Tall Order: Dessert with No Dairy, Sugar, Gluten, or Nuts?
A friend of mine is on a doctor-ordered cleanse diet for a series of allergies she has. I want to brighten her day a bit by making her cupcakes or brownies or cookies, but her restrictions include no dairy, no sugar, no gluten, no nuts. It's madness.
Is this going to be impossible? Can anyone help me?
Add a comment:
Previewing your comment:
HTML Hints
Some HTML is OK: <a href="URL">link</a>, <strong>strong</strong>, <em>em</em>
Comment Guidelines
Post whatever you want, just keep it seriously about eats, seriously. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Learn more at our Comment Policy page.
If you see something not so nice, please, report an inappropriate comment.
Start Talking!
Need a question answered? Have advice to share? Start a Talk topic now!
Sign up to get your questions answered and share advice.
28 Comments:
dude, I think you had better make her day a bit brighter with balloons, flowers, house cleaning, laundry, strippers or salads for a week. Cleanses are to get the bad stuff out, not put more in!
ChelleyD01 at 4:12PM on 01/18/09
@ChelleyD01-Rotfl
@Unarata- I agree with ChelleyD01.
pjracz10 at 4:22PM on 01/18/09
What about a decadent fruit salad, or is fructose also a no-no? If not, go all out and get some lavish topical fruits so it's really special (none of this green grape and mushmelon business). Mango, pineapple, papaya, and some citrus supremes. My grocery had some great blackberries and blueberries, too. Pomegranate seeds. All the fruit that feels like a splurge. Squeeze some orange and/or lime juice over the whole thing.
It may not all "go" together in a rigid sense of seasonality and/or geography, but mixed together it makes a great special treat. And for me, at least, being served a beautiful fruit salad--especially with pineapple or pomegranate type fruits--makes me feel fussed over and cared for.
renzata at 4:23PM on 01/18/09
I'd have to agree with ChelleyD01 too... What about a delicious dinner following those guidelines instead? Or as Chelley suggested, something completely unrelated to food.
thinkingincrayons at 4:25PM on 01/18/09
Clean her house or get her a maid. She's going to be in a bad mood. I would be, and that would be the greatest thing you could give me. The maid that is, I would want you sitting and laughing with me.
carolrsfMISSESTEXAS at 7:01PM on 01/18/09
When it comes to figuring out allergies don't mess at all with the doc's plan. And some of them aren't fully aware of the different things that perhaps they didn't directly specify, but well in fact actually are a part of the categories they mentioned foregoing. Also, unless you have a recorder or someone with you, quite often the doc's orders or advice isn't fully taken in. When we're not feeling our best or are shell shocked with bad news sometimes a fog sets in. So I would say avoid the food and go with carrolsf suggestion. Lord knows I would love to have someone clean my house! And on that note--stick to the manual cleaning vs. chemical cleaning the chemicals can often aggravate allergies and asthma. Personal experience speaking there. I use watered down vingear, lemon juice and perhaps best of all- hydrogen peroxide to clean and disinfect surfaces. Hydrogen Peroxide--H202 disinfects and as it oxidizes, breaks down to plain old H20.
dhorst at 8:42PM on 01/18/09
can she have eggs? you could do mereungue drop cookies, with some lemon zest and vanilla for flavor, and stevia to sweeten 'em up a bit.
pretty fruits is always nice too, especially this time of year.
redhead at 10:44PM on 01/18/09
You can do great things with oatmeal, dried fruit, honey, maple syrup, etc. I find oatmeal-based cookies work best when made from cooked oats cooled and rolled very thin after mixing.
NotAmerican at 2:25AM on 01/19/09
I have friends who are on gluten- and sugar-free diets, and it can be a challenge to cook for them. HOWEVER - if this is a short-term thing for an allergy challenge, the best thing is to make something with the items that can be eaten, instead of trying to fake up something currently on the forbidden list. If there is something your friend didn't tell you, that turns up in the item you made, you'll both feel badly when your friend finds out she can't eat it. For example, does "no sugar" just mean no granulated or powdered sugar, or does it include honey, maple syrup, agave, and so on?
Also, it's better to focus on the things that CAN be eaten, and how to make them different and interesting. Having had a restrictive diet at one time when we tried to sort out some allergy triggers, and having seen my mother on a restricted diet post-surgery, I know what a challenge this is, and how impressive it is to take what seems boring and make it interesting.
For example: Diced roasted root vegetables. The New York Times just had an article on dicing beets PRE-cooking and roasting them, which brings out an incredible sweetness.
NYT also had an article on roasting broccoli with shrimp for a quick and tasty main course. I did it this weekend, adding some brussels sprouts to bulk it up a bit and because I've done a recipe from SE with roasted brussels sprouts that is really wonderful. It worked grandly.
Baked fruit. If you add a bit of spice, and some dried fruits, and use the right ripe fruit to start, you get something quite sweet with no sugar. The one people always think of is apples with raisins and dates, but also try pears.
Sweet potato fries. For some zest, add a toss of cayenne powder or mixed spices before roasting them.
Mashed cauliflower and potatoes with a bit of olive oil and roasted garlic, or shallots, or herbs.
If your friend is going to be on the diet long-term, or have to limit one or more of the items forever, it would be great to show her now how to adjust her cooking and eating to accommodate the limits.
morgancain at 10:23AM on 01/19/09
Try this eggless chocolate cake! http://www.howcast.com/videos/660-How-To-Make-Eggless-Chocolate-Cake
parisjetaime at 3:50PM on 01/19/09
i think that this strawberry kanten might do the trick... it fits the description perfectly - no sugar, no dairy, no nuts and no gluten...
