My Dad has had MS since a year after my birth, about 30 years. He has non-remitting chronic MS, and is paralyzed on his right side from the neck down. Bedridden, for the most part.

But, my Dad is the same person he was before this, no matter how bad it has gotten, how many dozens of meds he has to take, no matter how bad the pain is. He's funny, political, a sports and music junkie, and a great Dad. He used to manage a country club, and worked with my Mom in the hospital, where they met in the early 70s. And now my Mom is sick too, with an undiagnosed neurological problem that has robbed her of her ability to speak, control of her facial muscles, and other issues. And my Father, the man who has been taken care of by her for so many years, has stepped up to be the emotional rock for all of us. No matter how sick my Mom is, or if she's in brain surgery, or at yet another neurologist's appt., he's there for us, despite his own personal terror of losing her.

He's been there, where she is now, he knows the pain, the frustration, and the helplessness. I hope that he's teaching her to handle it all with the grace that he has for all of these years.

Happy Father's Day Daddy...and Momma too.

No, it's another matter altogether, but my Mom's been on my case this week as well.

I'm bummed out, and i hope it cheers you up

From: My Husband Cooks http://myhusbandcooks.wordpress.com /

And it smells goooooood

Beef
Bacon
Bacon drippings
Garlic
Onion
2 kinds of hot peppers
Crushed Tomatoes
Green Peppers
Red Peppers
Various Herbs & SPices
Beer...
Red Beans

Yum

Ok, it didn't turn out perfect, but it turned out better than I expected...

Bread after 2nd rise, I think:



Getting close to oven time:



During the entire process, I learned the limits of Pyrex w/ heat (steam pan)...Doh!

Yeah, it exploded in my face...





Me, with face still intact:



Bread!!







The Crumb wasn't what I was shooting for, but it is delicious, nonetheless...







So, all in all, it went ok...Could be much better, and could have been a disaster...I think one of my problems was a yeast issue, and timing (to be discussed later). But, one loaf has already been consumed by my household, so it's ok.

from Slashfood: http://www.slashfood.com/category/food-por... /

So today Sniffa and I embarked on yet another culinary adventure. We decided, while shopping, to make a new soup from scratch, randomly picking ingredients as we went along...And here it is!!

Chopping, chopping, chopping away...





Sniffa says, "Now just relax, don't be a baby"



Actually, he was about to chop the Jalapenos







Everything's in the pot...Here we go!



Oooooh, look at that soup perfection boil away!



and here's a happy me, full of yummy soup (a bonus for my fanclub )



And here's the recipe:

2 cups Turkey Stock
1 lb boneless Chicken Breasts, chopped
1 cup Jasmine Rice
4 lg. Carrots, chopped
1 ea. Green, Red, Orange, Yellow peppers
1 jalapeno
1 large Leek
1 med. Onion, diced
2 lg. Celery stalks, chopped
5-6 cloves of Garlic, smashed
5-6 large Basil leaves
Salt, to taste
A pinch ea. of Thyme, Oregano, Cumin
1 Bay leaf
Water to cover

It was SO f'n good! w00t! Yet another success

And now, we need a name for our new creation...Suggestions please!!!

Courtesy of Slashfood:







And from "thinking about what to eat next"





From "Bacon Press"

Ok folks, here are the promised and much anticipated, hehe, Thanksgiving cooking pics! It was a magnificent meal! The turkey was perfect



Cranberry Sauce a Boilin'



Brine a cookin'



The sad and later to be massacred squash.... (see last night's thread for that one)



Remnants of said squash on spoon



Me, molesting (aka drying) the Turkey



She's ready to go!



Stuffing, in process




Mmmmmmmm, cider injection



Here we go!



Action shot of Sniffa and his taters



Oh, they were yummy!!!



Boiling Giblets



Me, looking like a dork, per usual






Done!







And the final act....

That is all....

Good Evening Ladies and Gents...

Here we have Meyer Lemon Tea Cakes, courtesy of http://passionatenonchalance.com



And then we have Cream Puffs from http://www.slashfood.com



As well as a Banana and Nutella Crepe...



and a 10-layer Caramel Cake:



une délicieuse tarte au nutella from http://foodbeam.blogspot.com





and a lovely cup of Miso from http://www.thefoodpornographer.com



Enjoy, and eat well




and PS! Eggs!

Kinda made an adapted recipe from a bunch of others, as I usually do

Shepherd's Pie:

Ingredients:

1 lb lean ground beef
1.5 lbs potatoes (preferably Yukon Gold)
1 medium onion
1 lg. carrot, peeled
2 cloves garlic, peeled
1 cup frozen peas
1 cup frozen corn
3 tbs (approximately) Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 celery stalk
1 tbs. all purpose flour
1 cup beef broth
Salt
Ground Black pepper
Pinch of Thyme
Pinch of Oregano
3-4 tbs. butter
finely grated Parmesan cheese

*Pre-heat oven to 400 deg.*

1) Make mashed potatoes as you would normally make them (with butter, cream, etc.)

2) Dice onion, garlic, carrot, and celery.

3) Cook peas and corn together according to package directions, on stovetop.

4) Heat olive oil over low-med. heat in a deep frying/sautee pan

5) When oil is warm enough, sautee all vegetables together until soft.

6) Cook ground beef, and when finished, pour off fat

7) Combine flour, salt and pepper, thyme and oregano. Add this to vegetables, along with the ground beef, corn and peas.

8) Add beef broth to mixture of meat, spices, and vegetables, cook over med heat until liquid thickens and cooks down.

9) In a deep baking pan, spread meat/vegetable mixture . Cover this layer with the mashed potatoes.

10) Spread butter in small, thin slices across top of potatoes, and then liberally sprinkle grated parmesan over the butter slices.

11) cook in 400 deg oven for 30 minutes. If the top of the pie isn't browned and crusty at this point, put under broiler for 5-10 minutes. (If using broiler, watch carefully!)

12) Let pie cool for approx. 10 minutes and serve

http://www.justbraise.blogspot.com /



http://www.berrysimple.net /



http://www.slashfood.com /

Ok, here's the freakiness...

Courtesy of Slashfood: http://www.slashfood.com /

Iced Cinnamon Buns:



Pound Cake ice Cream Sandwich:



Caramel Apple Cupcakes:



Roasted Tomato, Red Onion and Arugula Tart