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Author: Mary | Just Take A Bite

Sourdough Bacon Pancakes {dairy free, nut free, corn free}

Sourdough Bacon Pancakes | Homemade Dutch Apple PieFriday night is breakfast for dinner night. I can never go wrong if it includes pancakes!

Most of the time I do soaked gluten free pancakes. But once in a while it’s nice to change it up. These sourdough pancakes are perfect for variety.

There is no extra flour added to the sourdough starter. So you don’t have to worry about extra soaking/fermenting time.

One batch makes about ten pancakes. If you double it you can stock your freezer for easy week day breakfasts.Sourdough Bacon Pancakes | Homemade Dutch Apple Pie

Sourdough pancakes are thinner than regular pancakes. But they are still delicious. They also work well as wraps for sandwiches.  You can make them thicker by adding extra flour to the batter. I make them both ways…and they are equally delicious!

This version of sourdough pancakes includes bacon. It’s the perfect paring. Slightly sour pancakes combined with salty bacon and sweet maple syrup make a delicious breakfast treat.

If you don’t want bacon you can add chocolate chips, dried, fresh or frozen fruit or nuts to the pancakes. You really can’t go wrong.

Does  your family enjoy pancakes? Try sourdough bacon pancakes for a new twist on a classic breakfast.

Sourdough Bacon Pancakes | Homemade Dutch Apple Pie

Sourdough Bacon Pancakes {nut free, dairy free, corn free}
Yields 10
A sweet and salty pancake made with sourdough and bacon.
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Ingredients
  1. 2 cups sourdough starter
  2. 2 Tbsp. coconut sugar or cane sugar
  3. 1 egg
  4. 2 Tbsp. bacon grease, melted (or butter or coconut oil)
  5. 1/2 tsp. sea salt
  6. 1 tsp. baking soda
  7. 1/2 cup cooked, crumbled bacon
Instructions
  1. Feed your sourdough starter the day before making the pancakes so you have at least 3 cups of starter.
  2. Combine the starter, sugar, egg, grease and salt.
  3. Sprinkle the baking soda on top. Gently stir.
  4. Pour 1/3 cup portions of batter onto a hot, greased skillet.
  5. Add crumbled bacon to each pancake.
  6. Cook until the edges get dry and the bubbles pop. Flip pancakes.
  7. Cook another minute.
  8. Serve warm with extra bacon, butter or coconut oil and maple syrup.
Notes
  1. These pancakes are quite flat. If you want more rise you can try adding 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar to the batter with the soda water.
  2. To make thicker pancakes add 1/2 cup all purpose flour or white spelt to the batter.
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Honey Sourdough Soft Pretzels With Bacon Cheddar Cheese Sauce

Honey Sourdough Soft Pretzels with Bacon Cheddar Cheese SauceA few months ago I re-introduced wheat into our diets in the form of traditionally prepared sourdough. So far it’s going very well.  It is the only wheat we eat. Since it is fermented most of the gluten is broken down. I also use spelt since it is a milder form of wheat.

Since then I’ve been making a variety of sourdough goodies. Of course I make plenty of bread. But I also make fun food like these soft pretzels.

My kids and my husband really enjoyed these – especially with a delicious bacon cheese sauce!Honey Sourdough Soft Pretzels with Bacon Cheddar Cheese Sauce | Homemade Dutch Apple Pie

Sourdough pretzels are super easy to make. The dough is very easy to work with.

The pretzels are also very filling. You can turn them into a simple Sunday night dinner by paring the pretzels and cheese with a salad (topped with a little protein and homemade dressing with healthy fat).  You’ll get a good balance of protein, carbohydrates and fat.

Need a treat while watching sports? Sourdough soft pretzels are perfect! You can make mini ones for munching like appetizers. Or you can really feel like you’re at the game by indulging in some giant pretzels like you’d get at a concession stand (minus the neon cheese and chemicals).Honey Sourdough Soft Pretzels with Bacon Cheddar Cheese Sauce | Homemade Dutch Apple Pie

These would also be great for a kid’s birthday party. Mini soft pretzels with little cheese cups for dipping.

