Recipe of the Week

I love browsing through cookbooks!  Old, new, whatever.  I would definitely consider it a hobby of mine.  Finding new yummy recipes that I can easily convert to being allergy-friendly to fit our family's needs puts a smile on my face!

Here was my latest finding...

SunButter Sandwich Cookies
1 cup shortening
1 cup SunButter
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2-3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

Filling:
1/2 cup SunButter
3 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
5-6 Tbsp rice milk

In a large mixing bowl, cream the shortening, SunButter, and sugars until light and fluffy.  Add eggs and vanilla and beat well.  Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture.  Shape into 1 inch balls.  Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Flatten with fork.  Bake at 375 degrees for 8 minutes or until golden.  Remove to wire racks to cool.  In a mixing bowl, combine filling ingredients and beat until smooth.  Spread on the bottom of half of the cookies; top with remaining cookies.

Note:  If Brody wasn't able to tolerate baked-in egg, I probably would have substituted the eggs with a flaxseed/water mixture.  1 Tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 Tbsp water = 1 egg.

College with Food Allergies

Brody may only be in junior high, but one question that is always floating around in the back of my mind is "how will he manage going to college with food allergies?"  I love reading articles that put a positive spin on this topic, because the thought of sending my little guy off to college someday with life-threatening food allergies is a tad bit terrifying to me at the moment!  Good thing we have plenty of time to figure it all out!

Here is a recent interview with a college student:   http://www.allergicchild.com/allergicblog/?p=122

And here is a brand new blog I just stumbled upon today.  It is written by two college students who want to share their experiences of living at school with food allergies. http://collegeallergy.com/index.php/blog/

Baked-In Milk

I came across this very in depth article about the extensively heated (baked-in) milk study that was done several years ago.  I've read abstracts of it before, but had never actually seen the full version.  Brody had a check-up with his allergist a couple days ago and I again brought up the fact that I'm very interested in trialing baked-in milk.  Dr. G still isn't sure if he thinks Brody would pass the challenge, but we'll discuss it again this summer when Brody has his next RAST test done.  We've been on this food allergy journey now for 12 years, so being able to add baked-in milk to his diet would be wonderful!  I'm still holding out hope that some day he'll be free of at least his egg and milk allergies!!

http://www.jacionline.org/article/S0091-6749(08)01111-1/fulltext