So...whats for dinner?
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Special - the nuts sound good. I agree w/Carol - lobster rolls rule but we can't get them!!!
I'm constantly amazed at the grocery prices. Hopped over to WalMart yesterday since I wanted to make a very small fruit salad to use up the leftover pineapple tidbits in the fridge. One orange - $0.50. One banana - $0.41. One apple - $0.50. Gee whiz - I thought Wally World was supposed to have the cheapest groceries. One friggin' orange that was hard to peel and wouldn't separate into sections.
Met my SIL today for lunch at Perry's Steakhouse. They raise & butcher their own meat and it's delicious. I had a 6 oz fillet with asparagus on the side. Oh, and their bread is individually baked round loaves - served warm. Yes, I ate 4 slices. I also had a Screwdriver. Something out of my norm but this restaurant makes them with fresh squeezed OJ. No dinner tonight.
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I could have bought some marvelous local artisanal olive oil in Tuscany last week--in fact, at the winery that had its own olive groves. But we were already bringing back some wine & limoncello and didn't want our suitcases to be overweight (as a liquid, we couldn't bring it in our carry-ons unless we bought it at the duty-free just before boarding). But after reading that Consumer Reports article about not just Italian but Spanish, French & Greek EVOO often being not only not EV but perhaps from another country, I began buying the top-rated California Olive Ranch Everyday EVOO. It's more expensive than Colavita, Bertolli, Alessi, etc. but I know it's EV and made only from California olives. It's just as green & peppery as the Tuscan stuff. No need for the single-vintage-dated stuff from Eataly or other gourmet stores. Instead of the Ligurian stuff for more delicate applications, I buy Cal. Olive Ranch's “Mild & Buttery," pale golden. (I also have a stash of teeny little bottles of Spanish olive oil from my flights on Iberia--which I forgot to bring along for cooking at the condo in Tuscany). Didn't want to have to either leave a bottle of olive oil behind--which the resort would discard--or bring it home, so I got a couple of little Colavita “picnic packs" with one-ounce bottles of EVOO and everyday balsamic or apple-cider vinegar and a packet of salt. Not very economical ounce-by-ounce, but no waste and no schlepping it home.
As for balsamic vinegar, I buy two kinds--mid-priced supermarket Modena balsamics for salads (I have a bottle of Kirkland “industriale" for deglazing pans when I don't want to use red wine); and a very small bottle of actual 25-yr-old Balsamico di Modena for drizzling on heirloom tomatoes, strawberries or gelato. There's no mistaking it--it's syrupy and intense (and not just too expensive but also too high a sugar content to use in quantity). I do have flavored olive oils (orange,blood orange, lime) and “balsamics" (grapefruit, lemon, and blueberry) from Old Town Olive Oil Company (where you can taste them straight from the tanks and then buy them in sizes from 8-32 oz., bottled while you watch). But I harbor no illusions as to their authenticity.
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I apologize for disappearing. I am working under the "Spoon Theory" (you can google) and I have enough spoons every day to make dinner, take care of guests, clean my house religiously, code, and play host, but not quite enough to then write about food.
There has been much spiralizing. Saw a great "tip" on Sara Moulton that recommends adding a little real pasta to your zucchini pasta and it is brilliant! This makes my vegetarian mixtures seem like an entree. Variations have been lunch a lot around here. Tonight was grilled swordfish, local green beans lightly steamed, our first garden tomatoes served with local garlic and garden basil, and some local potatoes sautéed with local onions and local garlic. Gosh do I love summer foods! Last guests were astonishing people...... in spite of a horrid, and I mean horrid, arrival, they forgave me and then moved into my heart. They left with many hugs (and a few tears) and now I have a young Chinese couple who are doctoral students at SUNY Stoneybrook. He is developing new PET scan techniques for breast cancer, and I couldn't understand what she is doing even a little bit. They are off in search of lobster rolls.
