We are on a 7 day rotational eating plan and once a week our grain of the day is Buckwheat.  I came up with the recipe using Buckwheat and Arrowroot starch and it was a BIG hit with the kids and daddy. They reminded me of the crepes I used to eat in Harijuku Japan that were filled with ice-cream, sauce and any other fixings you would like. Of course we  had to try them with dairy free hazelnut ice cream that night and YUM! Success. 

Here a link to a printable FOOD FAMILY LIST

You can view more info on how this blogger uses this list HERE

I have been having many of the same symptoms to gluten free grains as to gluten containing foods. This may be the reason Gluten Cross Reaction.  Here is an article on this subject  
Here is a link to a more extensive explanation of Gluten Cross Reaction
Food Cross Reaction in Detail

Well unfortunately with my pregnancy my food intolerances have become even greater. So, I am on an all out hunt to further investigate links and triggers to my many food issues. Here is an interesting article on Treatment for Food Allergies

Today I had a couple of pounds of frozen spinach I needed to use up as well, as some purple cabbage from my garden.

Not really having a game plan I started to saute the Cabbage in Grape-seed oil with salt & pepper.  A few minutes later I added the squeezed out thawed Spinach.  I added some more kosher salt and took a taste, too bland so I added a good amount of Balsalmic Vinegar**, Cumin and some Braggs Liquid Amino Acids. It started tasting savory, but was lacking something. I started to look at the Spinach and started remembering the taste of yummy creamed spinach, but since dairy was out of the question I had to improvise.

I decided to make a simple Hummus using

• 1 canned Garbanzo Beans
• 1 clove of garlic
• Grape-Seed oil to make a nice pasty consistency (I normally use Sesame oil, but I was out)
• 1 TB of Tahini (You could substitute with Sesame Oil if you don't have Tahini)
• Red Wine Vinegar to give a nice tang, this also acts as a preservative if storing in fridge. **
• salt/pepper

Next, I stirred the Hummus into the Spinach Mixture just until heated and what it produced was a very creamy like texture in the Spinach very similar to Creamed Spinach, only much more flavorful.

I served this over Mung Bean Noodles that were seasoned.  My kids LOVED it and my 23 month old finicky veggie eater, asked for seconds before I even ate 1/3 of my meal!  All the kids were disappointed that I didn't make enough for seconds, but it was just a light lunch and I had more food cooking on the stove, so they weren't going to starve. I was just happy that the enjoyed my version of VEGAN CREAMED SPINACH :)

**Note: Everywhere vinegar was used, you may substitute lemon juice very successfully.

Health Tip: It's sicky season and chances are you have a sick child in your midst or an adult. I have a great soothing drink for a cough, bronchitis or virus. 

In a pot bring to boil, Silk Coconut Milk (45% daily allowance for calcium) + the rich milk solids in a can of coconut milk, 

 add in cardamon about 1/4-1/2 tsp depending how much milk you add, 

add a dash of nutmeg and a few dashes of cinnamon.

Good amount of HONEY, RAW is best or less Agave.  Honey in its raw state has a lot of medicinal qualities.( But do NOT add sugar which surpresses the immune system)

 Simmer for a few minutes and let it cool down some and serve warm. 

Cardamon is excellent as anti-inflammatory for a sore throat, the coconut solids contain antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties, the cinnamon is a wonder spice too, but don't add too much. The nutmeg is more for flavor, but it has benefits also in Ayurvedic Medicine. When you have a cold or congestion cut out all dairy products, including caffeine and simple sugars which decrease your immune system. You can make this without the canned coconut, but using it does add extra health benefits and it makes this soothing drink taste just like a drinkable Custard Pie! Enjoy! The kids love it and so do I :)

You can also CLICK HERE to see a recipe that looks worth a try :)

Food allergies or intolerance often come when we eat things too often. The Rotation Diet is great as a preventative measure, but it also may relieve symptoms caused by food.
Here is a link on How to Use a Rotation Diet

