Finally Food I Can Eat

December 16, 2009

cook bookHere is another post on healthy holiday baking, brought to us by local cookbook author Shirley Plant. Shirley’s book is called Finally Food I Can Eat and according to the books cover, ” it is a dietary guide and cookbook featuring tasty non-vegetarian and vegetarian recipes for people with food allergies and food intolerances.” Above and beyond that, it’s a cookbook filled with healthy and easy-to-make recipes that just happen to be delicious.

There is a great section on food alternatives; for example for anyone with lactose intolerance or following a vegan diet, 1 cup cow’s milk = 1 cup rice or soy milk or 1/4 cup tofu blended with 1 cup water. I cup Buttermilk can be made with 1 cup soy milk mixed with 2 tsp lemon juice. Shirley also discusses substitutes for wheat flour using spelt, rice, buckwheat flours etc and sugar substitutes as well.

The recipes and tips are born from necessity as Shirley suffers from food intolerances and allergies herself. For anyone in the same boat who says ‘There is nothing left to eat’, here is a cookbook for you! 

Finally Food I Can Eat is available at our Westboro Studio and all book stores. Enjoy these delicious holiday treats – Christmas Treats from page 195 and Christmas Cashew Ball, page 196.

Christmas Treats
free of dairy, wheat, yeast, corn, sugar, eggs, soy, nightshades and gluten

1/2 cup dried apricots
1/2 cup dates
2 Tbsp orange juice
2 Tbsp honey
3 Tbsp water
1 tsp orange rind or lemon zest
1/4 cup pecans chopped finely
3/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut

Chop apricots and dates into pieces and place in a saucepan with orange juice, water and honey. Cover and simmer over low to medium heat until fruit is tender and liquid has evaporated, about 5-10 minutes.
Remove from heat and let fruit cool
Puree fruit in a food processor until it is pasty. Add zest and nuts and mix in a bowl.
With slightly oiled fingers, pinch off a small amount and roll into balls and coat with coconut.
Place on a tray and let sit in a cool place for a day, and then enjoy    

Christmas Cashew Balls
free of dairy, wheat, yeast, corn, sugar, eggs, soy, nightshades and gluten

1 cup unsalted cashew pieces
1/8 tsp ground cardamom
1 cup dates, finely chopped
1 Tbsp orange juice
1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut

Roast your cashew pieces in a cast-iron pan, but stir often so they don’t burn. It will take only a few minutes to get a nice roasted flavour, or you can cheat and buy roasted cashews.
Grind cashews in a food processor but not too finely. Add in cardamom, dates, orange zest, and orange juice and mix.
Roll into small balls, then roll in coconut. Eat and enjoy, no baking needed.   


  

Posted by Donna | Filed Under Recipes 

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