Category: Kid-friendly Recipes

It is so important to cook homemade, healthy food. But it’s not always easy to find kid-friendly recipes.

That’s where I come in. I’ve got hundreds of kid-tested and approved recipes that won’t keep you in the kitchen for hours or stretch your budget too thin.

I focus on allergy-friendly, whole foods. But I always cook with kids in mind. I take all sorts of feeding challenges into account too.

We’ve dealt with every allergy possible, so I’ve created recipes that are gluten free, nut free, dairy free, egg free, soy free, corn free, coconut free and more!

Kid-friendly recipes don’t have to be boring. And they are certainly not limited to chicken nuggets and pizza every night.

A nourished child will enjoy a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Get your kids in the kitchen with you and start cooking! Have fun with food and your kids will learn to love eating.

August 9, 2016

Over Three Weeks Of Real Food Allergen Free School Lunches

Don’t let the thought of packing allergen free school lunches give you anxiety. I’m sharing my top picks, including enough choices to create at least three weeks of completely different lunches!

School is right around the corner (I said it…don’t throw tomatoes). Depending on where you live it could be a month, a couple weeks or even days away!

Along with school comes the dreaded lunch packing.

When you have to work around allergies your choices are limited. No crackers and cheese. No more pb&j. Scrap half of the cute Pinterest ideas.

There are even plenty of posts claiming to have allergen free ideas…that really aren’t allergen free at all except for maybe one or two options from a long list. Or you have to do a bunch of substituting on your own to make them allergen free. No thanks.

But allergy friendly lunches don’t need to be boring, bland or void of nutrition. They don’t need to be complicated either. In fact they can be downright fun! Just ask my kids.

I’ve been packing school lunches for two years now. I tend to get in a rut sometimes. So I like to have a list on hand of safe, healthy and delicious lunch ideas. Today I’m sharing them with you!

These are the best real food allergy friendly lunch ideas around. And they are all staples in our lunches.

Pick your favorites, make some weekly lunch menus and rotate through them. I’ve got enough ideas to create three full weeks of unique lunches. Problem solved.

To start I’ll share one of our favorites. Then head over to Kitchen Stewardship where you’ll find the rest of my allergen free school lunches.

Allergen free bread or pancakes with sunbutter [this brand is 100% nut free – I like to use the green lid since there are no extra ingredients] and pectin free strawberry jam, cherry jam, peach jam, grape jelly or red plum raspberry jelly. This is not your traditional pb&j. But trust me, your kids will love it!

—>>> Check out the rest of my allergen free school lunches!

July 25, 2016

Creamy Zucchini Egg Muffins

Looking for a kid-friendly breakfast that includes plenty of protein, healthy fat AND vegetables? Creamy zucchini egg muffins combine nutrient dense eggs with creamy whole milk yogurt and fresh summer veggies to create a simple and delicious start to the day.

I am working with Stonyfield, Le Creuset and Kitchen IQ on this post. I have been compensated for my time commitment. All opinions expressed are my own, and I have not been paid to provide positive feedback.

Is your zucchini starting to pile up in the fridge like mine? I’m always looking for new ways to use it.

I love making chocolate zucchini cupcakes, zucchini crackers, soaked gluten free zucchini bread and especially zucchini cake! Our whole family enjoys it grilled, roasted and sauteed. I try to freeze some as well.

Yet no matter how diligent you are it seems there is still more. I’ve got a fun, kid-friendly recipe that will get your kids to eat zucchini for breakfast!

Eat Your Veggies…I Mean Eggs!

In my house the zucchini is not the hard part…it’s the eggs. Three of us can’t even eat eggs. My oldest can (lucky girl!). But she has always struggled eating eggs. She picks at them, holds them in her mouth, complains about the texture.

But I did not hear a single complaint about these creamy zucchini egg muffins. In fact, she told me she really liked them!

There are two secret ingredients.

Whole milk plain yogurt – it really adds a rich creaminess to the eggs.
Cane sugar – I know what you’re thinking. Add sugar to eggs? Don’t worry, it’s only 1/2 tsp. But it really does something to the flavor.

