Showing posts with label allergen free. Show all posts
Showing posts with label allergen free. Show all posts

Thursday, November 8, 2018

Apple Pie, Em's Way...

When I was 12, my mom taught me how to win the heart of a man...She taught me how to make apple pie! At the age of 13 I had already personalized my recipe for traditional apple pie, and at a silent auction fundraiser, one of my pies sold for $75!!! Of course, I was thrilled and amazed...the man that bought it had tasted my pie before, so I was hoping he really did like it.
Then, one day I learned I had gluten sensitivity... no more pies the way I used to make them. It was a hard fact to swallow. "Oh, well that's only one ingredient I have to change. I can find another flour to substitute", was my attitude. Months later, I found out that the swelling in my throat was related to food allergies...multiple food allergies. So many that I had trouble keeping up with the list. Over the years I have developed more...no more cinnamon, no more egg, no more corn, and on and on we could go... Does that mean I would give up on making a good apple pie? No Sir! One flop after another did dishearten me, and I wouldn't dare brag about my pies anymore. But finally the other day, something went right! I do hope it continues to go right! It's still not perfect, but it I was happy with it. In effort to preserve my creative compilation of recipes, I post them here. So, here is my newest: Apple Pie, Em's Way...
This pie is #glutenfree #cornfree #carrageenanfree #cinnamonfree #nutfree #dairyfree #gumfree #legumefree #annattofree #allergenfriendly #eggfree #organic #preservativefree #noaddedsugar




Apple Pie, Em's Way
You will need:
About 3 pounds or so of organic apples. I prefer Gala and Fuji combined.
1 1/2 or so of a cup of freshly milled brown rice flour. ***
1/2 teaspoon of Arm and Hammer baking soda.
1/2 teaspoon David's Kosher or other un-iodized salt that contains nothing but salt.
Somewhere around 1 1/2 cups of organic unsweetened applesauce. (I use Fresh Thyme or other store brand that does not contain any ingredients except apples.)
1/4 of a cup or so of California Olive Ranch extra virgin olive oil.
Clear Pyrex pie pan.

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees. (Not necessary if using a toaster oven.) Peel, core, wash, and slice apples into quarters. Boil the apples with a small amount of filtered water until they are fork tender. Slightly mash with a serving spoon. Set aside for later. Mix flour, baking soda, and salt together, then add applesauce and 1/8 of a cup of olive oil. Mix well to combine. Add more or less applesauce to make a wet dough that easily spreads with a spoon. Add the other 1/8 of a cup of olive oil to the bottom of the pan spreading it out gently. Spread 2/3 of the dough into the pan bringing it about halfway up the sides and covering the entire bottom with about 1/4 inch dough. Add the slightly mashed boiled apples to the center of the pie, leaving about 3/4 of an inch of dough around the edge uncovered. Mound up to desired thickness. Add 1/4 of a cup or so of flour to the remainder of the batter making it workable. Taking about one tablespoon or so at a time, gently work it flat with your hands and place on top of the pie. Lay enough pieces to cover most of the top of the pie, leaving a few vent holes. Bake at 425 degrees until the bottom and sides are browned. This is one reason I prefer to use a clear pyrex pan, so I can see the bottom. It takes somewhere around 30 minutes. Watch carefully that it doesn't overcook. Let the finished pie sit for a few minutes before attempting to serve or it will fall apart if it is too hot. Enjoy and don't forget to leave me your comments on how it turned out for you and your family!

*** I freshly mill my flour using a Wondermill. I use a 1:1 ratio of organic long grain brown rice, and organic brown basmati rice. Both are Lundberg brand.

For a printable PDF download of this recipe, click on the Paypal buy now button below! Happy Baking!

Monday, October 29, 2018

A Gluten Free, Allergy Free Fall

When thinking of Fall, I really start to think about all the years I remember going to bonfires with our family and friends... hotdog roasts over an open fire...toasted marshmallows and S'mores... hot chocolate...and pumpkin pie! My mom made some really good pumpkin pie...and as a teenager, I could make a mean apple pie myself. (Actually, one of my pies sold at a fundraiser auction for $75 when I was 13! Crazy? I thought so, too.)
Well, a lot of these cool memories are over for me because of my allergies. But what about my gluten sensitive children? Will they ever experience these kind of memory making traditions? Will my son with a corn allergy ever get to taste a marshmallow? These are just a few of questions that run through my mind this time of year.
The key to success in this area is hard work and creativity! Many traditional recipes can be reproduced into a gluten free copies! Yes, they may have a slightly different texture, but it can be done. :) Fortunately, for those who are just avoiding gluten there are many premixed flour that work beautifully as substitutes.
For those of us with food allergies as well as gluten sensitivity, substituting is a little more complicated. Mixing your own flours becomes a necessity. Potato starch, tapioca starch, and freshly milled brown rice flour is my go to for legume free, corn free, nut free, gluten free, and gum free flour.
Do you have a favorite flour mix that you use as a substitute? Do you buy it pre-mixed, or mix it yourself? What is your favorite fall recipe? We would love to hear from you! (And it would be a chance for you to show off your gluten free skills!)
Have a Happy, Healthy, Gluten Free day!
~Gluten Free Em~

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

The Emotional Struggle of an Allergy and/or Gluten Free Diet

OK, it's that time of year...pumpkins, candy, apple cider...we all love the awesomeness of fall! But what most people don't understand is the torture that goes on inside the mind of someone with dietary restrictions! All these beautiful smells, and delicious looking food and drinks, that we are unable to have!!!! There are several solutions to this problem, including learning how to substitute flours, but for a moment, I just want to stand up for those of us with this problem by explaining to the world what we actually deal with on a daily basis!

