OREO Cookie Balls {Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, Egg-Free}

Let me introduce you to Milk's favorite cookie ball! Yes, it is made with OREOs. {I used Whole Foods brand because I was there and didn't want to make another stop just to get OREO brand, but OREO brand is still free of dairy, nuts and eggs.} It's my turn to send snacks to school for my girl's class on Friday, and when I saw these, my mind was made up. They are very rich and delicious! Here's the how-to in pictures:
You'll want to have these things on hand:

Then:

Next:

Then, you'll want to freeze these cookie balls for about 10 minutes. While they are setting up, melt your vegan chocolate chips {for every 6 oz of chips, add 1T shortening - this will aid in the dipping process} in a microwave safe bowl on high for 1 minute. Stir, then continue heating/stirring every 15 seconds until completely melted and liquid. Dip the cookie balls in the melted chocolate and immediately sprinkle with fun sprinkles. Once done, put them back in the fridge for about 1 hour.

Monkey Cupcakes

Tonight we were having a special snack in our children's class at church so I had to come up with an allergy-friendly version for my daughter. The theme was monkeys and the rest of the class was having cupcakes/cake, so naturally I chose to make my girl a monkey cupcake. It was actually fun and turned out pretty good, so I thought I'd share it with you. {Just don't pay too much attention to my lack of artistic ability in the cupcake decorating!}

Use your favorite cupcake recipe. I used a boxed yellow cake mix from Duncan Hines because it contains no milk or nuts and I substitute the 2 eggs with Ener-G Egg Replacer.

Buy or make your favorite chocolate frosting. I used Pillsbury Milk Chocolate which actually has no milk in it....go figure. Always check the label, don't take my word for it.

After you bake and frost your cupcakes, get out 3 solid color cookies that are allergy-friendly. I used graham crackers because that is all I had on hand. Round cookies are ready for use, but if you are using graham crackers, carve out two small half circles and one larger circle to use for ears and the nose/mouth area. See pic.

Next, use white frosting or mini marshmallows to make the whites of the eyes. Then, add a dark pupil on each side. {I used tiny hot chocolate style marshmallows because that's all I had on hand.} You can make the nose and mouth by piping chocolate frosting accordingly or by melting chocolate chips like I did and using a toothpick to draw it on. I didn't have much time, so I went the easy route.

I'm sure you could do a better job, so if you make these, post them on our facebook wall here. I'd love to see your version!

Bite-Size Banana Pie {Dairy-Free, Egg-Free, Nut-Free}

One way to make homework seem a little less daunting after school, is to have a spontaneous, fun after-school snack. It's amazing the power food has over us. I try to give my kids fruit most of the time for snacks, and it usually works, but they can get a little tired of plain fruit so every once in awhile I add some variety. If you are not allergic to wheat or soy, Keebler Ready Crust Mini Graham Cracker Crusts are perfect to keep on hand. You can fill them with pudding, fruit, jello, etc. and the kids love them! Today I made these...

Bite-Size Banana Pie {Dairy-Free, Egg-Free, Nut-Free}

Keebler Ready Crust Mini Graham Cracker Crusts
Bananas
Hershey's Chocolate Syrup {the regular one is dairy-free, nut-free}
Colorful Sprinkles
Dairy-Free Whipped Topping {optional}

Fill each crust with sliced bananas, drizzle chocolate syrup over them, top with whipped cream and/or sprinkles. I didn't have coconut milk on hand so I couldn't make my dairy-free whipped topping today, but click for the recipe. Serve immediately!

My kids loved these and it made this cloudy day seem so much more exciting! {Nevermind the fact that they are excited to get to see their Grammy & Papa tomorrow - I'm sure that has nothing to do with their excitement. yeah, right.}

Coconut Oil: The Good Saturated Fat

I have long been searching for a good coconut oil to use that hasn't been processed around peanuts. I finally found one thanks to Surviving the Stores who posted this deal last week for a great deal on organic extra virgin coconut oil. Nutiva brand has not been processed around peanuts, unlike most other coconut oils that I have come across in the grocery stores. I am really looking forward to using this and seeing some lasting benefits.

The jar of coconut oil from Nutiva states: 'Coconut is one of the world's most nourishing foods.' Nutiva's brand is:
* Cold-Pressed & Pure White: Not refined, deodorized or bleached!
* Organic: Made without pesticides, GMO's, or hexane.
* Versatile: Ideal as a high-heat cooking oil (up to 350 degrees), as a nutritious substitute in baking, and as a "better-than-butter" replacement on bread, vegetables, or popcorn. Also, a luscious oil for skin care, hair care, and massage.

Dr. Mercola has a few things to say about coconut oil here. A few of the benefits he listed stood out to me:
* Improves heart health
* Boosts your thyroid
* Increases metabolism
* Promotes a lean body and weight loss, if needed
* Supports your immune system

Go get yours today!

