My eldest son, Michael, has multiple food allergies to dairy, egg, beef, sesame, fish, shellfish, peanut/tree nuts, mustard and raspberry. My second son, Matthew, has a peanut/tree nut allergy.

What do you feed them? What do they eat? What do you buy? How do you do it? Are some of the most asked questions requested of me upon revealing my boys’ food allergies.

Shopping for both Michael and Matthew means always reading ingredient lists on packaged products. It means, many products are not available for us to consume.

Loaves of bread, all products from the bakery, sliced meat at the deli, many sauces, salad dressings and condiment spreads, boxed cookies, crackers and certain dried pasta brands are all off-limits. These items and more, either contain one of Michael’s food allergens or have been manufactured in a facility that may or may not contain one of his food allergens.

For Matthew, the bakery is off-limits as are some packages of cookies, breads and crackers. Peanut/Tree Nuts can be anywhere…always reading the ingredient list and looking out for any allergen warnings is a must.

Both my boys never consume anything that was not ‘mom approved’. It is my ‘mantra’.

I started teaching them at a very young age to just say “no”. It means, any food product that comes in to their classroom, is offered at a friend’s house or after a hockey/soccer game, must pass my inspection before it passes their lips.

I love telling the story about when Matthew was in Nursery School. He did not have his peanut/tree nut allergy at this time. However, the staff all knew of his older brother’s allergies from when he went to Nursery School. It was Hallowe’en and candy was being given out to the children. This was outside the usual snack…routine is important to little guys.  Matthew peered up to the teacher on duty and looking at her with his big, beautiful, brown eyes exclaimed, “I can’t have candy…I am allergic.”

Matthew grew up believing he had food allergies like his brother. It was easier to limit both than to watch one suffer feeling left out in his own home. Matthew was so easy-going, he was unaware of missing out on anything.

Being limited in the grocery store to buying the individual ingredients to make/bake allergen free food for my boys has made us more mindful eaters. I get to choose how to make/bake my meals and baked goods…in doing so, I can control what goes in them.

Being able to choose how to make something…now that is not limiting at all! In fact, it’s turning the tables on the limitations.

I have made it my mission to create yummy treats that my boys could enjoy together and with their friends. I would specifically invite friends over to sample my creations and send allergen friendly treats in to the school for Michael to share. Kids love coming to our house because they know inevitably, I will produce something yummy!

The kids in the boys’ classrooms would often ask, “What is your mom sending in for the party?” I wanted the students to realize that as limiting as they thought Michael and Matthew’s food choices were…they still had delicious options to choose from.  Did this help keep the teasing down…perhaps.

I used to look after our neighbours daughter in the afternoons when her mom was at work. Her mom confided in me, that her daughter loved coming to my house because it always smelled so good!

If you think about being limited in the sense of processed foods, eating out or ordering in on a whim, then yes, we are very limited. However, I look at our life in a different light!

One must first, step out of the box. Yes, I know it is hard…no one likes change…least of all when one has been dropped the bomb of multiple food allergies!  With food allergies…there is no cheating!

In order for the limitations to be lifted, it is necessary to step inside a new box. This new box becomes your ‘normal’. New limitations are set…by you.

I have tried to raise my boys with the notion that there is no ‘normal’ family. Each family has their own ‘rules’ depending on their type of family. Those rules limit what a family can do…financial troubles, marital issues, other health conditions…all are limiting in and of themselves.

Once you accept your ‘normal’…the possibilities are endless!

In my experience, surviving food allergies without limitations means:

1)  Researching products: Fifteen years ago, when I first started out with food allergies, allergen friendly products were scarce. Times have changed for the better. There are so many great companies out there providing allergen friendly products. Some of my favourites are: Enjoy Life, Guardian Angel, Daiya, Natura Frozen Desserts, Soy and Rice Milk, Ryza Rice Milk, Yummy Earth, Surf Sweets and Earth Balance.

2)  Planning ahead: I always assume that a food product will be offered wherever we go. With that in mind, I always carry Yummy Earth Organic Candy Drops in my purse. If I know there will be an unknown special treat that I may not be able to match, I have Pure Maple Sugar Candies…my boys know these are pricey candies never eaten on a whim…it makes them extra special. Always having a treat ‘up your sleeve’ turns you into ‘Super Mom”. An aura of magic surrounds your very being…my kids have learned to turn to me in anticipation of the ‘special treat’ that I will produce.

3)  Being creative in the kitchen: Using what I know and what I have to create something new, exciting and always yummy brings me great joy! Knowing that I am creating something special for my boys…knocking down the walls of limitations…priceless!

