Farewell To Food
So, today we turn a new page, start a new chapter, and change course on our journey. In kissing goodbye foods that irritate my system, I decided to have stuffed Anaheims for the last time. I know that all peppers irritate my system. Even bell peppers light up my tummy, so I definitely know better.
For those who haven’t had stuffed Anaheims, (and can tolerate peppers) this simple dish is completely delectable, simple to make, and hits all of the junky, snacky, appetizey spots. It’s just halved Anaheims stuffed with cream cheese and cheddar, then baked on a cookie sheet.
I was looking forward to this for so long that the Anaheims were starting to turn in the fridge, because I KNOW what the cost is.
ut they’re so good. And this was my last time.
Why do I do this to myself?
So, I start preparing the Anaheims, two nights ago, cutting off the tops and slicing them in half. I immediately felt the capsaicin hit my nose, and said “Oh, this smells like I’m going to have the hiccups.” (I used to love drying and powdering jalapeños, but when the powder would go airborne, I’d feel it in my nose, then the hiccups would follow.)
The hiccups never came, but both my partner and I had to clear the room because we couldn’t breathe once it hit our lungs. We both had bouts of feeling like the air was stinging us. Our eyes were burnt. Our skin was burnt. My partners reaction lasted for hours, and he couldn’t enter the house without a mask on (thanks COVID- now we have them on hand at least).
It was awful and punishing. I had forgotten how labor intensive it is to cut all the tops off, clean out all of the insides, slice them, fill them… Even the filling is labor intensive, and it all took a LOT longer because my back was DONE for the day. I had to stop multiple times per pepper to wait for my arm to work again. There were 12 peppers. (I didn’t mean to get 12- Ordering produce online is its own adventure). If I include the time we spent outside, waiting for the project to become approachable again, the process and punishment took hours- our entire night really.
They were so good. I had them cold and a day later, because they had been removed to the garage to make the house livable again. They were absolutely delicious. The texture! The flavor! So Good.
Now it’s Sunday morning, and I’m not getting anything done because of all of the super crampy trips to the bathroom.
I love hot foods. I used to use jalapeños every day. Now, even Anaheims completely destroy me.
Saying goodbye to food almost always backfires, and in backfiring it does precisely what I need it to. My body will carry this memory with me for quite some time, giving me a salient reminder of exactly why I’m taking control over what goes in.
Of course there are mountains of amazing food in the world. The reality is that most of that is simply not for me, and chasing it leads me down the wrong path.
I know this. I always know this. And now-again- I know it down to my bowels.
Self Diagnosis is Valid
and it’s not my fault that I’m usually right.
Operation **Reclaim** Loveland 
What do you think?