Allergic Living » peanut-free

Valentine’s Day: The Allergy-Friendly Candy List

Jenny Kales — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:16:34 +0000

Here’s some sweet news for all you last-minute Valentine’s Day shoppers: Supermarket and drugstore seasonal candy finds are becoming more and more allergy-friendly and gluten aware. We found several options right in the local aisles.

Updated for 2013 with files from Erin Stevenson, Website Coordinator

Available in the United States and Canada

• Double your love this Valentine’s Day by giving Divvies’ Two Hearts. These gourmet chocolate hearts can be enjoyed solo or shared with someone special. Contain soy. Available at Whole Foods locations in the U.S. and Canada. For more stores visit www.divvies.com.

• Allergy-friendly candy company Gimbal’s offers Cherry Lovers fruit chews, in charming heart shapes and made with real cherry juice. Free of the top 8 allergens, they are gluten-free and gelatin-free, plus contain no high-fructose corn syrup or trans fats. Available at grocers throughout the U.S. and in Canada at select Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart and London Drugs stores. Also buy online at www.gimbalscandy.com.

• Got fans of gummy candies on your list? All-natural, organic Fruity Hearts from Surf Sweets are available for a limited time in a seasonal heart shape. Enjoy mouth-watering cherry and watermelon flavors that are gluten-free, GMO-free and free of the Top 8 allergens.

• Class parties get a boost from Skittles Candy and Stickers, a candy kit with 25 Valentines (includes one for teacher!), along with small boxes of the original fruity candy. No peanuts, tree nuts, gluten, eggs or dairy – or gelatin.

• What would Valentine’s Day be without chocolate? Heart-shaped Valentine’s Dove Dark Chocolate Promises are dark, delicious – and nut-free. They’re gluten-free, too (but do contain milk and soy lecithin).

• Andes Crème de Menthe Mints are another great free-from chocolate option for your allergic sweetie. Wrapped in seasonal Valentine’s packaging, these luscious candy favorites are the perfect gift: no peanuts, tree nuts, eggs or gluten (but do contain milk and soy).

U.S. Only

• Kids (and kids at heart) will adore Smarties Love Hearts, the classic candy wafer with a Valentine’s twist. Free of gluten and the Top 8 allergens, each candy is imprinted with a heart design and a sweet saying. Have fun comparing love messages.

Canada Only

• In Canada, look for Canuck-style Smarties (from Nestlé Canada) in an attractive heart-shaped box with that eye-catching peanut-free logo. Also, no artificial flavors. Contains dairy, wheat and soy.

• Give kids twice the delight with a Kinder Surprise Egg. The certified peanut- and nut-free chocolate egg contains a small toy ready to assemble for an extra dash of fun & learning. No egg either, but contains dairy and soy lecithin.

Next: Online Goodie Shopping

Seared Lamb on Fritters with Red Currant Relish

Allergic Living — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 20:12:35 +0000

Serves: 10-12
Free of: Gluten and top allergens

Ingredients

1 boneless lamb loin (ask your butcher to tie)

3 medium Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and grated

1 small onion, peeled and grated

1 egg or egg replacer

Salt and pepper

1 tbsp (15 mL) olive oil

¼ cup vegetable oil

1 jar good quality relish or chutney (See Red Currant Relish in Winter 2012 edition of Allergic Living magazine)

Method

Rub lamb loin with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.

Heat a medium sauté pan over medium heat. Sear lamb for 4-6 minutes, turning often, until cooked medium rare. Remove lamb to plate to rest.

For the fritters: in a large bowl, combine the potatoes, onion, egg or replacer, salt and pepper.

Using the same pan (don’t want to lose the lamb flavor!), heat vegetable oil over medium heat.

Place 2 tbsp mounds of fritter mixture into pan. Flatten into disks, using the back of a spoon. Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side, until golden brown.

Place cooked fritters on paper towel. Gently pat off excess oil. Make rest of the fritters.

Remove string from lamb loin. With a sharp knife, slice lamb into ¼-inch thick slices.

