So...whats for dinner?

Starving ! Starving!  Gonna have to try that Gazpacho soup soon. You ladies are awesome.  Anyway I am about to whip up my dinner  now.  I just made an old fashioned ice box cake with chocolate and banana pudding for my dessert ( not healthy I am sure, but sure comforting) . Having stuffed cod, seasoned rice and mixed veggies for my main meal. I  am throwing threw together a mussels marina for my appetizer. I have been craving mussels for some reason lately and had them last week also. Also prepared myself some peaches soaking in wine and cinnamon to top off with some heavy cream later when the insomnia kicks in.

You can take a bunch of basil and stuff it in the cavity of a chicken and roast it.  I think you can use walnuts instead of pine nuts in pesto.  You could make a basil-infused olive oil (one cup of olive oil, two cups of basil leaves) or basil jelly. 

Michelle

Daydreamernh,

Welcome!!! And wow... your dinner sounds really great!  Especially the peaches!! I just picked some up today at the famer's market.  Had one for lunch and, holy cow, was it good!!! So juicy!!!  I always thought I didn't like mussels until this past year... Turns out I love them... what I didn't like was all of the really badly over-cooked mussels I had eaten in the past!

You all have me craving some cod!! I think tomorrow! 

Seaside   Don't you just love those farmers markets!

LuvRVing    Hey!  How are doing?

I have always had a healthy appetite, I could sit with the biggest of men and match them spoon for spoon. Not a cheap date either. Love my seven course meals sitting at a table with family, friends for hours, shooting the breeze as we go thru each course and then some.  I thank the Italian Grandparents for that. Never gained a pound. Until my first DX  then food became an issue, didn't or couldn't eat much at all and most of my favorites just seemed so unappetizing for some reason, still gained over 40 pounds. Must have been the hormonals.This time around my appetite is back with a vengeance most days. Must be the steroids. Going to have to watch the weight gain. I love peaches. Will do a Paula Deen search and try and find that recipe.

Off to my meal.

Liz

Laurie,

Cilantro absolutely cannot take any kind of heat!!! It will refuse to do anything (and bolt if it does decide to grow) If temps are over 70 degrees... I learned this the hard way last year!  Fortunately mine bolted  and then went to seed... We just gathered some of the seed and replanted in late August/ early September... The cilantro was ready just as the tomatoes and peppers were ready for salsa!

Edited to add:  The seeds from the cilantro plant are coriander and can be use din cooking too!  Saw this and I may try planting my cilantro this way in the next couple of weeks!  

http://www.sunset.com/garden/flowers-plants/better-way-grow-cilantro-00400000017171/

-------------------------------------

Diagnosis: 5/8/2009, ILC, 2cm, Stage IIa, 0/3 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-

For all of you who are asking how I am doing...I am doing nothing...LOL!  I seriously sat on my butt all day long, paid some bills and took care of some administrivia for my mom, and got myself showered, dressed, ate, and made the occasional bathroom trip!!!  Seriously, I couldn't have done much less if I tried.    So I have listened to all of my friends and rested.

I hope the weather clears up a bit tomorrow, I'd like to get in the lake and get things moving a little.  I feel just fine, so long as i don't try to do too much.  I am having labs done early this cycle, actually on Friday.  I'll be curious to see where my RBC is sitting.

Thanks everyone for keeping tabs on me!  Sometimes I forget that I am really assaulting my body right now!

Michelle

Michelle,

Glad to hear that you are taking things a little easy!  Lord knows you are to the stage in treatment where resting so that you can make progress with your treatment is necessary!  Don't consider it a luxury but, an absolute requirement so that you can be in tip-top shape to do battle with this crazy beast!!

Sending you love and strength!!!

Jennifer

Daydreamer- I love icebox cakes yours sounds yummy with the banana pudding mixed with the chocolate. When I crave a certain food I usually find out Im low in that vitamin or mineral, mussels are high in B12.  

