Chris and I decided that all the kids would go on the same diet just to make things simpler. I figured out a million different ways to serve meat, veggies, fruit and rice. But no matter what great eaters my kids were that diet got old fast. So we started branching out.
We explored different prepared foods that met our needs. We found bread that could be used to build the third little pig's house. I put on that fake smile and sugary voice the first time I served it to the boys. "Look what I've got for you! It's toast!" Thankfully, their bread cravings were so intense at that point that they happily ate it. I quietly spit it out into my hand and fed the rest to the dog.
Next, we tried a few different types of cookies, and they were a hit too. We found soy yogurt that they liked. Granola type bars they could bring to lunch! Cake mixes! Pretzels! I was doing the happy dance of joy in the middle of a Whole Foods aisle.
And then it all came crashing down. Umm, no way! That can't be the price for 2 bags of food. Are you sure someone else's food isn't coming up on my bill? Positive? There was no happy joy dancing in the check out lane that day. Within a couple of days, Jack, Collin, and Thomas, had devoured all the treats I had bought for them.
Now what? Off to google recipes I went. I found a lot of recipes for gluten free food. I found recipes for egg free food and recipes for dairy free foods. Occasionally, I would hit a home run and find a recipe that would cover all three bases. Again with the dancing. But after having bought all the ingredients, my shopping bill was only slightly lower than when I was buying things already prepared. This was getting old fast!
So more research, more experimenting, more failures, and a few successes. The first time I tried to make chocolate chip cookies, the dough spread out into a thin sheet of cookie batter that preceded to burn to a crisp. I had a few choice words at that point. But not all was lost. We found out that even if the cookies didn't work, the cookie dough was still pretty good. There were no eggs in it, so totally safe to eat raw! The boys and I drowned our sadness over the loss of the cookies in a big bowl of cookie dough.
I finally started having some luck substituting things into recipes in order to make some great baked goods. After having a few successes, I bit the bullet and started buying gluten free all purpose flour in bulk. That saved me a bundle.
I am constantly working on perfecting new recipes or adapting recipes that I've found to meet our needs. I often come across recipes that meet our needs, but they are so complicated that it'd take all day to prepare. I know that I won't use a recipe over and over again if it takes me more than 30 minutes to put it together, not including cook time. So, I thought I'd share a recipe that has become a favorite in our household.
Yummy Applesauce Craisin Muffins
1 1/2 cups gluten free all purpose flour
1/2 tsp xanthum gum
1/4 cup ground flax seed
1/3 cup sugar
2 tsps baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups apple sauce
2 TBS ground flax seed in 1/2 cup water (this replaces the 2 eggs in this recipe)
1 cup craisins or nuts or both
Preheat oven to 350
Combine dry ingredients in one bowl.
Combine wet ingredients in another bowl.
Mix them together
Put them in muffin tins (I have actually used this same recipe to make bread)
Bake for 20-25 minutes for regular size muffins, 12-15 min. for small muffins, and 45-55 min. for bread.
Now, for a treat, you can top these with apple crisp topping before baking. I wing it with a combination of dairy free butter, sugar, GF flour, and cinnamon. I cut it all together until it's crumbly and then sprinkle it over the muffins before putting them in the oven. YUM!
I'll probably throw in a recipe here and there to fill up the days when I don't have anything more exciting to write!
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