Make Meal Planning a Habit – 7 Day Meal Plan Included

Meal planning!  Make it a habit!  It’s so much easier to eat healthy if you have a plan.  And weeknights go so much more smoothly because you don’t have to wonder what to make…it’s already planned out.  And if you meal plan and check it daily, you can thaw your meat the night before.  When you sit down to plan, check your pantry/fridge for the foods/ingredients you will be using and...

What Are Cacao Nibs?

***This post is part of the Food Ingredients You Need to Know Series.  In case you didn't know, this blog, Living Free Health and Life, is the new and improved Allergy Free Test Kitchen. Cacao nibs!  You got to have these in your pantry! What are they?  They are crushed pieces of the cacao bean…aka cocoa bean. Cocao beans are harvested, dried, fermented, and then cracked into these little...

Allergy Free Test Kitchen is now Living Free Health and Life – Rebranding

Hello! This is from the blog of Allergy Free Test Kitchen. You may be subscribed, or follow on Facebook. Exciting news! It’s been renamed! Allergy Free Test Kitchen is now Living Free Health and Life. Why the change? Allergy Free Test Kitchen started out as a food blog meant to avoid the top food allergens and intolerances…wheat/gluten, dairy, soy, tree nuts, corn etc. Then later on, recipes...

Pillsbury Gluten Free Multi-Purpose Gluten Free Flour Blend-A REVIEW

So, I’m pretty fussy about my gluten free flours.  And you should be too!  Don’t settle on your flours.  They can make or break your recipe! So, I’m here to inform you that you can save your money and NOT BUY the Pillsbury Gluten Free Multi-Purpose Gluten Free Flour Blend. This blend simply does not work.  I couldn’t get it to work with several different types of recipes.  Recipes...

Udi’s Gluten Free Thin & Crispy Pizza Crusts

Disclaimer:  I was not asked to write this nor was I compensated. I pretty much skip over the gluten free sections of grocery stores and stick to naturally gluten free foods.  Or I make it myself.  It is more cost efficient and much healthier. However, I did feel like giving these Udi's Thin & Crispy Pizza Crusts a try. They are gluten free, as well as soy, nut and dairy free!  They do...

25 Tips For Better Grilling

As I stand in my back yard I can see the back yards of 5 houses. It’s not optimum, but it is what it is. What I find odd, very strange actually, is that none of these people grill their meals. Like ever. We have a least 7 months where weather permits us to grill and I never see anyone grilling. And I’m outdoors a lot. It seems strange to me because grilling is such an easy way to prepare...

Almond Meal vs. Blanched Almond Flour

Many gluten free bakers and Paleo diet followers use blanched almond flour in their baked goods. I always find this intriguing, but also cost-prohibitive as blanched almond flour is expensive. Blanched almond flour is almonds without their skins ground up into a fine flour. Almond meal is ground up almonds with their skins on and is a course meal. There is a difference in how the two perform and...

Mylan, Disney, Grilling Marinade and 3 Dip Recipes

I have some exciting news to share! But first, let me tell you about Mylan and Disney. Well, everyone knows about Disney! Mickey Mouse, theme parks, you know. Mylan is a pharmaceutical company; creators of the Epi-Pen. Mylan and Disney have formed an alliance to make Disney parks and cruise ships just a little more allergy friendly. For those with life threatening food allergies, taking any sort...

Eight Ways To Flavor Your Drinking Water Naturally

Water is the best way to stay hydrated. After all, the human body is comprised of almost 60% water. But don’t reach for those sports drinks or flavored water beverages just yet. I’ve been “playing” with my water lately and have come up with several ways to flavor my water naturally without artificial colors and flavors. This list is in order of least favorite to most favorite. Essential...

French Fries Using Different Vegetables

July is the month to celebrate the French Fry! Did you know that? French Fries can be made out of vegetables other than potatoes. I’ve been serving up a variety of French Fries to the family for about two weeks practicing different types of fries. Turnip fries, rutabaga fries, sweet potato fries and the beloved potato fry. You can find my recipes for these fries by reading my article about...