What A Slacker!

Yummy Stone Crab

Add comment February 22nd, 2010

I was watching the Food network the other day and they were talking about George Stone Crab in Florida. These great big crab claws looked so good! But when am I going to be in Florida? Guess what? They deliver anywhere in the good ole USA. Gotta get me some stone crab claws.

One of the coolest things about these crab claws is that they are harvested fresh every day and the crab is released. Their claws grow back. How cool is that?

Allergy Test Results

Add comment October 5th, 2008

I recently had additional tests for food allergies. I am getting worse. I had already known of my celery, carrot, and peanut allergies, but the list is a lot longer now. It now includes soy, hazelnuts (actually we can say all tree nuts), Brazil nuts, almonds (like I said we can just write off all nuts), seafood (shellfish and regular fish), apples (raw and cooked), celery (raw and cooked), carrots (raw and Cooked), bananas, cherries, mustard, and a slew of other things.

The things that will hurt me the most are soy, celery and carrots. All three of these already cause my throat to close. So now I have an eppy pen just in case. I am trying to stay away from everything because food allergies only get worse. There are no shots to get better from food allergies.

My biggest hurtle is the soy. It is in every thing, absolutely every thing. Supposedly some forms of soy are okay but they aren’t really. If someone tries to tell you that something doesn’t have the right kind of soy protein in it to be a problem don’t chance it. I recently read about 4 deaths in Sweden caused by hidden sources of soy. And I am personally affected by even small amounts of soy oil such as that found in soft drinks like Mountain Dew and Fanta (although Coke tells me it won’t hurt me and will not respond to my emails that it does). The reaction I get from this type of soy is in mild compared to when I drink soy milk (which I haven’t done since the first time I tried it), but it does affect me causing mucus in my throat and other throat irritation, too. Soy oil is in just about everything. It is proving to be very difficult to stay away from that’s for sure.

Is There a Soy Free Mayo? No Way-O.

1 comment September 26th, 2008

I cannot tell you how hard it is to live a soy free life. Even when your life depends on it.

Two years ago I discovered I was allergic to soy when my Dad gave me a glass of Silk Chocolate soy milk. I really liked the taste, but by the end of the glass my voice was changing and my throat was closing. That was the beginning of the end as far as being able to eat what I want or what I like. Soy is in just about everything from Mountain dew to bread.

At first I just stayed away from the obvious sources like soy milk, protein bars (well anything with protein in the name), tofu and anything in the SoyJoy line. But that wasn’t enough. This year when I was tested again my allergy to soy had increased. So I am now reading all labels (which makes grocery shopping take a very long time) in search of soy free foods. This is not an easy task. If I was a dog it would be easy to find soy free foods, but as a human nearly all food contains soy of some type.

All I ask is for a commercial mayonnaise to be made without any soybean oil or soy source at all. I thought I found one with Hellmann’s Canola Mayo, but unfortunately is has soy in it. The ingredients list on the product itself does not say is has soy, which is why I thought it was soy free (and apparently so do a lot of people – do a search). But Hellmanns.com list the complete ingredients and the natural flavors come from SOY! You have to be leery of those hidden forms of soy that manufacturers feel they don’t have to list on the product itself. I was so excited when I first discovered this product, which has since been replaced with even more disappointment.

Hellmann’s® Canola Cholesterol Free Mayonnaise ingredients as listed on their website:

INGREDIENTS: WATER, CANOLA OIL**, VINEGAR, MODIFIED CORN STARCH**, WHOLE EGGS AND EGG YOLKS+, SUGAR, SALT, LEMON JUICE, XANTHAN GUM**, (SORBIC ACID**, CALCIUM DISODIUM EDTA) USED TO PROTECT QUALITY, DL ALPHA TOCOPHEROL ACETATE (VITAMIN E), PHOSPHORIC ACID**, NATURAL FLAVORS (SOY), BETA CAROTENE** (FOR COLOR), CITRIC ACID**, OLEORESIN PAPRIKA, PHYTONADIONE (VITAMIN K).
** INGREDIENT NOT IN MAYONNAISE
+ ADDS A TRIVIAL AMOUNT OF CHOLESTEROL

Guess I’ll have to try making my own soy free mayo. Problem with making my own is all the mayonnasie recipes I found have mustard in them. I am allergic to mustard as well.

Boy Did I Call That One

Add comment July 6th, 2008

As I said on the fourth I spent not only the day in bed but just about the entire weekend. If it weren’t for my friend pulling me out of thehouse on Saturday I would have spent the entire weekend in bed.

Saturday we went to the Tiki Bar with my friend and her husband. We had a good time. Good company, nice view (sat by the river), saw wild life (mating — sun fish, bullfrog, turtle and dragonflies). While we did not really want to cook our own meal and pay high prices of a served meal it was still fun. And still cheaper than therapy.