4)  Communication:  I believe, educating those around our children about food allergies, is key to the success of breaking down the barriers that limit us…creating a sense of compassion…a sense of working together…teamwork.

Opening the lines of communication with teachers, parents of students in your child’s classroom, sports team, church or club puts you in a position of being someone willing to be part of a team. It takes all the mystery and stereotypical images away and replaces them with common sense and the notion of looking out for our fellow-man.

The day after my oldest son’s Grade 8 Confirmation, the school ordered a cake to celebrate. I learned only of this, when I went to pick up my son a little earlier at the end of the school day. He had a doctor’s appointment. As luck would have it, the doctor’s appointment was the perfect excuse to miss out on a cake he most definitely would not have been able to enjoy due to his multiple food allergies.

Instead of getting upset over the overlooked incident, I offered to bake the Grade 8′s Graduation Cake. I made one 12 by 18 single layered Dairy,Egg and Peanut/Tree Nut Free Chocolate Cake with Dairy Free Vanilla Icing sheet cake and one 12 by 18 single layered Dairy, Egg and Peanut/Tree Nut Free Vanilla Cake with Dairy Free Chocolate Icing sheet cake.

As this group of Grade 8′s has ventured through their grade school years enjoying my various baked goods…the cakes were a success!

I raised my boys being told that they needed to “learn to live in the real world!” Really? Am I to believe that the world is made up of compassionless people? What is it about food allergies that gets people so defensive? How are my boys’ food allergies a threat to their livelihood? I thought the ‘real world’ is ever evolving…is that not how we progress?

Thank goodness there are those whose compassion knows no bounds!

Slowly but surely, the ‘real world’ is starting to embrace our issues…there are companies geared towards producing allergy friendly foods, laws protecting our children in schools (Sabrina’s Law), new food labelling laws requiring the top food allergens be listed on products, restaurants with ingredient listings on their websites, allergy friendly restaurants’ are popping up, there is a better awareness of cross contamination issues, allergy alert warnings on products…oh my…isn’t it exciting!

I have seen so many changes over the years…imagine what the future holds!

Spreading the word of food allergies and their implications are being heard. It is a slow process…we must be patient and allow people a period of adjustment. As we well know…adapting to food allergies is a process. Being a part of the solution…not the problem will open doors.

You are as limited as your imagination will take you!

Living with multiple food allergies, eczema and asthma is my full-time job…this is my ‘normal’…what is yours?

P.S. Matthew’s Grade 8 teacher has asked me to bake the Grade 8 Graduation Cakes and I have offered to bake something for the Grade 8 Confirmation.  I am truly honoured!

I am looking forward to creating something extra special for them all! I will definitely be posting my creations! Stay tuned for the big reveal in the Spring.

Update: I just finished reading a great guest post over at The Whole Life Nutrition Kitchen from this little lark. She discusses the 5 Ways To Overcome Emotional Blocks During Dietary Changes. She states, “Heraclitus, the pre-Socratic Greek philosopher was on to something when he stated ‘The only thing constant is change.’” I think her ideas are very relatable to ‘overcoming the emotional blocks’ when you are dealing with food allergies.

Question: Do you feel limited by food allergies? How has living with food allergies limited you? How do you deal with the limitations?

A sinus infection, brought on by all the dust raising from my decluttering, slowed me down. Added to that, I was prepping for our weekend away visiting my brother’s family for Family Day Weekend. Being away for the weekend took up a good chunk of my time.

Excuses aside,  I was left with yesterday to pull it all off.

My goal was to have reviewed and organized the many magazines, recipes, and bits of information I have collected over the years. Ultimately, creating an organized filing system for easy access that will assist me in my research for yummy recipes and useful information to share with my family and others.

The starting point was all the newspaper and magazine clippings seen here in the forefront. The piles of magazines that I have scavenged from various nooks and crannies in my house will eventually be tackled.

This will obviously take more than a day to accomplish…it may need to be carried over into Week 4…perhaps March?

I am pleased with the fact that I have at least initiated the decluttering process. Sometimes that is the hardest part of all…just getting started. Once started…’the ball just keeps on rolling!’

A stop at the Dollar Store to pick up some essentials for organizing and filing recipes/information.

I also purchased some products from Martha Stewart’s new Home Office line…a small red binder, paper dividers, secure-top sheet protectors for my recipe cards, and a zipper pouch to keep go-to information. The red bordered labels are from the Dollar Store.

With all that…I got started on the piles. It was quite fun, reviewing recipes and articles I had clipped.

I even stumbled upon some recipe clippings dating back to 1991! Shocking…and a little embarrassing! To think I have left it for this long untouched…oh my!

At the end of the evening, this is the pile I created for the recycling bin. A good start!

