Banana Bread: Dairy, egg and nut free.

I have tried a number of vegan banana breads but I think the kids like this one best. I have always omitted the sunflower seeds but might throw some in next time and see if anyone notices!


http://www.vegrecipesofindia.com/banana-bread-eggless-vegan-recipe/

Fresh Orange Jelly

My son has been asking for jelly so I decided to make some without all the sugar and artificial junk. They loved it!

Ingredients

400ml freshly squeezed juice

1 sachet plain gelatin

125ml boiling water

Method

1. Add gelatin into hot water then stir to dissolve 

2. Add juice and stir well

3. Pour into desired mould or dish

4. Refrigerate until set (minimum 4 hours)

You can use fresh fruit and your choice of juice but avoid acidic fruit like pineapple and kiwi fruit as the jelly won't set. 

Dairy, Soy and Nut free cheese!

I have just been introduced to this. It is a coconut oil based cheese. Texture is like Edam. Tastes mild and a little like Kraft Singles from my childhood. Has a few additives but how else can you expect to make cheese from coconut. Friends made a Ellen Friendly Pizza with it and it was a huge hit. Ellen just had some on toast and loved it. She is so excited! 

Apricot coconut balls

Apricot delight is a yummy treat but the shop bought ones are full of unnecessary sugar and colouring. It is so easy to make and great for lunch boxes.

Ingredients

2 cups dried apricots
2 cups dessicated coconut plus extra for coating

Directions

Place all ingredients in a high power blender/processor and blend at high speed for 1-2mins until the oil is released from coconut and mixture comes together. (1-2mins/Speed 10).
Roll teaspoon amounts into ballas and roll in coconut.
Store in fridge

Cinnamon Scrolls

Ellen has been asking me to make cinnamon scrolls because she sees them at our local cafe. The brioche recipes I looked at call for egg and butter and some have nuts. I thought I would play with it today and here is what I came up with....  I wish I wrote it down.

Dairy/Soy Free Shopping Guide

When I meet people who have a baby with newly diagnosed dairy/soy allergy I find myself writing on pieces of paper all the brands I have found that are dairy/soy free.  Instead I am going to write it all here - much easier!

Butter

Nuttlex brand - original or Olive (not the Kosher one)
In cakes you can use canola oil (or nut oils)
For homemade pastry use lard instead of butter (available in supermarket where butter is sold)

Wet White Stuff (milk alternatives)

It is important to try and buy the calcium fortified products.  Read the nutrition table on the package.
Oat milk (Vitasoy brand has calcium, Purehavest is organic but does not have added calcium)
Rice milk
Coconut milk
Almond/nut milks if no nut allergy

Bread

Almost all bread sold in supermarkets have soy and/or milk and are not suitable.
Most artisan sourdough breads are fine.
Backers delight Sour Dough is OK (others have soy flour).
The bakery at the Sydney Fish Markets has a huge range and is dairy/soy free except "soy and linseed" loaf etc.
About Life has a few options.  For a traditional soft sandwich loaf the AboutLife brand is great (called "DOH" and "KNOW WHICH SIDE YOUR BREAD IS BUTTERED")

Hot Cross Buns - About Life used to do a good one but this year they did not make them. I had to bake my own.

"Yoghurt" Substitute

CoYo does a range of coconut yoghurts - available at About Life
'Arlingtons Gourmet Goodness' do tapioca puddings - Available at Orange Grove Farmers Market and About Life

Icecream

Coconut Icecream is available at AboutLife
Many gelato shops do sorbets, including the one on Darling St Rozelle - waffle cones here also fine.
Weiss Sorbet - avaiable at Coles and Woolworths
Smooze - based on fruit puree and coconut milk.  Available at supermarkets on the shelf near the icecream cones etc (not freezer).

Snacks

Sakata Plain Rice Crackers are fine.  NOT the "Fantastic" brand or any of the flavoured ones.
CornThins and RiceThins
Natural flavoured microwave popcorn is fine (but it is so easy to just make your own).

Cheese

Goats and Sheeps milk/cheese should NOT be consumed in people with Cows milk protein allergy.
Some nut based "cheeses" are available if there is no nut allergy.
To replace parmesan - use savoury yeast flakes (eg on pasta, lasagne)
You can make a white sauce using oat milk, flour and Nuttlex.  Add yeast flakes for a cheesy flavour.
There are packets available for "cheese sauce" online (see links below)

Chocolate/Sweets

Lindt 70% cocoa is dairy/soy free.
MooFree has a range of dairy free "milk" chocolate (available at AboutLife and online).
There are a few other brands at AboutLife.
Macro drinking chocolate is safe (woolworths).
Natural Confections Company lollies are fine (cheaper brands often contain soy).

Useful Websites:

http://www.allergyfriendlyfoods.com.au/

Smokey Roast Capsicum Sauce

I recently bought a 2kg tin of roast capsicum for a function and did not end up using it.   After using some layered in a lasagne and a few other dishes I still had 1kg left, so I came up with this sauce.  We had it as a pasta sauce one night and stirred through Zucchini "Spaghetti" one lunch.  It would also have been delicious with grilled meats or chicken.

Ingredients

3 cloves garlic
1 large onion, quartered
30g Olive oil
1kg roasted capsicum, skin and seeds removed *
1 tsp smokey Paprika **
Salt and Black pepper to taste

Method

1. Add onion and garlic to bowl and chop 3sec/Speed7, scrape and repeat
2. Add olive oil and paprika, cook 5min/speed1/100degrees
3. Add capsicum and chop 20sec/Speed 4-5
4. Cook 15mins/Varoma/Speed 1
5. Check for seasoning and salt and pepper as required
6. Blend on 10sec/Speed 6-7 until desired texture is reached (chunky or smooth - you decide)

Variations

Add some chilli to make it a spicy, smokey sauce.  Just add fresh chili with the garlic at the begining.

* You can roast your own or use tinned ones - just watch you don't add too much salt as they are often in a brine.  I used tin capsicum and washed it to remove the salt
**A good quality smoked paprika is key here.  I used this one.......