No Moo For You

Team Isaacson: Recipes

2012-01-31T19:43:00.000-08:00

I never got around to posting this and I am so sad bc it was a good one! :) Hope this helps someone!

Team Isaacson: Recipes: So, my goal for the party was for it to be completely safe for my kiddos- no egg, dairy, or peanuts. Not that Alex would eat it all (I did k...

Granola Bars!

2012-01-17T13:30:00.000-08:00

Found these at Whole Foods and they are sooo good! No dairy and no nuts! Woo hoo!! Finally!

I did try making my own granola bars and they turned out very good but I just dont always have time to make them so its nice to have a quick option.

Here is the recipe I used to make them yourself from Back to the Cutting Board

S’mores Chewy Granola Bars

adapted from Rachel Ray

Snack, Dessert | Servings: 18 servings
Prep time: 0 | Cook time: 5 min | Total time: 25 min

Ingredients

4 tbsp. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter (I always use Willow Run Soy Butter and love it)
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar (see tips above)
1/4 cup honey
2 cups plain granola
1 cup rice cereal (Rice Krispies, etc.)
2 tbsp. graham cracker crumbs (optional)
1 cup mini marshmallows
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Process

Line two 9×5 loaf pans or one 11×7 inch baking pan (see tip #4 above if you want to use 9×13) with foil or parchment. Lightly butter or spray the foil. Set aside.
Combine honey and butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in brown sugar after butter starts to melt.
Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower the heat to medium-low and simmer until the sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat.
Add the granola, rice cereal and graham cracker crumbs into the saucepan and fold them into the sauce until evenly coated. Very gently fold in the marshmallows.
Spread the mixture into the prepared pans and press firmly with a spatula to evenly fill. Sprinkle the chocolate chips onto the top of the granola and gently press them down.
Let sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes or until mostly cooled and set; lift out of the pan and cut into bars.

eating out, like "normal" people

2012-01-04T12:47:00.000-08:00

Well, I havent posted on here in FOREVER but lately I have had some comments coming from pinterest so I thought I would try to pick it back up!

One thing that my husband and I struggle with a lot by having kids with food allergies is that we cant go out to eat easily! We just cant go anywhere, and if we go a random place, we have to bring the kids their own food, which at this age is getting to be a hassle.
So we were very excited to find two new places over the holidays that work for our kids to eat out! Normally we either go to Whataburger or a Mexican restaurant....both of which are getting a little old.

First off, Zpizza! It was so fun to eat pizza out since I know we will never be able to go to Chuckie Cheese or Gattiland. (Tear tear) and the kids actually scarfed down their pizza in record time! They have the same vegan cheese that I use at home and that, with their yummy crust, was a great combo! We even had it for leftovers today and I ate it, found it delicious, and wanted more!

The other place we went was Firehouse Subs! So excited about a sandwich chain! The kids got a kids meal turkey sandwich (dry). They split it and it was perfect for their little bellies. They also ate chips and the dessert that it comes with is Oreos (2)! How perfect is that!?! And I always tend to bring a little fruit cup for them to share pretty much everywhere we go.

Both experiences were so nice, easy, and fun! It felt so good to be "normal" and eat out like all the other families. Thanks Zpizza and Firehouse Subs!

pat a cake pat a cake, bakers man

2011-03-31T09:16:00.000-07:00

Here are a few things I have tried lately in the kitchen! The real fun is that it is ALL Egg, Milk, Peanut free!! Woo hoo!!

Chocolate Chip Cookies- these were really good! Got rave reviews from my family!

Ingredients:

1 c. dairy-free margarine (I use Soy margarine sticks)
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. sugar
1/4 c. soy milk or rice milk (I used rice milk this time)
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 1/4 c. unbleached flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
12 oz. dairy free semi-sweet chocolate chips (We like Enjoy Life Choc. Chips. I found that this was way too many chips for the amount of dough. I would use about half the bag next time).

Instructions:

1: Preheat the oven to 350°F.

2: Cream together butter and both sugars until light and fluffy. Add soy or rice milk, and cream. Mix in vanilla extract. It might look a little curdled, that is fine.

3: Combine the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. Add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, then fold in the chocolate chunks or chips.

4: Drop by teaspoons on greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350°F degrees for 8-10 minutes. Remove from baking sheet and cool on racks.

Pumpkin Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting- also a success! This is the first time Alex has ever wanted to eat cake! and he liked it!! Well, I know that he ate a little more icing than cake, but hey! he ate some cake!! woo hoo! This is also just super easy and would be great for anyone who needed a cake quick and easy.