I also managed to get started filing some of my posted recipes into my little red binder.

I am thinking of getting another little binder for the recipes I have adapted but not yet posted.

The other 8 pocket folders will hold recipes that I want to adapt for future posts.

Carla @ My 1/2 Dozen Daily, commented on her Productivity post, the cost of having to get organized. She cleverly cut her costs by making her organizing tools. Very creative indeed!

I like to think the combo of my Dollar Store finds help to offset my splurges on the Martha Stewart line.

Mini Challenge: to help someone.

As this was meant to be a simple challenge and I was short on time, my mini challenge was fulfilled by helping my son with his course selections for Grade 11. He is taking the Specialist Highschool Major in Business next year that his high school offers. It’s a great opportunity for him to learn more about what a Business Degree offers in the line of jobs and to have some hands on experience in the field. It includes a Cooperative Education Program.

Update on Mini Challenge: On my morning run, I had to be careful of the thin patches of black ice. Our beautiful sunny day is a bit deceiving! As I was waiting at a busy intersection, an elderly gentleman walking with walker turned in the opposite direction to where I was about to run. I often see him out for his morning walk…we smile and say hello. Without even thinking, as soon as the lights changed, I ran up from behind him, careful not to alarm him. I warned him of the shiny patches on the sidewalk…he was ever so grateful! I do hope he makes it back to his retirement home safely!

Week 4: The Dreaded Challenge: I will be clearing out all the drawers in the guest bedroom in order to move the furniture into Michael’s room. His furniture will be divided between the Matthew’s (desk) and the guest room (twin beds, side table and set of drawers).

I hope I haven’t gone in over my head with this challenge! I think I may have underestimated the amount of time I will need to completely fulfill my goals.

There is no time to waste…I better get going!

P.S. As I pursue my goal of decluttering my magazine and clippings clutter, I seem to be discovering new decluttering projects. It is like I am seeing my home with new ‘decluttering eyes’!

P.P.S. I have discovered 4 pairs of pants that hang in my closet I never wear due to the fact that they need hemming. Turning the coat hangers back to front really does make you look at your wardrobe in a new light!

Question: Do you find you turn a ‘blind eye’ to all your clutter…hiding it in places, making it invisible?

We enjoyed a fun-filled Family Day skiing at Calabogie Peaks Ski Resort!

The more the merrier…my brother’s family.

Our day started early…my nephew, Lukas, had an 8 o’clock hockey game. It was a tight game…but they pulled off a 4-3 win!

Then it was off to the slopes!

Bit of an adventure getting there…my brother’s GPS system sent us off piste! Kicking myself that I didn’t take a picture of my sister-in-law and I guiding my brother and husband backing out there Avalanche’s through a perilously narrow non-road through the bush covered in icy deep snow until they could finally turn around! So much for Navigational systems!

Calabogie Peaks is the perfect place for our first family ski day in 4 years!

Luckily, the boys retained a lot of the skills they learned from their ski lessons and of course, they have a lot of hockey skills that are easily transferred over to skiing such as stopping! A must know skill!

Andy, my brother, Michael and his cousin John went their way and my sister-in-law, myself, Matthew and his cousin Lukas went ours.

Matthew and Lukas worked on their turning…amazing how much they improved in the few hours we were on the hill.

We packed a lunch to go…sandwiches (Michael brought a one of his Dairy and Peanut/Tree Nut Free Sub Buns with Maple Leaf Natural Selections Black Forest Ham), fruit (bananas, apples, and mandarins), cut up veggies, slices of Dairy, Egg, Soy and Peanut/Tree Nut Free Banana Bundt Cake. It was so nice out we all sat outside on a picnic table.

Check this out…Matthew at the top of the run.

Matthew and Lukas at the bottom…impressive boys!

Time for a break! Warming up by the outdoor fire and energizing with Dairy, Egg and Peanut/Tree Nut Free chocolate Chip Cookies and Rice Krispie Squares.

Boys will be boys…always looking to up the anty…they discovered a mini ski jump!

There goes Matthew…whooppee!

Way to go Lukas…big air!

John mid turn…and he landed it perfectly!

What a great day!

Arrived home for apres ski cocktails, and a ham in the slow cooker. Roasted cauliflower and garlic mashed potatoes with olive oil, salt and pepper that Michael perfected for us all finished off the meal.

Dinner was barely finished and the boys were back out on the backyard ice for some apres hockey!

I feel so fortunate to be able to create such great experiences and memories with family with my boys! Those that know me would never imagine I would have this close of a relationship with my brother…we fought like cats and dogs as children. Time heals and bonds grow…I am grateful!