Or even roasted pears - leave the cheese and nuts for another day. you could maybe pair it up with some soy yogurt or soy-based cream cheese...
Madelyn
KarmaFreeCooking
MadelynRodriguez at 6:32PM on 01/19/09
i made just the thing at a restaurant i used to work for: vanilla roasted pineapple, passion fruit puree/coulis, coconut milk sorbet & coconut macaroons.
dmarina at 11:08PM on 01/19/09
@NonAmerican - unless you can find a trustworthy source of gluten free oats, they're a no-no for most gluten free diets unfortunately. Cross contamination as well as questions regarding the protein in oats have them on the "bad" list.
All the fruit based ideas sound great - and would probably be a welcome treat, especially with all this grey weather.
thinkingincrayons at 11:51PM on 01/19/09
@thinking crayons: I did not know that. We tend to use steel-cut oats around our house, and my daughter (allergic to the world) gets on okay.
Has anyone ever tried baking cookies with spelt flour?
NotAmerican at 2:23AM on 01/20/09
I should also add that I think fresh fruit-based treats are a great idea. Around here we can get soya-based pouring custard, but you could probably whip some up with soya (or rice milk) and vanilla.
NotAmerican at 2:24AM on 01/20/09
Thanks so much everyone - unfortunately I may be stuck, as she can't have fruit. Fructose/sucrose is off limits for her. I was hoping to work within the restrictions of her diet to make her a tasty treat, so I guess it's going to be hitting the (cook)books.
unarata at 2:36AM on 01/20/09
I wouldn't serve soy, either.
IndyGal at 6:52AM on 01/20/09
To be honest, it sounds like your friend is on an 'elimination diet'--a temporary diet to discover food sensitives. There are so many different things that can trigger allergies, these diets are usually very limited and lots of wonderful, healthy foods are not permitted on the diets--I would tend to say, encourage her to stick to her prescribed diet by her physician. Then certain foods are added back, until the 'triggers' are found.
Since the diet is so limited and so carefully prescribed, why not ask what she can eat as opposed to what she cannot, and work from that--and then celebrate with her once the diet has ended, or at least she can eat a bit more 'normally' once the offending foods have been identified.
HeartofGlass at 8:10AM on 01/20/09
I second what Heartofglass says, unless you know for certain what she can and cannot have, find another way to support her. Maybe find out what things she can have and put together a basket of coordinating spices or seasonings she could use to make her food taste more exciting or do something totally food UNrelated like take her out for a pedicure.
peachfish at 9:37AM on 01/20/09
Gluten free oats are easy to find... bobsredmill.com
I have been through this kind of diet stuff/stress. Simply ask her what she would like. She may just be dying for someone to care enough to make her suppoer instead of her having to kill her brain trying to do it. She will gladly give you intsructions, I am certain. Above all else, DO NOT turn your nose up at what she may or may not be eating in your presence. In fact, if you really love her, eat what she eats while you are together. I got so so weary of hearing dumb jokes about milking rice to make milk... (farm kids all around me and I had to drink something not from a their kind of farm)
If she can have the stuff, the fruit salad sound soo soo wonderful!!
jdshd at 4:13PM on 01/20/09
A gun and one bullet?
Doctrine at 11:31PM on 01/20/09
On all recipes, there is a recipe for chocolate cake made from garbanzo beans. It sounds weird, but the reviews of it are all good, so what could it hurt to try it? It does have sugar in it, but I'm sure you could use a substitute. If you make it, I would like to know what you think about it. Here's the link:
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Garbanzo-Bean-Chocolate-Cake-Gluten-Free/Detail.aspx
jenmonst at 12:35AM on 01/21/09
fructose malabsorption is not an allergy, but if that is one of the things the doctor is trying to figure out if she has or not,
she can't have fruit, regular sugar (sucrose=fructose+glucose), honey (contains fructose), not to mention anything with high-fructose corn syrup. oh also sorbitol.
I hope the doctor will figure out what to avoid soon. poor her.
hmw0029 at 2:14PM on 01/21/09
Nice thought, but you don't want much food with a cleansing out diet. Diamonds, gold, a week at a spa, a cruise around the caribbean, a babysitter, a movie out, a bathroom filled with flowers, candles and a hot bubble bath, are all special treats. I'd opt for a diamond bracelet and a maid. carol who misses texas had it right on - she is going to be in a very bad mood. Maybe your gift should be from a safe distance.
PerkyMac at 2:38PM on 01/21/09
How about a mango lassie - I found a cool recipe on this site.
http://www.lifeglutenfree.com/mama_baby_gluten_free/2008/04/dairy-free-mang.html
It sounds good. I may have to try it. I've heard of people putting their lassies in the ice cream maker too, although I believe they used yogurt - but maybe soy yogurt would work there. Could be a fun experiment.
chrismc at 4:43PM on 01/21/09
Whatever you do, do not use spelt. Spelt is an ancient grain but it contains gluten.
RI Swampyankee at 12:38AM on 01/22/09
Strawberries with balsamic vinegar.
akk328 at 12:52PM on 01/22/09
Chocolate pudding. I make one with unsweetened soymilk, cornstarch (sub arrowroot powder if cornstarch isn't gf), unsweetened cocoa, stevia, and cinnamon. I don't ever measure when I make it, so find a regular cornstarch-thickened pudding recipe and adapt it. Stevia is an all-natural sweetener that is *intensely* sweet, so use in moderation. I'd put the pudding in a cute little ramekins, dust with cinnamon and tie with a ribbon. It's hard to find recipes for her restrictions, but not impossible!
MayaBruck at 2:09PM on 01/22/09