All it is is Duncan Hines Spice Cake (box) and a can of Pure Pumpkin. Mix together and bake following the box. I used Duncan Hines Cream Cheese icing out of the can! It doesnt get any easier!

This "cheese" is supposedly the best- Daiya. Even Oprah tried it when she went Vegan for the show. Alex likes it! Don't tell him but nothing beats real cheese. So far we have tried pizzas and nachos (besides eating it out of the bag). Alex didn't really care for the pizza- he has some weird thing against red sauces. He did like the nachos! :)

I also found out that I can use Pillsbury Crescent rolls- they are dairy and egg free! Pepperoni rolls, pigs in a blanket, ham and cheese rolls, dessert pastries- the possibilities are endless! This is their website that offers a ton of recipe ideas. If I could only get Alex to try them!

Ellie really likes this coconut yogurt! I tasted it and its pretty good. Tastes like ice cream. Alex wouldn't try it. Stinker.
We have also been eating these A LOT :) Got them for Ellie's bunny party coming up and had to try them out first...haven't stopped! and just saw on the website that they now have granola bars that look safe for Alex. We will have to try them out!

Next up will be Ellie's birthday cake!

Milk Free Egg Free Nut Free Choc Cake Recipe

2010-07-26T13:04:00.000-07:00

My friend made this cake recipe for her sons birthday party knowing that my son could have it....so sweet it made me cry. The cake was amazing! She gave me the extra cupcakes and I would never have known they were dairy free if she hadn't had told me! I am so excited to find a good tasting recipe that everyone wouldn't mind eating at the next party!

Milk Free Egg Free Nut Free Chocolate Cake Recipe

The Icing she used was Vanilla Silk Frosting:
3 c confectioners sugar
1/2 c soy margarine
3 Tbs water
1 tsp vanilla

2 year update

2010-06-28T13:55:00.001-07:00

So, I need to back up a little...

It was Alex's actual 2nd birthday.
We came home from the park for lunch and I decided to try peanut butter and jelly as a special birthday treat- really, there was another mom at the park who was asking her little girl if thats what she wanted for lunch and it just sounded good. Well, Alex wanted nothing to do with it as expected but I thought I would try. He did touch it and then pretend to taste it by touching his lip. God was on his side that day. Unfortunately his lip swelled up like a grape! Super! I quickly gave him Benedryl,which we are so familiar with in this house. I wasn't too concerned since it was just his lip but called the doctor anyway- they said we had to go to the ER. Alex was playing and acting totally normal so I tried to stay calm but the thought of going to the ER sent me off. I was so upset...upset with myself for giving it to him, upset that it was his birthday and he was going to the ER, and upset that he was allergic to peanuts. I actually have to say that I thought he would be allergic since he is allergic to milk and they say that they go hand in hand often. I was thinking he wasnt though because he has had the french fries from chick fil a and everyone always says that they cook in peanut oil so if they can eat that then they aren't allergic. (Later to find out, that is a myth. When allergic to peanuts, you are not necessarily allergic to peanut oil.) I called my mom and had her come over to stay with Eliana so that I could be focused on Alex. She dropped everything to rush over (so thankful for this!). I wanted to leave right away so I ran over to the neighbors house to ask if they could just wait in the house for my mom. Eliana was sleeping so it wasn't a big deal. The man was there but he said his wife was gone but he gladly said he would do it and was walking with me in a heartbeat. Super sweet man. I didnt even give him any info (like where she was sleeping even) because I knew my mom would be there in a few minutes. After I got home my mom laughed and asked me "how old was that man, like a hundred?!" LOL! Its true he is old. But I didn't care. She said that he insisted she check on the baby because he didnt even know where she was. My mom laughed and said she was sure the baby was okay. No worries. She found her in bed.
So at the ER....there is all this rush to get there quick but then you get there and wait. What a let down. I also quickly realized that there were a lot of people in the waiting room and not much movement....super. I then realized that I was super mom and didn't have anything in my diaper bag for Alex. Not sure why I brought it- no diapers, no snack, no drink. Thankfully there was a tv and some books there. I started to worry though when the lady next to me said she had been there 2 hours! Are you kidding me?! Terrible two will not last 2 hours without any supplies in a sterile waiting room!! His lip didn't seem to be getting any worse and maybe slightly getting better. It was slow but after some time I realized that he was fine, it was going down, and I should just leave. I was glad that I was there to make sure that he was safe though.

snapped this before I went to the ER

A couple of weeks ago we headed to the allergist. We were planning on going anyway because we have been wanting to get him tested for eggs and peanuts. It's also been a year since we have been and they say to go and follow up every year anyway. We see Dr. Liberman and he is wonderful. One of the best and only pediatric allergists in Austin.

