Please note that brands can change their manufacturing practices and ingredients at any time without warning. Always check the ingredients label and allergy statement closely before buying any new ingredients.
Apple Butter—I like the Vermont Organics brand of apple butter because the spice blend is nice and there is no added sugar. However, you may use any brand you like. I buy Vermont Organics at my local health food store, Whole Foods, and online at www.bestofvermont.com.
Bacon—I am a huge fan of Applegate farms bacon and sausage. Lately I have been seeing it at more and more chain supermarkets like IGA and Shop Rite as well as at Whole Foods. If you cannot find it in your neighborhood, check their website for vendors: www.applegatefarms.com.
Beef Stock—I always make my own chicken stock but rarely make beef stock. Try More Than Gourmet’s Ready to Use Beef Stock. It is gluten-, dairy-, soy-, nut-, and egg-free. I buy it in my local bodega, but it is also available directly from More Than Gourmet (www.morethangourmet.com) and in chain supermarkets nationwide.
Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free All-Purpose Baking Flour—What a long way we have come since I was diagnosed with food allergies! Bob’s complete line is available in most supermarkets nationwide. If you can’t find it in your local shop, try buying it online at Amazon or directly from Bob’s at www.bobsredmill.com.
Bow-Tie Pasta, Gluten-Free—My Kasha and Pasta recipe (p. 102) is based on the traditional kasha varnishkes, which is made with bow-tie pasta. I generally use whatever small, gluten-free pasta I have on hand, but if you can’t bear making it without bow-ties, try La Veneziane brand. I have only ever seen it online. It is available from Gluten Free Palace: www.glutenfreepalace.com/Le-Veneziane.
Canned Salmon—Unfortunately, we live in a time where we have to be very careful about BPA in our cans and plastic. I buy all of my canned fish from Vital Choice (www.vitalchoice.com). Though a little more expensive, I feel that the safety and quality of the fish is worth it.
Canned Sweet Potato Puree—I like to roast my own sweet potatoes if I’m making my Salmon Croquettes (p. 34), but if you are rushed, used organic canned sweet potatoes. I like Farmer’s Market brand and get them at Whole Foods or the health food store in my neighborhood. I usually find them in the canned vegetable section next to the pumpkin puree.
Chicken Stock—I like to use my recipe from The Complete Allergy-Free Comfort Foods Cookbook for homemade chicken stock, but if you are short on time, I like Imagine brand chicken stock. It is available in most chain supermarkets nationwide.
Chile de Árbol—I usually find chile de árbol at Whole Foods or in our local Latin market. If you cannot find it near you, you can definitely order it online from www.thelatinproducts.com.
Chinese Rice Sticks—These refer to the “glass noodles” that are available in many national supermarket chains. Look in the international section for the Ka-Me brand, though there are others that are equally good. Always check the label for possible cross-contaminants.
Chocolate Chips and Chocolate Chunks—I only buy Enjoy Life Foods dairy-, soy-, nut-, and egg-free Mini Chips and Mega Chunks. I also like their Boom Choco Boom chocolate bars. They make all of their products in a dedicated gluten-free facility and do not use soy lecithin as an emulsifier. I have found their products in Kroger, Meijer, Shop Rite, Whole Foods, and also online at Amazon.
Chocolate Syrup—I love the Ah!Laska brand, which is available at Whole Foods and other natural food stores nationwide. Nesquik is also dairy- and soy-free and available at almost every supermarket in the United States.
Corn Flour—Corn flour is available at most supermarkets nationwide. Maseca and Bob’s Red Mill are my favorite brands.
Crystallized Ginger—I am a big fan of the organic, crystallized ginger from The Ginger People, and I buy it at Whole Foods. Find vendors in your neighborhood on their website’s store locator: www.gingerpeople.com/storelocator/location/map.
Cultured Coconut Milk—This used to be called coconut milk kefir, but the name has changed. I buy the So Delicious brand and find it in the refrigerated dairy section of most supermarkets as well as in health food stores. If you cannot find it in your neighborhood, check their website to find vendors (www.sodelicious.com) or ask your local market to order it for you.
Dairy-Free Ice Cream—I use chocolate So Delicious coconut-milk ice cream in my Candy Bar Pie (p. 140) because it is dairy- and soy-free and tastes great. I buy it at Whole Foods.
Dairy- and Soy-Free Margarine—I prefer Earth Balance dairy- and soy-free margarine spread and buy it at chain supermarkets like King Kullen, Kroger, Shop Rite, and Whole Foods. It is also available online at Amazon.
Éclair Pans—These obviously aren’t an ingredient, but you may be scratching your head about what they are. Éclair pans are available at most housewares stores. Do not choose a set that is labeled ladyfinger pans—they are too shallow. I prefer the Norpro brand (available at Amazon) because they are deeper and, I think, make the final presentation nicer.
Gluten-Free Crisped Rice Cereal—I always buy the Erewhon brand gluten-free crisped rice cereal, and I find it at the health food store, Whole Foods, and sometimes at national chains like Kroger. Do not confuse this with puffed rice cereal. It is not the same. Also, always read the label. Erewhon makes a gluten-free variety as well as one made with malt, which is not gluten-free.