A little back story on the sugar in eggs. When I was little and had the chicken pox I didn’t have much of an appetite. The only thing I would eat was the scrambled eggs my big sister made (multiple times a day for me). There was something different about them. We called them “oops eggs” because she didn’t make them right. But I loved them. We figured out later that she added a touch of sugar to them!

She was probably only about twelve years old. So she did a great job taking care of her little sis!

The final component of these eggs is the vegetable. Sauteed zucchini and onion really boost the flavor of the egg muffins. When you put the yogurt, sugar, sauteed veggies and eggs together you create a flavorful, healthy breakfast (or lunch or dinner) any kid will love.

New Kitchen Tools Are Fun!

One thing I loved about making creamy zucchini egg muffins was using my new cutting boards and measuring spoons from Kitchen IQ. The cutting boards come in four colors. Can I just say that as a mom of kids with different allergies that is so cool?! Everyone has a color. No cross contamination. It’s great!

I love the bright colors…and so does my toddler. She frequently grabs the cutting boards off the shelf just to play with them.

Even more than the cutting boards I love the measuring spoons. It is so easy to level them. And they nest together for easy storage. Who knew that measuring spoons could make such a great toddler toy too? My one year old loves trying to stack them over and over. She also loves to help me cook and bake with them.

Is your zucchini still going strong?

Give creamy zucchini egg muffins a try. You just might be adding sugar to your eggs more often.

Creamy Zucchini Egg Muffins

2016-07-24 05:20:23

Yields 6

A high protein, veggie-packed egg muffin perfect for busy mornings.

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Ingredients

3 pastured eggs
4 Tbsp. Stonyfield plain whole milk yogurt
1/2 tsp. unrefined sea salt
1/2 tsp. organic cane sugar
optional: any additional herbs and spices
1 cup diced zucchini
1/4 cup diced onion
1 Tbsp. butter, olive oil, tallow or coconut oil
1/4 tsp. unrefined sea salt

Instructions

Sautee the zucchini and onion in 1 Tbsp. fat of choice (about 10 minutes). Season with salt. Set aside to cool.
Heat the oven to 400*F. Grease a muffin pan.
In a medium size bowl combine the eggs, yogurt, salt, sugar and seasonings. Mix well.
Stir in the cooled vegetables.
Divide the egg mixture into 6 greased muffin cups.
Bake for 45 minutes.
Allow to cool 3 minutes before serving.

Notes

You can bake these in advance and eat cold, room temperature or warmed.
You can freeze these muffins for up to a year. Thaw and heat to serve.

By Mary - justtakeabite.com

Just Take A Bite https://justtakeabite.com/

July 19, 2016

Red Plum Raspberry Jelly {No Added Pectin!}

Looking for a delicious jelly that is naturally free of pectin? This is it! Red plum raspberry jelly is the perfect fruit combination for your morning toast, mixed into yogurt or spread on your pancakes.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…I’m not very good at making jams and jellies. Even when I use the packs of pectin!

I have switched over to using gelatin to create my strawberry freezer jam, cherry jam, grape jelly and five minute peach jam. They turned out beautifully!

But I recently teamed up with Ball Brand to try one of their recipes. I had the great pleasure of perusing The All New Ball Book Of Canning And Preserving. It’s like a canner’s dream.

The pictures are gorgeous. And the recipes all sound so delicious. I wish I had time to try them all!

But I had to just pick one to try and share with you.

Trying My Hand At Jelly Again

With our allergies I don’t use pectin. Since I can’t be certain of the source it’s too risky. I know a lot of pectin is made from apples. And my two youngest are allergic to apples.

So instead of modifying a recipe I went for one that didn’t even need pectin. Red plum raspberry jelly sounded like the perfect combination of fruit flavors. And it is!

Neither fruit over powers the other.

There is no doubt that red plum raspberry jelly tastes good. You can use it for your morning eggs and toast or mixed into some plain yogurt. We like it on pancakes.

The Outcome

The real question, though, is did I manage to make good jelly without using gelatin?

Ummmm, no.

