Thanksgiving & The Special Diet

Okay, so this year, eating Thanksgiving dinner is going to be quite interesting. This weekend the in-laws are having their Thanksgiving dinner. They wanted to know what they could fix that I could eat as most casseroles and dessert recipes have dairy or eggs in them. I asked them what I could fix to bring. I was told to fix food I could eat. So I'm on the hunt this morning for dairy-free / egg-free recipes. While searching, I've come across some information that I wasn't aware of & just thought I would pass it along....(thanks to dairyfreeliving.com and godairyfree.org)

Lactose free does not mean dairy free.... Lactose is a sugar in the dairy. Most people with dairy allergies are allergic to the protein not the lactose.... Many people have asked me if I could substitute goats milk for cow's milk.... problem is that goats still have casein in their milk, which is the protein that causes most of the allergy problems

If a product sold on the market is marked "Pareve" or "Parve" that means it is dairy/meat free.

I have been asked if I could substitute margarine for butter. Well, margarine is not only high in trans fat & hydrogenated oils, many brands contain buttermilk, whey, and casein, which prompt the allergies. Margarine is okay to use as a butter substitute only if the package is marked "Parve" or "Pareve". The website (godairyfree.org) has some helpful information on baking and using butter substitutes.

For some time now I've been avoiding mashed potatoes because of the milk & butter in them. I started doing some research and found a recipe for mashed potatoes that called for soy milk. Why didn't I think of that??? I love mashed potatoes and I think I'll make enough for me using soy milk.

Also, guess what?? I found a recipe for dairy free pumpkin pie! YUM!! I'm excited... now for the whipped cream... Any suggestions??? LOL Well, fret not... I have found a recipe. What in the world did we do before the Internet???? I know, I know.... Library.... I can't imagine how much time I would have to spend in the library trying to find recipes for this diet. ha ha ha

Pod Goes For A Drive - Low Rider Style

I really don't need to say too much about this....LOL He's so funny! Anyway, tomorrow is his 2 month birthday. Last night we started talking about his 1 year birthday party. I asked him what kind of cake he wanted Mommy to make him. He wouldn't answer me.... So, I'll have to wait a little while longer to figure out who he likes. We know he likes Veggie Tales and Elmo.

Pod has started to actually smile now. He's not smiling just because he has gas. So his whole face is involved in the smile. He's just a cute boy. He's pretty much healed from his surgery he had a week ago.

Other things he's doing are holding his head up, getting up on his knees when he's on his belly, holding his head up (for a few seconds) while on his belly, making different intentional noises that doesn't involve crying, and smiles and talks to himself in the mirror on his swing. He's noticed his own voice.

Tomorrow I go for my final doctor appointment (follow-up check-up) and Friday Pod goes for his 2 month check up. Poor little guy will have his first set of immunization shots this doctor visit. He's not going to be too happy with me for taking him there.

Everyone in our household is doing great. There's really not anything else new going on. Talk to you all soon. Enjoy the video! It's a hoot!