Chockababy! - Chock full of thoughts about babies, food allergies, mommyhood, and family life.

Allergy Friendly Friday: Black Bean Salsa

May 17th, 2013

Carrie

Allergy Friendly

I have an obsession with this black bean salsa. It’s been a family favorite since my sister introduced us to it a few years ago. She learned the recipe from her mid-western in-laws and we now make it for every possible occasion. The fresher the ingredients, the better, so make this for all of your summer picnics and barbecues. Everyone will ask you for the recipe! It’s simple and has none of the major allergens in it – and if corn is an allergy in your family, you can easily skip it!

I highly recommend using an onion chopper for the onion and peppers. If you have to chop by hand, you will have a hard time keeping the pieces consistent and will probably curse me for making you do so much cutting! The one I have is the Progressive International Onion Chopper and you can get it on Amazon. I use it every time I make this salsa… It was totally worth the $15. There are other more fancy versions out there but this one does everything I need it to. It looks like this:

You put a chunk of onion or pepper in the middle and press it closed. Voila! Perfectly chopped veggies! So, go order this now so you have it in time for your Memorial Day BBQs! My kids love to help with this too. Here is my daughter (in her favorite princess dress, of course) chopping, stirring, and taste-testing the salsa as we made it together:

black bean salsa

Black Bean Salsa

Ingredients:

4 Bell Peppers: 1 red, 1 green, 1 yellow, 1 orange
2 cans of Black Beans, rinsed and drained
1 red Onion
1 clove of Garlic, minced
1 can of Corn, drained
Cilantro, a handful, chopped to about 1 – 2 tablespoons
1/4 cup Olive Oil
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon Red Wine Vinegar
1 fresh Lime, squeezed, or a tablespoon of lime juice
Tortilla chips, for serving

Directions:

Dice the peppers and onion.
Mix in a large bowl with the beans, garlic, corn, and cilantro.
Add the olive oil, vinegar, and lime juice.
Let rest in the fridge for at least an hour, or just eat it all up because you can’t wait!
Enjoy!

Try making a quesadilla with the leftovers! Or even serve over an omelette if eggs aren’t an allergen for you.

Join me on Fridays for more Allergy-Friendly recipes! Feel free to share your recipe ideas (or requests) in the comments! Most of my recipes are Allergy-Friendly for my family (no egg, dairy, or peanuts involved). I hope you can adapt to your family’s needs as well!

Allergy friendly recipe

Disclaimer: I use Amazon affiliate links to help pay for the expenses of running this blog.

Food Allergy Action Plan

May 16th, 2013

Carrie

If you have a child with food allergies, do you have a Food Allergy Action Plan? I didn’t. Well, that’s not quite true. I did have one that my daughter’s allergist gave me. It had a few simple things written on the two blanks of an over-copied piece of paper. It’s filed away with other medical documents because it isn’t very informative (and barely readable).

I was reading an allergy cookbook and came across a reminder to always have a Food Allergy Action Plan. I found one from FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) and printed it out immediately. Here is the plan - and I highly recommend it. You can easily make your own as well, but to be safe, this is what your plan should include:

Your child’s name, date of birth, and a photo (if giving to a daycare, camp or school).
Every allergen your child is allergic to, highlighting those that are severe allergies.
Mild and severe symptoms to look for.
Steps to take if there is suspicion of exposure.
Steps to take if there is guaranteed exposure.
Medications to administer and dosages (including Epi-Pen instructions)
Parent contact information.
Doctor contact information.
Other Emergency Contacts.

This plan is your child’s safety net when you are not present. Be sure to have a copy:

In your child’s emergency kit (accompanied by medications listed).
In a visible place in your home for when family or babysitters are with your child.
In your child’s backpack as well as on file at his or her school.
In a visible place at your child’s daycare, Sunday school class, camps, or any other activity where you are not present.

Other places I will put a copy are in my car and at my parents and in-laws homes. Since I like to be over-prepared, I plan on keeping extra copies in my car for playdates and other events.

An Easy Morning Routine

May 14th, 2013

Carrie

breakfast

My son is almost six. I felt like it was time for him to start making breakfast on his own. Not because I want him to be more responsible, although I like that side effect, but because I can’t seem to manage doing everything for everyone in the morning and still get him to school on time. Most days, Daddy is home to make breakfast for all and lunch for our son before taking him to school, but on busy weeks like this, it’s all on me. I need an easy morning routine so this week seemed like the perfect time to teach him a little responsibility.

