Lazy Lentil Burgers

These Lazy Lentil burgers are a delicious, easy Sunday comfort food.

Dairy Free, Nut Free and Egg Free

Perfect for lunch box left overs too!

Let's face it, many of us don’t always feel like cooking, even though if you live with food allergies or coeliac disease, you often find you need to cook a lot more meals from scratch.

These Lazy lentil burgers are simple, healthy and easy to make with little effort. And they are economical too! 

Ingredients:

1 x can of Puy/ French brown lentils (one cup of cooked French lentils) 

½ tsp cumin ground

Fresh herbs – around a tablespoon finely diced parsley and/or coriander depending on your taste. 

3 x small- medium Potatoes quality, organic waxy potatoes such as nicola

Rice crumbs or safe bread crumbs for you

½ -very finely diced brown medium onion or shallots

1/2 small grated carrot (optional)
Good pinch salt to taste

Optional extras – turmeric, coriander spice, curry powder, chilli – great for adults
Oil for cooking

Method:

1. Cook your 3 medium waxy potatoes whole, in hot water (this is part of the laziness and keeps in the flavour too)

2. Meanwhile, saute onions in a minimum amount of olive oil on a low heat for around 10-15 minutes until caramelised. Next add any spices, grated carrot and then your French lentils.  Ensure your mix is fairly, dry you don't want too much liquid in your lentil mix. Turn off the heat.

3. When cooked, strain potatoes very well, and even pat dry. Less liquid the better. Mash potatoes roughly, with the back of a fork, not too smooth. We don’t need the mash to be super creamy.

Now, here is the only “tricky” part:

4. Combine your lentil mix and potato smash mash, fairly gently. Add your salt to taste. Then roll into balls - pat with your hands into a nice shape - around 5 cm round is good but you can make them bigger. And around 2-3 cm thick.

The mix should be more potato than lentil - so they will keep shape, if we get the mix too watery, or not enough potato they may fall apart in the pan. They should be fairly firm, almost like a dough consistency.

As we are not using egg or meat as a binder, we need to work fast.  You need to make your burgers while the potato lentil mix is warm or even as hot as you can handle, to make a nice firm mix.

5. Coat in your crumbs. Again, this needs to be done while mix is hot/warm, so the crumbs stick to the burgers. After you have coated in crumbs, straight to the fridge on a plate, not touching.

6. Lazy chill time

At least an hour should be fine, or until cooled completely.

7.Fry your lazy lentil burgers in shallow medium to high oil, until brown and crispy. Allow to sit for a minute or two ... enjoy! 

Serve with your favourite salad, flat bread or yoghurt 

Great with a little squeeze of lemon or lime

Fantastic snack for your lunch box or picnic. Great finger food for children. 

  

Notes:

If you’re not so lazy, soak some dried Puy lentils overnight, and cook gently, in a light chicken stock if you have it, for an even tastier result. You can also try adding to the lentil mix wheat free, cruelty free or vegan rashers of bacon, finely diced for extra saltiness.

Adults might like to add more spice too!

Gluten free

Wheat free

Dairy Free

Nut free
Vegan 

Have you seen our Valentines Day Giveaway?

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Kiss Freely, where a desire for food allergy friendly bath and body products has led to the creation of a line of personal care products geared towards those with food allergies and their loved ones.  

Kiss Freely products are free of the 8 major food allergens and then some! Kiss Freely also avoids the use of other potential allergens and is free from sesame, shea butter, peas,coconut, avocado and sunflower seed. Gluten Free and Vegan! 

Explore the Kiss Freely range now

Back to school with food allergies

Sending your child off to school with serious food allergies can be daunting and stressful. Having a good risk minimisation plan in place and building communication with your child’s school can make a big difference.

Make sure inclusion is a part of the plan. A good health care plan will consider the emotional side of food allergies such as anxiety as well as preventing discrimination and exclusion from learning.

 3 keywords to think about:

>Communication
>Planning
>Inclusion

 Back to school quick tips

• Meet with the teacher and principal and school nurse if you have one.
• Consider inclusion and how that will be ensured … communicate, include, assure
• How will your child’s condition be communicated to ALL teachers?
• Revise your plan at least every 12 months or anytime there needs to be a change
• Communication – keep in touch with your child’s teacher and keep positive open communication. This is everyone’s job
• Talk about the particulars of your child. For instance, discuss any anxieties your child has, asthma, previous reactions, personal nature, friendships etc. Every child is different and unique.
• Ask for a communication letter to parents, to inform them and build a team of support. See a template letter here
• Follow up!  Keep touching base to ensure the plan is being followed. Making a plan is the first step, ensuring it’s being followed is just as essential. Is your child being included? Is the school communicating to you? How is your child handling the plan, talk with your child as needed. 

