Allergy free pancakes

The other day, I was giving some advice to a friend who is cutting out dairy for her nursing baby, who may have a milk intolerance. Since I just finished 6 months of being dairy-free while nursing Sawyer, I have lots of tips to share. She mentioned being nervous about cooking with substitutes for milk and butter. I assured her that almost everything can be substituted. In fact, I make my kids egg-free, milk-free, wheat-free pancakes every week. And they love them! (Despite the fact that egg, milk and wheat are the main components of most pancakes). I thought I’d share my recipe here now, since it will be shelved for awhile while we go paleo. Sorry boys!

Ingredients:

1 cup rice flour

1-2 Tbsp sugar

2 tsp baking powder

¼  tsp salt

1 Tbsp water

2 Tbsp vegetable oil

1 cup coconut milk

Dairy-free cooking spray (I use olive oil or coconut oil)

Optional: scoop of pureed pumpkin, mashed bananas, blueberries, apples

Spray griddle with cooking spray and then heat on medium until hot. Combine all ingredients in a bowl, in order. Mix to combine, but do not overmix. Using a small measuring cup, scoop a small amount of batter and pour into pan to make pancakes of the size you prefer. Wait a few minutes until slightly browned and then flip.

*This recipe was adapted (slightly) from the Food Allergy Mama’s pancake recipe

Introduction

I am not a chef. My husband likes to tease me with the (true) story of how I had two cookbooks when he met me. They were literally named “Potato” and “Dessert.” (What else do you need?) Which is why it is ironic that I was blessed with two little creatures who I can’t very well feed out of the frozen food aisle. My boys – and my husband – have multiple food allergies. My husbands’ allergies are caused by a condition called EoE. So, although it causes great pain, consuming an allergen will not kill him. My little ones, however, do appear to have life-threatening allergies. So, ever since we first learned of big brother’s allergies, my life has focused primarily on experimenting in the kitchen and doing my best to keep him safe.

For the record, here is the dizzying list of what I try to keep straight: John (husband) can’t eat beef, tree nuts, seeds, avocado, or drink wine. Tucker (big brother) is allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, eggs, sesame, sunflower and poppy seeds. Sawyer (little brother) is allergic to milk, peanuts, tree nuts, peas, lentils, soy and chickpeas. What drives me bananas are the things that one can have that the other can’t, and vice versa. Sometimes I hand one kid his dinner and then have a tiny panic attack as I re-check the food to make sure I’m giving the right plate to the right kid.

For the sake of my sanity with the side benefit of health, we are going to start the Whole 30, transitioning to the Paleo diet, starting January 1^st. All four of us. Part of the purpose of this blog is to document the successes and failures, joys and frustrations of taking on this challenge as a family. The other purpose is just to ruminate on my life as a mom – especially doing what I do much of the time – feeding little bellies.

A new chapter

Welcome! Little Bellies is the "offspring" of my first blog, Before the Belly, which focuses on my journey through infertility to motherhood. Little Bellies will be a place where I record and reflect on the next chapter of my life - feeding little bellies. I have two little boys, almost 1 and almost 3, and both have multiple food allergies. Through blogging, I hope to gain and spread understanding of life as a food allergy family as well as learn new ways to feed my family healthy, good, safe food.