I read the instructions on how to look for the gelling point. I used a thermometer to monitor the temperature (got it to 220 just like it said).

But the timing worked out that it was right around the gelling point when I was trying to get my toddler down for a nap. And of course this was the one day where she was fighting sleep. In fact, instead of taking 3-10 minutes to get her to sleep it took over an hour and a half (including a dirty diaper change)! Maybe it was all those raspberries she ate!

So I kept bouncing back and forth between checking the jelly and checking the toddler. And at one point I just said I have to get it done and said a prayer. Well, it wasn’t gelled.

My Big Mistake

And now that I am re-reading the directions I see that it says to stir constantly…oops. Not easy when trying to get a toddler to nap. I think all of the pectin came to the top when I wasn’t stirring…there was a sticky, pink foam. Oops.

Note – keep stirring while it boils!!

All is not lost, though. We now have sweet red plum raspberry syrup! I can’t wait to use it on our pancakes this week (every Friday we have breakfast for dinner…pancakes is on the menu).

I might also try cooking it down a bit or adding a little gelatin when I open a jar. Just to see what happens.

It’s Your Turn

In spite of my inability to make jams and jellies I am sharing this delicious recipe with you today. I bet you’ll have better luck. Maybe you can teach me a thing or two about gel! My motto moving forward is going to be “Follow the directions and keep stirring.”

I hope to try this recipe again and actually cook it the right way. I REALLY want to try red plum raspberry jelly on bread (freshly baked sourdough would heavenly).

How about you? Are you a pro at making jams and jellies? Or are you jelly challenged like me?

I’d love to hear how it goes if you try red plum raspberry jelly.

But there’s more! Keep reading.

Red Plum Raspberry Jelly

2016-07-17 05:18:07

Yields 4

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Ingredients

2 lbs. firm, ripe red plums, halved
1 cup water
4 cups raspberries
3 cups cane sugar
cheesecloth

Instructions

Pit plums, reserving pits. Chop plums and place in a 6 qt. stainless steel or enameled Dutch oven. Lightly crush the plum with a potato masher.
Stir in the water and reserved pits. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer 10 minutes.
Add raspberries, crushing with a potato masher. Return to a boil, cover, reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes.
Line a large, fine wire mesh strainer with 3 layers of dampened cheesecloth. Place the strainer over a large bowl.
Pour the plum mixture into the strainer (do not press down). Cover and let stand 3 hours or until collected juice measures 3 1/2 cups and mixture no longer drips.
Wash and dry Dutch oven.
Pour the juice into the Dutch oven. Stir in the sugar and bring to a boil over high heat. Boil, stirring constantly, to gelling point.
Ladle hot jelly into a hot jar, leaving 1/4-inch headspace.
Wipe jar rim. Center lid on jar. Apply band and adjust to fingertip tight.
Place jar in boiling water canner. Repeat until all jars are filled.
Process jars 10 minutes, adjusting for altitude. Turn off heat, remove lid and let jars stand 5 minutes.
Remove jars from canner and cool.

Notes

Tip - plum pits are super high in pectin, so simmering them with the fruit really helps give this jelly its velvety smooth set.

By Ball Brand

Just Take A Bite https://justtakeabite.com/

Can It Forward

Don’t forget to “Can It Forward” with Ball Brand. On July 22, 2016 they are hosting a Can-It-Forward day live on Facebook. You’ll see demos (I think I need to tune in for one on jelly). Plus Ball Brand will be donating to a local charity. The more engagement they receive the more they donate!

Here’s how you can participate.

Pledge to can-it-forward by signing up via the pledge page and share with friends.
Tune in on July 22^nd to watch canning demonstrations via Facebook Live from 10:00AM – 3:30PM ET. Each hour, viewers will have the chance to win a giveaway prize!
If you engage with any of the Facebook Live recipe videos, a donation will be made to charity.
You can ask Jarden Home Brands canning experts any preserving or home canning questions via Twitter with the hashtag #canitforward from 10AM – 5PM ET on July 22nd. Consumers can also share their own #canitforward creations with the brand on Pinterest and Instagram.

