So fortunately Ava has gotten over her weekend illness like a champ and has been in good spirits the past two days.

But between seeing the pediatrician on Monday and a previously scheduled appointment with the allergist Wednesday, now I have a new dilemma: whether or not to vaccinate Ava against H1N1.

Before I wrote that I thought I wanted to have her vaccinated. Now, I'm not so sure.

I feel fortunate that we don't have much day-to-day drama with Ava's food allergies. (that's her at left in July)

On the other hand, her environmental ones and her bouts with wheezing (I'm near convinced she has asthma) give us the biggest scares.

They don't affect her often, but when they do, it's a pretty big deal.

Back when she first started having the breathing episodes, we bought a nebulizer from our doctor. What a great investment for only $30. Being able to give her medicine immediately without running all over town helps relieve a lot of worry.

And it gets her feeling better quicker and staves off more serious stuff.

Last night was the latest episode.

Did you know that your toothpaste or soap could contain fennel? I didn't either. And I didn't realize that some spices can also trigger allergic reactions.

This Web site lists seven of the most common spice allergies. They include:

• Anis


• Paprika


• Curry


• Garlic


• Fennel


• Celery seed


• Mustard

And apparently mustard can be pretty deadly to persons who are allergic to it.

**Side note: If you want a chance to win a coupon for free Soy milk, visit this site.

I really thought I was going to have to wipe the drool from my keyboard when I stumbled upon this food-allergy friendly recipe: a dairy- and egg-free SNICKERDOODLE RECIPE!!

If you can't tell, I heart snickerdoodles. This recipe comes courtesy of the Food Allergy Mama. I can't wait to try it. I'll post the results when I wrangled some free time in the kitchen.

Say dairy-free and what enters your mind? Probably not cream cheese icing. Howevah, apparently Pillsbury's brand is just that: dairy-free. That's cool and all, and I'm sure it's delicious - but if you actually look at the ingredients it's all artificial. Boo.

Here's a yummier - and simple - recipe for cream cheese icing. One reader suggests adding some lemon juice to bring out the cream cheese flavor.

If you love your slow-cooker, then this recipe is for you. I've tried it with pork and beef roasts, and it's delicious either way:

1/2 c. chopped onion
2 apples, peeled and sliced
1 tbsp. honey
1 tbsp. dijon mustard
1/2 tsp coriander
1/4 tsp. salt
2 1/2 lbs. pork/beef roast
1 tbsp. cornstarch
2 tbsp. water

• In a 4-6 quart slow-cooker, combine apples and onions

• Combine honey, mustard, coriander and salt. Mix well and spread on all sides of roast. Place roast over onions and apples and cook on LOW for 7 to 8 hours.

• Remove roast and cover with foil on serving platter. In a saucepan, combine the cornstarch and water. Add the apple mixture from the slow-cooker. Cook over medium heat until it6 boils.

I came across this video about a little girl who is allergic to so much stuff that her mom goes to extraordinary lengths to keep her alive. The kicker is that her insurance company won't pay anymore for treatment.

I feel for this family. It puts what I deal with in perspective.

A new book on eating wheat-free will be hitting the shelves Tuesday.

Here's a snapshot of what to expect from "Cooking Well: Wheat Allergies"

"One new resource from best-selling health and wellness publisher Hatherleigh Press will hit bookshelves October 27, 2009 and ebook readers November 10, 2009. Cooking Well: Wheat Allergies features over 145 gluten-free recipes designed to improve daily functioning with a variety of delicious meal choices, including breakfast, soups, salads, entrees, snacks and desserts. It includes everything from orange pumpkin muffins, to black bean soup, to a Waldorf salad, to chicken cacciatore, to an apple tart, all appropriate for people with a wheat intolerance or allergy.

Cooking Well: Wheat Allergies also includes: An overview on wheat allergies, a list of foods to avoid, a meal diary and checklist to track your progress."

One of my must-have pantry staples is Gluten-Free Pantry's Muffin and Scone mix.

I've never had the urge to make scones, but this mix is a 3-in-1: you can make muffins, pancakes or waffles. Each only requires a few added ingredients, and the box lists substitutions that can be made for milk allergies.

The muffin recipe calls for eggs, but I've just left any kind of substitution out completely and have noticed no difference.

Giant is removing Breyer's All Natural Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream from its shelves after a manufacturers recall. The ice cream may contain undeclared wheat.

Here's the story.

Saubel's in Shrewsbury is having their annual 20% off all items in the natural and organic marketplace from now until Oct. 28. Hurry down and save some money while you can!