On Family Day…may you all be able to find the time to spend the time or make the time to call those in your family that you love, to let them know what they mean to you!

Question: How will you be spending your Family Day?

What better way to spend this extended weekend than with family…so we are off on another adventure to visit my brother and his family in beautiful Ottawa!

Our plans involve an assortment of winter activities: watching my nephew play hockey, some back yard pick up ice hockey, skiing at a local ski hill and skating on the Rideau Canal…it is also the last weekend of Winterlude. Beaver Tails will be all the rage! Not sure if they are allergy friendly for my boys…but we will find out.

For the past week, my boys have been glued to their I Pods on ‘face time’ with their cousins. Top priority…getting the low down on my nephew’s hockey games…if the team gets 5 points by the end of their Friday game, then they don’t have a practice on Sunday. Rack em up boys…since we hope to go skiing that day! So far they have 4 points…one more to go…a win or a tie will do it! Thank goodness we will be there to cheer them on!

A few things we must consider on our weekend getaway with the family: My eldest son, Michael, has food allergies to dairy, beef, egg, sesame, fish, shellfish, peanut/tree nuts, mustard and raspberry. My second son, Matthew, has a peanut/tree nut allergy.

Travelling anywhere with multiple food allergies takes a little extra planning…but it can be done.

A simple allergy friendly weekend away visiting family involves some preplanning: deciding on allergy friendly meals, what allergy friendly products to bring and what kitchen items to bring to limit any cross-contamination issues in the kitchen.

In my experience, my destination helps me to determine what to offer to bring allergy friendly meal wise, allergy friendly product wise and if I need to bring any allergy friendly kitchen items to use.

It’s a personal choice. One you need to make in order to keep your sanity while visiting family.

Do you offer to bring an entire allergy friendly meal, parts of an allergy friendly meal or offer to make the allergy friendly meal.?

Do you bring your own allergy friendly kitchen supplies, some allergy friendly kitchen supplies or use your family’s kitchen supplies?

Personally, if I am going for the weekend or up to a week, I do all my baking at home.

For this weekend away I will be bringing: ‘safe bread’ ie. Dairy, Egg, Sesame and Peanut/Tree Nut Free Sub Buns, French Stick and Allergen Friendly Pita Chips. I like to bring ‘safe treats’ ie. Dairy Free Rice Krispie Squares and Dairy, Egg and Peanut/Tree Nut Free Chocolate Chip Cookies are two of my boys’ favourites. Perhaps a ‘safe dessert’ ie. Dairy, Egg and Peanut/Tree Nut Free Apple Pie, I have one in the freezer ready to bake in the oven or Dairy, Egg, Soy and Peanut/Tree Nut Free Banana Bundt Cake. Plenty of over ripe bananas sitting on my counter begging to be baked into something scrumptious! If I have time this afternoon, I will bake one.

I will also be bringing a box of Smart Pasta Penne and Maple Leaf Natural Selections Black Forest Ham.  Can’t forget Guardian Angel Cocoa and Natura Soy Milk to make Dairy Free hot chocolate to bring in a thermos to the hills and skating!

For a weekend or up to a week away, I also like to check and see if I can offer to bring an allergy friendly meal or at least provide for one when I am there.

Cooking in someone else’s kitchen can also bring up cross-contamination issues.

Personally, I try to help out in the kitchen, especially if one of my boys food allergens is part of the menu. Assisting with the prep work, the cooking and the clean up to keep an eye out for any cross-contamination.

Depending on where I am visiting, I will bring some of my own kitchen supplies: a bread knife, cutting board, paring knife, or a small pot for cooking pasta/rice/oatmeal.

As I tend to stay for longer periods at my mother’s house in the summer, I have left certain baking items there such as: a rolling-pin, silicone baking pads to put over her baking sheets, a brownie pan, bundt pan, muffin tin and pan for making my Dairy Free Rice Krispie Squares.

I have to be honest, some family members have had a hard time adjusting to my sons’ food allergies. Even after 15 years, we encounter issues of misunderstanding. As stressful as that can be, we try to do the best we can to keep our children safe and keep the family ties in tack.

I am always on high alert when food is involved around my children. Some may describe my behaviour as ‘obsessed’, ‘over the top’ or ‘crazy’! However, I like to think if I had more people on my ‘team’ I wouldn’t have to feel like I was the only one looking out for their safety…as they say, it takes ‘a village to raise a child’. 

Finding a balance is key…not always easy…but then such is life!

Visiting family is very important to me. I only have my mother and my brother’s family here in Canada. The rest lives in Scotland and in the United States. My husband has his parents and sister, that live within an hours drive, that we also like to visit.

