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Life has gotten busy and I started running out of ideas. However, I have been finding some great new ideas online. I have been sharing these on my Facebook page, so be sure to follow me on there.

https://www.facebook.com/TheEverythingFreeMommy?ref_type=bookmark

Mini Cheesecake Trifles

In the two and a half years of being free of gluten I have not had cheesecake. I can't believe I have not tried to make it yet. It was a random craving this week that got me started on trying to find a recipe. Well, I shouldn't say random. I was at a pre-passover sedar where they gave out mini cheesecakes and of course, I had no idea what was in it and did not eat it. So as I have posted before, when I have a craving I will find a way! While looking, I found a whole bunch of no-bake recipes which did not have egg and seemed very easy. So here it goes....

First Layer: Graham Style Crumbs
1 1/2 cups of Kinnikinnick Foods Gluten-Free Graham Style crumbs
1/4 cup sugar
6 tablespoons melted butter

Second Layer: Cheesecake 
8 ox of cream cheese
2 tablespoons of confectioners sugar
2/3 cup of milk

Third Layer: Berries

Fourth Layer: Whipped Cream

Fifth Layer: More Crumbs

You can add or delete layers and add your own touch. It was a big hit with kids and adults.  Enjoy!

Banana Bread

It is rare to have brown bananas in my house but when we do I have to make banana bread. I used to be very hit or miss with it though. Starting this blog has been great for two reasons. First, when I get that text or email, "Dani, I am starting to feed my family gluten-free. Where do I start?" or "Dani, my kid was just diagnosed with a food allergy! What should I feed them?" I just send them to the blog, already written out for them. Second, the blog has been a great reference point for my own mismatch recipes that worked. The banana bread I made months, or almost a year ago (wait, I just looked back and I can't believe it was over a year ago! I didn't even realize I had been writing that long!), worked and now I can make it the exact same way.

So, if you are in the mood, check out the over-a-year-old post on gluten-free, nut-free, egg-free banana bread.

http://theeverythingfreemommy.blogspot.com/search/label/banana%20bread

Pancake Puffs and a Migraine Shake

When I delivered Vince my mom asked what kind of food I wanted waiting at home. Pancake Puffs. It was an infomercial at the time and it was all I could think about. They were delicious. Today, when the kids woke me up fighting, I decided to make the Pancake Puffs and hope it would put them in a better mood. I used the Maple Grove Farms Gluten Free Pancake mix. Emma, my pancake connoisseur, loved them!

And in regards to the Migraine Shake.... the girls, especially Ava, have been suffering with migraines for years now. We have been to a neurologist, ENT, allergist, pediatrician, and still no answers. They are just classic migraines. There are guidelines to try and minimize them such as have kid on a strict routine, never skip a meal, early bedtime, no nitrates, lots of water, no soda, healthy weight. We do it all. There are some websites that recommend magnesium, vitamin B2, and fish oils. So, this morning I added all three to a smoothie with orange juice, peaches, bananas, and Kefir yogurt drink. Apparently, that was as yummy as the pancakes. Of course, I would not suggest using those unless talking to your doctor. 

So, I sign off today in hopes the kids stay in a good mood and headache free.

Getting Started Gluten-Free

It is very overwhelming to think about revamping your whole diet. Even worse, revamping your child's diet. Kids are usually picky eaters and hard enough to feed without food restrictions. Some tips I have to a parent who is going to try feeding their child Gluten-Free....

Things that your child may eat that are already Gluten-Free:
-Cheese
-Milk
-Yogurt & Yogurt Drinks
-Fruit & Veggies
-Dried Fruit
-Raisons
-Rice
-Beans
-Edamame
-Nuts
-Eggs
-Squeezables (apple sauce, fruit & veggie blends)
-Plain French Fries (Ore Ida is my favorite)
-Popcorn
-Tortilla Chips
-Popchips
-Corn Tortillas
-Meat

Brands that have Gluten-Free replacements:
-Vans Ancient Grains Frozen Waffles
-Nature's Path Gluten-Free Waffles
-Many Cereals (Corn & Rice Chex, GF Rice Krispies, Nature's Path)
-Udi's Frozen Pizza, bagels, and breads
-Apple Gate GF Chicken Nuggets
-Bisquick GF Pancake Mix
-Red Mill GF Oatmeal
-Glutenfreeda Instant Oatmeal
-CherryBrook Farms Kitchen GF Baking Mixes
-Glutino makes almost everything
-Enjoy Life makes many snacks, cookies, and trail mixes
-Lucy's Cookies & Brownies
-Snyders of Hanover GF Pretzels
-King Arthur All-Purpose Flour
-Jovial Pasta
-Ancient Harvest Quinoa Pasta

Things that have gluten (but you may not know) so Do Not eat:
-Soy Sauce
-Barley
-Rye
-Imitation Crab
-Oats that are not labeled GF
-Many seasoning packets
-Many sauces and dressings, always look

Good luck getting started. Remember, give it 3-4 weeks before you start seeing real changes. It takes your body a while to cleanse and heal. And also remember, if you are going to try this give it a fair shot and don't cheat.

Experimental Desserts

Becoming gluten-free doesn't mean dessert free. I have posted brands that help with that. Cherrybrook Farms Kitchen has the easiest baking mixes I have found. You pretty much add water and oil, bake, and its done. However, a month of chaos and I do not have a box in my house. We have a birthday party later so I grabbed the box of King Arthur Flour GF brownie mix. Big Fat Fail!!

Next, I tried gluten-free and egg-free vanilla cupcakes. http://www.sarahbakesgfree.com/2013/03/gluten-free-vegan-vanilla-cupcakes.html

I made a variety of recipe in the link above. I added some coconut flour, exchanged coconut oil for sunflower oil, and used regular vanilla milk instead coconut milk. They came out great! Phew. 

Finally, with the left over weird brownie mixture and leftover vanilla cake mixture I experimented.  Mix both and bake again... Actually, it was not too bad. With all that sugar, I can't imagine the kids not liking them. Next time though, I may just bring a box of Enjoy Life Cookies.