Shavuos- Napoleans

Napoleans can be made into eggless, dairy free Shavuos desserts!
Non-dairy napoleans can be made with pareve graham crackers or puff pastry. If you're avoiding gluten look for gluten free graham crackers. Graham crackers can be honey, cinnamon, or chocolate. Cream layers in between can be made with soy milk, rice milk, or rich's non-dairy whip. Add vanilla instant pudding mix to flavor the custard or cocoa and sugar for chocolatey layers.The napoleans above were made with pareve chocolate graham crackers and a chocolate "cheesecake filling" (rich's whip, tofutti sour cream, vanilla instant pudding mix, and pareve chocolate frosting).

Shavuos- Dairy Free Lasagne

If you can't serve dairy for Shavuos try serving dairy style! Lasagne is a great example. You can layer Lasagne with marinara sauce and vegetables or sauteed beef and onions. Frozen spinach and broccoli work especially well in lasagne. Preparation is easy.Simply cook lasgne noodles and set aside. Layer 3 noodles, desired filling, and sauce and repeat several times till a 9x13 pan is filled. Cover tightly and bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Shavuos-Marble Pareve "Cheesecake" Brownie Recipe

These decadent treats taste dairy, but they're not. They look impressive, but are oh so easy to make.Perfect for Shavuos and the allergic palate.

1- Prepare 1 package of DH brownie mix* (a pareve variety such as chewy fudge)
2- Place brownie batter in a 9x13 pan sprayed with baking spray
3- Top brownie batter with 6 dollops of "cheesecake" batter (see below)
4- Swirl cheesecake with a knife through brownie batter creating a marbled effect
5- Bake at 350 for atleast 40 minutes (till mixture is set)

Cheesecake Batter (combine ingredients below)
1 container tofutti cream "cheese"
1 container tofutti sour "cream"
1/2 pkg vanilla pudding mix
1/4 cup sugar

*DH chewy fudge brownie mix has the following allergy statement:
"manufactured on equipment that also processes tree nuts and peanuts"

Counting Up to Shavuos

The lofty holiday of Shavuos is approaching. Having food allergies doesn't have to stand in the way of having delicious Yom Tov meals. I like to make dairy style foods (foods that aren't dairy but look and taste as if they are). Some examples are vegetable lasagne, caesar salad, broccoli quiche, and pareve cheesecake.

Getting Ready for Shavuos

Stay tuned for exciting dairy alternatives for Holiday Meals.....

Mexican Salad Bar

When the weather starts warming up I like to lighten up our dinner fare. Tonight at our house was "Mexican Night". Everything was super easy, delicious, fun, and of course allergy friendly. This meal is perfect for people with egg and nut allergies and is gluten friendly as well. Here are some ideas to get you started on your own Mexican Fiesta!
start with: wraps, tacos, or brown rice with taco seasonings
add: shredded salad, avocado, seasoned black beans, soy crumbles (check ingredients for wheat),
shredded cheese (dairy or soy) (ground beef when not using dairy ingredients)
toppings: diced chili peppers, black olives, salsa, etc...

Are Seasonal and Food Allergies Related?

If you're suffering from seasonal allergies you're not alone. 1 in 5 adults has seasonal allergies.You may be surprised to learn that there's a link between pollen sensitivity and oral allergy syndrome. When an allergic attack is triggered by pollen in grass,weeds, or trees, the immune system overproduces histamines. Fruits and vegetables that contain the same proteins as these plants(called profilins) can cause a similar localized reaction called oral allergy syndrome (different from a true food allergy). The body's immune system thinks you're eating pollen! (source:NBC News: "Hayfever? Don't forget to check your plate")

To learn more about Oral Allergy Syndrome: read Dr. Robert Cohen's interview on the topic

Passover Greeting

Best Wishes for a 
Liberating and Healthy Passover

from Kosherfoodallergies

Passover- Allergy Friendly Breakfast Ideas

     
What do you eat for breakfast on Passover? The popular Matzah wtih butter or cream cheese is not only unhealthy and loaded with fat it's also off limits for people with gluten intolerance, wheat allergies, lactose intolerance, and milk allergies. Below you'll find some healthier, allergy friendly Passover breakfast alternatives. By the way, these suggestions are diet friendly as well (choose egg whites, fresh vegetables, and fat free dairy if tolerated). All suggestions are nut free!

