Chocolate chip Pumpkin Cupcake

I am back!!!! After a much needed break...can we all just admit that we need one every once in a while? I decided to blog! Yippee! I know that taking a break is against the cardinal rules of blogging, however life happens and some things are just more important than blogging. However, my love for blogging and cooking did not vanish. So, if there's anybody out there reading this, give me a shout out and post a comment! With out delay here is a delicious recipe that is a fall must! 

Chocolate chip Pumpkin Cupcake

2 1/2 Cups of Gluten free Flour Blend

1 1/4 Cup Agave Nectar

2 tsp. Baking Soda

1 tsp. Baking Powder

1 tsp. Guar Gum

1 tsp. Cinnamon

1/2 tsp. Sea Salt

1/4 tsp. Nutmeg

3/4 Cup Pumpkin Purée 

1/2 Cup Grapeseed Oil

1/2 Cup Hot Water

1/2 Cup Coconut Milk

1 Tbsp. Lemon Juice

1/2 Cup Vegan Chocolate Chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 F and line a cupcake tin. Mix on ingredients in a mixer on medium speed for a couple of minuets. Pour batter into cup 3/4 full. Bake at 350 for 30 min or until toothpick pokes clean. Enjoy!

Cranberry Pumpkin Streusel Muffins

In honor of Pumpkin Spice Late season... This muffin is Vegan, Gluten, and refined Sugar Free. A delicious Muffin that is perfect for the Celiac, Diabetic, Allergic, or Veganic person. Or just perfect for the person trying to be a little more healthy. These contain all natural, organic ingredients that have zero allergens or refined junk that you can't pronounce. Also olive oil is used in place of vegetable oil, so the person with high Cholestrol can participate too!

Streusel Ingredients

1 Cup of Multi-Grain Gluten Free Blend (see the Multi-Grain Flour Blend Post)

1/2 Cup Packed Raw Coconut Sugar

1 tsp. Cinnamon

Pinch of Sea Salt

5 Tbsp. Olive Oil

1/2 Cup Craisins

Muffins Ingredients

Dry

2 Cups Multi-Grain Gluten Free Blend

3/4 Cup Packed Raw Coconut Sugar

1/2 Cup Agave Nectar or Pure Maple Syrup (not dry but mix it in anyways)

2 tsp. Baking Soda

1 tsp. Baking Powder

3/4 tsp. Guar Gum

1 1/2 tsp. Cinnamon 

1/4 tsp. Nutmeg

1/4 tsp. Ground Cloves

1/2 tsp. Sea Salt

Wet

3/4 Cup Pumpkin Purée

1/2 Cup Olive Oil

1/4 Cup Coconut Milk

1/4 Boiling Water

1 Tbsp. Apple Cider Vinager 

Directions

Mix all struesel ingredients on low for a couple of minuets. Set bowl aside. Preheat Oven to 350 F. 

In a separate Bowl, mix all Dry ingredients (including Agave Nectar). Once dry ingredients are mixed, slowly add wet ingredients one at a time. Beat on high for a coule of minuets. 

Line a muffin tin and fill cups 3/4 full. Use a separate spoon to top muffins with struesel mix. Bake for 35 minuets and let cool. Enjoy!!

Powerful Pizza

A pizza that is Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Egg-Free, Soy-Free, all natural, organic, healthy, and packed full of healthy protein. And for my food friend who is fighting liver cancer....it contains very low Sodium! Yippee!