I Wanna Be Comfy In A Restaurant

Add comment June 4th, 2008

The other day we went into our favorite restaurant and they had redecorated. Before they had two different chair styles on either side of the restaurant. To be honest it did not look very good. That might be because one side had worn out wooden chairs and the other side had hard not very attractive metal chairs. Now they had matching seats on both sides. Unfortunately they did not get their restaurant chairs at Affordable Seating. The chairs look cheap and boy are they uncomfortable. I am afraid I am going to have to send them a link to this site so they can see what stylish, yet affordable restaurant chairs look like and maybe they will get something little better next time.

Sweetest Contest This Summer is at Cold Stone

Add comment May 31st, 2008

Cold Stone Creamery is holding a delicious contest. Before I get into how cool and wonderful this is let me tell you it is for young adults 13 to 19 (which sucks for me because I would have so been there). Okay, so now you know and if you are between those ages you can do this.

All you have to do is go a Cold Stone Creamery and create your best combination of ingredients. Once you have the ultimate yummy combo name it and head to the internet. Yep take your ice cream to the masses.

Sign up for the Awesome Cold Stone Contest online. Here’s where the fun part comes in get all your friends, both from the real world and the internet, to head to Cold Stone and taste your creation. Once they have given you two thumbs up have them vote online for you and your yummy ice cream concoction. In a competition kind of like those I have seen on the food network your entry will be judged first by the masses then if it passes the public opinion then you get to face the judges at Cold Stone.

I have not even mentioned that you are competing for over $30,000 in prizes! The iMix America contest has already started so get out there and create the ultimate ice cream mashup and get to promoting yourself online you only have until June 5th! Oh, and good luck.

My Bologna has a Middle Name It’s M-O-L-D-Y

Add comment April 23rd, 2008

My bologna has a first name, it’s O-S-C-A-R. My bologna has a second name, it’s M-A-Y-E-R.  Oh, I love to eat it everyday, and if you ask me why, I’ll say, ‘Cause Oscar Mayer has a way with B-O-L-O-G-N-A.

Every once in I get a hankerin’ for a good old fashioned bologna sandwich. The other day was just such a day. So while at the store I grabbed a package of Oscar Mayer’s boloney of the rack. Got home all ready to make me a sammy when I spied a colony of freeloaders on the side of my tasty treat! Some how they worked their way into a sealed package. Needless to say I did not eat a bologna sandwich that night, nor will I for awhile.

Thank goodness the store [Redner’s Markets] took it back. They really shouldn’t have given me any problems any way since the expiration date was still a ways off and my receipt was only dated the day before.

I also called Kraft and they sent out a coupon for a replacement package of bologna. Good customer service from both places and thank goodness I did not each any of the meat.

Yummy Peanut Butter Meltaways

Add comment March 22nd, 2008

My all time favorite candy is the peanut butter meltaway. I try not to eat them very often because I am allergic to peanuts, but since the allergy is not a sever one yet I do indulge every once in a while.

Way back in the 80’s I used to love Gardner’s Candies PB Meltaway. They made a bar that was shorter and wider than half a Twix bar that was great. Then for years I could no longer find them. That’s where the Internet comes in handy, I found them online and ordered some, while they were no longer the bar I remembered, they were still good. Before I found the Gardner’s again all I had was the 1 × 1 square peanut butter meltaways from Asher’s Chocolates. While good they are just too small. They have too much chocolate and not enough peanut butter. But then there is the Asher’s peanut butter meltaway Easter eggs. These are good! Loads of creamy, smooth peanut butter covered it in their delicious chocolate. Other companies just don’t quite understand the meaning of the word meltaway. Asher’s gets it right.

Gertrude Hawk’s also makes a PB meltaway Easter egg that I had for the first time the other day. I have to say it really can’t hold a candle to the Asher’s egg. Neither the chocolate nor the peanut butter are as smooth and creamy as Asher’s. Shame they are only available around Easter.

So of the three peanut butter meltaway candies Asher’s wins first place, followed by Gardner’s and Gertrude Hawks Comes in last. Don’t take my word for it though try them for yourself.

Who Knew I Would Have a Hit Recipe

Add comment November 14th, 2007

I love good homemade food but I rarely cook and almost never bake. So last year when my family was putting together family cookbook / scrapbook I was having a really bad time coming up with a recipe to put on my page. We were each to create a page with our favorite recipe, photo and memories. Memories I have plenty of, photos a few and recipes next to none. Now, a year later, I think I have found that new family recipe to hand down. The only time I bake is when we make holiday cookies.

I made a Tres Leches or three milk cake for a party my niece was having and it was a hit. So I made one for my sister’s birthday the next week and both my nieces requested one for their birthdays too. Only one more to go on the request list at this point.

You might ask how did I come by a Mexican Cake recipe when I don’t bake nor am I Mexican. A girl I work with brought a piece in for me to try and I loved it. Normally, I am not a fan of cakes. When I do eat cake I soak it in milk before eating it so this sounded really good to me and it was.

It is very easy to make and you can find about 20 variations on the recipe by searching the web.

