Anaphylaxis: Not Something to Joke About

It's been a while since I posted anything. In fact, I put off a couple of posts since it didn't flow like I wanted to. This is a subject I've wanted to deal with for some time. The subject is also personal. If you noticed the open page on my blog, I have two videos posted towards the top of the page on each margin. If you keep reading this article, I would ask you watch the Trace Adkins video, located on the top left column on this blog. If you watch both videos, all the better but the Adkins/Doctors video will help make more sense of this (especially if you don't have a loved one or friend with food allergies). The subject I am going to touch on is anaphylaxis and food allergies. You will see from my story how quickly things can change with these two subjects.

Before I go on with my story, I think I need to give a definition and the symptoms of anaphylaxis. I think the Mayo Clinic did a nice job with this:
Definition:
"Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. It can occur within seconds or minutes of exposure to something you're allergic to, such as a peanut or the venom from a bee sting.

The flood of chemicals released by your immune system during anaphylaxis can cause you to go into shock; your blood pressure drops suddenly and your airways narrow, blocking normal breathing. Signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis include a rapid, weak pulse, a skin rash, and nausea and vomiting. Common triggers of anaphylaxis include certain foods, some medications, insect venom and latex." (1)

Symptoms:
"Skin reactions, including hives along with itching, and flushed or pale skin (almost always present with anaphylaxis).feeling of warmth, the sensation of a lump in your throat, constriction of the airways and a swollen tongue or throat, which can cause wheezing and trouble breathing, weak and rapid pulse, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, dizziness or fainting

I was about 7 years old and up to that point, I never had any form of food related allergic action. That all changed one spring day. I was never a big fish fan and never really had to eat it before. For whatever reason, it was a special meal (what I can't recall) and my Mom cooked the meal that could have killed me. The main course was red snapper, a shell fish. I took a one or two bites and something didn't feel right. You may notice that under the symptoms, some of them are bold and italicized. Those are the symptoms I had that day and what happened over the next hour changed my life forever. I did start to itch my arm though it wasn't that pronounced. Almost minutes later, I began to vomit but as it happened, I didn't know why. I had no clue what was happening. At that point, the worst was yet to come. Just after that, I felt like my tongue was swelling. My folks and I went for a ride. About 5 minutes into that ride, I felt like my chest and throat were closing on me. I felt that way because that was exactly what happened. It was almost like I was choking, even though I wasn't (due to anything I did). My face also began to swell to the point where my eyes were nearly shut. My parents looked and to this day, I will never forget the look of horror on their faces. We went straight to the emergency room and the Doctor knew exactly what happened to me. I got a shot and almost as fast as I got it, the symptoms went away. This happened in about 30-40 minute time frame. Any longer and I might not be typing this today.

This was not my first bout either although the handful I had were no where near as bad as the story I just share. There was the time I had some shrimp at a family friends house. My folks didn't realize I ate a few (I had maybe two). I had not reaction at that point but when they knew what I did, I had to take an  antihistamine tablet immediately (if symptoms don't begin, it will prevent reaction).  I can recall I was around 10, my grandparents had some catfish sitting in sink full of water. I somehow knocked a fork into that sink and some water got onto my forearm. Within about 10 minutes, my forearm was swollen, broken out into a rash from my wrist to elbow. Oh, then there are some Asian restaurants that say "oh, we didn't handle the beef with seafood" story (note: Asian restaurants are the places I've had the biggest problems but many are probably the most vigilant as it relates to this subject). If seafood is cooked in my parent's home, either the windows need to be opened or I have to be out of the house.

Maybe that experience is why I used Trace Adkins promotional video he did for the Doctors. He and his wife had that same experience with their youngest daughter. She and I are allergic to different things (in her case, it's dairy) but the results were also the same. As my parents, the Adkins took immediate action even though they had not idea what was happening. Straight to the ER. It doesn't just happen with kids either. It was brought to my attention that my cousin, who is a little older than I am, also developed an allergy to seafood a few years back. During a recent visit to my local health club, a guy had gone into anaphylactic shock not long before I got there. As guys told me what happened, I knew that's exactly what it was although I didn't ask what he had.

