Honey Graham Crackers

INGREDIENT LIST:
1/3 Cup Milk
1/4 Cup Honey
1 1/2 Cups Graham Flour
1 Cup All-Purpose Flour
1/4 Cup Brown Sugar, Packed
1 teaspoon Baking Powder (I used corn free)
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/3 Cup Butter
1/4 Cup Shortening (I just used more butter)
























DIRECTIONS:
Pre-heat oven to 350

Whisk milk & honey together and set aside.

Mix all dry ingredients thoroughly.

Cut butter (and shortening if you are using it) into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Add milk & honey all at once and and stir until a ball is formed.

Knead on a lightly floured surface until smooth.

Roll out dough and slice into 2 inch squares (I used my pizza cutter for this step to make "perfect" cuts - press lightly for the "graham cracker look" or simply cut all into 2 inch squares.)

Prick with a fork.

Bake on un-greased sheets for 12-15 mins.

(adapted from: http://www.budget101.com/recipes/id381.htm)

Plastic (be)ware

The culprit of David's on going work day reaction is what we were packing his lunch in. That's right my handy-dandy Tupperware collection. And did I ever have a nice collection. Bummer. I had suspected this might be the cause but was hoping - and looking - for another explanation.

Corn is heavily subsidized by, well if you pay taxes, you and I. Corn is used in the production of M.A.N.Y. things:

• Adhesives on envelopes
• Construction materials
• Pharmaceuticals
• Cosmetics
• The mining, oil and gas drilling industries also use corn starches in their processes
• Plastics

The above is a partial list. It's a tad scary the amount of corn and corn products or derivatives out there.

David's sensitivity is increasing. We've used the Tupperware from the beginning of his allergy discovery and only in the last few weeks has it caused a reaction. It seems that the primary cause is heating up food in the plastic containers. This week he's been heating up food in glass ware (think we've been packing food in glass bowls and serving dishes) and he's had minimal reaction, most likely from the assault his body faced Monday and Tuesday before I suggested it was plastic containers.

I've packed up the bulk of my plastic containers. A sad day for me. What's a girl to do without a horde of plastic containers and lids taking up most of a small cupboard?

I got online and ordered a set of glass ware with lids. (Thanks SIL for the gift card from graduation it was put to good use.) Until they arrive we're packing food in glass cereal bowls and glass serving dishes. It works. David's body is healing from the latest attacks and we're thankful he's not epi-pen allergic like many of the other corn allergy suffers out there.

Corn Free Products

Lately we have been diving in head first to find out what is making David sick. It seems only on work days and it builds during the week. It's been exhausting and frustrating.

The products we use at home do not contain corn, corn derivatives or corn by products. We've checked with the companies and have heard from those listed below.

• Ivory (sensitive skin)
• American Crew Classic Shampoo
• Clorox 2 Sensitive Skin
• Ziplock baggies
• Thai Salt Stick Deodorant
  

Sun Products sent us the following:

******************
Hello MS. REBECCA WARD,

Thank you for writing us regarding 'all' 2X Free Clear .

Sun Products does not disclose specific ingredient information as they are proprietary. However, if there is a medical necessity for this information, we would be more than happy to work with your physician upon receiving their written request. Requests can be sent to:

Sun Products Consumer Services 920 Sylvan Avenue Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632

Sincerely,
Your friends at 'all'

****************************

Who knew. We are not going to bother with this yet as it does seem to be something only occurring when David is at work. He wears clothing on the weekends so if we are unable to find anything else we will make our own laundry detergent. Fantastic.

Petition

There is a petition out there to get corn listed as an allergen on food products. If you feel so inclined, consider signing it.

Thanks!

Corn As Allergen Petition

Warning: Not for the eyes of the weak stomach.
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For the past couple of years my toe nails have been cracking. I was even looking for thistle tea as I have read that this can help grow strong nails. The cracking was getting bad enough that when I would cut my nails they would come off in pieces. I have essentially been allergen free for about 9 months give or take. I have recently seen signs that my toe nails have been growing better. See picture below.

Safe Foods

Here's a new list of safe foods. I still check the labels almost every time I purchase these things - just to be certain - but at least I can find them quickly now.

• HEB Central Market sea salt potato chips
• Kraft Mac 'n' Cheese (blue box, regular only)
• Oscar Meyer Natural pre-sliced turkey breast
• Breyers ice cream (strawberry, coffee, regular vanilla (NO other vanillas), chocolate)
• Hagandaz ice cream (Most of the FIVE ingredient ice creams are safe!!)
• Most block cheeses (but NOT reduced fat unless sometimes if it's made with 2% milk) and some "natural" sliced cheeses
• Whole Foods has chocolate candy bars that are made w/o soy!!!!

updated 12.15.2010

Cornnnnn Breath

It seems that eating corn has an effect on David's ability to breathe. It's an interesting effect that David is deciding is in fact occurring. Watching and avoiding corn intake has become that much more imperative. Seemingly his allergy symptoms to corn are getting worse, not better. We had hoped that it may be something that passes but probably not with the corn, at least.

Other than that, the allergies are getting more manageable. David's learning to be more assertive when asking about items on menus and avoiding the things he knows will make him sick.

We went to a Whole Foods last night. While we had shopped them before in other states this was our first time in one for quite some time. It's amazing. All of the case meats were labeled with exact ingredients. Not just "spices" but "spices (fennel, garlic, onion powder)". This is a store that is a breath of fresh air for both of us. We didn't find anything that had tricky labels or hidden ingredients. They have a reputation of being a high cost grocery, but in reality they were very competitive with the grocery stores that I typically shop. Especially because I am already purchasing quite a bit of organic and natural foods. (THANK YOU PILS* on behalf of David for the generous gift card. He had such a good time buying things like sausage and hot dog buns and other things he loves to eat but we can't find anywhere else.) Our only problem with WF is that they are soooo far away (an hour). Hopefully they will put one in that's closer so we can shop there more frequently.


*PILS: parent in laws