2016-06-18

Yellow cake


  • Ingredients:
    • 3 1/2 cups GF flour
    • 1.5 cups sugar & 1tsp stevia
    • 2 tsp baking soda
    • 1 tsp salt

    • 100 ml applesauce
    • 3/4 cup vegetable oil (I used sunflower oil)
    • 2 Tbsp white vinegar
    • 1 Tbsp vanilla
    • 1.7 cups cold water

  • Instructions:
    1. Heat oven to 350 F.
    2. Line the bottom of the cake pan(s) with parchment paper.
    3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt until combined.
    4. In a small bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients.
    5. Pour the wet mix over the dry mix and combine thoroughly.
    6. Pour the batter into the lined cake pan(s).
    7. Bake for 45 minutes for a 9x13, 35-40 minutes for rounds, or 25 minutes for cupcakes--or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
    8. Remove from the oven and allow to cool somewhat.
    9. Run a knife between the outer edge of the cake and the pan. Turn upside down to remove cake from pan. Remove the parchment paper and allow to cool completely before sculpting or frosting.

2016-06-13

Inadvertent food challenge

Oops.
DS1 and mom had just gotten home from a dinner with classmates.  They left early because he was throwing up.  Lots.  A few hives, runny nose, and more throwing up.  It was a weekly dinner and we had packed him a lunch, like we always do.  We thought it was because he drank from DS2's reusable water bottle, which he may have cross-contaminated with something.
Turns out it was the fusilli in the lunch we packed him had "pasteurized egg whites" as an additive at the bottom of the ingredients.  Oops.
Thank goodness he'd only eaten four pieces of that fusilli by the time he noticed something wasn't right.  Imagine.
At least we know he's not so reactive as to get sick from the unlikely cross-contamination of a shared water bottle.

2016-03-28

Disneyworld restaurants

We just returned from a one week trip to WDW.  We had good experiences at :
  • The Wave (Contemporary hotel)
  • Electric Umbrella (Epcot future world)
  • Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe (Magic Kingdom)
  • Landscape of Flavors (Art of Animation resort)
  • Cape May Cafe (Beach Club resort)
  • Ohanas (Polynesian resort)
Tips for minimizing delays when travelling with multiple allergies:
  • BEFORE YOU GO:
    • Fill in the special diets form in advance, according to instructions.
    • Travel with a number of epipens and allergy cards (business card with the list of allergies, ideally with a photo and emergency contact information).
  • At quick service restaurants, ask a cashier for an allergy menu and to speak with a chef or coordinator. At table service restaurants, ask to speak with a chef.  Hand the chef/coordinator an allergy card, and review available options.  It helps to identify what you normally have.
  • Order your own meal(s) and pay (if quick service).  Send the rest of your party to grab and clean a table.
  • Wait for allergy meal to be ready, the other meals will follow.  
  • Enjoy and tip appropriately.

Corned beef

3 kg of natural brisket (may need to order ahead) - serves 10-15

Prepare brine 7 days ahead of time:
Boil together, simmer and let cool off in fridge:
16 c. Water (1 gallon) – 6c
400 gr. Kosher/pickling salt (or 1 1/2 cups), NOT iodized salt
2 T. Pickling spice
3-4 cloves of garlic
In pot large enough to hold brisket, combine 1 gallon (16 cups) of water with kosher salt, garlic and 2 tablespoons pickling spice. Bring to a simmer, stirring until salt is dissolved.
Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate liquid until chilled.
Place brisket in brine, weighted with a plate to keep it submerged, and cover.  (altn: in Ziploc bag)
Refrigerate for 5-7 days.

To cook brined brisket:
2 T pickling spice
2 carrots, sliced
2 stalks celery, sliced
1 large onion
1/2 c. Cold water
Preheat the oven to 300 F (150 C). Line a 9x13 inch roasting pan with aluminum foil, leaving enough extra extending over the sides to cover and seal in the roast.
Rinse the brisket, and pat dry. Rub with pickling spice, and place in the prepared roasting pan. Arrange carrots, celery, and onion slices on and around the roast. Pour in 1/2 cup of water, and wrap aluminum foil up over the roast tightly, making sure the ends are sealed.
Bake for about 4 hours in the preheated oven (or 50 min/lb), or until meat is tender.


2016-01-10

Favourite Chicken Nuggets Recipe (Gluten Free)

adapted from http://www.lifemadedelicious.ca/recipes/favourite-chicken-nuggets/a77d91b1-a80c-47d0-a36b-094da64fa1bd 

Preparation Time 15 min
Total Time 32 min
Yields 25 Nuggets

Ingredients
3 cups (750 mL) Rice Chex* cereal
1/2 cup (125 mL) grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp (2 mL) seasoned salt
1/4 tsp (1 mL) paprika
1/8 tsp (0.5 mL) garlic powder
3 tbsp (45 mL) butter or margarine, melted
1 tbsp (15 mL) milk
1 lb (500 g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1x1-inch (2.5 cm x 2.5 cm) pieces

Instructions

  • 1Heat oven to 400ºF. Line baking sheet with foil.
  • 2Crush cereal. To easily crush cereal, place in plastic bag or between sheets of wax paper, and crush with rolling pin.
  • 3In medium bowl, stir together crushed cereal, cheese, seasoned salt, paprika and garlic powder.
  • 4In small bowl, stir together melted butter and milk. Dip chicken into butter mixture, then roll in cereal mixture to coat evenly. Place on baking sheet.
  • 5Bake 9 minutes; turn nuggets over. Bake about 8 minutes longer or until coating is light golden brown and chicken is no longer pink in centre.
 Serve with: Serve these nuggets with barbecue sauce, honey mustard or sweet-and-sour dipping sauce for a real treat.
 Make dipping easy: Use one hand for butter dipping and dropping chicken into cereal mixture, then the other hand for cereal dipping and turning.