Topping Ingredients 

3 pounds of ground turkey

Olive oil

1 Red Pepper

1 Yellow Pepper

1/2 Jar of Organic and Allergy Free Marinara Sauce

3 heaping tsp. Minced Garlic

1 Tbsp. Onion Powder

1 Cup Fresh Spinach

Crust Ingredients

1 Cup Dairy-Free Milk (I used Coconut Milk)

1 1/4 Cup Quinoa Flour (or your grain of choice

8 Tbsp. Tapioca Starch (or your starch of choice)

1 tsp. Guar Gum

1 tsp. Sea Salt

1 tsp. Baking Soda

4 Tbsp. Grapeseed Oil

1 Tbsp. Apple Cider Vinegar 

Directions

1. Preheat Oven 350 F

2. Mix all crust ingredients on low for about 5 minuets.

3. While crust is mixing, start browning Ground Turkey on low in a frying pan.

4. While turkey is browning, flatten dough onto a greased pizza pan.

5. Bake Pizza Crust for 18 to 20 minuets. 

6. While Crust is Baking add Onion Powder, Garlic, and Spinach to Turkey. Toss in some Olive Oil to keep it moist. 

7. Wash and Chop Peppers and add them to the frying pan.

8. Pull out crust, flip it, and then spread sauce evenly over the entire thing.

9. Add all toppings from the frying pan. Drizzle more olive oil over the top of Pizza. 

10. Bake for another 20 minuets. 

11. When fully cooked, slice into even peices and Enjoy!

Product of the Week: Organic Fruit Snacks

These fruit snacks are such a treat! They are Gluten Free and free of all those other preservatives that make kids snacks so unhealthy. There is no High Fructose Corn Syrup, Refined Sugar, Soy, Artificial Flavors or Colors, and they are totally Organic. You can pronounce all ingredients so you know exactly what is going in your child's mouth.

I present to you Product of the Week Number 2....

YumEarth Organics Fruit Snacks

The images of the ingredients are hard to read in the photo because the packaging is a plastic bag. But I will type them all out on the bottom of the post.

Just where do you find these? At an over-priced Health Food Store? Nope! Costco! Yep, that's one amazing place, that Costco is. They were 6.99 for a huge bag of them. If you don't have a Costco near by or your Costco does not sell them you can order them online. Here's the link. YumEarth Organics Fruit Snacks

Each bag is 70 calories and although there are 11g of sugar you can rest assure that all of it is natural, unprocessed or refined sugar. Much better than the alternative. 

Here's my very poor picture of the bag. I hope you can find some and treat your kids! Mine love them!

Ingredients: Organic Brown Rice Syrup, Pectin Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Organic Juice Concentrates (Carrot, Apple, Pumkin, Radish, Black Currant), Juice Concentrate (Carrot, Hibiscus), Asorbic Acid (Lemon Juice)

Chocolate Zucchini Muffin

These are so good and fluffy. They are completely Allergy free. They contain NO Gluten, Egg, Wheat, Dairy, Corn, Tree-Nut, Peanut, or Soy. They are Vegan, super healthy and include a secret ingredient that contains healthy fats.

Let me first add that I found and amazing Ancient Grains, Gluten-Free All Purpose Flour that I used in this recipe. It is called Premium Gold All Purpose Gluten-Free Flour. I ordered it online but I have heard that most Costco's sell it. However, our local Costco does not carry it. It contains no Corn Meal, or Almond Flour unlike most Gluten-Free Flour. It is made with Rice Flour, Flaxseed, Quinoa Flour, Buckwheat Flour, Amaranth Flour, Tapioca Flour, Arrowroot Flour, and Xanthan Gum. To access where to Order it just simply click on the link and it will take you right to the website. If you don't have access to this and don't want to order the flour I have the conversion for you.

All Purpose Flour Mix Conversion

1 Cup Quinoa Flour (or grain of choice)

8 Tbsp. Tapioca Starch (or starch of choice)

3/4 tsp. Guar Gum or Xanthan Gum

Ingredients

1 Mashed Avocado

1 Cup Shredded Zuchinni 

3 Tbsp. Flax meal

6 Tbsp. Warm water

1/2 Cup Grape-seed Oil

1 tsp. Pure Vanilla

1/3 Cup Boiling Water

1 1/2 Cups of Gluten-Free All Purpose Flour

1/2 Cup Cocoa Powder

1/2 Cup Craisins

3/4 Cup Stevia or Sugar

1 1/2 tsp. Baking Soda

1 1/2 tsp. Cinnamon 

Directions

1. Preheat Oven to 350 F

2. Mix Warm Water and Flax meal. Let sit for 8 minuets to form a gel

3. Mix all wet ingredients with Flax Gel

4. Mix all dry ingredients

5. Combine wet and dry ingredients

6. Line a muffin tin with paper baking cups

7. Fill paper cups with batter to top

8. Bake on top rack for 35 minuets or until toothpick pokes clean

*You can Convert the Recipe to a Bread Simply by putting batter in a Greased Loaf Pan and increasing the time to 55 minuets.

