Welcoming Kitchen

Looking for a Little Comfort ... Vegan Soy-free, Gluten-free "Meatballs"

2012-02-02T06:43:00.000-08:00

If you like this blog, would you please vote for Welcoming Kitchen as a top Vegan/Vegetarian Mom Blog over at Circle of Moms? It's February, and even if you're experiencing strangely warm weather as we are here in the Midwest, this time of year calls out for comfort food. I had this desire for warm-the-soul food in mind when I was writing my post for The Balanced Platter this month. Could

Crispy Treats (a Pretty Healthy Vegan, Gluten-free, Allergen-free Snack)

2012-01-24T20:38:00.000-08:00

Today when I was running with my dog, I fell and hurt my thumb. It's pretty sore, so please forgive me if this post is pretty brief. I have been working on relatively healthy snacks this week. I've worked on a black bean brownie (not there yet) and a couple of other toss-in-the-lunchbox snacks. The one that worked best was influenced by Energy Bites from Smashed Peas and Carrots. That recipe

A Menu for the Big Game

2012-01-19T20:35:00.000-08:00

This is a two-part post. First, something serious, then a fun payoff. Have you seen the new video by Robert Kenner, the filmmaker of Food, Inc.? He made a film highlighting the issues surrounding the movement to label genetically engineered food. If you haven't seen it yet, here it is. If you want to learn what you can do, visit Just Label It. Now, the fun part ... Our beloved Bears

News and Reviews and Giveaways

2012-01-16T15:41:00.000-08:00

It's been a busy time for Welcoming Kitchen! So many good things are going on. I'd like to let you know about some stuff that's happening (in no particular order). 1) We got a great review in the informative magazine, Living Without's March issue. The issue is jam packed with information and recipes, too! 2) The Vegetarian Resource Group gave us a wonderful review in their magazine,

Chili Polenta Pie or Christmas Revisited

2012-01-11T07:15:00.000-08:00

I got another Christmas gift yesterday. Well .... kind of. Every year, I end up making too much food for the holidays. Doesn't everyone? I have an open house on Christmas Eve where I serve a casual menu of appetizers, cookies, and chili. I always make a lot of chili (my crockpot was almost overflowing!), so that I have some leftover. On Christmas morning, my sister and her family along with

A New Year, A Fabulous New Gluten-Free Site, And A New Healthy-Eating Tip

2012-01-05T07:50:00.000-08:00

The new year has begun! With it comes a host of new beginnings. For me, it brings professional and personal opportunities. Professionally, the first new thing that I have going on is becoming a regular contributor to the brand-new site for all things gluten-free, The Balanced Platter. The Balanced Platter is the brain child of two women I greatly respect, Amy Green of Simply Sugar and

Easy, Cheesy Oven-fried Vegan Zucchini Bites

2011-12-31T08:32:00.000-08:00

Are you looking for a last-minute snack to add to your New Year's spread? This easy recipe makes for a cheesy, salty, crispy bite. We ate them plain, but you could pair them with a little salsa or plain-flavored coconut yogurt to dress them up a bit. We have some exciting things going on here at Welcoming Kitchen in the New Year. Please stay tuned for information on a new website that

Who Needs Cookies? How About a Craft Swap?

2011-12-12T08:27:00.000-08:00

Ok .... I need cookies. That's a different story, though. For the third year, a group of friends, old and new, got together to trade handmade gifts as an alternative to a traditional cookie swap. (Speaking of cookie swaps, check out Rianne's virtual cookie swap at Art of Dessert for some allergen-friendly options.) Each year our Get Your Craft On event gets bigger and better. It is so much

Roasted Vegetable Salad with Toasted Pepitas and Apricot-Dijon Vinaigrette

2011-12-02T15:47:00.000-08:00

Recently, I have been having even more photography challenges than usual. Though I actually took pretty lovely photos (if I do say so myself) of this salad, I can't seem to get the photos off of Evan's camera. That's right. I used my 5-year-old son's camera to take the picture. Not too professional, right? But, here is a photo of pepitas. Something is better than nothing! Better than my

Mushroom Tartlets with a Socca Crust--A Vegan Thanksgiving Entree

2011-11-17T05:32:00.000-08:00

We are so excited to be part of The Gluten-free Vegetarian Thanksgiving event hosted by Sea at the Book of Yum. I love seeing all of the nourishing, delicious and celebratory dishes that other bloggers are showing off as part of this blog carnival. I urge you to head over to Book of Yum to see what's on the menu for a fulfilling holiday feast! I had to think about what I wanted to make, though

Cocoa Power Bites

2011-11-14T12:13:00.000-08:00

There are a couple of days left to vote in the Cirlce of Moms, Top Food Allergy Mom Blog contest. If you like this blog, would you please vote for it? Thank you so much! Whew! Lately it feels like I can't even catch my breath for being so busy. Soccer games! Swim practices! Working! Book and Blog Promotion! Cleaning the house (well... not so much)! Not to mention, all of the other

I'm Thankful for a Thoughtful Thanksgiving

2011-11-10T08:28:00.000-08:00

I ran this entry a couple of years ago. It still holds true and more. Now that we've done this a couple of times, it's really amazing how easy (but awesomely thoughtful) it has been to have a welcoming holiday feast. We've had a wide range of appetizers and dips, side dishes and desserts. Family members have sought out ways to adapt new recipes and old favorites so that everyone can be