Honey sourdough soft pretzels with bacon cheddar cheese sauce are fun for kids and adults.  Plus they are properly prepared and don’t contain any unhealthy ingredients. Honey Sourdough Soft Pretzels with Bacon Cheddar Cheese Sauce | Homemade Dutch Apple Pie

Honey Sourdough Soft Pretzels with Bacon Cheddar Cheese Sauce
Yields 10
A traditional sourdough soft pretzel with bacon cheese dipping sauce.
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Bagels
  1. 2 cups sourdough starter
  2. 3 3/4 cups spelt flour (or kamut, einkorn, whole wheat or rye)
  3. 1/2 Tbsp. sea salt
  4. 1/3 cup cold water
  5. 3 Tbsp. honey
  6. sea salt for topping
Bacon Cheese Sauce
  1. 1 Tbsp. arrowroot or tapioca flour
  2. 1 Tbsp. bacon grease
  3. 1/2 cup milk
  4. 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
  5. 1/4 cup cooked, crumbled bacon (optional)
  6. salt and pepper to taste
Bagels
  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer combine the starter, salt, water and honey. Gently mix with a wooden spoon until the salt and honey dissolve.
  2. Add the flour. Mix with the dough hook for 15 minutes.
  3. Remove the dough from the mixer.
  4. Divide it into 10 - 12 equal portions.
  5. Roll the each piece of dough into a long snake and shape it into a pretzel.
  6. Place the pretzels on a greased or parchment lined baking sheet.
  7. Cover and let rise 6-12 hours.
  8. Bake at 350*F for 35 - 40 minutes.
  9. Brush with butter, oil or water and sprinkle on sea salt if desired.
  10. Store unused bagels in a sealed container at room temperature or in the freezer.
Bacon Cheese Sauce
  1. Cook and crumble bacon in advance if you want bacon pieces in your sauce. Reserve the bacon grease.
  2. In a small sauce pan combine the arrowroot and bacon grease. Heat over medium heat until the grease is melted and they combined.
  3. Slowly add the milk, whisking constantly.
  4. Continue to whisk until the milk heats and gets to the point it is about to boil.
  5. Reduce heat and add cheese. Whisk until the cheese is melted and combined into the sauce.
  6. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  7. Add crumbled bacon if desired.
Notes
  1. If you want the bagel a bit sweeter you can add an extra 1-2 Tbsp. of honey or cane sugar.
  2. Any type of cheese that melts well can be used in place of cheddar.
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Allergen Friendly Meal Plans Week of 4-12-15

Homemade Dutch Apple Pie Allergen Friendly Meal PlansGood morning. Are you ready for the new week? Spring break is over for us, so it’s back to normal routines, orthodontist and mom’s group. Plus I have lots of errands to run.

To top it off this Friday is my daughter’s seventh birthday!  So I’ll be working on birthday treats all week long (two tier cake w/ homemade frosting and decorations, candy bar ice cream and a special school treat too…I can’t wait to share pictures of all of it!). That will keep me busy in the kitchen. Though I’ll still have plenty of other stuff to do just to keep us fed.

I’m trying to keep meals simple this week since we’ll be on the go a lot. We’re low on a lot of cuts of meat (not even one piece of chicken in the house), so it’s getting challenging. At least today I don’t really have to cook. We’ve got lots of leftovers from the weekend since I did a lot of cooking for our guests.Homemade Dutch Apple Pie Weekly Menu

We discovered over the weekend that my little one is extremely sensitive if not allergic to peanuts.  Just a little on her skin caused big red splotches (plus she got hives from me eating a small amount of peanut butter a couple weeks ago). My husband has been getting stomach aches from peanuts lately too. I let my son have peanuts for the first time in a year and a half last week. We’re still watching to see if his body is reacting. So peanuts will be pretty limited around here.

