Sunday lunch, having had a CT SCAN this morning as well!

As my appointment  was for 9.00, I put the pork belly in before we left for the hospital. I was finished with drinking a foul tasting liquid and going in the Scanner after 15 minutes.

When I got home  later, I put in a puff pastry tart, with pesto, bashed up carrots,some roasted cumin seeds, , goat's cheese and some   pine nuts,with a few leaves of basil scattered on the top. A few slices of poke went in the roasting tin as well.

Crunchy crackling,masses of delicious meat,  creamed spinach for contrast colour. what's not to like?  Even better was the fact that as we bought it yesterday afternoon at Waitrose it was reduced to 

£ 2.45! 

What a bargain.

I am so enjoying being back cooking at last.

This evening's supper, , tilapia fillets,with Spinach, tomato and spring onion, sautéed potatoes, and beans and carrots

Fig, Parma ham and goat's cheese for a simple supper.

 

Back at last!

Well, today is the first day I have really felt that things are moving in the right direction,after so many setbacks.

 I am home,  with full time care , but now I have the confidence to get on with my life again So far, on the cooking front it as been somewhat tentative, but here are some of the things I have achieved  in the past week.

Some of them I have managed while still sitting in the wheelchair, but it is rather lower than I would like, so I try to get close up to the hob,and then stand with the chair safely behind me, so I can sit if down if i feel wobbly.

I made a huge batch of Hummus,some flavoured with paprika, some of it with a little  Cinnamon, and then the rest  with lemon and coriander.

Then an enormous Cauliflower cheese,with ham and tomatoes to bulk it out. 

A Bolognese ,made with veal mince,which  gave it a gentler flavour. 

Sunday roast chicken, that nearly finished me off,it really was a bit much, bread sauce, sausages, roast potatoes ,three other vegetables,plus a French fruit tart for pudding. Thank goodness the carer could take the bird out of the oven. As it is completely beyond me ,and impossible to lift one handed! I. Have had far too  many burns from dropping things over my legs  and hand to try now. 

Triple Chocolate cake.and some cookie type biscuits.made with candied peel and bashed up chocolates thatno one   much liked.

Lemon  drizzle cake, 

And now I am about to make an asparagus Risotto , with some extra vegetables. ,beans, courgettes,and maybe peas as well.

 I have some wonderful chicken stock left from the carcass at the weekend. So I know it will taste magical.

And finally, always  looking ahead, I have ( with  the Carer's  help,she did  ALL the chopping of the vegetables) started on some Piccalilli for Christmas presents.

Finally,not forgetting the Spiced Chilli Vodka made with lemongrass, ginger, cinnamon stick, cardamom pods ,and a couple of chilies .will leave that to macerate,and have a taste in a month or so. By Christmas it should be perfect!

Not bad for a start? 

Sorry no photos, but I am certain you can imagine everything......yes there is, just before we scoffed the entire risotto, Rhiannon took the photo, not me. 

Life!

I know those of you who read this will not believe it , but eight  weeks ago, just having returned home from Hospital, I broke my ankle in two places,and have been totally out of action ever since. First I was  in Hospital ( again) and then at aNursing Home over the past five weeks, still not home yet.

Almost THREE months away from my home,and kitchen. No hope of walking for some long time yet,let alone standing in front of the stove! 

Sometimes life can deliver a really cruel blow. Restart the Chemotherapy in early August.

Cake made for staff at Oncology Ward 62

 Well. You must wonder why I am posting this . I have had two sessions if Chemotherapy already, but seem to pick  up every infection going,my immune system is so low.

. This culminated in my having FOUR simultaneous infections. And had to go to the Oncology Unit at the local Hospital, ,where I stayed for two weeks.The cake has been made this morning, before I go to an Oncology  Appointment this afternoon.  It is based on the tried and tested Mary Berry's tray bake recipe, but with the addition of masses of fresh blueberries and raspberries .my granddaughter aged 11was my helper ,and I mainly directed proceedings from my chair.

 It is to say a huge thank you to all the staff there who looked after me so well,enabling me to come home after fifteen days.

There won't be too many postings, as I am still incredibly weak, and have very  little energy!

 But I will do what I can, so keep looking !

And thanks to those who have sent messages of support, it is going to be a long haul, but the prognosis is positive, even if it hell to go through.

The onehandedcookblog returns ...albeit temporarily!