Well I finally found something I'm good at----growing brain tumors! In the 70's there was a "B" movie with Tony Curtis where his girlfriend had a bump on her shoulder that was growing and turned out to be a Manitou--it grew into an Indian medicine man--the tag line for the movie is "Evil does not die it waits to be reborn"---so anytime someone has a bump, or a huge zit, for example--my family and I tend to say "what are you growing a manitou" so we immediately started referring to my tumor as my "Manitou" then that turned into "Barry Manitou" 
     So  far recovery has been going well--when they took the staples out of my head, I asked if I could go back to sleeping normally --I had been forced to sleep with my head elevated-I was advised that I could but at the same time they took me off the steroid which wa keeping the swelling down--The next morning I woke up looking like one of the mutants from "The Hills Have Eyes" 

Now I've been taken off the anti seizure medicine Keppra and I've begun losing the use of my left lower arm then my face tends to go numb as well-it feels like I had a dozen shots of Novocaine--and my tongue feels huge and it's difficult to speak.

Brain Tumor

For a while now I've been having headaches I went to the doctor and he gave me a prescription but it didn't help---then one day at work the pain was so bad I couldn't stop vomiting so I went back to the doctor and he gave me another prescription to try a few days later I woke up at 4:00 AM with a horrible headache---I talked to my doctor's office several times that day and the doctor decided I should have a CT Scan the following day. At about 8:00 PM I couldn't take it anymore I called the doctor on call and explained that I was about to slit my wrists I just couldn't take the pain any longer he told me to come in to the nearest ER. Of course the ER was full of poor people suffering from the flu after a few hours I saw a doctor who explained that he was going to do a CT scan but it would be a waste of time and that it wouldn't show anything--an hour later the doctor was explaining how an ambulance would now be taking me to a hospital that specialized in Neurosurgery. The ambulance ride made me nauseous but they were able to give me a chewable tablet that helped. When we got to the hospital they had no empty rooms available so I stayed in the ER for a day and a half. I had no idea I would be staying when I went to the emergency room--so I brought nothing luckily I did leave my wedding ring at home. I went to the emergency room Monday night--Thursday morning they operated for 10 hours to remove a very large brain tumor. The tumor had eaten through my skull so the doctors had to add some titanium mesh to cover the piece of my skull that's now missing. The tumor had also consumed an artery in my brain--the doctors felt that after 10 hours of surgery it was too risky to try and split an artery. When I woke up I was completely disoriented and tried to pull my breathing tube out I had restraints on my arms and the nurse was quick to come help me--but I still bruised the heck out of my left arm. My sister Day came from New York, and she and my darling husband were with me the entire time. It was a huge help--I was on steroids to keep the swelling down and they kept me wired---starving--and grumpy. The nurses were all super nice, very patient and kind.

Multnomah Falls

A 30 minute drive from my house (near Portland, Oregon) you can find the gorgeous Multnomah Falls they are just breathtaking! It's a 611 ft waterfall full of icy water--half way up ther is a bridge that allows you to get a wonderful view--and a little wet. Today we visited and hiked up to the top of the water fall---it's a great workout--completely paved---not so much a hike as a steep walk. After the hike we sat down for a picnic lunch near one of the nearby smaller falls. I can't finf my camera cord to download all my lovely pictures--but this one is my favorite--I took it during the winter of 2009.

It's my all time favorite picnic destination---lots of hiking trails, as well as a gift shop, restaurant, and restrooms. When we have visitors I always try to take them to the falls--I love the roar of the falls and in the summer when it's not nothing is better then feeling the spray of water.

Not your Mama's Meatloaf

My husband loves meatloaf! This meatloaf is very flavorful and I use ground turkey so it's pretty healthy---it smells wonderful--I tell you the neighbors will be knocking on your door asking what smells so good!

Ingredients

3 to 3 and 1/2 lbs ground turkey (I usually use the large which is 3 and a half pounds but when they're out I grab 2 packages on 1 and a half lbs)

2 eggs

one onion

2 cloves of fresh garlic

1/2 cup grated asiago cheese

1 slice of bread or 1/4 cup bread crumbs

2 T tomato paste

1 T red wine vinnegar

1 T dried parsley

1 T oregano

2 t salt

1 t basil

1/4 t pepper

My favorite part is making bread crumbs---I have a coffee grinder that I use as an herb mill---it was about 10 bucks and I only ever use it for grinding herbs and making bread crumbs. I tear up a piece of bread put it in and 20 seconds later I have my bread crumbs!! I love making bread crumbs--I use heals for this I used my sour dough bread heals they were small so I used 2.

Put your onion and garlic in the food processor and pulse so you have a very fine chop--I started doing this years ago the kids hated onions--I found if they didn't see the onion they liked the flavor--I still do it--I like it better this way!

In small bowel combine parsley, basil, oregano, salt & pepper mix and set aside.

Put your meat in a large bowel --wash hands well and keep paper towels near by. Mix the eggs into the meat combine well.

