So...whats for dinner?

MinusTwo

Cherry - You said wbc shots. I expect it's like what we have called Neulasta in the states. If you take regular Claritin the day of chemo and continue 3-5 days after the shots, it really helps. No on really knows why, but be sure it isn't Claritin "D" - just the plain original kind.

eric95us

Cherry, BCO has a page on this.... http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/druglist/neulasta

Sharon's oncologist recommended the Claritin and it sure did help with the bone aches.

Your eldest's BF harassing you for an early taste of the zebra cake doesn't sound too terrible. :-) Sharon was doing the same thing tonight while the sourdough bread was baking. Every five minutes it was, "How much longer until it's done?" :-)

SpecialK

The antihistamine in Claritin helps control edema in the marrow caused by the rapid genesis of new white cells. Pelvis, femur, shoulders, and long bones of legs and arms have concentrations of blood cell producing marrow, and so have pain when the marrow is stimulated to over produce white cells. Bone pain seems to be better controlled with the combo of Claritin and Aleve (long-acting NSAID, naproxen), or other shorter term OTC pain relief like ibuprofen.

Cherry-sw

Minus, I am doing five wbc shots called Nivestim, once a day starting on the day five from the infusion. They decided to start with five and then see whether I needed more but after five days the blood work was back to normal so I am doing five even this time.

SpecialK, here is the thing, I do not have bone pain, it is a sort of flesh pain, like I have run a maraton and have muscular pain even places where there is no muscles, like the tip of my nose or the boobs. The legs from knee and down and the arms from the elbow to the hands do not hurt. Tomorrow is the fourth shot and if it will go like the first time this ”muscular” pain will subside and for two days I will have a throbbing pain in my lower back. I forgot to ask my doctor about Clarityn, we only have one sort here, the substance loratadine, but my nurse told me to take paracetamol with ibuprofen. It works, not very well but I can manage. I also have hydroxizinhydroklorid, another anti-histamin, but I do not know whether. I can take it now.

We had our Christmas Eve lunch, if there is such a thing, and DD avec BF went to his parents. DD woke up as promised and at least tried to fry the meatballs, I helped her but I felt decent, otherwise I just got stressed watching her getting stressed. But the BF was up to the task and baked a potatoe gratain for the whole family, there is plenty of it left for tomorrow. I also did dripping-based cream gravy Swedes serve to the meatballs. If you ask me the best on the table was gravlax and the smoked reindeer, DD bought on Christmas fairy, not the elk as I thought it was, she bought elk last year. The kids do not fancygravlax so DH and I enjoyed just us two. Tomorrow I will cook the turkey with aromatic butter.

Eric, I will post the recipe, but in gr and ml, sorry, the metric system))))

One more time, my gravlax, not that I am bragging, but it could not get any better

Cherry

auntienance

Cherry, loratadine works just as well, it makes a world of difference.

Cherry-sw

auntienance, I will send DH to the grugstore, the upcoming days of back pain is nothing to look forward to

Cherry-sw

Eric, here is the recipe for my zebra cheesecake. You have to translate to the imperial system, sorry.

Chocolate mix:

200 g dark chocolate

200 g sweet butter

250 g sugar

125 g flour

3 eggs

Cream cheese mix:

400 g Philadelphia original

1 tea sp vanilla sugar

125 g sugar

2 eggs

Set the oven on 180 C. Take a baking pan with removable edge. I have the baking paper on the bottom and greese both the paper and the sides.

Cream cheese mix

Beat cheese and two eggs with a hand mixer, add sugar and vanilla sugar and beat again until the sugar is dissolved.

Chocolate mix

Melt the butter and the chocolate in micro, or on the water bath, your call.

Beat three eggs and sugar with a mixer until sugar is dissolved. Add melted chocolate and butter and beat again, add flour and mix it well.

Take one third of the chocolate mix and spread on the bottom, pour cheese mix over it and spread evenly, pour the rest of the chocolate mix, it will be hard to pour it is quite thick but spread it over. Then take a knife and mix in the mix so it wil get mixed inside creating this zebra pattern.

One hour in the oven, it can be still shaking inside, let it get cold, you can decorate with frosting and berries or eat just as it is.

The BF complained in the morning that DD ate most of his piece he got yesterday even though she said she did not wanted any. I believe I am going to bake another one the upcoming days.

The idea of sourdough had crossed my mind I have to admit, it is just I will be alone eating it, the kids are eating the flat polar bread we have here and my husband eats rye Finnish bread. I am the one who is all about chiabattas and baguettes(.

Tappermom383

Cherry - loratadine is generic Claritin so it’s the same thing.

MJ

Cherry-sw

Tappermom383, I will get myself some tomorrow

eric95us

Thanks Cherry. I actually prefer the metric measurements.

I hope the Claritin (Loratadine) helps you.

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

illimae

DH and I haven’t decided on dinner yet but we did make it to the Far East Cafe in San Francisco for a late lunch followed by some shopping in Chinatown.

