Thursday, December 18, 2014

Migraine Safe - Sugar Cookies


1              C             Butter, softened

4              C             Flour

1 ½         C             Sugar

2              tsp          Soda

½             tsp          Salt

½             tsp          Almond Extract

2                              Eggs

½             C             Milk

In a medium sized bowl, cut flour into the butter.  Mix in sugar, soda, and salt.  Net add the extract, eggs, and milk.  Cover with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator for at least one hour.  Divide dough into 3 sections.  On a flour counter, roll out 1 section of dough to 1/8” thickness.  Cut dough into shapes and place on cookie sheet.  These cookies raise versus spreading out, so depending on the size of your cookie cutters, you can place approximately 15 cookies per tray.  Repeat with remaining 2 sections of dough.  Bake on 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.  Cookies do not brown so be careful not to over bake.  Makes approximately 4 ½ dozen medium sized cookies.

Frosting

½             C             Butter, softened

½             tsp          Vanilla extract

¼             C             Milk

4              C             Powdered Sugar

In medium mixing bowl, mix butter, vanilla, milk, and powdered sugar (gradually).  You can use all white frosting and then add sprinkles or you can divide your frosting and add food coloring.

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Country Shephard's Pie - A Migraine Safe Recipe

1 1/2 - 2 lbs             Ground beef
1             tsp             Salt
1/8          tsp             Pepper
10           oz              Green beans, frozen
2 - 10      oz   Cans   Tomato soup
9             med           Potatoes, peeled and diced
1             tsp             Salt
1/8          tsp             Pepper
2             T               Butter
1             C               Milk
8             slices         American cheese (optional)

Cook ground beef with salt and pepper.  Drain grease from meat.  Stir in the green beans and tomato soup, cook on low for 15 minutes.  Meanwhile, peel and dice potatoes.  Cook potatoes for 10-15 minutes or until the pass the 'poke test'.  Drain potatoes.  With mixer, blend until fairly smooth.   Add the salt, pepper, butter and milk.  Mix until thoroughly combined.

Transfer meat into 3 qt baking dish.  Spread evenly.  Place cheese on top of meat.  Spread mashed potatoes over meat and cheese.  Serve.

Place leftovers in the refrigerator.



Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Snickerdoodles - A Migraine Safe Cookie Recipe

1  C      Butter, softened
3  C      Sugar
4           Eggs
2   tsp   Cream of Tarter
2   tsp   Baking Soda
1   tsp   Salt
5  C      Flour
             Colored Sugar

Mix thoroughly butter, sugar and eggs with an electric mixer.  Blend in slowly, cream of tarter, soda, salt and flour.  Chill one hour.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Use cookie scoop to scoop cookies.  Roll top and sides of cookie ball in the colored sugar.  Place twelve cookies per tray.  Bake 8-10 minutes.  I always set my timer for 1 minute shy of the lowest time because ovens bake differently and we don't want to burn our cookies.  These cookies will not darken.  Remove from cookie sheet immediately after removing from oven.  Makes approximately 6 dozen.

Migraine Safe Foods You Can Buy Off the Shelf

First time I went shopping for foods with no soy or preservatives I cried.  But here are a few foods you can quickly buy without worry.


Monday, December 8, 2014

Buffalo Chicken Wings - Migraine Safe Recipe

1/2    C     Ranch dressing (see previous recipe)
1       T     Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce
2       T     Butter, melted
16             Wings

In a medium sized bowl combine the first three ingredients.  Stir in the wings until well coated.  Cover and refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours. Grill on low heat.  Serve with additional ranch dressing, carrot and celery sticks.

Friday, December 5, 2014

Ranch Salad Dressing

1/2     C.     Milk
1        C.    Mayonnaise
1        T.     Dried, minced onion
1        tsp    Basil
1        tsp    Parsley
1/8     tsp    Garlic Powder
1/8     tsp     Pepper
3/4     tsp     Salt

In a small bowl, combine all ingredients with a wire whisk.  Chill for one hour before serving.

Holiday Eating

Now that Thanksgiving is behind us, the real eating season is here.  We have holiday parties every week laden with foods us migrainers should not eat.  But let's face it, we can't even go to the grocery store and buy migraine safe foods...not processed anyway.  All food labels must include allergen foods such as soy (one of my biggest triggers), high on the migraine do not consume list.

The good news is, there are foods out there that we can eat.  For example Hormel lunch meats in the red and brown packages in the prepackaged meat and cheese section.  There is also Prima Della Roasted Turkey Breast at the deli counter at Walmart.  And you have Boars Head Meats that are sold at specialty markets and Fry's (grocery store out west).  Giant Eagle (grocery store in the midwest) carries hot dogs and bacon that have no preservatives added.  You can often find these foods near the foods labeled as All Natural.  Just remember...soy is natural so always read your labels.

I have found that dressings and sauces advertised as made with Olive Oil also include Soy Oil.  Your best bet is to seek out foods made with Canola Oil instead, like Hellman's Canola Oil Mayonnaise.  Prego Traditional Spaghetti Sauce is also safe to eat.

Over the next few weeks, I will be uploading recipes to help you through the season and coming years.  I hope this helps you lead a healthier, migraine freer life.