Can we talk about cooking for guests with dietary restrictions?

[Treats]

I’ve got quite a few different dietary restrictions to cater for this year and I need some inspiration. SiL is breastfeeding my nephew, who - amongst a range of complex needs - is allergic to dairy and soy, so neither of them can eat anything containing either ingredient. One BiL is allergic to nuts and the other to oranges. Between them, I would have to rule out a great deal of the dishes that the rest of us enjoy!

So I’m doing the dishes I always do but providing alternatives to anything that one of them can’t eat. So, I shall do a small amount of nut free stuffing for the BiL who can’t eat the chestnut stuffing i’ve made.

My big problem is dairy and soy free alternatives for dessert. I realised too late that the breadcrumbs I used to make my Christmas pudding had a small amount of soy in so SiL probably can’t eat it. Does anyone who has more experience of these kinds of restrictions have a good suggestion for an alternative?

Also, what’s a good dairy-free alternative to mince pies and a good dairy-free canapé?

this website has loads of dairy and soya free recipes. the link i have included takes you to a christmas pudding recipe.

mince pie recipe

and here is a link to dairy free starters x

You can buy all sorts from the vegankind website including vegan mince pies, Sainsbury’s do gluten and vegan mince pies ( not sure if they have soy in). Could you ask them for ideas?

Ooh that starter looks just the ticket sleepismysuperpower thank you. And the website will be very helpful.

Gizlotsmum the Sainsbury’s free from range us really good but sadly a lot of it contains soy. I’ll take a look on Saturday when I’m next there though.

One diary free and one soya free person here. Homemade options are pretty easy to adapt.

Tesco angel layer cake is dairy and soya free, could use that as a base for a trifle. Custard made with oat milk and then oat cream for the topping.

Trex is dairy and soya free (I think, it's been a while since I last bought it) and works well for pastry. I don;t think milk or soya are that common in mincemeat although it's challenging to find one safe for nut allergies.

Vitalite spread again is soya, dairy and nut free and works OK in baking. It doesn't add flavour in the way butter would so I tend to add a bit extra vanilla/ginger or whatever.

Personally, I would buy in something to ensure it was truly dairy free / soya free. I would feel concerned preparing dishes in a kitchen that wasn't dairy and soya free.....

I think it will be fine to make stuff at home. My son has very severe dairy and egg allergies but has had no issues from cross contamination.

For Christmas pudding: ask what your guest uses for bread that is safe? I think my son might have had to get bread on prescription when he was dairy and soya allergic.

For mince pies: stork (the solid block) is safe if you want to make your own pastry

I’d always say ask your guest for recommendations of substitutes, they will be happy to help.

Cross contamination is an issue.... you need to be meticulous. My daughter is anaphylactic to nuts. Chestnut isn't a nut so ask your BIL is he has ever had a reaction to it... the Allergy UK website says their is no need to avoid it if you have a nut allergy and haven't had a reaction to it. If he has been avoiding it for whatever reason get him to try it ahead of the big day! Robinsons is a nut free mincemeat.... just make your mincepies in a clean kitchen with dishwashed equipment. I have recently made gluten / dairy / soya / nut free xmas cupcakes for a school xmas market and used KoKo milk, Vitalite and Doves gluten free flour. Turned out ok so maybe go a festive cupcake route? Just be careful about bought garnishes (youd be amazed what allergy warnings they have!) Oh and all Neissen Massey extracts are nut free... even the almond one! It is made with peach kernels. So baking alternatives don't have to be rubbish. But if you really want piece of mind buy in specific alternatives as a reaction will ruin xmas. Also bear in mind that everything needs to be cooked separately etc.... ie a nut allergic person cant eat a turkey stuffed with a nutty stuffing etc. You can also ask them to bring their fav alternatives too!

Most JusRol pastry is dairy free, so as long as you can find suitable mincemeat you should be able to make mince pies without the gaff of making pastry

Oatly do a custard and a cream now which is dairy and soya free

Thanks everyone- some helpful advice. Just to clarify, i’ve made a Christmas pudding already, and not really planning to make a second one. I was thinking of making something completely different so that it’s an alternative for everyone who doesn’t like Christmas pudding but that SiL could eat.

I’m not really sure about the nature of BiLs allergy tbh. It’s not severe and there are only certain nuts he can’t eat - chestnuts and pecans are definitely a no for example but others are apparently ok. The plan was just to have an alternative stuffing with no nuts at all so that he didn’t have to worry. I’m not stuffing the turkey so that won’t be a problem.

If it’s true about Jusrol being dairy- and soy-free, I could do something with that.po