We’re still dealing with tongue issues for my little one. We’ll see how she does with a normal week and not so much extra stimulation from siblings and house guests. We may have to get her re-evaluated or do some other kinds of therapies.

I guess we’re just working on things one day at a time here. Hopefully in the forward/healing direction. Here’s what’s on the menu this week. What are you eating?

Homemade Dutch Apple Pie Menu

Sunday
B – apple dumpling muffins, yogurt, granola, plums
L – leftover sloppy joes, roasted veggies, fresh veggies
D – leftover lasagna, garlic toast, roasted veggies
*bake sd bread, make cake decorations, grind flour, make powdered sugar

Monday
B – muffins, fruit
D – creamy beef and noodles, broccoli
*soak flour for cake, skim cream/make ice cream, boil eggs

Tuesday
B – hard boiled egg, toast
D (prep ahead) – squash and sausage soup, crackers with cheese
*bake cake

Wednesday
B – muffins, yogurt
D (prep ahead) – cp meatloaf, baked potatoes, carrots
*make cake decorations

Thursday
B – cereal, fruit
D – hashbrown, egg and sausage bake, beans, fruit
*make school treats

Friday
B – granola bar, fruit
D – salmon cakes, sweet potato fries, peas
*make frosting/decorate cake, soak flour for pancakes

Saturday
B (birthday breakfast) – pancakes
D (birthday dinner) – grilled steak and asparagus, french fries
*make strawberry frozen yogurt

Broth For Breakfast: Toast

Broth For Breakfast: Toast | Homemade Dutch Apple PieI have another super simple way to add broth to your breakfast.  It doesn’t even require cooking (unless you consider making toast cooking).

The only thing this does require is very gelled broth. It should be unseasoned or very mildly seasoned if you want to add jam.

Then just grab a knife, some toast and start spreading!

Gelled broth is a lot like jelly. You can use it the same way. I personally just add the broth and sprinkle sea salt on top.  But if you’re not a fan of the broth flavor you can use a thinner layer of broth and spread jam on top. You’ll never know it’s there. The broth sort of melts onto the toast.

This is an easy way to get kids to eat broth. They don’t even have to know it’s there!

Pair toast with jam and broth with broth scrambled eggs for a really nutrient dense breakfast. You’ll have protein, carbohydrates and fat. You’ll have starch, sugar, salt and saturated fat. You’ll have the healing benefits of broth combined with eggs to make a complete protein.

That is about as good as it gets for breakfast. Your body and metabolism will be soaring for the rest of the day.

Broth For Breakfast: Toast | Homemade Dutch Apple Pie

Broth For Breakfast: Toast
Serves 1
A simple breakfast dish that uses broth.
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Ingredients
  1. 1 slice of bread of choice
  2. 1-2 Tbsp. gelled broth
  3. sea salt to taste
Instructions
  1. Toast the bread or keep at room temperature.
  2. Spread the broth on the toast.
  3. Sprinkle with sea salt.
Notes
  1. You can spread butter or coconut oil on the bread before the broth.
  2. You can spread nut butter, jam or honey on top of the broth.
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Broth For Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs

Broth For Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs | Homemade Dutch Apple PieBy now I’m sure you’ve heard about the benefits of bone broth. It is great for healing the gut, for boosting the immune system and for adding essential vitamins and minerals to the diet.  It is important to consume broth every day.

But what if you don’t like soup? Or maybe you just can’t stomach plain broth? There are many recipes that incorporate broth.  I have a lot of delicious ones on my site, like sloppy joes, sweet and sour meatballs, beef stroganoff and stir fry.

Those are great lunch and dinner options  But I personally like to start my day with broth. I love getting a nutritional boost right away.  Plus I think it’s important to eat a big breakfast to really fuel your body.

