Almond Crackers with Seeds and Dairy Free Spinach Dip

Almond Crackers with Seeds and Dairy Free Spinach Dip

My other blog post here.

I would make the following changes to the recipes:

For the crackers, omit the pecans and use more sunflower seeds or almond meal.

For the dip, use home made mayonnaise and pear juice instead of the vinegar listed.

Enjoy!

Raw Coconut Pecan Balls

The full recipe is here in my other blog.  Enjoy!

Dilly Ranch Dressing for low acid diets

Dilly Ranch Salad Dressing

As I've mentioned in other articles, condiments, especially salad dressings are a huge challenge on the IC (interstitial cystitis) diet.  They are also difficult if one is dairy and soy free.  This is a delicious, creamy dressing.   

Dilly Ranch Salad Dressing
Makes about a cup

In a blender container on low speed combine:

1 egg
1 tablespoon pear juice (in the baby food section at most grocery stores)
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon Adobo seasoning
1 1/2 teaspoons dill weed
1/2 teaspoon celery seed


Add slowly, in a small stream while the blender is running:

3/4 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons water (omit if a thicker dressing or dip is desired)

Use as a dressing for salads or as a dip for meat or veggies.  Enjoy!

Creamy Roasted Garlic Salad Dressing, non-dairy

Pictured is my recipe for IC taco salad

Creamy Roasted Garlic Salad Dressing, non-dairy

One of the big issues for me when I went on the IC diet was salad dressing -- specifically, the lack thereof!  When I read the various sites, they all just suggested putting olive oil on salad with some salt.  You've got to be kidding me!  This is one of the salad dressing recipes I've come up with.  It's a far cry from plain olive oil!



Roasted Garlic Recipe

To roast garlic, cut the top from a head, (not clove), of garlic.  Place the garlic onto a piece of foil about 8" square.  Drizzle about a tablespoon of olive oil over the cut ends of the garlic.  Bring the sides of the foil up around the bulb and twist the top together to form a seal.  

This is a very flexible recipe.  It can be baked as low as 250F for up to 2 1/2 hours or up to 350F for about an hour.  I will often put one into the oven when I'm baking something else.

Creamy Roasted Garlic Salad Dressing

Place in a blender container and blend until combined:

1 egg
1 tablespoon pear juice (found in the infant section of most grocers)
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard powder
1 teaspoon Adobo seasoning without pepper (found in the ethnic section of better grocers) or use 1/2 teaspoon sea salt and 1/2 teaspoon garlic granules
2 to 4 cloves of Roasted Garlic (see above)Pour through the top of the blender in a small stream while blending:

3/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons water

Store covered in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.  Serve as a salad dressing, or omit the water and use as a dip.

Enjoy!

Creamy Ranch Salad Dressing, non-dairy

Pictured is my recipe for IC taco salad

This Creamy Ranch Salad Dressing recipe is very different from the normal ranch dressing recipes.  It is non-dairy and low acid, so it shouldn't bother folks with IC.  Additionally, the seasonings are all soothing to the bladder.  I've taken this Creamy Ranch Salad Dressing with me to potlucks and had people on "regular" diets ask me for the recipe.



Creamy Ranch Salad Dressing

Place in a blender container and blend until combined:

1 egg
1 tablespoon pear juice (found in the infant section of most grocers)
1 tablespoon parsley flakes
1/4 teaspoon thyme flakes
1/4 teaspoon celery seed
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard powder
1 teaspoon Adobo seasoning without pepper (found in the ethnic section of better grocers) or use 1/2 teaspoon sea salt and 1/2 teaspoon garlic granules

Pour through the top of the blender in a small stream while blending:

3/4 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons water

Store covered in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.  Serve as a salad dressing, or omit the water and use as a dip.

Enjoy!

Homemade Almond Milk -- Dairy free yumminess!

Homemade Almond Milk

Homemade Almond Milk

I think I've tried just about all of the commercial milk alternatives -- goat milk, coconut milk, even commercial almond milk.  I react to all of them. However, this I do not react to, and it is really easy to make.  This recipe yields about a quart of dairy free Homemade Almond Milk.  It can be used in most recipes requiring milk, and is even yummy for drinking.

In a blender, combine

1 cup blanched slivered almonds
2 cups warm water

Blend the almonds and water on high speed for about 3 to 4 minutes, until the mixture is smooth.  

Add

2 cups warm water

Continue blending until combined.

At this point the Homemade Almond Milk can be used as-is for baking and recipes or it can be filtered and flavored.

To filter the almond milk, line a strainer with a paper towel, and place it over a bowl that is big enough to hold all of the strained almond milk.  Pour the almond milk through the paper towel lined strainer.  The almond milk will drain into the container below.  The remaining almond-meal can be dried out and used in baking.

To flavor the almond milk, add and blend or stir until combined:

1 packet Truvia-type sweetener (or 1 1/2 teaspoons of honey for SCD)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (I make my own)
1/2 teaspoon almond extract (omit for SCD)

I sometimes like to add the chocolate flavored stevia drops instead of the above flavorings for a refreshing drink.  It gives the flavor of chocolate without the negative effects on my IC.  (Not for SCD)