Peanuts and Medication

The other day I had a close call. I was prescribed a medication that had peanut oil in it. Luckily, I have a habit of double checking EVERYTHING that goes into my mouth, including medication. While I was waiting for the pharmacist to check his book of medications, I googled the medication, and to my surprise there was in fact peanut oil in it.

This situation reminded me that I can never be too careful. It is my responsibility to double check everything including medication. So for all you allergic people, double check!

:)

J.

Happy Hanukkah!

Latkes- For those of you who don’t know what a Latke is, it is a Fried Potato Pancake. Latkes are a Hanukkah treat that are delicious. Usually they are accompanied by sour cream and/or apple sauce.

A few years ago I made homemade latkes for the first time, and they are so much better than store bought. Most people say that hand grating the potato’s is better, but I use the grater setting on my Cuisinart, and they always turn out to be a success. I often make 2 batches, sweet potato and regular. Of course there are risks associated with frying at home, but I use my biggest stock pot and filled the oil only about an inch deep and am very careful. I keep the fire extinguisher under my sink, so I am well prepared in the event of an accident. In perusing recipes, I have noticed that many call for peanut oil. It has been said that peanut oil is the ideal frying oil due to it’s capacity to reach a high smoke point, and it apparently makes the food crispier. Considering this is not an option, I use Canola oil, and it is just fine!

This is the recipe I’ve used over the past few years.

Latkes:

2 Cups peeled, grated potato’s (Yukon, OR Sweet)-about 6 potato's
1 Med grated onion
2 eggs
4 tbsp Flour
1 tbsp salt
½ cup canola oil
Drop about 2 tablespoons into the oil and let fry until golden brown on both sides.

Makes about a dozen latkes (to make more just double the recipe)

Happy Hanukkah!

:)

J.

Arachis Hypogaea

This past weekend I was in Toronto for my friends wedding. Since I was a bridesmaid, I was having my makeup done for the occasion. I don’t wear a lot of makeup to begin with, and when I do I like the ‘natural’ look. Over the years I have accumulated a collection of lipsticks that I buy every time I have my makeup done professionally. This is because I would never share a lipstick with anyone, not even when it has only been used with a lip brush. My fear is beyond the germs that can accumulate on those sample lipsticks used by everyone and anyone. I also fear that peanut residue from someone else’s lips may be trapped on the lipstick. When I explained my allergy to the makeup artist, she was completely understanding. I used my own lipstick, and only products that I am familiar with. I did however forget to bring a moisturizer so I was going to use a sample. I was reading the ingredients on one of them, and I noticed an ingredient ‘Arachis Hypogaea’. In French, peanuts are known as ‘arachides’, so the word arachis luckily made me realize that I shouldn’t use that product. When I googled arachis hypogaea, I learned that it was in fact from a peanut. I always knew that almond oil is a common ingredient is beauty products, but I thought it was rare for peanut derivatives to be used.

For anyone with a peanut allergy, keep this in mind, because makeup will not have the same disclaimer that food products do. Peanuts are also known by the following names: earthnuts, ground nuts, goober peas, monkey nuts, pygmy nuts and pig nuts.


:)

J.