A Bevy of Books for Parents -- A Contest

2011-11-08T07:46:00.000-08:00

As we wrote about last month, we are honored to be part of Elizabeth Pantley's new book, The No-Cry Picky Eater Solution. Along with some other cookbooks, two Welcoming Kitchen recipes are included along with loads of advice on how to help your little eater become a more adventurous diner. To celebrate her new book, Elizabeth Pantley is hosting a second contest to give away a complete

Healthier Eating Through the Holidays with a Pear-Pumpkin Crisp

2011-11-03T10:29:00.000-07:00

I was really excited to learn about the holiday blog event, A Gluten-free Holiday hosted by Simply Sugar and Gluten-free. Every Thursday in November and December, bloggers will be contributing their tips and recipes to make the holidays satisfying on lots of levels! This week, the theme is Healthier Through the Holidays. I love that they started the event with a thought-provoking theme.

Apple Scones! (Of course they are allergen-free, gluten-free and vegan.)

2011-11-02T11:18:00.000-07:00

I can't ask you, sweet reader, to do something for me and not do something for you. Right? I have been asking, and will probably continue to ask, for you to vote for Welcoming Kitchen as a 25 Top Food Allergy Mom Blog on the Circle of Moms site. I've asked you to vote every day if you can. You might be asking yourself ... what do I get out of it? Well, for one, you're helping get the word

What Would You Like to Eat?

2011-10-31T07:37:00.000-07:00

My son just turned 9 yesterday. I can't believe it! We had lots of fun celebrating. But, what did we eat? We had chocolate cupcakes with either vanilla or coconut frosting and marble cake (vanilla and chocolate swirled together) with an awesome picture of a soccer ball floating on water decorated by Casey's Aunt Laura. We had these treats because these were the desserts that our family

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

2011-10-24T19:23:00.000-07:00

What could be more autumnal than pumpkin, maple syrup and cinnamon applesauce? Not much. Put all these yummy delights into a warm bowl of oatmeal and you've got a breakfast that the whole family can't get enough of. Seriously. My younger son had three bowls. (Though he did have a small sprinkle of brown sugar and some rice milk with his.) If you've read our book, Welcoming Kitchen, you know

Chocolate Rice Pudding on WGN-TV

2011-10-23T09:10:00.000-07:00

Red Wine Chocolate Cake - Our Contribution to Vegan Mofo

2011-10-17T12:04:00.000-07:00

Maybe you've noticed the super-cute XGFX badge on our site and wondered what it's all about. Maybe you've heard of Vegan Mofo and wondered what that's all about. Maybe you've been wondering about a recipe for a sophisticated chocolate cake just right for a dinner party. If so ... today's your day for answers! XGFX.org is a home for all things gluten-free and vegan. So, it's a great second

Apple Picking and Apple Muffins AND a Contest!

2011-10-11T10:34:00.000-07:00

I am one of those crazy Midwestern gals who loves each of the seasons. People are always saying something like, "How can you live there with those freezing winters (or broiling summers)?!!" You know what? I love summery summers ... hot and sweaty, pools and ice pops, playing outside and eating outside every day. I adore wintery winters ... cold and bundled up, sledding and snowball fights,

Lunches Your Kid Won't Toss Out

2011-09-19T10:13:00.000-07:00

I am giving a talk on Friday at the Chicago Waldorf School about Healthy Lunches. This is something that I talk about a lot with parents who are new to the food-allergy world, and it's a topic that requires my personal attention on a daily basis. I first wrote this post a couple of years ago. With hundreds of lunches under my belt (and a second school-age child, now), I thought, in light of my

Finding Inspiration--Chocolate Sunflower Spread

2011-09-12T21:24:00.000-07:00

This summer, my son Casey learned to swim. He came close last year, but this year he got it. One of the things I love most about Casey is his fierce spirit. He committed himself to making a swim team, and now he's on it. What does that have to do with food, you might wonder? If you have a food-allergic or otherwise food-challenged child, I bet you know right away what this has to do with

Eating Out ... Welcoming Kitchen Style

2011-08-30T19:30:00.000-07:00

As Megan wrote, my dreams came true with a great review in VegNews. I love VegNews. When I say that, I mean I read every single word in each issue. My copies of VegNews end up almost tattered by the time the next one comes. Last week, my issue came in the mail. I was watching my sister's kids and my own, so I only got to flip through it the day it came. The next morning, though, I was

Indian-Spiced-Lentils and Veg News!

2011-08-25T18:25:00.000-07:00

We are celebrating over here in Welcoming Kitchen land!! Kim's dream has always been to have her book reviewed by the fabulous magazine VegNews...and today her dream came true. Not only did they review Welcoming Kitchen...but they gave it an awesome review! We are humbled that people are loving our book so much. Kim started Welcoming Kitchen with the idea that "if I can help one family", it

The Gift of Lemon Balm Plus an Artichoke

2011-08-22T17:27:00.000-07:00

I'm so sorry if you live in a part of the country (or world) that is not experiencing delightful weather. Here in Chicago, we are. On a gorgeous Sunday afternoon, we took a walk around the neighborhood with our dog. It was so beautiful we just strolled around and walked a different way than we normally do. Lucky for us! We happened to walk past a woman (the lovely, Reina, I learned) who was

Taking It on the Road ... Traveling with Food Allergies

2011-08-10T14:13:00.000-07:00

We just got back from a trip across the country. Two boys, one dog, one mom and one dad. When we started on this food allergy journey, I would have been totally freaked out about having to travel with such restrictions. Seven years later, it's old hat. A few tips and tricks I've learned along the way made it a lot easier for us to have a great trip, and maybe they'll help you, too. 1) Plan,

Tech Troubles?

