Some rambling and some Kenzoil

It's that time of year again. The time where one day it's December sixth and you're happily making Santa pancakes (with dairy-free coconut whipped cream) for your children and then life speeds up and becomes a blur of concerts, plays, dinners, lunches, neighborhood parties, church events, trips to the post office, and late night baking 'ideas': "How can I make Christmas cookies with what I have in the house? Maybe if I put crushed candy canes in these chocolate chip cookies...." (I did, too. I'm serving them to 20+ children and their mothers this morning. We'll see.) And suddenly you come to and it's December 24th and you're driving home in the dark from the Christmas Eve service to look at the luminaries your neighbor decorated the street with and to watch the children sprinkle reindeer food on the sparkling snow.

In the midst of all of this chaos, we're still trying out new dairy-free products. Because our commitment to taste-testing free samples stops for no holiday! One of the latest is Kenzoil, an oil blend of olive oil, fresh basil, fresh garlic, and spices. The company says, "Kenzoil is free of the following allergens: eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, fish, shellfish, wheat, milk, corn, potato, rice and yeast. We only produce Kenzoil in our facility and on our equipment.... Kenzoil is a fresh product. It contains fresh herbs and no preservatives. Like most produce items, it will keep longer in the refrigerator. Kenzoil is good for 4 ½ months if kept in the fridge."



We tried it as a dipping sauce for bread. It tastes like really fresh liquid basil pesto. Everyone in our family enjoyed it, even the littlest ones, who often find pesto to be too strong tasting. Scott also tried it as a baked potato topping and liked that as well. I bet mixing it with mayo would make a fantastic sandwich spread, and I'm sure it would be good on pasta, salad, etc. I can see it being a versatile addition to the fridge door.

My only issue with Kenzoil is the name. I know, I know, it's Ken's oil. But it makes me think of Pennzoil, which? Not so appetizing. Ah well.

Kenzoil can be purchased online in 5 oz. and 10 oz. sizes. I think it would make a great stocking stuffer/hostess gift/gift basket addition.

I was not given an extra bottle for a giveaway, but Grace was! So head on over for a chance to win. Contest ends on Friday, December 18.

Surf Sweets Gummy Treats

Fruit snacks have been my go-to food allergy emergency snack/dessert item for YEARS.

Gummy treats:

• look like candy
• come in cute, portable packages
  
• have expiration dates that are months away
• can ride around in the bottom of your purse or diaper bag for months and never become: stale, crumbled, squished
• are dairy free
• are recognized and accepted by your child's peers
  
• do not carry the disappointment/stigma of Mom's Purse-Smashed Carob Flax Seed Bars

I know what you're going to say. "But, Blah blah blah cavities blah blah blah corn syrup blah blah blah fruits of the devil blah!"

Now we don't have to fight anymore because Surf Sweets just released a line of naturally sweetened, corn-syrup free gummy treats. And! They are gluten-free, dairy-free, allergy-friendly treats produced in a dedicated nut-free facility. I first heard of them from Kelsey, and when Alisa offered a chance to review them for Go Dairy Free, I shoved the other reviewers out of my way. Virtually speaking.


2.75 oz. package

We sampled:
Gummy Bears
Sour Berry Bears
Sour Worms
Jelly Beans

The Gummy Bears taste just like, well, gummy bears. The Sour Berry Bears and Sour Worms are not quite as sour as the usual Sour Patch Kid-type treat. Two of my children don't like sour candies and they liked these. The third child wished they were a bit more sour. Also, the sour candies have a firmer consistency, like those candy citrus slices your great-aunt always gave you when you visited her. The jelly beans are the consistency of regular jelly beans, with really fresh fruit flavors. They have several other new candies available, too. They are all vegetarian and some are vegan.


.9 oz. package

Ingredients:
Gummy Bears: Organic Tapioca Syrup, Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Gelatin, Organic Grape Juice Concentrate,Citric Acid, Lactic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Colors Added (including Black Carrot Juice Concentrate, Turmeric, Annatto),Natural Flavors, Organic Sunflower Oil, Carnauba Wax

Sour Berry Bears: Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Organic Tapioca Syrup, Organic Grape Juice Concentrate, Pectin, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Malic Acid, Asorbic Acid, Colors Added (Black Carrot Juice Concentrate), Natural Flavors.

