Make This Recipe & Impress Your Friends

Do you remember back in the late 80's and early 90's where you couldn't open a magazine or restaurant menu without seeing a recipe for chicken with 40 cloves of garlic?

You can't?

Well thanks for making me feel really old.

If you DO remember, then boy do I have a recipe for you.

Last week we had my mother in law over for her birthday dinner and made Ina Garten's Chicken with 40 Cloves of Garlic. It's tasty and only takes about an hour on the stove. Seriously, that includes browning AND cooking. Would I lie to you?

That's right. No roasting in the oven for 6 hours, no trussing chickens, no stuffing anything. And I used a cheap cut - chicken thighs. Oh, and my last hint - buy those prepeeled garlic cloves in a jar in the produce section and avoid the first step of the recipe. I don't have time to boil and peel garlic, do you?

It turned out so tasty, and the garlic wasn't as overpowering as you'd think. Sure it was a little stinky, but the flavor and ease of this recipe was enough for me (and everyone else) to overlook it. Serve it with some rice pilaf and a green salad and you're good to go.

This one's a keeper. And it could definitely be adjusted for various allergies (let me know if you try it).

You're welcome.

Eat at IKEA?

I was at Ikea on Friday (don't get me started on what they must pump through the vents in that place to make you spend huge amounts of money on cheap furniture and home accessories) for some things (I was buying napkins and drinking glasses if you MUST know) and walked by their restaurant.

Now I love me some swedish meatballs as much as the next guy (or gal), but I never bring B in to the restaurant because they advertised PB&J's and frankly we just wanted to avoid the hassle of their buffet style food and the chance of cross contamination.

But I saw something on Friday that made me a little relieved. I actually read their signs and learned that Ikea uses Uncrustables at the East Palo Alto location. So I feel a bit more comfortable eating there since I know they aren't actually making them in the back - just taking them out of a box and slapping them on a plate. You could check with your local Ikea to see if they do the same.

But there's no way in heck I'm dropping her off in the ball room for kids there. Ick.

Mabel's Labels

One of the feeds I subscribe to highlighted this product, and I wanted to share it with you too. Mabel's Labels has a new product called "My 411 Wristbands". Here's a description from their website:

“My 411 Wristbands” are designed to give parents peace of mind when dropping off children at birthday parties or field trips, or even when taking them to amusement parks. Other adults or caregivers have a means to contact the child’s parent or to learn vital information by looking at their 411. The disposable wristbands include the child’s first name, the parent’s first name and cell phone number and any allergies or special needs the child may have. These can be customized to fit any parent’s needs.

I am definitely going to order some of these for B, for those times she's out and about with us where there are crowds.

Girl Scout Cookies...

Janeen reminded me that Girl Scout Cookie season has started and guided me to a great link about allergies and GSC.

But how about making them yourself? I bet someone crafty out there could adjust some of these recipes to make them allergen free for the top 8. (Better yet, wouldn't it be great if a company like Enjoy Life took a stab at it? Maybe a collaboration could happen?!?)

Or, if you're like me and watching your girlish figure, you can always buy a box and donate it to our troops (someone told me there may even be a checkbox on the order form now to do exactly that). Or you could send them to your son/daughter/neighbor off in college. And I know the Girl Scouts will always appreciate a donation, even if you don't walk away with the box of cookies.

Supporting the Girl Scouts is important, but there's no way I can take a chance of having those in the house. Little B is way more important.

Easing Back In...

Happy New Year Everyone!

I took a much needed blogging break, but I'm back and ready to go. As you might remember, posting every day in November really kicked my butt, so I am going to set an easier goal for myself: a post once a week. How does that sound?

A few things have gone on in the world of allergy since I last blogged. Here goes:

• Nicholas Christakis gave his 'opinion' on the hysteria surrounding food allergies
  
• Joel Stein tried to be funny (and failed miserably)
• Researchers may have found a link between medication for Heartburn during pregnancy and Asthma/Allergy Risk

I'm not going to bother responding to either of the first two bullet points, especially when so many other bloggers and writers out there have had at them. The only thing I will say is that both articles make the lives of the allergic (and their parents) that much more difficult - now that folks are declaring that allergies are all in our heads, a desperate bid for attention, it makes it that much harder for us dealing with genuine allergies. I don't need people doubting that B's allergies are real. And I don't doubt that either author, if they have a child, has one with food allergies. Anyone who has would never write such things.

And as for the last point, there isn't a direct link to food allergies in this study, but it's scary enough for me to wonder if all the Tums I took to alleviate the incredible heartburn I suffered while pregnant was a good idea.

So what have you guys been up to?