The high cost of food allergies...no desserts for ME!

This weekend, we ended up making dinner really early one night because the boys were hungry. Usually, by the time we finish dinner, there's just enough time for the boys' bath, clean-up, and bedtime. But we had tons of time that night. And I have a wicked bad sweet tooth.

You can see where this is going, right? Out for dessert!

Due to B-man's nut allergies, desserts are REALLY difficult. Almost everywhere we'd go, there are nuts used. Bakeries and ice cream stands are right out as there's way too much risk of cross-contamination. So I had to think outside the box. You know what finally occurred to me? McDonald's!

We rarely eat at Mickey D's. I'm really not a fan of their food. Well, except Egg McMuffins. Mmmm! But besides one time we stopped on a road trip a few years ago when there was nothing else around, and a few times through the drivethru for fries, the boys have never had any McDonalds.

They were so excited to go out for dessert! I had read the ingredient/allergen lists online ahead of time, and knew I could get the boys ice cream cones. We got the ice cream cones, and the boys were literally jumping up and down in excitement. We sat down, and gave them the ice cream cones. They both looked at them. Then N-man asked perplexedly, "How do I eat this?"

Oh my. My poor, poor children! Nearly 4 years old, and they don't know how to eat an ice cream cone. (In my defense, I haven't been quite so cruel. They have had ice cream cones maybe 2 or 3 other times, all at Grandma's house and not since last summer. They must have forgotten.)

We taught them how to eat ice cream cones. They loved it! I got to eat dessert, too. I mean, it was no Melting Pot chocolate fondue or Cold Stone Creamery ice cream, but I think I just have to accept that my days of desserts like that are over, at least when B-man is out with us.

So I guess I found what McDonald's is good for: adequate desserts out for my son with nut allergies.

Did you ever think you'd hear me singing any praises for McDonald's? I know, it surprised me, too!

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In an ironic twist of fate, I'm reading In Defense of Food at the moment. I believe going to McDonald's while reading this book was kind of like my endless yearnings for Twinkies while reading Twinkie, Deconstructed. Missing-the-point!

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I tried one of the new McCafe coffee drinks while I was at McDonald's. A cappucinno. It was NOT good. In fact, it was pretty disturbing. The "foam" on top stayed foamy. I don't know what it was made of, but I don't think it was foamed milk. There's no way foam shouldn't melt into the coffee by the time you get to the bottom of the cup! It totally grossed me out!

See, now this sounds more like me, right? A little bit of honest food snobbery? Hey, I calls 'em like I sees 'em!

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Where's your favorite place to go for dessert? Mmmm, chocolate!

Missing the point

So, I'm reading Twinkie, Deconstructed by Steve Ettlinger. It's about food additives and industrial food. It's not particularly in the "wow, isn't technology amazing" vein, let's just say.

However, whenever I read the book, the only thing I can think is "I need a twinkie". Oh, Polysorbate 60? I want a twinkie. The iron in enriched flour is also a weed killer? I want a twinkie. The cornstarch in a twinkie can also be used to make cardboard? I REALLY want a twinkie!

I've completely missed the point. And now I need to go out and get a twinkie. Or maybe a ho-ho.

Reinspired

This weekend I took a trip to a spice store. A while back, Snick had told me about a shop in the area that just sells spices, but it's not that close to my house and I'd just never had the need to go. But I finally went. And it was awesome.

And I'm totally reinspired to cook. I was kind of in a rut since the CSA ended. I think I have to face facts that I'm someone who is inspired by new things: new recipes, new ingredients. I get bored of making the same ol' same ol'.

So here what I got:

Fleur de Sel, my one "luxury" item. I bought a tiny jar, so it wasn't too expensive, though I calculated it out and it costs almost 100x's as much as that blue cylindar jar of normal salt. I don't care, it was a fun $9 splurge!

Sweet curry powder
Taco powder
Cilantro (I know, boring. I just happened to be out of it)
Green Goddess mix
A mix for sprinkling on sandwiches
Lemon Grass
Vanilla extract (again, boring, but I use a lot in winter cooking)
Lavender

The lavender was the real reason I went to the store. I found a recipe for lavender shortbread cookies (I'll post it after I try it if it's any good), but haven't been able to find any dried lavender to make it with. And I couldn't find it in this store.

