Dairy-Free Key Lime Pie

Every other week we get our fruits and veggies from a local co-op.  This week we happened to get about a dozen limes.  What the heck do you do with that many limes?  We don't have a lot of time to prepare meals.  So I opted to try a key lime pie.  Our oldest son still has some stomach aches if he eats too much dairy, so I decided to try a non-dairy version.  And kinda made it up as I went.

Ingredients

1 cup cashews
1 cup Almond milk
1tsp vanilla
6 limes zested and juiced
1/4 tsp liquid stevia
2 Tbs maple syrup
Approximately 6 graham crackers and 8 vanilla wafers ground up to make 1 1/2 cups
1/4 cup non dairy butter melted
1 1/2 tsp agar flakes dissolved into 1/3 cup boiling water


Step 1.  Boil cashews in water for 45 minutes.

Step 2.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine the graham cracker/vanilla wafer mixture with the butter until moistened.  Spread into a pie pan and up the sides.  Bake 10 minutes.

Step 3.  While those cook, combine zest, lime juice, vanilla, and stevia into a bowl.

Step 4.  When cashews are done, strain the water and place cashews into a blender with almond milk.  Blend for 2 minutes until smooth.  Add maple syrup.  Add the lime juice mixture and blend until well combined.

Step 5.  Once blended and agar flakes have been dissolved, pour agar liquid into blender and blend for 2 minutes.  Pour mixture over crust.  Place in fridge and allow to set up until cold.


Serve and Enjoy!!

Dairy Free "Formula"

Having two kids, you really learn a lot about babies and toddlers, likes and dislikes, things that work, things that don't.  Unfortunately you also learn "on the job." We learned a lot after our first son.  Particularly we learned that the reason he was probably so crabby and not pooping regularly was because he has a sensitivity to dairy, the casein in it.  Unfortunately we didn't really consider this until he was 11 months old, and wouldn't need a formula anymore, so we never had much trial and error with that.  Now that our second is transitioning to formula we have noticed a change in his demeanor, and he is very gassy and may not poop for days at a time (VERY unlike him). So began our quest for a formula that he would like, that would give him the nutrients he needs, and make his belly feel better.  We have lately had him on Similac Alimentum.  He does ok on it.  He isn't as crabby as when he was on the non-hypoallergenic formulas, but he is still quite gassy and still not pooping.

I spent a lot of time the other night on the internet searching for options for homemade formulas.  There were some really interesting options to say the least.  One you make from liver and chicken broth.  I really can't bring myself to try something like that.  It just sounds disgusting!  I finally came across a woman's story where she was trying to find something to help her grandson, and with the help of a friend who gave her a book to read that had some formula recipes, she eventually used that as a guide to develop a formula in conjunction with consulting with many health experts, including nutritionists.

So, i've decided to give it a try. It can't hurt.  And if we can find a way to help him feel better and ultimately sleep better, that means we will get to sleep- What's that??  I modified the recipe to include things I have at home that seem to include what is called for in the original recipe.  I have diluted it for now to get him used to the flavor, as we still have a small supply of breast milk for a couple more weeks.  He took the first bottle of it pretty well, and i tasted it.  Actually doesn't taste too bad.

Here is the recipe I used for homemade formula
(This is my edited version based on the amount my son is currently eating for the day-actaully it is a little more than he eats for 1 day)

Ingredients
2 c. Goats milk
2 c. Almond milk
1 Tbs blackstrap molasses
1/2 tsp powdered children's acidophilus
3 Tbs flax seed oil
2 Tbs liquid coconut oil- not easy to find
2 tsp Dr's Advantage liquid calcium/magnesium+ mineral essentials
3 Tbs nutritional yeast
1/2 tsp infant vitamins

Add all ingredients into a blender.  Blend on high for 30 seconds.  I am filling a 4 oz bottle with 3 oz of formula and storing in the fridge and adding 2 oz warm water when I feed him.  He prefers warm milk, although will drink it cold.  I'm sure the formula is meant to be drunk without diluting it.  So as he gets used to the taste I will wean off the addition of water.  I will be sending a premade batch with him to daycare.  I plan to make a batch in the evenings for use the next day.

UPDATE: I am pouring the mixed batch of formula into 8 oz glass bottles and storing in the fridge.  For a 4 oz bottle, I add 3 oz of formula and 1 oz hot water to warm it up a little.  My son drinks this formula very well! He hasn't has any issues with a hurting belly and is very happy.  It was an immediate difference in his personality after he had been drinking this "formula" and not the store bought formulas.