Add in the tomato paste (helpful tip I take the extra tomato paste put it on a small cookie sheet or plate in 1 T scoops and freeze---once frozen move to a airtight container and keep in freezer--next time recipe calls for a Tablespoon of tomato paste you won't waste a whole can----just let it thaw before use---thaws quickly)

mix in asiago, bread crumbs, onion & garlic, red wine vinegar, and spices

everything is going in doesn't matter what order--just make sure it gets mixed well. Then put in a standard loaf pan.

I like to make mine the night before cover loaf pan with saran wrap then place in fridge. I like to give it time for the flavors to come out---if you don't have time stick it in the freezer for an hour.

When your ready to cook it pre heat oven to 400 degrees take the loaf pan and drop upside down on a flat bottom roasting pan or jelly role pan --(bake without the loaf pan)

Bake for about 1 hour or until an instant-read thermometer registers 160 degrees.F. (important*****) don't undercook it!

Home made Marshmallows!

I have a new love Homemade Marshmallows!!! here is a wonderful recipe.

Ingredients

• 3 packages unflavored gelatin
• 1 cup ice cold water, divided
• 12 ounces granulated sugar, approximately 1 1/2 cups
• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• Nonstick spray

Directions

Place the gelatin into the bowl of a stand mixer along with 1/2 cup of the water. Have the whisk attachment standing by.

In a small saucepan combine the remaining 1/2 cup water, granulated sugar, corn syrup and salt. Place over medium high heat, cover and allow to cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Uncover, clip a candy thermometer onto the side of the pan and continue to cook until the mixture reaches 240 degrees F, approximately 7 to 8 minutes. Once the mixture reaches this temperature, immediately remove from the heat.

Turn the mixer on low speed and, while running, slowly pour thesugar syrup down the side of the bowl into the gelatin mixture. Once you have added all of the syrup, increase the speed to high. Continue to whip until the mixture becomes very thick and is lukewarm, approximately 12 to 15 minutes. Add the vanilla during the last minute of whipping. While the mixture is whipping prepare the pans as follows.

For regular marshmallows:

Combine the confectioners' sugar and cornstarch in a small bowl. Lightly spray a 13 by 9-inch metal baking pan with nonstickcooking spray. Add the sugar and cornstarch mixture and move around to completely coat the bottom and sides of the pan. Return the remaining mixture to the bowl for later use.

When ready, pour the mixture into the prepared pan, using a lightly oiled spatula for spreading evenly into the pan. Dust the top with enough of the remaining sugar and cornstarch mixture to lightly cover. Reserve the rest for later. Allow the marshmallows to sit uncovered for at least 4 hours and up to overnight.

Turn the marshmallows out onto a cutting board and cut into 1-inch squares using a pizza wheel dusted with the confectioners' sugar mixture. Once cut, lightly dust all sides of each marshmallow with the remaining mixture, using additional if necessary. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks.

For miniature marshmallows:

Combine the confectioners' sugar and cornstarch in a small bowl. Line 4 half sheet pans with parchment paper, spray the paper with nonstick cooking spray and dust with the confectioners' sugar mixture.

Scoop the mixture into a piping bag fitted with a 1/2-inch round piping tip. Pipe the mixture onto the prepared sheet pans lengthwise, leaving about 1-inch between each strip. Sprinkle the tops with enough of the remaining cornstarch and sugar mixture to lightly cover. Let the strips set for 4 hours or up to overnight.

Cut into 1/2 inch pieces using a pizza wheel or scissors dusted with the confectioners' sugar mixture. Once cut, lightly dust all sides of each marshmallow with the remaining sugar mixture and store in an airtight container for up to a week.

Merry Christmas to all and Best wishes for a Happy New Year!

My Ghost Story

When I was at college I had an interesting experience that I often wonder about. I went to school in London, England and lived in the dorms, our dorm was on a high street (big wide street). One evening a big group of my friends and I were going to a fashion show and party at our school. Some of the girls had designs in the show, some were modeling, and some were dressers--so we had lots of things to bring with us--so we opted for a couple of taxis instead of the tube. While we waited for the taxis we noticed the building across the very wide street on the top floor there were probably a dozen men all dressed in white flowing gowns at the windows and on the roof frantically working---they looked very busy --but we couldn't figure out what the heck they were doing. We waited a good ten minutes watching them and guessing --what they could possibly be doing!

The taxis arrived and we forgot all about them--we had a wonderful time and didn't return until 2 or 3 am. When we went home our street had been blocked off---we had to get out and walk to our building ---there were firetrucks but what ever had happened was long over. We asked our dorm Mother but she told us it was late and we should go to sleep. The next day was Saturday so we slept until noon--when we got up we could see the building across the street was blackened by fire. Apparently a few hours after we left, a fire broke out on the top floor of the building and 2 women and a child died. We talked to one of the firemen and told him we saw a bunch of men in white robes working frantically a few hours before the fire. The firemen said that it wasn't possible--no work had been done on the building and that the top floor was a group of Lebanese women and children that were war refuges.

So what did we see--were they angels taking the spirits away before the tragedy---were they ghosts getting ready for more ghosts. I think about it often--it was a long time ago.