Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Sugar Cookies

Baby its cold outside!  Every time I'd start to sing those lyrics, the Babe would complain, and thought I made them up.  I explained the lyrics are older than I am.  They are definitely appropriate.  We haven't gone anywhere for a few days due to sub-zero windshields.  Today the air temperature reached the teens, so I felt it was time to bundle up and head out.  Where did we go on our big adventure?  Just to Walmart.  I didn't really need anything, but besides a few grocery items, the Babe got some stickers, and we got some more cookie cutters. 

I have a decent amount of cookie cutters now (even before today's trip), so that means I should be making cookies, right?  I may have mentioned certain cooking/baking issues have intimidated me in the past, even though they really aren't a big deal once conquered.  That would include handling ground beef (what do you do with the fat after browning...yeah, got that one), raw chicken (major ick factor for the first five years of my marriage, but now no big deal), and anything involving a rolling pin. 

While sugar cookies are delicious when made with real butter, eggs, and wheat flour, I didn't know how they would come out once you took away the butter, the eggs, and yes, the wheat flour.  Gluten free baking is tricky, and anything vanilla-based can get "interesting" (slang for yeah, we knew it wasn't the real thing before more than a dot of it crossed our lips, and debating if we should swallow it or brush our teeth to get rid of the aftertaste). 

Anyhow, we did make sugar cookies.  We made the dough yesterday and baked one batch.  We made the rest today.  The Babe had fun using the cookie cutters, and enjoyed our creations.  There is a slight after-taste, but they aren't bad.  That means edible, and I'll have a second, thank you.  I think they need to be frosted, which might cut the aftertaste, but I haven't done that yet.  I know this description must be really inspiring, and make you want to run out and try some.  So, just in case you can get past my waxing lyrical here about the aftertaste, here's my recipe for Gluten-free, Egg-free, Dairy-free sugar cookies.

Gluten-free, Egg-free, Dairy-free Sugar Cookies
3/4 cup margarine (prefer Earth Balance Buttery Stick)

1 cup sugar
2 Tbsp ground flax meal + 6 Tbsp warm water
½ Tbsp vanilla extract
¾ C Sorghum Flour
¾ C Brown Rice Flour
¼ C Tapioca Starch
¼ C Potato Starch
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp xantham gum
1 tsp salt
Additional 1-2 Tbsp of Rice flour


In the bowl of a mixer combine margarine, sugar, flax-water mix, and vanilla. Mix on medium speed until all ingredients are fully combined (a few minutes).

In a separate bowl, blend sorghum, brown rice flour, tapioca starch, potato starch, baking powder, xantham gum, and salt. Add dry mixture to wet mixture and mix on low speed until well incorporated. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour. The dough can be refrigerated for up to a day.

Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Remove dough from refrigerator. Take a handful of the dough about the size of a baseball and make into a ball. Set the ball of dough on a floured surface (using 1-2 Tbsp Rice Flour). Roll out the dough so that it is about 1/8 inch thick. Cut dough into desired shapes using cookie cutters. Place cut-out shapes onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 8 minutes or until cookies are done. If frosting, let cook for about an hour. Otherwise, eat when cookies are cool enough to handle.



Monday, January 7, 2013

When I grow up I want to be a ...

The Babe has recently discovered Legos, and although most packages are for age 6 and up, we have a few small sets now.  My parents dropped by for a visit today, and she instantly appropriated my father to assist her in building.  My mother told her when she grows up she should be an architect.  The Babe responded, no, that she wants to be a giant.  Hmm, lofty goals?  Sorry, couldn't resist.  Hopefully, she will grow up taller than me, but not quite so tall to be a giant. 

Sunday, January 6, 2013

What's so funny?

There are a lot of bodily functions that amuse little people.  The latest in the Babe's line of amusement is talking about puking.  Thankfully, she's not one who does it often.  She didn't spit-up much as a baby, and as she's gotten older its a very rare occurrence.  Unfortunately we had a recent episode, so its fresh in her mind.  And somehow when she does it, it either happens in our bed or in the car. 

