Food

Now that I’ve been honest about my ongoing allergy status I feel like I can talk!  I’ve been hesitant to share what I’ve been eating, without an explanation, because I thought you would wonder what the hell I was doing.  Why aren’t you adding GARLIC!? 

Now I can be freeeeee!

Here’s a funny discovery – I’ve been eating what I consider boring, bland, basic foods.  I easily get full & I eat a lot of food, but it’s nothing spectacular or complicated.

HOWEVER, every single time I eat & someone is around – they’re wanting to eat my food.  And not just a bite, they want it.  All of it, as their meal.  That came as a huge surprise to me – why would anyone want in on my Veggie Rice when they can eat french fries, pizza, hamburgers, or spaghetti?

At first I was annoyed, I was making my personalized foods & bringing my meal with me everywhere I went in order to make sure I would be comfortable eating.  When everyone else wanted in on the ONE thing I could eat at the table, I was left a little… hangry.

I quickly learned.  Now, I make a lot of whatever I’m eating & share it with everyone – rather than assume they won’t like it.  This has also proven how willing people are to eat healthy when it’s in front of them.  As much as everyone wants to deny it, simple & healthy foods can also be delicious!  Sharing my food & knowing people actually like it? Makes me feel relieved about my diet situation.

{Wafiq’s the worst ever because I ask him if he wants to eat what I’m having & he always says no.  Like, he would never touch it.  Then I make my meal & he literally wants to trade what he’s having for mine.  Highly annoying.}

All this leads me to turkey burgers!

I’ve been using ground turkey as a way to add variety into my diet.  Rather than beef everyday, I mix in turkey.  If you’ve ever cooked with ground turkey before you know it’s a lot harder to make into burgers than beef, because it’s ‘wet’.  I knew in order to make it work for me, I’d have to add something to soak up the moisture, but I can’t do bread crumbs.  So I went for my bestie – Hot Rice Cereal.  Mix turkey, egg, cereal, salt + pepper and you have yourself some delicious, simple turkey burgers!

I wish I did NOT have an updated post about my allergies & I could come back to you saying everything has been excellent!  OMG I dream of saying – my anaphylactic shock was a complete fluke!  Unfortunately, that’s not the case.

The worst part, I still don’t have answers.

Since my first Anaphylactic Shock situation (here), I ended up having another one.  I chose not to share that info because I instantly knew I wasn’t going to have a clear answer as to why this was happening to me.  All my doctors said “it won’t happen again”.   And when it actually did happen again, pretty close after the first time, I knew I was in trouble. Which would leave the door open for questions, assumptions & scary conclusions.  I didn’t want that type of vulnerability out there for peeps to pick at.

What do you even do with a 4th of July that lands in the middle of the week?   Celebrate the weekend before & after.  Really make use of your red, white, blue & star fashion festivities.

I actually think the American theme can be stretched all summer, it’s the vibe of the season.  I linked some of my festive picks at the end of the post, go peek!

BUT, the subject of the day: Fourth of July Drank.

I know you’re probably looking for the star fruit ice cube mocktail & the festive colorful cocktail creation but that’s not the case today.  If you’re following me on Instagram you already know what’s coming.

Have you ever tried not eating or drinking?  Since my allergy attack I’ve cut out almost everything.  Any complicated food & all drinks besides water + topo chico.   I had one allergy doc tell me I was fine to eat anything & another recommended sticking to basics until my results come back –  but I chose to stick to basics, where I know every ingredient I’m consuming.

I don’t like the idea of risking another allergy attack, and for me – food & alcohol isn’t worth it.

I think I had an emotional attachment to food you guys.  When the attack first happened I was almost depressed thinking about not eating french fries & nachos anymore.  I have an anxious mind so I’ll blow up any idea I can, and in my head I was cutting out all my favorite snack worthy foods & wine – for life.  I felt a best friend leaving me, food.