Product of the Week: Hemp Milk

Being on an Elimination Diet can be difficult for people who love Milk. Taking Dairy out of a child's diet is not recommended because Cow's Milk is similar to Breast Milk in the sense that it is full of Calcium And Vitamin D. Calcium plays a huge role in Bone development, and Vitamin D in Brain development. Needless to say, switching to a Non-Dairy Milk should not be done casually. When it comes to a child's development you must be considerate of all nutritional values.

Here's a list of Dairy replacements:

• Rice Milk
• Soy Milk
• Almond Milk
• Coconut Milk
• Hemp Milk

I broke each one down, did some research, and good old fashion comparison of Nutrition Labels and here's what I found. Rice Milk has literally no nutritional value. It's packed with Carbohydrates and lacks Protein as well as Vitamins and Minerals essential to a child's development. Soy is not the drink of choice because it's full of Fat and again, lacks Protein, Calcium and other vital nutrients. Almond Milk is a great choice, it has the same Calcium and Vitamin D content as Cow's Milk. Two problems with Almond Milk though. 1) It lacks Calories, 30 calories just doesn't cut it for the kiddos (For an adult it's great though). And 2) Almond Milk is not recommended for people on an Elimination Diet because it contains Tree-Nuts. Other than the allergy part of it, Tree-Nuts can cause inflammation in the digestive tract. Almond Milk is not recommended for people with Auto-Immune Disease, Eosinophilic Disorder, or Inflammatory problems. So, that leaves us with Coconut Milk and Hemp Milk. Coconut Milk, like Rice Milk lacks nutrition. It does contain lots of great Fatty Acids, but it's also full of Sugar. Not a good choice when substituting Milk in a toddlers sippy cup. However, Coconut Milk is great for baking!!!! Unlike Almond Milk, Coconut is not considered a tree-nut. It's hypoallergenic and was recommended by my Allergist!

Since the Elimination Diet excludes Soy, Dairy, and Almond Milk, and both Coconut and Rice Milk are unhealthy,  what do I replace Cow's Milk with for my little tot? I present to you....

Hemp Milk!

Full of Calcium and Vitamin D, in fact it has as much as Cows Milk! It contains Protein, lots of great Fatty Acids, and comes in a Vanilla flavor that does NOT contain processed Sugar! What?! I'm not kidding. See for yourself. 

I purchased mine at Sprouts, but if you don't have a Sprouts in your hometown here is a link for you to order. Pacific Hemp Milk.

No Sugar and only 1 gram of Carbs!!!!! Sweetened with Natural Vanilla! Wait, did you see it has 70 Calories and is full of Healthy Fats? That's a Caloric equivalent to Cow's Milk and twice as much as Almond Milk. Better than Cow's Milk though, it is Healthy Fat, not full of Cholesterol. I thought I died and went to Heaven when I found this for Zachy. It gets better, the taste is wonderful! He drinks about 2 sippy cups a day of this stuff. I can rest assure he is getting proper nutrients to foster Bone and Brain development. Yes, Vitamin  D helps stimulate brain development. Cheers to the smart kids that this stuff is helping create! 

One very funny question I was asked by someone, was whether or not you can get high from drinking it. Although hemp is from the Marijuana plant, it does not contain THC. So, whether that is good news or bad news for you, it's the truth. No getting high here. 

The last note before I leave for today... Because it is made from a seed, it has an oil that will separate from the grain. Make sure you give the carton a good shake before pouring. And if you re-refrigerate sippy cups like I do...Shake it well before giving it to your child. 

