Allergy free. In my twenties I never thought about foods being "allergy free", then in my thirties I found myself battling unusual symptoms and a mystery illness. Then came my first of many elimination diets and the term 'sensitivity'. Now in my forties I face allergies, both mine, my daughter's, and those of family and friends. It has become more common, at least in my life and the circles I travel in. Now many restaurants offer 'allergen menus' and gluten free options abound. 'Food Sensitivities' seem to complicate the issue even more.
For me, eating has actually become more simple. I know what I can have, natural and whole foods. I know what I can't have, anything processed or packaged. This of course is difficult for many to understand. We live in a time where it seems everything comes in a box or can. And if a person is not cooking with convenience items then they are stopping at a restaurant, getting take-out, or using the drive-thru. My allergies and food sensitivities keep me far from restaurants. I find myself often traveling with bags and coolers full of food and offering to cook because when people see or hear my list of restrictions they are stumped. But it really is simple. It is the way our grandparents and great-grandparents cooked before all of the modern day conveniences. And no, it does not need to take all day to get food on the table. It can be done, it can be simple.
For me, eating has actually become more simple. I know what I can have, natural and whole foods. I know what I can't have, anything processed or packaged. This of course is difficult for many to understand. We live in a time where it seems everything comes in a box or can. And if a person is not cooking with convenience items then they are stopping at a restaurant, getting take-out, or using the drive-thru. My allergies and food sensitivities keep me far from restaurants. I find myself often traveling with bags and coolers full of food and offering to cook because when people see or hear my list of restrictions they are stumped. But it really is simple. It is the way our grandparents and great-grandparents cooked before all of the modern day conveniences. And no, it does not need to take all day to get food on the table. It can be done, it can be simple.
For me, I am severely allergic to shellfish. Ny daughter is allergic to tree nuts. My sensitivities include eggs, soy, and wheat/gluten. My friend's daughter has a casein allergy. My cousin's daughter is allergic to peanuts and tree nuts. My sister-in-law can't eat tree nuts, peanuts, eggs, soy, dairy, wheat or gluten. This covers 7 of the top 8 food allergies. The remaining allergy- fish- I avoid because of cross contamination with shellfish. In addition, I can't tolerate corn or corn products- one of those 'sensitivities'.
This is a place to go for simple, basic, allergen free recipes. If a recipe has any of these top 8 allergens, or corn, it will be noted at the top of the page. These recipes will not have any unusual or hard to find ingredients or start with a processed food. Many of the recipes can be altered to include egg, dairy, or nuts if you are fortunate enough to have any of them. The difference here is you do not need to alter the recipe to accommodate your allergies. No more trying to substitute and alter the wheat recipe to be gluten free or the gluten free recipe to also be egg free and facing frustration and waste of ingredients. Adding in nuts or substituting an egg in place of a flax egg or switching a cup of water for a cup of milk will only make the end result better!
That being said, some of my baking recipes DO include dairy in the form of butter, milk, yogurt, or cheese. These recipes are BEST with the dairy included. Options for removing the dairy will be listed at the top of the recipe, but the end result may be more crumby or oily or dry. Options for replacements such as soy milk, almond milk, soy yogurt, coconut yogurt, etc. I have not tested. The reason is this, I cannot tolerate the main ingredients (such as soy)or additives the replacements contain to make them mimic dairy. I need to keep it simple. If you have a butter substitute that you are successful with- you know how it behaves and you know if it will work in a cookie. If not, there are other cookies that do not start with butter.
Additionally, there are a few peanut butter baking recipes- the peanut butter can easily be substituted with your favorite sun butter or other peanut butter replacement. Remember, all the recipes contain simple ingredients and substitutions are meant to be simple as well.
This is a place to go for simple, basic, allergen free recipes. If a recipe has any of these top 8 allergens, or corn, it will be noted at the top of the page. These recipes will not have any unusual or hard to find ingredients or start with a processed food. Many of the recipes can be altered to include egg, dairy, or nuts if you are fortunate enough to have any of them. The difference here is you do not need to alter the recipe to accommodate your allergies. No more trying to substitute and alter the wheat recipe to be gluten free or the gluten free recipe to also be egg free and facing frustration and waste of ingredients. Adding in nuts or substituting an egg in place of a flax egg or switching a cup of water for a cup of milk will only make the end result better!
That being said, some of my baking recipes DO include dairy in the form of butter, milk, yogurt, or cheese. These recipes are BEST with the dairy included. Options for removing the dairy will be listed at the top of the recipe, but the end result may be more crumby or oily or dry. Options for replacements such as soy milk, almond milk, soy yogurt, coconut yogurt, etc. I have not tested. The reason is this, I cannot tolerate the main ingredients (such as soy)or additives the replacements contain to make them mimic dairy. I need to keep it simple. If you have a butter substitute that you are successful with- you know how it behaves and you know if it will work in a cookie. If not, there are other cookies that do not start with butter.
Additionally, there are a few peanut butter baking recipes- the peanut butter can easily be substituted with your favorite sun butter or other peanut butter replacement. Remember, all the recipes contain simple ingredients and substitutions are meant to be simple as well.
Shelly
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