Baking - Tips, Questions, Discussions, Recipes.

Hi Pepys 

                How have you been? I would bin the pud it is not worth it high blood sugars can cause all sorts of problems so avoid the obvious and watch your carbs have they told you what is the problem? By the way, I would love the recipe for that dessert, please

Bluebell xx

Lass! Pepys doesn't need any encouragement from you! LOl

I’m afraid it is too late Bluebell!

of course I await what the hospital has to say about my blood. Apparently dexamethasone can cause high blood sugar so who knows? And i have nucleated red blood cells hanging about and that is even scarier. I can’t bear to think of it. 

Ive been a bit unwell but chirpy enough. My chemo has been rescheduled to tuesday because the drug expired and my consultant couldn’t be contacted. So I had to have the cannula removed and go home. 

My poor brother and SIL due to arrive at 1 am but easyJet flight has been delayed and no more trains. God knows when they will turn up. 

Yes, I will send you the recipe. It is simple yet divine and very bloody fattening. 

Pepys xx

Yes, I leapt to the fridge as soon as Lass gave me the go ahead! Xx

Naughty! Lol, I was on those steroids last week for 3 days and I read about the problem with sugar levels also a few other things, what dosage were you on I was given 2mg they do not suit me at all! By day three I was turning into a nut case! only joking but seriously they were brilliant for the inflammation and pain but talk about mind-bending! I was chilled out and that's good but after about 4 hours they seem to hit me and it was like Lets party People! turning up the radio and dancing doing far too much moving around that my body is not able for, then I came back to earth after another 3 hours and it was let's eat! I knew I didn't want or need food but it was chocolate I craved and ice cream! and as hard as I tried I kept eating really made myself sick! could sleep ok but woke up hungover then when I stopped them I discovered my body was in bits every inch of me ached but I slept for hours once they left my system Now I will have to take them during the radio treatment to stop my brain from swelling yikes! think I would rather put an ice pack on it! 

Ah, Pepys that is terrible to miss a session of your chemo when you were geared up for it, what are nucleated blood cells?! they sound scary, Oh no re bros and SIL typical Ryanair! make sure they claim from them is the airport far away? Thanks re recipe Pepys it sounds delicious and has my favorite ingredients I am all for fattening! I'm trying to get my weight up I have gained 4 pounds so far but all muscle it's my diet I cant eat the foods I need for building up like butter lots of cheese cream etc only in very small amounts so I am trying to eat every 3 hours even if I'm not hungry 

I've had a think, and come up with a plan Bluebell.

One of my fave dishes that my Mum used to do for us as kids was what she called turkey satay. She used cubed turkey, but minced will work fine. You brown off some onion in a pan then add in the mince. Then as it's all browned, but not quite cooked, add in some mushrooms - or any veg you like really, just make sure you add it in at the right time for whatever it is. So peppers would go in before the mince for example. Then chuck in a couple of big tablespoons of peanut butter - I prefer crunchy but smooth is fine. Add in a squirt of tomato ketchup, and then you can add mayo or water to thin the sauce down, your choice. Then season to taste. Peanut butter and turkey sounds weird, but it's honestly really good!

Another one was something called porcupine balls, though this was done with beef mince, it'll still work with turkey. You mix together the mince with some half fried onions - about half a cup - salt and pepper to taste, and a cup of uncooked rice - as it's turkey mince with a lower fat content, you might want to add in an egg too, to help it bind. You then make these into meatballs, about the size of your palm and place on a lined tray, or in a baking dish. Now, we would usually use the Campbell's Condensed Tomato Soup, but the Cream of Mushroom one will be lovely too. Water down the soup to make a nice sauce type consistency, then pour it over your balls and make sure they're covered. Then bake at 180 for about 45 mins. The rice sticking out of the balls, supposedly makes them look like little porcupines. lol

Or, along the same lines, get a big ovenproof bowl and in it layer up mince, rice, and sweetcorn. Rice always went on the bottom, then the mince, then the sweetcorn. Then mix up the creamed mushroom soup into a soup like consistency and pour into the bowl. Cover the top of the mix in bacon, cover with foil and chuck into the oven for about 45 mins, taking the foil off the top for the last 15 mins to let the bacon crisp up.

