Thursday, September 25, 2008
Classic Fun Center is FUN!!!
Well, if you read my post on Chuck E Cheese you're probably wondering where we ended up for dinner. Well we went to Classic Fun Center. It's an indoor bounce house extravaganza with party rooms, arcade/game/skeeball, and a roller rink you can bring scooters to. It also has a snack bar which I have always avoided! However, shame on me for not taking the time before to ask if they would make our special pizza. We love to go there in the summer. I was so judgmental I figured there was no way that teenagers would be understanding or even get what I was asking. I was so WRONG!!! The staff there was incredible. In fact, Paysons' GF pizza had started to thaw by the time we got there and some of the cheese and toppings had started to slide off and so the young kid asked me if it would contaminate his pizza if he added sauce, cheese, and toppings to it to make it look like a pizza again. They also drew a diagram on a piece of paper showing how much to leave cheese free add topping. As she wrote it. I thought that is going the extra mile!!! When they brought the pizzas to the table Paysons' was on his very own plate all cut and ready to go. We had one of the funnest nights as a family. So if you live in the Davis County area and are ever looking for some fun I highly suggest Classic Fun Center!! We might even do a birthday party there.
Chuck E Cheese Please!!
On Monday night after recovering from a week of Strep throat at our house we decided to go check out the new Chuck E. Cheese in Layton. Of course I tried to call the number that was on the side of the building that you can see from the freeway and that was a universal number to direct you to another number for that location. I finally got a manager and surprise she was great!!! I'll admit I had very low expectations that a huge franchise like that would care about a food allergy family. We went over a couple of contamination concerns and she even told me if I was still concerned I could bring my own foil. Which was not an insult I assure you. So if you want to go there bring you're own GF pizza or pizza crust and call ahead! She said it really is helpful to them to know when families with special needs are coming so they can brief the staff or inform the next shifts manager. We told her about when to expect us. She even agreed to keep a couple of pieces of the pizza free of cheese and still put toppings on it. That would be for my dairy free child. We expected a great night of family fun until we got there and realized every other family in Davis County had the same idea. So we will try again in a couple of weeks but I feel good knowing Chuck E. Cheese is a place where my kids can kids even if their pizza is different.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
make your own lunchables!
How to make your own Lunchable
First of all you have to have the right containers. When I was at Walmart I found these little round containers with lids that come with. They're a little bigger than a nut cup so about the size of a fruit cup. We love the Glutino crackers that look like Ritz. They're just a plain cracker flavor that makes them perfect for making Lunchables.
1. place 4 crackers in 1 container.
2. Take a piece of lunch meat and cut it into small rectangles. 1 piece of meat can make 4 pieces. I like to use 2 pieces of meat so he can double it up. Put into another container.
3. Do the same thing with cheese. Place in it's own container.
I know you could just put them in sandwich bags but the containers just make it more lunchablish. They are also reusable so you're being much more cost effective.
First of all you have to have the right containers. When I was at Walmart I found these little round containers with lids that come with. They're a little bigger than a nut cup so about the size of a fruit cup. We love the Glutino crackers that look like Ritz. They're just a plain cracker flavor that makes them perfect for making Lunchables.
1. place 4 crackers in 1 container.
2. Take a piece of lunch meat and cut it into small rectangles. 1 piece of meat can make 4 pieces. I like to use 2 pieces of meat so he can double it up. Put into another container.
3. Do the same thing with cheese. Place in it's own container.
I know you could just put them in sandwich bags but the containers just make it more lunchablish. They are also reusable so you're being much more cost effective.
Wendy's GF kid's meal
I am on a roll!!!! We went to Wendy's today ( it was chiropractor, dance, tumble and Daddy's football practice night and we were tired of Mc Donald's ). I asked for the manager right away and told her our food allergy situation. I mentioned that across the street at You know who's they would provide me a substitution in the kid's meal to make it allergy friendly for us. I was shocked when she told me that Her daughter and herself had just been diagnosed in June. Does God work miracles or what!!!! She asked if there was anything we could substitute that kids would like. My kids love the baked potatoes and even the chili so it was easy!!! But, they have the choice between a mandarin orange cup or a yogurt and milk or soft drink and a frosty is included plus a toy. Talk about a value. Plus it was only 2.69!!!! So here's how we ordered them
Payson ( celiac )
Baked potato (Chili next time he said)
yogurt
frosty
Karson (dairy/egg allergy )
baked potato ( even though he can eat the burger he loves the potato )
mandarin oranges
he gave me the frosty in trade for a bedtime cookie treat
Of course they both wanted a soft drink.