So we found out after doing the scratch tests on his back that he is in fact allergic to peanuts AND eggs (in addition to his allergy to milk). We plan on also doing blood tests soon to find out the likelihood of a reaction. I am not looking forward to this because I am not sure how they will draw blood from a two year old. Alex is now "ruined" from his last doctors appointment where he got shots. He is now old enough to remember and cries when he sees any nurse (and climbs up my body to get away!).

So, what does this mean. Well, it means that he can't eat anything with milk, eggs, or nuts in it. It really won't change too much of what we already do. I will still take food with us where ever we go. I will still read labels before giving food. I will still have my epi pen with me where ever we go. So really, the hard part is just the reality of it. I have a hard time with the idea that I have to tell him "no, you can't have that". It breaks. my. heart. I cry when I have these kinds of days where I have to face the truth and talk about the allergies. He has no idea, singing in the backseat to twinkle twinkle, so it's really my sadness for him. I have to protect him from more things now and that seems tiring and just scarier. It makes it more serious to me. Before, I felt like "oh, its just milk." but now I feel like he has some serious allergies (silly really, because the milk IS serious). And I know that the older he gets, the harder it will be for him. It is really hard to travel and eating out is not easy. Travis and I have to just embrace the fact that we will have to handle things a little differently.

I have my pity party and then I have to move on. The positive side to this heartache for me is that there are so many children with allergies 1)worse off and with more things- thank the Lord that he can have soy and wheat! really!! 2) there is such an awareness for allergies today which makes it a little easier. There are so many food products at my local grocery store! and It is easy to get information, talk with others like us, and get help on the internet. 3) there are SO many worse things/sicknesses he could have. This is not the end of the world. I praise God that he is healthy and happy!

Really the hardest allergy to deal with that Alex has is to Dogs. We know so many people with dogs and he can't even be in their homes without having some major reactions. Zyrtec helps but I don't always know ahead of time and it does seem to effect him (more tired, out of it). I also think that because I have always kept him away from dogs, he is now scared of them. I hate that. The doc did say that shots would be an option when he is older to help with this allergy if we want to.

So we will survive. I have to have hope that the Lord will take care of it. I pray that he will grow out of them but I realize that the chances are slim. I pray that someday (if he doesn't outgrow it) that desensitization will be researched enough to be an option to overcome the allergies. It is still very new right now. By the time he is old enough (around 5) to do it, hopefully it will be the practice. I also just pray that the Lord takes care of him. Keeps him from harm.

The other part of this trip that really hit me hard was that Eliana is at high risk for these or other allergies. I had thought of it but I just assumed that the chance was low that she would have them. But of course, its genetic- same genes. So really, if she does, it wont change much of what we do anyway (because I want Alex safe she was going to be given soy milk and dairy free food anyway). But it was the thought that she wouldn't have to battle this same issue - she could have real cake at her friends birthday parties. We will see. I pray she doesn't.

Desserts and Special Treats

2010-04-05T11:47:00.000-07:00

So this is one of the saddest topics for me to write about. For some reason, a mother looks forward to giving her child special treats from minute one. Especially a mom like me who never turns down candy or dessert, for it is a staple in my opinion! The other hard part is seeing other children eat whatever desserts they want and knowing my child can't and may never be able to. Birthday parties are very hard and I know will only get harder.
So...to pick up my bootstraps and make the best of it, I have tried to find sweets he can eat.
Here is what I have come up with. The list is short because really my son doesn't even like sweets yet. He just doesn't seem to be a big fan. ??? Go figure! But it does make it easier right now.

I found Soy Delicious Mini Ice Cream Bars and LOVE THEM!! You would never know that it is soy. I ate them myself when I gave up milk while nursing. I have heard that their other products are just as delicious.

Rice Krispie Treats! Not the prepackaged store bought ones though! Make them yourself and use a non-dairy butter. Easy and my sons fave!! He also realized that he loves marshmallows while helping me make them. I actually noticed that the generic brand at my grocery store are milk free, so you could try that out if you didn't feel like making them.

We have tried several of the Cherrybrooke Lane cake mix boxes. I am not a fan of these and neither is my son apparently. The taste is just not up to par. I have seen that Betty Crocker has come out with a Gluten Free line that seems to be dairy free also. We haven't tried them yet, but I am guessing they may be pretty good being Betty Crocker. Let me know if you have tried them!

Did you know that Oreo cookies are dairy free?! Wowza!! Thats weird, right?! What a great treat!!