But I saw this basic ingredient diet of mine as an experiment.  Remember when I did the Master Cleanse?  I view this allergy attack, and my new diet, the same way.  A challenge, and I live for challenges.  I want to re introduce ingredients to my diet one by one to see how they make me feel.  Having this approach to food after my allergy attack is better than fear & anger, right?   I’d rather create a challenge out of the whole debacle than sit around being scared of it.

So, I’ve also stopped eating at most restaurants.

And let me tell you, this is the most challenging part.  I’m 100% fine w my new “constrictions” because it’s part of my challenge.  In my mind, I adjusted from being depressed about food, to tackling it.  I have my main foods, that I absolutely love eating, and am full every single day.  + I love cooking at home.

The challenging part?  Everyone around me.  I get a lot of teasing about not eating because “oh yeah! You’re allergic to everything (eye roll)” and “try this! try this!” and “why can’t we just meet at a restaurant, you can find something to eat, or just sit w me” OR the best one – while putting something up to my face “don’t you just want to eat this?”

FML.

If you follow my Instagram account you’ll know I experienced an allergy attack (aka Anaphylactic Shock) a week & a half ago.  I don’t use that horrible technical term because I WILL FREAK OUT –  so I’ve been calling this incident an allergy attack & I’m sticking to it.

I was eating at a restaurant downtown.  My first meal of the day, & on the way back to the car we stopped in a little boutique shop.  I started feeling my stomach cramp, ran outside, my ears started itching, decided to go home to get an allergy medicine, but on the way to the car noticed my throat hurt & I started coughing.  When I got to the car my eyes, tongue, and face were swelling fast.   Then my feet started itching & full body hives.  I knew that was bad & different from my regular allergies. We rushed to the urgent room – 4 min away according to the GPS.  And I was injected with EpiPen.    From the first symptom to the EpiPen, was probably 10 minutes.  So that’s fucking scary.

I pretty much ALWAYS make my own hummus.  You might think I do this because I’m trying to be a health freak & prefer eating my own, homemade badass delight – but you’re wrong.  I make hummus at home because the containers of hummus at the store are either too much money, too small, or yes – full of crap.  Also, I always have the ingredients at home so I make it when I want it.   I don’t typically crave hummus while grocery shopping

I pretty much ALWAYS make my own hummus.  You might think I do this because I’m trying to be a health freak & prefer eating my own, homemade badass delight – but you’re wrong.  I make hummus at home because the containers of hummus at the store are either too much money, too small, or yes – full of crap.  Also, I always have the ingredients at home so I make it when I want it.   I don’t typically crave hummus while grocery shopping.

When we were in Dubai, we stalked up on the largest jar of Tahini we could find.  The Middle East has Tahini everywhere & it’s affordable, so Wafiq’s mom made sure we brought a HUGE jar home with us.   While we were on the subject of Tahini she asked me what I use it for & I explained hummus.  She casually said “ooOOo yes, easy. very easy hummus.  A little beans, oil, yogurt…”  Excuse me… what?  Yogurt?

The secret ingredient: yogurt!

What the hell was I thinking before with my regular, rookie hummus?  This is the real deal right here, hummus w/yogurt.  The difference – besides the slightly added flavor, the hummus turns out smoother w/a little added fluff.

I’ve been making a batch at home once a week since I’ve been back… (am I going to get fat?)  Because hummus goes with everything!  Sandwiches, veggies, chips, crackers, pita, salad.

Well here’s a little known fact about myself to chipper you up on your Thursday – I prefer/can only write a blog post when I’m listening to the Kygo station on Pandora.  It has that perfect mix of vocals & instrumentals, inspiring me to get my deepest words out to the world!  It can also take a turn for the worst & get me too emo, when I go back & read posts I can always tell. Ha!

TODAY is one of the best days for you guys because I’m forcing you to listen to me rave about these fucking incredible knives that I’ve ONLY cut my fingers on ONE time.  And that may or may not been because I was under the influence.. of something other than wine.