Later when I was picking up Kaylyn from her tap class I drove thru for her food and she said it was so nice of them to do all of that for her brothers and how good it made her feel that we had another place to go to eat as a family. She wanted her kid's meal the same way.
I hope you can talk to your managers to see what they will do. I will try to find out how we can get this to maybe become a policy at some of these big chains.
Happy Eating!!
Payson ( celiac )
Baked potato (Chili next time he said)
yogurt
frosty
Karson (dairy/egg allergy )
baked potato ( even though he can eat the burger he loves the potato )
mandarin oranges
he gave me the frosty in trade for a bedtime cookie treat
Of course they both wanted a soft drink.
Later when I was picking up Kaylyn from her tap class I drove thru for her food and she said it was so nice of them to do all of that for her brothers and how good it made her feel that we had another place to go to eat as a family. She wanted her kid's meal the same way.
I hope you can talk to your managers to see what they will do. I will try to find out how we can get this to maybe become a policy at some of these big chains.
Happy Eating!!
Happy meals make me happy!
Happy Meals Make Me HAPPY!!!!!!
Score one for the kids!! I do have to gloat for a minute, it did take a couple of phone calls and some explaining but a GF happy meal can be bought!!! Yes, you heard me right. You can request a parfait instead of a hamburger in the meal at NO EXTRA CHARGE~Although, I would gladly pay it if they asked. It all started with Payson asking an innocent question about why I always bought a Parfait and gave it to him and never bought a Happy Meal for him. " because they don't make gluten free Happy Meals." I said with some disappointment his response was a full blown meltdown (which he does not have very often when he's told he can't eat something). Looking back I wasn't being very considerate, I just figured he'd be excited just to eat out somewhere. Anyways, I started brainstorming. I knew their menu and what my limited options were but the answer was right there staring at me for months and I hadn't put the pieces together until just a few weeks ago. Of course I politely asked the girl at the counter to replace the hamburger with a parfait. I even offered to pay the extra or buy it separately as long as the parfait was placed in the happy meal box. That of course came back with a "let me ask my manager" The first couple of times the managers recognized me ( Yes, we eat there that often) and did it no problem then one day my mother in law goes in asks for the happy meal the same way I do and gets a "no, we don't do that" My mother in law throws a hissy calls the "Is there something we can do better" hot line and leaves my info! So long story short I talked to a wonderful store manager, district manager and at one point some Mc Donald's corp. people and they have assured me that ANYONE who asks for a gluten free Happy Meal made with a Fruit and yogurt parfait instead of the hamburger will receive it at no extra charge! So go girls demand your child have a gluten free Happy Meal! I explained to her that to a child it makes a difference whether your happy meal comes like everyone else. The look on Paysons' face the first time he opened up the box and saw EVERYTHING was SAFE was PRICELESS!!! You would have thought he was eating a happy meal for the first time. I suggest you make nice with the manager at your local McD's first and educate them on why and how to do it. They loved the fact that they were the only fast food restaurant in our area that had GF fries. They don't realize what an a blessing it is to be able to have a spot to drive thru between activities. So from the manager work you're way up to the big boys. Kissing but never hurts and they want you to be loyal which us food allergy mom's are. Let me know what you're MC D's tells you!
Score one for the kids!! I do have to gloat for a minute, it did take a couple of phone calls and some explaining but a GF happy meal can be bought!!! Yes, you heard me right. You can request a parfait instead of a hamburger in the meal at NO EXTRA CHARGE~Although, I would gladly pay it if they asked. It all started with Payson asking an innocent question about why I always bought a Parfait and gave it to him and never bought a Happy Meal for him. " because they don't make gluten free Happy Meals." I said with some disappointment his response was a full blown meltdown (which he does not have very often when he's told he can't eat something). Looking back I wasn't being very considerate, I just figured he'd be excited just to eat out somewhere. Anyways, I started brainstorming. I knew their menu and what my limited options were but the answer was right there staring at me for months and I hadn't put the pieces together until just a few weeks ago. Of course I politely asked the girl at the counter to replace the hamburger with a parfait. I even offered to pay the extra or buy it separately as long as the parfait was placed in the happy meal box. That of course came back with a "let me ask my manager" The first couple of times the managers recognized me ( Yes, we eat there that often) and did it no problem then one day my mother in law goes in asks for the happy meal the same way I do and gets a "no, we don't do that" My mother in law throws a hissy calls the "Is there something we can do better" hot line and leaves my info! So long story short I talked to a wonderful store manager, district manager and at one point some Mc Donald's corp. people and they have assured me that ANYONE who asks for a gluten free Happy Meal made with a Fruit and yogurt parfait instead of the hamburger will receive it at no extra charge! So go girls demand your child have a gluten free Happy Meal! I explained to her that to a child it makes a difference whether your happy meal comes like everyone else. The look on Paysons' face the first time he opened up the box and saw EVERYTHING was SAFE was PRICELESS!!! You would have thought he was eating a happy meal for the first time. I suggest you make nice with the manager at your local McD's first and educate them on why and how to do it. They loved the fact that they were the only fast food restaurant in our area that had GF fries. They don't realize what an a blessing it is to be able to have a spot to drive thru between activities. So from the manager work you're way up to the big boys. Kissing but never hurts and they want you to be loyal which us food allergy mom's are. Let me know what you're MC D's tells you!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Bread Experiment
This week I will be testing bread!!!! My son attends a charter school and they do a gf lunch for him. Since Payson only likes homemade bread I offered to make the bread and provide it to them if they bought the mix. I've been using a recipe mix which he really enjoys however, I'm always open to finding alternatives. I've never used a mix or a bread machine so this week will be interesting!!
