Soy and Dairy Free Ice Cream Sandwiches

Just found these at Wegmans.  They are sooooo good.  My younger daughter has a nut allergy but is not allergic to coconut, which is part of the palm family.  I have been looking for a soy free ice cream sandwich dessert because she loves them.  We had to stop getting them after discovering tht soy triggers her eczema.  Not anymore....woohoo.

http://sodeliciousdairyfree.com/products/coconut-milk-frozen-desserts/coconut-minis

How to Make School Color Pom Poms Out of Things You probably have at home.

This is Spirit Week at my daughter's school so we are preparing for Friday's Cheetah Cheer Day.  One of the things we made for the girls was pom poms.  It was so easy, and I knew there was a reason I saved off empty paper towel rolls, toilet paper rolls, wrapping tissue paper from shopping bags and gift bags :).

So this is what you need.

cardboard toilet paper rolls/cardboard paper towel rolls
construction paper with the school colors(ours are yellow, green, and white)
used wrapping tissue paper (I used white, but you could use any color or combo of school colors)
glue stick
stapler
scissors
ruler

With the cardboard paper towel rolls, I cut those in half with scissor. 

I then decided to make green the main background color and then yellow for the stripe.  So first I measured out the length and width for the construction paper to wrap around the cardboard roll.  I used the ruler to draw out the outline.  Then I cut out a strip of the yellow to be the same width as the green construction paper.  I then glued the strip to the middle of the green construction paper.

Then I glued and wrapped the paper around the cardboard roll to cover the outside of the roll.  Using the stapler, staple the paper to the cardboard roll.

Using two sheets of the tissue paper, I folded it lengthwise first and then widthwise.  I then started cutting strips from the folded end.  You can make them as wide or narrow as you want for your pom pom.

Once you are done.  grab the pieces by the folded end and stuff them about 1/3 up into your covered cardboard roll.  Then you can press down on the end of cardboard roll and staple it across to hold the tissue paper in. 

Wallah, you are done.

Soy free Spinach Artichoke Dip in a Crock Pot

I am finally getting around to posting some new finds for cooking soy free. Well, first off, I discovered soy and egg free mayonaise by Earth Balance. I found it at My Organic Market, which is a health grocery store near me.

Once I discovered Earth Balance soy and egg free mayo, I was on a mission to make a delicious and healthy spinach artichoke dip.
So here goes.

• 10 ounce bag baby spinach, fresh or frozen 
• 1 can (14 ounces) artichokes, drained and chopped 
• 8 ounces reduced fat sour cream 
• 8 ounces reduced fat cream cheese 
• 1 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded You can sprinkle some shredded mozarella cheese too if you like. 
• 1/2 cup 1% or skim milk 
• 1/2 cup feta 
• 1/2 cup mayonaise 
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar 
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced 
• 1/4 teaspoon salt 
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper  

How to make it

1. Place all ingredients in a slow-cooker/crockpot. Mix well with a spoon until the ingredients are combined. Cook on high for 1 hour 30 minutes or on low for 2 hours and 30 minutes. 
2. Stir and pour into a serving dish or set the slow-cooker to warm and serve out of the crockpot. Serve with tostitos, crackers, pita chips, or a sliced baguette.

So Yummy!!!   You won't be disappointed.