We drove to Florida in December to visit her grandparents.  We have a new vehicle, and this was definitely the most its been driven since we got it.  After many asthma attacks and at least one allergy issue during the course of our visit, we were ready to head home.  Two hours into the three-day ride home, I looked back and she had a funny look on her face.  Next thing you know, she was projectile vomiting.  My husband wasn't upset that it was happening in the brand new car (points to him), and thankfully we didn't have an accident as he pulled over from the far left lane of an interstate to the right shoulder, going from 75+ mph to zero in about a minute.  Once she was done, she was fine.  We don't know what triggered it.  I'm sure you can imagine the loveliness of a car ride after that has happened, but she didn't have much in her stomach, so it was odorless (sorry if TMI).  Anyhow, we made it to a rest stop, cleaned her up in the bathroom, and were able to continue on our ride.  Now she thinks its hilarious to talk about puking.  Don't know why since we weren't laughing, but I'm sure she'll have another subject to laugh about soon.

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Read Every Label

I'm sure I've posted about this before, but it deserves repeating.  When dealing with food allergies, read every label.  Just because you've used the product before, it doesn't mean that the manufacturer hasn't changed ingredients or manufacturing processes that could be harmful to your Allergy Babe.  And when in doubt, contact the manufacturer or else do not use.  Here are a few recent examples.

While at my in-laws, they usually buy a few favorite items for the Babe, and some things they know my husband and I will enjoy.  We stick to eating only Babe-safe foods while there.  In the past, this has included Kosher corned beef.  While the Babe wouldn't eat it, my husband and I both love it.  They had gotten a different brand (although who knows if the original would have had this in it, too).  One of the ingredients was modified food starch.  I warned my husband not to give any to the Babe, and he asked why.  I pointed this ingredient out.  I thought it was a possible hazard.  I googled it, and sure enough, the source of the starch can be several foods, including wheat.  Away in their freezer it went. 

Later that day, you would think my husband would have learned his lesson to read all labels, we had another run in.  My father-in-law and husband were prepping a turkey.  We didn't want to use a seasoning mix (another potential pit-fall), so I suggested some spices that might work.  I did not read the labels as I was not in the kitchen while they did this.  I assumed they would check, but my mistake for not reminding them.  I'm apparently the only one who must always be on alert- silly me.  Anyhow, when I came back in just after the turkey was put in the oven, I spotted a spice bottle on the counter.  From several feet away I could see a warning label.  Since it was a ground spice, it had a warning that it was manufactured in a facility with three of the Babe's major allergens.  I called the company, and they confirmed that the line was used for them, and it wasn't just a blanket statement.  That meant no turkey for the Babe.  I made her something else, and ate with her. 

The other day I went to buy a replacement for some cooking spray.  Generally I stick to one particular national brand.  When I went to grab a bottle off the shelf, I double checked the label.  Sure enough, they changed the ingredients, now adding coconut oil.  The Babe is allergic to coconut, so I went with another brand.  This particular bottle did not indicate any change in formula; the front was identical to bottles I've previously bought. 

So, again, always, always, always read labels.  What was safe yesterday may not be safe today.  And even if it seems obvious what should be in a food package, it does not mean it is so.  Food manufacturing is a science, and unless you know how certain ingredients help maintain color, texture, and shelf-life, you don't know what or why there is an ingredient in a food.  And don't get me started on personal care products.  I just read a label on a hand lotion and it contained lactic acid, which is derived from milk.  Nut, wheat, egg, and dairy are very commonly found in shampoos, lotions, and cosmetics.   It's a mine-field for those of us with children who have food allergies.  In the end, sometimes simple is better.  That's probably why I spend my most time in the produce section of the grocery store than anywhere else there. 

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  I am generally not a resolution maker, as that would mean I'd probably be a resolution breaker.  Yes, I want to lose weight, get healthier, spend more quality time on quality projects, get creative with the Babe, spend more quality time with my husband, etc. etc.  While the list is long, these are self-improvements or life-style changes that cannot be made at the switch of the clock chiming twelve.  So, I will try to start the year with a more positive mind-set (something I could use after the past week or two).  The Babe has had problems with her asthma over the past week, and my husband has been going a little stir-crazy being off of work for the holidays (hence, making me a little crazy, too).  So its time to try to find a more positive place.

How do I think this negative nelly will get more positive?  By starting to fill my calendar.  I have a fairly blank slate with the new year and new month.  Blocks of time to fill.  The more scheduled I am, the more satisfied I am.  This probably goes back to my school days as a master procrastinator.  If I had weeks to contemplate an assignment, I could not focus until the last day.  The less hours, the better.  When I was in college, with a full course load, working 20+ hours a week, plus activities and family commitments, I made better grades.  Somehow I could focus with more things taking my attention, because I had to allocate my time better.  With an empty calendar, I lose that focus and become a blob on the couch.  So, I guess if I had a New Years Resolution, it would be to not be a blob on the couch.