Pet Peeve... cooking for guests with multiple food allergies

[Lisa0825]

My friend and I are trying to come up with something non-traditional to make Christmas weekend for a dinner with her boyfriend and another friend.

Her boyfriend is allergic to shellfish and onions, and the other friend is lactose intolerant.

Problem: Almost everything I make has either onions, cream, or cheese in it! ACK!!!

I have been sorting through recipes, looking for ones that it would be either easy to do a side without one ingredient for them, or recipes that I could leave onions or cheese out with no major difference... or something new.

I came up with a few ideas, but dangit! I love cheese and onions!!! and shellfish too, goshdarnit!LOL!

I have found myself craving things I can't have, because of focusing on those ingredients.

I wish THEY'D just cook something they can eat insetad, but I am know as the cook in the group, so they all seem to be waiting for me to come up with the right recipe that everyone can eat. I know there are things I CAN make, but today, it just seems like all I can think of are things that wouldn't be as good modified.


*sigh*


Thanks for letting me vent.


And any suggestions would be nice too:-)

[The empressof all]

1. How's this

Make Chicken Milanese: Basically a thinly pounded chicken breast breaded and fried. You can serve the lactose intolerent one this with a lemon wedge-For the rest of you; you can melt some mozzarella on it-plop on some red sauce and you have chicken parmagina. Serve with spagetti in oil and garlic. You can have some broccali rabe with bacon on the side or even just a nice big salad. Have lots of good Italian Bread with some flavored dipping oil.

[NMDemDist2]

2. and cold shrimp cocktail the boyfriend can pass on

or any shrimp type appetizer (along with some other goodies the BF can eat)

:)

PS I wouldn't give up my shellfish for anyone :shrug: if he can't eat it , it leaves more for ME!!

[politicat]

6. be careful with this as shellfish allergies can be notoriously touchy.

If he's REALLY allergic - get an assessment first - don't do shrimp. Sometimes even the juice on your fingers after a wash can be enough to cause anaphylactic shock.

I'm that way with marijuana... even second-hand, second day smoke (the smoke that clings to skin and hair after smoking but before a shower) can make me break out in hives.

Pcat

[Stinky The Clown]

3. A Pasta "Buffet"

(I'm Italian and its hard for me to write pasta when it is really macaroni and to write sauce when its really gravy, but here goes :) )

One kind of pasta and several sauces. Each person then puts on the sauce that they can tolerate. There are a bazillion different sauces that can be made quickly - some even while the water's boiling for the pasta. Find sauces that are not tomato based for a real surprise. Use shrimp or salmon for one. Use roasted peppers and olives for another. Be creative with the condimenti.

Serve with some traditional Italian accompaniments - an antipasti platter or a selection of bruschetta for a starter will allow there to be something for everyone, good bread, salad, sausage and/or meatballs, etc.

A couple bottles of vino rosso (try some better California Zinfandels - underrated and waaaaaay good - spend about $20 - $25 a bottle cuz its a special occasion and you will be VERY happy with the wine), buy a frozen Tiramisu to thaw for dessert and call it a night.

[Lisa0825]

4. Thanks everyone!!!

Those are great ideas! And I think I might just pick up a few bottles of good wine, and we can have a "tasting" dinner, with a different one with each course!

[SoCalDem]

5. Just don't do it.. Let them know that you are aware of their allergies,

and suggest to them that they "might feel more comfortable" if they brought foods that they can eat..

I think it's rude to expect a hostess to prepare a bunch of things.

With all the weird diets that people are on these days, you could drive yourself NUTS trying to prepare foods to please everyone..

Make what YOU want to prepare, let them know what your menu is, and let THEM decide whether they want to attend:)