Feeling bitter again - the vicious cycle continues

I raise a spoonful of my homemade [i]sorbet[/i] in your general direction. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/tongue.gif[/img]

My toast to us both at our shared pity-party. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/wink.gif[/img]

I think you are correct-- it is just all the FOOD-FOOD-FOOD everywhere you turn at this time of year-- can't even go to the park without it being a major issue....

I also just hate the summer sometimes. OTOH, we do love [i]our[/i] summer favorites. I just hate feeling so reclusive-- a prisoner of my own safe environment-- sometimes. Other people just assume we're totally anti-social after a while. Oh well. We're well into our 8th year doing this and still MFA.... in spite of what 'should' have happened to some of the other allergies. KWIM??

Cheers.

Ahhh.. just to hear you say what I'm thinking brings a bit of calm to me!

Hey, we're anti-social too - funny. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/wink.gif[/img] That is, after food allergies.

Homemade sorbet!? I've never made it. Yummy!..can you post the recipe?

NO problemo.....

Basically any fresh seasonal fruit will work. We are especially fond of strawberry....

3 c fresh or frozen whole strawberries.
3/4-1 c cane sugar
1/2c lemon or lime juice
1 tsp canola oil (or light olive oil)

I boil my citrus juice so that I can eat the sorbet (I have a citrus allergy but tolerate it cooked) That warms up the lemon juice so that I can make a pasty syrup with the sugar. Then blend the strawberries, add the lemon syrup, then the oil [i]while blender is running[/i] and chill in the freezer for 45m-1hr before freezing in a good quality ice-cream freezer. Our Rival never made nice sorbet.... but the Cuisinart is divine.

(You may still have to 'harden' the sorbet off in the freezer when it is done, though.)

Watermelon sorbet is wowee-o good, too. But don't skimp on the sugar. Before freezing, it should taste VERY sweet.

I am also dying to try cantaloupe sorbet. I found the recipe for one in the booklet that came with the Cuisinart.

Wonder what Mimosa Slushies taste like.... or Pina colada sorbet??? Hmmmm. May have some 'sperimenting to do. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]

Thanks! I will definitely try these!

Awww...sending nut, milk and egg free virtual choccys your way!!

no advice, just hugs if you are huggy and lots of thoughts and prayers.

Ree, I feel for you. My friends recently had a pot luck for the families, and were disappointed I couldn't come. I had to let them know there was no way I could bring DS to a pot luck.
What I did do recently, though, is a host a neighborhood picnic. Yes it is a lot of work to prepare all the food yourself, but then you definitely don't feel anti-social. I put on the invitations "due to food allergies, please don't bring any food." When anyone asked what they COULD bring, I told them we would have beer, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks, but if there was a certain drink they wanted, they could bring that (as long as it wasn't PB milkshakes [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/wink.gif[/img] ). Several people did bring wine, one braought beer, and everyone had a good time. Even I had a good time because I was smart enough to serve stuff that could be prepared ahead of time, then just put out when ready to serve.

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[url="http://www.the3day.org/boston07/deedaigle"]http://www.the3day.org/boston07/deedaigle[/url]

Thanks for everyone's thoughtful words..

Quote:Originally posted by Jimmy's mom:
[b]Ree, I feel for you. My friends recently had a pot luck for the families, and were disappointed I couldn't come. I had to let them know there was no way I could bring DS to a pot luck.
What I did do recently, though, is a host a neighborhood picnic. Yes it is a lot of work to prepare all the food yourself, but then you definitely don't feel anti-social. I put on the invitations "due to food allergies, please don't bring any food." When anyone asked what they COULD bring, I told them we would have beer, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks, but if there was a certain drink they wanted, they could bring that (as long as it wasn't PB milkshakes [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/wink.gif[/img] ). Several people did bring wine, one braought beer, and everyone had a good time. Even I had a good time because I was smart enough to serve stuff that could be prepared ahead of time, then just put out when ready to serve.

[/b]

That's a great idea! Lot's of work, but worth it I"m sure!

Ree, I'm with you totally. My 5yr old DD has multiple allergies and we've had a few events recently where I couldn't take my eyes off her - the fear is ever present and it just seems so unfair sometimes.
I'm sure that people think I'm a nutcase, overprotective mum sometimes but I have to try and remember that her life could be at stake.

Ree...I feel the same way this time of year. Neighborhood parties, birthday parties, play dates, thinking about back to school issues, etc... it can be very hard to deal with.

