Potatoes for Paw (named by Molli jo)

Dad has been hungry for scalloped potatoes.  Thankfully I have a budding chef to help me out.  Molli Jo prepared the dish and it sits ready to go in the oven!  This afternoon was nice. Grandpa treated the girls and I to a trip to Jimmie Cone!  I was so happy to sit across from him as he ate that vanilla cone.  It really is the simple things in life...I have never appreciated all the cooking, cleaning and laundry that I have been doing as much as this week.  I know that life will get faster as school and radiation starts on Monday, but I hope to continue to enjoy the small things.

Mass Gainer (GNC)

I like the sound of the product: Mass Gainer.  Because, after all, isn't that what I am trying to do?  I want my dad to gain weight, aka. mass and I found two products at GNC today to help with just that.  I never expected to become a member of that organization, but things change.  I compared Muscle Milk, Monster Milk and every other product in the store to the Ensure Plus that we already have.  Not much has higher calories, carbs and protein - with the exception of the

products that I did purchase.  The Mass Gainer Complex will be had in the morning....I opted for the double chocolate flavor and the Bulk 1340 (vanilla) will be in the evening.  We will start tonight and see at our next weigh in on Monday.  If we maintain, I will be happy with that!

UPDATE: after day 1 of this product I have learned that it is not realistic to even eat the serving size of these products...I am halving the recipe and even that is packing on the calories.  He is full.  He is complying.  He is a rock star.  The vanilla Bulk 1340 was made with whole milk and was very creamy after a round in the Bullet.  The scoop size is absurd!  Just heavy.  The double chocolate Mass Gainer is sweet, sweet, sweet and was mixed with water to make it more thin and therefore drinkable in the a.m.  Weigh in info to follow after just 5 days of product use!

Dinner

Tonights meal consists of Cream of Mushroom soup, zapped for a bit in the Bullet with a hunk of soft bread that I found in Safeways bakery.  The bread is called Bolillo rolls and cost 1.99 for 6.  It doubled as the family dinner upstairs (Meatball subs...SHHHH, Dad doesn't know that) and then we had extras for him to dip in his soup.  A nice find.  The old fella is happy.  Prior to the soup and bread he had 2 Vienna sausages.  Talk about soft meat!  He says he is "eating like a hog and can't gain weight."  It is true that he is down 9 lbs from his pre-surgery weight.  We will be taking a special outing to GNC tomorrow in search of Muscle Milk (sure to be in the next post). Bon Apetit!

Cream of...

I have learned that soups such as, Cream of Celery, etc. NEED a go in the Magic Bullet before consumption in its original form.  They have pretty hard, inedible chunks within.  Some made with milk can be a nice meal with a piece of butter bread to dip in.  But I will need to look for smoother versions than what Campbell's has to offer or else to the Bullet it must go!

Cushaw

Having won the first place blue ribbon this year in the Montgomery County, MD Fair was such a blessing!  Now it is time to cook it up!  Grandma Hettie used to slice the neck into a disk like shape and bake it in the oven...I feel that I have tried that in the past, but this year am going with a recipe I found on cooks.com.

CUSHAW

1 med. cushaw 1/2 c. brown sugar 1 tsp. cinnamon 1/4 tsp. nutmeg 1/2 c. butter Peel cushaw. Using only the tenderest pieces, dice and cook covered in boiling water until tender. Drain well. Return to pot and add remaining ingredients in order listed. Cover and keep warm until serving time. This can also be baked in a casserole in which case the cushaw should be boiled until just barely tender. Serves 6 to 8.

Wish me luck...hoping the old man can enjoy it!

Weekend Crock Pot

Saturday begins the prep for a Sunday crock pot!  Dad is the master of venison stews and he is hoping to make one that he can enjoy...and I'm sure he will try!  Under the guise of him teaching me how, we will make it together.  The crock pot is out and so are our ingredients.  We will use 2 different cuts of venison donated by a friend, one is a roast and the other is a steak.  We will use 2 small zucchini, the last from our summer garden, peeled and chopped.  I am thinking that these will be a wise addition because they should get very soft.  Soft is of the utmost importance here...

Also, adding baby carrots and some cut up baking potatoes.  I peeled and dad cut...he says that I don't waste much and that Wendell would love me. All food is on hand so a trip to the store was not necessary.  Beef broth will be used to create the juice that is essential.  Happy weekend cooking to all...you know what we will be having here in Damascus, MD!



FINDS

• actual finds from the grocery store that warrant credit...they have been restocked and asked for on a repetitive basis, refried beans is a front runner...who knew??

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