This is a blog post on using the Rotation Diet HERE  
See clip below

"The basic premise behind a 4-day rotation diet is that it takes that long for food to pass through your system and so you want to avoid eating any one food more than once every four days, otherwise you will most likely sensitize to it. Foods are grouped into “food families” and you can eat from the same food family every other day. You can eat two foods from the same food family on a single day (within an hour) but you must not eat any other food from that family for another 4 days. If you can’t manage to do a 4-day rotation diet, you could try a 3-day rotation and once you acclimate to it, add in one more day of new foods. "

Great list for shopping. Shows which additives are Safe and UNSAFE

Here is a helpful link for Gluten Free Foods HERE

Enzymes are key to good digestion and can even increase vitality. Here is a link for you to read more CLICK

Ingredient list for Foods With CORN HERE

Click Here if you are concerned about dairy ingredients.

Botanical Food Family List

Apple Family (Rose Family) Apple, Apple Cider, Apple Vinegar, Apple Pectin, Quince, Pear (The apple family is part of the bigger rose family) 
Arrowroot: Arrowroot
Arum Family: Dasheen, Poi, Taro
Banana: Banana, Plantain
Birch: Filbert, Hazelnut
Brazil Nut: Brazil Nut
Buckwheat: Buckwheat, Garden Sorrel, Rhubarb
Cactus: Cactus, Prickly Pear, Tequila
Capers: Capers Cashew: Cashew, Mango, Pistachio
Cereals: Bamboo Shoots; Barley; Barley, Malt; Bran (wheat); Cane sugar; Cane Molasses; Chestnut, Water; Chestnut, Ling nut; Chestnut, Singhara nut; Corn ; Corn Meal ; Corn Starch ; Corn Oil ; Corn Sugar; Corn syrup; Corn dextrose; Corn glucose ; Corn cerelose; Farina (wheat); Graham flour (wheat) ; Gluten flour (wheat) ; Millet; Patent Flour (wheat); Oats; Rice; Rye; Sorghum; Wheat; Wheat flour; Wheat Germ; Wheat (whole) flour; Wild Rice.
Citrus: Angostura; Citrange; Citron; Grapefruit; Kumquat; Lemon; Lime; Orange; Tangerine
Cochliospermum Family: Karaya Gum, Guaiac Gum
Composite Family (Aster): Absinthe; Artichoke; Artichoke, Jerusalem; Calomel; Celtuse; Chicory; Dandelion; Endive; Escarole; Head Lettuce; Lettuce, Leaf ; Lettuce; Oyster Plant, Salsify; Sesame Seeds/ Oil; Sunflower/ Oil/ Seeds; Vermouth; Vermouth (Ragweed); Vermouth (Pyrethrum); Yarrow.
Crustaceans: Crab; Crayfish; Lobster; Prawns; Shrimp.
Cyperaceae Family (a Sedge): Chinese Waterchestnut
Curry Powder: not a single food but a blend of spices.
Ebony: Persimmon Flax - Linseed oil, flaxseed, flaxseed oil
Fresh Water Fish: Bass, Catfish, Croaker, Perch, Pike, Salmon, Smelt, Trout, Whitefish.
Fungus: Mushroom, Yeast/Antibiotics.
Ginger: Arrowroot, Cardamon, Ginger, Turmeric
Gooseberry: Currant, Gooseberry
Goosefoot (Beet): Beet, Sugar; Chard, Kochia, Lambs Quarters, Spinach, Thistle.
Gourd (Melon): Casaba; Cantaloupe; Cucumber; Honey Dew; Muskmelon; Persian Melon; Pumpkin; Squash; Vegetable Marrow; Water Melon. Grape: Brandy; Champagne; Crème of Tartar; Grape; Raisin; Wine; Wine Vinegar.
Heath: Cranberry, Blueberry, Huckleberry, Wintergreen.
Holly: Mate.
Honeysuckle: Elderberry.
Iris: Saffron. Laurel: Avocado, Bay Leaves, Camphor, Cinnamon, Laurel, Sassafras.