I do eat soup most mornings. It’s easy. I just use whatever broth and leftover meat and vegetables I have on hand. But I know not everyone can stomach the idea of soup for breakfast.Broth For Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs | Homemade Dutch Apple Pie

So I’ve come up with some easy ways to get broth into your breakfast. You won’t even know you’re eating it!

One way to easily eat broth for breakfast is in your scrambled eggs. I came up with this version of eggs for my son who is allergic to dairy.  I couldn’t use raw milk in his scrambled eggs. But milk alternatives can give a strange flavor. So I started using broth. It works so well!

Skip the milk. Add some broth to your eggs and cook them as usual. It gives the eggs a great flavor! Plus you’re getting a nutritional boost. The combination of broth and eggs is a power packed breakfast.  Add a piece of toast with homemade jam and you’ve got a complete meal to really fuel you for the day.

Do you start your day with broth? It just got a little easier.Broth For Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs | Homemade Dutch Apple Pie

Broth For Breakfast Series: Scrambled Eggs
Serves 2
Scrambled eggs cooked in broth.
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Ingredients
  1. 1/2 cup broth
  2. 3 eggs
  3. sea salt and pepper to taste
  4. 2 Tbsp. coconut oil, butter, lard or bacon grease
Instructions
  1. Heat the broth and oil in a small skillet.
  2. Once the broth starts to simmer add the eggs and seasoning.
  3. Stir the eggs to break the yolks and cook as you would regular scrambled eggs.
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Allergen Friendly Meal Plans Week of 4-5-15

Homemade Dutch Apple Pie Allergen Friendly Meal PlansChrist is risen! The Lord is risen indeed! Happy Easter. I can’t think of a better way to start my week than by celebrating Christ’s resurrection. We are also celebrating my husband’s birthday today!

I hardly dare say it, but I think we are almost back to full health here.  Last week was filled with way too much puking, doctor’s visits, crying, restless nights, not eating and laundry for my taste. Hopefully this week will be much better.

My oldest will be home all week for spring break. We’re not going anywhere this year. I’m just going to enjoy having all three kids home and doing some fun projects together. I think I’m going to have the kids help me spring clean and do some baking to stock our empty freezer.

We also have to get the house cleaned up since my in-laws will be visiting this weekend. After sanitizing the house last week and finally getting my kids’ bedroom cleaned it shouldn’t be too hard.Allergen Friendly Meal Plans | Homemade Dutch Apple Pie

It just so happened that along with our crazy sickness week I had some big writing deadlines. I’m glad I managed to somehow get things done on time. Now it’s back to writing at my own pace. I still have quite a few deadlines in April, but they are doable.

I have a lot of items on my kitchen agenda this week.  Since today is my husband’s birthday I’m making him some special food. He requested lasagna and cheesecake. Plus you have to have fudge sauce to go with the cheesecake. So I’ll make those when my in-laws come. My son has also been begging for cookies (and wants to share them with Grandpa and Grandma). I also need to make graham crackers and muffins. I might make brownies and granola. And I’ll probably be making some sourdough bread to get me through the week. If time allows I’ll make strawberry frozen yogurt.

Last week I posted a few drink recipes – homemade oat milk, homemade quinoa milk and a bedtime beverage (you don’t want to miss that one!). Coming up this week I’ve got some fun ways to use broth.

 Here is our menu for this week. Enjoy your Easter celebration.

