Quick list of menu ideas for nursing moms or new allergy families who can't have dairy products

I just wanted to write out a quick list of dinner ideas that are easy to make that are dairy-free. I know that when I first had to cook without dairy, I was stumped as to what I could make. The more I've done it, the easier it became:)

Here goes:

Spaghetti and marinara sauce
Lemon Pepper Chicken with rice and steamed veggies
Teriyaki Chicken
Chili
Chicken Tortilla Soup
Chicken 'n rice soup
Vegetable soup
(Multiple soups and rolls/breadsticks)
BBQ chicken or pork
Grilled salmon
Many varieties of salads with vinaigrette dressing (minus the parmesan or romano cheese -- READ LABELS!)
Shepherd's Pie
Multiple stir-fry dishes
Fresh fruit
Fresh vegetables, raw, steamed, or cooked
Desserts made with dairy-free margarine and soymilk
Baked potatoes topped with chili, salsa, broccoli, vegetable soup, etc.
Steak or roast with vegetables
Hawaiian Haystacks (using cornstarch and chicken broth as base)
Taco Salad (you may have to make your own taco seasoning mix (see recipe below) as many mixes have dairy in them)
Pancakes and muffins made from scratch with soymilk or rice milk
Grilled meat and veggies
Tabbouleh (A yummy Lebanese salad made with cracked wheat or couscous)
Chicken Fajitas or Chicken Tacos (using Italian dressing as marinade, minus the cheese and sour cream)

Snack ideas without milk (ALWAYS double check the label):

nuts
Triscuits
Wheat Thins
air-popped or oil popped popcorn (most microwave contains dairy)
fruit & veggies (can use Russian or Catalina dressing to dip veggies in)
juice
Oreos
Nutter Butters
Teddy Grahams
Tortilla Chips & Salsa or Refried Beans
Cold cereal with Rice or Soymilk (Like Cheerios, Wheat Chex, Corn Chex, Rice Krispies, Crispex, Corn Pops, etc.)
Moonpie Cookies
Skittles, Starburst, Gummy Candy, etc.
Earth Balance dairy-free margarine (sold at Weis and health food stores in my area...this is BY FAR the best dairy-free margarine I've tried yet)
Prego Spaghetti Sauces (check label)
Fritos
Jello
Graham Crackers (check labels)
Kaiser rolls and hoagie rolls
Frozen fries
Pringles
Regular Potato Chips
Pretzels (check label)
Twizlers
Tyson's chicken nuggets (check label)

***When I had to do egg-free baking, I liked using EnerG Egg Replacer sold at most health food stores***

TACO SEASONING MIX RECIPE (DAIRY-FREE)


In a blender, mix together:

1/4 cup dried minced onion flakes
4 teaspoons cornstarch
3 Tablespoons salt
4 Tablespoons chili powder
3 teaspoons cumin
1-1/2 teaspoon oregano
3 teaspoons dried minced garlic
3 teaspoons hot crushed red pepper
2 teaspoons beef bouillon (THIS NEEDS TO BE DAIRY-FREE!!! SOME SODIUM FREE BEEF BOUILLON IS DAIRY-FREE. ALWAYS READ THE LABEL!!!)

Blend all ingredients together until spices well mixed and ground up. Store taco seasoning mix in tight container. 2 Tablespoons equals one commercial package. Use as directed in recipes. To add to hamburger meat, brown one pound ground beef, add 1 Tablespoons taco mix, 1 cup water. Simmer 5 minutes.

Cold season again .... Free Ginger Lime Drink Recipe

Since we all have colds right now, I thought I'd pass on a wonderful dairy-free recipe that I got from a friend.  It is supposed to help fight off colds and sinus infections:)  (For more free recipes, visit my website:  www.milkallergycompanion.com  You can also get a sneak peak at my cookbook.)

Ginger Lime Drink

2 limes (pulp, zest, and juice)

3/4 c sugar

1 - 2 tsp. of fresh ginger root (peeled and left whole)

Peel ginger and smash with the back of a spoon.  Place in the bottom of a large pitcher.  Add lime juice, pulp, zest, and sugar.  Add 2 quarts of water.  Mix well.  Leave ginger root in the bottom of the pitcher.  Serve cold.  This really helps fight sinus infections, but is delicious for the whole family:)

Website Updated!

I've finally updated my website:  www.milkallergycompanion.com  I am in the final phases of my cookbook and can't wait until it is published:)  I hope that it can help others out there who struggle with milk allergies but don't know where to begin.  This has been a long process, but I think that the end results will be worth it!