Bottom Line: Working as a ‘team’ to keep cross-contamination at bay while visiting family works better when everyone is on the same page. Preplanning is essential.

I don’t claim to be an expert in this area…everyone’s situation will be unique and need to be thought out on an individual basis.

I only hope that by describing how I go about planning for my visits will be somewhat helpful to others thinking about  how they might be able to best plan their own allergy friendly family visits.

Wishing you and your families all a safe and fun Allergy Friendly Family Day Weekend!

Tip: I have to give another shout out to the book Allergic Girl by Sloane Miller. Her real life experiences give light to many questions you may have in dealing with family and friends on your own journey with food allergies. I highly recommend it as your ‘go to guide’. I know I do! Click here to check out my book review.

Question: How do you go about planning for a weekend away at a family members house? What works for you and your family? Please share your tips and experiences so as we all can learn from each other.  

Much to my husband’s delight!

THE BIG REVEAL

Before: Tower of magazines on the side table. A catastrophe waiting to happen!

After: Only the latest months magazines are to be left on the side table.

Before: Ottoman’s filled with magazines that need to be sorted.

After: Removed magazines from the ottomans. So basically, they are just empty. I thought the picture rather boring so I left it out. When I decide what I am going to store in them, I will update the picture.

Before: Overabundance of magazines in apple basket was an eyesore!

After: Apple basket can now be admired for its true beauty!

Before: Piles of magazines under my reading chair. Hiding many dust bunnies!

After: I can read in peace, knowing there is not a ‘pea under my mattress”! lol Another benefit…I can vacuum freely under the chair! Keeping those dust bunnies under control.

Bonus Challenge for the Week:  Write a letter to someone.

The timing was perfect. I had been meaning to send another card to my husband’s favourite Aunt Ceci. Aunt Ceci suffered a stroke this winter and is now back at home with home care. Nothing like receiving a letter in the mail to make ones day!

Coincidentally, during my decluttering, I came upon a Greeting Card Book I had received from my mom years ago. It is filled with beautiful Wild Flower Greeting Cards for each month of the year.

I choose the February card to write Ceci an update on our goings on.

It’s almost frameable!  I could send her one for each month of the year! She’ll love it!

Collection of items to donate this week: A series of Geronimo Stilton books.

Week 3: The Productivity Challenge: I have collected many magazines, recipes, bits of information and such that need organizing. Creating an organized filing system for easy access will assist me in my research for yummy recipes and useful information for my family and to share with others.

Wish me luck with this one! It’s a daunting task! Yikes!

I am excited at the prospect of gaining control over the ever growing population of magazines. I am hoping, being better organized will give me renewed focus and increase my creativity!

P.S. I have turned all my hangers around in my closet. I am finding I am drawn to the clothes on the backwards hangers…it is my new challenge…to see if I can wear all the clothes on the backwards hangers before my 6 months is up! It’s quite fun actually.

P.P.S. The decluttering of magazines and such has stirred up many dust bunnies. Alas, I am very allergic to dust. My allergy nasal spray was low and just not up to the task…I am therefore, left with a tickley nose that I want to rip off and a head that feels like it wants to explode… I now have a sinus infection.

Such are the perils of decluttering with allergies!

Question: Do you suffer from dust allergies and find decluttering or cleaning in general an issue?

Dairy Free Rice Krispie Treats

Happy Valentine’s Day Boys!

A fun treat to create as an activity together in the kitchen or to make as a surprise!

I can tell you…when I first made these…my boys were definitely surprised!

“Wow! Is that chocolate on top?” Quickly followed up by Michael with…”What did you do with the extra bits left over?”

“Rolled them into balls and dipped them in melted chocolate…what else!”, I replied.

You should have seen Michael’s eyes widen in excitement!

Dairy Free Rice Krispie Hearts

Make a batch of Dairy Free Rice Krispie Treats.
Let them set for about 5-10 minutes.
Using a heart cookie cutter, cut out your hearts in the Rice Krispie Treats.

Place hearts on a large cooling rack.
Meanwhile, heat a small amount of water in a saucepan and let simmer.
Place a heat proof bowl on top of simmering water and add Enjoy Life chocolate chips. (use a double boiler if you have one)
Stir chocolate chips until they are melted.
Using a pastry brush or small spatula, drizzle melted chocolate across the Dairy Free Rice Krispie Hearts.

Dairy Free Rice Krispie Chocolate Balls

Roll leftover Dairy Free Rice Krispie Heart bits into small balls.

Using a pastry brush, brush melted chocolate over the balls and rest on plate to cool.

Place a Gimbal’s Cherry Lovers candy on top to finish it off.