Gluten-Free Graham Cookies—Enjoy Life Foods Crunchy Vanilla Honey Graham Cookies are my favorite for making cookie crusts. They are available at Whole Foods and health food stores, and you can also check the website (www.enjoylifefoods.com) for vendors. They will even give you a printable request letter that you can give to your local grocery store if you can’t find their products in your neck of the woods!
Jelly Beans—I always use Jelly Belly jelly beans because they are gluten-, dairy-, soy-, nut-, and egg-free. Jelly Belly beans are available nationwide at most supermarkets, candy stores, and drug stores.
Kielbasa—There is a lot of junk, like MSG, in some sausages that is not safe for delicate immune systems. I recommend Wellshire Farms or Coleman Natural Sausages. I find both at Whole Foods. For a list of vendors in your area, consult their websites: www.wellshirefarms.com, www.colemannatural.com.
Kosher Gelatin—Kosher gelatin substitute is really easy to find in New York City. Most of our supermarkets carry it in their kosher section. However, if you have trouble tracking it down, try ordering it online from www.allinkosher.com. For vegan gelatin, look for agar-agar flakes in your supermarket’s international section.
Lundberg Roasted Brown Rice Couscous—This is an excellent substitute for quinoa or millet and is available at most Whole Foods, Jungle Jim’s, and health food stores nationwide.
Mustard—My heart belongs to Maille for its flavor. Watch out for additives like soy in the form of xanthan not grown on corn in some mustard brands. If I cannot find Maille at the supermarket, then I also like Bournier. Shop Rite nationwide stocks Maille, and both are generally available at the regular supermarket in the condiment section.
Organic Palm Fruit Oil Shortening—Spectrum brand is the easiest brand to find in supermarkets, but if you are concerned about cross-contamination, I also like Tropical Traditions organic palm fruit oil shortening, which is available online at www.tropicaltraditions.com. Jungle Jim’s and Whole Foods also carry their own brands of organic palm fruit oil shortenings. They are usually marked as “all-vegetable shortening.” A quick check of the ingredients reveals palm fruit oil. This shortening is sometimes in the oils section of the supermarket and at other times in the baking-needs section.
Peppermint Candies—I use Bob’s candy canes but not their starlight mints for Bark So Many Ways (p. 132). At the time of publication, the starlight mints were made on shared equipment with nuts. The candy canes are not. Bob’s candy canes are available online at Amazon and at www.oldtimecandy.com as well as in supermarkets nationwide.
Powdered Vanilla Rice Milk—There are two brands that I recommend: Growing Naturals (www.growingnaturals.com) and Better Than Milk (www.btmsoymilk.com) brands. Both are available directly from the manufacturers and also on Amazon.
Pretzels, Soy-Free—This one was hard to track down, but I recommend the Ener-G gluten-free Wylde pretzels to make the crust for my Chocolate Pretzel Pie (p. 152) because they are also soy-free. They are available in health food stores and also directly from Ener-G at www.ener-g.com/wylde-pretzels.html.
Raw Coconut Aminos—This is such a great replacement for soy sauce. I buy the Coconut Secret brand at Jubilee market, but if you do not have a Jubilee in your area, check your local supermarket and health food store before ordering it from Amazon.
Soba Noodles—Eden Organic is my most trusted brand for 100 percent buckwheat soba noodles. I buy them at Whole Foods or at my health food store but have also seen them at chain supermarkets nationwide. Usually they are in the international section with the sushi ingredients.
Sprinkles—For my Confetti Cupcakes (p. 154), I used Hanna’s Gourmet Candy Sprinkles for the batter and topping. However, if you are concerned about cross-contamination, you could use colored sanding sugar or sprinkles made by India Tree. They do not process nuts in the facility and use only vegetable ingredients. You could also use Sprinklz brand, which is available at Whole Foods. They are gluten-, dairy-, soy-, nut-, and egg-free.
SunButter—I love SunButter because it is not only peanut-free but it is made in a dedicated peanut-free facility. It can be found nationwide at most supermarket chains or on Amazon. However, if you are concerned about possible soy cross-contamination, try making your own by grinding 2 cups sunflower seeds with a little canola oil in the food processor until the mixture is smooth like SunButter. This could take 10–15 minutes in the processor, but be patient. It works!
Superfine Rice Flour or Chinese Rice Flour—This rice flour is ground so fine that you will never make a gritty cake or cookie again. I love to buy the superfine sweet white rice flour from Authentic Foods and usually get it on Amazon. However, superfine rice flour can also be found in Asian markets.
Tostadas—If I’m having trouble finding soy-free tostada shells, I often just make my own (see the recipe notes, p. 6). If you do not feel like getting out your fryer, Charras Natural Baked Tostadas have no added oil or soy and can be ordered online from the Latin Products at www.thelatinproducts.com.
Vanilla Extract—There are so many great brands of vanilla extract now. My favorite is Frontier brand, and I buy it at my local health food store or at Whole Foods.
Vegan White Chocolate—If you can tolerate soy lecithin, try Vegan Sweets dairy-free white chocolate chips. I get them at Amazon.
Xanthan Gum, Soy-Free—I buy Ener-G soy-free xanthan gum directly from the company, online at www.ener-g.com.