Making breakfast

There are a few breakfast menu items that kids, even as young as five, can prepare for themselves after minimal preparation by a parent:

Cereal: Have the boxes on a low shelf they can reach, or pre-package in containers with lids or baggies (recommended for frequent spillers). Have bowls and spoons ready the night before so they can grab them and fill up their bowls. The only job left for you is to pour the milk!

Toaster Waffles: Whether store-bought or pre-made and frozen, waffles can easily be put in the toaster by any child tall enough to reach the toaster. I let my son take them out with a fork but you can always be the waffle-getter if they aren’t old enough to avoid getting burnt.

Baked Oatmeal: Make the night before and kids can warm in the microwave or toaster oven. Have in pre-portioned containers so they can easily grab and heat.

Yogurt Parfaits: My kids don’t seem to think of yogurt as a breakfast food, but with a little granola and fresh fruit, yogurt makes a great healthy breakfast option. You can make it like a sundae bar to get your kids involved in a fun way! Have pre-portioned yogurt cups on a low shelf in the fridge. Keep granola in little baggies that can be dumped on the yogurt. Let them pick out the fruit to top it with – such as blueberries or sliced strawberries.

These can all be planned for and prepared once a week after your shopping trip.

Making School Lunches

My son can be a picky eater. Sometimes he won’t eat the pretzels I put in his lunch because he “didn’t want them today.” So, I started having him pack the pantry items in his lunch the night before – typically while I make or clean up dinner. I use EasyLunchboxes and he can fill two of the three compartments with a snack and a treat. He also grabs his fruit and a spoon (if needed) and puts those in his lunch box. In the morning, I can make a quick sandwich and his lunch is finished!

Now that one of my kids is taken care of, I can focus on feeding the other two. The baby is much more “hands-on” so to be freed up of even just a few minutes with an easy morning routine, I feel much more calm in the morning… and we can make it to school on time!

How do you make your morning run smoothly?

Allergy Friendly Friday: Sweet Potato Pancakes

May 10th, 2013

Carrie

Allergy Friendly Sweet Potato Pancakes

My kids love breakfast for dinner. I thought I would make it more complete of a meal by adding Sweet Potato to the pancakes. I got the idea from a genius friend of mine, Katie, who teaches kids to make kid-friendly healthy food. Making them heart-shaped was my idea… They are egg and dairy-free and super tasty! Check out the tips at the end of the recipe for further ideas. I suggest serving with bacon, because bacon is always a good idea.

Sweet Potato Pancakes Recipe

Ingredients:

sweet potato ingredients

1 Medium to Large Sweet Potato
1 1/2 Cups Flour
1 T Baking Powder
2 t Cinnamon
1 t Nutmeg
1/4 t Salt
2 1/4 Cups Almond Milk
Vegan butter or Spray for the pan (I use Smart Balance Light)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 and poke holes in the sweet potato with a fork. Bake potato until soft – 45 minutes to an hour.
Pull the skin off the potato and mash.
In a large mixing bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
Add the Almond Milk and sweet potato and whisk until smooth.
Heat your griddle or pan over medium heat and coat with vegan butter or spray
Cook until you see little bubbles and edges start to lose their shine.
Flip and cook until lightly browned.

Serve with applesauce or syrup. You can even try adding a few pecans if your family can/will eat them!

Tips:

Make sweet potatoes for dinner the night before you want to make these pancakes (or decide to make these the morning after making sweet potatoes for dinner! You can use your left over sweet potatoes to make breakfast!
Try using a mix of flours – white/wheat/spelt to add variety and make it a little healthier!
If you find the pancakes too mushy inside, add more almond milk to make them thinner.
I used a silicone pancake mold to make the heart shaped pancakes.

Join me on Fridays for more Allergy-Friendly recipes! Feel free to share your recipe ideas (or requests!) in the comments! Most of my recipes are Allergy-Friendly for my family (no egg, dairy, or peanuts involved). I hope you can adapt to your family’s needs as well!

Allergy friendly recipe

Food Allergies Update: 2 Years after Diagnosis

May 8th, 2013

Carrie

I can’t believe it’s been two years. Two years ago I learned my daughter had severe food allergies. Two years ago I was told she couldn’t have milk, egg, or peanuts. Two years ago I had to change my thoughts on everything I know about feeding babies.