Egg Allergies:
Low fat or fat free yoguts, lowfat or fat free cottage cheese
fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, matzah with avocado

Dairy Allergies
Egg white omelet  (look for All Whites brand with an OU-P to eliminate the hassle and waste of separating eggs)-  Add sauteed mushrooms, zucchini and onions or Passover salsa.
Grapefruit, or any fresh fruit

Gluten Sensitivity or Intolerance
any of the above suggestions sans matzah are perfect
for variety how about making a smoothie (yogurt and fresh fruit in blender)

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Passover- Mandel Bread Recipe (gluten free/nut free)

Have a hankering for something sweet and gluten free to go along with your coffee on Passover?
This Mandel "Bread" (Jewish Biscotti) is just the thing!
2 C sugar
1 C margarine
6 eggs
2 3/4 non-gebrokts cake meal (potato starch and tapioca starch)
3/4 C potato starch
pinch of salt
2 C chocolate chips (dairy free, nut free)

Preheat oven to 350.Cream margarine and sugar together.
Beat in eggs one at a time. Mix in cake meal, potato starch and salt 
Add in chocolate chips 
Form mixture into 2 loaves place on a baking sheet with waxed paper
Sprinkle loaves with cinnamon and sugar

3. Bake for 50 minutes (till dark golden brown) 

4. Slice loaves and sprinkle with more sugar if necessary. Lower oven to 250.
Return to the sliced loaves to the oven to dry them for 25 minutes (watch to make sure they don't dry out completely or burn)

yield: 2 loaves ( each loaf makes 12 slices)

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Passover- Gluten Free/Eggless Meatball Recipe

Have I convinced you to use a crockpot for more than just cholent?
If not, this recipe will make a believer out of you.
I like to make these meatballs for Shabbos Pesach.
I add some potatoes and long strips of zucchini (at the very end so the zucchini doesn't get overcooked)
and Voila, a one-dish Shabbos meal! 
No Eggs or Gluten-This recipe doesn't call for matzoh meal or eggs like many other meatball recipes.

Gluten Free Meatballs
1 24oz bottle ketchup
1 24oz ketchup bottle filled with water
1.5 lbs ground beef
1 diced onion
2T brown sugar ( or 5T apricot preserves)
Garlic powder (generous shake)

Combine ketchup, water, sugar, and garlic powder in crockpot.
Stir until sugar is dissolved. In a separate bowl combine beef and diced onion.
For beef mixture into balls. Turn crockpot to high. Form meatballs and drop into sauce.
Cook meatballs for 3 hrs. Add potatoes (fresh- add same time as meatballs, canned- add during the last 15 minutes of cooking). Carrots and Zucchini can be added as well if desired.

yield- 15 meatballs (you'll want to double this recipe)


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Passover- Feeding Allergic Kids

What will you feed your food allergic child on Passover?
Stumped? This is understandable because so many foods are off limits and your child's diet is even further restricted by food allergies. Fret not fear not. Gather all of the recipes you can that are compatible with your child's diet. After you've made an exhaustive list of what they can eat analyze it nutritionally. If your child's health would be at risk at all because of a very restricted Passover diet ask your Rabbi about the products in question. For example, if your child is milk allergic and usually has soy milk ask about giving your child soy milk  during the holiday(try to find one that doesn't contain chometz ingredients like barley extract).
This certainly goes for formula as well. Be advised that if you're feeding your child products that are problematic for Passover for the rest of the family they should be prepared in an alternative area (not kitchen) where their food won't come into contact with yours.
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Passover Chocolate Mousse Macaroons

This recipe is a shortcut for a decadent gluten free Passover dessert. 
*Manischewitz Macaroon Dough doesn't list any nut ingredients but does have a warning about nuts in the facility on the label

• Purchase a tub of Passover Manischewitz Frozen Chocolate Macaroon Dough. 
• Follow package directions for making the cookies but instead of making small ones, make jumbo ones for individual dessert portions.
• Prepare chocolate mousse (1 container Ungar's Whipped topping, 1/2 bag of melted chocolate chips). Melt chips and cool (watch them, don't let them burn). Reserve a little bit of melted chocolate for a drizzle. Whip topping and fold in cooled chocolate to form a  mousse. 
• Slather mousse over cooled jumbo macaroons. 
• Drizzle extra chocolate over mousse. 