Iced Animal Cookies are dairy free and just pure greatness! :) I keep eating them all! Oops!!

Jelly Beans, peppermints, lollipops, and other sugar based candies seem to be a-okay too!

I found this website, Divies, that sells dairy free treats- looks great! I love when I find great companies like this! They will even ship you cupcakes for your next party! Anyone ever tried them?

Like me

2010-03-20T09:26:00.001-07:00

I stumbled upon some blogs last night....there are so many other moms who have similar blogs and similar situations. Its crazy. I look at them and feel a little overwhelmed and sad, but at the same time I feel inspired and more informed- which is empowering.
I will put these on my sidebar too. Here are just a few...

Milk Allergy Mom
Life with a Dairy Free Toddler
Dairy Free Tried and True
Avoiding Milk Blog

Breakfast

2010-03-16T12:56:00.000-07:00

Well, I actually don't have a lot on the menu right now. Partly because Alex is picky and partly because I dont know what to feed him.

We always have dry cereal first. I listed some of the kinds in the previous post.

Sometimes we have these waffles- he really likes these and they happen to be dairy free! (Sadly the french toast sticks are not)
Sometimes we have banana (with mixed berry, strawberry, or orange) baby food (yes, he will still eat it! and he refuses to eat a real banana!)

Sometimes I can get him to eat soy yogurt

And sometimes its a cereal bar on the go

I am afraid to try eggs till we get him tested again soon. He did like bacon when we gave him some on a random Sunday as a treat. And I should probably try pancakes again (the first time, he wouldn't eat them and I am not going to all that trouble to have him not eat them!)

Any other suggestions??

Favorite Snack Foods

2010-03-09T11:28:00.001-08:00

I am not sure how to start this blog so I am going to start with my son's favorite...snacks. When everyone else is eating Goldfish crackers, which ALL contain milk, what will my kid eat?!
*I am in no way affiliated with any of these companies or products.

Here are a few of our favorites that are dairy free! My son won't eat raw veggies so I save my veggies for meals. He is also funny about texture of foods so he likes to stick with the carbs.

I like that I can find these snacks all at my local HEB and I don't have to travel to a specialty grocery store. A lot of my snack tips have come from a friend that is Vegan- a great friend to have since their diet is so similar!

Animal Crackers- be careful because not all brands are milk free, we like Stauffer's

(In the chip isle) Roberts Original Tings (they are like "Cheetos" without the cheese! yum!)
and Roberts Pirates Booty Veggie Flavor * Be careful because not all the flavors are dairy free!

Cereal- Kix, Cheerios, Apple Jacks, Pops, Honeycomb, Cinnamon Toast Crunch (this could go on and on! I haven't given it to my kid yet, but even Cookie Crisp is dairy free! It just isn't the healthiest)

of course FRUIT- raisins, dried cranberries, grapes, strawberries, oranges...you get the idea ;)

pretzels (another one to be careful of the brand)

Triscuits

Club Crackers Snack Sticks- my son likes the Honey Wheat

Whole Soy and Co soy yogurt- this is just the only one they sell at HEB. It is expensive too at about a 1$ a single serving container.

Kashi Cereal and Fruit Bar (these are mainly a breakfast on the go for us, but occasionally a good snack)

Earths Best Letter of the Day Oatmeal Cinnamon Cookies (other graham cracker cookies are dairy free too but my son just likes these)- I do have to get these somewhere else like Babies R Us or sometimes Target.
Beech Nut Banana Cookies
I used to also buy the Sweet Potato flavor BeechNut Nibbles but they are a little expensive since my kid can down a box in two sittings now.

I am on the hunt for a dairy free granola bar that isn't too pricey, tastes good, and is soft for a toddler. I also have not started my son on peanut butter yet so that's why I don't have anything with that in it.

Let me know any of your kiddos favorites that you have found! Next will be breakfast finds!

Welcome to the Blog!

2010-03-07T11:29:00.000-08:00

So, I had this idea in the middle of the night to do a milk allergy blog. I am really excited about it and I hope that it will be successful. I want it to be a place to post products, foods, companies, and websites that I like that help with having a dairy-free little one. I also want this to be a place where other moms dealing with the same issue can meet and discuss. I hope that they can help me with the tips too! Lord knows, I need them just as much. So, I ask you to please pass this site on to anyone you know that has kids that are allergic to milk or have to be dairy free. I know there are many other allergies out there but I would like to try and focus mainly on dairy. Hopefully, with the magic of the internet we can reach many more like me! Thanks, in advance, for you help!