More For You

Ball Brand would also like to give one of my lucky readers coupons for canning supplies and a copy of The All New Ball Book Of Canning And Preserving! Enter below for your chance to win.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Does red plum raspberry jelly sound like a delicious combination? What is your favorite jelly flavor?

July 12, 2016

The Best Allergen Free Snacks For At Home And On The Go

Whether you’re hitting the road in the summer or you’re in your regular routine at home it’s important to have safe snacks on hand. I’ve got the best allergen free snacks to help make summer fun.

Kids love to snack. No question about it.

I try to give my kids nutrient packed meals so they aren’t too hungry between meals. But they still seem to be hungry a lot (especially due to allergies and gut issues). And with a little one trying to get back on track with weight gain I feed her any chance I get.

Summertime is no exception to the snacking.

There are so many healthy real food choices! What a blessing.

Not Everyone Is So Lucky…

What if your kids can’t eat most things that you can buy in a store or restaurant, even the healthy stuff?

Your options are quickly limited.

Managing Food Allergies On the Go

No need to worry. I’ve got a list of some of the best allergen free snacks around. They aren’t expensive processed foods. Just simple, nourishing snacks that kids love.

Believe me, I know allergies. When I say something is allergy friendly, it really is safe.

Feeding my children nourishing meals is hard. But providing safe and healthy snacks is even harder,especially when traveling. Since I can never compromise, I have to constantly be prepared.

Favorite Allergen Free Snacks for Kids

Some of these snacks work well for when you are away from home and need to keep food at room temperature. Others are simple bites to have on hand at home or kept in a cooler.

Some are salty. Some are sweet. There is a little something for everyone. Mix and match to meet your summer activity needs!

These allergen free snacks are all naturally free of (or can be made free of) gluten, dairy, nuts, eggs, corn, soy and coconut. So take your pick and enjoy safe summer snacking.

Head over to Kitchen Stewardship where I’m sharing my list of allergen free snacks!

July 5, 2016

Allergen-Free Blueberry Muffins

Easy to make and fun to eat, these allergy-friendly blueberry muffins are naturally free of gluten, dairy, eggs, nuts, corn, coconut, rice and soy. Breakfast just got a whole lot tastier.

Let’s get real. Allergen-free baking is tricky.

Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t. You make numerous batches and spend a lot of money on specialty ingredients.

When my son was little and had gotten a new round of allergy testing…and restrictions, I had to do more baking experimentation. I was very experienced with gluten-free, dairy-free and nut-free baking. But adding eggs to the list too made it a bit harder. I started my experimenting with muffins.

Kid-Friendly Gluten-Free Muffins

He has always loved muffins. When he was two he’d get out of bed, hurry downstairs and declare he needed a muffin instantly. There was (and still is) no waiting for breakfast (he’s just like his mama). And muffins top his list for breakfast fare.

I went through a few batches that were either crumbly or too dense. But I finally perfected a truly allergen-free muffin.

You can add whatever you like to it. My son’s favorite variety is blueberry. Me? I like chocolate chips (this is the brand we love). That’s about as close as I get to dessert these days.

Easy, Egg-Free Muffins

These muffins are super easy to make. Just mix all of the ingredients in one bowl, pour into muffin tins and bake.

Every time I make muffins my son devours them and tells me I NEED to post the recipe. So today I’m finally sharing it.

There are no eggs, dairy, coconut, nuts, corn, rice, gluten or soy in these allergy-friendly blueberry muffins. They are also pretty low in sweetener.

I use a combination of grass-fed gelatin (I use this brand – use the code TAKE10 for 10% off), olive oil and honey for an egg replacement. It works perfectly!

Muffins Kids Can Make

If you’re looking for a way to get your kids in the kitchen to practice their cooking skills, allergen-free blueberry muffins are perfect. They can perfect their measuring and pouring skills. And of course sample the batter to make sure it’s ok.

Not sure how to teach your kids to cook? Check out this cooking course! We’ve been using it for years!

I like to make a big batch and stock the freezer. Though with my son’s appetite very few actually make it there. I love having an easy breakfast or perfect pairing with a bowl of nourishing soup ready whenever I need it.

