Thanksgiving ideas

[Tammy]

Alice,
Cranberries are a fruit, so I have never even attempted them. I don't play with "tests". We don't have that option with Regina. Even just a small amount will make her sick.

So her Thanksgiving dinner will be turkey (make sure if it's a "self-basting" turkey, that the basting doesn't have sugar. we found one that did) mashed potatoes and gravy, broccoli OR brussel sprouts (her 2 favorites) with chocolate pudding pie (with SF Cool Whip) for dessert. This is more than enough for her, and she will be happy, and VERY happy when she doesn't get sick later.

I can make stuffing for her, but I usually don't bother unless I make it all the same for all of us. since this year we are having a big, whole family thing - with cousings, aunts & uncles, and my 93 yr-old-grandmother, someone else is bringing the stuffing. If Regina cared, I would make her a small one, but she's happier with potatoes anyway.

I did post her stuffing recipe. I'm pretty sure Kristen has adapted it and her version probably has more taste. But we like it plain.

I'll run it through this leaky brain and try to remember some of the other things we've done over the years. See if anything knocks loose.
Tammy

[Tammy]

Usually we just put the pudding and topping in a dish. Easier and quicker. But for Thanksgiving, we'll make a crust. I'm able to get a crust mix - just add water- that is very good. It's our local store (Weis) brand. I've never checked the name brands for sugar. I'm thinking someone (Fred maybe?) put a pie crust recipe on here, if you need one.

Regina also does well on vanilla, butterscotch, and banana (artificial flavor only) puddings. But she really only likes chocolate and vanilla, with chocolate winning hands down every time.

[CK]

Has anyone else tried cranberries? I too was told it was a limited item. I made a small batch of sauce with just cranberries and dextrose yesterday, and tried about a teaspoon of it on a safe waffle, and seemed to do ok.

[Tammy]

If you want stuffing a little less dry, try using my basic recipe, and instead of all that butter, use cream of mushroom soup, and/or cream of celery soup. My friend uses this recipe, and it is really moist when baked outside of the bird. I'm not a big fan of milk in stuffing, but it does make it very moist.
Tammy

[Tammy]

Kristen,
I'm not sure what you are looking at BUT:
CAMPBELLS cream of mushroom soup:
water, mushrooms, vegetable oil (corn, cottonseed, canola and/or soybean), modified food starch, wheat flour, cream (milk), contains less than 2% of the following: salt, dried whey, monosodium glutamate, soy protein concentrate, yeast extract, spice extract, dehydrated garlic.

Regina eats this all the time in tuna & noodles, mixed in with hamburg and macaroni (she calls this hamburger helper), we use it with a base for broccoli casserole, and I could go on and on.

I don't have a can of the cream of celery, but I'm thinking it may be ok. I'll have to check to be sure.


Also, Butterball chicken broth is also fine. Contains:chicken broth, less than 2% of: salt, monosodium glutamate, natural flavor, chicken fat, disodium inosinate and disodium guanylate, autolyzed yeast, hydrolyzed soy protein. We use this as the base for homemade soups, and gravy, and many other things.

There is also MANY brands of clam chowder that is fine. The one I currently have in my cupboard is a store brand, but it contains:
clam broth, potatoes, clams, corn oil, water, potato starch, bleached enriched wheat flour (bleached flour, niacin, ferrous sulfate, thiamine monoitrate, riboflavin, folic acid) butter, salt, monosodium glutamate, isolated soy protein, natural flavoring.

I also had a chicken noodle soup one time, but forget what brand it was (not campbells).

So there are soups out there, you just need to get to the supermarket.
Tammy

[Tammy]

Kristen,
Now that is just too wierd. I know different things are different in other areas, but since Campbells store and ship over the entire country, It's just crazy that it has sugar in it. There is NO sugar in my can. (I do believe you, don't take it that way, just trying to wrap my mind around it). I wouldn't give Regina your can of soup, either. I understand if you don't want to give him the MSG, but I was only going on the fructose aspect.

I'm always so jealous of your Matthews bread, but I don't think I would give up my soup for it.

Okay, out of curiosity........who can use the Campbells cream of mushroom soup, and who's has sugar in it? (Just the campbells brand, I have other brands in this area that do have sugar, too)

[Chelsea]

I know our cream of mushroom and cream of celery is safe here. I just went to Dinners Ready the other day and made a Chicken & biscuit meal and checked the can. I will add though it was not a 98% fat free version that I personally would use at home. Kristen is yours a reduced fat variations? Lower fat typically add sugars.