*Nutiva did not ask me to promote them, nor did I receive compensation for blogging about them. I simply wanted to make you aware of this coconut oil that has NOT been processed around peanuts.*

Grown Up Peanut Butter Truffles {peanut-free}

Are you guilty of running to the pantry with spoon in hand looking for the peanut butter {or soy butter} jar ready to dig in for a heaping spoonful of protein to boost that energy? Now there's a better alternative! This is a great mix of protein and brain food perfect for a mid-morning or afternoon pick-me-up! And it only has approximately 1 gram of sugar in each truffle!

Peanut-Free Truffles: Grown-up style

1/2 c crunchy soy butter {almond butter or sun butter works here}

1/2 c rolled oats

3 T ground flax seed

2 T pure cocoa powder

2 T Agave Nectar (natural sweetener, like honey)

Put ingredients in mini food processor and pulse until blended. Roll into balls and place on wax paper. Chill until stiff. Keep chilled in fridge - they are better this way! Yummy snack with only approx. 1 gram of sugar per truffle. Makes 10-12 truffles.

These would even make a good after-school snack for the kids! Or a great addition to their lunchbox.

Ground flaxseed is high in fiber, Omega-3 fatty acids and lignans. Ground flaxseed contains 1.6 grams of Omega-3s per Tablespoon and it is recommended that adults have 1.6 grams per day. And the benefits of Omega-3s are incredible...they promote better brain function and higher intelligence, there is a lower incidence of childhood disorders with Omega-3s, among many other benefits you can read about here.

Happiness On a Stick {Dairy-free, Nut-free}

This is happiness on a stick. With sprinkles on top. Yep, that about sums it up! I made a few of these for my allergy girl this week so she could take them to school for a special snack. Because I have no idea what other moms are sending in for the class snack, I try to always have a special snack just for my allergy girl. This week testing is going on at school so I knew that everyday there would be a special snack that I would have to substitute for my child. I love using skewers for snacks {fruity kabobs, etc.} and this was an easy snack to make early that will still taste fresh all week.

Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Skewers

1/2 bag Whole Foods 365 Vegan Chocolate Chips, Semi-Sweet*

1/2 bag Marshmallows {I used Strawberry flavored! YUM}

Sprinkles of your choice

Bamboo Skewers



*The Whole Foods 365 Vegan Choc Chips are dairy and nut free! You can also buy Enjoy Life Foods brand chocolate chips which are allergy-free and Whole Foods also sells another brand of allergy-free chocolate chips.

If you love chocolate chips, check out this recipe!!

Skewer 3 regular sized marshmallows in a row on the pointy end of the bamboo skewer. Trim skewer to an appropriate size. {I probably cut off about 6 inches off the end.} Melt chocolate chips in a shallow dish {like a glass pie pan} in the microwave at 30 sec intervals. Stir frequently to prevent burning. Roll the skewered marshmallows in the chocolate until fully coated. Let the excess drip off. Then, transfer to wax paper. Sprinkle your choice of topping on one side. Either refrigerate or let them sit out until the chocolate is set. Then, package them up in separate cellophane bags or in an airtight container to maintain freshness. This takes less than 15 minutes start to finish and the kids LOVE them! You can double the recipe as needed.

PB&J Truffles {Peanut-free}

Peanut butter & jelly sandwich? That's SO yesterday! I've been researching some new ideas for lunches for my kids, especially since my allergy girl has SAT testing this week. I need her to be on her A-game and let's face it, what's normaly in her lunch box isn't always loaded with Omega-3s and other brain boosters, although I do try to give her semi-healthy stuff. Anyway, I came across these on a site I visit often and since my girls are kind of sick of the usual PB&J sandwich, I thought I'd try these as a variation and a more healthy option. I tweaked it a little bit to fit our standard of allergy-free and here it is:

All-Fruit Jam or Jelly (or you could do sugar-free)

Peanut-free 'peanut butter' - (I use Soy Butter, but Sun Butter, Almond Butter, etc will work great, too!)

Rolled Oats

1TBL pure cocoa powder

In a food processer, mix equal parts Jam/Jelly and Soy Butter, along with 1TBL cocoa powder and pulse until combined. Add rolled oats a little at a time until mixture becomes easy to roll into balls. I used 1 cup of rolled oats per 1/4 c jam and 1/4 c soy butter and that seemed to work perfect. Then, roll mixture into 1-inch balls. You can roll them in crushed pecans, powdered sugar, coconut, etc. to make them look pretty or for an added flavor in there. And if you want to make it even healthier add 1 TBL of ground flax seed to the mixture OR roll the PBJ balls in ground flax seed. Be creative! I put mine in the refrigerator on a plate to firm up and once firm, I will transfer to a rubbermaid bowl with lid to keep them fresh.

This is a quick and easy way to get out of the PB&J sandwich rut! Try it! You'll like it!