ChiSandy

Yum, Cherry--both the zebra cheesecake and the gravlax. I was going to suggest loratidine/Claritin plus an NSAID, but others beat me to it. Since you're ER+, I imagine once you're done with chemo and targeted therapy you'll be on either tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor. The latter, because it depletes estrogen, can weaken bones--so it's usually prescribed with either a daily oral bisphosphonate like Fosamax or Boniva, semi-annual infusions of bisphosphonates Reclast/Zometa, or semi-annual Prolia injections. The Zometa usually causes bone aches, and the Prolia sometimes does (for the first treatment). I got awful bone aches with Zometa, but they went away after a couple of days of loratidine. When I switched to Prolia, I started loratidine a couple of days before and took it for a day after. Have had Prolia twice now, with no side effects other than soreness at the upper arm injection site. You might want to start loratidine the day before your next chemo and keep taking it for a few days after the follow-up Neulasta/Neupogen shot.

Ilona, I miss SF--been 16 yrs. since I was last there. (Napa in 2014 doesn't count, as we flew into & out of Oakland and never made it across the Bay). But I can still taste the dim sum!

Dinner tonight was at the Chef's Station in Evanston. Snow put the kibosh on our plans to take the train up there (snowing too hard to walk to the station), and we weren't about to drive if it meant I couldn't have nice wine with my food (the place won a Wine Spectator award for its wine list), so we took an Uber. Evanston plows but doesn't salt its streets, so the ride up there in a little Prius was, uh, interesting. But dinner was awesome. Gordy & I started with sous vide Berkshire pork belly with mushrooms, shaved Brussels sprouts, shallots and celery root puree, and Bob had crab cakes over baby greens. For entrees, Bob had duck breast, Gordy prime rib, and I grass-fed rack of lamb over farro & baby root vegetables. For dessert, Gordy & I had Michigan tart cherry bread pudding with zabaglione gelato, and Bob had a chocolate mousse buche de Noel with eggnog sauce. (Sorry about no accent markings, but my Mac is misbehaving again in that regard--holding down any vowel key makes it repeat rather than bringing up the accent menu).

Sorry, too, about no pix--we were too busy eating to remember to take them. At home, after opening gifts, I flambeed plum pudding. Gordy tried to video it, but the flames died out before the phone kicked in.

Tomorrow our friends are serving roast beef. We'll bring wine and baklava. Merry Christmas to all (and to all a restful and silent night--the 5" of snow we've gotten makes me want to hibernate)!

Cherry-sw

illimae, I am looking forward the pictures, please post, it had been a dream of mine to go to SF, well, not only to SF but like to fly to Vancouver, then to Seattle, then drive down through Oregon and then like a week in SF, Redwood National park, the list is long)))) I was planning to do it this upcoming year but I am not sure it will be possible, later. So please, food and places to the masses)

ChiSandy, I am premenopausal and my genetic testing came back clean so it will be no more surgeries but Tamoxifen for at least five years. You mentioned pork belly, I got a recipe for oven-baked pork shoulder with cured mustard seed sauce from a friend, I have to try it. The way she described it I got hungry, I love when people are passionate about something and are really god at it, it is almost sexy.

I am ok today, but I have been better, tonight I had hot flashes from hell, I could not sleep, thought I was going to burst into flames. I had to open the balcony and the window creating a cold air stream through my bedroom and only after that fell asleep only to wake up in an hour because it was freezing)))

Now I have the turkey in the oven, turkey stock on the stove, and I will fry turkey liver for lunch because I was looking at it I swear I could have eaten it raw. But I did not, I had a flat bread sandwich like a normal person and now I am sitting with my cat next to me, tea in a new tea cup my youngest got me for Christmas and an assortment of marmelade candy, I think you have another name for this time of candy, but here this is what we call marmelade, and marmelade in a jar is called marmelade too. I got three different kinds I bought on Christmas fairy, cloudberry, blueberry and lingonberry although I swear I was picking cranberry, chemo brain). Here comes the picture, I made the fudge myself. The eldest took my car and I cannot go to the store, we need more Philadelphia cheese because I am making more zebra cake.The eldest texted me yesterday her BF family recipe for gravy and I texted back that it was not gravy but the cream sauce since gravy has no cream so today I am doing real gravy.

Cherry

Cherry-sw

KB870, let me know what you think, you can place some baking paper on top of it while in oven so it will not burn but for me one hour is what ut takes, the recipe says 45 min but then it i really moist. I have to admit, I force this recipe on people)))

illimae

Hi all! Last night was Korean bbq. It was good but new to me so I wasn’t sure what to do with all the sides, lol. Had to switch to a fork 1/2 way through due to my hand cramping from not mastering the use of chopsticks.

Today is supposed to be a seafood feast, if the host is feeling up to it, he had been sick recently.

auntienance

Happy holidays to my foodie peeps! May your day be merry and bright and filled with good things to eat!

auntienance

Feeling excited that Santa brought me a sous vide unit!