As I get more tired from treatments, I fear that I will not always be able to post. Lacey does know how to reach me if you get too concerned I have started cycle 10B. This breakfast I ate a rye roll with a baby belle cheese and some fresh pineapple. No upset. Gonna try that again tomorrow.
I really hate this disease. I really hate having to decide where I will use my spoons on a daily basis.
*susan*
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susan - you know where you need to deploy your spoons, and you have many! Just want you to know we care, and miss you, and worry!
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Susan, we understand if you don’t have enough spoons to update us here. It’s amazing how many things you already do, selflessly at that.
Tonight, dinner began with a small heirloom tomato and basil (both grown on our deck) with a small dollop of mozzarella di bufala, seasoned with blood orange olive oil and lemon balsamic vinegar. Then pan-seared Icelandic salmon (had to start being more vigilant about raiding the freezer), seasoned very lightly with kosher salt (dealing with severe foot & leg edema after our trip to Italy, so I have become more conscientious about sodium intake), fresh finely ground black pepper and olive oil, with a squeeze of lemon before being plated. It was plated on a bed of lacinato kale I blanched and sauteed in olive oil, crushed garlic and fresh lemon juice. No salt or sugar. Amazingly, it tasted like I’d made an agrodolce--sweet and tart. Accompanying it with plain seltzer--no wine for me for quite a while, as I definitely overindulged (well, by my standards) in wonderful wines as well as the obligatory free limoncello shots at the end of each dinner (slammed back with either the waiter or the chef).
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But I do have energy to give you all some Olivia-time. Can you believe how much she has matured?
This girl is NOT gonna take any crap from anybody, eh?
*susan*
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susan - she is gorgeous and has a wise, don't-mess-with-me, look!
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And your 'spoons' are pretty much serving size, Susan. Wishing you strength during this round of meds. And I'm happy to keep track if/when you need to drop this spoon for a bit. This month, probably via technology connections, since I'll be out of town mostly.
We drove home last night, or more specifically I drove home, since I am almost always the driver....and I was wiped by the time we got here....very late. Getting ready to head to MO appt. then food shopping....both fridges are almost EMPTY!......, then probably a quick grill (maybe Bison burgers) for dinner before heading back to NH. I am really tired today, allergies are peaking, further interrupting sleep. Darn!
I have mixed feelings about this MO appt. It is scheduled to be my last for a year, which leaves me worried a bit about being untethered to my MO safety net. If I felt great, physically, cognitively and emotionally, I'd probably be celebrating this "milestone" but on the whole, my quality of life feels so much lower than pre-dx. But maybe getting old is just creeping in in too many unwanted ways. Maybe this will be a moment for me to work harder at reclaiming or re-inventing my life....and I can stop complaining now.......
Oh, Carole, Minus, etc., I apologize for mentioning the "L" word. Having spent my undergrad years in the midwest, totally missing salt water fish, I should be more sensitive. :
Last night, before packing up, DH had leftover grilled chicken and leftover steak. I poached two eggs for myself....not the duck variety.
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WOW,Susan!! She exudes beauty, wisdom and power!! What a photo! Thanks for sharing.....and yes the early life changes are so unbelievable.
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Oh my - Olivia is the greatest. Totally original & absolutely gorgeous. I too love the "you really think so...?" look. Or "are you in my way...?"
Lacey - good luck w/the MO. Please let us know. I have a couple more years with 6 month appointments since they're counting from the recurrence. I agree - it's most frustrating that I can't tell what body sensations & movement restrictions are the after effects of chemo & rads or just from aging. I don't know if it really makes a difference, but it pisses me off not to know.
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Susan - we do understand your 'spoon' issues. Sending strength and we miss more frequent posts since you cook the most amazing things - but take care of yourself first.
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Thanks, Minus.....and I agree about wanting to know the etiology of our 'bodily failings'....tho we may never.