I remember getting the diagnosis right before her first birthday. She couldn’t have a traditional birthday cake. I made her a non-dairy, egg-free first birthday cupcake and it was terrible. I felt bad feeding it to her because I knew it wasn’t very tasty.

A year later, we got some positive news. Her egg and peanut allergies decreased but her milk allergy went up slightly. At this point, we were very used to preparing foods for our daughter. We knew we had to wait until at least 3 to see her outgrow any of her allergens so we didn’t have our hopes up at that appointment.

So, here we are at age 3 – time to retest her allergens. I took her to the bloodwork lab and had her tested. It was more difficult this year as she knew what was going on. I took her to a different lab as the one right next to the allergist closed. I didn’t think this was a big deal until I read a post over at Mamocado. (Kathryn shares some great insight on her allergy journey.) One thing she mentioned in this post was that you should go to the same lab every time and get the same testing done. Of course I read this the same day we did the bloodwork and started second guessing whether I could trust the results.

The results came back and this is what we found:

1. I’ll start with the best news: her peanut allergy went down. Down! It’s now under 2. Recently I read that only about 20% of kids outgrow this allergy by six years old, so we are very happy with it. Peanuts also seem to be the scariest of all food allergies.

2. Her milk allergy went up again slightly. It’s gone from around 1 to 1.96 last year, to around 5 this year. I don’t know why it has risen but I try not to get too upset about it. I had truly hoped and prayed she would have outgrown this milk allergy by 3 but I now know I need to be more patient.

3. Her egg allergy is the most upsetting for me. Two years ago, her rast score was around 35 and fell last year to around 20. This year, we were given two scores , one for egg yolk and one for egg white. I don’t know why it’s split and I don’t know how to compare it to last year. The egg yolk is now around 8 but the egg white is up to 46. That is a class 4 allergy. I am so sad that this went up so high. I am trying very hard not to be discouraged and I know she CAN still outgrow it.

4. Other fun news – she has a number of seasonal allergies and is also allergic to dogs. These numbers came in low but they can explain the itchy eyes and runny nose we’ve been dealing with for the past month.

There are a few glimmers of hope in this year’s update. Of course, the peanut news is a huge plus. But also, I need to remember that we have been doing this for 2 years. We know how to prepare healthy, safe foods and I am continuing to learn new recipes as well. We are getting better every day at educating her caregivers and family. We aren’t new to this journey.

My very experienced Aunt (who raised my now-in-his-20′s cousin with severe allergies) encouraged me that food allergies can go up before they go down. I understand a bell curve very well, so I’m just hoping it’s going to start heading back down soon. I look forward to meeting with her allergist later this month for more further answers.

I’ll admit I cried when we got the news. I called my mom and whined a bit (sometimes you just need your mom) and she offered support and encouragement as well. But, I am reminded to continue to trust that she will be protected and do everything I can to advocate for her.

Thanks for reading this and supporting us on this journey. I know I am not walking through this journey alone.

DIY Mother’s Day Ideas

May 6th, 2013

Carrie

I love holidays like this. I get to wrangle the kids to make a sweet gift for their Grandmas! I like crafting, but I know that even if you aren’t a huge crafter, there are some super sweet and simple gifts you can make with your kids to show grandma how much you care! So, here are some of my favorite DIY Mother’s Day ideas!

The Best Things in Life aren’t Things frame - This adorable craft involves a frame, a clear overhead projector sheet, and your children’s handprints. This type of craft is great because if you make a mistake, you can redo it! You can print out the text (using any quote you like) and do your children’s handprints on paper as many times as you need to make it perfect!

Handprint Poem - So, I am into handprints this year. This adorable poem (use the printable here) can be printed and your child can add his or her handprints to make it personal. My husband actually has a copy of this same poem from a Mother’s Day Gift he made in the 80′s! Yes, his mom did keep it!

Upcycled Picture Frame - I love this idea if your Mom isn’t someone who loves the sentimental “stuff.” This DIY Frame combines handmade with practical. And it’s adorable! You could easily whip up a few of these as gifts for any occasion!

Love Photos – Can you guess how much I LOVE this? If I had 4 kids – this would be my go-to gift for the whole family! It is simple and so sweet. I think my 3 kids might need to write “JOY” this Christmas for the Grandmas…

DIY Mother's Day

Flower Cone – Want to go super simple? Teach your children how to make a flower cone, then send them out to pick flowers to fill it! What Grandma could resist that?

