delish beans and rice recipe!

i had not planned on including this recipe, but, i made it the other night and reminded myself how tasty it is!  this recipe appeals to everyone from allergy-inflicted to omnivore to vegan.

ingredients:
4 cans of beans (make sure you have at least one can each of red and black beans)
1 can of tomatoes (i use diced or stewed, though i chop if stewed)
1/4 cup olive oil
3/4 cup chopped celery
3/4 cup chopped bell pepper (i mix up the color, usually whatever i have on hand)
3/4 cup chopped onion
5 cloves minced garlic
2 T. (yes, tablespoons) basil
3 bay leaves
s&p to your liking
cayenne pepper aka red pepper (you can use hot sauce if you don't have this on hand)
cooked rice

method:
saute' celery, onion, bell pepper, and garlic in the olive oil and liberally salt and pepper the veggies; i just do this in a large stock pot or dutch oven to conserve dirty dishes for the clean up crew.  once the onions soften and become transparent add the basil, bay leaves, and cayenne pepper saute' a few minutes (a little goes a long way, so better to add more later if it is too tame).  then add the tomatoes and beans.  that's it.  you can let it simmer until thick or enjoy immediately (i personally like it to thicken so it isn't too soupy).  serve over rice and enjoy!
serves:  6-8

party, party, party!!

the menu for the garden party included:  peanut butter and jam 'snails', 'worms in the dirt', 'bug juice', 'ants on a log', cupcakes, and fruit.

snails 
for about 10 servings you will need:
crepes (i used the namaste waffle/pancake mix and followed the crepe directions)
smooth peanut butter
your choice of jam

1. make the crepes, separate them with a piece of wax paper between each and refrigerate.  (half of the mix should make about 4 ten-inch crepes).
2.  warm 1/2 cup peanut butter for about 20 seconds in the microwave then mix with the jam.
3. spread pb&j mix on the chilled crepes
4. re-refrigerate!!
5. slice in 2-inch slices and serve

worms in the dirt
makes about 4 cups of 'dirt'.  you will need:  
Simplebites Extreme Chocolate Mini Cookies,  dr. oetker chocolate pudding (or another gluten-free pudding mix), and 2 packs of gummy worms.  
1. make the pudding according to instructions using almond milk instead of dairy (or perhaps rice, though i have only tired almond) then refrigerate.
2.  crunch up all the cookies; a rolling pin works like a dream for this task.
3.  mix pudding and crunched up cookies, stir in the worms .  i served in a painted garden pot lined with plastic wrap and aluminum foil.  






bug juice
simple enough: lemonade and frozen raspberries (both organic from publix)


ants on a log
you will need:  celery, creamy peanut butter, and either raisins or another dried smallish fruit (or a combo of what you like).
1. spread peanut butter on the celery
2. line up your ants
3. cut
yep, simple but really cute.

cupcakes
i made mine from a mix out of necessity (remember, i just found out about the allergies).  i cannot, in good conscience, recommend a mix at this time.  


bug juice design adapted from these fabulous websites (via pinterest):  http://party.tipjunkie.com and http://www.hostessblog.com

so lucy has allergies, now what?

as it turns out my little toddler is allergic (or intolerant to) gluten, casein, and soy; so much for the allergy diet! her dad and i found out right before two major(ish) life events: lucy's second birthday and a cross-country move.  talk about good timing. so we enacted an action plan once reason shoved panic back to the abyss.

party planning this garden party for lucy's birthday bordered on obsession following the discovery of {gasp!} pinterest!  so very many fantastic ideas.  anyway.....when this mama tried to figure out what to serve at the function, i found little inspiration for the allergy friendly food i needed!  hence, the blog.  this is for all you parents, friends, relatives, coworkers etc. who are looking for some food ideas that will often stand in for their not-so-allergy-friendly counterparts.  please let me know your thoughts, ideas, any recipes you may like to share via comments to this blog.