Last night I made Bob's Red Mill Mix. In my random poll of people at the Health Food Store this seemed to be a common tried and liked or had heard of someone who used it. The bread turned out well in the bread machine however after I had the mix etc.. in the machine I read on the machine direction manual that you should make a small indentation in the dry mix to place the yeast so that it does not touch the wet ingredients which can make the bread not rise as much.
Next time I'll read all the directions first. I think it still turned out OK. i DID NOT like the fact I had to use about 8 eggs to get the needed amount of egg whites. Holy cow!!! Now I have to make sure that my youngest doesn't get a hold of it. If he ate a piece of it he'd be sick for days.
I also found it hard to make sure all my stuff was at room temp. So I got it all out and measured and left it on the counter for a couple of hours and then got sidetracked so then I started worrying that bacteria was growing. I don't know I'm a little to OCD for leaving my milk and eggs on the counter to warm up. Today I will try it again egg free version style and we'll see!!!
At least he has bread for school. They keep it in their freezer and use it on sub sandwich day so it last about a month depending on what else they use it for that month.
The bread machine is convenient though
Last night I made Bob's Red Mill Mix. In my random poll of people at the Health Food Store this seemed to be a common tried and liked or had heard of someone who used it. The bread turned out well in the bread machine however after I had the mix etc.. in the machine I read on the machine direction manual that you should make a small indentation in the dry mix to place the yeast so that it does not touch the wet ingredients which can make the bread not rise as much.
Next time I'll read all the directions first. I think it still turned out OK. i DID NOT like the fact I had to use about 8 eggs to get the needed amount of egg whites. Holy cow!!! Now I have to make sure that my youngest doesn't get a hold of it. If he ate a piece of it he'd be sick for days.
I also found it hard to make sure all my stuff was at room temp. So I got it all out and measured and left it on the counter for a couple of hours and then got sidetracked so then I started worrying that bacteria was growing. I don't know I'm a little to OCD for leaving my milk and eggs on the counter to warm up. Today I will try it again egg free version style and we'll see!!!
At least he has bread for school. They keep it in their freezer and use it on sub sandwich day so it last about a month depending on what else they use it for that month.
The bread machine is convenient though
Friday, September 12, 2008
My favorite cookbooks (so far)
I am a 3rd generation cookbook collector. SO now most of my collection is just for display. But, I have found some new cookbooks that I will actually use not just look at. Here are my most loved:
1. The Kid Friendly Food Allergy Cookbook- I found this one by accident at a place called Bukos it's a discount store in Ogden and Farmington for you Utahns. But, try Amazon. It has more than 150 recipes that are Wheat free, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Nut Free, Egg Free, and Low in sugar. I love, love it
2. The Incredible Edible Gluten Free Cookbook for kids- Almost as used as the other but with it you have to assume that you need to adapt the recipe for other allergies but it gave me great help with information about having a gluten free kitchen and other helpful resources.
3. The Gluten Free Cookbook For Dummies- Yes, the good old dummies books. My sweet Grandma got it for me. Has alot of good family recipes and conversion how to.
1. The Kid Friendly Food Allergy Cookbook- I found this one by accident at a place called Bukos it's a discount store in Ogden and Farmington for you Utahns. But, try Amazon. It has more than 150 recipes that are Wheat free, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Nut Free, Egg Free, and Low in sugar. I love, love it
2. The Incredible Edible Gluten Free Cookbook for kids- Almost as used as the other but with it you have to assume that you need to adapt the recipe for other allergies but it gave me great help with information about having a gluten free kitchen and other helpful resources.
3. The Gluten Free Cookbook For Dummies- Yes, the good old dummies books. My sweet Grandma got it for me. Has alot of good family recipes and conversion how to.
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