As for the soy protein concentrate
www.soya.be/soy-protein-concentrate.php
I am not sure I have ever seen legumes on a do not have list, rather not on the lists at all. Now my list (which was really bad mind you, does have it as a low fructose content). Gillianne was on unsweetened soy milk initially and did find until she increased her amount of drinking then we had to pull her. But that was drinking 2-3 glasses a day so I doubt I would worry much about it as an ingredient. Now if it was a soy milk based soup I would probably avoid. Soy protein I feel is safe.

We also do garlic here, the more the merrier at times.

[Chelsea]

We are having just my in laws over so there will only be 7 us but there will be no holding back in my house.

I am doing a turkey and my very favorite Crockpot mashed potatoes. I love the Crockpot ones because I can make them ahead and not have the huge mess while I have all the company over. They also freeze really well, so when I make them I freeze batches for future meals.

busycooks.about.com/od/sidedishrecipes/r/cpmashedpotatoe.htm

I am doing a sausage stuffing, cranberry sauce, green beans and pumpkin soup- none of which Gillianne can have but she doesn't eat enough to mind if she doesn't have all that food.

I will be making her a chocolate pudding pie, actually all the kids will probably eat it!

Of course, we are still awaiting results. Who knows, if the results come out unexpected negative then it may turn into a test dinner for us, she used to love pumpkin soup.

[Tammy]

As far as the spices, they were always on the allowable list for us, with the exception of allspice. (I don't know why). She has never had a problem with any spice or herb. So garlic was always on our ok list. As far as the "natural flavors", I usually only ever avoid them if I suspect it may be fruit. Other flavors I allow. As to the soy protein, I find this to be in the catagory of being not understood, just like corn. I would never give her soybeans, so I don't really know why this is ok. I'm guessing it has to do with the processing. Also, again, just like with the Lucks we make, I'm sure it's so small that there probably isn't much, if any, there anyway.

The cream of celery soup you posted would be fine for Regina.

We use a "textured vegtable protein" where we work. It's this hard, dried, thing. I'm only guessing, but I'm thinking that the soy protein is probably close to the same. Probably no soy bean in anyway. But I don't blame you for not wanting to chance it with Coley since you don't have his diet nailed down tight yet.

As for the MSG, I have more indegestion problems with it than Regina does. Probably a good thing because I just don't have the time or desire to cook the way you've been forced to for Coley. I just say we'll live longer with all the preservatives we eat. ;D

But the sugar in your can is what I don't get. That just stuns me. Guess it's another good reminder that we all need to check everything, even brand name things that are ok for others.

[Tammy]

I think you are right, Chelsea. I had forgotten about that, but I'm sure the low fat soup did have sugar, now that you mention it. This makes much more sense to me now. Working in the food canning - big buisness factory, I know for certain that what is on that label is what is in the can. The government is very strick with the nutritian info on the labels. Big time fines, which is the only reason the company cares. Also with all the allergies becoming more known, big companies are also concerned about law suits if something was in there that's not supposed to be. This doesn't mean that mistakes won't happen, but probably not as often as you think.

And you might find this interesting Fred, we used to HATE running Canadian products. They were WAY more strict with the beef. Only certain beef, A ton more paperwork, and everything had to be separated and logged, and a real pain in the butt. Now, the canadian gov't has lifted the harsh restrictions, and we run canadian the exact same way as we run ours. Some of the canadian products still have different ingredients, but it's a taste thing now, not a gov't law.

anyway, thanks for letting me know I wasn't crazy on the soup issue.

[Tammy]

As for HFI, I would call the regular and the low sodium safe. I would also use the 98% for Regina. The healthy choice is the one that I definately wouldn't use.

I know there are many other issues on this board besides HFI. Coley has some. The Celiacs and the lactose are other issues. So when I say something is safe, I'm really only referring to HFI. The ones with other problems on top of HFI still have to adapt to their special needs. We can't list what is safe for everyone, or we would basically say "water". Every other food is a maybe for someone out there.

I know its very frustrating to have to put Coley into the "other" catagory. But it will get easier with time, and hopefully eventually some answers.

The people coming to this board looking for answers to FI questions learn a lot of very knowlegable info from you. More from you than from anyone. I have learned more from your researching than I ever knew before. But please remember that Coley is on a much more severe diet, with other issues, than just HFI.

This soup is safe for HFI. People with other added concerns should always check for themselves.

NOW.....for a Thanksgiving idea. We are taking clear, plastic hand shaped gloves and painting the outside of the thumb with a face for a turkey, and filling the glove with cheese puff balls. (The fingers are supposed to be feathers). Kind of silly, but the little kids love it. If we have time, we'll even make little felt hats and glue them on.

[Chelsea]

Cute idea Tammy!

We are also doing a few Thanksgiving crafts like a Thankful Table Runner which will be the first of many years and my older son made some pilgrim pals to sit on the mantle.

jas.familyfun.go.com/crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=10373

jas.familyfun.go.com/crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=10179