Jamie Lee

MrSteak: I'm so sorry for your loss. I live in one of the "progressive" states on med THC - Oregon - yet when I tried to get a medical pass to purchase and possess marijuana, my oncologist refused. He had all sorts of "good" reasons - can't control the strength, can't manage the frequency, can't manage the potential abuse. SH*T. If I was braver, (and I might yet grow a pair), I'd just go out and find out where to buy me some. I'm a "tourist" to this area, will have to figure out where there "bad parts" of town are, and I'm a 47 yo female who doesn't have a clue. I'm afraid I'll get gipped, robbed or physically assaulted. There are good drugs for managing nausea, but my insurance doesn't cover them. (I'll save the political rant for another blog.) So I just do what I can - drink ice water (puking water is better than dry heaves!) and looking forward with eager anticipation to the days I can EAT. I make the best use of those days when they come. Again, sorry for your loss. I have to believe that she is in a safe place and out of pain.

I have GOT to replace my dig camera! Dinner last night was PNW Copper River Salmon... sauted in EVOO (sorry RR haters!) with copious amounts of fresh garlic, red onion and shallots. I sauteed the aromatics until I was sure I'd gone too far. In essence, the slightly browned aromatics were "deliciouso"! I added the salmon filet, sauteed it until just medium rare, topped it with the sauteed garlic/shallot/onion mixture, finished it with lemon zest, lemon juice and parsley, and PERFECTION! Served it with jasmine rice cooked in chix stock and steamed pea shoots. Damn, that was good eats!

OMG Malawry... I have followed you via eG and your personal blog for many moons. Sorry to hear you're facing chemo. I'm new to this whole cancer thing... the strangest thing is that I have shifted from being a carnivore to CRAVING vegetables. Sounds good, right? EXCEPT - starve for three days then ingest multiple servings of fiber. eg... throw up for a few days, then spend the next few days in the bathroom dealing with an influx of dietary fiber. (Enough said.) All I can reccomend is: Eat when you can. Eat only what you REALLY want Since you're starving for a bit of time, buy the food you REALLY want Be good to yourself. Say hello to E and your sweet baby boy. You are ALL in my thoughts and prayers (I swear I'll learn Hebrew! )

Thanks to all that have replied... I am seriously not looking for sympathy, just trying to air my feelings (so who cares? ) A little more detaill.... Chemo sucks. Chemo sucks in a way that most folks will never know. (Thank God!) I'd love to hear from others who have lived through chemo, and how their relationship with food has changed... I used to crave protein, fat, dairy - and in volume. Now, I get off a three-to-four day fast on ice water (being the "gourmet", I'd switch up lemon and lime wedges) and then emerge with a raging hunger, but with a small ability to ingest. The good news is that I so apprecriate food that I adore planning, preparing and anticiaptining every meal. I'm so into veggies and whole grains - where did that come from? I'm a better cook, a better diner, a better shopper. My knife skills have escalated! Its all bad, but better yet, its all good. Eat well, with thoughtfulness and purpose. Each bite may be the last one you remember!

I remember with remiss all those meals eaten on the run (Micky D's, Taco Bell, Arby's) or with clients who thought Olive Garden was "fine dining". Today, when I can only eat three or four days a week, I am grateful that circumstances have forced me to live a new life. I'm doing chemotherapy, and can literally eat only a few days a week. Do I feel sorry for myself? (yes, but don't tell my therapist or my family!) What I do know is that every bite is a precious opportunity... the days I can eat are filled with thoughtful, carefully planned, organically oriented choices. What do I REALLY want? If I can only eat one or two shrimp, how do I really want them cooked? Thai, or grilled with veggies, or sauced with alfredo? If not shrimp, then what? Beef, pork, veal, sea bass, bacon or buffalo? What veggie am I really in the mood for? Snap peas, tomatoes, mashed 'taters, fresh corn, artichokes, lettuce with homemade bleu-cheese dressing? When you can't eat like you used to, every bite becomes important. Quantity is not the issue (although it once was! ), qualitity is queen. I only want to eat what I've cooked, with ingredients I've lovingly selected, with culinary chances I've chosen, with the advice from folks I admire (like eGulleters!) Please, folks, eat every meal like it's your last.

Oops ... forget my msg about cute pet butts... you have cats, and live in NYC, so you know all about butt output! BTW ... I love the skinny kitty/plump kitty reality. I had two boy cats - also one thin and one "no-so-slim" but I couldn't do anything about it! I tried feeding them separately - but like a true foodie, my big boy just bullied the l'il one out of the way and ate his fill. My "baby" just got out of the way 'til "fatty" was sated, and seemed totally okay with the arrangement. Great and interesting blog - pics of you and hubby would be a plus! And - BTW - is the owner of the unique garden a 20-something pierced artist or a slightly demented widow? (No disrepect intended to either demographic - I love both types!)

"I have a thing about cute cartoon animals with buttholes." I'm not sure if I should chuckle or cringe! If you've ever owned an animal, the "butthole" becomes the bain of your ownership! If you're not scooping it's output, bagging it, burying it, avoiding it - you're a lucky pet owner! I realize that was totally OT. But I did want to say I LOVE YOUR STORE! The serving pieces make me want to weep from jealousy I'm not a "young hippster", but I could so enjoy some of your more "mature" items!

Piggy-backing off of Bruce's entry, fried rice is the perfect singleton or duet menu.... all leftovers are game... a protein, an oil, every veggie you can scavage (those seemingly useless ends of zucchini, onion, scallion, green beans, frozen bits) and if you need it, a raw egg. When you cook rice, always make double. Stir fry it up ... and voila - protein, carbs, and most of all - veggies! Best of all, use your creative side for "add-ins" - soy, fish sauce, thai curry paste from a jar, chix stock, hot sauces to taste... YUM. Jamie <-- cooks for herself all the time!

Long-time lurker, first time poster... First of all, I want to say "you all" are totally amazing! You have inspired me in more ways than you'll ever know. Last nights dinner was success.... I riffed off of a few eG meals, and used some JUMBO shrimp (13-15/lb), sauteed with onion (red), halved grape tomatoes, and loads of garlic... deglazed with a pino grigio, finished with a ton of fresh italian parsley, lemon zest and basil. Damn it was good - simple, but good. I've got to replace my stolen digital camera - it was a meal I'd be proud to post. I used five shrimp (they were enormous) and could only eat two! I swear if you closed your eyes, they were better than lobster. Breakfast is gonna rock! Jamie ETA grape tomatoes - a crucial ingrediant!