ALL HAIL IKEA $2 KNIVES!

I’ve tried other knife sets & knives from different companies that claim they have the baddest, bestest, sharpest knives in the world!  Not because I’ve owned many of them, but because I’ve gone to other homes & asked to use their knives.  And as predicted, they fucking suck!  They either have to be sharpened, be polished, or go through some other bull shit procedure in order to cut a tomato… BUT THESE IKEA BEAUTIES REQUIRE NOTHING BUT LOVE.  And they slice through a tomato like butter!  Are they the prettiest knives with their bright yellow & red handles?  Depends if you like ketchup & mustard.  I have no shame, I proudly set them at the table, especially with guests over.  I’ve thrown out the other prettier knives Wafiq inherited, no more pretending Ikea knives aren’t the only things in our kitchen that matter.

If you’re not already making this recipe-  hurry up & get it going!  I posted this recipe on my Instagram last year but thought it was worth a post.  It is. So. Delicious.  And super easy!

CHRISTMAS CRACK RECIPE

Ingredients:

Popcorn

Pretzels

White Chocolate

Dark Chocolate

Coconut Oil 

(the amounts you use for each ingredient is up to you! Extra popcorn? lots of chocolate?  go for it! )

Holy shit!  Almost literally. I was scared to go to the bathroom the morning after I ate those fucking sunflower seed shells.  I know that’s all you’re wondering, how was my poo poo.  Well, ladies and gentleman I’m relieved to report everything flowed normally… so far.

If you don’t know what I’m talking about you didn’t see my Insta Story. I’ve been trying new cookbooks & have recently been using the Naturally Nourished recipes.  I went for a casserole recipe the other night & noticed one of the ingredients was “shelled sunflower seeds”.  To me, this meant in-shell.  I was in Trader Joe’s googling “Shelled Sunflower Seeds” with results showing sunflower seeds, IN SHELLS.  Confirming my thoughts that the recipe had to mean sunflower seeds, in their shell.

Does baking a shell of any seed make sense? No it doesn’t. But neither did putting bulbs of garlic in green juice to cure my shingles, but it worked.  My mind told me no. My gut told me yes. To pursue & discover this new secret vegan ingredient, sunflower seed shells.

I blended about 1/4 Cup of sunflower seeds, in their shells. I did have a moment of hesitation after noticing the sunflower seed shells weren’t grinding down very well.  After persistence, I sprinkled the crumbs onto my casserole and baked.

Sunflower seed shells are a softer shell, okay?  I ate them as a child.  I know.  So I thought, maybe baking them would create a soft, crunchy crust.  Clearly wrong.

THIS WAS NOT A GOOD IDEA. And likely unsafe. Therefore, don’t do it. Shelled means unshelled. I don’t understand it still, and probably never will, but what the hell, learned something new.  In my defense, in another recipe from the book it asked for “Pistachios, out of their shell” which is why I assumed if that’s what they meant w/sunflower seeds they would’ve said it the same way?

I’m back w/a few other kitchen favorites!  I’m all about trying new flavors, doing new things, and not getting too comfortable with -anything!  Including food.  I keep these 5 ingredients in my kitchen most of the time, and think it’s worth a try if you haven’t.  Sometimes, when they’re sitting there starring at you, you’re more likely to make use of them. I might not cook w/these guys every day, but they’re common enough ingredients to keep around

You know what they say, you can’t change a guy?  Don’t even try.  Well folks, I’ve done it, I’ve changed Wafiq.  From the guy that knew the name of the person working drive-thru at McDonald’s to the guy asking for Brussel Sprouts at dinner. 

I used to be afraid of recipes that had ingredients I didn’t use or have in my kitchen.  I thought it took too much energy to find them & the unknown price & flavors… But over time & the use of bravery, I’ve stalked my kitchen with all kinds of interesting ingredients & end up using them more than I expected.