Name a food - any food!

Last Friday Mr. Burn's church had a fundraising dinner. For some reason we hadn't decided yet if could make it and had not yet purchased tickets to the dinner before one of the organizers cornered us and asked if we could help out in the kitchen. Sure.
Great!
We need dishwashers.
Oh brother!
Anyone who knows me - knows that doing dishes is my least favorite activity EVER. There is not much I like less.

So that's how we found ourselves doing dishes for 200 people. That's 200 x salad plates. 200 x dinner plates. 200 x dessert plates. Water goblets, wine glasses, coffee mugs. Silverware!!! Ugh.

We took a break to make a plate for ourselves. The menu was spaghetti - so since I'm allergic to tomatoes, I scooped up some plain noodles and scoured the cupboards for something with which to dress it. I ended up with Malt Vinegar. Not bad.

The young volunteer bartenders saw what I was eating and lo and behold the topic of my allergies became conversation. Oh boy!

I had to laugh when Mr. Burns, in answer to their subsequent question said, "Name a food."

The first blurted out, "Eggs?" "Bingo!" I said, "I'm allergic!"
The second guy said, ""Chicken." Two for two! Nice work - but that game is like shooting fish in a barrel!

Speaking of fish. Lent will start soon and so begin the Lenten Fish Fries. I don't mind volunteering... but even for charity it's hard to pay admission to a meal you can't eat. Mass produced Mac 'n Cheese is not so yummy. And subjecting myself to seeing all that yummy looking fish and knowing I can't have any - Well - I'd rather stay home.

Allergy Etiquette

Recently, Mr. Burns and I have received a number of dinner invitations from friends. We are so blessed to have such wonderful and social people in our lives!

We gladly and I hope, graciously accept each invitation. But I wonder - what is the most gracious way to deal with my many and various food allergies? For me, the allergies aren't that hard to deal with - the worst part for me is putting my host or hostess in a position to have to accommodate me. I hate that.

Do I accept the invitation and then email a list of my allergies? That seems awful.
Do I offer to bring a dish, so that I have at least one thing that I know I can eat?

The best case scenario is a gracious hostess. I received this email from one of them tonight:

Are you allergic to chicken, cranberries, and/or goat cheese? I make a wonderful salad with hot chicken. Are you allergic to avocado?

Oh. How thoughtful! She remembers that I have some restrictions. But how to respond?
I composed the following response:

Oh... that salad sounds fabulous!! I am allergic to chicken - but if you add it last maybe you could just leave the chicken out of my salad... that would be easy, then everyone else can still enjoy it.

I really appreciate your concern for my allergies, though I hate to restrict my hostess! I'd be happy to contribute a dish that is TRS-safe so that your culinary skills can be free to shine for everyone else!

Below are my restrictions... but don't concern yourself too much with category two... I can generally eat around those and be fine.







Any thoughts? Is that proper? Is it in any way offensive?

Any ideas for how to approach a hostess who doesn't inquire about my food restrictions? If you were having me to dinner - how would you prefer it were handled?

While I'm at it... I just want to remind people to ask their guests about food restrictions. I know many people with Celiac Disease (gluten intolerance) or who are vegetarians who would appreciate the gesture.

My vegetarian friend recalls a dinner party when she was staying in a hotel in DC for a work trip. Her friend generously invited her to dinner knowing she was in town for a few nights. Then at dinner she served her a juicy steak. Predictably, my friend didn't touch it. (she's vegetarian mostly for dietary reasons, not ethical) Her hostess didn't even ask why the only thing she touched was her wine!!!

My friend went back to her hotel on the Metro - starving - a little drunk- and wondering where she was going to find something to eat at 10:00PM!!

Do remember that it is the mark of a good hostess to ask if her guests enjoyed the meal. If the plate is untouched, do ask if something is the matter. Don't be insulted, but give her a granola bar for the trip home!!!

Meanwhile, let me stress that my hostess is beyond gracious and accommodating! I quickly received this reply:

We’ll do something different- there’s a bunch of food you're NOT allergic too. Thanks for the info.

So kind, but I hate that I caused her to change the menu!! Argh!

My Renewed Passion for Soup

I love soup. It makes me happy. It makes me warm and cozy. It always tastes so good. I mean really, have you ever had soup that wasn't delicious?

What is funny is that I didn't realize until I reached my 30s just how much I love soup. I think I was having Minestrone one day after having another delicious soup a few days before and it hit me. I really enjoy soup.

Shortly after that profound realization, my soup days were over. You see, my doctor explained that I'm allergic to many simple foods: carrots, celery tomatoes, chicken.

If you know anything about soup - those are the very things that make up any basic soup stock. Woe is me. No soup. I've been pretty much soup free since late 2003!

So imagine the sheer joy I felt upon discovering a line of soups just for me!!!!
Okay. Pacific Natural Foods is not making them just for me, considering they are mass produced. But the ingredient list is completely TRS safe.

They are also organic, all natural and gluten free - none of which matters to me but I know plenty of people who will be thrilled to know it's available. (actually, some of you might find it helpful to have something like this on hand if you have friends or relatives who suffer from celiac disease -gluten intolerance. It's always nice to know you can avoid giving your guests an allergic reaction with minimal effort!)

I found these at Super Target, which is terribly handy.
Yesterday I tried the Butternut Squash and it was just SOOOOOOO tasty. I'm thinking the Buttery Sweet Corn will be tasty with some potatoes and fresh corn mixed in.

Oh sweet happiness! SOUP IS BACK!

Back when I had to give up soup, my mom and I spent some time trying to figure out what to substitute for the basics in soup stock. Now that's a hoot. The girl who doesn't cook* is going to make her own soup stock! Absurd.

I did find an organic soup broth from Swanson that is also TRS safe (also at Super Target). I use that to make my fabulous Squash Bisque... but I just don't have that many soup recipies... nor the patience to tinker with it.
So finding these ready made soups is a real coup!!


* FYI - I can cook. I actually cook quite well. In fact, I guess my friends hear me say so often that I don't cook that they think I can't cook! Please, who can't follow directions? When I do make a dish... everyone is shocked that it's so good!
More often than not I simply choose not to cook. It's too much work, too much mess and I've never figured out how to keep produce around long enough to eat it!