Sour Worms: Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Organic Tapioca Syrup, Citric Acid, Pectin, Sodium Citrate, Ascorbic Acid, Colors Added (Black Carrot Juice Concentrate, Turmeric, Annatto), Natural Flavors.

Jelly Beans: Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Organic Tapioca Syrup, Organic Grape Juice Concentrate, Pectin, Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Colors Added (including Black Carrot Juice Concentrate, Turmeric, Annatto), Natural Flavors, Confectioner’s Glaze, Carnauba Wax, Organic Sunflower Oil.

The candies are all available in 2.75 oz. packages. Suggested retail is $1.99.
The Gummy and Sour Berry Bears are also available in .9 oz packages. Suggested retail is $.79.
Amazon has some good bulk deals here.

This review was written for Go Dairy Free. Images courtesy of Surf Sweets.

I can't believe I have to review products on my BIRTHDAY

Actually, I don't have to. But it's a nasty, cold, rainy birthday, so let's see how productive I can be, hmm?

In light of all of the shiny new review blogs popping up everywhere, I feel the need to re-explain how things work here. The reviews I write are usually for Go Dairy Free, I just cross-post them here. Occasionally, a company contacts me on their own. I get a sample of the dairy-free/food allergy-related food/product/whatever. I try it. I write honestly about it. I do not get paid by the companies or by Go Dairy Free. But even if I did, I'd write honest reviews. It's just a good way for us all to find out about new (often expensive) dairy-free and/or food allergy products. Aaand, done.

Recently I received a package of ND Labs' Meatless Burger Bits, or, as my kids call it, "Fake Meat." We used them in Peg Bracken's Green Pepper Stew. The texture and taste were very similar to ground beef, and we agreed that the texture is even more beef-like than their other meatless ground beef product. The Meatless Burger Bits are the closest-to-ground-beef meatless product we've tried. If it were up to us, though, we'd probably go with ground turkey or ground chicken or ground venison if we didn't want beef.


Yeah. Go here for a clear image.

So here's my question: if you are allergic to beef or a vegetarian or vegan, do you LIKE eating foods that taste like meat, or would you rather avoid meat--real or fake--all together? I had a grad school professor who was so excited about her Thanksgiving Tofurky, and I remember thinking, "What's the point?" If I didn't eat meat, I think I'd avoid meat-like substances. But I DO eat meat, so what do I know? Thoughts?

Ingredients: Beef flavored vegetable crumbles (soy protein concentrate, wheat gluten, malt color, and wheat starch). Spice blend: hydrolyzed corn and yeast protein, hydrolyzed wheat gluten, maltodextrin, malt extract, hydrolyzed soy protein, dextrose, yeast extract, onion, chili and garlic powders, torula yeast, malic acid, disodium inosiante, disodium guanylate, natural flavors*.

*The natural flavors thing worried me a bit, but they have allergen information on their website that says these are free of dairy.

Meatless Burger Bits are available on ND Labs' website.

This review was written for Go Dairy Free.

Milkless Milk Chocolate

Oh, yeah.

After some trial and error, we have found our dairy-free milk chocolate bar: Premium Chocolatier's Milkless Milk Chocolate. It has the mild flavor of milk chocolate, the creamy texture, and the meltability. And the chocolate is made in a dedicated dairy- AND nut-free facility. We are sold.


S'mores tested...


...kid approved. And adult approved.

I can't wait to try more of Premium Chocolatier's dairy-free chocolates. Like, NOW.

Ingredients:

Roasted Cocoa Nibs, Cocoa Butter, Sugar, Soy Powder [Tofu, (Water, Soy Solids, Calcium Sulfate), Maltodextrin (From Corn), Modified Food Starch, Sunflower Oil, Calcium Blend (Calcium Carbonate, Tricalcium Phosphate), Natural Flavors (No MSG, No Dairy), Sea Salt, Guar Gum, Xanthan Gum, Anatase, Titanium Dioxide (A Mineral for color), Vegetable Mono and Diglycerides, Vitamin B12, Vitamin E], Vanillin, Soy Lecithin Granules

Milkless Milk Chocolate bars are $12/six pack from Premium Chocolatiers.