Kay- I dont care for pine nuts so always use walnuts in my pesto- I make a basil, mozz, tomatoe pie, its pretty good, i precook a crust until its almost done, then mix mozz cheese with some mayo- layer bottom of cooled crust with tomatoes then basil, some parmesan cheese, salt and pepper the layers then top with the mayo/cheese mix and cook for 25 minutes or so in a 350 oven

Michelle- Good thing you are resting or we would all have to come over there and handcuff you to the couch! LOL!  Well, wouldnt go to that extreme, but glad you are taking it easy and hope your counts are good friday.

OH Apple that sounds yucky! 

Seaside- If I have leftover gazpacho I will use that for my tacos in place of salsa and or buy some chips and use for a dip

I think this is the recipe for the peach dessert that Paula Deen and her son made on her show yesterday: 

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/brookes-light-and-lovely-peach-parfaits-recipe/index.html

 I thought it was ginger cookies, but apparently it was Pecan Sandies.  I'm thinking you could definitely substitute crushed ginger snaps.  And this is really just an assembly recipe, no real cooking involved.  Anyways, DH thought it looked really good.  They also made PB&J muffins on this show.  These might make good lunchbox additions.  Read the reviews before you make them, though.  There were some good ideas for improving them just a bit.

 http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/pb-j-muffins-recipe/index.html

I may have to make some French Onion Soup in the next week or so.  DH ordered some at dinner on Tuesday and I have to say that it tasted really, really good to me.  It's such a labor of love...I have made the Julia Child recipe a couple of times and caramelizing the onions requires patience and cannot be rushed.  But it was so, so good.  There are thousands of recipes out there, this is the one I tried.  And we liked it so much, I'm not sure I'd go looking for anything different.  I've got gruyere in the fridge... and like most soups, this is even better the next day if you can wait.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/cooking-live/french-onion-soup-recipe/index.html

Have a great day, everyone!

Michelle

OK, one more recipe link - this was in my email this morning with a blurb about the importance of having breakfast.  I think it would also make a good dinner for those of you who like breakfast for dinner once in a while.  And if your zucchini supply runneth over, it's another idea to use it up:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/potato-and-zucchini-frittata-recipe/index.html

 Michelle

Michelle, I second what everyone else told you.  Get as much rest as you can.  I worked through AC, but then finally got smart and went on disability for the Taxol treatments.  It made a huge difference to be able to get some rest.  I know it makes you heal more quickly.  I hope you're feeling great.

That's a funny coincidence, Carberry.  I be the watermelon and the strawberries would really be good in it. 

That pie sounds good too.  I think I may have to get some more basil.  And all these desserts are just tempting me.  I was not much of a cook before, but I have always been an eater.  LOL  Now I am liking eating my own creations.  Can't wait to hear how the lasagna cupcakes came out.  I am going to try those soon too.  Want to make them and get them in the freezer before surgery next Wed.  The pie would probably be a good thing to make and put in the freezer too I'm guessing.  Gotta do a lot of cooking this weekend.

Apple - lol about cookbooks stored in the basement!  Before we moved, I gave away all but my most favorite 6.  I usually just look things up on the internet these days, it's so much easier.  But a few of my cookbooks are interesting to look at, so they made the cut.

I saw the Emeril bit on gazpacho this morning on GMA...here's a link to the recipe:

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/recipe?id=14270443

Michelle

 THIS IS A GOOD VEGGIE SANDWICH ON Focaccia Bread

cheesy potatoes.. super yum.. I am sautee-ing some small yellow goldens with garlic and celery (allowing some of the potatoes and celery to brown nicely).. serving with some grilled pork loin and probably a salad.. we always have salad.  I'll pound the loin 'steaks' so they'll grill quickly with maybe some pesto.

Back to work tonight, just a lite dinner, the kids are all out and about, camping, the Pat's preseason game and working. I made a small shrimp salad, small anitpasto to pick out at my desk and some healthy snacks.  I think  my crew would love those chessy potatoes, going to give them a try late next week.  My honey and I want to take off for a few days on Monday,  It's my week off chemo. Can't decide if we should take a run up to Lake George or Booth Bay Harbor, Maine.

 Have an awesome night ladies!

Liz