1 Box Moist Yellow Cake Mix [add an extra egg to the instructions]
1 Can Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 Can Evaporated Milk
1 Pint Heavy Whipping Cream
½ tsp Vanilla

Follow the cake mix instructions but add an extra egg to the mix. [If you have a stand alone mixer like the Hamilton Beach® Eclectrics® All-Metal Stand Mixer mixing the cake is a snap, especially if you choose a scratch recipe]. Once you bake the cake allow it to cool for 5-10 minutes. Then in a bowl mix the three milks and the vanilla. You want to poke holes with a fork throughout the cake about ¼ inch apart. Then pour the milk mixture over the cake. Cover. Allow to soak in refrigerator overnight. The next day ice the cake with whipped topping or a light icing, nothing too sweet. Decorate with fresh fruit, my choice is raspberries.

Now this has me thinking of those holiday cookies and how much I hate using our old mixer. I always make a mess with it. Making the Tres Leches was no exception to that rule either. Oh, how I wish Santa could drop by early with a Hamilton Beach® Stand Mixer so we could mix up all those cookies with ease.

Heck, if I had a good Hamilton Beach® Mixer I might actually bake more often with everything it can do. So, Santa see what you can do about bringing me a Eclectrics® Mixer this year.

I’m Just a Little Black Rain Cloud Hovering Over the Honey Tree

Add comment November 14th, 2007

I love Pooh Bear. He’s all stuffed with fluff, you know?

I really thought the black cloud hanging over me when going out to eat [which is not Pooh with a balloon] was slowly moving on, but it appears to have returned.

A week ago we had dinner at the Red Lobster. It really was a good experience. The food was good [can’t go wrong with shrimp in any form] and the service was top notch. Really the only complaint I could have had was I found two shells in my Lobster bisque. I did not bite into them and I cannot fault the restaurant for using actual real lobster, now can I? This good experience has lead me to believe things would start to look up. But it was only a break in the storm.

A few weeks ago I wrote about Applebee’s for a second time. No I have not been back yet. But after that initial complaint I was told they would send out a gift certificate to make us happy and keep us coming back. Well almost three weeks later and no mail has come. It was only being mailed about 2 miles so it should have been here long ago. So I gave them a call and gentle reminder. We shall see.

But last night I went to my favorite Mexican restaurant, Alebrije. I ordered one of my usual dishes which I normally LOVE. Last night I was not so lucky. Not only was it merely luke warm the steak was extremely salty. I thought maybe it was the sauce, no. It was the meat. I could not eat more than a third of it and had to ask them to take it off the bill. Thank god[dess] for flan or I would have left there hungry, which would have been a first for me when leaving that restaurant.

In case my post title threw you off here are the lyrics to the song sung by Winnie the Pooh Bear in Disney’s cartoon:

I’m just a little black rain cloud
hovering under the honey tree,
Only a little black rain cloud,
pay no attention to little me.

Everyone knows that a rain cloud
never eats honey, no, not a nip.
I’m just floating around over the ground,
wondering where I will drip.

Where’s the Value in that Meal?

Add comment October 31st, 2007

Value meals are known for their low costs and smaller quantities. The one restaurant that seemed to still give you a decent sized burger for your dollar was McDonald’s. Not any more.

I ordered a double cheeseburger the other day and took six big bites before I ever hit meat. I pulled the bun off and took a look at what was inside [wish I had my camera with me at the time]. The burgers weren’t much bigger than a silver dollar and almost as thing. I really thought McD’s stole the patties from Wendy’s, who has been short changing us on the beef for years. [They’ll never be able to bring back the commercials with the little old lady yelling, “where’s the beef?” because it ain’t at Wendy’s nor McDonald’s for that matter.

Guess what they say is true. You get what you pay for and a buck these days does get you nothing but crap.

Don’t Invite Me For a Meal

Add comment October 28th, 2007

Even when I have nothing to do with the ordering and delivering processes I can still ruin a good meal. All I was going to do was eat it. I was at a friend’s house for a Halloween party last night and the pizza was being delivered as I got there. Perhaps that is all that is needed, me partaking and being in the vicinity of the food as it arrives.

The food that arrived was not the food that was ordered. They order two pizzas from Papa Johns one was half cheese and half mushroom the other was sausage. Well the half and half was right but the other was a mushroom pizza, no meat involved.

So they called to tell them they made a mistake and to get the right pizza delivered ASAP. One would think an error would have been corrected as soon as they could, but no. They told us it would be 30-45 minutes. An hour and a half later it arrived.

The Restaurant Black Cloud Continues to Hover Over Me

1 comment October 26th, 2007

The restaurant issues continue. This time we are back to Applebees, but a different one than before. This time it was a take out order for all of us at work. We have ordered from them before and have had problems from them before as well.

This time they let us order something that was no longer on the menu, which really held up the order when we went to pick it up. So we sat around waiting for the order once we made the changes for the two salads that are no longer on the menu. [They were smart enough to give us an updated menu to take with us.]

Anywho, we got back with our newly formulated ordered only to discover that the salads had no dressings. Luckily we had some on hand as the wilted lettuce would not have been very good without something on it. The worst part about this little glitch was the fact that it was a to go order and to get it fixed we would have had to drive all the way back to the restaurant. Not worth it.

I am really starting to think that perhaps I just should not order out at all.