Cashew and Hot Pepper Turkey?grayman's new brain child, we'll see what happens there, or if it happens.
Lion House Cashew Stuffing---Um, is this a theme?
Celery Root Gold Mashed Potatoes and Gravy---Ahh, no theme.
Mashed Pineapple Sweet Potatoes---Lizzyland's brain child, again we'll see what happens. No cashews.
Favorite Fruit Salad--No cashews, walnuts.
Acorn Squash--With walnuts, wait, it's that theme thing coming up again.
Rolls--I think our guests are bringing her pumpkin rolls
Veggie Trio--peas, corn and caramelized onions.
Caramalized Apple Pecan Cake
Pumpkin Pie
Heaven and Earth Pie --joint brain child, this will need it's own post. But no nuts....I think.
So it looks like a fairly Nutty Thanksgiving. But hey aren't we all a little nutty around the holidays?
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Food and Depression
You often hear, and possibly do, emotional eating or not eating, whatever the case may be. People have all sorts of terms for it 'eating your emotions', 'comfort foods', 'too upset to eat'. Whatever it is, food and depression go hand in hand.
Yet, there are times when your depression is sparked by food. And that's what I want to talk about today.
I know this is my recipe blog. But I also make sure that it is milk free, due to my husband's food allergy. Food limitations are a part of our everyday life.
We have 4 children, each child has had food limitations, whether allergies or intolerances. We are lucky that they have all grown out of them. But we've been there. I've walked hand in hand with friends as their kids are found to have allergies.
It is hard. It is just as hard as any other special need. It effects every aspect of your life, and is a daily challenge if not hourly.
And with these challenges depression can come right along for the ride.
Our oldest daughter, by the time she was a year old was diagnosed with 11 different food allergies. Emotions I went through was feeling alone, overwhelmed, anxiety, and honestly had trouble finding food to put on the table.
I didn't really have a support system. Yeah people knew about it, and they were always ready to say 'that's rough'. But I couldn't find anyone that knew what we were going through. That really got it. These days I can find them online, and even a local support group. But at that time I felt so alone.
By the time our daughter was 2 dinner would be "Here's 3 things from the fridge that she can eat. It doesn't make any sort of real meal, but it's food." Yes I remember one dinner that was plain rice, plain chicken, and peaches (in syrup, not juice because they use pear juice and that was on the list of allergies).
Shopping was a torturous experience. We were never there for less than an hour due to the number of labels we had to read.
In short we were in a total depressive funk, and there was no end in sight. Then one day we were in the store and saw Ground Turkey. Yes, it was probably always there and we just never noticed. Beef was another thing on the list. But that day they had a sale on ground turkey. And suddenly a light bulb went off. I could use ground turkey instead of ground beef.
I swear angels were singing that day. It was a momentous day. And it was the first day I started to think 'Hey! I think we might actually be able to do this.' Suddenly I was reinvigorated to find new recipes, to experiment. Daughter grew out of her allergies by 4 1/2, and that was lovely.
My next two weren't too big of a deal, as they were only unable to have 2 things each (milk and seafood for one, milk and barley for another) and since we were already milk free it wasn't that big of a deal.
Then came our youngest. And since I was breastfeeding her, any restrictions she had, I had. There was no cheating. And she couldn't have anything it seemed like. This time around I did better with the depression, I never stopped looking for things. But the denial of so much food took a toll.
Now, some of my friends will introduce me to others and call me an "expert" on food allergies (I am not). And I find myself talking to these other Moms. And one thing I warn about is depression. Yes, I can give you ideas on dealing with it, I can help you find recipes, resources, an allergist. But you can find that out with a bit of research on your own. I can give book recommendations. I highly recommend The Parent's Guide to Food Allergies.
But one thing I don't see much mention of is how dealing with all these food issues can bring on depression. So I warn Moms (Dad's aren't immune, I'm just usually talking to the Mom) to be on the look out. And to get yourself a good support system.
As Holiday's roll around, it can be the hardest time, as everything is centered around food. And harder is that quite often you will be where someone else is doing the meal, and the stress of that is extraordinary.
I've heard horror stories from others on things that have happened. So I'd like to give some advice to anyone cooking for someone with food allergies or intolerances, based on the fabulousness of our own families.
1) It's ok if not everything is safe for the food allergic person. We understand, having something that they can eat is great. If you can't make the main dish safe, please let us know in advance and we'll bring something if necessary for the food allergic person.
2) Beware of cross contamination. Please try not to even cook a dish with food allergies at the same time as food allergy free food. So many times we've had problems from things like shared cutting boards, bowls, spoons, spatulas. If you must share oven space, please put the food allergy free dish on top, that way there is no worries of spilling.
3) Please don't be offended when we have to interogate you on what is in the dishes and how it was cooked. We don't like doing it, but trips to the ER are worse. We are not trying to be insulting, but if you aren't having to do this everyday it is so incredibly easy to make a mistake and not even realize it. (Do you know how many spray oils contain milk?!)
