about how I used to enjoy eating those and probably won't again.  But the other part of me said "thank goodness you figured out what may be causing the problems and it's really no big deal."  That made me think about comments I hear about children with food allergies.

I often hear people say they feel sorry that their children can't have a certain food because of an allergy or that adults shouldn't eat foods in front of allergic kids who can't eat them.  But I'm telling you it's no big deal.  We don't want to eat what you have.  What you have makes us itch, sneeze, hurt, rash or worse.  We don't want that, ever.  Our daughter recently tested out some milk-based chocolate pudding (she loves chocolate, too).  After she had a mild reaction, I asked her if she liked the pudding and she very clearly shook her head and said "NO."  Even though I know she loves the flavor of chocolate, she did not like the reaction it gave her.  And again she's not even 3 years old.

To sum up, those of us with food allergies are used to it.  We know what we can have and what we can't.  Having alternatives available is fine.  But I'll just skip over the food I can't eat if at a party or gathering.  It's really no big deal.  Children are the same.  I think the only time they might feel some jealousy is if they don't have something to eat when everyone else does and there is no safe alternative, such as at a birthday party where cake and ice cream is served.  But as parents we make sure those situations don't happen too often or at all.  In that case I just bring along a chocolate snack bar or make a plate of brownies to share and all is well.

New Silk Soy MIlk coupon

There is a new  $.55/1 Silk Soymilk coupon available.  Be sure to print it twice!