Pain Relief....Want some?

The body is an amazing thing. It can run on coffee and fumes sometimes. But after awhile of whipping a dead horse, running on little sleep, nursing wounds from trauma or emotional abuse, or dealing with a bad diet of processed food and and the occasional chemical or alcohol intake...it starts to clog.
With pain or issues and symptoms of disease.

Sound familiar?

But I also believe that the body is resilient and can be fixed, by removing some of the triggers and giving it the opportunity and time and ways to heal. Modern medicine isn't all it's cracked up to be (altho there's nothing as wondrous for triage). Yet, there are other healing modalities besides surgery and prescriptions which more people need to avail themselves of.
 
I've always believed that light can heal. It's one reason why I choose to tan lightly in the winter time. Living here in Central New York, the winter brings days of 0% sunshine. Really. And I would cry and get depressed. I found if I tanned a little, my mood would be lightened by the pineal gland getting it's due.

In the past 2 months, I've been on a Quest of Health for myself (both inside and out) and I am feeling pretty awesome because of it! I wanted to share with you a few things. Utilizing some really amazing healing modalities is also making great sense to me and helping lots. I wanted to help you too, by giving you all this info as well!

First off...let me tell you that for the last 2 years, I've had a lot of pain.

Like ...

PAIN

Had tests done, and doctor ruled out the heredity curse of me having Rhuematoid Arthritis. Don't get me started on Fibromyalgia. It's a Catch-All diagnosis. While I think it exists...I think that pain like that comes from lots of places.
I've had injuries, surgeries, yes, and hormonal oddities..but also some damaging emotional devastation which can become lodged within our system via the metabolism. Lots of things (including our thoughts) can make us sick. Even PEOPLE can make us sick, and not by spreading germs either: I've been keeping a yearly journal, and I've realized that I would even get sick when I was around a certain one person every time we were in contact. Funny, but now that I have removed him from my life, I haven't been getting sick like that anymore!  Well, no, it's not funny....it's pretty appropriate. Our bodies tell us things that are important, and we should LISTEN. 
Not being around certain people can be healing...and vice versa...being around some people CAN make you sick! (and fat too).
Let me ask you a couple of questions:

*Have you gained a lot of weight lately? What's behind the emotion that makes you eat? Why do you choose that particular food? (i.e. When we eat something crunchy/salty we usually have some anger. When we feel the need to eat sweet or soft foods, we are usually in need of comfort...etc.)

*Is some area of your body becoming problematic? What does that part of your body say to you? (Funny, but here again, when I didn't want to "see" what was happening with a particular relationship...my eyesight went. Coincidence? I think NOT.)

*Are certain foods making you bloat? (Listen to your belly! Do you cramp up after eating certain foods? Watch your stools. There is a language in what they reveal to you. Investigate what is happening. You don't have to go to an internist to find out about some of this! Research your diet, your emotions, your daytime problems and your nighttime dreams for the answers first! Don't go under the knife if you don't have to!!)
Click this link to a guide to "Stool Nirvana!" :)

But I didn't stop there.

There are LOTS of ways to think of Pain Relief and to HEAL.

I also totally believe also in Metaphysical Healing.
My Health Bible these days is the book: "You Can Heal Your Life" by Louise Hay.  It makes so much sense to me.

Also this one:
Feeling bloated? Read this book! Gutbliss: A 10-Day Plan to Ban Bloat, Flush Toxins, and Dump Your Digestive Baggage

And for those of you going through Menopause, I would highly recommend this author. She has a lot of books out as she is a Gynecologist focusing particularly on Women's Health issues:
Read this book: "The Wisdom of Menopause" by Christiane Northrup

Over the last year, I too, have written a book, and it prompted me to analyze myself in so many ways. I put myself under a microscope and I learned LOTS. Not only about myself, but about the people around me as well! I've had to tune into what I really want and need in a big way because of it. I've been scrutinizing what (or who) is good and bad for my health, relationships and Spirituality. It has all been a big healer to do it for myself in a comprehensive way.

I'm no stranger to Alternative Medicine and Healings:
I've been seeing a Chiropractor since I was 11 for a neck injury. But for the past couple of years, it has been for some disc degeneration (L4 & L5 to be precise...read: Slipped disc) and for the damage that it has done to my lower back and legs.