I guess I decided to write this for a few reasons. One is to share my story. When I go out to eat and there's even a hint of cross-contamination, I do one of two things. I make them aware of it and watch what they do to solve it. When in doubt, I don't. This is also a first hand account of what its like living with a food allergy. Right now, I don't carry an epipen although that may change soon. I will also consider getting a medical bracelet that will show my condition. I would encourage you with children to get the bracelet if you haven't already. It's not so bad. Since my allergy was found when I was young, there aren't foods I miss. Add the reaction factor to it and that makes it all the easier. My family and most of my closest friends know I have this allergy and they know how to handle it. The thing about dealing with food allergies is caution and vigilance. if you see the potential for a reaction, take the steps to make sure it doesn't happen. It's not as hard as it may seem.  If you have any questions, refer back 3 paragraphs and read it again. That will remind you how serious it is. It also shows how fast things can go south. Time is the enemy of anaphylaxis. I would also encourage you to check out FARE (Food Allergy Research and Education) at http://www.foodallergy.org/.  I hope my story will help someone else. Hopefully, you may recall what I shared here down the road. More importantly, you'll know what to do should this happen around you.


1 & 2. Mayo Clinic Internet site:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/anaphylaxis/DS00009/DSECTION=symptoms
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/anaphylaxis/DS00009

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Nachos on the Fly

I'm a big fan of Mexican and Tex-Mex food and nachos are very high on my list. Think about it for a second. They're VERY easy to make. You can put just about anything on a nacho platter. Did I mention how good they taste? This is a sample of how easily a plate of nachos can be built. You can do all of it fresh or, as I did here, using leftovers. Really. It works like a charm. As you see by the pictures below, you'll see what I mean.  This will be a pretty short and sweet post. 

First things first. You obviously need tortilla chips. I found these at a local store. The problem is that sometimes a chip can be either too thick, over flavored or just too thin. When I make nachos, I prefer using plain tortilla chips. I think with the toppings you don't really need the extra flavoring. I placed these in the microwave for about 1 minute. I just wanted to warm them up a bit. You'll be amazed what a bad chip can do to a nacho platter. 

Now the next obvious thing is what will you top them with? For this exercise, I used leftovers from a recent lunch. Chicken chili verde and refried beans make the initial layer. I also added some cilantro, garlic and some onions as I put this together. The chicken came from a local market Hot Bar (that's gone up in price almost $1.50/lbs in the last year, but that's another story). Instead of just heating and eating the chicken and beans,  I took this perfect opportunity to make some nachos. 

The finish. I topped it with some sour cream, guacamole (a must in my opinion) and some chopped tomatoes. All done in under 10 minutes and I took my time doing this. Only one mistake here. I forgot to add olives and shredded cheese (actually, the cheese melted in the chili). The olives might have made for some more color on the plate. For this man, no lettuce on this day. That was intentional. One, the lettuce can wilt pretty easily and nothing worse than eating soggy lettuce. This doesn't have to be a rewrite of "War & Peace" at all. See what you can do with some leftovers? You can create a feast fit for a king!! Yes, these turned out perfectly.

This was not a Super Bowl food I ate but I could have used a good nacho platter. If you have some guest pop in or maybe you want a quick snack, a plate of nachos is your answer

Christkindlmarkt: Chicago 2012, Part 1

Over the years, I have really enjoyed going to the Christkindlmarkt (although marketed as Christkindlmarket) in Chicago. Through a chain of events, I was unable to go over the last couple of years. This year, I made my triumphant return. While there was pretty much the same things there every year, it's the anticipation of the event that I look forward to.

