Soft & Chewy Chocolate Raspberry Cookies

Are you ever in the mood for a chocolate cookie that is dense, soft, and chewy all at the same time? Here's one that I would say is almost brownie-like in consistency. Not the gooey kind, but the slightly raised dense cakey variety. The added touch of raspberry flavor also works well with the chocolate. It's a recipe from the book Veganomicon, which as the title suggests, makes these dairy-free, egg-free, and, in this case, nut-free. I agree with the authors who say that these would work great as ice cream sandwich cookies. After I bit into one, I did think that a scoop of vanilla ice cream paired with it would have hit the spot.

These are also simple enough to make with kids. I made these with my children and they enjoyed pressing (or rather in their case, smashing) the dough balls into flat cookie shapes. I think you could also roll the dough out and use cookie cutters.

RECIPE for Chewy Chocolate Raspberry Cookies by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero

Late July Organic Sandwich Cookies

I've been meaning to create a running list of packaged cookies and snacks that are good as well as dairy-free, nut-free, and egg-free. Unfortunately, I just haven't had the time to sit down and do it. However, I thought I'd make a note of one cookie that would definitely be included on this list. It's Late July's Organic Vanilla Bean with Green Tea Sandwich Cookies. Much healthier in comparison to an Oreo cookie with no hydrogenated oils, no transfats, no high fructose corn syrup, no artificial anything, the list goes on. I've tried a number of allergy-friendly Oreo-like cookies including Whole Foods 365 Sandwich Cookies and Trader Joe's Joe Joe's cookies, but I have to say that this one is my favorite so far. I like the vanilla flavor and the consistency of the cookie (not too light and brittle). I can't say that I really taste the green tea part, but I imagine it must be enhancing the flavor in some mysterious way. This is a cookie everybody can enjoy. You can use it at kids parties, mash it into some dairy-free ice cream, or just have it around for general snacking.

(Note: The allergy information on the box reads "Made in a plant that also processes milk, eggs, peanuts and tree nuts.")

No-Cheese Macaroni Bake

I stumbled across this recipe one day while surfing the internet. It's one of the first dairy-free casseroles that I've been able to find that does not from the outset try to clone its cheesy counterpart. While admittedly it looks like macaroni and cheese and apparently has even fooled some kids into thinking so, it was created to be tasty on its own merits. It's healthy too, with pureed cauliflower being the main "creamy" component of this dish.

The recipe is by Lucy Waverman, a well-known Canadian culinary personality. I especially like the fact that her approach to cooking for food allergies is similar to mine. She says, "My recipes are made with natural ingredients and are not intended to imitate the more conventional recipes. They make superb eating on their own." This one is definitely good eating on its own and will appeal to both kids and adults alike.

I found this recipe at the Canadian Epipen site. You will need to register for free to get the recipe. There are other dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free recipes as well which you may want to try.

RECIPE for Creamy Macaroni Bake by Lucy Waverman

Grilled Peaches and Pork

I love peaches. Everything about a fresh, plump, ripe peach just beckons you to partake and enjoy. Now that we're well into summer, the peaches are plentiful at my local farmer's market. Each time I go, I pick up several to last me the week. However, I'm now finding that the little mouths to feed in the house have also developed a taste for fresh peaches and before I know it, my store of these luscious, sweet fruits are depleted. I guess that means this mom needs to haul more back from the market each week. They're good, but good grief, they sure can get heavy to lug around with all my other produce purchases!

Anyway, here is a great dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free recipe for those days you'll be doing some summertime grilling. The peaches here are paired with boneless pork chops and drizzled with a balsamic vinegar sauce. It's very yummy and gives you a different way to enjoy your peaches. You can also use nectarines instead of peaches if you prefer.

RECIPE for Grilled Peaches and Pork by Cooking Light

Fine Dining at Home - Osso Buco

So I was wandering around my neighborhood grocery store and came upon a "special today" for veal shanks. Now I don't usually buy veal, but this deal could not be ignored. There were only 3 packages sitting on the refrigerated shelf for only $3.99/lb! After careful inspection, I determined that the rock bottom price was not due to the meat being spoiled or anything bad like that so I snatched up two packages and resolved to finally try a recipe for osso buco, a dish I had, up until now, regarded only as "fine dining" fare. Well that notion could not have been farther from the truth. After making my way through the recipe, it seemed to me that osso buco is simply a glorified beef stew with very little difference in preparation technique.

For the recipe, I chose to go with Giada De Laurentiis' osso buco recipe based on the 5 star reviews. I was pretty happy with this dish. It wasn't difficult to make and the resulting tender morsels of veal were flavorful and satisfying. I think this makes a great dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free entree that would be excellent for guests or if you just want to treat yourself to something different from the usual routine.

RECIPE for Osso Buco by Giada De Laurentiis