I don't want to feel old! I'm not old. 54 isn't old anymore. I'm gonna fight this fecking pain every inch of the way! There is no need for pain in my life. Pain is a punisher. I have no need to punish myself anymore for things or situations I had no control over.

In my last blog, I told you about the Acupuncturist I've been seeing for help with hormonal balance, metabolism, emotional and organ repair. She's awesome and I'm a regular customer and would HIGHLY recommend it to others. (I mean, a healing practice that has been around for 2500 years has to be around for a good reason! It's because it WORKS.)

So, when my regular and wonderful L.M.T. (Licensed Massage Therapist) said that she was getting great results for Pain Management with her new Light Therapy Unit, well, I trust her and so I signed up!

I've had 2 treatments in the past 2 weeks. Frankly, I'm amazed at the results! After a long weekend of grueling weekend of Renaissance faire minstreling, doing shows, tapping my foot jingles while I play constantly,  climbing hills, constant drumming and strumming, and doing parades...historically, I am usually pretty banged up come Monday morning.

But today, the Monday after the first opening weekend of a particular hilly inclined faire...
I'm tired, but I'm not crippled. And hey, I'm all for that! YAY!!!

OK, so what is Low Level Light Therapy like and why would I want to try it?

Well, the FDA has been recommending it. It's called In light Wellness Systems.
The double blind studies and the results of years of use are pretty conclusive.
And it's got a lot of good reviews from folks and Veterinarians are even using it on animals with awesome results!

In Light Wellness Systems LED animation - Click here~

Click here to see it used on pets by Veterinarians!

My massage therapist told me to put on special protective eyewear, and then she encircled a band of lights around my head, on my back, torso, and on my troublesome ankle (I either have a bone spur, some nerve/ligament damage or a hairline fracture in it. It can be excruitiating out of the blue!)
Then she turns on the machine and my brain is flooded with brilliant white light. My blindfolded and protected eyes do adjust and I relax into the moment. While the lights beam good light into my cells, it does its job of reducing inflammation,  kills bad bacteria and infections, removes swelling and promotes healing and regeneration of muscle and ligament. It's a very pleasant experience. I chat with my therapist and visit for the 20 minutes of the Light Therapy, while she does Hand and Foot Massage or Reflexology on me...and all the while,  the lights do their good shiny thing.

It's amazing, but I am definitely feeling better!

Oh, I have to tell you that I'm also doing my part to remove pain, by removing some Food Triggers from my lifestyle and diet, like I've never done before.

Since the middle of May, I've removed sugar, sugary desserts and drinks, cow dairy, breads, cakes/cookies. It's been now 8 weeks without these things in my diet.
Not only am I feeling MUCH improved, but some folks at faire this weekend were wowed, and said that I "looked beautiful" and "You just glow!"

I HAVE been feeling better inside and out. The bloat is gone. So is the heartburn. The pain is receding....slow but sure!

Acupuncture is helping with my metabolism and emotional Chi and getting me more in balance than I've ever been.

Chiropractic adjustments 2x a month (I was going 1x a week or more when I was in excrutiating pain before) keeps me in the right stance and gets my discs moving instead of fusing.

Light Therapy is killing the source of pain and inflammation inside my cells.

My improved and more real food diet (fruit, veggies, grains, seeds, lean proteins of meat, fish and nuts, goat cheese, lots of water) is eliminating my personal detractors of health which are hard for me to digest, process or whacked my metabolism and emotions. I mean, if I really think about it....whenever I have had emotional drama in the past, I almost ALWAYS was eating sugar, dairy, breads and hard alcohol. It was a toxic diet for me, and I reacted violently to it.

Harry even said that even tho' I'm not eating certain things (nor am I buying them.. if he wants them, he buys them...), he's been eating less of these things and feeling better because of it.

*I do eat Goat cheese and Feta.

*I have had an occasional bowl of Gluten free pasta to feed my tomato sauce addiction (but usually I have it on cooked rice, millet or quinoa). And crackers that are mostly rice are fine.

*I have had some Stevia in my Smoothies, but usually have chosen to do without it and just get used to the fruit being a sweet treat in itself.

*I do have some Red Wine, and a wee bit of Vodka doesn't seem to bother me (altho, I think the tonic that I love with it, doesn't make me feel the best). But No whiskey for me. I realize that it gives me heartburn. A rare beer in the heat of the day is nice. But I don't drink like I used to. (But then again, I have removed some Drama Kings and Queens out of my life...and thusly, I don't feel the need to drink like I used to either. :)

Now, without those bad triggers, and getting the health help I need at a structural and internal level to process and mend the damage that our western way of life told me how to live by...