Mother Print - If you decide that making something isn’t going to work out, you can always purchase a sweet gift, such as this print, from Etsy!

What are your plans for Mother’s Day? What gift would you want to receive?

Allergy Friendly Friday: Vegan Quesadillas (and a Giveaway!)

May 3rd, 2013

Carrie

Vegan Quesadilla

I know what you’re thinking. Quesadillas are defined by cheese. I agree. BUT, having a daughter who is allergic to dairy, I had to find a good substitute so she, too, could enjoy a quesadilla like the rest of the family. Especially since we are celebrating Cinco de Mayo this weekend! I have tried fake cheese with her but she was not a fan. So to make her a vegan quesadilla, I had to find something else to hold the tortillas together. To help me come up with a good recipe, Goya sent me a cookbook, some black beans, and a bottle of olive oil. (**Spoiler alert – you can WIN them, too with the Rafflecopter form below!) What I loved about the cookbook was that is was Latin cooking fit into the MyPlate format. In other words, great recipes were created and organized to make healthy balanced plates (think: updated version of the food pyramid).

vegan quesadilla

I adapted the Quesadilla recipe from the cookbook. It included cheese, of course, but mine does not. Here is my version:

Vegan Quesadillas

Ingredients:

2 Tortillas
Red, Green, and Orange bell pepper strips (I used about 1/4 of each pepper to make one quesadilla)
1 can of Goya Black Beans, rinsed and drained
2 Tbs. Goya Olive Oil
Guacamole or salsa for serving, optional

Directions:

Heat about a Tablespoon of Goya Olive Oil in a sauté pan. Sauté your bell pepper strips until tender:
Put your pretty, soft peppers in a food processor and process until pureed, but still chunky. Kinda like this:
Spread onto a tortilla and top with Goya black beans. Add more on top if you want and cover with a second tortilla.
Add a little more Goya Olive Oil to the pan on medium heat.
Once the pan is hot, put your quesadilla in the pan and cook until it’s nice and brown. Flip and repeat. It should look something like this when it’s done:
Serve with some simple, homemade guacamole (In a pinch, just mash an avocado with garlic powder and some lime juice!)
Enjoy! Or should I say, Buen provecho!

Here is my daughter testing the first bite. I loved that she was getting good protein from the black beans, but I could also add chicken or beef to it. You could try adding other things like corn, pico de gallo, or cilantro when preparing these for a more sophisticated palate!

vegan quesadillas

Want to win your own Goya Cookbook, Black Beans, and Olive Oil? Enter using the Rafflecopter below. One lucky reader will be chosen and the giveaway will run until Friday, May 10 and midnight. Or if you are just looking for more Cinco de Mayo inspiration, check out Goya’s Pinterest page filled with some amazing looking recipes!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Join me on Fridays for more Allergy-Friendly recipes! Feel free to share your recipe ideas (or requests!) in the comments! Most of my recipes are Allergy-Friendly for my family (no egg, dairy, or peanuts involved). I hope you can adapt to your family’s needs as well!

Allergy friendly recipe

A Letter to my Daughter on her 3rd Birthday

May 2nd, 2013

Carrie

3rd Birthday

To my beautiful princess,

You captivate me. Sometimes I just look at you – when you’re drawing, inspecting a toy, twirling in the living room, or just sleeping, and I can’t believe I get to be your mom. I am blessed to watch as the baby I once knew turns into a beautiful and silly girl. I thank God for you so often. As you turn three, here are just a few of the ways you have stolen my heart:

