Gluten-free pear muffins
Ingredients
- Canola oil for greasing, or use silicone tray
- 2 cups soy-free gluten-free self-raising flour
- 2 tsp gluten-free baking powder
- 3/4 cup lightly packed soft brown sugar
- 2/3 cup rice milk
- 1/3 cup canola oil
- egg replacer equivalent to 2 eggs
- 2 ripe pears peeled, cored and mashed
(Skinless pears, followed by golden delicious apples, have the least amount of natural chemicals that some people may react to.)
Preparation
- Preheat oven to 180°C.
- Lightly grease a 12-hole muffin tray with canola oil.
- Sift flour and baking powder into a large bowl and add the sugar.
- In a separate bowl, combine the rice milk, oil and egg replacer.
- Add the wet ingredients and mashed pears to the flour mixture and use a metal spoon to mix until just combined. Spoon into the muffin pan.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes until a skewer inserted comes out clean. Leave for 5 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack.
Tips
Variation: If your child is tolerant to moderate food chemicals, replace the pears with two large ripe bananas mashed, or ½ bunch of rhubarb washed and cut into 2cm pieces. Increase the rice milk to ¾ cup if using rhubarb.
Sharon Trueman, a dietician at Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Allergy Unit, offers some quick, fresh and tasty lunch box treats for children with common food allergies and intolerances.
Childhood food allergies are on the rise. While the jury is out on the cause, the most common problem foods include milk, egg, nuts (especially peanuts), soy, fish and wheat.
Fortunately, many children grow out of childhood food allergies. However, if you have a school-aged child who has a common food allergy, you may welcome some fresh ideas to keep their lunch boxes safe, nutritious and tasty.
Food intolerances usually build up over time, making it harder to pinpoint the cause. Symptoms of food intolerances can include stomach aches, wind and bloating, headaches, hives/rashes and general lethargy.
And the good news is, most major supermarkets now stock a range of allergy-friendly foods in the health food section, so most regular recipes can be adapted using gluten-free flour, egg replacer and dairy-free products.
Of course, you don't have to have an allergy or food intolerance to enjoy these foods.