Place two slices onto each fritter, and top with a dollop of your favorite relish or chutney.

Reprinted from the Winter 2012 edition of Allergic Living magazine.

Halloween List: Allergy-Friendly Candies and Bars

Allergic Living — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 16:04:54 +0000

Great Goblins! Head down to the nearest Halloween candy aisle or online candy retailer and you’ll see any increasing number of allergy-friendly or gluten-free treats. We’ve added some new favorites to our growing list this year. Trick or treat, everyone! – Allergic Living Staff

New Raves

Organic Lollipops from YummyEarth are free of gluten, dairy, soy, peanuts and tree nuts; the unique flavors like Hot Chili and Soup Apple appeal to goblins of all ages. Visit YummyEarth (U.S.) or Yummy Earth (Canada).

Spooky Spiders from Surf Sweets are 90% organic with no artificial colors or sweeteners and will have the monsters howling. No top allergens. Check out their website for great allergy friendly Halloween recipe ideas. Mummy Gummys, anyone?

The Spider Web from Ange Gardien. Get back at scary Mrs. Spider by taking a nice big bite of chocolatey goodness. No nuts, peanuts, dairy or egg.

Happy Halloween Lollies (right) from Amanda’s Own Confections are so good it’s scary! The chocolate lollipops are dairy-, tree nut-, peanut-, egg- and gluten-free.

Vermont Nut Free has beautiful peanut- and nut-free chocolates to ease sweet cravings this Halloween. Three-inch by three-inch Crispy Jack O’Lanterns would be a perfect way to show that the Great Pumpkin has visited. Individual Witch (and Ghost and Scarecrow) Shapes are a considerable 1.2 oz. and always popular.

Not everyone has a sweet tooth. Just say “No” to the candy hangover and give out fun, no-eat treats!

Hasbro’s individual Play-Doh Pots in Halloween colors (photo, right) are sure to amuse. Do contain wheat. Find in U.S.: Walmart, Target, Toys “R” Us, Amazon.com.

Non-food ideas at Costco: Disney-themed Playing Cards or 50 Puzzle Erasers. Note: contains very small parts; not suitable for young children. Package the erasers in Halloween themed bags.

See our new 2012 list for more of our favorite treats.

Remember to check the label, as a brand’s ingredients can change. Small portion treats may have different ingredients than the regular versions.

Carrots with Maple Thyme Glaze

Allergic Living — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 21:08:25 +0000

Serves 4-6
Free of: All top allergens and gluten-free.

Ingredients

2 bunches small carrots, peeled, trimmed (keep small tops)

2 tbsp (30 mL) maple syrup

1 tbsp (15 mL) fresh thyme, chopped

Salt to taste

Method

Heat salted water in a medium sauce pan. Cook carrots until just tender.

Drain well, place in bowl and toss with maple syrup, thyme and salt.

Serve immediately.

Recipe by Simon Clarke

First published in Allergic Living magazine.
To order an issue or to subscribe, click here.

© Copyright AGW Publishing Inc.

Braised Red Cabbage

Allergic Living — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 21:07:19 +0000

Free of: All top allergens except sulphites (red wine vinegar) and gluten-free.

Ingredients

1 red cabbage, quartered, cored and thinly sliced

4 slices bacon, diced

2 green apples, peeled, cored and diced

6 tbsp (90 mL) onion, finely chopped

6 tbsp (90 mL) red wine vinegar (Substitution: rice vinegar)

4 tbsp (60 mL) honey

1 tsp (5 mL) caraway seeds (Optional)

Method

In a large skillet or dutch oven, sautée bacon over medium-high heat.

Add onion and cook for 2 to 4 minutes.

Stir in cabbage and all other ingredients.

Cover pan and reduce heat to medium. Cook for one hour, or until cabbage is soft.

Serve at once.

Recipe by Simon Clarke

First published in Allergic Living magazine.
To order an issue or to subscribe, click here.

© Copyright AGW Publishing Inc.