Voila, a super rich dessert that doesn't break the bank or make you break out in hives!

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Passover- Pareve, Eggless Ice-Cream Recipe

Eggfree, nutfree Passover desserts are a rarity. This easy recipe is proof that food allergy friendly Passover desserts are not only possible but simply delicious!!!
One of my go-to-dessert recipes is Pareve(non-dairy) Ice Cream.
I use frozen whip topping as the base. The great thing about this easy dessert is
that it is egg, dairy, wheat, nut, soy, and corn free. How awesome is that?
Just Whip the topping and add your favorite flavor. Be sure to pick up a bunch of frozen topping containers(the kind you have to whip yourself). You'll need a bunch if you're expecting a crowd or you want to freeze ahead. Use a blender, stand mixer or  preferably an ice-cream maker.
*note -defrost those frozen whip toppings before adding to mixer, they will kill the motor if they're still solid ice.

Fruit Flavors
add pureed frozen fruit (mango, strawberry etc...)
or pureed canned fruit (peach)
or nectar (mango) or fruit combos peach mango (add canned peaches and ripe mango)

Chocolate
add cocoa powder, sugar and vanilla
or chocolate syrup or liqueur

Coffee
add strong coffee (dissolved in hot water), vanilla extract
and sugar. Add some chocolate chips to create coffee chip (a
favorite at our house)

Chocolate Chunk
crush a pareve nut free chocolate bar into chunks
throw into vanilla, coffee, or chocolate ice-cream

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Passover-Nutfree Lace Cookie Recipe

Love thin and airy lace cookies but think you can't have them because of allergies (cashews, nuts, wheat)?Think again! These lace cookies are Passover friendly, gluten free, egg free, and nut free.Most importantly,  they're delicious!

Lace Cookies

¾ cup brown sugar

1 ½ cups potato starch

½ cup ground, unsweetened coconut

⅓ stick margarine plus 2 Tablespoons

2 t vanilla extract

3 T water

Preheat oven to 375. Cream margarine and sugar with beater. Add remaining ingredients and combine until smooth cookie dough consistency is achieved.

Drop small balls of mixture onto a cookie sheet (lightly greased with cottonseed oil). Flatten  a bit. Cookies will spread, leave room between them. Bake at 375 for 10 minutes. Use the edge of a spatula to separate cookies if they spread into each other. Gently reshape the cookies if necessary while still warm.

Let cookies cool and harden before transferring to an airtight container.

yield: 2 dozen cookies

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Passover Nutfree Chocolate Chips

So many chocolate chips these days are made on shared equipment with allergens. Finding truly nutfree chocolate can be quite a challenge. I was so happy to find non-dairy Passover chocolate chips made in a nut free facility. The price is awesome too! Stock up on these guys while they're around (great for soy allergies as well).

Ask The Rabbi- Passover Status of "Gluten Free" Foods

Rabbi Dovid Cohen
Rabbinic Administrator cRc Kosher

Passover Status of Gluten Free Foods

Question:  Can I assume that all gluten free foods are chometz free and permissible on Passover?   

Answer:  At first glance it would seem that the answer to your question would be yes. The reality is much more complicated. Just because an item is labeled gluten free does not mean it is suitable for Passover. Gluten free oats could be mixed with water and become chametz. Also, trace amounts of gluten are permitted by the FDA on a product that is labeled gluten free. While these trace amounts may/or may not pose a health risk they do create a chametz risk. A gluten free product without reliable Kosher for Passover supervision may be produced on hot, shared equipment used for chametz. An unsupervised gluten free product could also come into contact with chametz during processing or transit. Lastly, corn, rice, and beans are all gluten free but are not eaten by Ashkenazic Jews due to the custom of abstaining from kitniyos. These issues are not hypothetical but factual accounts from Mashgichim (kosher rabbinical supervisors) overseeing "gluten free" products.

