Thursday, November 27, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving!

I realize that I posted this as a comment to Christine, but I truly mean it and just want to share it with those who stop by and listen to me babble.

"Seriously, I'm thankful I met you, DD, the cellies, the bloggers, the minions, foodies...oh my, so many!

Although my life is not empty & I have family aplenty...you make my cup over-runneth.""


HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

What to do about Thanksgiving...

Y'know...about my milk allergy. Well, maybe you don't know as there are really only a couple of peeps who stop by here.

A few weeks back...I became very ill.
And I'm sure it was my fault.
ok...it was my fault.

What with eating beignets almost every day I was in New Orleans and all...I figured that taking the benies every night would help. It did...for a while.

I was home for a couple weeks...and honestly, I try very hard to pay attention to what I'm eating, reading labels, asking what's in things...etc. Except for the beignets. *blushes* I don't even use "non-dairy" creamers in my coffee anymore due to the casein in them!

Anyway, I made some Betty Crocker peanut butter cookies. It had been well over a year since I've eaten them, but I truly didn't remember reacting to them! So the next morning, I have coffee...with my newly discovered flavored Splenda!...and promptly ate like 6-8 cookies (weren't very big and I like to dunk them).

Within about 1 hr, I knew I was in trouble! Mouth was tingling, tongue and back of throat started to feel thick, itching, GI symptoms ensued. I popped benedryl...and had to keep popping benedryl for 3 days straight!! I missed 3 days of work...which is a week's worth of work for me since I work 12-hr shifts!

Oy...that first night was the worst...perhaps that first time I ever felt I was having respiratory problems. I have family with asthma, and of course have worked with patients with respiratory problems...so I stayed calm...I knew I was getting air even though I was breathing a little off. So I chalked it up to anxiety...which still isn't good because it's our body's way of say "...Hey, dumbass...pay attention!!!"

I was NOT about to go into urgent care...the last time they told me I wasn't having a sinus problems and tried to gave me an allergy med for Hay Fever...which my allergist has clearly stated I'm not allergic too...maybe sensitive...but not allergic. So why go somewhere that believes it's all in my head, right? I couldn't get in to see my allergist, so I had to wait all weekend...hence, taking benies for 3 days...they throw me for a loop. Can imagine me trying to take care of patients??? O.o

So I finally got in to see my Allergist...he promptly scolded me for not going into urgent care or ER. He thinks I some how managed to max my "threshold" and my body just could not take it anymore after just one more cookie. *stupid sweet addiction. ok...beignets* He gave me a new-to-me med called Xyzal which is non-drowsy. Pretty much. And I've graduated to an epipen!! Yay me! *grumbles*

I have yet to pick up the epipen as my pharmacy had to order it...and life has gotten in the way of my picking it up. Needless to say, I've been very careful since. I'm thinking I should call the pharmacy in the am to see if they have it and just drag my procrastinating butt over there. ugh...I LOATHE driving over there unless it's for work.

I'm bound to end up eating something I shouldn't on Thursday. It's a family dinner...with milk to abound I'm sure. Mashed potatoes with milk, pies, goodies...and I'm sure there will be some mexican food with cheese aaalll ovah it!

My auntie said she would cook a bird since I asked...even though we don't need to. I just like the way she cooks for Turkey Day. I LOVE her stuffing! LOVELOVELOVEIT! We now put it in muffin tins so every one gets some crust...tip from Rachel Ray. lol We also do stuffing stuffed mushrooms...our version copped from Sandra Lee. lmao I will miss out on her greenbean casserole. I haven't spent time looking for a mushroom soup substitute. I love greenbean casserole. *pouts*

I'm like what should I do? Make my own meal (ok...help my Tia make me a meal)? Or trust I'll find something to eat and share dinner with all? I guess I could take microwaved potatoes with me so I can make my own mashed potatoes...I love potatoes. Definitely will take my own "butter" (Nucoa margarine). Making pumpkin bread...so I know I'll get one semi-sweet treat. Take my own vegie...since others will end up putting butter on theirs that I won't be able to eat. Rolls/bread...yeesh! Not even sure I should be eating my Stater Bro. brand anymore as I sometimes feel itchy/stuffy after eating it...it's manufactured where milk is used/processed.