Anaphylaxis risk management plan

What can you include?

Here is a starting point checklist of things you may want to include/consider:

1. List all allergies and other health conditions

What are the serious allergies? What other health conditions does your child have? For instance asthma, and any other health conditions.

2. Description of previous anaphylactic episodes

What were the symptoms? It can helpful to discuss with your child’s teachers to let them know how quickly these reactions can occur and to hear the details.

3. Where are your child’s EpiPens to be stored?

Everyone needs to know and agree. Never ever in a locked cupboard!  Emergency medicines must be easily accessible, and never more than a few minutes from reach.  It may be stored in first aid room, on the student, or in the classroom or a combination of these.  If being stored in the first aid room/area, is it organised, away from sunlight and heat, and labelled, not in a mess or hard to find in an emergency?

4. Cross-contamination from another child’s food

Regular discussions with the students about the importance of washing hands, eating their own food and not sharing food supervision of eating so that food is not shared and (child name)  does not come into contact with allergens. Washing tables if lunch is eaten in the class-room can be essential, and hand washing routines for the class may be essential too.

5. Allergens in party or special occasion food

• No food from an outside source to be given to (name child) including treats for other children, or food prepared by other parents. Some state guidelines do outline how important this can be.
• Parents to be liased with about food related activities ahead of time, and not to be socially excluded from a learning activity. Supply a treat box with safe cupcakes/treats for celebrations
• Advocate for food free classroom celebrations which many schools are now moving towards.

6. Food-related activities in class

• ALL food activities in class will be communicated to parents, whether eating or handling - with sufficient time to either give permission or to arrange a substitute food.
• No food is to be handled or eaten by (child name) without express permission from parents.
• Food rewards should be discouraged
• Science with food should be discussed with parents first

7. Music classes

Music teacher to be aware there should be no sharing of wind instruments e.g.recorders. Speak with child’s parents if necessary to provide child’s own instrument.

8. Art classes

Check art materials. Recycled food materials should not be used. Ensure containers used by (name child) do not contain allergens, e.g. ensure masks, paints, glue, play dough, and ALL materials do not contain allergens for the child.

9. Picking up rubbish, or cleaning classroom.

As this is a possibility of touching allergens from rubbish in the playground, (name child) will NOT be asked to do rubbish duty or pick up waste.

10. Canteen: possibility of sale of a food containing allergen.

Encourage parents to visit and communicate to canteen and staff. Display photos of allergic children and their allergies in canteen, visible to all canteen workers. Staff, including volunteer staff to be educated in safe food handling procedures and risk of cross contamination of foods, and reading ingredient labels.

11. Excursions

Each excursion needs it’s own risk management plan, as well as communication with parents to identify any potential risks. Excursions, sports carnivals, swimming programs or sports days require careful planning and consultation with child’s family.

12. Part-time educators and casual relief teachers.

How is this communicated?  What is in the handover folder? Who is in charge of communicating to relief teachers?

9. Incursion presenters

To be made aware so they can manage potential anaphylactic risks and respond to anaphylaxis appropriately if it should occur. Parents should be notified about incursions ahead of time.

10. Pet visitors or school farmyard.

Think about asthma here too. Be aware that some animal feed contains food allergens e.g. nuts in birdseed and cowfeed. Does student need to wear gloves, or at least wash hands after touching animals.

12. School Camps

Camps require their own thorough planning, and separate detailed risk management plan that requires thought, consultation and communication. Some key points can be included here.

Every child is different, and their individual needs will be different and unique. The above list is intended as a guide and is in no way an exhaustive list. Please consult with your allergist and local education department for further guidance.

Building confidence with your child, school and teacher can be rewarding. Schools are for everyone, and every student needs to feel safe and valued.

Disclaimer, these are only suggestions, I am not a qualified medical expert, and this article does not constitute as medical or legal advice in any way, rather only suggestions as an allergy mum with experience in education sector.

Allergy Friendly gift ideas

Do you love someone with food allergies?

Check out our fantastic Christmas and holiday ideas

We know the Holidays can be stressful, that is why we are also offering Free gift wrapping PLUS Express Shipping!  

Christmas Cuties - for boys and girls
Have you seen our gorgeous range of Allergy awareness t-shirts? 

Designed to help your little ones have a magical and safe Christmas. Let our little Rudolph remind Auntie or Grandma that her nutty fruit cake isn't safe to share.

The bright traditional colors are sure to grab everyone's attention, and alert them of your child's food allergy. Even Santa will think twice about offering a candy cane without checking first.