Are you in need of a truly allergy-friendly muffin?

This is it! Choose your favorite additions and whip up a special breakfast treat.

Allergy Friendly Blueberry Muffins

2016-07-03 05:54:07

Yields 12

Moist, slightly sweetened blueberry muffins free of gluten, dairy, eggs, corn, soy, rice and coconut.

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Ingredients

1 1/2 cups sorghum flour
1/2 cup tapioca flour
3/4 cups water
3 Tbsp. cane sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. unrefined sea salt
1/4 cup honey
6 Tbsp. olive oil
1/4 cup cold water
3 tsp. grass-fed gelatin
1/4 cup hot water
1/2 cup blueberries (or any other fresh fruit, dried fruit or chocolate chips)

Instructions

Heat the oven to 350*F. Line muffin pan with muffin cups (paper or silicone).
In a large bowl combine the sorghum, tapioca and water. Mix well, removing any lumps.
Combine the 1/4 cup cold water and gelatin. Set aside.
Add the sugar, baking soda, salt, honey and olive oil to the flour mixture. Mix well.
Add the 1/4 cup hot water to the gelatin mixture and stir to dissolve.
Pour the gelatin water into the muffin batter. Mix by hand or with a hand mixer until well mixed.
Stir in fruit.
Fill muffin cups 3/4 full.
Bake for 30 - 40 minutes (30 minutes for mini muffins, 40 minutes for full size muffins).

Notes

To make pumpkin muffins reduce the 3/4 cups of water to 1/2 cup of water and add 1/2 cup of pumpkin to the batter.
One recipe makes about 12 full size muffins or 24 mini muffins.
Add 3 Tbsp. maple syrup and omit the blueberries to make vanilla cupcakes.

By Mary - justtakeabite.com

Just Take A Bite https://justtakeabite.com/

May 31, 2016

Allergen Friendly Vanilla Cake {free of gluten, eggs, dairy, nuts, coconut, rice, corn and soy}

Everyone deserves cake on their birthday. Even if you have allergies! This allergen friendly vanilla cake is free of gluten, dairy, eggs, nuts, corn, soy, rice and coconut. Plus it’s super easy to make!

A couple months ago my son had another round of allergy testing, revealing more allergies and more severe allergies. It’s definitely not what we had hoped for.

But when his birthday approached I did not let his allergies stop me from making him a super fun (and safe) birthday cake!

He was determined to have a Paw Patrol cake. And I wanted to make that happen.

Together we came up with the idea of turning the cake into a dog dish. I added homemade carob puff cereal on top for the dog food. It was a huge success.

We found a winner.

My kids gave it two big thumbs up!

This cake does not rise as much as a regular cake (did I mention it was free of everything? Even gums as those often contain allergens too). So I made a double batch and turned it into a four layer cake. It was mostly for effect to create a big dog dish. Just a single batch would be just fine for enjoying the cake.

Then top it with your favorite frosting. I used a “buttercream” made with palm shortening and homemade powdered sugar. Really, just two ingredients. My kids go crazy for the frosting.

I did also make a regular cake for the other party guests. That cake was the water dish, topped with blueberries.

Everyone join the fun.

It was wonderful to see my five year old enjoy his special day and not feel left out. To top it off my niece and nephew with allergies were able to eat cake too! It sure made my day to see everyone included in the celebration.

I really don’t have much else to say about this cake. I’ll let the pictures and the smiles speak for themselves.

Are you in need of a cake that is truly allergen friendly? This vanilla cake is the perfect solution!

