Report From Minnesota

It's been a rough visit on a few counts this time. First, I got sick! Me, who never gets ill. I came down with a nasty head cold and fever but thankfully, I was able to sleep like crazy and it was pretty much gone within 48 hours. Of course, that's a big chunk of a one week visit. argh!

Outside of that, my dad is currently in the hospital. He was taken to ER late last night and my mom and I were with him until 2 am. He had some troubles which I won't go into here but it isn't life or death but still very serious. Now my mom is wondering again if she can possibly handle him at home. It's so hard. The toss up between the guilt of having him at a 'residents home' or the exhaustion of having him here. She is battling lung cancer so she ain't exactly bustling with energy. Anyway, I've promised to find out some information for her tomorrow to help her with her decision.

In the meantime, I've cooked for us every night. (even with my cold!) Tonight we had Moroccan chicken stew with a side of good old fashioned beets. But at the same time, I made 'green soup'. The anti-cancer soup! It's basically tons of green vegetables: celery, spinach, broccoli along with earth vegies like potatoes, leeks, carrots and garlic. Heat it all up in filtered water and puree the lot. Simple eh? It tastes like pure health when you eat it! It is supposedly really good for anti-oxidants and helping immune systems.

I've hardly knit a thing here but I did manage to finish the other sleeve for Lulu's sweater. When I get back to LA, I plan to get some help stitching it (to make sure I do it right) and then pick up the collar. Then comes the job of sewing the whole thing together. Oh, and a note to Rowan and/or anyone considering making this sweater, ....beware, they call it 'beginner' level....I say it's tougher than that! But I'm excited. The finish line is close by. Hooray!!!

It's been cold and rainy and windy here and I'm looking forward to going home to our California rain. Ha!

Oh, Bam has stopped smoking while I was gone. He is holding his own against the evil nicotine curse and I think that is so amazing.

To Lana, Jessica, Michele, Emily, Dave (Ragged Hearts!) Ellen and everyone else.........thank you for your wonderful comments. I appreciate your thoughtfulness sooooooo much!

Comments

[Michele]

Hi Share, Sorry to hear your trip has been so health-challenged. I hope everything turns for the better really soon. I love the sound of your soup. Maybe when you get home you can send me a few more details so I can give it a try here. I love soups! Take good care of yourself and family.

[Libby]

I so want that recipe for green soup! That sounds really really yummy!

Congrats to Bam for quitting the nic habit! Hard work, there. My husband just realized it's time to quit when our life insurance quote for him doubled once the agent found out he was a tobacco user. Yikes!

Hope your dad feels better as well as your mom!

[share]

Hey Libby and Michele...
The recipe for GREEN SOUP is simple and economical. Gather a ton of organic vegies together. The garlic gives it all a nice flavor and I highly recommend using at least one head of it. Also, I often toss in whole peppercorns and they're nice. But the real benefit of this soup is that it is easy to digest so I don't get very heavy handed with spices. There are many versions of this recipe on the net as it is widely used for cancer patients.

Today, I used the following vegies and it's a nice combo but feel free to vary according to your own taste and what's available in your area:

*one other note, it's totally optional to peel the potatoes and carrots.

4 medium potatoes (peeled and quartered)

1 bunch carrots (peeled and cut into pieces)

2 leeks (cleaned and chopped)

1 big head (or crown) of broccoli (again, cut up a bit)

1 or 2 bunches of celery (include the leaves)

1 head of garlic (of course, peel the cloves)

1 big bunch of spinach for the end.

Get a big ole pot and add enough filtered water to cover the vegies. Add everything except the spinach and heat at a medium high temp. After about fifteen minutes of boiling, add the spinach to the top.

I use the potatoes to check if it's all done. If I can easily stick a fork in them, it's done. Basically, you just want to be able to get all this stuff to puree easily in the blender.

Now you pull out the blender.

Puree a reasonable amount at a time and add extra filtered water if necessary.

When you've pureed all of it, put it back in the pot, add fresh cracked black pepper to taste and let it simmer for a good 30 minutes.

We call this "Green Soup" as the color usually comes out a lovely shade of green and makes most people say 'ick' when they see it. But tasting it ....hmmmm. If you like yummy natural food that makes you feel great, this is a winner.

Enjoy in good health so you can knit more.

[Jenna]

Thanks for the great recipe, it sounds yummy. I love eating soups and stews when the weather starts to get chillier as it is now and that sounds like a good one to add to the repetoire. Personally, I would keep the peel on everything because that's where many of the nutrients live.

I'm sending along good thoughts and wishes for the health of you and everyone in your family - both your parents and Bam. Be sure to take some time to take care of yourself, too so that you can get well. Stay strong.

[Lana]

Oh I'm so sorry to hear about your mom and dad...hope they're both feeling better very soon!!! My aunt was diagnosed with lung cancer in both lungs last year and then her husband was diagnosed with it as well a month or so later. It's such a battle in itself and now for your dad to be ill as well, gotta be hard! I'll say a little prayer...

As for that green soup. Sounds yummie!!! ^_^