Allergy Friendly Shepherd’s Pie

This has been such a cold year that I have been making lots of soups, stews and pies to keep us warm. One of my favorite Irish recipes is for Shepherd's Pie. In this recipe, I love the combination of the meat and the Worcestershire sauce with a hint of tomatoes and Dijon for the filling. Add a touch of Parmesan cheese to the mashed potato topping for a slightly different taste that is not too overpowering. Delish!

So with St. Patrick's Day, I thought it would be nice to include this recipe instead of the traditional Corned Beef and Cabbage. This recipe is free of dairy, eggs, and nuts.

    I have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with the best.  - Oscar Wilde

Allergy Friendly Shepherd's Pie

Potato Mixture:

1 ½ lbs. Russet Potatoes

¼ C Rice milk

2 Oz. Vegan Margarine

¾ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. pepper

Meat Filling:

1 tsp. Olive Oil

1 ½  Pounds Ground Beef

2 Cloves Garlic, Diced

2 T  Worcestershire Sauce

2 T Tomato Paste

1/2 T Dijon mustard

Salt and Pepper to taste

1 C Cubed Carrot

1 C Frozen Peas

1 ½ C Diced Onions

1 tsp. Dried Thyme

¼ C Dairy-free Parmesan cheese

Salt and Pepper to Taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place a large pot of water on the stove; bring to a boil. While it is heating up, skin the potatoes and cut into 1 inch pieces. Add the potatoes to boiling water and simmer for about 15 minutes, until they are tender. Drain potatoes and place back into pot. Mash them with a masher or the back of a large spoon. Add rice milk and vegan butter to potatoes and mix until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.

In the meantime, heat a pan with oil. Add carrots, peas, onions and thyme. Cook for 5-6 minutes until they are tender. Set aside. In the same pan, add 1 tsp. olive oil and heat pan. Add the meat and chopped garlic and cook for 5-8 minutes. Add the Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste and Dijon mustard and cook for another 5 minutes until well browned.

Separate meat from fat and place the meat on the bottom of a casserole dish. Add the vegetable to the meat layer and then add the mashed potato mixture. Spread the potatoes down with the back of a spoon so that it covers the top of the casserole dish. Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the cover, sprinkle with the vegan Parmesan cheese and bake another 10 minutes until the casserole if heated through. 

A Trip to Ireland

It is only appropriate that with St. Patrick’s Day fast approaching, I have been daydreaming of rolling green hills, the smell of corned beef piled high on rye bread, and the dark, robust taste of a tall glass of Guinness.

This St. Patrick’s Day is going to even more special knowing that this summer our family will be heading to Ireland for the first time. To say that we are excited is an understatement! This has been a trip I have wanted to take for many, many years and we are finally going to go. In fact, the picture above is of the Waterford Castle in Waterford, Ireland where we will be staying for part of our trip. How cool is that?!

As anyone with severe food allergies knows, taking a trip anywhere--however long or short--involves lots and lots of planning but a trip overseas will take that much more planning. This will be especially important since Ireland is known for their ample use of butter and cheese. Two key ingredients our teen is allergic to. I will be spending the next couple of months showing you some of the different steps we are taking to ensure that not only will our allergic teen enjoy this trip but that it will also be a safe one for her. Some of the things we will look at will include?

·      Should you book a tour or travel on your own?
·      What are the best types of accommodations for families with severe food allergies?
·      What can we order if eating out?
·       What type of medicine do I need to bring with us?
·       What to do if you or your child has an allergic reaction?
·       Are there any resources available that will make the planning go easier?

It is my hope that these guidelines will help other families who would love to do more travelling but are worried about the idea of being so far away and are not sure how to accomplish this with food allergies.

Let the travels begin!