I am feeling better than I've felt in several years.
(FYI~ My blood pressure reading this morning was a whopping 95/63  and I'm NOT on any BP meds  :)

I wish you the same and share for your health in kind~

So be well, my friends!
Slainte'!

Acupuncture 101

I've never liked needles. It's because of my family doctor when I was young. He gave shots of Penicillan for anything as a cure. Anything and everything. If I had to go to the doctor for even the slightest thing, my hands would begin to sweat because I thought "shot."

So now, that I'm an adult...why did I sign myself up for Acupuncture?

Because I have issues. Pain, to be specific and a couple of other things including a slipped disc, guitar thumb (brought on by 40 years of guitar playing, and 30 of those years were played on a 12-string, with extra hand pressure). Also I suffer from occasional bouts depression (even though I hide it well) and the yearly asthma attack. You know, normal shit.
 I've recently been able to acquire insurance (through Obamacare) and it allowed our self employed selves- me and my mate- to go get physicals for the first time in about 15 years. .

Actually, I'm really very healthy, with a BP daily reading of about 95/65!  After tests for Rhuematiod Arthritis came back negative (yay! but ...wtf? why the pain then?), in the month of May, I decided to eliminate some possible food culprits as the cause.

So I stopped eating dairy, wheat, sugar, soy and alcohol. After 12 days, I had a glass of red wine, and it seems to not be a problem for me. (Thank you, Bacchus :)

Still achey though. Better but the pain still hanging on. Chiropractor has been helping a lot for years. I am not averse to Alternative therapies. After hearing so many good things from others lately about Acupuncture I decided it was worth a shot. (Literally :)  
Hey, any medical practice that has survived with a good reputation for 2500 years has to have some merits!

My trusted L.M.T. (Licensed massage therapist) recommended her own Acupuncturist who also happens to live in our area. Kewl! The lady has her Masters in Chinese Medicine. (how wondrous is THAT?) and also, it's from our local New York Chiropractic College, in Seneca Falls.

Live global, buy local. :)

I got myself all scrubbed and tubbed after a leisurely morning. Went and found her office next to the flower shop. It was a busy little health center that I had never noticed its presence before. Talia, my practitioner, was sweet, gregarious and thorough in her questioning. Intake was to take about 1 1/2 hours. I was there 2 hours altogether.

First, the questioning was everything from former hospitalizations, and illnesses, to diet, stress and yes, even how you poop. Me, being the little hippy health guru, told her about myself quite knowledgeably. I even provided to her a copy of my blood work from my family doctor, but also a copy of my Chiropractor's history chart and diagnosis.

She was impressed with that, my daily BP readings, and also my dietary changes. We spoke of everything from remembering dreams to metaphysical causes (emotions or stress) influences. My going through menopause while on birth control pills has done a number on me. You see, I was probably already done with menopause but the pills kept me cycling for a long time after. It was like whipping a dead horse and I had depleted the goodness of the blood that was not supposed to cycle out at that time. It made for my joints, discs and all sorts of blood flow to deplete and dry out! So, hat is why my joints were cracking!
Also why my sadness happens, as it's related to these particular organs. Down and out, like the blood flow. So the emotions coincide.

Fucking amazing.

The organs responsible for some of my ills were definitely affected by the past, and the wee needles (she showed me what they looked like. Sort of a very fine thread needle.) would open up and connect and get things flowing again.

She rubbed areas to be treated with alcohol while talking to me about what was going on inside my metabolism. She guessed at a couple of stressors and previous injuries by intuitive touch.

She said, "Ok, now breathe in.....and out." On the out would come the stick from the needle. Some of them I felt, some I did not feel at all. One stung on the in and the out. It was not what I'd call painful, but merely noted ,or slightly annoying, if anything was felt at all.

Talia put in 30 needles all told. As I laid on my stomach, there were needles in my lower neck, down my spine, over lungs, lower back (the one I believe right ON the slipped disc was the one that stung...and that's understandable, I suppose). There were needles on my hip joints, back of knees, calves, on my bothersome ankle joint. For my guitar hand, she put 5 of them on thumb area.