You are walking through the grocery store, you smell the beautiful smell of cinnamon...Your mind automatically gets anxious because you know you are anaphylactically allergic to cinnamon...so you speed up your steps to get away from the smell you love that hates you. You are walking past the bakery to get to the meat and cheese section, when you get a whiff of fresh made cake, donuts, bread...You know there is probably a trace of gluten still airborne from the mixing and baking process that goes on in that open area... You remember all the times that you were sick for weeks from that trace amount of gluten you breathed in while hanging out near the bakery for a few minutes, just trying to get your shopping done... Your heart sinks because you are hungry, wishing you could have those delicious foods again.
You get to the cheese isle... your eyes quickly roam to find the cheese you are buying for your family, not yourself. You absolutely adore cheese, and really could use the protein and calcium found in it, but you know that if you eat it you will be sick for days... You just grab what your family needs and leave, trying not to spend too much time in that area.
You pass the meat counter...You see steaks, hamburger, pork chops, ham, fish...Your heart screams at you, as your mind constantly repeats (allergic, allergic, allergic!) Without hesitation, you pass on by.
The frozen vegetable isle is loaded with delicious choices. You take your time checking to see if there are any new ones, but all you can see that is safe is broccoli, kale...and that's it. You wonder if it will always be this way. You remember the days when you could have fresh corn on the cob, okra, or even green beans or peas...You long for the freedom you had then.
The canned food isle is a quick grab and passing for the only thing down there you can have is absolutely nothing...but the family can have pinto's so you grab a few cans and go.
You go through the rest of the isles picking up a few things here and there, mourning over all the delicious options that aren't options. You remember the days when you could have them. The cravings for healthy, filling, nutritious meals are severe about now. You are just about in tears, but you must look and act strong in front of your family...so you push on. The fake smile you wear hides the inner pain and frustration that is bottled up until that moment when you are alone to release it.
Finally, the last thing on your list, you grab some yogurt for the family. You know that without the yogurt your gluten free baking just won't be what it needs to be. You also know that you won't be able to have not even one bite of the goodies that you will be mixing up for your family. At the peak of frustration, you quickly check out and pay the hundreds of dollars for the few groceries you actually have been able to grab. You are relieved when you finally get into the car to head home, only to do the same thing again next week. 
You are so hungry by this time that you wish so badly that there was some kind of fast food or snack at a gas station that you could have, but instead you just have to deal with it till you get home. You know that there isn't anything safe.

So many people don't understand the emotional battle that those of us with multiple food allergies deal with. Most people say, "Oh, you are being overly careful." But what they don't know is all the hundreds of times when your body went into anaphylactic shock because you weren't careful enough. They haven't seen you doubled over in pain, and vomiting for hours because you ate gluten. They weren't there when you failed your exam because gluten made your mind so foggy you couldn't think straight in-spite of the weeks of study. And they haven't dealt with the extreme fatigue that brought you to depression...all because of Food Allergies and Gluten Sensitivity!

The BATTLE is REAL, Folks! You can't make these things up...and so many people suffer on a daily basis like this! We have to spread awareness! We must stand up for those who have Food Allergies, Celiac Disease, or Gluten Sensitivity! We must do our best to help others who are suffering to have their voice heard!
Do your part, whatever it may be, to get the word out!
Have a Happy, Healthy, Allergen Free, Gluten Free Day!
~Gluten Free Em~

Friday, July 14, 2017

Digest Gold



If you suffer with food allergies....you need to check this stuff out! It will change your life!
For the last few years I have taken this brand of enzymes with success. It is allergy friendly, no gluten, corn, filler, etc. Safe for those of us who cannot consume nuts or shellfish. They have many different strengths depending on your need. I could go on and on...but I urge you to check it out for yourself! When taken as directed everyday for a while you will see a noticeable difference. It has helped me to maintain a healthy weight and to suffer a lot less. It can be found in most health food stores, as well as on Amazon.com, Walmart.com, and many other online retailers. You can even buy it direct from the company that makes it if you want. It is pricey, but worth it in the long run. Take my word for it. It is the best high quality digestive enzyme on the market today for food allergy sufferers. To check out all of their products go to their website here:
Have a healthy, happy, gluten free day!
Gluten Free Em