I asked at the counter, and got the most awesome example of food snobbery: "CULINARY lavender?" Yes, I answered. "You're going to COOK with it?" Yes, I answered. "Okay, we keep it in back so that only people who know it's for cooking will buy it."

Hee! So I got my culinary lavender.

Have any recipes I should try with my new spices? Link 'em or post 'em!

I made two great things with the Fleur de Sel last night. Soft pretzels, and caramel dark chocolate truffles with fleur de sel. Both were good, but the truffles were unbelievable. They took a zillion hours to make though. I'll never complain about the price of truffles again...I get it now! And I "ruined" some of mine by not tempering my chocolate after I had to take a break with one of the boys trying to use the potty. Oh well, they're still tasty, even if they're not all lovely.

Pics pics, to make my mouth water:

Was this an exaggeration?

The other day, I was IM'ing my sister-in-law. I'm not great at IM'ing. I get kind of confused as the conversation jumps in different directions. As you're waiting for the other person to type, you introduce a new topic, then they do, then you're responding to something old and they're responding to something different and, well, it's an interesting mess. It's so...I don't know...non-linear. Fun, but sometimes some of the conversation threads get left hanging.

That happened to me the other day. My sister-in-law is hosting Thanksgiving this year. Her first. She's pretty excited. She likes to host really elaborate, cook-for-a-few-days kind of events. So as we're IM'ing, I asked what I could help with. She said the mashed potato bar.

It turns out she wants three kinds of mashed potatoes (regular, sweet potatoes, and cauliflower, which I know isn't technically a potato, but mashes up like an Atkins-freak's messed up rememberance of mashed potatoes. Of course, I've already owned up to my opinion of Atkins and cauliflower). And she'll serve them in martini glasses, with a toppings bar of things to add on top.

That sounds pretty neat, doesn't it?

Then she IM'd that she has a list of FIFTY toppings, like mini marshmellows and wasabi and chives.

Do you think she was exaggerating, or do you think she really has a list of 50 toppings? I don't know if I can even think of fifty potential toppings. But I believe she could. I have to send this to her to see if she was exaggerating for comic effect or just reporting the facts.

So what type of potatoes would you choose from the mashed bar? And what would you top it with?

I think I'd go with a mix of regular and cauliflower, with sour cream, chives, and bacon. If those are choices. With potentially fifty choices, I'd guess things as boring as those would be on the list!

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Current NaNo Word Count: 51,569

Current NaNo Attitude: Still excited about being past 50k. I took Sunday off, and now I'm aiming for writing 1k a day until I reach the end of the novel. I'm close. I forgot about some subplots, but as I said, that's editing now. I'd guess I'm within 5k of ending, and I could be even closer if I skimmed over some stuff. I'm not rushing it, but I'm trying not to drag it out, either. It'd be fun if I actually finished the novel in November, but if not, at least I passed 50k in November!

A glimmer of hope via...yogurt?

It all started back when they were infants, and I was making all the boys' baby food. B-man didn't really like any of it. Okay, I'm fine with that...it's great for kids to develop their own palates. Well, one day I gave them a jar of baby food instead of homemade. It was peas. B-man loved it.

And so the stage was set for the past two years. Anything delicious, B-man (and often N-man, too) turn their noses up. Inferior versions of the same food, they chow down.

But now I finally see a glimmer of hope. And oddly, yogurt is the cause of this happiness. See, the other day I got some neat Horizon yogurt tubes. I wanted B-man to eat some yogurt to help counteract the effects of the antibiotics he is taking, and this seemed like a fun treat. Well, boy oh boy, did it go over great! They ate the whole box as quick as I would let them, along with a little help from TK.

The next time I went shopping, I had to go to Stop and Shop to pick up some prescriptions. Anyone who shops at S & S knows it's not great source of organic choices. I mean, you do okay if you search, but needless to say, they didn't have the Horizon yogurt tubes. But I really wanted the yogurt, as I was there picking up yet another antibiotic prescription. My only choice was something by Yoplait, with Scooby Doo plastered on the front. At least they had the good graces not to call it yogurt. It was "Rogurt". And the flavors? Again, we got some nondescript names that at least didn't pretend to be actual fruit flavors. Shaggy's Like Cool Punch and 'Rawberry. I guess "Red-dyed High Fructose Corn Syrup and Artificial Flavoring" was too long a name to fit on the tube.