This review was written for Go Dairy Free.

Tears of Joy

So it's Thursday of the first week of school, and things are going well. Katherine is off to a great start, and she hasn't heard any other children complain about the new food allergy policies. Eli came bounding out of preschool on Tuesday announcing, "I have a good day at school!" And he didn't shed any tears on day two of preschool (today). Helen is adjusting to being alone with Mama.

Mama, on the other hand, has been weeping at the drop of a hat. Or the turn of a page, as it were. Oh hai. Has you met Gina Clowes' book, One Of The Gang: Nurturing the Souls of Children with Food Allergies? Well, buckle up, Buttercup, and grab your Kleenex. Remember when we were all talking about what a good children's book about allergies would look like? It's here, and its name is One of the Gang.


Do you know the Mister Rogers First Experiences series of books on divorce, when a pet dies, potty training, etc.? I love these books and have used them for many a parenting milestone. They have a calm, confidence-building tone, and they show photographs of real children going through the situation being discussed. (Yes, Amazon reviewers, some of the nice people in the photos are wearing dated clothing from the 80s. Listen to me: kids don't care. Never once has my child said, "Wow, I could really relate to these people if only they weren't wearing blouses with big bows at the neck and tinted eyeglasses with initial stickers on them.") One of the Gang has the same gentle, empowering tone as these books, if not the retro fashion sense. I think Family Communications should publish it.

One Of The Gang starts with a brief discussion of how children are different from one another, then moves into a specific discussion of food allergies and the struggles and emotions that go along with them. The book is addressed to children with allergies, but I think other children could learn from it, too. Then--genius. Gina writes that food allergies won't stop you from being what you want to be, and she includes photos of famous people who have food allergies, such as Jerome Bettis and Dr. Robert Wood. She ends by writing, "You are here for a very special purpose! I wonder what it is."

*Cue Parental Crying*

Here is what I think is most important about this book. More than any other allergy book we have read, this book prompted discussions about the emotions that go along with being a child with a food allergy. Katherine talked a lot about the page that says, "You might wish that you didn't have food allergies and that you could eat whatever you wanted." Her favorite photo is one of happy children eating ice pops, with the caption, "When other grown-ups bring treats that are safe for you, it's terrific!"

I am so grateful for this book. Thank you, Gina.

One Of The Gang: Nurturing the Souls of Children with Food Allergiesis available on Amazon for $15.29.


This review was written for Go Dairy Free.

Oliver's Labels

We received a sample of Oliver's Labels recently. These labels and tags, like Mabel's and others, are for use on children's bags and belongings. They also have a special allergy line, which is what we were able to sample.

The labels are very cute. They prominently feature the child's name, along with an attractive "No Dairy" (or "No Wheat" or what have you) icon. They are easy to read and feature Oliver's Labels' Found It (TM) lost-and-found system, which enables people who find your lost item to help return it to you using the website and a nine-digit code on the label.

I like the lost-and-found option, and I like the clear graphics and the allergy images. I think these would be good for use where you might use ID labels. But for my child's desk, and EpiPen cases and other important locations, I want allergy alert tags that are red and attention-grabbing. I am afraid people might overlook the graphic and/or think it denotes a food preference rather than a serious allergy.

Oliver's Labels is kind enough to offer No Whey, Mama readers a discount. Use the code “SAFETYFIRST” (one word) to get a 10% discount code towards your purchase. Enter the code in the Agent/Reseller’s code area before checking out your shopping cart. Please note this code expires on September 30, 2009.

A La Mode

Remember when I said I was going to start inventing and making homemade snacks? Well, I was half right. I've been making a lot of homemade snacks--using other people's recipes. Why reinvent the wheel when other people have already written wonderful recipes for granola and granola bars and now... vegan ice cream.



I had the chance to read and cook from Hannah Kaminsky'snewest ebook, A La Mode, and it is wonderful. I made the Jam Ice Cream because we have tons of homemade jam on hand. It turned out beautifully--creamy and delicious. Katherine said it's better than Tofutti's Wild Berry Supreme, and even Scott liked it. True confessions: the raspberry jam I used was from a batch that didn't set up quite right but was perfect for ice cream flavoring.