I also did a quick Google and found this, this, this, and this for you. I wasn't sure what sort of spice was bad, or how much, but those recipes could easily have some or all the spice missed out and they'll still be a bit interesting and different for you to try.

Hope something here tickles your tastebuds!

Lass

xx

Hi All

Her indoors came home today with a Lamb Kleftico a reduced bonus from the supermarket.So tomorrow Lebanese bread to go with it. Thank you again for the recipe. Bulgar wheat salad and probably Aubergine dip. If I get time.

The funny thing is my taste buds are out of sink with my chemo treatment.

I read that taste buds regrow every 10 days. So day eight of the rest period; ‘Ah rusty nails for tea again’ He Ho! Most of the enjoyment is in cooking it.

Hearts. 

Morrisons often offer diced hearts. They make a wonderful addition to any steak/kidney pie/pudding combination. Stuffed hearts. A childhood staple.

Less so now.

Chicken liver pate.

 Home made with loads of garlic a long time standard in our house. 

A long time ago, in a land far far away, a dear friend called Luba made chicken pate. She would buy an English tea set. Six cups and saucers. Her pate would be divided amongst the cups and given as gifts to friends.

Not sure really if the recipe was from Beirut or just her own but always think of her when I cook chicken pate.

I now make it at Christmas but substitute Pyrex measuring jugs or gravy boats as gifts to family etc. Cut Bay leaves into Christmas Tree shapes and pour clarified butter on top.

A recent variation on this has been, Jewish Caviar.

Hard boil a couple of eggs.

Fry the liver in butter. Remove. Fry a finely chopped shallot  in the same pan till soft.

Mix together the chicken liver, onion and peeled boiled egg. Chop finely.

A few years ago my son and I walked The Camino de Santiago.

At the side of the road a man was cooking octopus.

We stopped. Pulpo de Galicia. Fresh bread. Green wine in saucers. Its tough being a pilgrim.

However the recipe I wanted to share with you is; 

Octopus Carpaccio.

We took the Frexinet Express from Barcelona.

The street Bollards are in the shape of cava corks.

Superb.

Anyway. Boil a fresh octopus for at least an hour but more until tender.

Cut the top off a plastic milk bottle and put the cooled octopus into the bottom bit.

Squash it down as hard as you can. Freeze.

Oh should have mentioned that you need an electric slicer but steady hands and a sharp knife also works.

Slice thinly. drizzle with a good olive oil.

As you can guess I often associate food with people and places.

Happy memories.

They decided to reduce my dose of ‘chemo’ yesterday due to increased toxicity. Que? Might bring back my taste buds

hi Bluebell 

will send you the recipe ASAP.  Feeling comatose right now! It must be the gardening.

i can’t say I don’t also experience side effects from dexamethasone but in a diluted form to what You describe. I’m a bit hyper anyway and can be a chatterbox. Sleep is a problem, that’s for sure. 

NRBCs are generally only seen in fetal blood...immature cells...and when seen in adult blood they are apparently very bad news. One abstract I read said they are generally seen around 3 weeks before death. I’ve stopped reading!! If I believed that, I’d have had the cream with my pudding!

Easyjet is the culprit but no matter. They are a sturdy pair! I think they may hire a car. 

Had some serious discomfort tonight in my pancreas, which was relieved by magic tramadol. It takes a while to kick in though. I’ve been toying with the idea of stopping painkillers because I don’t know quite what they’re doing to me. Also I would have a clearer idea of what’s happening in my body without masking it. 

