Dehydration

In case you’re not aware of this fact, one of the symptoms of mild dehydration is arm and leg cramps in some people.  One of the symptoms of moderate to severe dehydration is severe muscle contractions in the arms, legs, stomach, and back.  I did not know this last night as I was experiencing it, but thank God we figured it out and did something about it.  I never knew my hands could cramp up so bad.  I actually had Mr. N giving me Gatorade because I could not hold my own cup for a couple of hours there.  (Water is ideal because our bodies are made to use it, unlike the additives and sugar in Gatorade, but Gatorade will do when that’s all a person can stand without hurling.) I suppose when your evening is filled with Technicolor Yawning, it’s easy to overlook what is probably obvious to most people.  We have never experienced this in our family.  It’s something to watch out for now.

New Years Eve

On This Last Day of 2007

I’m still working on the 4 item list from last night but am now sitting bundled up on the couch with the warmth of the laptop.  I don’t know how, after eating all of the junk we have over the last couple of weeks, dragging our resistance into the dirt, that we haven’t caught something long before now.

Christmas was good. We got to see almost all of our parents’/step parent’s children and grandchildren. Only one person and her significant other were missing. They were greatly missed. Maybe next year. Since the little guy was sick, our previous plans sort of went out the window but it was okay anyway.

My Downfall - Baking

Jeanette from Egg Free Baking stopped by a little over a week ago and boy am I glad she did! We have made her Brown Sugar Shortbread recipe twice. It is definitely a keeper! Everyone liked them. If I wasn’t trying to get and stay healthy, I’d go make another batch right now and eat them all myself. They’re that good. I encourage you to check out her website even if you aren’t allergic to eggs.

Just a recap of what else was tried and true at our house in 2007:

The gingersnaps have only turned out the way they are supposed to once, but they have still tasted great every time I’ve made them. The dough is supposed to be rolled into 1″ balls. They are supposed to flatten and get “snappy” but they don’t. They are soft and dessert-spicey. VERY good, but not like traditional gingersnaps. I have tried this recipe using various fats and nothing seems to make them turn out the way they did at first. I keep meaning to look back at the recipe as originally posted but I keep forgetting.

Cocoa Crazy Cake made into cupcakes, frosted with Vegan Buttercream Frosting and refrigerated overnight are SOOOO good. I have to say that the aforelinked Cocoa Crazy Cake recipe is the most cake-like eggless chocolate cake recipe I have ever had. It is so moist!

Winter

A couple of weeks ago, I was listening to the radio and heard the weatherman say, “It’s not spring yet.” Huh?? It wasn’t even winter yet. We have gotten some snow since that time. In fact, we’ve gotten enough snow to make it look like winter. Well, tonight we have a winter storm warning. I am so excited!!!

I can’t think of a better visual of starting afresh than a blanket of snow making everything look fresh and clean.  Nothing like a clean slate. 

Happy New Year!

So McGee,

What’s happening? Anything new?

The other post had so many comments that I figure it’s as good a time as any to take out a clean sheet of pixels, as it were.

Vegan Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

I made these great cookies about a week and a half ago. They were a huge hit everywhere I took them. I’m going to make them again today but I lost the recipe. Just thought I’d share the link and the recipe here for my own future reference and for anyone else who might like something delish that is egg and dairy free.

Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

Submitted by Isa on www.theppk.com

Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies Submitted by Isa prep time: 15 minutes | cooking time: 32 minutes | makes 4 dozen cookies These are soft out of the oven, but as they cool they are nice and chewy. They are a serious crowd pleaser, for crowds with taste buds.Note: I use flax seeds because they make the texture a little chewier, but I’ve made them without and they’re still good! Equipment: baking sheets 2 mixing bowls Ingredients 2 cups flour 1 1/3 cups rolled oats 1 teaspoon baking soda 3/4 teaspoon salt 1 tsp cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 1 2/3 cups sugar 2/3 cup canola oil 2 tablespoons molasses 1 cup canned pumpkin, or cooked pureed pumpkin 1 teaspoon vanilla optional: 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds 1 cup walnuts, finely chopped 1/2 cup raisins Directions Preheat oven to 350. Have ready 2 greased baking sheets. Mix together flour, oats, baking soda, salt and spices. In a seperate bowl, mix together sugar, oil, molasses, pumpkin and vanilla (and flax seeds if using) until very well combined. Add dry ingredients to wet in 3 batches, folding to combine. Fold in walnuts and raisins. Drop by tablespoons onto greased cookie sheets. They don’t spread very much so they can be placed only an inch apart. Flatten the tops of the cookies with a fork or with your fingers, to press into cookie shape. Bake for 16 minutes at 350. If you are using two sheets of cookies on 2 levels of your oven, rotate the sheets halfway through for even baking. You’ll have enough batter for 4 trays. Remove from oven and get cookies onto a wire rack to cool. These taste best when they’ve had some time to cool and set. They taste even better the next day! Note from Mrs. Nicklebee: These are extremely sticky. Let them cool adequately before handling them.

The Migraine Prodrome

I already did my obligatory NaBloPoMo post for today but I have something else to say.

My sister had a period of about a month where she had a headache. She was miserable! She went to the ER a couple of times, had a spinal tap once, an MRI, a CT and saw a neurologist. After the spinal tap made her headache MUCH worse, she also had a blood patch.