While some of the recipes have slightly complex ingredient lists, others are very simple. The Jam Ice Cream has just three ingredients! I used our small gel canister ice cream maker, which was cheap as ice cream makers go. I think we're going to save a lot of money--and have fun creating our own signature flavors--with the help of Hannah's cookbook.

The recipes are:
Birthday Cake Ice Cream
Buttered Popcorn Ice Cream
Chai Latte Ice Cream
Cherry Cola Ice Cream
French Vanilla Ice Cream
German Chocolate Ice Cream
Jam Ice Cream
Maple-Pecan Ice Cream
Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Ice Cream
Peanut Butter Bomb Shell Ice Cream
Peppermint Crush Ice Cream
Rose Petal Ice Cream
White Peach-Rosemary Ice Cream
plus variations on several of them

You can download this cookbook instantly for $5. Not a bad deal, huh?

This review written for Go Dairy Free.

Intention Cookies

Recently we tried the four flavors of Intention Cookies from Bountiful Vegan. These cookies are as big as your face, so we broke them up so that everyone could try all of the different flavors.


Here they are. The measuring spoons are for scale.

The varieties are:
Prosperity--Choco Choco-Chip
Harmony--Lemon Snickerdoodle
Well-Being--Coconut Pineapple
Love--Chocolate Chip Orange


Choco Choco-Chip cookie on regular-sized dinner plate. Huge!

Everyone liked Choco Choco-Chip the best, but we liked all four varieties very much. The Harmony and Well-Being cookies have a crisper consistency, while the Prosperity and Love chocolate chip cookies are a bit softer. I liked the creative mix of lemon and Snickerdoodle flavors in the Harmony cookie and the chocolate-orange combination in the Love cookie.


Taste testing.

Intention Cookies are marketed with the idea that you read the intention on the back of the label and what you are asking for (love, well being, harmony, prosperity) will come to you as you eat. Maybe I'm just too Presbyterian, but this is a little New-Agey for my taste. If I purchase these cookies, it will be for their wonderful flavors and consistency, not for the promise of prosperity, or whathaveyou.

The kids wished that the cookies were smaller, so that they could have one all to themselves, and so that they would be easier to take along to events where we might need to provide dessert. I like the idea of packages of smaller-sized cookies. Scott thinks that they need to get away from the Intention idea entirely and just focus on the fact that they've created fantastic vegan (and therefore dairy-free) cookies.

These cookies are available on Bountiful Vegan's website for 4/$10. Currently the ingredients are not listed on the website, which is a change that needs to be made for us compulsive label readers. I would also like to see photos of the cookies on their site.

Prosperity--Choco Choco-Chip
Ingredients: Unbleached wheat flour, beet sugar, vegan chocolate chips (evaporated cane juice, chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, soy lecithin (emulsifier), ground vanilla beans), pecans, cocoa powder, potato starch, tapioca starch flour, leavening [calcium lactate (not derived from dairy), calcium carbonate, citric acid], sodium carboxymethycellulose, methylcellulose, lecithin, vanilla, aluminum-free baking powder, baking soda, salt.

Harmony--Lemon Snickerdoodle
Ingredients: Beet sugar, unbleached wheat flour, non-hydrogenated vegan spread [certified non-gmo ingredients: expeller-pressed natural oil blend (derived from corn, no msg, no alcohol, no gluten) soy protein, soy lecithin, lactic acid (non-dairy, derived from sugar beets), and naturally-extracted annatto for color], potato starch, tapioca starch flour, leavening [calcium lactate (not derived from dairy), calcium carbonate, citric acid], sodium carboxymethycellulose, methylcellulose, lecithin, lemon oil, aluminum-free baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt.

Well-Being--Coconut Pineapple
Ingredients: Beet sugar, unbleached wheat flour, pineapple, coconut, non-hydrogenated vegan spread [certified non-gmo ingredients: expeller-pressed natural oil blend (derived from corn, no msg, no alcohol, no gluten) soy protein, soy lecithin, lactic acid (non-dairy, derived from sugar beets), and naturally-extracted annatto for color], potato starch, tapioca starch flour, leavening [calcium lactate (not derived from dairy), calcium carbonate, citric acid], sodium carboxymethycellulose, methylcellulose, lecithin, coconut extract, aluminum-free baking powder, baking soda, salt.