I was betting the boys would love it. And when I saw the day-glo colors after opening the first tube, I figured my days of them eating the healthier, more appetizing Horizon brand with flavors like blueberry and strawberry were coming to a screeching halt.

But then, wonder of wonders, they both took a bite or two and put it aside. B-man asked for the other kind of yogurt. It was my proudest moment. They made a food choice with which I can agree! Hurrah!

Maybe one day they'll be eating bagels with hummus, instead of "plain, Mommy!" Or pizza covered in veggies, instead of just pizza crusts. Or any kind of veggie. Wait, let's not get crazy...

Random unrelated thought: I finish The Omnivore's Dilemma and really loved it. I found it incredibly interesting and very readable as well as informative. I don't think I'll be foraging for wild mushrooms, or salt, or yeast anytime soon, but it was a book I very much enjoyed.

I'm now reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver (a zillion thanks to Gio for letting me borrow hers, dropping it off at my house on the crazy day I last blogged about). It's odd reading it in such close succession to The Omnivore's Dilemma, as there is a lot of content overlap. I know many of my book group members are not enjoying the book, but I'm really finding it interesting, and a quick read. I'm skimming some of the more over-the-top parts, and forgiving some of the "she didn't just say something that sanctimonious, did she?" parts. I think it's really helping this book that I am reading it in succession with The Omnivore's Dilemma. It's a book I look forward to picking up, and really, that's all I ask of my books.

The Bibliophile's Dilemma

So, I know I'm behind the times, finally getting around to The Omnivore's Dilemma. I mean, I've been *thinking* of reading it, but there are just so many other trashier novels that first demanded my attention.

Well, I've finally gotten around to starting it, and it's really incredible. It's a totally eye-opening experience. I'm into the "second meal" section now; I hope it stays as engaging.

My only "beef", if you will, is with his industrial meal being a McDonald's takeout meal. I mean, isn't that a bit of an EVIL FOOD cliché? What actually hit me more strongly about the first section of the book is the fact that it's not just fast food...it's the stuff I buy at the supermarket and cook at home. I thought he should have picked a typical family eat-in meal made from common ingredients...you know, something like what a million families will be eating tonight. Well, I guess that might be McDonalds. But, since I don't eat Mickey D's, it didn't have as big an impact on me.

Okay, partially-read book review done. For all I know, the next page could say "ha, ha, I was kidding about all that stuff you just read. It's all LIES! Mwa ha ha!"

Random unrelated new direction for this post to take: My inlaws were visiting this weekend. They watched the boys for us so we could go out to dinner one night. We chose to go to a Chinese buffet. Fancy, I know. Seriously, though, since B-Man was diagnosed with a nut allergy, we just haven't been willing to risk Chinese food. And when we do get a babysitter, we tend to go somewhere nicer than a Chinese food buffet. Which means it's been ages since we'd had Chinese food. I loved it. Egg rolls, spring rolls, crab wontons, scallion pancakes...can you tell I tend toward the appetizer section of the buffet? Yummy, and oh so healthy! Anyone want to go out with me for Chinese food one night??

The sorry state of the future

I wouldn't say I'm a pessimist, but sometimes I wonder about the future of the world.

I've always been a fan of dystopian literature. The Handmaid's Tale, Oryx and Crake, Brave New World, A Friend of the Earth and heck, most everything by Kurt Vonnegut. Those are some of my favorite books. For my 2007 NaNoWriMo novel, I ended up writing a dystopia.

No, I'm not pessimistic.

So, on this most recent road trip we took to Buffalo, I was reminded of something. Something that I believe irrefutably proves that the future perhaps isn't all rosy: Dippin' Dots. You know, the ice cream of the future (circle R).

I'm not saying Dippin' Dots are bad, but really, is that all the future holds for us? Why can't Ben and Jerry's be the ice cream of the future? Or even Hood's Fenway Fudge. Those are futures I could embrace. But Dippin' Dots?

I hate to say it, but I don't have a lot of faith in a future where Dippin' Dots is our ice cream of choice.

Random unrelated thought: Whenever I get the hiccups, I worry that they'll never go away. Like this guy. Although, technically, his hiccups did eventually stop, after sixty-eight years.