Hey all! So sorry that I’ve been missing for the past few weeks. You see, we’ve had a bit of a shift in how things have been running at our house. I don’t talk much about family and personal issues on the blog because it’s supposed to be about food. However, I recently experienced my “culinary” world colliding with my “personal” world when we found out that Nicholas, my oldest, has a sensitivity to both wheat and dairy.
My first reaction when I received the news was; I totally got this. That is, until I got home and tried to figure out what to feed him. I felt so terrible as he asked for one food after another only to be shot down in a wheat/dairy filled haze. “Mom, can I have a granola bar? How about a cheese stick? Maybe a yogurt stick? Surely I can have a baggie of dried cereal!” That first afternoon all he had for lunch was a bag of tortilla chips.
After cleaning out the pantry and the fridge, grabbing a stack of cookbooks from the library and surfing around on a slew of gluten free/dairy free blogs I am starting to feel a wee bit better about the whole situation. Of course, when I come back around to this space I’m still a little uncertain. As most of you already know, this is not an allergy sensitive blog. I’ll fully admit that I love my sweets and dairy as any of the pull down menus above will attest to. Flour is one of my best friends in the kitchen. Bread and cheese? I rank them right up there with the requisite eight glasses of water a day. They’re just a part of me. I’m willing to bet that many of you all would agree.
So the question remains, what to do about Mommie Cooks? There’s a chance that we will eventually be able to reintroduce dairy and wheat back into his diet down the road once he’s been free of the allergens for a period of time, but until then this clan has to do without. So now I’m looking to you all to get your thoughts. Would you be up for me posting more dairy/wheat free recipes? Recipes that can be adapted either way? Or are you hooked on the current way of the blog and not up for changes? Let me add as well, that I am by no means, an expert on gluten/dairy free cooking and baking so if we head that way I would be learning right alongside you!
Leave me some feedback below if you would. I love posting to the blog, but you guys are the bread and butter (no pun intended) of why I do what I do and I want to make sure that when you take the time to hang out on Mommie Cooks you’re happy you’re here!
My oldest son Nicholas
I am sorry to hear about your family’s dietary changes. With food allergies, it is a major life change… We have lots in our family & I remember those days of eating nothing but tortilla chips!!! Hang in there, your new normal will come soon enough.
As for your blog, it is your space. I’ll read whatever you write and enjoy your recipes because they represent you and your family’s needs. I love your site and your recipes & I am sure that will not change. Keep on blogging about recipes your family is eating & enjoying. Can’t wait for what’s next.
I know what its like to have to change your thinking about cooking. Its very hard. If I have everyone I love over I have to cook gluten free, egg free and corn free( trust me corn free is the hardest to do). I’ve learned a few things (Like this awesome flour “Pamela’s baking mix” that I use in place of my own flour for all my favorite recipes. My mom-in-law loves me LOL. I do love to try new things and so I’d love to see what you come up with.
Its not an easy switch but its do-able and I know you are up for the challenge. I hope you do keep blogging and introduce us all to some allergy free recipes.
Would love to see how you deal with this cooking challenge! Keep blogging!
Be sure to check out King Arthur Flour. They have lots is gluten free recipes, and products!
Keep blogging! I’m vegetarian so I love different and new recipes and ingredients! Your Randall pie is what got me here…minus the cheese or sub vegan cheese and you’re already on your way!
I see from your photo that you are already on the right gluten & dairy free food track — Trader Joe’s is an excellent resource for gluten-free products. If there is a Whole Foods store anywhere near you. that store would provide even more tasty options. Even main stream grocery chains are now offering a much wider (and tastier) variety of gluten and dairy free foods. There is a web site, Living Without, that offers recipes.
I will continue to read your blog no matter what so keep writing about your family and your cooking challenges. We all have people we know who also need to eat gluten free foods, so any recipes or adaptations would be helpful. THank you!
Absolutely you should share the actual cooking that goes on in your kitchen. I think many people out there deal with this (either permanently or temporarily), and new recipes and ideas are always welcome. That’s what I love about food blogging…no matter the different types of eating…it’s all still FOOD and we all still need to EAT. 😉
Looking forward to following your discoveries.
My friend Wendy @ Around My Family Table just recently went through this for herself. She has an allergy to eggs, dairy and wheat. She took us along for the ride on her blog, and I think things have gone very well. She’s a trooper!
Keep blogging!! I would love to learn more about how to cook and eat to accommodate the dietary needs of people with food allergies or food sensitivities. I bet there are ways for my family to eat healthier and it would be helpful to be inspired to think outside the box a bit. If anyone is up to the challenge of thinking about food differently and being creative while doing it, it’s you!!!
I think the best part of blogging is trying new recipes outside my comfort zone. It is about a culinary journey. My sister follows a gluten free diet and loves it so I am always looking for great recipes to try on her when she visits. Just because something is gluten free doesn’t mean it doesn’t taste great. I think rice flour taste just as great as all purpose flour.
I feel you. I have a few good friends who are on straight vegan (by choice) and GF diet (allergy). So, with both restrictions together, make things really hard. But I love hosting gatherings and they are always invited. It’ll be nice to learn more recipe on what to prepare when we need to put different diet restriction into consideration. But I have to say, vegan and GF could be delicious too. And I did learn a few new recipe while hosting those gathering. 🙂 So, I would love to see more new recipes on your blog too.
Sorry to hear about your “woes.” My sister is having a similar experience, breastfeeding my niece who has sensitivities, although blessedly, not allergies, so she should grow out of it, to just about everything! My sister had to go on a total elimination diet and is now adding things back in!
Several years ago my mom was diagnosed with celiacs disease which you may know means a great diet change. Not eating gluten at first was a challenge to her mostly because of her disappointment over the diagnosis and some products that are just really bad. With our support and a lot of trial and error she has found a lot of products that she really likes. She really enjoys Udi’s products, King Arthur flour products as was already mentioned, and trader joe’s as some gluten free items as well. There are a lot of really great blogs that have fabulous recipes too. One of my faves is The Gluten-free Goddess.
Hello. A friend of mine told me about your blog and “Cooking With Mr. C.” on Facebook. I now have two favorites. Keep up the great work. Denise