Package up your treats in a pretty bag!

In a valentine shaped tin surrounded by Gimbal’s Cherry Lovers candy.

Above all…have fun and enjoy!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Update: Discovered Gluten Free Rice Krispies by Kellog’s at the grocery store today!

Rich, warm, gooey chocolatey bliss!

Can you tell…I am a chocoholic!

If you love chocolate…rich chocolate…purely decadent chocolate…then this is the indulgence for you!

I first made these unbelievably delicious Chocolate Lava Cakes 5 years ago as a special Valentine’s Day dessert for my husband and I.

Chocolate is the essence of romance!

Ever since, I have thought about adapting the recipe to be dairy, egg and peanut/tree nut free so my son Michael could also savour pure chocolate perfection…but how?

Enter flax-seed meal!

Flax seed meal is full of nutritional goodness: soluble and insoluble fibre, lignans, omega-3 fatty acid and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).

Health benefits include: lowering the risk of heart disease, prevention of some types of cancer and as a treatment for some immune disorders.

Flax seed meal has many uses: in cooking, baking, as a fresh food additive, and even as an egg and fat replacer!

I love sprinkling my Gold Top Organics Flax Seed Meal on my morning oatmeal or as an addition to my homemade applesauce.

For the benefit of this recipe, I am using the flax-seed meal as the egg replacer one egg is equal to: 1 tbsp of flax-seed meal mixed with 3 tbsp of water left to sit for 3-5 minutes then stir. The mixture will have thickened to a ‘gummy like’ consistency…perfect!

Despite the addition of flax-seed meal to this scrumptious dessert…I would still consider it a once in a while indulgence. lol

The timing is perfect for the unveiling of this recipe…Valentine’s Day is just around the corner!

This recipe was adapted from Martha Stewart’s Everyday Food Magazine January 2007, Molten Mocha Cakes.

Dairy, Egg, Soy and Peanut/Tree Nut Free Chocolate Lava Cakes

2 tbsp Earth Balance Vegan Sticks or Earth Balance Soy Free Natural Buttery Spread
1/3 cup icing sugar
1/4 cup Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips
1 tbsp Gold Top Organics Flax Seed Meal
3 tbsp water
1 tsp instant coffee
pinch of kosher salt
3 tbsp unbleached all-purpose flour
Earth Balance Vegan Sticks and dairy free Guardian Angel Cocoa for greasing and dusting two ramekins.

Grease two ramekins with Earth Balance and dust with dairy free cocoa.

Place Earth Balance and chocolate chips in a microwave-safe dish and heat on high for 20 seconds. Stir until melted. (may need to do a little more depending on your microwave)
Let chocolate mixture cool slightly.
In a small dish, combine the flax-seed meal and the water. Stir and let sit for 3-5 minutes. Stir again. Mixture should have thickened and have a ‘gummy’ consistency.
In a small bowl, whisk together the flax-seed meal mixture, sugar and instant coffee.

Whisk in the chocolate and then the flour until just combined.

Pour batter into two prepared ramekins.

Bake at 400 F until a toothpick inserted 1/2 inch from the edge of the ramekins comes out clean and is wet in the centre.
Timing will be varied depending on your oven. Start testing at the 12 minute marker. Mine took approximately 15-16 minutes.

Let cool for 10 minutes.
Invert onto plates and dust with icing sugar and decorate with a fresh strawberry…yummy!

Enjoy immediately…best still warm and gooey!

Tip 1: Keep an eye on them in the oven, as you want them slightly undercooked in the middle for the gooey lava effect!

Tip 2: I love that you can make the cakes ahead of time and then pop them in the oven while you are having your dinner…ready just in time for dessert!

Tip 3: Can also be enjoyed right out of the ramekins!

P.S. My cakes stuck a little in the middle…not to worry. Just scrape it off and dab it on the cake and cover with icing sugar and a strawberry or berries of choice…perfect!

Question: Do you have a favourite allergen free chocolate dessert you like to bake for your sweetheart(s) on Valentine’s Day?

Click here to view the before pictures.

It brings a smile to my face each time I look at my tidy bedside table. I know, it’s such a little thing but it’s amazing the personal pleasure I feel from my accomplishment.

It has encouraged me to tidy up other mini areas of the house that need that little bit of attention…my bathroom counter, my laundry room counter, kitchen counter and my umbrella stand.

Umbrella stand? Yes, umbrella stand…jam packed with plastic bags and elastic bands that my Toronto Star newspaper is delivered in on inclement weather days.

That’s better!

I have compiled them all and will leave them for my newspaper delivery carrier to recycle.

Ta dah! The dining room table, a.k.a. my desk, has been transformed!