The glucose problem worries me. It is very common to develop diabetes with a pancreatic tumour. I’d had some peculiar symptoms...profuse sweating from the scalp, a little weight loss, legs losing their muscularity, very dry mouth at night. I guess the signs are there but it’s hard work deciphering them. Oh well, whatever  it is, I just have to get on with it. 

Feeling very excited about the arrival of my beautiful brother and sister-in-law.,I have four brothers and always wanted a sister and I now have one I completely adore. Actually I have two. How lucky, eh? Families can be so difficult and mine is no exception but having just a handful of people you love and trust compensates for everything. 

I hope you are getting on alright. I often think about you and the  sight difficulties which have caused your mobility problems. But you are such a  courageous and funny bird (as in amusing, not strange) that you always cheer me up. And that, I think, is a gift. 

Pepys xx

I buy those wonderful chopped Morrison beef hearts for my dog to mix with kibble or rice. I have always wondered who ate them.

I am sorry you are going through it Pepys but good they are on top of a diagnosis. Hopefully chemo will go ahead on Tuesday as planned. High sugars will make you feel very odd.

I agree about the Dexamthesone - horrible stuff. It affects me just like bluebell. I asked my onc if I could not have it and she said - "no Dex no chemo". End of discussion. I have to confess I don't take all the pills they give me but I can't avoid the stuff they inject. I generally feel the meds make you feel far worse but I realise they can also help and pain relief is a miracle.

Wet, wet, wet here today. I think I will not boil an octopus for breakfast. I think I will have porridge with cream and raisins.

Have a nice day as the americans say

love

flamingo

Hey Titus,

Mmmmmmm aubergine dip! Baba Ghanoush - which is prob spelt wrong looking at it - I do love it! Do you smoke your own aubergines, or do you buy the tinned stuff? I tried smoking the aubergines myself, and I got so little from one, and it took so long, I thought stuff it! And tried the tinned. It's awesome! You just flavour it up as you like with a little tahini and lemon juice, and bob's your uncle! I wonder if I have any in the cupboard......

I love that idea for a pate gift! I could do a cup of chicken liver pate, and a cup of smoked mackerel pate, and there you go, gifts sorted!

I was already planning my trip to the market to buy an octopus, until it got to 'freeze and then chop with an electric knife'. I keep seeing the octopi and squid on the stalls, and I really want to buy some. But I don't know a good recipe for them, and they're a bit expensive to do my usual experimentation with. Anyone have any good recipes - that don't involve a lot of standing - for baby octopi or squid?

Fingers crossed your tastebuds come back though titus!! I do love food, and I can't imagine having issues with my tastebuds!

Pepys,

Did your brother and SIL finally make it? Or are you still waiting for them? I know what you mean about wanting a sister! I have 3 younger brothers, and no sisters. So it's fabulous now that one of my brothers has an amazing partner and two kids. That's who I was with on Saturday there, and why I can still barely move. lol. Though sadly, another brother also has a partner - but she is HORRENDOUS. We have our fingers crossed that it doesn't last, but she's on to too much of a good thing with him, as he's paying for everything and she's doing nothing.

Hope you had a better night once you managed some sleep too!

Flamingo,

Never been tempted to whip them up for yourself to see what they're like? 

It's not wet here, yet. But it is very grey and overcast. I'd like the rain to come in at about 4pm, and last until 8pm please. That way the horrible children and their ball won't come out again!

I hope everyone has a good day today. Fingers crossed on the scone front over here. Cats had me pinned at an odd angle all/most of the night. This is how I woke, and yes, that is my arm underneath them both, and the third was there too, but ran before I got the phone sorted.......

So I'm not feeling relaxed and refreshed after my sleep - well, I'm never fully relaxed or refreshed, but I don't normally wake up quite as tired and sore as I have this morning. So hopeully a sit in my recliner will help ease some things, though I know that other pains aren't going anywhere. *Eyes the womb angrily*

Lass

xx