2011-07-28T07:04:00.000-07:00

Hello Welcoming Kitchen friends, Have any of you had trouble leaving a comment or copying the URL for a specific link? I have heard that we might be having tech troubles. If you are, would you please email me at kim@welcomingkitchen.com? You can also "like" our Facebook page and connect with us that way. Thank you so much! Happy Cooking, Kim and Megan

Cool Stuff and Good Karma!

2011-07-25T07:22:00.000-07:00

I just put in some bids on some great auction items over at The Auction, the fundraiser set up by Janetha at Meals and Moves, to provide financial support for Susan from The Great Balancing Act as she takes on lymphoma. Stop by The Auction site for your chance to get some super-cool stuff! Have a great week! Happy Cooking! Kim and Megan

Beat the Heat Fruit Sherbet (Vegan, No Added Sugar, Allergen-free)

2011-07-20T20:09:00.000-07:00

Today I faced a challenge. It is so hot here in the midwest; it was over 100 degrees and promises to be super-hot again tomorrow. Where's the challenge? Last week, I decided that to reset my eating habits, I would go 10 days with no alcohol, no sugary desserts and no snack foods. (I've been living like every day is the 4th of July!) The alcohol and salty snacks? No problem. Even the sweets

Finding Balance at the Farmers' Market

2011-07-10T20:04:00.000-07:00

Finding balance? Do I mean work/life balance? Do I mean spiritual/worldly balance? Do I mean balance between the personal needs and societal demands? All at the farmers' market? No. I'm sure that there is gobs to say about any of those subjects, but that's not the kind of balance I'm thinking about right now. I'm thinking about a balanced meal. Can you have a balanced meal while living

An Allergen-Free Celebration Menu

2011-06-28T20:38:00.000-07:00

After years of tasting, listening and cheer-leading, I could not wait to say "Thank You" to my family and closest friends when my book was finally published. But, how to do it? No need to think twice! I wrote a cookbook ... so I cooked. (And so did my mom and my step-mom and my sister and my niece and my kids.) We made a buffet of appetizers from Welcoming Kitchen. What did we serve?

New Food Allergy Study--Everyone Knows Someone Who's Food Allergic

2011-06-20T15:24:00.000-07:00

Maybe you've seen the stories all over the news media about a new study showing that the rate of food allergies in children is around 8%. You can read about it on CNN, Forbes, or at the funding source--the Food Allergy Initiative. This is not particularly surprising to anyone who has spent time in a public school, where one, two or three kids in each classroom might have food allergies. (In

Kid-Friendly "Green" Smoothies

2011-06-19T10:22:00.000-07:00

Vegan? Check. Pretty much no artificial colors or preservatives? Check. Lots of organics? Check. With all of that, you'd think we never had to worry about good nutrition at my house. Unfortunately, that's just not true! Luckily, we got the opportunity to revisit what a healthy diet should look like when the USDA revised their nutrition model from the Food Pyramid to the Dinner Plate. Even

Guest Post with a Recipe for Autumn Spice Pumpkin Muffins

2011-06-15T08:43:00.000-07:00

We are bowled over by the great friendships that we have made in the communities around Welcoming Kitchen--the gluten-free, food allergy, vegan and parenting communities. One of our favorite friends is Amy Green from the awesome site and cookbook, Simply Sugar and Gluten Free. This week, Amy let us write a guest post on her blog. The topic is Unintended Consequences (the good kind), and it

Patience...and Pay Offs

2011-06-10T15:13:00.000-07:00

I've been working on the Welcoming Kitchen book for years. Literally. I first started writing recipes when my son, Casey, was little (he's now 8) and really cranked out recipes that fit the WK model (allergen-free, gluten-free and vegan) when my younger son, Evan, first started eating solid food. (He's now 5.) I tried my hand at self-publishing, but it turns out that I'm a TERRIBLE business

A Love Letter in Watermelon

2011-05-28T07:11:00.000-07:00

As my step-dad would say, my mom has a black belt in parenting. She is an extraordinary mother. So many of the little things that I do with my kids to make them feel special come from her. Signs all over the house for your birthday (or anything else special). Favorite foods for celebrations. Constant "I love yous." Telling my kids to take a shower, because it will make you feel better.

Welcoming Kitchen News

2011-05-23T11:04:00.000-07:00

It has been crazy busy around here! We just found out that the publication date for Welcoming Kitchen: 200 Delicious Allergen and Gluten-free Vegan Recipes is going to be one week later than we thought. Its release date is now June 14th. That's publishing for ya! It's good news for anyone thinking they want to buy our book, though, since that gives you another week to buy it at the

What on Earth Do You Eat?!

2011-05-17T10:06:00.000-07:00

It's funny to me when I hear this question (kinda frequently). It seems that I think about food all of the time between planning blog posts, reading others' food writing, creating recipes and cooking. In my mind, there are so many choices of what to cook and eat that I sometimes get overwhelmed by choice. Because I'm busy living my life, I forget that to others our diet might seem wacky. My

Strawberry Chocolate Chunk Mini Muffins (Don't Tell, but They're Kinda Good For You!)