Allergen Friendly Vanilla Cake

2016-05-29 06:00:28

Serves 12

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Ingredients

1 1/2 cups sorghum flour
1/2 cup tapioca flour
1/2 cup organic cane sugar
1/2 tsp. unrefined sea salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cream of tartar
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup palm shortening, melted
3 tsp. grass-fed gelatin
1/4 cup cold water
1/2 cup + 1 Tbsp. boiling water

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350*F. Grease and line with parchment paper two 8" round cake pans.
In a small bowl combine the gelatin and 1/4 cup cold water. Set aside.
In a large bowl combine the sorghum, tapioca, sugar, baking soda, salt, cream of tartar, honey and shortening. Stir to combine.
Add the boiling water to the gelatin mixture and stir until the gelatin is dissolved (about 10 seconds).
Add the hot gelatin mixture to the cake batter.
Stir until well mixed.
Pour half of the batter into each of the prepared pans.
Bake for 30 - 35 minutes, until golden.
Allow cakes to cool in pan for 15 minutes. Remove from pans and cool completely.
Remove parchment paper.
Frost and serve.

Notes

Cream of tartar is made from grapes. Replace it with an extra 1/2 tsp. baking soda if you have a grape allergy.
Palm shortening is in the same family as coconut and may not be safe for those with a coconut allergy. The palm shortening can be replaced with lard, olive oil or avocado oil.
Store the cake in a sealed container in a cool spot.
The cake can be frozen with or without frosting.
Make a double batch for a 4 layer cake.

By Mary - justtakeabite.com

Just Take A Bite https://justtakeabite.com/

May 30, 2016

Chocolate Filled Frozen Banana Bites

Sweet, creamy and a little taste of chocolate added in. These chocolate filled frozen banana bites are allergen friendly, easy to make and even great for teething toddlers!

With summer in full swing it’s nice to be able to give the kids a cold treat without loading them up on sugar. I do my best to make sure we have lots of time outside instead of spending a bunch of time inside the kitchen preparing food!

These frozen banana bites are fun to make and fun to eat. But so, so easy.

Knife skills.

Let your kids practice their knife skills by slicing the bananas. Then use a straw to make holes. Add a sucker stick or popsicle stick if you like and you’re halfway done with the preparation…and a three-year-old can be in charge!

A Safe Sweet.

My favorite part about chocolate filled frozen banana bites is that they are allergen friendly. Well…mostly. My son is allergic to both bananas and cocoa. But those allergies aren’t as common. Just be sure to use dairy free chocolate chips if you have dairy allergies (this is the brand I use).

Also use caution if you have a latex allergy as bananas can be cross-reactive.

Ready to get your kids in the kitchen and make a delicious, healthy treat? Check out the Kids Cook Real Food eCourse where your kids will have so much fun learning knife skills (among many other skills!). And whip up a batch of chocolate filled frozen banana bites together.

Now click here to head over to Kitchen Stewardship where I’m sharing the recipe!

Looking for more cool summer treats? Try one of these:

Black Forest Popsicles

Blueberry Cheesecake Pops

Nectarine Squash Pops

Grain Free Peach Cobbler Creamsicles

Neapolitan Ice Cream Cake

Dairy Free Thin Mint Cookie Ice Cream

May 24, 2016

Creamy Orange Poppy Seed Salad Dressing

Nothing says spring like a fresh fruit salad. Top it with this creamy orange poppy seed salad dressing for a treat the whole family will love.

It’s no secret. I LOVE salad. I could (and sometimes do) eat it every day (I’ll be sharing my secret super food dressing soon!).

But my family…not so much. For my husband a “big” salad is about ten pieces of lettuce. So when I was challenged by Stonyfield and The Cookful to create a new salad dressing it took some real thinking. What could I make that my family would actually like?

Skip the lettuce.

Instead of going the traditional lettuce salad route I opted to create a fun fruit salad! Use any fresh fruit you have on hand (especially what’s in season!). Add a burst of flavor with Stonyfield vanilla Greek yogurt (now available in full fat!!), freshly squeezed orange juice and poppy seeds.

I used what we had on hand in the house – Fat Free Vanilla Greek Yogurt. You could also use whole milk yogurt combined with a little maple syrup. But the Greek yogurt really adds a nice thickness.

This creamy orange poppy seed salad dressing is so easy to make. My big kids can make it by themselves (they are learning to do so much from The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse!!).

Great for oral sensitivities.

My oldest has a very sensitive mouth. Any hint of tartness or tough skin in her fruit and she won’t eat it. One fruit she usually does not like is grapes. She makes some pretty good pucker faces when she tries them.

