I'm working on a story for our Smart magazine about the challenges of dealing with holiday food and festivities when you have food and environmental allergies.

(I know it's only July, but we like to work ahead around here.)

I touched on this a little last X-Mas, with my tips for co-existing with your Christmas tree. That mainly dealt with eradicating the mold spores with a good hosing and a bleach solution.

I want to hear about your experiences with allergies around the holidays - not just Christmas, but Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, New Year's and Kwanzaa, too.

• How do you handle holiday dinners?


• Is a live or fake tree the way to go?


• How do you handle the candy on All Hallow's Eve?

A few weeks ago, I talked about Ava's newly diagnosed peanut allergy and the results of her latest blood test.

I found it interesting the the two items had a reduced effect were wheat and beef -- which are the two things that we give her on a regular basis. I'm thinking correlation there.

So then, I stumble across an article that seems to back me up, to a degree:

Whenever I'm shopping, I try to take the time to find new things for Ava, and the rest of the family, to try.

A few weeks ago, I picked up some Simply Organic Banana Bread Mix. I struggle with breakfast foods for Ava - no milk and eggs will do that for you - and thought I'd try this.

The mix is gluten-free, and I used silken tofu instead of eggs.

As you can see above, I don't own a bread pan, but my little banana bread cake turned out really good and was super delicious. Both the kids loved it.

It was good in the morning, warmed up with a touch of butter or Tofutti cream cheese.

From our friends at FAAN:

Champion Nutrition is recalling “Champion Nutrition Chocolate Peanut Butter Pure Whey Protein” due to undeclared peanuts. Peanuts were not accurately listed in the ingredient statement, as required by law.

The product was distributed nationwide.

The product comes in a 5-lb. container with UPC 0 27692 18550 1 and LOT codes:  A0210A, C9288A, D0329A, G9201A, L9282A.

Consumers may contact the company for instructions on a return and refund or replacement product at (800) 225-4831.

Click here for more recalls.

The kids and I stopped at Brown's in Loganville after running a few errands today. I absolutely love their peaches and fresh fruit, plus the sugar cakes are a bonus.

We came away with said peaches, plums, watermelon, sliced mushrooms, chocolate-chip sugar cakes and strawberry licorce for Ava. Not a bad haul.

Right before we left, the cashier handed me a newsletter, which I glanced over during lunch.

Turns out, Brown's is now offering gluten-free bakery items. The newsletter indicated these items can be found behind the cherry pudding stove and includes:

• Blueberry muffins


• Apple cinnamon muffins


• Pound cake


• Walnut and plain brownies


• PB iced brownies


• Chocolate chip cookies


• Sandwich bread


• Cinnamon raisin bread

From our friends at FAAN:

K II Co. is recalling "Firehouse Jerky Mild Beef Jerky Smoke Flavor Added” and “Firehouse Jerky Pepper Beef Jerky Smoke Flavor Added” due to undeclared soy and wheat.

The product was distributed through Internet and retail sales. 

The 1-oz. and 3-oz. packages have "Sell By" dates ranging between 06/12/11 and 11/25/11 along with code number "6935" on the back of each package. Each bears "EST. 6935" or "EST. 10002" inside the USDA mark of inspection.

Consumers with questions may call (586) 677-3018.

Click here for more recalls.

Sonnewald's put out a question on its Facebook page asking for favorite gluten-free products.

It looks like the natural food store on Lehman Road near Spring Grove wants to expand their product line.

Hop on over to Facebook and let them know what you would like to see in the store.

Remember, a portion of Lehman road is blocked or closed, so some might need a different route to the store.

From our friends at FAAN:

Setton International Foods, Inc. is recalling Fairway brand Energy Mix and Setton Farms brand Total Energy Mix due to undeclared peanut and/or soy.

The products were sold in New Jersey and New York.

The affected products are Fairway brand Energy Mix, sold in 16-oz. clear plastic containers with an Exp. date of 05/24/11 through 06/28/11 and UPC code: 34325 00050, and Setton Farms brand Total Energy Mix, sold in 22-oz. clear plastic containers with a Exp. date of 06/3/11 and UPC code: 34325 03559.

Consumers can return the product to their place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may call (800) 227-4397.

Click here for more recalls.

I got hit with a pancake request at breakfast the other day.

Now, normally I have the Gluten-Free Pantry's Muffin and Scone mix on hand, and I use that to make pancakes. But, of course, the day the kids ask for it, I don't have it.

But I did have Bisquick in the pantry. And given that Ava hasn't had any problems with the Bisquick biscuits, I thought I'd give it try.

I used coconut milk, powdered egg-replacer, some vanilla and 2 tbsp. of sugar, and the results were delicious.

Plus, they weren't as thick as the Gluten-Free pantry ones.

What's your favorite allergen-free breakfast food?

Ava eating her rice-milk ice cream at Brendan's 9th birthday party.

Birthday parties. I have such a love-hate relationship with them, as I'm sure most allergic people do.

How can something so fun also be so potentially dangerous?

We went to one this weekend that was super fun, with bounce house water slides and baby pools to help beat the ridiculous heat. I brought Ava's food, of course, and hit the fruit tray before 25 little hands could contaminate the watermelon with Cheetos.

But despite watching over her, she still broke out in hives on the back of her shoulder. I didn't see any kids touch her, so I can only assume that the kids touched food, then touched the sides of the pool, which Ava then touched.