4) Easiest thing on everyone, is don't put anything away. It's a pain for you, since your kitchen can get a bit cluttered, and you have to put it all away later. But it makes it so we don't have to interrogate. So you spray the pan with spray oil, put it on the counter. Then you threw in a can of X, don't throw the can away, put it on the counter. Then you used X seasoning mix, on the counter. Then when we come in we can do to the pile look through everything and feel safe and sound knowing what is in there.
5) Ask us. If there is anything you have questions on, just ask us. Don't try to Google it, or guess it. We don't feel bothered. We don't feel unsafe with you cooking. In fact in asking us, you set yourself up as a safe person.
May you all have a Happy, and Safe Holiday Season!
Yet, there are times when your depression is sparked by food. And that's what I want to talk about today.
I know this is my recipe blog. But I also make sure that it is milk free, due to my husband's food allergy. Food limitations are a part of our everyday life.
We have 4 children, each child has had food limitations, whether allergies or intolerances. We are lucky that they have all grown out of them. But we've been there. I've walked hand in hand with friends as their kids are found to have allergies.
It is hard. It is just as hard as any other special need. It effects every aspect of your life, and is a daily challenge if not hourly.
And with these challenges depression can come right along for the ride.
Our oldest daughter, by the time she was a year old was diagnosed with 11 different food allergies. Emotions I went through was feeling alone, overwhelmed, anxiety, and honestly had trouble finding food to put on the table.
I didn't really have a support system. Yeah people knew about it, and they were always ready to say 'that's rough'. But I couldn't find anyone that knew what we were going through. That really got it. These days I can find them online, and even a local support group. But at that time I felt so alone.
By the time our daughter was 2 dinner would be "Here's 3 things from the fridge that she can eat. It doesn't make any sort of real meal, but it's food." Yes I remember one dinner that was plain rice, plain chicken, and peaches (in syrup, not juice because they use pear juice and that was on the list of allergies).
Shopping was a torturous experience. We were never there for less than an hour due to the number of labels we had to read.
In short we were in a total depressive funk, and there was no end in sight. Then one day we were in the store and saw Ground Turkey. Yes, it was probably always there and we just never noticed. Beef was another thing on the list. But that day they had a sale on ground turkey. And suddenly a light bulb went off. I could use ground turkey instead of ground beef.
I swear angels were singing that day. It was a momentous day. And it was the first day I started to think 'Hey! I think we might actually be able to do this.' Suddenly I was reinvigorated to find new recipes, to experiment. Daughter grew out of her allergies by 4 1/2, and that was lovely.
My next two weren't too big of a deal, as they were only unable to have 2 things each (milk and seafood for one, milk and barley for another) and since we were already milk free it wasn't that big of a deal.
Then came our youngest. And since I was breastfeeding her, any restrictions she had, I had. There was no cheating. And she couldn't have anything it seemed like. This time around I did better with the depression, I never stopped looking for things. But the denial of so much food took a toll.
Now, some of my friends will introduce me to others and call me an "expert" on food allergies (I am not). And I find myself talking to these other Moms. And one thing I warn about is depression. Yes, I can give you ideas on dealing with it, I can help you find recipes, resources, an allergist. But you can find that out with a bit of research on your own. I can give book recommendations. I highly recommend The Parent's Guide to Food Allergies.
But one thing I don't see much mention of is how dealing with all these food issues can bring on depression. So I warn Moms (Dad's aren't immune, I'm just usually talking to the Mom) to be on the look out. And to get yourself a good support system.
As Holiday's roll around, it can be the hardest time, as everything is centered around food. And harder is that quite often you will be where someone else is doing the meal, and the stress of that is extraordinary.
I've heard horror stories from others on things that have happened. So I'd like to give some advice to anyone cooking for someone with food allergies or intolerances, based on the fabulousness of our own families.
1) It's ok if not everything is safe for the food allergic person. We understand, having something that they can eat is great. If you can't make the main dish safe, please let us know in advance and we'll bring something if necessary for the food allergic person.
2) Beware of cross contamination. Please try not to even cook a dish with food allergies at the same time as food allergy free food. So many times we've had problems from things like shared cutting boards, bowls, spoons, spatulas. If you must share oven space, please put the food allergy free dish on top, that way there is no worries of spilling.
3) Please don't be offended when we have to interogate you on what is in the dishes and how it was cooked. We don't like doing it, but trips to the ER are worse. We are not trying to be insulting, but if you aren't having to do this everyday it is so incredibly easy to make a mistake and not even realize it. (Do you know how many spray oils contain milk?!)
4) Easiest thing on everyone, is don't put anything away. It's a pain for you, since your kitchen can get a bit cluttered, and you have to put it all away later. But it makes it so we don't have to interrogate. So you spray the pan with spray oil, put it on the counter. Then you threw in a can of X, don't throw the can away, put it on the counter. Then you used X seasoning mix, on the counter. Then when we come in we can do to the pile look through everything and feel safe and sound knowing what is in there.
5) Ask us. If there is anything you have questions on, just ask us. Don't try to Google it, or guess it. We don't feel bothered. We don't feel unsafe with you cooking. In fact in asking us, you set yourself up as a safe person.
May you all have a Happy, and Safe Holiday Season!
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