Then she turned on some music, and left me to lay there and listen to music and relax. The needles did not hurt, but they seemed to trigger some metabolic response. The music changed to the sounds of flowing water and I listened to it and went with the flow of the sound and the flowing out of the bad chi from the trigger points. It really was relaxing. At one point, I think I went into a drop sleep and it was then that I was aware of it as Talia came back in.

One by one she took out the needles, and I only felt that same lower back one on the way out. I raised my head off of the massage pillow and tried to gain my bearings.

If I didn't know better, I'd say I was stoned. (And believe me, I know about these things. :)
 Yah, I was definitely out of it a bit, although I tried not to let on, because I figured it was just a response from the treatment. I paid her and got into my car, and went to the grocery store to pick up sweet potatoes, and beets and berries to add more fully to my already good diet...I was still a bit stoned.
It was the strangest feeling. I never knew that this feeling could be part of the experience. I certainly felt relaxed. And guess what? My thumb and back and ankle pain was LESS.

Oh yah, I'm going back next week for another treatment. I want to continue with this for awhile. I feel improved already!

Also, did you know that there is also Acupuncture for Dogs as well? I bet my older, arthritic doggy Monty Joe would also benefit from it.

Onward to my busy summer!
Warwick hills await, and I need to be ready to haul minstrel arse. :)

Harry cooks!

Been changing our dietary habits here at Squirrel Haven. Trying to add in way more veggies, fruit, whole grains. Doing with less white flour and sugar (altho' the occasional dark chocolate has found it's way into my system with some red wine...)

I'm not buying meat.
Haven't bought meat since before New Year's.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love meat. I am a carnivore by nature. But I am trying to be more of a Vegetarian by heart.

But the fact remains that I still love steak and bacon.

What to do?

Well, the other night I got some huge Portabello mushrooms and marinated them in some Balsamic vinegar, a little soy and Worschestireshire Sauce and sauteed them in EVOO. Added a baked potato with some sour cream and some steak sauce and it was FABULOUS. The mushrooms cut like steak and the flavor was really good!

But what about the bacon replacement? Hmmmm.

I bought some of this:  Tempeh/Tofurky Bacon.

Yah, I know it's not bacon. But then again....why not try it IN something?

So this morning, Harry and I cooked together. I took pictures because he never cooks with me and I was happy that he helped.

I like to use what I have on hand, and so looking through my fridge I found a lonely tube of refrigerator biscuits, fresh local eggs, some red pepper, mushrooms and mozzerrella cheese.

So here's what we did:

Sprayed a pan with some Organic Olive Oil.

I had Harry smush some biscuits down.....

we added some of the Tempeh "bacon" already fried,

some red pepper,

some mushrooms,

cracked some fresh eggs in on top,

and shredded cheese to top it.

Baked it at about 400 for 18-20 minutes

and Voila!!

It certainly didn't suck~ Actually, it was pretty fabulous.

Just had to add coffee.

Harry had seconds. Me too.

Try substituting some of these meatless variations in with your cooking. They cost a little less, there is less saturated fat, less calories, good flavor...

and well.... Nobody dies. :)

Seitan isn't Satan :)

Hey ho~

It's a very cold and snowy day! The winter storm "Nemo" blew through and we are snuggling!

Yes, this is a candid shot.
Barney was also snuggling :)

Time to do some yummy do comfort food!

But just because I'm eating Vegetarian doesn't mean I have to give up delicious recipes that I've loved and made forever throughout the years!

I'm just replacing some ingredients and getting creative!

Like "Merlyn's Vegetarian Reubans!"

Leave out the Corned Beef. I made some grilled sandwiches of the following supplies:

Rye/ Pumpernickle Bread (Monk's bread has no high fructose corn syrup)
1000 Island Lite dressing
Chedder Cheese (thin sliced)
Seitan (Tofurky slices)
Saurkraut
Mozzerella cheese (thin sliced)

Grilled and delicious. I didn't miss the meat AT ALL.


Or this one tonight. I had a hankering for Lasagna or Eggplant Parmagiana....
 So I sliced up an Eggplant, and some chedder cheese...

added a package of this ....that tastes like ground beef!

 I had some sauce already made in the fridge....
so made a few more layers....with more cheese, eggplant and sauce.

Baked it for an hour at 350.

YUUUUMMMMY!!
I loved it even better than with beef!

Bonus!

Nobody died :)

And Monty couldn't tell the difference either :)

Look hard. Can you see him? 

Food Glorious Food!

Has food lost it's flavor to you?