There are a lot of ingredients, but I keep all his formula ingredients in 1 area in the kitchen and fridge and fridge to make the process quick. I make 1 batch at a time and last a day and maybe 1 bottle the next, depending on how hungry he is!  There is definitely a variation in quality of ingredients, so unfortuneately, the more expensive the ingredients (i.e. flax seed oil), the better for your child.  But I'm sure (and I have used) the cheaper versions will give similar benefits.  You need to find blackstrap molasses rather than traditional molasses.  The iron and calcium levels are much higher.  I found this is a nutrition store.

Raspberry Banana Bread

I was trying to come up with something a little different for a fall bread.  I've been making banana bread and zucchini bread the last couple weeks.  Then I got to thinking this morning that Raspberry banana bread sounded yummy.  So here is how I made it!

Ingredients

2 ripe bananas, mashed
1 c. frozen raspberries
1/2 c. applesauce
2 eggs
1/3 c. almond milk
3/4 c. sugar
1 1/2 c. wheat flour
1 1/4 c white flour
1 tsp baking soda

Step 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease loaf pan.

Step 2. Combine eggs, applesauce, milk, and mashed bananas.  Stir well

Step 3. Add flours, sugar, and baking soda until moistened.  Fold in raspberries

Step 4. Pour batter into loaf pan and bake for 55-60 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean

Serve and ENJOY!!!

The quest for milk

Cason, our youngest, is fast approaching 6 months old.  I was a very good mama and breastfed about 5 months (well, breast and bottle-fed him breastmilk).  I had already intended on stopping with the fresh milk at the end of August prior to my going back to work.  I started working for a different school district, which made that decision even easier due to the lack of space and challenges it would pose for me to be able to pump during the day. 

We had saved a freezer-full of breastmilk.  But it's amazing how quickly we seemed to be going through it now that the stock was not being replenished.  In order to extend the supply as long as we can, and in anticipation of the need to eventually resort to using formula, we began the quest to find a milk that Cason would like and his belly could tolerate.

First we tried Similac Advanced.  He seemed to like it, but we quickly noticed a change in his demeanor- extra crabby- and not sleeping as well. 

So then we tried the Similac Alimentum, the hypoallergenic formula.  He really didn't seem to like that one.  We had a difficult time getting him to eat more than a couple ounces at a time. 

I asked the doctor for suggestions at his 4 month check-up.  She said to try other brands.  But I protested that they don't offer a hypoallergenic formula.  Her reply was that "you don't need to go hyperallergenic, just try the stuff that is easier to digest."  Well, OK I thought, but this could get expensive.  Luckily she gave us samples of 2 Gerber versions- Soothe and Protect.  The ingredient list looked fairly similar to the Alimentum, so I opted to use that one.  He liked it!!  We used it for a couple weeks, but he began waking every hour or so (almost as bad as his older brother when he was little) and he seemed to be getting crabbier and crabbier during the day.  He also hadn't pooped in about a week.  If you know our kid, he regularly pooped 3-4 times a day and blew-out at least once or twice a week.  So I knew something was off (also I knew we experienced the same issue with our oldest).

So we stopped that formula and switched to only breastmilk for 2 days- low and behold he finally pooped (sorry for the poop sharing, but it's very important in the world of having babies) and had a much better nights sleep. After the 2 days, I decided we'd better go back to the Alimentum.  He seemed to eat it better this go around.  He definitely eats it better when it's warm rather than room temperature.  However, I'm still not sure his belly feels 100%, and he still isn't sleeping the best, but he isn't crabby during the day.

We know we need to be vigilant in finding him a formula that doesn't make him uncomfortable.  When his older brother was almost 1 we decided he probably has a milk intolerance, something I wish we would have figured out, or knew to consider when he was much younger- he may have been a much happier baby.  So here's to hoping the quest to finding a milk that works for him is quick and painless, because we are on a time crunch as the breastmilk supply quickly dwindles. 

Delicious Ice Cream Cake

Today we had Cael's birthday party!  He was so good with all the chaos of lots of people around, trying to finish building his swing-set, and getting things going for lunch and birthday cake!  Cael thought the ice cream cake was delicious- well so did I!  But you can't go wrong with ice cream!

My decorating of the cake didn't quite turn out as I had hoped. The gel icing was a little runny. I think if I were to do something like this again, I would partially freeze the icing in the frosting bags to help set it up a little! But it tasted good and that was all that mattered! Cael asked for more even after devouring his already huge slice. I would definitely do an ice cream cake like this again, though! Quick, easy, and yummy!