Homemade Dutch Apple Pie Menu

Sunday
B – oatmeal, banana
L – with family
D – grilled hot dogs, grilled asparagus, french fries
*make water kefir, feed sd starter soak flour for graham crackers

Monday
B – muffins, fruit granola bar, yogurt
D – sd pizza w/ sausage and olives, carrots cp steak, seasoned rice, sauteed broccoli
*bake muffins?, make sd pizza crust, soak flour for brownies, make graham crackers, sprout beans

Tuesday
B – yogurt, granola, fruit
D – cp ham and bean soup, muffins
*soak flour for cookies, bake brownies, boil eggs

Wednesday
B – hard boiled eggs, toast
D – pork meatballs, mashed potatoes, beans
*make chocolate chip cookies, feed sd starter, make sd bread

Thursday
B – cereal, fruit
D – scrambled eggs, sd toast, peas, pears
*make cream cheese, make fudge sauce, clean

Friday
B – yogurt, granola, fruit
D – cp roast beef, roasted sweet potatoes, roasted cauliflower and brussels sprouts, rolls
*make cheesecake, clean, prep breakfast

Saturday
B – oat cups or yogurt parfaits, fruit, muffins, toast
L – sloppy joes, chips, vegetables with dip and hummus, fruit
D – lasagna, roasted mixed vegetables, garlic bread / cheesecake
*

Bedtime Beverage

Bedtime Beverage | Homemade Dutch Apple PieDo you have trouble falling asleep at night? Or maybe your kids have a hard time winding down at the end of the day? Mine sure do!

Except for one…the baby. How does she go to sleep? She nurses and falls fast asleep. Mother’s milk is warm and has the perfect balance of nutrients to help a little one nod off to sleep. It is comforting and nourishing.

So how does that translate to everyone else? Surprisingly ice cream (the kind made with real, whole ingredients) is about the closest thing we have to breast milk in terms of its nutrient profile.  It has a good balance of carbohydrates, protein and fat.

You could definitely indulge in a dish of ice cream to see if it helps you get sleepy. But I have a drink that might work better. It’s like warm ice cream!

Raw cream or whole milk is the ideal base for this drink. If you can’t have dairy you can use full fat coconut milk and add a little extra gelatin for the protein balance.Bedtime Beverage | Homemade Dutch Apple Pie

Egg yolks are added because they are packed with vitamins (especially B) and a little bit of protein. The cream or milk has lots of healthy fat. Gelatin gives more amino acids and protein. Plus the gelatin makes it all easier to digest. The sea salt helps you absorb everything and adds trace minerals. The syrup also helps digestion (sugar is easily absorbed) and gives balance to the drink by adding carbohydrates.

At bedtime you need your adrenals to settle down for the night. Having a balance of sugar, salt and fat will help your body accomplish that.   You can also add a small starchy snack along side the bedtime beverage to really balance out the components. A couple soaked graham crackers or even a slice of sourdough bread are perfect.

This bedtime beverage is like a nutritionally boosted version of the warm milk you grew up drinking at bedtime (yes, there was some truth behind that). It’s almost as comforting and calming as mother’s milk. It tastes great too!

This drink can also be very helpful during the first trimester of pregnancy. Even if you can’t get much else down this will give you a nutrient boost and may be soothing to an unsettled stomach.

There is no fancy equipment required for this drink. Just a small pan and a whisk.  It only takes a few minutes to make. Don’t forget to save your egg whites for baking. They store well in the refrigerator or freezer for a long time. I like to use them for making gluten free bread!

You won’t have to convince your kids to drink this before bed. Offer a soothing bedtime beverage that tastes like ice cream and I’m sure they will gladly oblige. Then watch them settle down and drift off to sleep.  Mother’s milk is wonderful for helping little ones get to sleep. Now everyone else can do the same.Bedtime Beverage | Homemade Dutch Apple Pie

Bedtime Beverage
Serves 1
A warm drink to help you sleep at night.
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Ingredients
  1. 1 cup heavy cream, coconut milk or whole milk
  2. 2 Tbsp. maple syrup (or honey)
  3. 1/4 - 1/2 tsp. unrefined sea salt
  4. 1 - 2 tsp. collagen or gelatin
  5. 1 - 2 egg yolks
  6. optional: 1 - 2 tsp. cocoa or carob powder
Instructions
  1. Combine all of the ingredients in a small saucepan.
  2. Whisk to combine.
  3. If using gelatin let the mixture set for 1 minute.
  4. Gently warm the mixture over low heat. Do not let it boil or you could curdle the milk or cook the egg yolks.
  5. Pour into a mug and enjoy before bed.
Notes
  1. This can be made with just the cream, syrup and salt.
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Homemade Quinoa Milk {Nursing Mother’s Drink}

Homemade quinoa milk is a delicious alternative to dairy that is also great for nursing mothers boost milk supply.

