This says Eye love you

I am allergic to several different types of raw vegetables and fruit. I can eat them once they have been cooked but when I chop them or eat them raw, I am guaranteed to have some discomfort. It’s never really, really bad. I might have an itchy mouth. My lips might swell a bit. I might get a rash on my cheeks. But sometimes I just really want to eat an apple and the slight discomfort is worth it.

I decided to go all Delia Smith for Valentine’s Day and make a traditional English meal for Scott. He wanted a pork roast with all the trimmings. I spent the afternoon making trifle – which is actually really difficult without a mixer. (I am shocked too that I don’t even have a hand mixer. And I call myself a baker!)

It was all going well and I had only set the smoke alarm off once when I started chopping parsnips. Then some time shortly after that I must have touched my face. It went horribly wrong from there.

I have never cooked parsnips before and have only really eaten them a few times. I didn’t think about parsnips being related to the carrot (which I know I am allergic to). I was busy thinking, don’t let the sauce burn, is that what it’s supposed to look like, where did I put the salt, how small should I chop these things, what exactly does Heidi see in Spencer? And poor Rihanna!

Internet, I am allergic to raw parsnips.

“Some people can have an allergic reaction to parsnip, and parsnip leaves may irritate the skin.” No shit, Wikipedia.

(I am fully aware that these photos look like they belong on Cops, America’s Most Wanted and/or Crime Watch. Feel sorry for me.)

These were taken just before my eye completely shut due to swelling and hives went down my face. I spent much of the night saying, “It hurts! It burns! It itches!” and talking Scott through making the rest of the meal, while trying to resist scratching my face off.  Then the Benadryl kicked in and I passed out. It was a wild and crazy night of love for us.

Needless to say, this is not how I thought last night would go. I went all Hitch, rather than Delia. But at least I can say Scott sort of made me dinner.

(I am feeling a bit better now. Scott says I just look like an alien with one really small eye. )