A trip to the Dollar Store was all I needed to organize my various ‘bits and bats’ that I like to have at hand.

Bin to the left holds my notebooks, recipe journal for writing out my new recipes, book review books, and my Little Oxford Dictionary/Thesaurus.

Bin to the right holds my scissors for cutting out articles and recipes, recipe cards, sticky notes, tape and my camera when not in use.

Perfect to pick up and tuck away when I need to use the dining room table for entertaining.

I love my space! I even have room on the table for photographing…the dark table makes for a nice change and gives contrast to my white dishes.

Michael spent a good afternoon purging his drawers and tidying up his desk. Great job!

The boys and I went through the books in Michael’s closet selecting those to donate and those to keep. The boys often reread many of their favourites.

The closet is a much better site!

Matthew’s side table was pretty easy to sort out…he mostly just needed to put his things away and toss out the garbage.

Decluttering has the effect of revealing the dust bunnies!

Now things are tidy and clean…perfect!

I have accumulated all my belongings to be donated on the couch.

There are 8 piles to cover the 8 days so far. From left to right: plastic bags and elastics to be given to the newspaper carrier, books in front to be returned to lender, pile of clothes, bag of material, children’s books and magazines to The Women’s Shelter and men’s clothing and trophies in front of books to go to the Salvation Army.

Week 2: The Family Space Challenge: I have focused my attention on the Family Room…the magnet for all the magazines.  This is where the magazines seem to congregate.

There is a tower of magazines on the side table, an apple basket filled with magazines and clippings, piles of magazines under a skirted chair, and a back load of them hidden inside two ottomans. Yikes! (Will post before and after pictures together next week.)

Clearing, sorting, purging and cleaning will be first on the agenda. Followed up with compiling the magazines into their respective piles and reviewing the clippings for useful articles and recipes. Creating a filing system for my clippings will help to organize my recipes for easy access.

Oh my, this could take awhile! There are still the drawers in the Guest Bedroom to consider for the Dreaded Challenge. It truly is dreaded!

Tip 1: I found words of wisdom for decluttering from the master of decluttering himself…Peter Walsh. Click here to listen to some of his ideas about decluttering your home and the benefits of living clutter free.

Some of my favourites of Peter’s decluttering advice are:

1) Finding a place for your things removes stress: So true…I feel less tension at my ‘desk’ and bedside table. Clearing the clutter makes my working environment more condusive to productivity. I love having a place for everything!

2) Decide what you want from your space…peace, harmony, focus and motivation: Yes, yes, yes and yes!

3) His ratio rule: for every 4 items you keep…throw one out: I will use this when working through my magazines and clippings. Wish me luck!

4) In your closet, hang all your clothes back to front and only turn them around after you have worn them. After 6 months, remove all the clothes that are still back to front: Sounds easy enough.

5) Empty a cluttered kitchen drawer into a bin. Only return an item to the drawer when it has been used. Donate what is left in the bin after 1 month: Again, sounds simple enough.

Tip 2: Peter Walsh’s 10 ways to declutter can be found here.

Tip 3: More of Peter Walsh’s decluttering ideas can be found here.

P.S. As overwhelming as my Decluttering Challenges are…I am happy with my progress thus far!

Good luck to all that are working through February’s Decluttering Challenge that Carla @ My 1/2 Dozen Daily has organized.

Questions: Did you set a Personal Space Challenge for yourself? How did you fare? Will you be trying the Family Space Challenge?

With my husband off to an all ‘boys’ Superbowl bash…I thought it would be fun to have our own Superbowl bash with my boys and their friends. With a twist…as hostess I would cater it as an allergen free feast!

A few munchies to start:

Dairy Free Onion Dip with Ruffles Potato Chips, Homemade Pita Chips recipe by Giada de Laurentiis,  Veggies and Spicy Edamame Dip  by Trisha Yearwood from the Toronto Star and Hot Air Popcorn. (I spray the popcorn with Canola Oil and sprinkle with freshly cracked Sea Salt)

The Spicy Edamame Dip is the first dip I made for Michael…he loved it!

Followed by the main course:

Allergen Friendly Chicken Wings, Slow-Cooker Sweet and Sour Sticky Ribs, Homemade French Fries and French Stick.

Dessert was something special!

With Valentines Day just around the corner, I thought I would treat the boys with something decadent…something chocolatey!

Dairy, Egg, Soy and Peanut/Tree Nut Free Heart Brownies and Brownie Pops!

Half the hearts are Iced in Chocolate and the other half are iced with a Dairy Free Chocolate Icing and drizzled with chocolate.

