Love is in the air 🙂
In classrooms all over the world, little kids will be exchanging Valentines and the goody bags will be replete with foods possibly containing nuts, dairy, eggs and other allergens. The very thought sends me into shock 😦 So, love this article by FAAN to keep our kids safe at the Valentine’s Day classroom party. Thankfully, my son is in a school district which has strictly forbidden chocolates et al in the goody bags but I will still be volunteering for their party to ensure my little one is safe in the humungous public school system. If circumstances permit – I would strongly suggest caretakers of food-allergic young children try to do the same.
With that, the countdown to a beautiful allergy friendly Valentine’s day begins…
The smell of freshly baked allergy-friendly Cherrybrook Chocolate Chip cookies wafts in from the kitchen as my little one and I put together food-free valentines for his friends – the pink flower stickers for the pretty little girls and the football stickers for the handsome little boys…perfect 🙂
Looking forward to a day of allergy-friendly culinary decadence. (Some of the recipes have already been posted and some will be posted in the next few days)
Recently, I was on vacation in the San Fransisco bay area and my dear friend Saurabh who hosted me started my mornings on more than one occasion with a glass of refreshing basic mimosa. And, that’s exactly how I would love to start this day of love – champagne and orange juice…thanks Saurabh, for spoiling me the allergy-friendly way 🙂
Accompanied with allergy-friendly lightly sweetened crepes stuffed with mildly sweetened freshly grated coconut with just a hint of cinnamon, fresh organic strawberries and blueberries served with a dusting of powdered sugar…
A leisurely lunch of chicken and asparagus brown rice pasta tossed in allergy friendly cilantro and pumpkin seed pesto made from scratch with extra virgin olive oil. This is one of those times when I wish my readers could smell the dish – just bursting with the fresh flavors of cilantro and roasted pumpkin seeds – a perfect late winter pasta dish!
Off to help out with my 6 year old’s school Valentine day party laden with allergy-friendly chocolate-chip cookies, organic strawberries hand-dipped in dairy-free chocolate and allergy-friendly artisan pretzels dipped in rich dairy-free dark chocolate. That sure is a lot of chocolate but isint that at least a little bit of what Valentine’s Day is all about 🙂
Oh – to be surrounded by the love and laughter of young children…the best gift life could give me on Valentine’s day 🙂
Finally, winding down the hectic but cold day with a bowl of warm ‘Allergy Friendly Chicken Soup – my way‘ accompanied by slices of allergy-friendly bread, battered with mung bean flour spiced with paprika and gluten-free asafoetida and deep-fried to a beautiful golden brown.
To end the day, I would love to settle down with a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon cheering to a ‘life of purpose’ – strengthened by the love of family, friends, children, life and above all oneself!
Happy Valentine’s Day 🙂
Allergy Foodie 
Love it all! Especially the pasta dish…cilantro is one of my favourites! Hope that recipe will be revealed! Hint…hint! Chocolate dipped strawberries and artisanal pretzels (never heard of them) so decadent! Hubbie is taking me out for dinner for a change and I am making the boys allergen friendly heart blueberry pancakes and bacon for dinner. Breakfast for dinner can be so fun! Happy Valentine’s Day!
Belated Happy Valentine’s, Susan. I was away for my niece’s wedding. Funnn…
I just posted the pesto recipe – hope you like it 🙂 The pretzels – I use a special instrument to get different, arty shapes. Will write about it soon.
I need that pasta dish recipe, too! I found your crepes recipe and copied it. I’ve never made allergy-friendly crepes before but I’m going to try because your picture looks SO good, and I can just imagine having that with a mimosa on a special morning! Those pretzels are wild! Did you buy them or make them?
I finally passed on the Liebster Award! http://laughingburnsmorecaloriesthancrying.blogspot.com/2012/02/liebster-award.html
Thanks again, Anu!
Hi Denise – was away for a family wedding so the long hiatus 🙂 Just posted the pesto recipe that I used to make the pasta dish.
The pretzels are homemade using a special kitchen instrument – will write about it real soooon…
Hope the crepes came out good!
Cheers,
Anu