There you have it. The product of the week. I will keep them coming! 

Carrot Zucchini Muffins

These muffins are to die for! So healthy. Not an ounce of refined sugar or even sugar replacements. They contain 2 Veggies and 2 Fruits. Paleo Friendly and Totally Gluten-Free, Egg, Dairy, Soy, Nut, Wheat, And Grain Free! Does an Allergy Mom's life get any better?? 

My kids both love them!!! They are great to throw in the car for those on-the-go moments when you need a healthy snack. Here's the recipe, I hope you enjoy them as much as we do. 

Ingredients

1/2 Cup Coconut Flour

1/2 Cup Quinoa Flour

1/2 tsp. Guar Gum

1/2 Cup Shredded Carrots

1/2 Cup of Craisins or Raisins

1 Cup of Shredded/Strained Zuchinni

1 tsp. Baking Soda

1/4 Cup of Apple Sauce or 1 Banana

1/4 tsp. Sea Salt

3 Tbsp. Grapeseed Oil or Olive Oil

1 Tbsp. Ground Flax

3 Tbsp. Warm Water

1/2 Cup Maple Syrup

1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

1/2 tsp. Ground Cinnamon 

Directions

1. Preheat Oven to 350 F

2. Mix Flax and Warm Water to make gel. Set aside for 8 minuets

3. Mix all ingredients in a mixing bowl and then add Flax Gel

4. Line cupcake tin with paper liners. Use a spoon to fill each liner with batter.

5. Bake at 350 F for 35 minuets or until toothpick pokes clean. 

Enjoy!! So Glad you gave it a try. Please let me know how you like them.

*you can use a Gluten-Free Flour mix instead of Coconut and Quinoa Flour. But, if you choose to it will be very very moist. To avoid this you can omit the Applesauce or Banana.

Avacado Cilantro Lime Chicken

This is not Vegan, however without the chicken it is still and amazing dish full of protein! If you are Vegan or you are in the beginning if the Eosinophilic Diet Guidelines and can't have meat yet, simply omit the chicken. For the time being I'm using Chicken.

This is an amazing dish! And a little bit different, and better than the ones you see floating around Pinterest. Here's my rendition. 

Ingredients

3 Chicken Breast boiled, shredded and cooled

2 Ripe Avocados

1 Lime

1/2 Red Onion

1 Bushell of fresh Cilantro

2 Tbsp. Coconut Yogurt

1 tsp. Sea Salt

2 Tsp. Minced Garlic

1 Cup Quinoa

Directions 

1. Put Onion and Cilantro in food processor until finely chopped 

2. Combine Chicken, sliced Avacado, juice from Lime, Coconut Yogurt, Galic and Sea Salt to a mixing bowl. Toss until evenly mixed and Avacados are fairly mashed

3. Add Quinoa, Onion, and Cilantro to the bowl. Toss until evenly mixed. 

4. Enjoy!!!

Raspberry Sauce to top Any Meat

This is a great Marinade or Sauce to top any Meat. Zachy has not yet been approved to eat Meats on the Eosinophilic Guideline Diet, however I try to experiment for the future. And, any mom of a child with food allergies knows that most Marinades, Sauces, and Dressings contain Soy, Dairy, and Gluten. Not to mention all the other un-healthy stuff in them like, High-Fructose Corn Syrup and Sodium. Crazy right?! I was shocked too. Any who, on with the sauce. A great part of cooking Allergy Free, even if my little guy can't share, is that I don't have to stress about touching him while I'm enjoying my food. Zachy's allergies to Wheat and Dairy are so bad that if it even touches his skin he will get hives and start wheezing. One time dad kissed him after he ate a granola bar that contained yogurt, and Zachy's whole face swelled up. Needless to say we get a little anxious when people are eating Wheat or Dairy and don't wash their hands before touching our son. If I can create meals that don't contain the things he's allergic to, it makes my life that much easier. Getting up to wash my hands every time his Sippy Cup hits the floor, or his spoon is too far out of reach, or he wants to offer me some of his food to eat, can be quite the task. With this meal, I williningly helped him with sauce all over my little fingers. Enough jabber, lets get to the point. I baked some Boneless Chicken Breasts with a little Salt, Pepper, Onion Salt, and Olive Oil. Once the Chicken was fully Cooked I drizzled this sauce over the top, and the results were amazing. It made for some very delicious, Allergy Free Dinner that the Hubs, and the 3 year old Man-Child both approved of. 

