Freakishly Happy

It is surprising how much you can learn in just one day!
Today I learned (after almost 3 months of living here), that I have a drawer in my kitchen. John knew the whole time, but didn’t think to clue me in. I think that I may throw a “Hey! We have a drawer!” party this weekend.

Also, I realized that I haven’t used a can-opener once since being here. Isn’t that amazing? My trusty red KitchenAid can-opener was one of the most frequently used items in our kitchen in Iowa/Minnesota. This means that we haven’t been eating much if any canned goods (I opened our first can today actually, a can of garbanzo beans for hummus(what a great word…garbanzo, it kind of rolls of the tongue)).

I also realized that I don’t think I’ve consumed ANYTHING with hydrogenated corn syrup. YAY! That is incredible. Coming from the US where EVERYTHING has hydrogenated corn oil/syrup, this is an incredible feat. I noticed this also while making hummus. As usual, I opened the jar of peanut butter (my first peanut butter for who knows how long), and as is a custom of my family, the first thing I did after peeling open the tin top was to gouge my finger deep in to the well of oooey-gooey peanut butter and take a huge lick. The first thing I noticed was that this strange concoction actually tasted like peanuts. The second thing I noticed was that my tongue didn’t feel all oily (hence the realization that there was no hydrogenated corn oil).

I’ve had this weird rash on my right hand for some time now. Probably on and off for 2 years. I’ve been to the doctor several times for it and every time they tell me that the rash is caused by “dishpan hands” and that I need to stop doing dishes. Okay, no problem right? Not quite, it’s never that easy or great of a diagnosis. I stopped doing dishes, but still have the stupid rash. So this weekend I went online and I think I may have figured out a plausible reason for my hands looking like a circus act.

Eczema can be caused by wheat/milk allergy. So this week I’ve ceased eating pasta, croissants, baguettes and all other major staples of my diet to see if maybe just maybe I can finally get rid of this rash. So if you have any suggestions for dairy-free/wheat-free meals, please let me know!