Back to basics

Hello Foodies.....its been a little longer than I had hoped. Recovery is going well although I would like to be further down that road. They tell me my progress is fabulous and I am way ahead of most people. I keep forgetting that having both hips replaced slows down the rehabilitation quite a bit. I am still on limited activity, but have slowly been working my way back to the kitchen. The days Mom isnt working she cooks, and the days she is working its either food that has been made and frozen or something her husband can throw together for the two of them. I have given Mom some basic help in the kitchen even though Mom is a great cook, ....things like what seasonings to use on the tuna steaks,  how to make my coleslaw dressing, and what to make with the protein she has chosen. I am so looking forward to going back to my regular menu planning, shopping and preparation of our meals.......AND baking! It really is funny, how we take for granted the little things in life, like being able to prepare a meal. I am restricted from bending and reaching very low or very high, thus making working in the kitchen difficult. Standing and not being as stable on my own legs is frustrating at times, but I am working hard to get to the point I no longer need a walker, and can do more things on my own. Depending on people is not easy for me to do. So maybe this new found appreciation and gratitude will make my cooking just that much more special.....having to go back to basics and starting over in a sense will only add to the LOVE I put into my cooking!

My last supper.....

Tommorow will be my last supper at home for a week or so. I am calling it my last supper for two reasons. First because I wont be cooking for a few weeks. Being as prepared and organized as I am, I have filled the freezer with some home cooking. I have cooked, packed, labeled and frozen as much as space would allow. We have 4 kinds of soup- Split Pea and Ham, Mushroom Barley, Minestrone base ( chicken, pasta and beans can be added to it ) and Vegetable......We have Turkey Sausage and Peppers, Chicken Divan, Turkey Chili, Grilled chicken, Roasted veggies, and Swedish meatballs. I even froze some homemade brownies and some Davids Cookies Crumbcakes. The second reason for calling tommorows dinner my last supper is because I asked if we could have chinese food before I went into the hospital....thinking one nite last week we could get some. Mom wants me to relax tommorow and not have to cook or worry about dinner so we are getting Take out. So since I am getting what I asked for it seems to be like my last supper before walking that green mile...( in my case getting wheeled on a stretcher )...so to speak. Maybe I will lose a few pounds while enjoying my stay at Stonybrook University Hospital Medical Center.....because even though there is a Starbucks in the main lobby...I doubt I will be hobbling down to get me some. I have packed some Fiber One chocolate caramel pretzel bars just in case I need that little snack. LOL So I am going to enjoy my Superbowl Sunday Last Supper as much as I can......and look forward to coming home and getting back to the kitchen! Remember, Life is full of tasty morsels......