Ingredients

15 oz Fresh Raspberries

Olive oil

1 Tbsp. Minced Garlic

1/4 Cup Lemon or Citrus Juice

1 Tbsp. Pure Maple Syrup

Directions

1. Heat a small sauce pan with Olive Oil drizzled in the bottom

2. Once oil is popping, add 15 oz of washed, fresh raspberries

3. Add Minced Garlic and Lemon Juice to sauce pan

4. Let cook on Medium High until boiling

5. Once boiling turn heat to Low and use a masher to burst the fruit

6. Add Maple Syrup and stir well

7. Turn heat off to allow it to thicken some. 

8. Use to top any Meat of Choice

Sweet Green Smoothy

And yet I present to you another great way to throw some healthy veggies into your kids meal...Meet the Sweet Green Smoothy! Sure to be a hit with you, and the little ones.  Here's what you need for Ingredients.

Ingredients

A splash of Coconut Milk

1/4 Cup of Coconut Yogurt

1 Cup of Spinach 

1/2 Cup of frozen or fresh fruit

1/4 Cup of Orange Juice

Directions

1. Throw it all in the blender.

2. Let some cute chubby fingers press start

3. ENJOY (yes, that is part of the directions)

this is my beautiful toddler boy, BIG brother and protector of Zachy!

Vegan Quinoa Pancakes

Vegan Quinoa Pancakes

These are Egg Free, Dairy Free, Nut Free, Wheat Free, Gluten Free, Soy Free, Vegan, Organic, and Delicious! Not kidding!!

Ingredients

1 Cup Quinoa Flour or Flakes

1 Cup Coconut Milk

1/4 Cup Applesauce

2 Tbsp. Coconut Oil

1 Tbsp. Stevia or Sugar

1 Tbsp. Pure Vanilla Extract

1 tsp. Baking Powder

1/4 tsp. Sea Salt

Directions

1. Add all ingredients to Mixing Bowl and mix on high for 2-3 minuets

2. Coat frying pan in oil of choice (I used Olive Oil)

3. Pour Small round cakes into pan and let cook until edges turn brown

4. Flip Pancakes and lightly press down in center with spatula

5. Cook until slightly brown on bottom

6. Serve with Pure Grade B Maple Syrup warmed. Can you say YUMMY?

Gluten-Free Vegan Baked Risotto

Who said an amazing Italian dish had to be full of Carbs and Cheese. Your world is about to get rocked by this flavorful Italian wonder. 

Ingredients

4 Tbsp. Olive Oil

1 Diced Red Pepper

1 Peeled and Cubed Spaghetti Squash

1 tsp. Onion Powder

1 tsp. Sea Salt

1 Tbsp. Minced Garlic

1 Handful of Fresh Parsley

1 1/2 Cups Quinoa

2 Cups of Water

2 Cups of Gluten-Free Chicken Stock

2 Cups Spinach

1/4 Cup Coconut Yogurt

1 Cup Cherry Tomatoes 

1/4 Cup Kirkland Marinara Sauce *Costco brand is the most allergy-friendly*

Directions

1. Preheat Oven to 425 F

2. In a Medium saucepan on medium heat, add the first 7 ingredients, plus 1 Cup of Spinach and stir well. Saute for approximately 4 minuets

3. Add Quinoa to saucepan and mix well. Let cook for another 4 minuets

4. Pour 2 Cups of Chicken Stock, plus 2 cups of water to saucepan. Mix well and bring to a boil. Once boiling, turn heat to Medium Low and let simmer for 20 minuets, or until liquid is absorbed