Beautiful soft quality cotton, and cute design your child will love to wear. Help your child become allergy aware in a postive, fun way - and raise awareness in your community. Check out the range

Kiss Freely Allergy Friendly - Beauty & Body products

Free from top 8 allergens and then some! Vegan, cruelty free and gluten free! Beautiful, soft hydrating and all natural ingredients. 

Gorgeous Body Butter, Sugar scrub and luxury lipsticks & gloss range designed by and for the food allergy & coeliac communities. Children's Face paints, shimmering range of eye-shadows and more!  Finally a range that is safe and allergen free. Kiss Freely range is an amazing quality and affordable range.  

Perfect gifts for under the Christmas Tree!  If you do all the gift shopping at your place, don't forget something for you too! 

Allergy Friendly Cosmetics

Great books for food allergy families 

Holidays can be stressful when you live with food allergies or coeliac diease

If you are travelling these holidays, don't forget to pack one of our guide books in your suitcase ! These guide books are brimming with tips, strategies and postive ways to navigate life with food allergies or coeliac disease.

Great resources for empowering and educating about allergies, anaphylaxis as well as coeliac disease. Tips for communicating food allergies with loved ones, and staying connected.  Great books for food allergy families 

Allergic Girl: Adventures in Living Well with Food Allergies

Food Allergies & Grandchildren: Pocket Guide for Grandparents, allergy guide book

Travelling with Food Allergies?

Are you travelling with allergies? We have a fantastic range of bags to store your essential medicines. Insulated, bright colours or Easy carry bags for your lifestyle! 

Always carry your emergency medications wherever you go. !

See our Medical bag range now! 











FREE Gift wrapping store wide - Simply select GOLD or SILVER at checkout.
All items will be express shipped with no extra charge - note delivery times vary 

Have fun and stay safe these holidays! 

Boo! Stay safe this Halloween with allergy kids

Do you go trick or treating with your allergic or coeliac child? Have you heard of the Switch Witch?

Halloween has become a popular child friendly night for some communities, a chance to dress up and catch up for some fun with people in your neighbourhood.

But how can you include your allergic child while focusing on safety?

Last year our family discovered the "Switch Witch". We love Santa, the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny.... so why had we not heard about the Switch Witch? 

Switch Witch is a wonderfully good witch that visits your home on Halloween night and trades some of your treats for a toy. She flies from house to house on her black broom with her cat, to collect unwanted lollies/candy from children and generously leaves a wonderful toy in exchange, as a surprise for children when they wake!  It was a big hit at our house! A wonderful way to foster inclusion for your allergy and coeliac kids too! 

At our house we imagined all about the life of the Switch Witch, what she was like, and why she was a good witch. We managed to "switch" most of the collection from Halloween for some fun toys and safe welcome treats. I think the Switch Witch can be what you want her to be, but she is definitely inclusive and fun! 

And I must admit we had avoided trick or treating in past years, deciding to stay clear of it, not only because of food allergy safety but also worries of being excluded. Especially as Halloween can seem like such a food focused event and not exactly allergy friendly. But as it turned out Halloween night did for us,become an opportunity for education and awareness too as we would ask about allergens at every doorstep. And we found a way to be safely part of the fun and excitement!  

Trick or treating quick tips:

Focus on fun, rather than food - Dressing up, imagination & social fun is the best part!  

No label no eat. Every door we knocked on we asked about if there were labels!

Don't accept baked goods. Not everyone knows about allergy safety in the kitchen if they don't live with food allergies

Don't take lollies without wrappers and ingredients written on them.

Ask friends and neighbours to consider offering non-food treats like stickers, glow in the dark toys etc. 

Make a plan before you leave the house. Chat with your child about staying safe but ALSO make a plan for having fun.

Don't eat the lollies or treats until you get home. Take safe treats/lollies for energy. 

Always carry your emergency medications. Don't risk it always carry your Epipens! 

Have you heard of the Teal Pumpkin Project?

A fantastic allergy awareness campaign which has been promoted by FARE is the #Tealpumpkinproject , starting in 2014 it has had fantastic success. This allergy awareness project was initially created by an allergy mum who wanted her allergic children to be included in the special celebrations of Halloween. The campaign promotes the fantastic idea of non-food treats like stickers, and small fun toys and focus on fun rather than just the sweets and food.  Hopefully the Teal Pumpkin Project can become more international to globally promote food allergy awareness and inclusion everywhere.

Happy Halloween! Be spooky, and stay safe! 

Interview with Kiss Freely creator, Jennifer Kurko

Kiss Freely is an exciting cosmetics range, designed for and by a family with food allergies.  Free from the top 8 food allergens, but also free from some other common allergens (sesame, shea butter, coconut, avocado, and mango). Kiss Freely is now launching in Australia.

