anniversary

I had a realization yesterday: it had been a year since my diagnosis! a YEAR. i told my mom this and she said that it had been two years. This made us both laugh because it both feels like forever and just yesterday.

Mostly what I remember is that the allergy testing took a total of about five hours, after the hour spend deciding that allergy testing was the way to go. Basically, right side of my back=15 minutes. Left side=next 15 minutes. then right arm, then left, etc. Plus prep time. Then we left for lunch and had to come back because they had to read the "late" reactions in my arm after two hours had passed. What I'm getting at is that there is a distinctively memory from that day. Besides how miserable all the needle pricks were (and I don't even mind needles that much, but when you have anywhere approximately 100 in one day? Whole different ballgame!), there is a memory from lunch. I felt miserable, realizing that all these allergens were definitely the source of feeling miserable: nauseated, exhausted, and couldn't even garner up enough energy to pick a place for lunch. Finally we went to Chik-fil-a because I wanted a milkshake. Maybe they had their mint ones because it was still the holidays? Unknown, but I'm sure we're all aware of how much awesomeness a Chik-fil-a milkshake is. My mom got a real meal and I remember staring at the chicken and the bread just wondering. That feeling in the pit of my stomach as realization dawned...what CAN I eat? Can I eat in public, order safely in a restaurant? The repercussions of a diagnosis I hadn't been prepared for were hitting home and hitting home hard.

We also ventured out to the grocery store after returning home around 2pm after all the testing...lots of favorite foods were quickly dismissed. My mom had a bag of groceries waiting for me to take back to school, 90% of which was left behind. It led to the eventual discovery when I got back to my apartment at school that there were a grand total of 14 things in my entire pantry that I could eat.

Oh how my life has changed in the last year. It's truly amazing.

I went to dinner on Friday night (and then to see Les Miserables; everyone should see it, it's awesome!) and  my friend who had suggested that evening's event texted me back when I asked what restaurant she wanted to go to: anywhere you can eat. I really did LOL to that and was in an indulgent mood when later I explained that I picked Panera because I like it, but basically we can go anywhere I can get a salad. Because if nothing else, I can at least eat lettuce.

I know I can. It was checked on the allergy testing. :)

bullying over food allergies...

apparently happens. and it's so, so sad to consider. I don't get anaphylaxis like a lot of people do, but I can imagine how terrifying that kind of a threat can be.

http://healthland.time.com/2012/12/25/bullying-over-food-allergies/?iid=hl-main-lead

three berry tart

so....it's the holiday season! I've been at home and Mom had to go to a Christmas breakfast today and take a dish. As such, she decided to take a three berry tart from a new recipe book she got. Interestingly, I ended up making it. We made it twice--once for family dinner and once for the party today--in order to practice before having to take it out into public. Also interestingly, it contained at least three allergens in it plus a few that are maybe-allergens. The whole point? I resisted the first tart endeavor...but she came back after the party today. And I'd exercised and i've been on vacation...so i binged on the tart that was left. Full well knowing the consequences. I have an irresistible sweet tooth.

And you know what? It hasn't been that long since I indulged, but it's worth it. I may not say that later, but for now, I'm enjoying it.

Fabulous Three Berry Tart

Crust

1 bag/8oz animal crackers

1/3 c butter or margarine, melted

1 t ground cinnamon

2 T sugar

Filling

1 package (8oz) cream cheese, softened

½ c sugar

2 T lemon juice

1 c whipping cream

½ pint/1 c fresh blackberries

½ pint/1 c fresh blueberries

½ pint/1 c fresh raspberries

¼ c strawberry jam

1 T orange juice

1. Heat oven to 350. Place animal cracker in food processors; cover and process about 1 minute or until crumbs are finely ground. In a medium bowl, mix cracker crumbs, butter, cinnamon, and 2T sugar. Press mixture in bottom and up side of ungreased 9-inch tart pan with removable bottom. Bake 8-12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely, about 20 minutes.

2. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, ½ c sugar and the lemon juice with an electric mixer on low speed until blended. Add whipping cream; beat on high speed 3-5 minutes or until light and fluffy. Spread mixture in tart shell. Refrigerate at least 2 hours.

3. Arrange berries on chilled filling. In small microwavable bowl, microwave jam uncovered on High about 20 seconds or until warm. Stir in orange juice; mix well with fork. Brush strawberry glaze over berries.

Tips and tricks: I used graham crackers purchased from the store already ground. Easier. Less messy too, I would presume. Also, springform pan. And also, GREASED springform pan. Easier to dish out. While cooling, start on the filling. Do this leisurely because it does take the 20 minutes to cool. 

I don't know what "light and fluffy" really looks like in regards to whipping cream/cream cheese, but I leaned towards the 5 minutes end of the specrum. COOL OVERNIGHT. No joke. The first one cooled for like three hours and didn't really set. Overnight set just fine.

The best way to mix the jam and the juice is to mash the jam like you're mashing potatoes. Worked just fine. Also, you can spread the berries out or just pile them in the center.

Deliciousness. No regrets. :)

deficiencies

I just typed in the "title" to this post and it made me giggle a little. In the way of I mean nutritional deficiencies, but that word can be completely misconstrued!

So vitamin deficiencies are usually not a problem in America. At all. there are a few common ones--B12 in vegetarians because B12 sources are usually animal based, and also vitamin D because people don't go outside. I am not being facetious with that at all, btw. Especially in northern climates, you can see pretty bad vitamin D deficiencies. I've seen some incredibly low levels in my few months of actually looking at lab values. Interestingly, people who are also (ridiculously) assiduous with sunscreen usage are ALSO vitamin D deficient. so some sunshine is good for you!

speaking of which, i finally made it outside for a bit (i'm on vacation right now!) and look so much healthier for about an hour spent walking outside in the sunshine. so it doesn't take much, really.

but so vitamin deficiencies. Our grains are reinforced with riboflavin, niacin, etc which are B vitamins. Our milk is reinforced with A&D. Plus most americans take vitamins even if they don't need them. People in other countries would love the opportunities that we have. So actually a big plus to international medicine is that you see vitamin deficiencies and things you would never see in America. One of the mission trips that our school did--you know what they took with them? Bottles and bottles of vitamins. the same bottle of 100 vitamin pills you can pick up at walmart for $3 can make huge  differences in some people's lives.

Including mine. I've had some person issues to deal with recently and haven't had time to cook and make sure my diet was as balanced as it can get. So I was eating a lot of potatoes and corn, the staples of my diet. Healthy enough, but not a balanced and nutritious diet. Don't get me wrong, potatoes and corn both have great benefits--but look at both the Irish and the Mexicans, who have a diet based in each vegetable respectively. There are striking deficiencies in each diet. Which gradually popped up in mine. I was getting this weird rash all over and then I got it on my face--ew. A facial rash is NOT FUN. Especially because nothing was helping it. And then I started getting these weird bumps on my tongue...and it came to me. This had the potential of being a vitamin B6 deficiency!

Now of course this is self-diagnosed, but still entirely possible. furthered by looking up sources of B6:
http://www.healthaliciousness.com/articles/foods-high-in-vitamin-B6.php

that site is a great resource to look up ALL vitamins but what was most striking to me was that i ate nothing on that list. oops.

The interesting thing is also that I broke my foot a few weeks (2 months now) back and so that got me thinking on vitamin D and calcium. and i also noticed that my hair has changed in consistency and thickness, so there's another thing to ponder.

Either way, my point really is that most Americans don't need to take vitamins unless you have a weird diet...like me. :)