Quinoa Milk Nursing Mother's Drink | Homemade Dutch Apple PieHave you ever tried quinoa milk?  Despite the growing variety of alternative milks available, it is not something I’ve ever seen at the store (though I have seen one brand of it online).

As I mentioned in my oat milk post I’m not a huge fan of nut milks. Especially for young kids and nursing moms.

My first choice is always fresh, raw milk from cows or goats. Unfortunately a dairy intolerance is very common for small babies. Which  means mom needs an alternative.

Coconut milk is a great choice for cooking, baking and adding a splash to tea. But it’s not something most people will drink plain in large quantities. Plus it can also be hard on babies since it can be gassy and even cause reflux.

Enter quinoa milk! It has a very mild flavor – similar to rice milk. It is also very easy to make and very cost effective. One quarter cup of quinoa can make up to six cups of milk!

The best thing about quinoa milk is that it is great for boosting milk supply.   If you tolerate quinoa and are a nursing mother I encourage you to include quinoa in your diet. Even if you can have dairy this is a great alternative milk to have in your diet for variety and nutrition.

Unlike other alternative milks quinoa milk has quite a bit of protein.  You can add both calcium and vitamin D when you make it to boost nutrition even more.

Quinoa milk is not heavy like nut milks. It has a very neutral flavor. It works well for cooking and baking. Plus it is great for boosting milk supply!

Need some variety in your diet? Or are you just looking for an alternative to dairy? Give quinoa milk a try. Quinoa Milk Nursing Mother's Drink | Homemade Dutch Apple Pie

Homemade Quinoa Milk: Nursing Mother's Drink {fermented option}
A delicious alternative drink that helps boost milk supply.
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Ingredients
  1. 1/4 cup quinoa
  2. 2 tsp. lemon juice
  3. warm water
  4. 5 cups water
  5. 2 Tbsp. coconut sugar, cane sugar, honey or maple syrup OR 3 dates (optional)
  6. 1/2 tsp. sea salt (optional)
  7. Vitamin D drops (optional)
  8. calcium powder (optional)
  9. 2 Tbsp. whey (optional)
Instructions
  1. Place the quinoa and lemon juice in a bowl. Cover with warm water (quantity does not matter, as long as it's covered)
  2. Let soak for 24 hours.
  3. Drain and rinse the quinoa.
  4. Combine the quinoa and 5 cups water in a medium saucepan.
  5. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 2 hours.
  6. If using dates as a sweetener add them to the pan during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
  7. Pour the quinoa and water into a blender.
  8. Blend until smooth.
Non-fermented method
  1. Add sweetener (if desired/if not using dates) and sea salt. Blend.
  2. Pour into a serving container.
  3. Add vitamin D and calcium if desired.
  4. Refrigerate.
  5. Shake before serving.
Fermented Method
  1. Pour the blended mixture into a container.
  2. Add salt and whey.
  3. Cover and let sit at room temperature for 3 days.
  4. Add sweetener and vitamin D/calcium and refrigerate.
  5. Shake before serving.
Notes
  1. You can add 1 tsp. of pure vanilla to the pureed mixture for vanilla quinoa milk.
  2. If the milk is too thick for your taste it can be diluted with extra water or it can be strained.
  3. This should not be used for children under one year of age.
  4. This makes a great dairy alternative for both kids and adults.
  5. This recipe can easily be doubled.
  6. This recipe makes about 5 cups of milk. It can be increased by adding extra water.
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This post is linked to Savoring Saturdays.