Legume: Acacia; Acacia Gum; Alfalfa; Arabic; Black-eyed pea; Carob; Carob (St. John's Bread); Cassia; Chick Pea; Field Pea; Green Bean; Green Pea; Guar gum; Jack bean; Karaya Gum; Kidney bean; Lentil; Licorice; Lima bean; Locust Bean Gum; Mungo Bean; Navy Bean; Peanut; Peanut oil; Pinto Bean; Soybean; Soybean oil/flour/lecithin; Split Pea; String Bean; Talca Gum; Tamarind; Tonka bean; Tragancanth Gum; Urd Flour.
Lily: Asparagus, Chives, Garlic, Leek, Onion, Sparsparilla.
Litchi: Litchi Nut.
Mallow: Cottonseed meal, Cottonseed oil, Okra.
Maple: Maple syrup and maple sugar.
Miscellaneous: Honey (watch if you are allergic to bee venom).
Mint: Basil, Horehound, Marjoram, Mint, Oregano, Peppermint, Rosemary, Sage, Savoury, Spearmint, Thyme.
Mussels: Abalone, Clam, Mussel, Oyster, Scallop, Squid.
Morning Glory: Jicama, Sweet Potato, Yam.
Mulberry: Breadfruit, Fig, Hops, Mulberry.
Mustard: Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Celery Cabbage, Chinese Cabbage, Collard, Colza Shoots, Kale, Kohlrabi, Kraut, Horse Radish, Mustard, Mustard Greens, Radish, Rutabaga, Turnips, Watercress.
Myrtle: Allspice, Cloves, Eucalyptus, Guava, Paprika, Pimento.
Nightshade: Brinjal, Cayenne, Capsicum, Eggplant, Ground Cherry, Banana Pepper, Bell Pepper, Chili Pepper, Green Pepper, Red Pepper, Sweet Pepper, Paprika, Pimento, Potato, Tabasco, Thorn Apple, Tobacco, Tomato.
Nutmeg: Mace, Nutmeg.
Olive: Olive, olive oil.
Orchid: Vanilla
Palm: Coconut, Date, Palm Cabbage, Sago.
Parsley: Angelica, Anise, Carrots, Celery, Celeriac, Caraway, Celery Seed, Coriander, Cumin, Dill, Fennel, Parsley, Parsnips, Sweet Cicily, Water Celery.
Pawpaw: Pawpaw, papaya, papain.
Pepper: Black pepper, white pepper.
Pine: Juniper, Pinion nut.
Pineapple: Pineapple.
Plum: Almond, Apricot, Cherry, Nectarine, Peach, Plum, Prune Plum.
Pomegranate: Pomegranate.
Poppy: Poppy seed.
Rose: Blackberry, Boysenberry, Dewberry, Loganberry, Strawberry, Youngberry. (see also Apple family).
Salt Water Fish: Bass, Cod, Flounder, Herring, Mackerel, Mullet, Salmon.
Spurge: Tapioca.
Stercula: Cocoa, Cola Bean, Chocolate (Cocoa).
Tea: Tea.
Walnut: Butternut, Hickory nut, Pecan, Black Walnut, English Walnut.
Link HERE at the bottom

I found this interesting. CLICK HERE for full article

Cross-Reactions between Trees and Foods – Oral Allergy Syndrome - AAIA Quarterly Volume 29 Fall 1993, Dr. Ham Pong

1. the allergy factor which links the pollens and the foods is not that of being related by botanical family;
2. raw foods are more apt to cause a reaction than cooked foods.  Storage also decreases allergenicity
3. some varieties of the same fruit, e.g., apple, may be tolerated
4. not due to chemical, insecticides
5. allergy tests may be negative unless fresh food extract is used
6. most often seen in adults and is not usually outgrown

Read this article and you will find out why CLICK HERE

Here is a good article about the food additive Maltodextrin  I was surprised to see that Udi's products contain it.  Too bad.

I found this article and it could have been me writing it.
A mom's view on the ROTATION DIET

Here is a link I found today that may have safe decorating for cakes and desserts. Click HERE

Here is an EXTENSIVE LIST 
another List for BAKING Supply Gluten FREE

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HOW TO COOK and EAT nutritionally

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