Love--Chocolate Chip Orange
Ingredients: Unbleached wheat flour, vegan chocolate chips (evaporated cane juice, chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, soy lecithin (emulsifier), ground vanilla beans), non-hydrogenated vegan spread [certified non-gmo ingredients: expeller-pressed natural oil blend (derived from corn, no msg, no alcohol, no gluten) soy protein, soy lecithin, lactic acid (non-dairy, derived from sugar beets), and naturally-extracted annatto for color], brown sugar, beet sugar, potato starch, tapioca starch flour, leavening [calcium lactate (not derived from dairy), calcium carbonate, citric acid], sodium carboxymethycellulose, methylcellulose, lecithin, orange oil, vanilla, aluminum-free baking powder, baking soda, salt.

Pamela's Cornbread

We recently tried Pamela's Products wheat-free and gluten-free Cornbread and Muffin Mix. The packages contain directions for many different variations, and we tried two of them.

We usually make unsweetened 'Southern' cornbread in a cast iron skillet. Pamela's provides directions for Southern Skillet Cornbread, so we followed those, using three eggs and sour soymilk instead of buttermilk. The skillet cornbread was fine, but it had a strong baking powder taste and was a bit dry, even for Southern cornbread. This is where I would choose cornbread with gluten over gluten free, but I realize that isn't an option for everyone.


Here's the Southern cornbread. I can't find the muffin pic. Someone probably ate it.

However, we also tried the recipe for Sweet Old Fashioned Cornbread (muffin variation), and that was a hit! I'm guessing the addition of 1/2 cup of sugar and 8 tablespoons of margarine had something to do with it. You also add two eggs and 1 cup water. The muffins were really rich and dense, in the best possible way. They were still moist the next day, and we split the leftover muffins in half, topped them with (more!) margarine, and broiled them for a minute.

I don't know how this mix would do with egg substitutes, as the recipes call for two or three eggs.

Ingredients: Organic Degermed Corn Meal; Brown Rice Flour; White Rice Flour; Tapioca Starch; Sweet Rice Flour; Potato Starch; Organic Degermed Corn Flour; Grainless & Aluminum Free Baking Powder (Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Potato Starch); Sea Salt; Xanthan Gum.

A six-pack of mix is available at Amazon for $21.54. Pamela's Products are also available at these stores.



This review was written for Go Dairy Free.

Earth Balance Soy Free

Ta da!

Thanks for playing, everyone! I will use all of your ideas. One of the questions I received by email asked me to recommend a dairy- AND soy-free margarine. Until a few weeks ago, I would have been stumped. But now Earth Balance (our favorite margarine company) has a soy free variety. And I've been asked to review it for Go Dairy Free.

"What do they call it when everything intersects?" "The Bermuda Triangle."


What it looks like

Earth Balance Soy Free has a good buttery flavor, just like the other Earth Balance varieties. Tasting it side by side with their Soy Garden, it seems to be a bit saltier and a softer consistency.


Welcome to the family!

I spread it on flatbread, and used it to make popovers and homemade brownies. It has a much lower smoke point than the Soy Garden or regular EB varieties. (Smoke point? Geez, next she'll be talking about the margarine's "mouthfeel.") The popovers bake at a high temperature and the recipe starts with melting the margarine in a muffin tin, so the Soy Garden variety smokes a bit, too, but not nearly as much as the Soy Free variety. The brownie recipe I made begins with melting margarine and baking chocolate over low heat on the stove. Even at a low temperature, the soy-free margarine smoked up the house. I couldn't taste the smoke in either recipe, though.


Mmm...flatbread.


See the popovers through the smoke?

BUT! It is soy free! And dairy free! And tastes good! And would probably do just fine in muffins or a casserole! And it tastes very, very good spread on bread.

AND! The Allergic Kid's Earth Balance coupon giveaway is still going on, so you could win some for yourself!

