for the sake of headaches everywhere.

Well guys, the headaches are still pounding away at my skull and eye balls! But thanks to modern medicine i have a little less pain sometimes during the day. The doctors are taking it one step at a time and doing a "process of elimination" thing. Nothing has been found yet.

But since this is a time when my headaches are a little less painful, i thought i would use it to give out some useful info about headaches. (thank you Kelly, for giving me the idea)

What can you do at home to ease them? What foods can trigger headaches, and which ones can make them worse? What foods help ease headaches? Hopefully I can shed some light on these questions today, for any of you that may suffer from the occasional headache or migraine.


For anyone who has ever suffered from sever migraines...bless your hearts! That is (in my opinion) one of the most painful things that can happen, besides the breaking of a bone or something. And yes i would rather go through labor again than suffer from the migraine that I have had for almost a week now. I was curled up in the bed crying like a baby. It was pathetic looking I am sure, but I didn't care at the moment. The pressure in my head...against my eyes....the dizziness and blurred vision. I even got nauseous and threw up a taco! A TACO!!!! ugh! But on the bright side there seemed to be about one taco's worth in the toilet. I had eaten three that night, but apparently I only needed two.

but back to the issue at hand...foods...and headaches and stuff.

I dont know any of this for a fact, just some info that i have picked up here and there and some of my findings during my searches.
The most common foods which can cause and/or increase a migraine (but sometimes what affects one person is fine for another) include

* peanuts and peanut butter
* caffeine in all products, not just coffee
* dairy products
* home made breads, but more importantly, the YEAST in homemade breads.
* avocados
* sauerkraut
* canned soups and packet soup mixes ( this one is a bummer for me, because when i went to the grocery store the other day, i bout quite a few Cambells soups, and a few boxes of Cup-o-soup. I LOVE CUP-O-SOUP)
* chicken livers
* ripe banana (wish i would have known THAT a few days ago...geesh.)
* MSG, a flavor enhancer which is now in almost all processed foods
* nuts
* cheeses which have been aged, i.e. cheddar
* red wines, beer, champagne, vermouth ( BOOO!!!!!!!! this one is a big bummer bc i am a wine-0!)
* chocolate (eh...this one would only piss me off if it was that time of the month)
* anchovies (ugh...)


Now when it comes to foods that help and ease your migraines...the best advice is simply to eat a well balanced diet with plenty of fresh, non-processed foods. That includes a variety of grains, fruits and vegetables. But here are a few specific foods that you may want to introduce into your diet. These are believed to have the diet headache migraine connection, and may cut down on your pain: (and i am not using the whole star point organization thingy like i did above...that crap was stupidly complicated!)

Peppermint, Cayenne pepper, Ginger, Fish and fish oil, Foods rich in calcium, Dark leafy greens such as spinach, broccoli and kale. Foods rich in magnesium, such as spinach (maybe Popeye was right!), Oatmeal, Wheat, Garlic.


And of course you can always go back to my PERSONAL fave. Chamomile Tea! I cannot stress this enough. Please check out the following two websites on more info about the benefits of Chamomile. Not only as an herbal remedy for so may stress and anxiety related issues, but also as a treatment for other diseases and illnesses. I swear by this stuff.


http://health.learninginfo.org/benefits-of-chamomile.htm

http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-chamomile.html


Hope I was able to shed some light on the issue:)

til next time!

for your (dis)pleasure

Guys, i know i said i was going to take on an eating challenge this weekend, but alas, i will not be able to. Unfortunately, I have been suffering from a SEVERE migraine the past few days. It has been gradually getting worse. I ended up going to the emergency room last night. The pain had gone from my head, to my back and shoulders. I started getting chest pains and then had my hands and feet start going numb a few times yesterday. I have been laid up in the bed all day today on pain meds so i could just sleep and not have to deal with the pain.

I just wanted to apologize for not being able to do what i had hoped to do this weekend. I might take a few more days off from blogging also. I hopefully can get in to see my doctor on Monday, and get started on finding out what is really going on with my head!

Since I do not have any "food material" to write about today, I thought I might tell you a little about my ER visit.