But the other day all I had in the house was a bowl of grapes. I gave her a dish topped with creamy orange poppy seed salad dressing. Not a single complaint! She licked the bowl clean. It’s that good.

Spruce up your salad.

If you like sweet salad dressings (like me!) you could even use this on a lettuce salad. Add some crispy pecans, dried cherries and feta cheese. Delicious!

Looking for some other great salad dressing recipes? The Cookful has plenty to choose from . I think the No Egg Caesar Dressing would be great.

Ready to add some extra flavor to your fruit salad?

Try this super easy creamy orange poppy seed salad dressing. No more boring fruit.

Creamy Orange Poppy Seed Salad Dressing

2016-05-09 20:06:00

A creamy fruit salad dressing with a pop of orange flavor.

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Ingredients

1/2 cup Stonyfield vanilla Greek yogurt (fat free or full fat)
juice of 1/2 - 1 orange (depends how strong you want the orange flavor)
1/2 tsp. poppy seeds
pinch unrefined sea salt

Instructions

Mix all of the ingredients.
Chill for 10 minutes.
Serve over fruit as a salad, on the side as a dip or on a lettuce salad.
Store in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.

Notes

This makes enough for a large fruit salad.
You can replace the vanilla yogurt with plain yogurt and 1 Tbsp. honey or maple syrup.

By Mary - justtakeabite.com

Just Take A Bite https://justtakeabite.com/

Have you heard of The Cookful?

It’s a great new site that really digs deep into specific food topics. They came up with some great salad dressing recipes!

I am working with Stonyfield and The Cookful on this post. I have been compensated for my time commitment, but I have not been paid to post positive reviews. Opinions are my own.

May 9, 2016

Gluten Free Banana Chocolate Chip Bread

The taste of this banana chocolate chip bread takes me back to my childhood. But my version is free of gluten, dairy, nuts, eggs, corn, soy and coconut. It’s perfect for Allergy Awareness Week!

My mom makes the BEST banana bread in the world. It’s amazing.

Growing up we would eat slice after slice. I loved putting cheese on it (yes, American cheese) for the salty sweet combination.

One of my favorite parts was that sometimes my mom would leave one loaf just a touch underdone in the middle for me. I loved the gooey doughy top. It was my special treat.

Bananas for me?

It’s been quite a few years now since I’ve been able to eat my mom’s banana bread. In fact it’s been many years since I’ve even eaten a banana. For the last ten years or more just one bite of banana would send my digestive system into spasms.

So when I had to cut them out of my daughter’s diet it was no big deal for me since I didn’t eat them anyway. A couple months ago we added them back into my daughter’s diet…with no reaction!

I started trying a little taste here and there. And gradually full bites. Then a few bites. Now I can eat a whole banana with no problem. It’s quite a miracle.

Allergy Awareness Week

When I was challenged by Enjoy Life Foods to make something with their chocolate chips for Allergy Awareness Week I thought about more homemade chocolates or brownies.

But then I had a pile of really ripe bananas to use up. It dawned on me…I can eat bananas now and haven’t made banana bread yet!

So I came up with my version of banana bread as a tribute to my mom and for those that also have a lot of allergies. This version brings me right back to my kitchen as a child, watching my mom make banana bread and waiting impatiently for it to come out of the oven.

This banana chocolate chip bread is quite moist. If you’re like my husband and have issues with texture and moisture you might want to scale back on the water in the recipe. For me it was absolutely perfect.

My little one loved it too! She will rarely eat a bite of any muffin or bread I make. But she scarfed down two pieces! Right after playing in the mud and getting a bath.

Are you in the mood for a special treat that is also allergen friendly and low in sugar?

This banana chocolate chip bread is what you need. There are only two tablespoons of honey added. The bananas add a natural sweetness (always use really ripe bananas). Of course the Enjoy Life chocolate chips just put it over the top.

Allergen Friendly.

No gluten, dairy, eggs, nuts, corn, soy or coconut. But you’ll never notice. And this bread is so easy to make (and eat) you’ll want to bake three or four loaves. Keep some in the freezer for easy breakfasts and snacks.