Do you find yourself eating a lot of takeout (because you are busy), or prepared stuff, a lot of pastas and breads (cuz they are easy?)

Do you sometimes think, "Oh God. What am I gonna make for dinner tonight? UGH?"

Well, I have to tell you a secret.
I felt that way too. And now?
I've changed my eating habits TOTALLY and something amazing is happening.

I've gone totally to a fruit and veggie, whole grain based diet.
Just a small amount of local small farm dairy only.
No meat for me. At least not for now. I'm still open to fish or seafood occasionally but so far, I'm keeping it on the DL.
I've even cut WAY back on my drinking.
Result?

1) I am back to cooking again! I am loving food and life is amazing again! 

2) Food is tasting AWESOME.

3) I'm not craving fast foods AT ALL, nor sodas, nor sugar.

4) I can't keep most of my rings on!

5) I'm losing weight (bonus) and my face is thinning out

6) I have ENERGY.

7) NO MORE HEARTBURN

8) I'm sleeping for 6-8hour shots at a time (WAY better than the 3 hour stretches from before)

9) My skin looks FABULOUS. Really glowing!

And food, glorious food is fun again! To eat, to fix, to enjoy!

Some foods I'm really currently enjoying?


Kale!!
Egads I love it. I saute it with a little EVOO and soy sauce. DELISH.

Yogurt, fresh fruit and some Grape Nuts sprinkled on top with a bit of drizzled honey.
This can be a dessert with you really want something sweet!
OH YUM.

JUICE. Oh man, the juices are awesome!!

And for Super Bowl I made this:

Merlyn's Bloomin' Garlic Onion Bread.

You need:

1 Garlic Tuscan Crusty uncut Loaf
Monteray Jack cheese
Butter
Scallions
Poppy Seeds

Score it but don't cut it all the way through.
Put a thin slice of cheese in each scored pocket

Melt the butter and slice small the scallions and add the poppy seeds

 Then drizzle it on the bread

 Wrap in foil and bake it at 350 degrees for 15 minutes, then uncover and bake for another 10 minutes

OMG. It was SOOOOOO Good.

It was as decadent as anything I've ever eaten.

 

I wouldn't say it was actually "healthy" but it was a FABULOUS vegetarian offering for Super Bowl!

I'm also thoroughly enjoying things like:

Buffalo Tofu Bites,  Meatless Reubans...Crock pots of beans, soups, stir frys of awesomeness...

Signed,
Having fun, eating fabulous well, and getting healthy!

Merlyn!

Listening to your body...listening to the road.

I have a friend, Tom, who reads this blog, just recently ask me, "So, did you get your new juicer yet?"

And I realized that I hadn't followed up to that whole thing. So YES, I did get another new juicer, because frankly, I killed the last one.  Or it laid down its life for me in service...either way. ..It's history.
And it was a Black and Decker too! A name that I find to be synonomous with being rugged.

I am now the proud owner of a Cuisinart CJE-1000

 It's the most I think I've ever spent for a small appliance and I pray that it proves to be as awesome as it has been straight out of the gate. I've made several batches with this one already.
It's QUIET.
It's a lot more easy to clean than the B & D one.
Both bonuses in my opinion. And hopefully it will hang in there for the duration.

I'm trying to LISTEN to myself.

How does it go? Something like this:
I want something.
What does my body want? Really want?
Does it want to move? I try to move it, in gentle ways or aerobic ways, depending on what it needs.
Does it want Eat or Drink? Sometimes when you think you are hungry you are really thirsty.
If I am hungry, what does it want to eat?
Or am I craving something emotionally? If so, what would that be?
Do I really want to watch a movie? Or would a nap and blanket and book be better?

It's interesting, but because of the juicing ....I'm starting to think differently about things.
The juicing has led me (and Harry) to listen harder to our basic needs.
Personally, it has made me tune in to myself more. I'm trying to meditate several times a week.
We are eating way less crap. Even if Harry has a wild hair and gets the rare can of Pringles....he finds that the after math of eating them has a direct correlation to how he feels.

As a matter of fact, the less crap I eat (white flour, white sugar and processed foods, sodas, coffee, junk...) I find the less I crave it. We watched a movie called "Hungry for Change".
Click this link for info on the movie "Hungry for Change"
It's a great eye opener on what's in some of the food that we eat out there, that is promoted as being "good for you". It's not all that hot, lovies. Check it out.