  

How did you come up with the idea for Kiss Freely? Was there a catalyst or inspiration?

I kissed my daughter on the cheek one night after her bath and she broke out in hives.  At the time I had no idea what caused the hives.  It was a really devastating moment to realize that I could not kiss her without thinking about it first.  Once I realized the hives were from my lip balm, I also realized we had a ton of cosmetics and bath and body products that were not safe for her.  I looked for products that were safe but they were very hard to find.  The labels were impossible to read without consulting Google constantly! It was so frustrating that it made creating my own products seem like the easier choice!

  

Kiss Freely is such a fabulous name for your allergy friendly product range, how did this come about? 

The name Kiss Freely came from my daughter. I was wearing our homemade lip balm and I went to kiss her.  She got very excited and said "we can kiss freely!"  We used that phrase in our house for a while before we started the company and it just seemed like a natural choice. 

What are some of the issues you came across personally, as a food allergy mum, with the regular mainstream ranges of cosmetic and beauty products on the market?

I really couldn't find a line that was free from my daughters' allergens.  I would find one product would work but not another.  I also prefer natural ingredients.  Almond oil and coconut are pretty popular ingredients in natural cosmetics so a lot of options were ruled out. 

How have you found the response from the food allergy community, to your first launch in the U.S.?

It has really been amazing.  The community is so supportive and has spread the word more then I could have imagined or hoped for.  The food allergy community is my community so to be embraced by them is humbling and helps keep me motivated to make Kiss Freely available to more people.  I am so excited to be able to have our products sold through you and to introduce Kiss Freely to Australia.

What were the aims of the creation of Kiss Freely? I know for me, as a food allergy mum, I think saving time is a really great benefit, and as sometimes reading cosmetics labels can be so boggling.

All of the above!  I still go to multiple food stores to get safe food for my children.  I wanted Kiss Freely to make life just a little easier for food allergy families. We also donate a portion of our profits to organizations that promote food allergy awareness and research.

Are your products also vegan and cruelty free? What about gluten?

Our products are vegan, cruelty free and gluten free.  We are big fans of FREE!

Jennifer, I know many families are very grateful for the creation of Kiss Freely, and what I find so amazing is that Kiss Freely is a completely unique product range like no other: dedicated to food allergy and coeliac communties! 

You and your family are an inspiration, but who inspires you?

This is a great question. This may be cliché but my daughters inspire me.  They are the reason for this endeavor.  The way the deal with and manage their allergies inspires me. They have an amazing ability to advocate for themselves and others even at such a young age.  They are so much more aware of others and have become incredibly empathetic. They handle a lot of tough situations with so much grace.

Thanks Jennifer!

SHOP Kiss Freely Australia

Learn more about Jennifer and Kiss Freely

Jam Surprise Cakes

These Jam Surprise cakes with jammy fruit inside are easy, quick and fun to make … and devour!  Perfect for when friends are around for afternoon tea! This easy recipe is definitely one you can also make with children. Most of the ingredients are adjustable depending on your allergies. Great breakfast muffin/cake when you are on the go, for children’s lunchboxes or easy snack.

Jam surprise cakes

INGREDIENTS

1 1/4 cup Self Raising Flour

2/3 cup caster sugar

2 x eggs (certified free range organic)

3 x tbsp dairy free margarine melted

2/3 cup soy yogurt (vanilla) 

1/3 cup of berry fruit – raspberries or strawberries work well. (I used strawberries & raspberries)

Zest from 1 x medium organic orange  (or lemon)

Juice from 1  x medium organic orange (or lemon)

1 x tbsp favourite safe berry jam - I used strawberry jam, but any red jam that’s safe for you.

2 x tbsp Golden syrup

You also need:

Muffin tin (12)

METHOD:

Here I used cara cara oranges as they are were in season. But you can use any orange, or substitute with lemon which is also works really well.

First combine 1/3 cup of finely diced fruit (I use raspberries and strawberries) with your red berry jam and set aside.

Combine dry ingredients. 

Melt your margarine and golden syrup together. 
Now, combine all ingredients together except fruit-jam mix.

Mix gently, but well. So you are folding in rather than beating, you want it to be just combined rather than super smooth mixture. These cakes, are more like a muffin so the mix will not be as wet or runny, as a traditional cake mix. 

Spoon your mixture into muffin tins. Around 3/4 to the top is ideal. Drop the jelly-jammy fruit mix carefully into each muffin tin equally.

Press the mix in slightly with your spoon.

Sprinkle sugar on top if desired, before baking

Bake in preheated oven of 190c for around 20-25 minutes or until firm to touch

Dust with icing sugar for wow effect.

Ideal for after school when friends are over, they are packed with energy to keep them going. Enjoy!