Want a fun way to celebrate Allergy Awareness Week?

Try some gluten free banana chocolate chip bread. The whole family will love it.

Gluten Free Banana Chocolate Chip Bread

2016-05-05 20:35:27

An allergen friendly moist banana bread with chocolate chips for a boost of flavor.

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Ingredients

1 cup white rice flour
1/2 tsp. unrefined sea salt
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup mashed ripe banana
2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 Tbsp. honey
1 tsp. grass-fed gelatin
1/4 cup cold water
1/4 cup hot water
2 Tbsp. Enjoy Life chocolate chips (mini or dark)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350*F. Grease a medium size loaf pan.
In a large bowl combine the flour, salt and baking soda.
In a small bowl combine the gelatin and 1/4 cup cold water. Set aside.
Add the olive oil, honey, banana and chocolate chips to the flour mixture.
Mix the hot water into the gelatin mix and stir until gelatin is dissolved.
Pour the hot gelatin mix into the flour mixture and stir until combined.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 50 minutes, until baked through.

Notes

Reduce the cold water to 2 Tbsp. for a less moist bread.
You can replace half of the white rice flour with brown rice flour or sorghum flour.

By Mary - justtakeabite.com

Just Take A Bite https://justtakeabite.com/

I am working with Enjoy Life Foods on this post. I was compensated for my time commitment but any opinions are entirely my own. I was not paid to write a positive review.

Spread the word about Allergy Awareness Week! It’s so important that more people understand that allergies can be life threatening.

May 2, 2016

Strawberry Kiwi Gummies

Just because your gummies are homemade doesn’t mean the flavor has to be boring. These strawberry kiwi gummies are bursting with flavor and made from real fruit.

Fruit snacks are a go-to snack for many kids these days. They are easy, sweet and chewy. Kids love them. They don’t require any work on mom’s part. Just grab a bag and go.

But have you ever actually looked at the ingredients? Many contain artificial flavors and colors. Even if you get natural or organic fruit snacks they contain things like caranuba wax and “natural” flavor.

Natural flavor is actually not that different from artificial flavor and can have the same impact on your child’s health and behavior. Not to mention it’s important to avoid it if your child has allergies since it can contain anywhere from 50 to 100 unknown to you ingredients. So it could contain a hidden allergen.

What’s the solution? Make your own!

Homemade gummies are so easy to make. The flavor combinations are endless. And you can make all sorts of fun shapes with candy molds.

These strawberry kiwi gummies are both fun and fruity. The juice of real strawberries and kiwis is combined with grass-fed gelatin for a protein-packed, nourishing snack.

Want to learn how to make them?

Along with school comes the dreaded lunch packing.

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There are two secret ingredients.

New Kitchen Tools Are Fun!

Is your zucchini still going strong?

Trying My Hand At Jelly Again

The Outcome

My Big Mistake

It’s Your Turn

How about you? Are you a pro at making jams and jellies? Or are you jelly challenged like me?

But there’s more! Keep reading.

Can It Forward

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Does red plum raspberry jelly sound like a delicious combination? What is your favorite jelly flavor?

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Muffins Kids Can Make

Not sure how to teach your kids to cook? Check out this cooking course! We’ve been using it for years!

Are you in need of a truly allergy-friendly muffin?

We found a winner.

Everyone join the fun.

Are you in need of a cake that is truly allergen friendly? This vanilla cake is the perfect solution!

Knife skills.

A Safe Sweet.

Looking for more cool summer treats? Try one of these:

Skip the lettuce.

Great for oral sensitivities.

Spruce up your salad.

Ready to add some extra flavor to your fruit salad?

Have you heard of The Cookful?

My mom makes the BEST banana bread in the world. It’s amazing.

Bananas for me?

Are you in the mood for a special treat that is also allergen friendly and low in sugar?

Allergen Friendly.

Want a fun way to celebrate Allergy Awareness Week?

Click here to head over to Super Healthy Kids where I’m sharing this simple recipe.

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