Moonflwr912

Merry Christmas to all! Time gets away from me so much, that I forget to check in. Im hoping you are all doing well, and enjoying the season as much as possible.

Had everyone over on Saturday, the usual ham and all the trimmings. Managed to get one picture in all 5 hours of having the two DGDs where they are both sitting down. (sort of) LOL

Made a special breakfast for my DH, as it is quiet here today! small fritatas, biscuits with honey nut butter,and mango smoothies. Tonight just small steaks and mashed potatos, with either carrots or whatever I have frozen. LOL

So Merry Christmas to you and yours ftom me and mine!

Cherry-sw

antienance, didn’t you already have a sous vide? Merry Chtistmas

auntienance

Cherry - no, I have an electric pressure cooker, but I'm new to sous vide.

Great family pic Monica!

Moonflwr912

Merry Christmas to all! Time gets away from me so much, that I forget to check in. Im hoping you are all doing well, and enjoying the season as much as possible.

Had everyone over on Saturday, the usual ham and all the trimmings. Managed to get one picture in all 5 hours of having the two DGDs where they are both sitting down. (sort of) LOL

Made a special breakfast for my DH, as it is quiet here today! small fritatas, biscuits with honey nut butter,and mango smoothies. Tonight just small steaks and mashed potatos, with either carrots or whatever I have frozen. LOL

So Merry Christmas to you and yours ftom me and mine!

illimae

DH and I packed up and passed out sandwich stuff to some local homeless. DH does this when the aftershow deli trays take up too much room on the bus. Rather than toss it, some small groups we found will be having a variety of turkey, ham, roast beef, salami, provolone, cheddar and Colby on multigrain bread. I’m looking forward to the seafood feast myself

illimae

So, dinner was lots of delicious crab, Cesar salad and various desserts.

MinusTwo

Oh I am so jealous about the crab.

My dinner was left over crab fried rice & tuna tartare from Eddie Vs. Delicious.The Persian buffet on Christmas Eve was also excellent, but 30 people milling around one house was stressful - especially with 7 tired & fussy children under the age of 4. Not to mention 3 BIG dogs knocking over glasses (and I do mean big - think Great Dane). I assigned myself to keeping the buffet table stocked and washing up used plates & glasses, and I left by dark for the hour drive home. The older I get the more I treasure small quiet gatherings where one might actually share a meaningful exchange with someone. (and this from the lady who always had BBQs for 25 & at least 30 people over on NY Eve).

MinusTwo

Moon - thanks for posting the great pictures. Nance - looking forward to hearing about your new meals. Illimae - it's so neat that you are sharing with the homeless. Carole - glad your Mom made it without incident. You're a trouper to have everyone at your house.

Off to the gym to pay penance for all the delicious food.

DodgersGirl

auntienance-- please share your sous vide successes with us. I bought an immersion stick for DH's birthday. We have had good luck with the few items he has cooked with it. Was simply amazed at how tender and juicy boneless/skinless chicken breasts are when sous vided. We think this will be a great way to start a New Year's diet in 2018. Prepare the chicken breasts and make different sauces to change up the taste.

So far DH has done steaks, chicken, and carrots. Pork chops are on sale locally and DH plans to try chops next. Then he wants to make the Starbuck's egg bites.

auntienance

DodgersGirl, ribeyes are on the menu tonight. Even though we had a rib roast Christmas eve, it was more done than I liked so now I'm hoping for redemption! Will keep you posted.

carolehalston

I'm anticipating reports on the sous vide, too. Which one do you own, Nance? Is it necessary to use a special appliance to seal the food in a plastic bag?

The refrigerator is full of leftovers but we're having ribeyes and baked potatoes for dinner. We'll use a pre-heated cast iron grill pan to sear the ribeye and finish it in a 500 degree oven.

Yesterday my sister brought me the turkey carcass and drippings so I will make turkey veggie noodle soup tomorrow. While it's simmering, I will remove all traces of Christmas.

Cherry, the fudge and candy are beautiful.

auntienance

The sous vide rib eye was a huge success - perfectly cooked (and evenly!) just this side of medium rare. Seared in a blazing hot cast iron skillet - perfect! I like it.

Carole, mine is a Kitchen Gizmo. Not a terribly expensive brand but one that seems to be pretty popular on Amazon. I just used zip lock bags for the steaks but today I used an Amazon gift card to buy a vacuum sealer. I've been wanting one anyway so it seemed like a good excuse to get one.

The big drawback to this is that I will have to plan ahead better than I do these days. There are many days when I'm just figuring out what's for dinner fewer than 2 hours before it's time to eat.

DodgersGirl

auntienance-- sounds delicious! We use water displacement method with zip lock bags most of the time but have cooked frozen steaks on vacuum sealed bags with success.

From what I have read, if you cook your food ahead of time (like on the weekend) and put it in an ice bath to quickly lower the temp, you can store in the refrigerator for days and just pull out and sear, then serve. We haven't tried this yet