Nightshade

So, I was told at the allergy doctor that I am allergic to tomatoes.  Generally, a tomato allergy is a nightshade allergy.  Generally, this type of allergy causes joint pain, inflammation, and/or stomach discomfort.  I've been valiantly avoiding tomatoes since I got the results, but apparently I should also be avoiding:

• eggplant
• potatoes
• bell peppers
• spicy peppers
• cayenne
• paprika
• pimentos
• tomatillos

I haven't had bell peppers or anything for a while, but I have been eating potatoes and bell peppers and spicy things rather heavily.  I can't really be sure if these things are affecting me or not, but it probably can't hurt to cut them out for a while as well.  I know I had a really bad reaction to a meal a while ago that involved a baked potato, possibly undercooked. I should really be avoiding potatoes all together.

Not sure I can live without potato chips - might have to eat lots of pork rinds again.

Money and Savings

I spend too much money.  It's been a problem that has been plaguing me since I got my first job in college.  You have money?  Sure, let's buy things that sit in boxes in the basement for all eternity.  I like spending money.  I like having new things.  I like opening random boxes sent from the internet.  Buuut I'm an adult now.  I should evaluate these habits and stop as many of them as possible. 

Starting August 1st, I am not going to order anything from the internet unless I can't get it anywhere else.  (I gotta have my cheese chips)

I've been setting myself up for failure with saving for a long time.  Right now is no exception.  I come up with goals for saving, but don't subsequently cut down my spending.  I have about $300 per paycheck (or $600/mo) that I am not putting into big bills or savings right now.  I know I have been spending more than that.  This means I will eventually max out my (meager) credit card limit and pull the money out of savings to pay it off and start all over again.  I end up not saving anything.  This has happened to me numerous times in the past.

The one time I had some success saving was when I told myself I had to pay for everything in cash (this doesn't work very well when you also have auto payments coming out of your checking account... damn you year subscription to WoW) but this helped me immensely.  I only had so much to spend but I could still spend it how I pleased.  I may need to try this again.

What about the temptation from the internet?  I probably need to go through and delete a bunch of my subscriptions from shopping mailing lists...  but I like to look at them.  At least I've stopped checking out Woot daily!  I've only ordered one thing from them in the last, oh, probably 3 months.  I consider that a success.  For the time being, I will change my shopping filter on my gmail account to mark all of my emails in those filters as read.

So...  plan, starting August 1st: 
1. Pull out $200 in cash. 
2. Spend as sparingly as possible.
3. On second monthly paycheck, pull out another $200 if necessary.
4. Spend as sparingly as possible.
5. Try to pay off the remainder of credit card balance in the mean time (or just pull this from savings for now to have a fresh start, I haven't decided yet).
6. Only buy things online if they can't be purchased anywhere else.

Alfredo Sauce

Since I can't eat tomatoes or canned alfredo sauce anymore, I need to get good at making alfredo sauce.  Here's an easy recipe I found that I want to try.

• 1 quart heavy cream
• 1/2 pound of butter
• tablespoon of granulated garlic, or really finely minced fresh stuff
• 2 cups grated parmesan cheese (buy it whole, grate it yourself!)
• 1/3 to 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsely

Simmer the heavy cream and butter on low heat.
Add garlic and pepper and keep whisking throughout remainder of ingredients
Add 2 cups of grated parmesan, a little at a time, remembering to whisk/stir throughout
Top with parsley.

Abbey Road Gif

Tara sent this to me.

Proposed Night-of-the-week Schedule

Moosey and I have discussed only playing video games one night a week.  But what does that mean for the other nights of the week?  Here are some ideas.

Monday - Cleaning/mowing/laundry, Applebees (9-11pm)
Tuesday - Flash Game Work
Wednesday - Personal Project (Music, art, etc) work
Thursday - Date night?  Special dinner/movie/going for a walk, etc?
Friday - Video Games
Saturday - Shopping?, shadowrun, DnD (7-11pm)
Sunday - Relaxation/whatever, perhaps lots of cooking for the rest of the week?

Alt-J - Fitzpleasure

Heard this on the current.  I want to get the album when it is easily available.

Allergen-free Dinners

What can I eat for dinner:

• Classic breakfast: Eggs, bacon/sausage, cheese, spinach omelet
• Spinach with salmon or chicken (+ soy-free mayo or other dressing)
• Zucchini "pasta" with butter and cheese (pesto?) with chicken or steak (beef tbd)
• Cub raw brats (plain or cajun, possibly other flavors), cucumber slices with dip (ranch, etc)
• Shredded pork and cheese (carnitas) on spinach (taco salad, no tomatoes)
• Crab/tuna salad (meat + soy free mayo) on spinach salad
• Sashimi!
• Chicken wings, cucumber slices with dip (ranch, etc)
• Mussels in white wine/cream sauce with zuchchini pasta
• Spam, eggs, cheese 
• Spaghetti Squash with cheese, butter + meat 
• Home-made Alfredo sauce with veggie pastas instead of just cheese and butter
• Grilled shrimp with spinach salad or zucchini/squash pasta

Eating out:

• Sushi/sashimi
•  Buffalo wild wings chicken wings (+ mango habanero sauce)
• Applebees wings, plain.
• Famous Dave's plain chicken

Desserts:

• 3 minute flourless brownie
• Instant coconut ice cream - 3 tbs cream, 1 tbs melted coconut manna
• Dark chocolate
• Dark chocolate + heavy cream cocoa
• Berries (raspberries, blueberries, blackberries) and cream