5. Grease a Large Baking Dish with Coconut oil. Pour Cherry Tomatoes into dish and spread evenly to cover the pan.

6. Use a Chopper, or a can of beans if you don't own a chopper. Smash all tomatoes until they are popped open.

7. Mix Coconut Yogurt into Tomato

8. Once Quinoa and Veggies are fully cooked, pour entire saucepan into Baking Dish

9. Use a Potato Masher and Press firmly over the entire Pan

10. Bake at 425 F for 20 Minuets

11. Once Baked, Pour Marinara Sauce over the Pan evenly.

12. Next spread 1 Cup of Spinach on top layer of Pan

13. Bake at 425 F for another 15 minuets

Your are Done!!!!

Let this masterpiece cool down and cut into even squares. Serve warm and ENJOY!

Sneaky Cereal

Lots of Parents scratch their heads at how to get their kids to eat veggies. Fortunately my kiddos love their veggies. I always throw something nutritious into their snacks, like carrots! I love to throw carrots into a food processor and bam, shredded carrots ready to add to any dish. One snack Zachy loves is Brown Rice Crisp Cereal. So, I take equal amounts of Shredded carrots and equal parts Brown Rice Crisps, then mix together. 

Now you have a healthy breakfast full of nutrition. Carrots are naturally sweet so it's pallet friendly and better than adding sugar!! Take in a ziplock bag or a snack dish and they will munch it on the go. So much better than Cheerios or those sodium filled baby puffs! 

Blow your mind Brownies

I have to say I was a little reluctant to experiment with brownies. I recently made some Coconut Flour Brownies that were a total flop. So, with some tweaking I came up with the perfect recipe. It tastes absolutely wonderful! Even if you aren't a Vegan, have Celiacs disease, or are Food Allergy ridden. I can honestly say these brownies will hit the spot. Better than hit the spot, they are packed with Protein and Healthy Fats. Even Better than that they have NO SUGAR! Are you serious right now? I know right! A healthy brownie? I'm sold! Here's the recipe.

Ingredients for Brownie

1 Cup Quinoa

1/3 Cup Cocoa Powder

1 + 1/4 tsp. Sea Salt

2 Tbsp. Ground Flax

6 Tbsp Warm Water

1/4 Cup Bee Free Honey 

1 Tbsp. Grapeseed Oil

1/2 Cup Coconut Milk

1/4 Cup Water

1 tsp. Apple Cider Vinager 

1 tsp. Pure Vanilla Extract

Directions 

1. Preheat Oven to 325 F

2. Mix Flax and Warm water to form gel. Let sit for 8 minuets

3. Mix all other ingredients together with the flax gel. Pour batter into a greased pan. (I use coconut oil for grease)

4. Bake at 325 F for 20 minuets and let cool when done.

Now for the Icing

Ingredients for Icing

A Dash of Coconut Milk

8 Tbsp. Coconut Oil

5 Tbsp. Pure Maple Syrup

1/4 Cup Cocoa Powder

Directions

Beat on high for a few minuets until smooth. Pour onto cooled Brownies. Refrigerate before serving. 

Sweet Potato Fries with Coconut "Mayo"

Ingredients

1 Sweet Potato Washed, Peeled and Chopped into long strips

1 Tbsp. Cinnamon 

1/2 Cup Coconut Oil

1/2 Cup Warm Water

1/4 Cup Olive Oil

4 tsp. minced Garlic or 4 cloves

1/4 tsp. Sea Salt

Directions

1. Coat a large frying pan with a generous amount of olive oil and heat on high

2. When oil is popping, add sweet potatoes. Sprinkle cinnamon generously over entire pan

3. While sweet potatoes are cooking start sauce

4. Once cooked fully, lay fries out on a paper towl to absorb moisture

Directions for Sauce

1. In a blender mix last 5 ingredients on high for a few minuets

2. Dump contents into a pretty dipping bowl 

You're done! Now enjoy