Just yesterday we were at baseball and I looked around the ground and there were peanut shells everywhere. Then a few minutes later the concession stands opened (mind you this is 9:30 am...why do we need candy, popcorn and soda that early is beyond me). People were running to the concession stand like it would be their last meal. One little girl sat down right next to me with a pb cup.

Thankfully my ds was on the field playing and was "safe".

I just hate all the food involved with everything this time of year. You are not alone in this one!

I usually go on and on about how well we have done in our home. But.

The other day we drove past the "Kwik E Mart" and my DD mentioned they sell pink frosted "Simpson's donuts." My son said "I'd give anything to be able to eat ONE Simpson's donut."

A silly little thing. I could make him a donut with pink frosting and sprinkles in a flash! But this is one thing he can't join in on.

Stupid pink donut made me cry. I told him this is a time I really see his side of PA. He said "mom that's my life and I am used to it."

Not an earth shattering moment and not anything we can't live without but a bit of food fun I wish he could have.

Peg

This is it exactly! It's the little things like little treats, baseball games, social events. Nothing major, which sometimes make is worse. People that don't get it say, well you're lucky that you're only dealing with FA. Yes, I'm lucky. But it still breaks my heart when a silly little doughnut cannot be eaten by my kids. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/frown.gif[/img] You're right Peg, we can make almost anything the same as a store bought product...throw it in a ziplock with every character sticker imagineable...But, it still not store bought. Just a bummer. Not traumatic, just a bummer.

We're feeling this too. I can't imagine how frustrating it is for dd. She's 11 and just retested today-still positive for peanuts, tree nuts. I could say 'well at least we don't have to avoid soy, dairy, etc' until I'm blue in the face but it really doesn't help much, I don't think. I think the main thing that makes her feel better is that I tell her we are all in this together-if she can't have something we all will not have it. She doesn't like being the only one. Still, she is always saying she wishes she wasn't allergic. Especially when she hears about foods her friends get to eat and she doesn't. I tell her I wish that same thing. If I had one wish that could come true, that would be it.

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[b]~Gale~[/b]

well it has been 1 yr since my son's last RAST test was 22.5 for peanut, .25 macadamian nut, and .25 for chick pea.......///I'm trying to decide if it is time to retest or what the purpose would be....if there is little chance of outgrowing pa then why go through it...even if his scores where lower, I don't think I would ever feel comfortable with giving him nut products. He is 7 now and when he was 2 he was positive to egg, and soy as well....What are your thoughts?

Peg, I had exactly the same thing after DD was at a birthday party a while back. All the kids were tucking into treats - Rice Krispie buns which DD loves (don't know if you have these in the States - very much an Irish birthday treat!) were available but she couldn't have them because I wasn't sure that the chocolate was safe. After the kids had gone to bed that evening, I just cried - couldn't help myself

We've had lots of adult tears in our household this week as well. My daughter and her cousins are similar in age. My sister-in-law just sent out a birthday invitation with a preprinted menu which read "pancakes - made on equip with tree nuts". We've had difficulty with getting them to understand (last birthday party, they put out a cheeseball covered with nuts), but this was such a slap in the face. My husband is angry that our three year old's aunt would treat her this way. I'm just sad and also feeling very alone.

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Lora

you know, most of our friends and family have been great with foods and parties in the last year (we're in year 5 of PA,FA too) but this time of year is the worst because of all the guilt other people put on me for keeping them home and providing a pretty sheltered life. I get it, they are not getting the full childhood experience. I'm doing the best I can! I have this awful pain in my side from all the guilt trips here lately. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/frown.gif[/img]

Guilt trips stink. They serve no purpose but to fester in your head all day/week. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/frown.gif[/img] Sounds like we're in the same boat...great family, very supportive, but things just hit harder every once in a while through the year.

And, who's childhood experience aren't they living? I figure, if we lived in the country, it'd be normal, right? I just happen to live in suburbia and hang out around as a family. It very comfortable for us and I think in the long run, it's better for the kids. Gives them a sense of security, instead of being run from house to house, activity to activity.

I've started turning our sheltered life into a positive! I was watching the boys play today thinking...would they be this close if we didn't choose to live a little more sheltered? I don't know. We've become very home bound since kids, but I'm not sure if it's soley because of allergies.

[This message has been edited by Ree (edited July 28, 2007).]