Looking for a unique dairy alternative that does not contain coconut or nuts? This homemade oat mlk is cheap, easy to make, and delicious.

Homemade Oat Milk {fermented option}

Looking for a unique dairy alternative that does not contain coconut or nuts? This homemade oat milk is cheap, easy to make, and delicious.

Looking for a unique dairy alternative that does not contain coconut or nuts? This homemade oat milk is cheap, easy to make, and delicious.

I am a huge fan of raw milk. I’d drink it by the glass full if I could right now.  But my little one would be in a lot of pain if I did.

Being dairy-free is a big adjustment. But it’s nothing new to us. We entered the world of no dairy and alternative milks years ago.

At that time my son was also allergic to nuts and rice. So that eliminates a lot of options.

Homemade Oat Milk Dairy Alternative

We tried different versions of coconut milk. That was a big no. I can’t blame him – coconut milk tastes nothing like dairy milk. Even I can’t drink that plain.

Finally I found oat milk – something he didn’t mind drinking. Something I could use in cooking and baking that would be safe for him.

But oat milk is definitely not cheap. We usually pay about $3.50 for each small box.

Recently I was reading through Nourishing Traditions and saw a recipe for rice milk with an option to use oats. I had to try it immediately!

Looking for a unique dairy alternative that does not contain coconut or nuts? This homemade oat milk is cheap, easy to make, and delicious.

How to Make Oat Milk

First I made a fermented version. I figured it would be the healthiest option if my son would drink it. But it didn’t go over very well.

So I modified it a bit and made an unfermented version. Success!

Let me tell you this is SO much cheaper than buying oat milk. A quarter cup of oats makes over four cups of milk!  Not only that I like that I can make sure the oats are properly prepared since oats are very high in phytic acid.

Nut-Free Milk Alternative

I may be in the minority, but I am not a big fan of nut milks.  I don’t think anyone needs to consume that kind of quantity of nuts on a regular basis. They do contain quite a bit of omega-6’s, which we get more than enough of.

So I’m happy to have a safe alternative to dairy that my kids enjoy and doesn’t cost a ton. It is also extremely easy to make (just cook oats and puree).

The other benefit of having alternative milks is to make sure you get variety in your diet. This is very important when dealing with allergies. Rotating milk sources can help prevent future allergies or sensitivities.

How to Use Oat Milk

Oat milk works very well for baking. I even use it in cream soups and stews. It has a very neutral flavor.

You can also drink it plain or use it on oatmeal or homemade cereal.

As I mentioned you can make it into a fermented drink to boost nutrition. If you are used to ferments you can give that a try. If you are making it for kids that might have a more sensitive palate try it without fermenting.

Are you dairy-free? Are you looking for a unique milk substitute? Try homemade oat milk. It’s a mildly sweet, satisfying drink.

Need more options?

Try homemade rice milk or homemade quinoa milk. 

Homemade Oat Milk {fermented option}
A simple beverage made from oats.
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Ingredients
  1. 1/4 cup old fashioned oats
  2. 1 cup warm water
  3. 4 cups water, divided
  4. 4 Tbsp. coconut sugar, honey or maple syrup (optional)
  5. 1/4 tsp. sea salt (optional)
  6. vitamin D drops (optional)
  7. 2 Tbsp. whey (optional)
Instructions
  1. Soak the oats in 1 cup warm water for 24 hours.
  2. Combine the soaked oats and 3 cups water in a medium saucepan.
  3. Bring to a boil and simmer, covered, 2 hours.
  4. Pour the oats and water into a blender.
  5. Proceed with the non-fermented or fermented version from this point.
Non-fermented method
  1. Add the salt and sugar.
  2. Blend well.
  3. Pour into a jar and add another 1 cup water.
  4. Refrigerate.
  5. Add a few drops of Vitamin D (optional).
  6. Shake before pouring.
  7. Add extra water if milk is too thick for your taste.
Fermented method
  1. Blend the oats and water.
  2. Pour into a jar.
  3. Add the whey and 1/2 tsp. sea salt.
  4. Cover and let sit at room temperature for 3 days.
  5. Stir in sweetener and 1 cup extra water.
  6. Add vitamin D if desired.
  7. Store in the refrigerator.
  8. Shake well before serving.
Notes
  1. This recipe easily doubles to make a half gallon of oat milk.
  2. This milk should not be used for children under the age of one since they don't have the enzymes to digest grains.
  3. This makes about 5 cups of milk.
  4. You can add extra water to the milk to thin it out.
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Allergen Friendly Meal Plans Week of 3-29-15