Also this movie is right along the lines that Harry and I have been doing for years:
I highly recommend it. It's very much like how we view our spirituality and how the world seems to us sometimes.
Follow the Muse. Watch This Movie: "Jeff, Who Lives at Home"

I was talking to a friend of mine at church yesterday and we had the most interesting kindred chat. She had recently just injured her knee....the same injury that I suffered last summer. We commiserated on the pain and recuperation process. But more than that, she was a force for edification to me and my current level of spirituality and health insights. I'm on track with forces greater than myself.

I'm trying to follow the Universe and its leads.

I'm chatting with Harry about the direction of our Music and the future of Merry Mischief.

I will keep you posted.

Ch-ch-ch-changes Update

Last year at this time, I started a book called "52 Small Changes" with my friend Lorie.

We were reading and doing the books' weekly health and lifestyle changes together. All was going well. We were supporting each other and doing great.


Then I savaged my knee by ripping the meniscus over the summer and was also diagnosed with a slipped disc in my lower back. I spent a couple of tense months with my leg up on ice whenever possible. Did gigs and faires on crutches or with walking sticks. Sat for most gigs. It was excruitiating to move, climb stairs or do my daily walking. With many, many visits to the Chiropractor (did I say many?) and doing daily exercises, I have been able to repair a lot of the damage I did to my knee. It's still healing. But at least I can walk and do stairs now without pain. The disc still gives me some problems, but I can also sit cross legged again on the floor and I couldn't do that at all for awhile.

My dear friend, Lorie had changes of her own about that time too. She got engaged, bought a house, moved and took a trip to Scotland. Busy, busy, busy!

Result?

Well....we fell off our wagon together at about the same time, due to life events.

But some very GOOD things happened too!

Life, for instance. I got myself into a great habit over the past few years of keeping a written record of my daily blood pressure and weight. In looking back to a year ago to today, I see that my blood pressure is still holding at an awesome level:

This morning's read was 92/70
Last years' read was 97/72.
Pretty damn good for NO medication after it being 150/90 before my eye surgery!

My weight is holding at the same damn spot. Set point. Check. Stalmate.
How'ere, under the circumstances, after several months of no activity for me, I feel that this is also pretty damn good!
See, I put on some pounds during my lay up...but they are gone now!
I can't seem to budge my weight much, but, like Popeye....

I yam what I yam.

I have also made the recent decision to go back to eating a vegetarian diet. Vegan sometimes, but mostly vegetarian if I can find dairy and eggs that are humanely raised.

I'm feeling really pretty great for it.
While the scale and measurements aren't making any drastic drops to my notice...

My rings are loose. I can't really wear them much lately.
Also I think I'm feeling firmer. Tightening up. I'm convinced that my "back fat" (ladies, you know the under the bra strap bulgies) is lessening.

Harry says I'm feeling awesome. But then again, he always says that...

All in all, I'm on the right track. Making the small daily changes still, every day.

Like trying to choose vegetarian stuff off restaurant menus, because I like it and I like the challenge.

Harry is also doing this with me! I'm FECKING AMAZED at it, personally.
He is liking it and is also loosing some weight too. Some union brother of his actually asked him if he lost weight the other day.

So it goes.


While it may be the "winter of our discontent"...

It's also that time of year....just about Imbolc.
the roots ARE growing in the ground, about to emerge....
changes are happening inside.

We are purging and detoxing...
out with the negative...
in with the positive.

Bad Chi Out.
Good Chi In.

I may not see or even feel them, but the changes are here.
Growing.
Taking root.
Becoming.

Hopefully Spring will bring the bounty of beauty and a bloom of love and happiness again...
Sometimes it blooms in the darndest of places.

What good changes are you making in your life these days?

When Mommy Cooks.....

This week marks my daughter, Jesse's 27th birthday on Wednesday. Where did the time go??
Wasn't she just a wee little bairn not too long ago??

What did she want for her birthday?

Her "Mommy's Eggs Benedict"  So I invited her and her boyfriend, Tristan, Jesse's dad Dave and her sister over with me and Harry for Jesse's birthday celebration dinner on Sunday afternoon.
We are quite silly when we get together!

Jesse and Tristan make a cute couple, don't you think?

They are really a perfect match. I really like him a lot and so does Harry.
Tristan is a good kid.
He is responsible, hard working and funny as all get out too.