When you ask if you can tell me a secret and then whisper, “I love you, Mommy” or “Mommy, you are beautiful” I melt. Your sweet tender spirit stops me in my tracks.
When you stand in the living room and do your three part twirl, I can’t help but stop and watch. And ask to see it again.
When you chase your brother across the house and end up hurting yourself, I smile. You just never give up. And your brother is your hero.
When you sing to your baby brother in the car so he won’t cry, I am grateful. And I know you will have a special relationship with him when you’re older, too.
When you are given a toy or a treat at Grandma’s or in a store, you always ask if you can have one for your brother. Your thoughtfulness is contagious. You make me want to care for people better.
When you are tired and watching “one more show” before bed and ask me to snuggle, I will drop everything to cuddle with you on the couch. I dread the day you don’t want to snuggle with me anymore.
When you bring me yet another princess dress to wear and I put it on you, you always look at yourself and say “Wow. I am beautiful!” I hope you grow up always knowing you are beautiful inside and out.
When your Daddy says goodbye in the morning and asks for a hug, a huge mischievous smile comes over your face and you give him a running hug that knocks him over. I love you both more each time I see it.
Every night you ask for “chopchip pantates and milt” for breakfast. It’s adorable. And you rarely get it for breakfast but don’t mind and keep asking.
You try so hard to play Mario on the Wii with your Daddy and brother but you are so bad at it. You don’t care.
You are starting to learn what you are allergic to and don’t often get jealous over what others are eating. You understand what being protected means and what it looks like.
You sing an adorable version of “Thank you, Jesus” with your brother for almost every meal. I don’t think it could ever get old.

I thought I was here to teach you, but you are teaching me every day. I am so in love with you. Time to stop growing. I like you just the way you are! And, of course, Happy 3rd birthday, darling!

Love always and forever,
Mommy

A Nautical Baby Shower and Giveaway!

April 29th, 2013

Carrie

Nautical Baby Shower

A few weekends ago I helped throw a baby shower for a dear friend of mine and her expectant baby boy. His bedroom was a nautical theme so we decided to throw a Nautical Baby Shower as well. My super creative friend, Madalyn, made decorations that would easily transition to baby room decor. The mom-to-be seemed to love it as she has kept the decorations up since the party (although this also could be due to the early arrival of her beautiful baby boy only a week after the shower!)

Some highlights of the shower included Nautical bunting:

bunting

Spray painted cardboard anchors and wheels wrapped with rope:

anchor

Lifesaver favors for each guest:

lifesavers

A list of wishes for the baby:

wishes

And, of course, a delicious spread of snacks and treats for our guests to enjoy:

food

Since April and May seem to be full of baby showers, I thought we would have our own virtual shower right here on Chockababy! I have put together a shower gift for one baby boy and one baby girl. Gifts include a 12-month photo frame, onesies, socks, Johnson & Johnson baby lotion, a mimijumi baby bottle, and sticky bellies. You can enter one or both giveaways with the widget below. Feel free to share with friends to make this virtual baby shower grow!

This giveaway will run until Monday May 6 at midnight. All entries will be verified. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: Both prizes contain items we have purchased or received at blogging events. This giveaway is strictly sponsored by Chockababy because I love ya!

Allergy Friendly Friday: Crock Pot Chicken Chili

April 26th, 2013

Carrie

slow cooker crock pot chicken chili

I love easy dinners. On busy days, especially ones that are just a little too chilly for my taste, I love coming home to dinner ready in the crock pot! It makes the evening run so much smoother! Crock Pot Chicken Chili is great because it is allergy friendly (has no dairy or egg involved) but can be accentuated for those who like to add cheese and sour cream. I got this recipe from my friend, Jen. It’s her go-to meal when she brings dinner to new Mommas!

After enjoying this for dinner a few nights ago, I used up the leftovers (slightly drained) as filling for quesadillas. They were fantastic! I served them with salsa and a little homemade guac!

Crock Pot Chicken Chili

Ingredients:

2 Chicken Breasts
1 16 oz. jar of Salsa
2 tsp. Garlic Powder
1 tsp. Ground Cumin
1 tsp. Chili Powder
Salt & Pepper
1 can Mexican Corn
1 can Black Beans
1 can Diced Tomatoes
1 can Tomato Sauce

Directions:

Place chicken breasts (with fatty pieces cut off) in the bottom of a slow cooker.
Mix salsa and spices together and pour on top of chicken.
Cook in slow cooker on low for 6-8 hours.
Remove chicken from slow cooker and shred with 2 forks. Add shredded chicken back in the crock pot with the salsa mixture.
Drain and rinse the black beans. Add beans, corn, tomatoes, and tomato sauce to the crock pot.
Continue to cook on low for 2 more hours.
Serve with tortilla chips. Sour cream and cheddar, optional (for the non-allergic). I like mine with cheese:

crock pot chicken chili
Join me on Fridays for more Allergy-Friendly recipes! Feel free to share your recipe ideas (or requests!) in the comments! Most of my recipes are Allergy-Friendly for my family (no egg, dairy, or peanuts involved). I hope you can adapt to your family’s needs as well!