What is Choosy Food about?
Choosy Food is a new way of thinking about how we eat now. As two old friends who've spent their happiest times cooking for family and friends, we've noticed a definite shift in the way we all prefer to eat. Gone are the days when plates were politely cleared. In this pick and mix world, everyone¹s as individualist about their food as in everything else they choose.
A few of us have discovered a genuine allergy. Allergic reactions are on the increase, particularly amongst children - with apparently inoffensive ingredients triggering symptoms which can range from a mild rash or bloating to a life-threatening event. The Choosy Food way of thinking was cooked up with them in mind.
More and more people are selective about food for other reasons, too. Vegetarians, of course, who range from strictly vegan to fish-, chicken-, even game-eating. And we're all highly health conscious now, careful about our weight, cholesterol, blood pressure or a fear of migraine. Some people have religious scruples about ingredients. And finally, there's a growing number of us who are just plain picky: our choices about what we will and won¹t eat is as changeable as fashion - but we both like fashion.
What's to be done? Some of us cope with a household that has one or more allergies, and one or more preferences. Most of us have experienced a moment when we cook up something new and delicious, but one of our guests (who used to eat everything) will sit back and declare: "I'm sorry, I don't eat that!" The Choosy Food website and blogspot are here to help. Of course there are a plethora of books and websites devoted to each individual condition - special ones for gluten allergies, or for organic eating, for low-fat alternatives, and so on and on. But ours is the only one that aims to cover the whole range of special eating. Here you will find recipes, tips, advice and above all lively writing about the food we all love, and the food we all need. Our aim is that food designed for special preferences doesn't have to be self-denying, or seem somehow lacking or dull. We devise really delicious recipes which everyone at the table can enjoy - including us!
ice cream for choosy children
A late summer evening on Aisling's balcony, still warm enough to melt the ice cream. This is one that I make for discriminating grown-ups - it's delicious enough for anyone - but it is a godsend for children with allergies, or who need to watch their tums, because it has no eggs and no dairy at all. It's really just a frozen smoothie, but the banana gives it a creamy taste that makes it taste as if it's full of forbidden good things.
And it's incredibly easy to make:
for 6 you'll need 6 bananas, 400g raspberries, the juice of two ornages and four tbs honey.
Peel and slice the bananas and put them with the raspberries in a bag in the freezer, overnight if possible, but 3 hours will probably do it. Take the bag out and let it defrost for an hour, then just blend the whole lot together - the fruit with the honey and orange juice (and grate in a little of the zest too, if you like). Then re-freeze. That's it!
No comments:
Post a Comment