While I've had Eggs Benedict out and about....I will tell you truly....

I don't think I've ever had a better batch than the ones I made yesterday. 
ANYWHERE.
I defy anyone to make a better batch and I welcome the challenge to a cook off.

When Jesse asked me to make them special, I said "Yes, of course! But honey, I'm not currently buying meat. But bring some ham if you want it on yours and I'll cook it for you."  
(I'm having a rebellion towards the way Agribusiness is treating food animals.)

ANYWAYS....surely I digress.
ahem.

She brought a goodly sized piece of ham.
Note: Harry has not had meat for 3 weeks. I was not going to stop him if he wanted to eat what was gifted if he decided to imbibe.

So, I made up the Eggs Benedict the regular way, (I will give you my AMAZING recipe below) and I also made a Vegetarian version without the ham. Instead I substituted some sauteed kale as one layer, and a layer of sauteed mushrooms in my veggie version. The eggs came from local small farms. I have no guilt.

Well, Jesse thought that the mushrooms sounded like a great idea and added them to her traditional plate of Eggs, English Muffin, Ham and Sauce. She LOVED it.

Harry, Dave and I had my version. It ROCKED!!

Harry then had a second plate with the Eggs Benedict with Ham. He said it was also very good, but he was surprised that it "wasn't as good as I thought it was going to be." He said, "I thought it would pop into my mouth with this big taste, but it was really very salty and quite diminished."

Result?

I think the Veggie Version won. I know it did.

I offer this to you, my foodie dearie darlings!

********************************************
Merlyn's Eggs Benedict Recipe

"Merlyn's Mocking Hollandaise"

1 large can of Cream of Mushroom Soup
5 egg yolks
Generous splash of lemon juice
Dash of Franks' Red Hot Sauce
1 stick of butter, melted

In a blender, combine soup, egg yolks, lemon juice and hot sauce. Blend till smooth. While blending, SLOWLY drizzle in the melted butter. Let blend for about another minute or 2. Pour sauce into a pan, and heat on low till cooked and bubbly. Don't let it burn. Bubbles will form on side of pan. It will thicken.

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EGGIE VEGGIE VERSION

In a kettle, tear washed kale leaves into bite sized pieces. Add a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of tamari. (soy sauce). Cook down covered on low until soft. Set aside.


In a sautee pan, cook sliced mushrooms in some olive oil and a drizzle of soy sauce. Cook till browned and soft. Set aside.


Cook eggs sunny side up. Soft yolk. When ready to assemble, the sauce will "cook" the tops of the eggs.

Assembly as follows on plate:

2 Toasted dry English Muffin halves (you don't need to butter it. Good God there's enough butter in the sauce!)
Topped with layer of Kale, layer of Mushrooms, 2 eggs and a ladle of the Mocking Hollandaise.
Sprinkle of parsley or cilantro on top.


I wish I had a picture, but I was busy cooking, chatting, and loving up my family to remember taking one!
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VOILA!

OMG. It was TOO delicious to be true.

You are Welcome.

While I cleaned up the dishes, the kids visited with Harry, Dave and I continued to chat while he made a batch of Chocolate Chip cookies in my kitchen. Yes, my ex husband and I are still very good buds.
We are family still and always will be.
Dave and I have a bizzare sense of humor. We stayed together for 17 years married and 23 years as a couple because we make each other laugh. A LOT.

Jesse had NO Choice but to be silly too, with Dave and I as Parents.
She got her bawdy wit and and outrageous silliness from me,  her mother...

And she got her sense of bizarre jokes and potty humor from her dad...
He's a great guy and a fabulous dad for my girls!

 But wait! There's more...

Add in her fun and silly Step Dad, Harry...

Add in some Merry Mischief to her life....

And well....

She's turned out RIGHT NICE.

Smart! Silly & she has grown into an AWESOME fun lady with wit, intellect and a bit of bizarreness that we all need and admire!

Beautiful!

Gorgeous!

We finished our day with a lovely snuggle on the couch, chatted and laughed all afternoon....
added a warm chocolate chip cookie out of the oven with hot coffee...
It was the PERFECT topper to a perfect day.

We didn't need a big birthday cake. Just a little something sweet. Just like Jesse. :)
 

Jesse dubbed it, "The Best Birthday Dinner EVER."

Happy Early Natal Day to my darling girl Jesse!! She's the best.
And I am VERY Proud of the Lady you have become.