The vendors were all nice but just be prepared to bring cash and plenty of it (many of the vendors, specifically food vendors, do not take credit/debit cards). Now while I had fun (as a whole), it seemed to be MUCH tighter as it relates to space. It's on the same location it's always been on (Daley Plaza). It's easy to get to on foot (if you take the train). Once I got inside, the space they utilized seemed to be MUCH more cramped. How tight? For those who live in the Chicago area, imagine going into The Metro and it's at full capacity (actually, a bit more). That's what it felt like.  While I did go on a Friday afternoon (and a pleasant one weather-wise at that), it seemed MUCH more crowded. It seemed as if they consolidated into a much small radius in the same spot. I have to admit, I was getting a bit upset as I could not move with the ease of years past. If you want the entire German experience (in a festival), I think you can get your fill here.

So this is another adventure of mine. This being a food-related blog, I will focus on the foods of  Christkindlmarkt and I hope I won't make you hungry. Most of the vendors make the voyage from Germany to Chicago. They will stay from Thanksgiving until Christmas Eve. So below are just a sampling of some of the excellent food that is served. I didn't get to eat everything but I did get to enjoy enough. Most are vendors who have come over the years.

As I tried to upload pictures, it didn't seemed to play very nice to me. Which is why I am going to do this in 2 parts. I took an insane amount of pictures this year. So in part 2, I will upload what I didn't upload now. I doubt you'll be disappointed. I'll let the pictures do the talking for me. So let the show begin........

The picture speaks for itself.

The product. Live and in living color. I didn't get to eat these this year but have in years past. ABSOLUTELY delicious. 

Menu board..or at least part of it.

Brats.... brats and more brats!!!! Tasty!!

 Nice....... and piping hot....... potato pancakes!!! These were HUGE sellers from what I observed.

Notice the white signage that says "cash only" in this picture? Be prepared if you do come here to have PLENTY of cash in order to make any purchases. Only a select few accepts credit cards for payment and those are mostly middle to bigger ticket items.

I didn't get a shot of the apples  but below are the "covered treats" for review.

Now this was somewhat a surprise for me.I don't recall this business being here in past years.

Now when I think of tea, I normally don't associate it with Germany. This is an exception. This brand actually tasted pretty good (and I'm not a warm tea fan).

I smelled the different samples and I thought this one and the Winter Blend were the most appealing to me. Unfortunately, I was a bit low on cash and needed money for the train home. 

 On the left, one cherry strudel from Helmut's Strudel. On the right, a double chocolate brownie from Dinkel's (a local Chicago bakery). I ate these over a couple of days.

Part 2 of this will be done later on (as time allows me). There was so much more I wanted to put here but time is not allowing me to do so. I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I may return this year but if I don't, I felt I needed to pass those greetings on.

Linguini on the Improv

OK. I know it's been a while since I put something here. Sometimes, things happen and this is just one example. So now, this is some linguini on the improv. This is so simple it's not even funny. As this goes forward, you see why I call this an improv. I also started cooking this around 11:PM for my lunch in the coming days (I was pretty busy and let time get away from me that day). Yes, this doesn't look pretty to start off but work with me. It WILL get better.

It came together as I went along. The picture above show around 1 1/2 lbs of beef (I hit the jackpot since I got some grass fed beef) and onions (I used about 1/2 a white onion but you add to your liking). I kept the initial spices simple- salt, fresh ground pepper, garlic powder (since I ran out of fresh garlic) and oregano. I also added on can of Rotel Hot Diced Tomatoes (shown below) during the sauteing process. I sauteed them in a part until brown (medium heat for about 8-10 minutes). Once the meat was browned, the fat was drained (ok, I drained most of it, around 90% of the fat).

Below, you see the can of Rotel and Local Folks Foods tomato and herb marinara.

I used Rotel Hot Tomatoes since I prefer spicy foods. 

Now, here's where the improv came in. I thought I had some nice cheeses on hand (parm-reggiano, mozzarella, provolone, etc). I didn't so I used old reliable Velveeta and folded it in with the sauce. Then added the sauce, Local Folks Foods. I kept the sauce on medium heat for about 5 minutes (long enough for the sauce and meat to properly marry).  There's nothing worse than meat with under cooked sauce. I eventually lowed the fire to low and just let it simmer, folding the sauce while if simmered. 