2011-05-10T16:13:00.000-07:00

Maybe "good for you" is a stretch. These muffins do feature whole grain oat flour, flaxseed meal, lots of nutrient-rich strawberries and coconut oil. They're gluten-free and vegan, and completely free of the common allergens, that makes them healthy, right? I had so many reasons to go to the kitchen today. First, my neighbor had an accident, and I wanted to give him a treat to feel better.

What a Weekend!

2011-05-04T07:31:00.000-07:00

We just had the most amazing weekend. For those of you who made it to the Gluten and Allergen Free Expo, you know what we're talking about. For those of you that couldn't make it this year, mark your calendars for the Expo in Dallas or next year back in Chicago. Here's a little recap of some of the highlights (though it's entirely possible we'll need a part two because our overwhelmed brains

Oh Cutie! Coconut Cake with Mandarin Reduction

2011-04-29T05:01:00.000-07:00

First ... an admission. I'm susceptible to advertising. (Isn't everyone?) Well, all those commercials for Cuties, the easy-peeling mandarins, have made me want to eat all sorts of small, orange, citrus fruits. Bring on the mandarins or clementines or tangerines. And, let me tell you, my mind has not been satisfied with just eating the fruit. Oh no... I needed to cook with it. Fortunately

Welcoming Kitchen Available for Pre-Order

2011-04-26T15:55:00.000-07:00

We are so thrilled to announce that it is time!! Welcoming Kitchen is available for pre-order on Amazon! This cookbook has been our dream and to see it finally available is so rewarding. We hope that you enjoy cooking from it as much as we enjoyed writing it. We are inspired daily by our readers and supporters and are so thankful to have this chance to share our recipes with you! Hopefully

Please Support Gluten-free Food Labeling Efforts

2011-04-07T07:29:00.000-07:00

As I've written in the past, I had a really tough time when I first tried to grocery shop after learning that my son had multiple food allergies. Trying to decipher food labels and figure out what might be safe, and what wasn't, was a challenge that left me frightened and, frankly, exhausted. The federal food allergy labeling law made a huge difference in our lives. Though not fool-proof,

Welcoming Kitchen Goes to the Gluten and Allergen Free Cooking Expo

2011-03-29T20:05:00.000-07:00

Last year, we had a really wonderful experience meeting so many of the big-hearted members of the gluten-free community at the Gluten-free Cooking Expo. This year, the Expo's dynamic leader, Jen Cafferty, has expanded the scope of the event to include food allergies. We are thrilled to be included in this year's program. We will be teaching a cooking class on Sunday, May 1 at 8:45. Now, we

Crispy Rice Treats -- Allergen-free, Gluten-free, Vegan, and Delicious!

2011-03-22T11:57:00.000-07:00

So ... you live with a food restriction and can't have some traditional treats. Problem? Not always! Sometimes trying to approximate a treat that's off-the-table for us brings us something even better. These Crispy Rice Treats are a yummy example. They have the sweet crunchiness of those other treats made with crisp rice cereal, but they are vegan and soy-free and loaded with creamy

The More the Merrier!

2011-03-21T07:41:00.000-07:00

One of my great pleasures is surfing the web looking around for delicious allergy-friendly recipes. Even better is when I can find a host of tasty recipes in one place. Thanks to Cybele Pascal that just got a whole lot easier! Check out her great event, Allergy Friendly Fridays! I just submitted my Lovely Lemon Snack Cake and hope to add recipes regularly. Happy Cooking! Kim and Megan

Dreamy Vegan Strawberry Ice Cream

2011-03-02T07:56:00.000-08:00

Coconut milk-based creamer makes it a breeze to whip up Welcoming Kitchen-friendly, dairy-free ice cream! Every year, my sister, mom and I get together with some old friends to watch the Oscars and devour lots of yummy food. My traditional offering is the Hot Fudge Cake that appears in the Welcoming Kitchen book (publication date moved to June). It's so scrumptious that I can't waste even the

Granola Chocolate Chip (or Dried Fruit) Cookies

2011-02-08T10:37:00.000-08:00

Hopefully, I can get a better picture soon! I must confess. The weather here has been awfully snowy and pretty darn cold, and it has made me want to munch and munch on all sorts of treats. Shovelling is good exercise, right? Today's sweet snack is a crunchy delight of a cookie. It starts with granola -- that's good for you, right?--and then has a cookie built around it. The result is a

Chicago Schools, Please Keep Our Food-Allergic Kids Safe

2011-01-27T09:37:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately, food allergy has been present in the news more than usual here in Chicago. As I mentioned in a previous post, the death of a young girl due to an anaphylactic reaction at school has brought a lot of attention to the issue of food allergies and safety in the school setting recently. Furthermore, the State of Illinois has a new food allergy management law that went into effect this

Vegan, Agave-Sweetened Pina Colada Ice Cream

2011-01-26T19:23:00.000-08:00

As Megan mentioned in earlier posts, we are in the middle of a real Chicago winter. The snow! The ice! The freezing cold! What's a girl to do? Make ice cream. Well, not just any ice cream, but a little taste of the tropics -- pina colada ice cream. Why make ice cream in January, you might ask. Because I got a new ice cream maker for Christmas, of course! Unfortunately, I'm not the

Sweet Potato Hash...Real Simple

2011-01-22T06:25:00.000-08:00

Chicago is feeling more and more like the tundra these days.Yesterday it was a high of only 18 degrees and the wind chill was much lower....brrr!We did make it out to on a walk this week and saw this little cutie ;)Who says that there is not wildlife in the city! It was fun to get outside earlier this week but now that the temps have dropped even more, weather like this makes me want to settle

Chopping Fun!