So, I had a good appt with MO, and we decided I should get back on melatonin for my sleep issues. We also decided that it would not be a bad idea for me to have some neuropsych testing since I am concerned about not all of my cognitive skills being up to what they were pre- Dx. And, given my mother and brother having dementia...... So I took a melatonin tonight and I'm falling asleep as I write this.
The biggest news is that my MO is moving on to DF!! I believe I will continue with her there rather than try out a new person. I've had her for five years and we are a good match. She actually made my next appt for six months out rather than a year, which is comforting to me.
Went grocery shopping at home, and we grilled bison burgers with garlic and feta for dinner before heading back up here. Looking forward to a great weather day tomorrow.
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Lacey, glad you had a good MO visit--so did I. My MO was fine with postponing my Zometa infusion until I can find out if switching this Oct. to another Medicare Part D carrier will get me coverage for Prolia. She says I’m at low enough risk for both recurrence and my osteopenia progressing to osteoporosis that we can wait (and that it’s not worth frying my esophagus with an oral bisphosphonate). For now, keep popping that Caltrate, D3, Mg and K2 and keep walking as much as I can. (And not only is my post-flight foot & leg edema nearly gone, I’m a pound and a half down from my pre-trip weight--so sharing courses with Bob and lots of exercise compensated for all that pasta, gelato & wine).
Speaking of pasta, I tried SpecialK’s suggestion of mixing my spiralized zucchini with a little actual pasta--I used a half-portion of Bionature 100% whole wheat, the only whole wheat pasta that cooks up al dente (rather than going straight from crunch to mush). And spiralizing my own zucchini with the fine blade looks & acts more like real pasta than what’s in the Paleo Bowls sold by Whole Foods. I sauteed the “zoodles” in olive oil & garlic, added some Isola tomato-basil sauce (threw in some homegrown basil to boot), and put the pasta in the skillet, tossing all of it together. Grated some pecorino Romano over it. No wine tonight, though--just water. Had a low-carb decaf breve latte and a square of sugar-free dark chocolate for dessert.
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chisandy - as much as I would like to take credit for the addition of pasta to the spiralized zucchini, I think that was susan!
Dinner last night was nothing to write home about - romaine salad with red pepper, scallions, shredded carrot and some roasted chicken breast with vinaigrette. DH had some of DD's birthday cake.
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Special, I would have a VERY hard time passing up on that bit of chocolate heaven! Happy belated BD to your DD!
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Thanks for the DD b-day wishes! I put the cake in the garage fridge so I would see it less for that very reason, although if I bake the cake I am somehow less inclined to eat it - I am the same with party food - I have no idea why.
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the cake......wow!
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eric - after I baked the cakes in round pans I sliced the layers horizontally and frosted them, so there are four layers, each with frosting. This is her fave cake - chocolate on chocolate. DH was happy about the extra frosting last night - he is less about the cake and more about the frosting!
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Oh my Special I want that!
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And I want it for breakfast too. I found a recipe for dark chocolate cake made w/yogurt & pinot noir with a pinot noir ganache. My friend Pat made it. Her bridge group loved it but she thought it was too much "dark" chocolate. I can't wait until the heat lifts and I can have the oven on for an hour to try it.
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Gotta love a chocolate cake - they just look yummy! Of course, today I decided I need to get more serious about exercise and diet - I have been slacking.
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minus - my DH is a cake for breakfast guy! That's funny!
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I don't think your DH's breakfast menu is out of the question, Special.
Your four layer cake construction brought back vivid memories of the four layer lemon olive oil cake with cream cheese icing that the owner of Cafe Heaven in P-town made this summer. It was unbelievably delicious. So now I'm torn between that, your divine looking chocolate on chocolate creation, or Nancy's cherry pie! I would not even hesitate for a moment to eat a piece of all three!
All that said, I just returned from a very hot walk, and am trying to "sweat down" on the porch so I can get a bathing suit on, and head to the beach. DH is there uncovering the boat....a perfect day to tell anyone to go "jump in the lake!". The middle of our lake is 200 feet deep and beautifully clean, so I'll be jumping in, too.