My husband, Jared, took me in. He had to call in to work, (bless him) so that he could take me. My daughter, Alyssa, also came with us. Once she heard about all of the different kinds of pain that i was having, she asked me "mom, are you going to die?" I smiled and gave a little chuckle for the fist time all day. "no, baby. Mommy isn't going to die." She gave me a big hug. (which did not help my headache, but hey...whats a momma to do?) We sat in the waiting room for 2 hours. Which would have been tolerable had it not been for this family of what seemed like 20 people because of how loud and obnoxious they were. (there was actually 7 of them if i can remember correctly) They came in and sat right behind me. The girl was in there because of stomach pains. But by the way she was cutting up and laughing, i think not. After about twenty minutes of hearing them talk about four-wheelers and wheel chairs, and every other backwoods thing they could think about, i got up to move to a different seat. They had NO respect for the people in there (like me) who were actually feeling bad. And i have no idea why she had to bring her whole family with her. Idiots.

They started to complain that they had been there for thirty minutes and that this was called "the EMERGENCY room" why did they have to wait so long. While i do agree with that part a little, i didn't wanna hear them talk anymore. Luckily for me, they asked for a phone book and called the Hospital in Camden. (which is about 30 minutes away) They decided to leave and take their chances. As they were leaving I stood up and started clapping. The other people who had to witness these morons new what i meant and thoroughly enjoyed my humor. Standing and clapping like i did sent sharp pains through my head and down my back, but it was so worth it to see the looks on their faces.

And to shorten this story a little, i am going to sum up the three MORE hours that i was in my room after finally being admitted. I got a Doctor who talked so slow and unsure of himself that he seemed to be on drugs. He walked from room to room like he had no clue where he was at or what he was doing. I was told i was getting a shot for the pain and that it should kick in, in about 15 minutes. They came back to check on me, and of course, nothing. So they waited another hour when i finally sent Jared to find someone and ask what we were waiting for. They came back in to give me ANOTHER shot. I refused it and told them i was going home. Becuase it was ridiculous for me to given all these pain killers. I didn't come here to just be treated for my pain...i would like to know why i was having the pain. So i finally left the ER around 3:30 AM.

I was reminded why I NEVER go there. Anyways, that is why i am not exactly able to do my food challenges for your viewing pleasure. I should be back and making a fool of myself within the next week. Thanks for understanding! and until next time....

nutella, or no nutella?

oh my, I think i just found my calling. It is now to eat Nutella...for every meal! I jest, that would be redonkulous. But seriously...it is SO good. It is a hazelnut sweet spread. It tastes like the ferrero rocher chocolates. put it on toast, and you will die happy. If you are on your death bed...or maybe death row, and you only have one meal left. CHOOSE NUTELLA!

This is not a suggestion people. You will eat it and you will love it. You can check it out here:

http://www.nutellausa.com/

A wonderful friend of mine, Patrick, gave me a suggestion to try it with bananas on the sandwich. Talk about a mouth-gasm. Holy hell. The stuff is so good the angels in heaven crave it when they are menstruating. I bet Satan now regrets being a complete retard and getting kicked out. I'm just saying.

On a side note...I don't know how Adam from "man vs. food" isn't the fattest guy on earth. The show is on in the background and I just saw him attempting to eat a 6 lb burrito.

Here are a few things to look forward to on my blog. I plan on attempting some "food challenges" in the future. They will be well documented with video. I think my first, though it sounds simple, will be the Saltine challenge. You can read about it here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saltine_cracker_challenge

wish me luck, because it is happening right here in my home this weekend. Until next time...

and for dinner...I'm makin' (chicken &) waffles

As per one of the famous lines from "Shrek" spoken by Donkey, with a little twist of course. With a slight smell of Pancakes in the air, from the days breakfast, and the frying of the chicken currently in the deep sea of grease, I had a craving. My eight yr old daughter looked at me like I had just said Megan Fox was a good actor. (she was disgusted, for those that don't know) Before I even finished the sentence, my husband had the deep fryer heating up.

Yes, that's right folks, we are having brinner! (breakfast mixed with dinner) So I proceed to the cabinets to get a mixing bowl. I gather my ingredients of flour, eggs, vanilla, nutmeg, etc. And for those that are wondering...Yes the recipe for this brinner will follow.

As I get everything mixed together, I start to wonder what could be done to make it a little extra special. Because as we all know...I am :) I go to the fridge and see some fresh blueberries. PERFECT! I could eat blueberries on anything! I grab a handful and ,eagerly but gently, I THROW them in the batter. I give it one good stir to incorporate all the berries and check my waffle iron. Houston, we have lift off!