Perhaps the most fundamental reason for not relying on gluten free status to be Passover approved is that the standards for gluten free and chametz free are not the same. The term gluten is used to refer to specific proteins (gliadin, hordein, and secalin) found in certain grains and any item free of those proteins is labeled gluten free. The protein is not the only part of the grain, there's also the starch component.  The starch part of the grain may be gluten free but it is chametz!An example of a gluten free chometzdik product is non-kosher for Passover vinegar. In some countries wheat starch which is converted into glucose which then becomes alcohol and finally ferments into vinegar may be labeled “gluten free” yet the product is clearly not suitable for Pesach.  A real-life example of this is Benefiber powder which is made of pure wheat dextrin and is chametz but since it is free of wheat protein it is labeled as being gluten-free (see http://bit.ly/HiAgGO).  Similarly, Scotch whisky is made of malted barley and is surely chametz, yet the Scotch Whisky Association proudly reports that it is acceptable for coeliacs (the English spelling of celiac) (see question #90 at http://bit.ly/HiBrG5).  These examples reflect the fact that the standard for gluten-free is not the same as the halacha’s (Jewish Law's)standard of chametz-free. Accordingly, we recommend that people wishing to purchase food for Pesach check that the item is certified as being kosher for Pesach and not merely rely on a company’s gluten-free claim.

Do you have a question for Rabbi  Cohen?
email: kosherfoodallergies@gmail.com 

Passover Gluten Free Dessert Shortcut

Searching for a decadent Passover dessert that won't break the bank and won't take you all day to make?This dessert made with packaged gluten free Passover pound cake is just the thing.
Egg Allergic? Sorry, this recipe won't work.You will not find a packaged Passover cake without eggs.
Buy 2 packages of  Passover non-gebrokts (gluten free) pound cake.Pick a kind that is relatively flat because you'll be stacking them. Alternatively, you could buy a higher pound cake and slice it in half horizontally to get your thin layers. Read the label (check for nut ingredients and traces statements).Here are some fun things you can do to dress up this pound cake for it's evening debut.
1-Raspberry jam in between the layers and cover with chocolate ganache (melted bag of chocolate chips, 2T margarine, and 4T whipped topping together)
2-Coffee cream in between the layers(beat pareve whipped topping with some strong coffee, vanilla extract, and sugar to sweeten a bit if desired), frost with extra coffee cream and garnish with chocolate shavings (see above pic.)
3-Strawberry shortcake style. Whipped topping with some vanilla instant pudding mix in between the layers and covering the cake.
4- Chocolate pound cake with vanilla frosting- This probably the simplest option. Purchase chocolate pound cake and frost with allergy friendly passover frosting. Garnish with berries

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Passover- Nut Allergies

The good news is that peanuts are generally not a problem on Passover because they are kitniyos (legumes that are not eaten by Ashkenazic Jews during Passover).The bad news is that there are plenty of tree nuts around. If you are tree nut allergic be on guard during Passover!
Ground nuts are often substituted for flour in a variety of foods since regular flour can't be used.Most commonly, you'll find nuts in desserts and snacks but you can also find them in side dishes as well as salads. Read labels on everything and inquire about all home cooked or prepared foods. Many items don't list nuts as ingredients but are produced on shared equipment and contain traces of nuts. You can never be
too careful.
*Tip-If you have nut allergic small children consider having the rest of your household go nutfree over Passover. Even if you prepare safe food for your nut allergic children having nuts "around" may cause problems.

Passover Foods that Frequently Contain Nuts 
Charoses
Cakes,Cookies, Brownies
Cake and Cookie Mixes
Chocolates
Chocolate Covered Desserts
Misc. Desserts

Passover Apple Cranberry Cobbler Recipe

A sweet apple kugel can be a nice change from Passover potatoes.
This recipe is gluten and nutfree. It can be served hot or at room temperature.
The recipe picture above used potato starch but the non-gebrokts cake meal version
that has a slightly better texture. I like to serve it for Shabbos lunch.

 Crust and Topping
4 c Non-gebrokts Cake Meal (tapioca starch and potato starch) or potato starch
3 Eggs 
1 1/2 c Sugar 
1 c Oil 
scant pinch salt
Cranberry Apple Filling 
11 Apples Peeled And Sliced 
1 can cranberry sauce
 Combine crust mixture ingredients. Divide mixture into 3 parts. One part should be pressed into a 9x13 pan, the second part should be pressed into another 9x13 pan,the 3rd part will be used for a topping over the cranapple mixture for each pan. Spread cranberry apple filling over each crust and top with reserved topping.  Bake at 350 for 45 min
yield: 2 9x13 pans

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