Ice Cream Birthday Cake

Today is my oldest son's 2nd birthday!  I can't believe how quickly the last 2 years have gone.  I am also just amazed at what he has learned to do and say!  My perception gets a little skewed working with the population of students I see throughout the school year, but I swear we have a genious on our hands!!!  OK, so probably not a genious, but he really is a smart kid! 

Those who have read previous entries know that we attempt to eat healthy, despite our busy lives.  So I have to admit, we have been slacking quite a bit lately!  It's either take the time to cook, or take the time to play with the boys.  We usually take the time to play with the boys, although many times they don't give us much choice!!  Over the summer I discovered some yummy non-dairy ice cream options in the store!  Well, now Cael is hooked on ice cream.  He pretty much wakes up asking for it, and literally goes to bed asking for it!  We usually have ice cream once a day!  So, we figured for his birthday, since he isn't too keen on cake, we would have an ice cream cake.  We discussed buying one from DQ or Baskin Robbins. Cael has had a sensitivity to dairy.  During the summer I have experimented giving him small amounts of cheese and regular ice cream.  He doesn't seem to have too many issues.  However, the other night in an attempt to reward him for being so good, we went to get ice cream from a local burger  place.  He devoured it- I mean slurped his cup until every last drop was gone!  Do you think he liked it?? I'd say; however his little belly did not.  I was up and down with him all night. 

So, because I figured it will be his birthday, he will probably "need" a little extra ice cream.  I decided to throw together my own ice cream cake! I would have loved to actually make my own ice cream, but I have no time to experiment with that.  So I bought 2 flavors of non-dairy ice cream- vanilla and peanut butter/chocolate!  I opted to use the same monkey cake pan I used for his first birthday.  Here is my quick preparation of a non-dairy ice cream cake:

Supplies:
3 pints non-dairy ice cream (any preferred flavors)
1 cake pan
wax paper

To make

Step 1: Choose your first/top layer of ice cream.  Set it out to thaw for at least 30 minutes.

Step 2: Line the cake pan with wax paper.  When the ice cream has thawed, spread evenly into the bottom of the pan.  Place in the feezer for 1 hour to let it set.

Step 3: Repeat the previous steps until all 3 pints of ice cream have been set.

Step 4: After all three layers of ice cream have set, turn it upright on a platter.  Place in freezer with wax paper in place until ready to decorate!

Step 5: Decorate as desired.  I will be decorating mine in the morning.  I prepared a gel icing to use with the following recipe:
      Ingredients:        
          1 envelope unflavored gelatin
          1 tablespoon cold water
          1 cup light corn syrup
          Food coloring

      Directions:
          In saucepan, sprinkle gelatin over cold water and let sit for about 5 minutes. Stirring, heat mixture over low heat until clear and dissolved- do not boil.  Add corn syrup and heat without boiling. The mixture with become a thick water consistency.  Remove from heat, separate into small containers to prepare for multiple colors, and refrigerate. Add food coloring and put gel into icing bag and apply to cake.

Serve and ENJOY!!

 We will not be completing this until tomorrow for Cael's birthday party!  I will post pictures of the completed cake after I finish decorating it!  Can't wait to dig in!

Getting the Oldest to Sleep... Final!

It has been a long process helping Cael fall and stay asleep since moving to his "big bed."  We had tried a weighted blanket, but he didn't like it on when awake, so I would sneak into his room before I went to bed to drape it over him.  We hadn't noticed any significant difference in his sleep patterns.  I have since been using the weighted blanket with Cason.  Not sure it really helps him either, but sometimes if he has been warm and snuggly against us, I will put the blanket over him to mimic that feeling.

We recently made a trip out to Wyoming (where I am from) to visit my mom and dad.  They don't have a bed to accommodate a toddler, so we brought his playpen/bed we have used for sleep when traveling.  He slept in this for close to 2 weeks.  This seems to have helped reset his sleep patterns.  Since he wasn't able to get out, I was able to just leave him in the room, in his bed to fall asleep.  He had no problems (except the occasional call to spread out his blanket over him again)!  He stayed asleep with the random scream to cover him up in the middle of the night (only happened twice I think) but then was right back to sleep. 

Since returning home, I have pretty much been able to repeat the scenario.  After our book and milk, I leave him in his bed.  He may read for a short time, then will call a few times to have his blanket spread out, and then seems to finally dose off.  We are at the opposite end of the house and not needing to hang out by his door or in the next room.  At night he might wake once, but will either fall back asleep, or I can go in and cover him up, and back out he goes.

Andy is now back in our room (YEAH), Cason has moved to his crib in his room (a little bittersweet), and Cael's sleep is improving! 

Hopefully I don't jinx it by posting this!!