Hydrating Fruits and Vegetables

In my previous blog post I mentioned the importance of hydration before a fast. Hydration can be achieved by drinking or eating foods high in water content.High water content fruits include watermelon, strawberries, grapefruit, cataloupe, peaches, and oranges. Blueberries and grapes also have a lot of water. Cucumbers and lettuce are some high water content vegetables. As are tomatoes, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, eggplant, and peppers. Serve up these hydrating fruits and veggies in their raw form to best preserve their water content.

What to Eat Before Yom Kippur

As you plan what to eat before your fast, be sure to include lots of carbs and fat. Yes, you read that right "CARBS and FAT". While a diet high in fat and carbohydrates and fat would be a big mistake on a usual basis for most of us, before Yom Kippur it is just what our body needs. Be sure to drink plenty of water and eat fruits that are high in water content as well. It's important to eat and drink all day the day before Yom Kippur to prepare your body for the rigors of the day ahead. Chicken Soup with noodles and matzoh balls (gluten free) is a great way to start this meal. Below are some recipes for high carb, food allergy friendly foods.
Eggless Challah Rolls
Eggless Potato Kugel
Dairy Free Babka
Gluten Free Mandel Bread

Dairy Free Babka Recipe

The meal before Yom Kippur is typically carb heavy (for long lasting energy for the prayer "marathon" ahead). This feast is usually meat-based, so a pareve dessert is in order (perfect for milk allergies as well). Chocolatey Babka with a flavorful yeast dough, oozing with chocolate is just the thing. With miniature babkas, each guest gets her own taste of heaven. Never made babka before? No worries, it's easier than you think.

Baby Babka 
Dough

1 rich's whip defrosted (8oz)
1/2 cup sugar
4 teaspoons active dry yeast
2 eggs

6 tablespoons pareve margarine(at room temperature)

2 t pure vanilla extract
4 cups all-purpose flour
pinch of salt
 

Filling
Israeli chocolate spread (Hashachar is nutfree)

Cinnamon

• Preheat oven to 350

• Prepare 18 muffin cups by spraying with baking spray

• In a small pot heat rich's whip, sugar, and yeast. Stir constantly (don't let mixture boil). When mixture is consistently warm turn off heat. 
• In a large food processor bowl combine margarine, eggs then slowly add the rest of ingredients. Use the dough hook attachment on your mixer to knead the dough. Dough will be sticky but should form one cohesive ball. Allow dough to rise for 15 minutes. 
• Separate dough into 18 balls. Roll out each dough ball to form a flat circle. Spread a teaspoon of chocolate filling in the center of each circle. Spread filling around but don't go all the way to the edges. Dust sparingly with cinnamon. Roll the circle to form a long rope. Twist the rope many times. Knot it and place it in muffin tin. Repeat for the rest of the dough balls.
• Let rise for 20 minutes (covered with cloth)
• Bake the baby babkas at 350 for 20 minutes (until slightly golden)

*yield:18 baby babkas

Food Allergy App for Kids

There's now an app that teaches kids about food allergies. The Bugabees smartphone and tablet app introduces kids to virtual characters with food allergies. Each character has an allergy to one of the "Big 8" allergens. Through an interactive story, kids learn how to recognize symptoms of an allergic episode and how to manage their own allergies. Kids even learn how to make safe food choices (ex- choose a safe food for milk allergic beetle. Should he have carrots, milk, pizza, strawberries, or yogurt?)
Learn more about this remarkable app here

Happy and Healthy New Year

Kosher With Food Allergies wishes everyone
A Happy, Healthy, and Sweet New Year

Rosh Hashana- Pomegranate Craisins

Looking for ways to incorporate pomegranate into your Rosh Hashana? Allergy- friendly Pomegranate Craisins are just the ticket. Dried cranberries infused with pomegranate are sure to add a festive touch to many dishes. Throw them into coleslaw, shredded carrot salad, spinach, or romaine salads for an instant Rosh Hashana transformation.

Gluten Free Round Challah

Finding ready-made, round, gluten-free challah doesn't have to make your head spin in circles. Katz's Gluten Free Bakery is just around the corner (on the internet).
*Egg and Sesame allergies?
Katz's Round Challahs are gluten-free but contain sesame and eggs.
Katz's Gluten Free Round Challah

Rosh Hashana Menu

Planning your allergy-friendly Rosh Hashana Menu? Checkout these samples for ideas.While fish is a traditional omen food eaten on Rosh Hashana, it is also one of the 8 most common allergens. There are many other wonderful foods rich with symbolism that you can enjoy safely!
Rosh Hashana Night Meal Menu
Round Eggless Challah
Apples and Honey
Broiled Salmon Fillets
Roasted Beet Salad
Honey Balsamic Carrots
Egg Rolls (can be made gluten or egg free if desired)
Honey Mustard Pastrami Stuffed Chicken
Pomegranate Sorbet

Rosh Hashana Day Meal Menu
Round Cinnamon Challah
Fruit Salad Garnished With Pomegranate Seeds
London Broil
Mashed Potatoes and Turnips
Carmelized Butternut Squash
Grilled Vegetables
Baked Apples with Vanilla Soy Ice-Cream

Rosh Hashana Recipe- Purple Cabbage Salad

Cabbage is an extremely versatile Rosh Hashana Siman.You can cook it (stuffed cabbage, cabbage with noodles). Fry it (eggless eggrolls). Serve it in a salad or slaw. It also comes in green, purple, and red varieties to add color to your festive table. I love to purple cabbage salad with mandarin oranges with mandarin oranges.
Purple Cabbage Salad
1 head purple cabbage (shredded)
1 can mandarin oranges
2 green onions diced (scallions)
1/4 cup of dried cranberries
Marinade
6T cider vinegar
1/4 cup canola oil
4T brown sugar
dash of black pepper
dash of garlic powder
pinch of salt
Wash, drain, check, and shred salad. Toss in mandarin orange segments, green onions, and craisins.
In a separate bowl combine marinade ingredients. Pour marinade over salad (an hour before serving).Don't dress too early or you'll wind up with a soggy salad.
*optional mix ins- add some diced green apples(for Rosh Hashana). add some crunch with chow mein noodles (assuming you can tolerate wheat).
*allergy tip- purple cabbage salad recipes often calls for pine nuts or almonds so "heads up" if you're not preparing it.
For more allergy friendly Rosh Hashana Recipes order "A Taste of Sweetness"