I pour the batter and watch it flow with a stream of blueberries hitting the grooves and settling in. Already delish! I slowly close the lid and watch some of the delicious batter ooze out the side. CRAP! That's wasting beautiful batter! meh :( So anyway, at this point i hear the grease in the deep fryer sizzling, so i then proceed to the freezer, and can you guess it? I grab the bag of precooked, frozen, Great Value brand CHICKEN PATTIES! oh yeah...taking the easy route! I drop the course, round patties into the fryer basket...lower the basket into the bubbling grease, and 3-5 minutes later SHAZAM, fried chicken! *and for those that do not want or do not have a timer, when the chicken starts to rise to the top, it is done.*

I assemble my waffles and chicken, put a spoonful of whipped cream on top, and top with a little syrup and more fresh berries. It is an orgasm in your mouth! This is a promise!

oh snap...wouldn't you know it...by the time i remembered to take a picture to show you, i was putting my licked clean plate into the dishwasher. poo.

And for those who want it, I am now including my recipe for home made waffles, two ways.

For those that want to go the easy route:

2 Cups waffle/pancake mix
1 Cup Milk
2 Eggs

mix together and pour into waffle iron. yields about 10 servings. EASY PEASY!

for those that like to do a little more and feel like you made something semi special:

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
pinch of ground nutmeg
1 3/4 cups milk,
2 large eggs, at room temp., separated
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 large egg white, at room temp.

and here is what ya do:
whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the milk, egg yolks, vanilla, and 1/4 cup melted butter. Whisk the milk mixture into the flour mixture until a batter is formed. Take care not to over mix the batter.

In medium bowl, whisk the 3 egg whites until they just begin to hold a loose peak. Scatter the sugar over the whites and continue beating until they hold a soft peak. Using a rubber spatula, fold a third of the egg whites into the batter to lighten the base. Fold in the remaining whites.

spray waffle iron with cooking spray, or butter. Pour batter into waffle iron taking into consideration that the batter will continue to spread once the lid is closed. Cover and cook until golden brown and slightly crisp, about 5 minutes. Repeat with the remaining batter. (If the waffle iron is well seasoned or nonstick it is not necessary to brush the inner surface each time before cooking the waffles.) You can add a handful of berries to batter, or you can just serve them up with berries on the side.

and VOILA!!!!!! you have homemade waffles. I hope you at least give it a try with the fried chicken, and by all means you can actually fry some chicken instead of using frozen patties like i chose to do. I will share my fried chicken recipe soon.

I just wanted to share a lil' something with you guys. I will have real home cooked meals and recipes posted soon, as well as a few funny stories and maybe even a "funny word of the weekend" after i get together with friends and family. And yes, i promise to keep you updated with the adventures of my kitchen.

til next time.

gotta get to know me first!

I am very new to this and hope you will give me the chance to inform and entertain you. I will be posting (at first anyways) once a week. Sharing my experiences, mishaps, embarrassments, and achievements in the kitchen. Now a little about me...

I was born in FL, where my dad was stationed while in the Navy. I grew up in Southern Arkansas/ Northern Louisiana. I have a big family, and most of my memories involve the intoxicating aromas coming from the kitchens of my grandmothers, and of course my own mom. I remember the clanking of the pots and pans as they searched though the cabinet for their favorite skillet or stock pot, always "shooing" us out of the way and yelling "I will let you know when the food is ready!" And come to think about it, that is probably where i get it from ;)

I know the exact moment it happened. I was in my room, scanning the channels of our local tv stations, when i came upon an episode of Emeril Live. Watching him work his magic with all the "BAM" and "oh yeah babe". By the end of that show, I knew what i wanted to do. Whether it would ever be professionally done or not, I knew i wanted to cook.

When i started to venture out and cook on my own, i fell in love again and again. I loved all the different flavors i found and came up with and tried out. (well not ALL of them...some sent me running to the nearest toilet or trash can) Have you ever seen the movie Ratatouille? Just think about the scene when Remy, (the main rat) is trying to teach his brother how to "taste" his food. The two flavors dancing around in his mouth and forming a totally different sound of music! That is me. I want to show the world...or for now just my friends and family, how yummy different textures and flavors, and spices can be.

I just recently, was privileged enough to have seen Paula Dean live in Little Rock, Arkansas. She amazed me. I do not know whether or not i will ever make it big and have my own tv show, or even have my name known by so many people. But i do know this: I love to cook. I want to show you how easy and entertaining it can be. I want to bring you into my kitchen, and introduce you to my friends and family. Let you in on our jokes and show you how crazy we can get. When we get together, it is awe-inspiring. We literally Laugh Now, and Eat Later.

Well...we actually laugh now, but eat all the time!

I hope to bring you in and show you...me. I want to share my recipes and my life with you. If you will have me in yours.