Things I've Been Doing....

Things I've Been Making:
- Fruit cake
- Fleur de Sel Caramels
- A List (and checking it twice) - Ha Ha! Sorry I had to throw that one in for the holidays.

Things I've Been Contemplating:
- The 6 rib prime rib (only about 10 pounds of 49 grams of fat per serving MEAT) I just ordered for Christmas Eve Dinner. I've never made prime rib before. Is it easy? Please assure me that I'm not setting myself up for disaster! This is the recipe I think I'm using. Gah!
- Making B's annual allergy checkup in January. She's been begging NOT to have one. Can't say I blame her - those skin test are itchy mo flickers!
- the last day of school was today: NO REACTIONS even though there were plenty of opportunities for it. so thankful.

Things I've Been Doing:
- Letting B taste Nutella for the first time (her eyes just about BUGGED out of her head). Don't worry, her doctor said it was ok to try a small taste and go from there. She has tested negative in both blood and skin tests. No reaction. Whew.
- Ice skating in Union Square, San Francisco

Things I'm Regretting:
- The 10 lbs I've gained since I turned 40. Back on the Shred this week now that I don't have to hustle B off to school in the mornings for the next two weeks.
- Letting B taste Nutella for the first time. What can of worms did I open up???

What are you guys up to?

It's done...

I made it! A whole month of blogging about Peanut Allergy.

How did I do?

New Epi Pen Shape/Size/Features - Peanut Allergy Sufferers Take Notice!

I thought most people had heard about this, but just in case you haven't...

Dey Pharmaceuticals (makers of the EpiPen) have changed the design of the Epi-Pens!

Here's a link to a PDF that explains everything that's new about the pens.

But what you might not realize? The new size might just make your carrier obsolete (i.e. they wont fit!).

My good bloggy friend Denine (she's so great - I love knowing her!!) was kind enough to take a photo of both the old and new Epi on her Facebook account (hope you don't mind D!). See for yourself the difference in size.

We're not due to refill our Rx for a while. But I know that with the new pen will come another training for anyone who is around B.

Have you gotten the new Epi-pen yet?

Thanksgiving Feast FAIL for Peanut Allergy

OK, maybe B's Thanksgiving Feast at school wasn't a total FAIL.

But get this.

I walk into school with B's stuffing muffins in hand (they were a HUGE hit BTW - the other stuffing mom's stuffing wasn't touched - I actually felt a little bad) and asked the teacher if anything had nuts in it.

She said, "Don't worry, the kids know enough not to give B anything with nuts."

In my mind I've got an inner monologue going:

"Oh, you mean the kids who know basically nothing about food allergy (save for 2 others) and who can't READ know not to give her nuts?!?! Are YOU nuts lady?"

I ALMOST laughed in her face, like are you out of your cotton picking mind?!?

But I said, "it's not the obvious nuts I'm worried about, it's the hidden ones. Mind if I take a look at what you're serving?"

And I did. And everything was safe for B. Awesome! Off I went to work/errands/etc.

Cut to pickup.

On the way home, B tells me that she couldn't have the dessert at said feast. I probed, because sometimes she actually CAN have the dessert, but she gets scared/worried about it containing nuts and doesn't eat it.

"Why couldn't you have it?" I asked.

"Because it had a crosstamination warning" (her words, not mine).

"So what did you have? (thinking stupidly that her teacher surely gave her one of the safe snacks in the bag I put in the classroom)"

"Nothing. Neither did M (who has a milk allergy) or M (who has a peanut allergy too)."

So I say "Wanna go to Starbucks for some chocolate milk since you didn't get dessert?"

That went over well. So we did.

But inside, I'm getting annoyed.

I mean, why couldn't the stupid (yes I said it!) teacher tell me that morning that they would have a dessert that wouldn't be safe???? WTF (yes I said it!)??? I could have easily gone home and whipped something up (I'm all Martha Stewart like that). Why didn't the jackass (yes I said it!!) use one of the safe snacks I provided months ago???

So frustrating.

But B, wasn't angry. So why am I?

Needless to say her teacher and I are going to have a LONG chat on Monday about all of us.

Are You Still Full...

And wondering what to do with those leftovers?

• Martha can help.
• So can Rachael Ray.
• And don't forget about Bon Appetit and Gourmet.

And if you're heading out for Black Friday, don't forget your iPhone app.

Gobble Gobble

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

I am thankful for:
- my family (mark, little b, and all my extended peeps)
- no bad allergic reactions this year (a few sniffles here and there but nothing else)
- my job (even though I don't like going to work, i like my work a lot)

and YOU. Having this little pocket of people who 'get it' makes handling peanut allergy so much easier.

Thanks for reading and have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

Gabrielle (aka the Peanut Free Mama)

Adapting Recipes that Include Peanuts for Peanut Allergy Folks

For folks whose children have multiple food allergies, adapting recipes can be a challenge.

Thankfully there are lots of books out there that can help and offer recipes tailored to multiple allergies like this one and this new cookie one from Enjoy Life.

But for those of us avoiding peanuts (and nuts), it isn't TOO hard to make substitutions.

But are there any recipes that you've had trouble adapting because of peanut butter or marzipan for example? I figured out a substitute for ground almonds in cakes a few years back, but beyond that I've just substituted sunbutter for peanut butter (with mixed results) and sunflower seeds for ground peanuts.

I'd love to hear about recipes we can make over together. And while we're at it, what's your favorite allergy cookbook? Comment away!