2011-01-07T19:47:00.000-08:00

Fun Holiday Kitchen Gadget Alert! Friends are always asking me how to get children to eat more fruits and vegetables (mostly vegetables!) - and I have a great new gadget that I have proof helps them to eat more. My son and his friends received these new "wavy choppers" as a holiday gift from another mom and they are the perfect size for little hands and safe for them to use (with supervision)

Keeping Kids Safe in the New Year

2011-01-03T08:24:00.000-08:00

I am not one to re-invent the wheel. Kelly Rudnicki, the fabulous Food Allergy Mama, wrote a very eloquent piece on how we can make schools safer for all of the wonderful children living with food allergies. She was spurred to write it after the tragic death of a young girl in Chicago following exposure to her allergen at a holiday classroom party. I strongly encourage our readers to read

Giving the Gift of Love from Your Welcoming Kitchen!

2010-12-20T16:59:00.000-08:00

So, it's the last minute and you're thinking you're done with your shopping. Then .... all of a sudden you realize that there are folks all around who you'd love to give a little something to. This year, I am prepared for just such situations. My friend Julie (the creator of the great site, 10slate.com) and I whipped up a double batch of marmalade. We had enough to make 17 half-pints that we

Get Your Craft On 2! (handmade gift swap event)

2010-12-12T11:22:00.000-08:00

We started the holiday season with style (and I mean lots of style!). The first Thursday after Thanksgiving, about 30 women got together for our second annual craft exchange. Each participant brought 10 of the same or similar handmade gifts, and she got to take 10 other gifts. Barter at its best. Last year when we did this, we had a blast. There was food and drinks and cool stuff. This year

Special Offer from Ecolissa for Welcoming Kitchen Readers!

2010-12-06T18:28:00.000-08:00

Just in time for your holiday shopping, the folks at a new website, Ecolissa.com, have offered our readers a good deal. You can get 20% off your purchases until January 1 when you shop at their site by using the code vegan20. Ecolissa features fashions and accessories that are both eco-friendly and vegan (two ideas I can really get behind!). Happy Cooking! Kim and Megan

Pumpkin Applesauce

2010-11-24T17:45:00.000-08:00

Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” — William Arthur Ward I was searching for some fabulous quote to put on our "Thanksgiving Post" this year... and I came across this and it really spoke to me today. Thanksgiving is one very big day of the year to celebrate all that you are grateful in life. I

Cooking with Coconut Palm Sugar -- Apple, Pear and Cranberry Sauce

2010-11-18T20:39:00.000-08:00

I love cranberry sauce. I adore the chunky, homemade tart/sweet ruby-red cranberry sauce that's bubbling in saucepans all over America in November (not so much the jellied, in-the-can variety). I usually make it with diced oranges and orange juice, but this time I wanted to make something a little different. This time, I diced up a pear and a couple of apples and cooked them up with my

A Great Date with My Son!

2010-11-12T14:04:00.000-08:00

Family time's good, but sometimes I just need to have a little one-on-one time with my guys. We like to go on dates. Today, school was on a break, and Casey and I planned a little date. He got some gift cards for Barnes and Noble for his birthday, and they were burning a hole in his pocket. Casey picked out his purchases pretty quickly, so we had time to stop by the Starbuck's for a drink.

Help for New Friends

2010-11-04T19:56:00.000-07:00

Since Casey was diagnosed with food allergies and asthma over seven years ago, we have had plenty of ups and downs. This week, we struggled with scary asthma and the roller coaster that prednisone brings to a little body. On the up side, as has happened so many times over the past several years, there was a huge outpouring of concern and love for our boy. It is amazingly heart warming to know

Indian-spiced Nut-free Seed Mix

2010-10-26T07:29:00.000-07:00

Last year, I wrote about saving the pumpkin seeds from your jack-o'lanterns to make pepitas. (You can check out that post here.) Pepitas and sunflower seeds make for a great protein-rich nut substitute in recipes and snacks. A couple of weeks ago, my friend, Julie, made a variation of the Indian-spiced cashews found here: www.food.com. This inspired me to make a nut-free version that I

FAAN Walk Chicago

2010-10-16T20:09:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network's Chicago fundraising walk. We wish all of the walkers good weather and great company. As a family living with food allergies, we are so grateful to the work that FAAN does on our behalf. Through outreach, education and support for treatments and a cure, FAAN works tirelessly to improve the lives of people living with food allergy. If you

New "Trees"!!

