beef

lucas has had issues with beef ever since we first tried introducing it. the skin prick test was negative, so he's not considered allergic to it. however, every time we've tried feeding him some, it would bring his entire meal right back up. we held off for a few months (frequency of vomiting was creating concerns with burning away the enamel on his teeth). we tried again last week, and he managed to eat a little bit and keep it down without any bad signs. yay!
his skin, however, flared up with eczema for the next few days, almost as bad as when we (didn't know any better and) fed him milk and/or soy-based formula as a baby. it was also some of the driest days of the year. coincidence? i suspect not. sigh. we're in no rush to try beef again.

Quick & Easy Elk Stew

From the Elk Ranch

1 kg Elk Stew meat 1 cup water 2 bay leaves 1 tsp rosemary & 1 tsp thyme ½ tsp savory ½ tsp black pepper & Salt to taste

1/3 cup hearty red wine or dark beer 3 Carrots 3 Sweet Potatoes (or white or red) 1 Onion ½ - 1 cup fresh cranberries 1 apple (cored, peeled, and chopped)

Place frozen elk stew, along with water, herbs & spices into crockpot or slow cooker in the morning.

Around 1-2 hrs before dinner, add chopped vegetables, apple, cranberries, and wine or beer!

Remember that Stew is nutritional and fun, add your own favorite herbs & spices, mushrooms, any other favorite root vegetable i.e. turnips, parsnips, try John’s Hot Sauce-Peach Vidalia to taste, and/or 1 tsp maple syrup.

Make it your own. Put it on before you leave for work and get the kids involved by letting them add the prepared fruit & vegetables after school, that’s how the apple ended up in ours.

like a ball and chain

Left home yesterday morning to ring in the New Year in Montreal. When we arrived, we realized we somehow managed to leave the diaper bag - with antihistamine, salinex, epipens, medicare card, etc - at home. So, since large family parties with lots of food and other kids is not the safest place for him to be allergy-wise, off to the nearest pharmacy I went to buy more of everything. argh (at least it wasn't my family's party that I was missing).