Tonight we are meeting some friends from home for dinner at The Inn on Newfound, across the lake. The food is usually good there, but one never knows from year to year what the chef situation will be up here.
Tomorrow we will be having some neighborhood friends here for breakfast since their house was flooded from a broken pipe and they are dealing with Service Pro fans everywhere, elevating the temp there to over 100 degrees....with gross humidity! Makes me think of when we were inSt. Louis in August, Nance.
I'm not sure that my first effort with melatonin worked so well last night...will try again. Does anyone else use that, with success?
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Lacey, yesterday was 98 with about the same humidity. Tropical! Except no breezes. The cherry pie has not forgotten you but I have no cherries! Hope to to remedy that in the very near future
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Ooooh, that cake! Just looking at it and drooling is spiking my blood sugar. (Last night I fed my “jones” with a scoop of Talenti Double Dark Chocolate Gelato, but after Italy, it’s just ice cream and I can live w/o it).
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Nance, no baking in this weather!! But when things cool down do I have a great swap for a cherry pie!
My meal tonight at the Inn left a lot to be desired, but since I need to get up early for our breakfast guests, I'll post about it tomorrow...
Sandy, I don't mind Talenti as a stateside option for gelato...and I've never seen the double dark chocolate flavor at our stores, sadly. Given our options, we favor the pistachio and the rasberry with chocolate bits. Yum!
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Oh no! I can't comment on much of anything as I m back from camp. Another person asked if she could take my last week as she needs work and I obliged as I will be working at the University in two weeksI I have lost my reading glasses and the writing on this phone is so tiny!
No internet yet
Olivia is great I see Senator Olivia in the future based on the perfect poster picture or whatever she wants to be
I am waiting for my furniture delivery the place is cute
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Well, before leaving for Milwaukee this a.m. I forgot to put the limoncello in the fridge. D'OH! Had a good gig, though I felt pretty sick after they took the tent down from the stage and I was packing up in the hot sun. Nauseated, crampy, sweating like crazy--thought I was having a heart attack (except my metabolic panel suggested that was a very remote possibility). Thought it might be the Lasix, though my last one was yesterday morning and I was sunscreened to a fare-thee-well. Probably 2 bottles of water just weren’t enough. Established a meaningful relationship with the Porta-Potti, got help loading the car, drove home and crashed on the couch for half an hour. Just finished putting together the insalata Caprese for the block party dinner; and to my delight discovered a bottle of Mumm's Napa Demi-Sec chilled in the downstairs fridge. So heading down the block right now with the bubbly & the salad--will sip a bit before heading back to fetch the folding chair for dinner.
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lost a huge post...
Too annoyed to repeat...
Tonight, DH and I are having cocktails and healthy junk food items on the porch instead of the grilled steaks we had planned. We are tired and relaxed, and have lots of that stuff in the house, so why not?! Watching several olympic competitions with all the ipads and computers he has set up on the porch. We are nuts!
Breakfast on deck this morning was good and appreciated by our friends. DH made most of it. I loved that!
Sandy, I'm glad you feel better enough to attend the block dinner!
Bedo, good plan to "buy" yourself a week off
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Chi......hyponatremia or one of its "weirded out blood electrolyte level" cousins?
It's too hot to bake here too, so no cakes for awhile. For when it cools down a bit, I'll have to remember to cut the cake "rounds" for extra frosting space. As long as the frosting isn't too sweet, I think the extra frosting would be a good thing. :-)
If I didn't say, Susan, that's a wonderful picture of Olivia. I like the expression.
It took 4 days to get mom's air conditioning fixed. I am so glad that I was able to put together enough of a system to keep the house comfortable. While the guy was working on the unit, I took a quick 2 minute look at the air conditioning with the panels off....the construction wasn't very "robust".
Tonight is lamb kabobs...they can be done on the grill. I'm using, more or less, the recipe at this place
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