This review was written for Go Dairy Free.

Wanting to be Home Free

Thursday was Katherine's school Easter Party. (And yes, around here it's still known as an Easter Party, not a Spring Party.) The mother in charge of the party called me weeks in advance to figure out what a safe snack would be for both K. and N., her peanut-allergic friend. N's mother and I gave the same suggestion of a common cookie dough found in both of our local stores. I hope K. and N. are in class together for many years to come!

At 9:30 pm the night before the party, the mother in charge called me. She had just heard from the mother who was supposed to bring the sweet treat. Apparently, this mother couldn't find the brand of cookie dough we recommended and was going to make homemade cookies instead. M., the mom in charge, called to apologize and to let me know in case I wanted to send something for K. other than her usual freezer cookie/cupcake. Very, very nice of the mother in charge, but a perfect illustration of how things can change at the last minute, no matter how far ahead you plan.

This was the same week I received three boxes of HomeFree cookies for our family to try: Chocolate Chocolate Chip, Soft Oatmeal, and Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies. They are peanut free, egg free, tree nut free, and dairy free, and are labeled as such in very clear, very plain English right at the top of the box. (There is no wheat in the cookies, either, although the oatmeal package notes that oats can sometimes contain traces of wheat. There is soy lecithin in the chocolate chip cookies.) Most importantly, they are GOOD. The Chocolate Chocolate Chip and Chocolate Chip cookies taste like Chips Ahoy, only better. (This is my review, of course. K. has never had a Chips Ahoy.) She just thinks they're great, especially the Chocolate Chocolate Chip. And the mini cookies are so much fun! That is something that's hard to reproduce in my own kitchen. There is just something about a wee little cookie that is perfect for tea parties and lunch boxes... or for a special treat at an Easter Party.

I wish HomeFree treats were in our local stores and in our schools. They're good, they're clearly labeled, and they're kid friendly. They are organic and are made in a dedicated bakery. The company was founded by Jill Robbins, who is a mother and a clinical psychologist. The company's slogan is "delicious treats that kids with food allergies can enjoy along with everyone else." That about sums it up.

The cookies are $5.49/box and can be ordered through HomeFree Treats' store. Food service-sized boxes of individually-wrapped cookies are also available. Images are courtesy of homefreetreats.com.

Katherine chose to have one of her freezer treats at the party, and N.'s mom provided fruit kabobs for the healthy snack. During the party, one of the mothers offered K. one of the unsafe cookies, but she refused. But what if the mother hadn't called? I would have sent K. off to school telling her that the cookie was safe.

I realize that mothers want to provide beautiful homemade treats for their children, but in doing so at school, other children are being left out and are being put in a potentially dangerous situation. I wish more people would think about that and would consider providing a safe, store-bought treat like these great cookies.



This review was written for Go Dairy Free.

Angel Food Review

We picked up our allergen-free Angel Food Ministries box on Saturday. Usually people bring their own boxes and file through a line to pick up their foods one by one. The allergen-free foods are prepackaged and, in our pickup center, are kept on a separate table away from the other foods.


Here is the 5 lb. box of allergen-free meats. The label says that the meats are produced by Allergy Free Foods.


Ta da!


The five one-pound bags of uncooked, prebrowned meat:
Country fried chicken wings
Country fried beef steak
Boneless country fried chicken breasts with rib meat
Country fried chicken breast nuggets with rib meat
Country fried chicken tenderloins


Uncooked chicken tenderloins


Chicken nuggets label

All of the meats are battered with:
water, white rice, brown rice, modified tapioca starch, flax seed, sugar, salt, spices, dehydrated garlic, spice extractives and oleoresin paprika
and breaded with:
white rice, brown rice, modified tapioca starch, flax seed, sugar, dextrose, salt, spices, dehydrated garlic, spice extractives and oleoresin paprika. The breading is prebrowned in canola oil.


Cooked chicken nuggets with Catherine Newman's Black Bean Dip on the side

So far, we have tried the chicken nuggets and the chicken breasts and enjoyed them both. The nuggets are white meat and not gristly at all. The chicken breasts are whole breasts, not processed patties.