Now, on the subject of  over cooking, feel free to observe I used dried pasta but this is almost as good as fresh. I bought this pasta at a local Farmer Market and I decided to use this linguini, which was made by hand. I was warned when I bought this particular brand that I'll need to watch it when the pasta is boiled. Most pastas will boil for 7-10 minutes. With this brand, you have a glob of mess. It's much thinner than other brands. I sure didn't make that mistake. I decided to do this while the sauce was simmering. My Mom found these Chipotle Pepper Flakes so I added that and the other spices I mentioned during the simmering time. It took just under 4 minutes to boil this pasta (as my water wasn't at a rapid boil initially).  While I boiled the pasta, I stirred the pasta (also another suggestion by the vendor). I added salt and olive oil for flavor while cooking. For what it's worth, Sonoma Farms is a Chicago area businesses. Local Folks Foods is based in Indiana. 

 On this side is the payoff!!!  MAN it was worth it!! I was VERY pleased with how this came out. As I write this posting, I am about to have another sample of this dish. Buono Mangio!!!

This recipe made 5 days of lunch. While it wasn't my direct intention, I would up really going the local route with the products I used here. You can talk about buying local as much as you want. It still comes down to supply and demand as well as the free market system. Make something someone wants and the people will speak with their wallets. Food for thought.

Cheeburger, Cheeborger... No Fries, Chips!!

Happy Cheeseburger Day!!

One nicely loaded cheeseburger to celebrate National Cheeseburger Day" here in the USA!

 OK. This may not be the most fancy of posts but I say why not? Today is National Cheeseburger Day. So, this being an American thing, this is the celebration of the cheeseburger. I'm not sure who or why it came up, but that isn't important. So today, celebrate the cheeseburger!!! For me, I prefer to have chips instead of fries. For those who know of the legendary Saturday Night Live skit featuring the original casts, you can call it a tribute of sorts. Yes the people at Chicago's Billy Goat Tavern, the place that inspired the skit, do speak like that. It's not much different from that skit. So I kill 2 birds with one stone. Anyway, back on topic!!!

Now put whatever you want to put on it. As I say in this blogs "statement" of things not always being pretty but always tasting good. This is just another example of that. 


Now I'm sure the "Burger Snobs" may not like what I placed on my burger today. You know them. They say burger, bread, and maybe tomato, onions and pickle. Others are like me. Sometimes I put little or nothing on it. Other times, I'll go a bit over the top.  Here's one such example (shown in the receipt below).

Now this was my attempted tribute to a burger that is long gone. For those Outback Steakhouse fans like me, you might remember the "No Rules" Burger. It had EVERYTHING you could imagine on it if you wanted it. Unfortunately, that burger is now gone. I tried to make the best of it. 

So what was I thinking? First I ordered a 1/3 lb burger (knowing I'll be visiting the gym later). The place I went to had a build my own burger so I did. The cheeses were a conflict of smooth (Swiss) and a bit sharp (cheddar). Nice contradiction of flavor but to me, very tasty. Then I put the typical toppings (although I did have to get the mushrooms on the side since it wasn't on my tape). I am a big onion fan!!! If I go grilled or raw, it really depends on my mood. Some days it's one, another time the other, and once and a while, both. 

So here it is in a nutshell. For those who took part in it, Happy Cheeseburger Day, 2012!!! No ticker-tape parades, edicts from our leaders or some other factor I haven't named. A simple celebration for a great treat. Maybe next year, I might take that 40 mile trek over the IL-Wisconsin border, find some fancier cheese and make a burger myself. Either that or just find a nice place to visit there. Milwaukee is only 90 miles away. By my count, this holiday will be on Friday or Saturday in 2013. So this could make for a road trip. Stay tuned for details.