Homemade Dutch Apple Pie Weekly MenuHappy Palm Sunday!  I can’t believe we are only a week away from Easter. With more cold weather and a chance of snow it sure doesn’t feel like it. And with our first round of flu to hit our house the whole season it also doesn’t seem like spring.

It was another stressful weekend of having one sick kid and trying to keep the others healthy. I am praying this is over soon and that the baby stays healthy.

So our week is a little uncertain depending on everyone’s status. For sure half of the family will be staying home from church today. Thankfully we don’t have any plans for tomorrow either. Spring break starts on Friday. We are not going anywhere. I think we all need to just relax a bit.

We will be seeing family both for Easter and the following weekend. So I’m working on meal planning/prepping and cleaning.

My kitchen to-do’s are dependent on how everyone is feeling. This is what I have planned for now: gluten free bread, whole wheat muffins, gluten free sweet bread, gluten free corn muffins and gluten free crackers (for the crust for my husband’s birthday cheesecake).Menu Homemade Dutch Apple Pie

With all of the stress I’ve been under for the last six weeks my body is really struggling. Pretty much every symptom that pops up related to some form of stress is happening: acne/cysts on my face, head and neck, hair falling out, tooth decay, weight gain in my abdomen, poor digestion, blood shot and itchy eyes, body odor (no matter how many times I wash or how much deodorant I wear), mood swings, anxiety, fatigue, dry and oily skin, lower body temperature.  So this week I am trying to make rest a priority. That might mean going to be early or sleeping in a little, taking a nap if the opportunity arises or even just putting my feet up and reading instead of always being busy.

This could mean no exercise. I know that is a form of stress on my body when I’m already run down. I do like to do some gentle movement each day. But even small stuff can be stressful. So I’m trying to put rest first. And then if time/energy allows I can do a little exercise. This will be a big challenge for me. Mostly mentally. We’ll see how it goes.

Here is our menu for the week. We should probably just be eating soup for every meal. Hopefully everyone is healthy and back on track by the start of spring break. What’s on your menu this week?

Homemade Dutch Apple Pie Menu

Sunday
B – yogurt parfait
L – hamburgers, french fries, beans
D – leftover mac ‘n’ cheese, smoothies
* soak flour for corn muffins, soak flour for gf bread

Monday
B – yogurt, granola, fruit
D – corn dog muffins, roasted cauliflower, peaches
*sprout beans, make corn muffins, make gf bread, boil eggs

Tuesday
B – hard boiled egg, toast
D (prep ahead) – cp chili, corn muffins
*

Wednesday
B – muffins, fruit
D (prep ahead) – cp pork chops, potatoes, carrots
*make muffins, soak flour for sweet bread

Thursday
B – sweet bread, fruit
D – fried perch, sweet potato fries, broccoli
*make sweet bread, soak oats, feed sd starter

Friday
B – oat cups
D – sd pancakes w/ blueberry topping, roasted cabbage, bacon
*soak flour for graham crackers

Saturday
B – apple pie parfait
D – hamburger corn bake
*make graham crackers for cheesecake