Price breakdown

This 5 lb. box of food was $25. Each 1 lb. bag would feed our family of two adults and three small children for one meal. Or, I could get two to three lunches for three children out of each bag. Obviously, you get more for your money with the $30 regular box of food, which I would do if we didn't have an allergy to worry about. But from reviews I've read, it sounds as if the meat in the allergen-free box is of better quality than the regular meat. The breading ingredients are of good quality. And if you order these products directly from Allergy Free Foods' website, they cost $10/lb. before shipping.

We plan to order Angel Food's allergen-free box again. Those of you who live in larger cities may be able to find better deals by shopping around, but for those of us in rural areas without many allergen-free shopping options, I think this is a good deal.

Vegan Soups and Hearty Stews for All Seasons

I had the chance to try Nava Atlas' Vegan Soups and Hearty Stews for All Seasons this week. It is arranged by season, which is my favorite type of cookbook. It has a lot of creative recipes, like Puree of Spring Greens--the perfect way to use up your Spring CSA surplus. Of course I will be using real chicken, clams, sausage, etc. when I cook from this book because we are not vegan. But we do cook dairy free, so this is a great addition to our cookbook shelf (Shelves.).

I made the Onion and Garlic Broth, which I am really excited about because:

• it is quick and easy
• it is a flavorful addition to soups or risottos, etc.
• I always have the ingredients in my house

I used the broth in Barbara Kingsolver's Vegetarian Chili, and it added a nice depth of flavor.

Onion and Garlic Broth--Quoted directly from Vegan Soups and Hearty Stews for All Seasons
Makes about 6 cups

This broth may be used as an extra-flavorful soup stock or as an alternative, with a little extra kick, to a basic vegetable stock.

It's also a soothing remedy for the common cold!

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 large onion, chopped, or 2 medium leeks, white parts only, chopped and well rinsed

4 to 6 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup dry red wine

6 cups water

Heat the oil in a 2-quart saucepan or small soup pot. Add the onion or leeks and sauté over medium heat until golden.

Add the garlic and continue to sauté until the onion or leeks brown lightly. Add the wine and water. Bring to a simmer, then cover and simmer gently over low heat for 30 to 40 minutes. You may leave the onions and garlic in if you wish, or strain the stock through a fine strainer. Discard the solids or puree them and add to soup for a thicker consistency.

Per cup:

Calories: 42 Total fat: 2 g Protein: 1 g Fiber: 1 g

Carbohydrate: 4 g Cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 9 mg

There is an Accompaniments section at the end of the book that has several muffin, scone and bread recipes. Scott made the Focaccia Bread recipe. Twice. We love this bread!

Focaccia Bread--Quoted directly from Vegan Soups and Hearty Stews for All Seasons

Makes 1 round loaf, about 8 wedges

Although this excellent traditional Italian bread is yeasted, it does not take as long to make as other yeasted breads, since it only requires one rather brief rising. If you are making a long-simmering soup, this bread will likely fit into the time frame. It’s a natural pairing with Italian-style soups such as Minestrone (page 00), but it’s good with most any tomato-based soup.

1 package active dry yeast

1 cup warm water

1 tablespoon natural granulated sugar

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup unbleached white flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic

Coarse salt

Dried oregano or rosemary

Pour the yeast into the warm water and let stand to dissolve for 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in the sugar and two tablespoons of the oil.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flours and salt. Work the yeast mixture in using your hands, then turn out onto a well-floured board.

Knead for 5 minutes, adding additional flour if the dough is too sticky. Shape into a round and roll out into a circle with a 12-inch diameter.

Place on an oiled and floured baking sheet, cover with a tea towel, and let rise in a warm place for 30 to 40 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

When the dough has finished rising, poke shallow holes into its surface with your fingers, at even intervals. Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil over the top evenly, followed by the garlic, coarse salt, and herbs.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the bread is golden on top and sounds hollow when tapped. Serve warm, cut into wedges, or just have everyone break off pieces.

Per wedge (8 wedges per loaf):

Calories: 206 Total fat: 7 g Protein: 5 g Fiber: 3 g

Carbohydrate: 31 g Cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 294 mg

This review was written for Go Dairy Free.