Cooking Up a Storm

Week two of Taxol and I still feel good, so today I decided to spend it at home in the kitchen. I baked banana bread yesterday, and today I started out spatchcocking a chicken. I only burned myself once so I consider that a victory. While the chicken cooked I pulled out the Instant Pot and made cauliflower Mac and cheese. So easy! Turned the cauliflower into rice-sized pieces in the food processor and threw it into the pot with macaroni, water and a little butter. Four minutes of pressure and then the cheese, some evaporated milk and a little yogurt went in. I transferred it to two dishes because before serving and am going to throw a bit more cheese and Panko on top to give it a crust. It is so wonderful to feel good. Almost scary. Next week looms in the back of my mind but i try not to dwell on it. And I have measures lined up to try to keep me from getting too sick. I had a long chat with my friends Nancy and Paul yesterday. They are both cancer survivors. One thing that mystifies them is I still like all the same foods. Nothing tastes awful. When I feel sick I don’t want coffee, but that is always the case, even when I have a cold. And I still love wine. I am drinking a lot less— maybe just a couple of ounces, but it still tastes good and I love the ritual. I sniff, I swirl, I take a little sip and roll it around in my mouth. I decide whether or not to decant. And I enjoy my couple of ounces. I savor them. I really have not changed my diet radically. I hear— cut out sugar! Just eat plant-based foods— and a whole host of other suggestions. But in general I eat pretty healthy, and I’m not convinced that depriving myself will make a whole hell of a lot of difference. Tonight’s dinner will be roast chicken and cauliflower Mac and cheese. and maybe a Pinot. And it will be good!