We enjoyed a strawberry pie for Easter dinner. Not a traditional pie. One with frozen strawberries and an almond crust. We broke tradition another way. Our oldest daughter was able to have a piece.
Erin developed a mild nut allergy in her preschool days. Her allergy became severe shortly after moving into our Colorado home. Soon she carried an EpiPen and Benadryl. On her 19th birthday she wound up in the ER after eating ice cream sprinkled with nut pieces. (She thought she scraped them all off.) She was so shocked and terrified by her reaction, she overdid the Benadryl.
We have gradually eliminated nuts from our diet in the last year. Peanuts are commonly contaminated with aflatoxins. Nuts in general are prone to rancidity.
We have not given up on almonds, however. They offer tremendous health benefits if they are raw and organic.
They offer even greater benefit if they are soaked and dehydrated. The enzyme inhibitors are released during the soaking process. The good enzymes are then more readily absorbed into the system.
As I ventured into the world of dehydrating and learned more about the benefits of soaking all grains, beans, and nuts, I wondered about Erin's nut allergy. I wondered if the release of the enzyme inhibitors would allow her to handle an almond or two.
She wondered the same thing. Armed with Benadryl, she tried a soaked and dehydrated almond. No reaction.
She tried a regular almond and immediately had to take Benadryl.
She now eats almonds whenever she wants. As long as they're soaked.
Soaking almonds is a simple process. Place them in a bowl. Cover them with water. Add a bit of salt if desired. Wait 7 hours or allow to soak overnight. At this point you can keep the skins or remove them. The almonds will have begun the sprouting process and are ready to be dehydrated.
I'm not sure what this means for other nut allergy sufferers. I haven't studied the medical implications.
I do know our Easter Pie tasted extra special.
Recipe for Strawberry Pie
2 tbls. coconut oil
1 c. pitted dates
1 c. shredded coconut
1 c. almonds
Mix dry ingredients in high-powered blender or food processor. Blend in dates and coconut oil. Press dough into pie plate.
2 c. coconut
2 tbls. coconut oil
1/8 c. honey or sweetener of choice. More if desired.
2 c. frozen or fresh strawberries
Blend in high-powered blender. Spoon into pie crust. Refrigerate.
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