Dairy, Egg, Soy and Peanut/Tree Nut Free Decadent Brownie Hearts

I just used heart-shaped cookie cutters to cut out the brownies. First, I cut some Brownies without the Chocolate Icing.

 I brushed them with melted Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips and dusted with a little Icing Sugar.

I then iced the rest of the Brownies, cut out my heart shapes, drizzled with the melted chocolate and dusted with icing sugar.

Dairy, Egg, Soy and Peanut/Tree Nut Free Decadent Brownie Pops

For the Brownie Pops, I simply mixed together all the scraps of Brownies left over from cutting out the hearts. Rolled them into little balls and put them in the refrigerator to firm. I then stuck a cookie stick into the Brownie Ball and brushed them with melted Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips.

The finishing touch…topping each with a Gimbal’s Cherry Lovers heart-shaped candy.

Did you know that Gimbal’s candies are free of 8 major food allergens: Peanut/tree Nut, Dairy, Egg, Gluten, Soy, Fish and Shellfish. I happened to stumble upon a jar at HomeSense…perfect for Valentine’s Day!

The Half Time show did not appeal to the boys. They took the opportunity to emerge from the ‘man cave’ and devour the Brownies…I was surprised the boys had any room left for dessert.

As Michael’s friend Chris simply put it, “There is always room for dessert!”

I packaged up a Dairy, Egg, Soy and Peanut/Tree Nut Free Decadent Brownie Pop to take home for Matthew’s friend’s sister…she loves my Brownies!

Tip: Plenty of leftovers for dinner tonight…perfect! I love it when I can get two meals out of one!

P.S. Carla @ My 1/2 Dozen Daily presented her Dairy, Egg, Soy and Peanut/Tree Nut Free Bread. Love that she uses the Bread Machine to make her dough! I will definitely have to try her recipe and method for her loaves of fresh bread.

P.P.S. My update on Week 1 of my Decluttering my Personal Space will be up on Wednesday. Superbowl Party preparations took a little more time than I had anticipated.

There just is not enough time in the day! lol

My husband has been invited to a ‘Boys only’ Superbowl Party, so I have decided to have one of our own with the boys.

Not that I am at all interested in football throughout the season. Although, I have to admit, I like watching the Superbowl…or is it the half time event that appeals to me? Either way, the party is on!

My boys have been watching the lead up to the finale and are also keen to watch the showdown between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots. Michael is cheering on the Patriots and Matthew says it’s “the Giants all the way!” The boys are each inviting a friend to join in on the fun!

What’s a party without party fare!

Munchies will include: Matthew’s favourite, Lay’s Salt and Vinegar Chips and Michael’s favourite, Ruffles Rippled Chips with Dairy Free Onion Dip. (recipe featured below)

Homemade Allergen Friendly Pita Chips and Dip will also be on the menu. Although, I think I have since finished this dip and will have to whip up a new one! (recipes from EveryDay Italian by Giada De Laurentiis)

Michael loves these Pita Chips…as do some of his friends! The White Bean Dip is great for dipping veggies in too! (It is green due to the overabundance of parsley I like to add!)

Tip: When purchasing pita bread for the Homemade Allergen Friendly Pita Chips, make sure to read the ingredient list for possible allergens. I used Pita Gourmet.

Main dishes include: Michael has chosen Allergen Friendly Chicken Wings  with a Dairy Free Dip (combination of Tofutti Sour Supreme, minced garlic, dried oregano and italian seasoning, salt and pepper to taste). Matthew has chosen Slow Cooker Sticky Ribs . There will also be some cut up veggies for the dips.

Dessert: I am going to be creative with my Dairy,Egg,Soy, and Peanut/Tree Nut Free Decadent Brownies. Stay tuned for a posting next week. Just in time for Valentine’s Day!

A couple of years ago, Michael took an interest in Onion Dip. “Mommy, can you try to make me an Onion Dip for my chips?” When I ask him today why he wanted me to make it he replied, “I don’t know. I just wanted to try it.”

Well, I am glad he did because it is a winner!

I love the Barefoot Contessa! Her Pan-Fried Onion Dip is fantastic! It is easily adapted to satisfy and fool even those without dairy allergies or intolerances.

Dairy Free Onion Dip

Follow the Barefoot Contessa’s recipe for Pan-Fried Onion Dip making the following substitutions:

4 tbsp of Earth Balance for the unsalted butter
1/2 cup Tofutti Non-Dairy Spread for the cream cheese
1 cup Tofutti Sour Supreme for the sour cream and mayonaise

Enjoy with your favourite chips!

P.S. I will be posting pictures of our Superbowl feast on The Food Allergy Chronicles Facebook page.

Question: What are your plans for Superbowl Sunday?