I'm so pouting and ranting. Sorry everyone...just got to thinking about this as I was looking up my RSS feeds from foodies.

If I'm going to protect myself...I guess I'll have to take my own food...which so sucks. Thanksgiving is about the gratitude & family time...but it's also about the potluck food everyone brings to share! As much as I need to do it...it gets old asking peeps about every dish present..."Is there any milk or milk products in this? ...yeah...cheese, yogurt, butter, margarine, boxed mixes with milk proteins..." which is where I get glazed or irritated looks. *bone deep sigh*

And by the way...I'm still debating if the beignets were worth it. Well, Cafe du Monde stops were an essential part of my KCon experience after all! lol

I know...will I ever learn? ;p

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Ima Twit!

lol...I've been meaning to follow others here and finally have!

btw...accidently found out that Sherrilyn Kenyon and some of her characters were there too...then I finally read her update about it!
*eye roll* So I need to catch up on my email...but I got distracted by the time suck that is Twitter today!

Then I started watching NCIS reruns...I so love that show!



It's where I get my "Gibbs Slap" from! lmao

I wasted my day away...need to bake for Turkey Day. Just making Nancy's Ancient Chinese Secret Pumpkin Bread. ;p

Nany's my baking buddy...well we haven't baked together in a couple of years really but for a few years she invited me to bake for the holidays with her. I got so many recipes from her! I still call her to ask for recipes. I love to just sit and look at her cookbooks! lmao

I love cookbooks. I just don't cook. o.O wha?
Like you don't have something useless that you collect...be it tins (yes...i collect tins), watches, purses, jewelry, shoes (I know a few of you...DD!), or books in general?! See...you do collect things that you don't necessarily need!

Anyway...back to my procrastination...which I'm a master at. *should hang head in shame...but refuse to!*

I can't find my recipe book that has the pumpkin bread recipe in it...I will be calling poor Nancy again tomorrow. See if I'd clean my space...organize my books, magazines, notebooks...office/bedroom...I'd know where the dayum thing was!! And I didn't spend time doing it today! yeesh.

ok...enough rambling. Night all!

I know what a scoundrel wants!

Saturday, November 08, 2008

Very Good Taste Omnivore’s Hundred (meme)

Here’s what I want you to do:

1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten. (Google all the items you’ve never heard of. -S)
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment here at www.verygoodtaste.co.uk linking to your results.

The VGT Omnivore’s Hundred:

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare (maybe as long as it's not horse)
5. Crocodile...no, but I had Alligator recently in New Orleans!
6. Black pudding I don't think so.
7. Cheese fondue*
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho (if meat is well done, I would try it)
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi (meh...maybe if it's not too spicy & hides the cauliflower)
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses (milk allergy)
17. Black truffle (I eat mushrooms...why not?)
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream*
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras ...eeewww liver!
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese (milk allergy)
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper ...I'm a wuss when it comes to chilis
27. Dulce de leche*
28. Oysters ...bleh, texture thing.
29. Baklava*
30. Bagna cauda ...meh, not sure about the anchovies, def no cream!
31. Wasabi peas ...again, no pepper-like substances for me!
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl (milk allergy)
33. Salted lassi (milk allergy+cayenne)
34. Sauerkraut ...can I say eewwww.
35. Root beer float*
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea (milk allergy)
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat ....i don't know about this one.
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal ...hot,hot,hothot
44. Goat’s milk (milk allergy...not taking any chances)
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu ...can you say Death Wish?
47. Chicken tikka masala ....meh, curry=spicy
48. Eel (bad experience with bro's pet eel & cucumber peels...s'all i'm sayin')
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut*
50. Sea urchin ...raw?! *shudders*
51. Prickly pear...we call these nopales Really only liked it made my Gma.
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone (It’s endangered. -S) ...and it's a snail. o.O
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores*
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin (Only if taking Kaopectate counts. -S)
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake (Had beignets & benedryl recently in New Orleans...lol)
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill was it a deer? meh...maybe not.
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox (milk allergy)
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake