Ana: my biggest fear

No I'm not afraid of people named Ana... I'm talking about my newly developed and huge fear of "ana"phylactic shock. Which actually then leads to my other new fear...the Epi pen.

I have never had an anaphylactic reaction. I've been close, but was able to control reactions with benadryl. Of course I always have both my Epi pens close (I used to not carry them but the risk is just not worth the cute little purse that doesn't fit the epi). My fiancée, parents and close friends all know how to use the epi. When I go out with friends I just let them know at the beginning of the evening that I have my epi and benadryl and where they are in my purse.

I'm not actually afraid that I won't use the epi but rather the entire experience of ana and the epi combined. I know that the epi will save my life but there is just something about the whole not being able to breathe, "jabbing" a needle into my thigh, hospital observation time thing that I'm just not a fan of.

My epi pens expire and when I get the new prescription filled this week I'm going to test the old ones. I've been told to use an orange because it's the most similar to my leg, and then to test the other on a cardboard box so I can watch how the pen itself works. I'll take a video of all this for you all to see and hopefully it will ease my, and anyone else's, fear of the epi so that Ana is less frightening.

Till next time....

P.S. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!! Have a great holiday and eat safe!

Cupcakes!!!

These cupcakes came from Viitals in Tampa and are allergy free and I've only had the vanilla one so far but it was really good. I can't wait to dig into the pumpkin spice and mint ones I got. I'll do a full post on my lunch experience there later.

On a side note, this post was the first that I completed on my phone...kinda neat!

Till next time...

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Pumpkin Short Ribs Recipe!!!

I must say first off that I can not take credit for this recipe, although I was very pleased with my modifications and results. Below is the original recipe (and marked my changes in red) for Pumpkin Short ribs that I found on the In Erika's Kitchen Blog:

Pumpkin short ribs

• 2 Tbsp grapeseed or canola oil (I used canola)
• 4 lbs English-cut short ribs (we found boneless pork ribs to use)
• 3 large onions, sliced (I only used one because onions are not a favorite flavor in our house)
• 6 cups sliced crimini mushrooms (love mushrooms!!!)
• 4 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
• 1/2 cup white wine (I used the pinot grigio I had opened the night before)
• 2 cups pumpkin puree (homemade or canned) (grabbed a can of pumpkin)
• 1/2 cup beef broth (used an allergy safe broth- Coconut and Curry Chicken)
• 1 tsp ground cumin (didn't use any because I didn't have any)
• 1 1/2 tsp Chinese five-spice powder (I used some basil, pepper, ground ginger, whole cloves)
• 2 tsp salt

I used the Crockpot. Threw everything in at 8am, stirred it up, turned it on low for 10 hours and ate dinner relaxed that evening. 

Everyone had seconds that night and my house smelled amazing. The in-laws seemed happy and it was so much less stressful than trying to find a place to go out to eat where I could relax and eat an allergy free meal. I must thank the fiancée for helping me pick out the right pork ribs and getting everything into the Crockpot that morning.


Till next time...

Back off the rice

So while I did post earlier today all about how yummy my rice based pizza was I am now having to avoid rice again. I do test positive for the allergy but after a food challenge I seemed fine. Well stomach problems have returned and based on food intake and stomach upset I am still not reacting well to rice. It's been cut out for the time being to see how I do without it. Some part of my hopes it's not the rice and some part of my hopes it is....


Till next time...

GF and DF Homemade Pizza

I love pizza. I used to love when Mom and Dad would order pizza after skiing because we were all tired. I actually won a pizza eating contest in elementary school (and I was the scrawny kid in the class). Food allergies have prevented me from eating pizza because I didn't know where to find "Katie Safe" options. I have been to one restaurant that had pizza I could eat. Beau Jo's in Colorado made me a very very very happy girl by having Gluten Free dough and Dairy Free cheese. On a side note...Colorado Mountain Pie's are the best pizza's ever!

But anyways back to my pizza making experience. I found Gluten Free Pizza Dough mix at the grocery store and decided that I HAD to try it.

 As the box says it is wheat free, soy free, and nut free. It is also corn and dairy free but not rice free.

The dough was very sticky and gooy but the directions on the box warned of that. I always dreamed of tossing pizza dough like an Italian but wheat allergies just don't work with dough tossing.

We added tomato sauce (improvising because that's what you have to do), mushrooms, onions, spinach (they just dried up?) and rice cheese. This was my first Rice cheese experience and while I was nervous I was optimistic. Well....don't eat it uncooked and you'll be fine :-).

All said and done it had a suspiciously similar taste to the rice pasta I eat but we ate it anyways. Either the fiancée was just being nice and having seconds to make me feel good or it really wasn't bad! I personally was very happy but will look to improve on the cheese for next time.

Till next time...

First Holiday with Food Allergies: HALLOWEEN!

Halloween was my first holiday with such a long list of allergies. I kept telling myself I was just being really good and not eating junk food but secretly despised the idea of all that candy, that I know tastes so yummy, just sitting in my house. As I think about the holiday a week later, I realize that because I was in my own house for a party, and I controlled what I ate, I did really well! There is still a bowl of candy sitting in the kitchen but honestly I have't been tempted! This is a huge deal for such a sweet tooth, although I would imagine this holiday would be much more difficult for children.

I feel like food allergies make events and experiences a battle...Halloween I won!

Next up is Thanksgiving and the fiancée and I are discussing what we think would be easiest for that day. If we decide to stay at our house I'll probably be online searching for safe recipes but I think I could do it. My biggest hurdle will be the green bean casserole (my absolute favorite holiday dish of all times)...I'm not sure how I can modify the cream of mushroom soup or the breaded fried onions but I'll keep everyone posted on what we decide. Luckily for me the fiancées parents, who will be spending the holiday with us, are flexible and understanding so that makes it easier on me!

Till next time...