2010-10-14T19:00:00.000-07:00

Fall is such an exciting time...I love everything about it and typically in the fall, our house is full of yummy pumpkin goodies and treats - but - we were at the farmer's market recently and noticed a different type of broccoli or "trees" as my son calls them! Romanesco Broccoli! Doesn't it look cool?? Roman Cauliflower right here in Chicago ;) So we picked up a bunch and took it home... I

Crusty Gluten-free Apple Loaf

2010-10-01T11:12:00.000-07:00

It seems that it's hard to have it all. When I'm looking around for easy, tasty gluten-free loaves, they usually rely quite heavily on eggs. When I'm looking at vegan loaves, they often use soy, wheat or nuts. What's the answer? Give up on bread if you want to feed a mixed crowd or a sensitive eater who can't have several allergenic ingredients? No way! When I was working on what feels like

Pear-Pumpkin Crisp for Breakfast, Dessert or Snack

2010-09-19T14:38:00.000-07:00

The other day, I baked a batch of pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, and it left me with about a cup of canned pumpkin to use in something else. I was trying to decide which of my many favorite pumpkin recipes to whip up, when I had an idea ... How about a crisp made from pears and pumpkin? It seemed like it might be a flavor combination that could be delightful. Was it ever! We gobbled up the

Welcoming Kitchen named a top Food Allergy Blog!

2010-09-13T10:27:00.000-07:00

I got the nicest email today. The folks at Nursingschools.net let us know that our Welcoming Kitchen blog was named one of the top 50 Food Allergy Blogs on their website. They even called us "thoroughly essential." How's that for fantastic?! They also listed some other really great websites, so I would encourage anyone dealing with food allergies to check out their list. Thanks

Cheers! Gluten-free Sipping at Soldier Field

2010-09-12T19:33:00.000-07:00

To most people, September means fall. To my football-crazy family, it means Bears Season. September is full of hope and optimism. We can still go ALL THE WAY! It was with this great, anything-can-happen feeling that I entered Soldier Field today for the Bears home opener. The fancy beer concession is on the way to our seats, and whoa! was I surprised to see that in addition to the

How Sweet It Is! Carmelized Onions

2010-09-02T12:03:00.000-07:00

One of the tricks of creating great-tasting dishes when following a special diet is to rely on flavor-boosting additions. A favorite of mine is carmelized onions. I must confess, however, that I have never actually made them. I was put off by the idea of how much time they would need. Onions Cooking in the Pot Let me tell you ... this was nonsense! Today, I sliced up four onions I had

Dairy-free Kefir Smoothies

2010-08-31T19:47:00.000-07:00

While most of the country is back at school, we still have another week, since we don't start until after Labor Day. I'm glad to have a little extra time. I'm not quite ready for our really great summer to be over. I know that fall brings its own joys, but I'm still loving having my guys home with me with days wide open to fill how we choose. However ... I am starting to think about school

Quick and Easy Hearty Salsa--A Great Gluten-free, Allergen-free, Vegan Party Food!

2010-08-22T12:26:00.000-07:00

First, let me say that I'm sorry that I don't have a new photo to go with this post. I needed to bring a dish to my step-sister's baby shower. I knew that it was a barbecue and that I wouldn't eat most of the foods that were being offered, so I wanted to bring something that was a little heartier than just chips and salsa or guacamole. I also know that I'm often fairly disorganized when

Lovely Lemon Snack Cake -- Vegan, Gluten-free, and Allergen-free

2010-08-14T08:41:00.000-07:00

As a dessert lover, I think it's a shame to keep cake for special occasions only. I'm a big fan of snack cakes that you cut into squares and enjoy after dinner on any old Tuesday night. This cake turned out exactly how I was hoping! It's moist and lemony and has a nice texture. The folks at Bob's Red Mill sent me samples of their new gluten-free oat flour and gluten-free quick cooking oats.

When You Can't Stand the Heat ... Make Rice and Beans!

2010-08-05T08:14:00.000-07:00

If you ask my opinion, summer is fantastic! I love the heat and playing outside and going to the pool. Last year, our weather was cool pretty much from June through September. We couldn't do all of the things that you normally associate with sunny days off from school. This year, we have sunny skies and warm to hot temperatures. The boys and I are having a blast! The down side to summer is

Asthma and Diet in the News

2010-07-27T15:28:00.000-07:00

I was just looking around on my computer and came across this article on AOL's home page. I have a lot of interest in asthma and diet, because I feel that changing my diet really improved my life. I had asthma for most of my life. I had nasty attacks two or three times a year that required me to take oral steroids. Every day, I took rescue inhalers and steroid inhalers. Then I had Casey, and

Special Diets Fair at Whole Foods!

2010-07-24T20:41:00.000-07:00

Today, I had the pleasure of teaching a cooking class at the Whole Foods in River Forest (outside of Chicago). Because we are smack-dab in the middle of summer, I wanted to show how delicious an al fresco menu could be, while keeping it safe for most everyone. On the agenda today ... Jerk Portabello Mushrooms (from our upcoming Welcoming Kitchen book), the chickpea and cucumber salad from this

Book Review: The Divvies Bakery Cookbook

2010-07-20T12:24:00.000-07:00

When Casey was first diagnosed with food allergies, I was so overwhelmed. I felt a little better about life when I came across a copy of Cybele Pascal's Whole Foods Allergy Cookbook at my local Whole Foods Market. Even though the book wasn't a great fit for my vegetarian family (there's a good amount of meat-centered recipes), it made me feel so much better to know that there were other

Cucumber and Chickpea Salad

2010-07-10T06:49:00.000-07:00

Trying to keep family harmony (always a precarious task!), and put only one dinner on the table is my goal for the summer. Last night, this tenuous peace was put to the test when I made the HUGE mistake of giving my boys two choices for dinner. Of course, Casey picked one choice, while Evan insisted on the other. What to do? I decided to go with Casey's choice of pasta, but make a nutritious

AllerEnergy Nutrition Bars

2010-07-06T20:35:00.000-07:00

I've got to say ... the Gluten-Free Cooking Expo rocks! We're still trying to keep up with all of the great products we got to sample while we spent a fun weekend this past spring meeting folks living a gluten-free life. One of the first products that we tried from the Expo was an AllerEnergy Allergen-Free Nutrition Bar. The nice folks at AllerEnergy gave us a few flavors to try. I ate my

Citrus Fruit Salad

2010-06-27T20:33:00.000-07:00

Tired of serving the same old potato salad or coleslaw at every outdoor meal? How about changing things up with a tropical-flavored fruit salad? Meg created this crunchy, beautiful salad for our book, The Everything Guide to Cooking for Children with Autism (Adams Media, 2009). Bring this colorful dish along to your next potluck barbecue! Please check out our post on our coconut policy if

Two-Ingredient Granita

2010-06-15T14:36:00.000-07:00

Phew! I just sent my book back to the publisher today. That's why I haven't written a post for a long time. I've been very busy trying to get it right! But now, I need a treat. An easy, cool treat. How about an easy granita? This two-ingredient concoction really satisfies. We shared this recipe as part of Allergy-Friendly Fridays; please check out the other great recipes. Creamy Granita

Carrots -- A Gluten-Free Pasta Alternative?

2010-06-01T11:17:00.000-07:00

I love it when so many things come together, as they did with these carrot ribbon noodles. First, a completely Welcoming Kitchen-friendly pasta alternative (gluten-free, allergen-free and vegan), and also a whole food. Getting to use seasonal produce in a new way? That's just the cherry on top! I have thought about using vegetable ribbons in place of traditional pasta ever since I had a

Getting Some Perspective

2010-05-26T13:42:00.000-07:00

Maybe you noticed that we haven't had a new post in a while. Part of that is due to putting the finishing touches on our Welcoming Kitchen book. It's due back at the publisher in a few weeks, and it's funny how much work there is to do on a book that I've been working on for four years! Another reason, though, is that my son has had some medical problems in the last month. About a month ago,

Live and Learn!

2010-05-12T10:24:00.001-07:00

Isn't it great when you learn something new? It's funny that when you're younger, you so want to seem that you know what's going on, that it's almost impossible to say, “Hey, I didn't know that.” Well … it's pretty awesome to be a little older and admit that you're not so wise! I recently learned something

Make Your Own Pasta Salad!

2010-04-29T08:35:00.000-07:00

Hundreds of kids lining up to eat their vegetables?! Can you believe it? Yep ... it's true. How did we accomplish such a feat and throw in a little environmental education to boot? Make Your Own Pasta Salad! This year for our school's Family Green Night, I volunteered to do an activity that focused on the environmental impact of your diet. Since this is an elementary-school, feel-good event

Product Review -- Doodles Gluten-free Nut Butter Cookie Mix

2010-04-24T09:57:00.000-07:00

I couldn't wait to get started trying out some of the samples that I received when we were at the Gluten-free Cooking Expo Vendor Fair. The first one on the docket -- Doodles Gluten-free Nut Butter Cookie Mix. Doodles Cookies have a whole line of cookie mixes that not only are gluten-free, but also organic. You can check out their other offerings at www.doodlescookies.com. I used

After the Gluten-free Cooking Expo...

2010-04-22T20:07:00.000-07:00

Wow! The Gluten-free Cooking Expo was such an amazing experience in so many ways. We had a fabulous time meeting friends, trying out new products, and selling our books. The vendor fair was incredible with so many companies and individuals out to make living with allergies easier! We got a bunch of samples, so we'll have plenty of great Welcoming Kitchen-friendly products to review in the

Gluten-Free Cooking Expo and Vendor Fair!

2010-04-16T09:27:00.000-07:00

Want to come and meet us at the Gluten-Free Cooking Expo?? Professional chefs, cookbook authors, nutritionists, and exhibitors will educate, share recipes and demos, and encourage taste-testing of a wide variety of foods. Expo highlights include: Cooking demonstrations, a large vendor fair, sessions for gluten free children, budget buying techniques on a gluten free diet, nutrition

ELL Foundation -- Important Food Allergy Support

2010-04-13T19:21:00.000-07:00

As you know, checking labels can be a matter of life and death when you're dealing with food allergies. What happens when a product is mislabeled? That's where the ELL (Eating, Educating and Living Life) Foundation comes in. Not only are they an organization dedicated to education and advocacy on behalf of all people living with food allergies, but they also send out e-mails alerting folks to

Chia Seed Trial #2- Spicy Pumpkin Muffins

2010-04-08T09:10:00.000-07:00

I have been experimenting with chia seeds over the past few weeks. As I wrote earlier, I tried them with good success in the oatmeal chocolate chip cookie recipe from our upcoming Welcoming Kitchen book. I tried them in cake and muffins, too. I would say that the results in a softer-textured treat are a little more mixed, in my opinion. Making the chia gel (instructions to follow) definitely

Kim's Guest Post on AllergySense.com

2010-04-05T08:16:00.000-07:00

If you live with someone with food allergies or restrictions, you should check out the wonderful, information-packed website, allergysense.com. This site provides a wealth of information and support. They asked me to write a guest blog post for their site, which appears today. Click here to link with their site. As a food-allergy mom, I am grateful that there are wonderful people and

Cooking Allergen-free and Gluten-free on WGN -- Thanks!

2010-04-02T12:18:00.000-07:00

Phew ... my first TV appearance happened today, and I think it went ok. I was a little flustered, but overall, I think it went pretty well. Here is my TV Debut as seen on the WGN Midday News in Chicago. I owe the hugest thank you to WGN for this opportunity. Thank you, also, to Enjoy Life foods, who generously provided me with chocolate chips to practice at home and for my demo today. (

WGN Lunch Break Recipe - April 2, 2010

2010-04-01T20:35:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Our Kitchen -- Our Allergy-Free, Gluten-free, and Vegan Kitchen-- Here are our recipes that are on WGN Lunch Break today! If you are a regular follower, thanks for checking in - we so appreciate your support and encouragement. If you are a new follower today, please sign up for our email notifications or become our follower on Facebook or Google! We are thrilled that you found us

WGN Lunch Break Recipe - April 2, 2010

2010-04-01T05:31:00.000-07:00

Chocolate-Sunflower Seed Butter Cups This recipe is a sneak peak of a fantastic recipe from our upcoming Welcoming Kitchen book due out next spring. This recipe is a great example of Welcoming Kitchen cooking ... Even when you are living with dietary restrictions, you can still enjoy delicious treats! (Note: Since some commercially available sunflower seed butter is made on shared equipment

Welcoming Kitchen TV Debut!!

2010-03-29T19:03:00.000-07:00

Allergy-Free Easter Treats on WGN's Lunch Break You heard it here! We have been asked to cook on WGN's Lunch Break this week!!! Kim is going to be preparing some delicious and simple allergy-free treats this Friday, April 2nd in the noon hour! We are really excited to be given this amazing opportunity! Kim is brave enough to go on TV without me this time and I am so proud of her! Be

Celebrate the Spring Holidays (Easter, Passover, etc.) Even with Food Allergies

2010-03-18T09:35:00.000-07:00

Springtime delights me! My boys and I look for signs of spring every day, and each day we find new ones. When you live in the frozen Midwest, each new crocus, tree bud or returning bird is really exciting! The holidays that lots of folks celebrate in the spring can at first seem challenging if you live with food allergies or restrictions. With a little creative thinking (and a quality recipe

Getting Ready for Summer -- Mixed Fruit Cobbler

2010-03-14T19:16:00.000-07:00

Gazing into my crystal ball, I see a future filled with ripe, luscious fruits. That future has a name ... SUMMER! OK, I know that summer is still a ways off, but I thought I'd whip up a fruity dessert using frozen fruit just to keep my skills up. (Or maybe it was just that we wanted a sweet/tart, smooth/crunchy, warm/cold taste sensation.) Luckily, we have a wide range of organic fruit

Soup in a Snap!

2010-03-09T13:10:00.000-08:00

After a week or so of battling a stomach bug, my family is finally on the mend. To celebrate, I wanted to whip up something tasty (not that ginger ale isn't delicious, but ...), but easy. This two-potato soup couldn't be easier. An added bonus... both of my boys devoured it without even a word of complaint! Whip this up for one of your last soups of the season. Two-Potato Soup Serves 8

Sneak Preview -- Chocolate Sunflower Seed Butter Cups

2010-03-04T12:19:00.000-08:00

We shared this recipe as part of Cybele Pascal's Allergy Friendly Friday. Please check out the other great recipes! Here's a sneak peak of a fantastic recipe from our upcoming Welcoming Kitchen book due out next spring. This recipe is a great example of Welcoming Kitchen cooking ... Even when you are living with dietary restrictions, you can still enjoy delicious treats!I'm going to make

Chia Seeds Trial One--Chia Seeds as an Egg Substitute

2010-02-28T12:40:00.000-08:00

I've been reading about the wonders of chia seeds for a little while -- high in Omega-3s, fiber and protein. But, I was hesitant. Really ... I'm gonna use the same kind of seeds that come with a Chia Pet in my cooking??? The folks at Nuchia sent me a sample of chia seeds to try. Even then, I was still a little reluctant. Some of the blog posts I've read from other vegan or gluten-free cooks

Hooray for the CSA!

2010-02-21T18:15:00.000-08:00

It's almost impossible to be stuck in a menu rut when you belong to a CSA. Every week I'm surprised and excited by what Growing Power (my CSA) sends in my market basket. This week, I had only one thought when I unpacked my bag. SALAD! I don't make a lot of salads in the winter months. I'm much more drawn to soups and one-dish meals, like casseroles. But, it was impossible for me not to be

Surf Sweets

2010-02-17T08:13:00.000-08:00

In the middle of winter, what could be better than a treat called Surf Sweets? Not much, it turns out! The folks at Tru Sweets sent me some of their Surf Sweets candies to try. They have a few varieties that are Welcoming Kitchen-friendly (allergen-free, gluten-free and vegan). My boys (including my husband) and I tried the Gummy Swirls, Sour Berry Bears and Fruity Bears. They were a yummy