Who starts a blog and then stops ?!?!

Yeah that would be me....I am just going to be honest and say it has been really hard for me to post since I started this because I have had so many ups and downs with food. See poor diet, diabetes and obesity are some of the highest contributors to Liver Cancer. I wanted to write a blog about my dad's best recipes, restaurants and favorite foods... none of which I know are healthy, all of which have led to life of obesity and type two diabetes. How can I write about the very things that are killing him?

I have to admit that after learning about his diagnosis, I have had many sleepless nights. Riddled with anxiety, guilt and disappointment, it's been hard to focus. Three things have helped me through this, Amazing Friends and Family, http://csn.cancer.org - liver discussion group, and the book "Anti-Cancer".

If you get anything out of my posts I hope it’s this. READ THE BOOK "Anti-Cancer" It is a must read, and not just for those who have or have had cancer, but for anyone who wants to live a healthy lifestyle. It's the story of a Doctor who discovers his own brain cancer and through the use of a macrobiotic diet, meditation, exercise & conventional western treatments like surgery & chemotherapy he was able to live 13 years past his 7 year prognosis. The book goes in great depth on research about foods and their different anti-cancerous properties. It will change your outlook on food and feeing your body and it’s told through the very personal story of a husband, father& scientist living with a cancer.

I highly recommend it and hope that it will lead you to or help reinforce a healthy lifestyle. I know that I am going to do my best to support my body, not just because I want to be healthy, but because I want to be healthy for my family and future family! I hope you feel the same!

All My Best!

Lizy

This isn't a cancer blog BUT....

Thanks for reading everyone! I was overwhelmed by the responses I received from my first post. I really appreciate the support and encouragement. I also wanted to apologize for my lack of cooking... but this week has been consumed with cancer research!  It seems that things are more serious than we realized.



If you ever seen the movie “Big Fish” you will understand the miscommunication I have just with my dad. He has stage four cancer with “mets” (short for metastasized –cancer that has moved from one organ to another) in the lungs. Unfortunately there is only one FDA approved treatment for “advanced” (term for stage 3,4 and cancers that have met.) liver cancer. It’s an oral chemotherapy regimen called Nexavar. The drug is aimed at preventing the growth of his cancer and I have been told “this will not be a cure”. I am going to say here that I appreciate my Dad’s interpretation a whole lot more! There is a quote that
I love from the movie and I think it best describes Melon Bob:



“There's a time when a man needs to fight, and a time when he needs to accept that his destiny is lost, that the ship has sailed, and that only a fool will continue. The truth is, I've always been a fool”-Edward Bloom. 



Not to say he’s a “fool” but I have always been in awe of his determination. He always believes things will work out... and surprisingly, against all odds, they do! I have witnessed his luck my entire life. When he says this is not the “way he goes” I believe him.



 If you know me... and I am guessing you do if you are reading this blog, you know that I also do not take no easily for an answer. I have already been hard at work applying for clinical trials and looking up alternative nutritional therapies. I have had many interesting leads and I feel incredibly hopeful. I also feel thankful. Thankful for family and friends; for all of you and most of all, for such a wonderful father who has inspired me to write this blog and to believe!



What a great time for a food blog huh?!? There is a reason for everything I suppose. From what I read nutrition and diet play a huge role in treatment and recovery. So I am going to be posting related recipes and information as I come across them. I have also decided that I am going to include reviews of my Dad's favorite restaurants. I happen to be visiting one this weekend in Newport, CA, so stay tuned for my next post!


For any readers faced with or have a family member/friend diagnosed with cancer these sites have really helped
Cancer Survivor Network http://csn.cancer.org/
Clinical Trials http://clinicaltrials.gov
Alternative Cancer Treatments - look up Essai Tea! Lots of web testimonials http://alternativecancer.us/

Blueberry Pancakes with a Side of Cancer

I think its fair to say that my dad has lived an unconventional life. From his stories you would think he is summarized by a compilation of savory flavors, spices and flamboyant dinner parties. His tales usually start off with memories of favorite, restaurants and dishes; described in such fine detail that your mouth begins to water. I challenge you to name a US city that he doesn’t have a recommendation for.  Definitely a go to, whenever hosting a party or in a panic, in need of some culinary magic.

See, food is my dad’s magic medicine for everything. It is the foundation of my favorite childhood memories, and the consolation of my not-so-favorite memories. His bad news is rarely delivered without the comfort of a good meal quick to follow.  Like this morning, seated at Over Easy (a restaurant in North Scottsdale my dad and I learned about on the food network channel) he decided to tell my brother and me that his stage four cancer has returned. Oh, and by the way, they found a new spot on his lungs, but don’t worry; the doctors have it all under control.  He just has to take some pills, that’s all.  He then starts going off about how good his blueberry pancakes are.  We proceed to ask questions and while he answers he interjects with this might be the best sausage that he has ever had.  The news was traumatic… but somehow in retrospect I laugh that he took home all of our leftovers and called me when he arrived in Nogales, to tell me that he ate my breakfast sandwich the “Dolly”  and it was phenomenal, but would have been better with cheese??? Did he forget he just told me that he has cancer?

I have decided to start this blog because for as long as I can remember I have wanted to compile his recipes. This has just my renewed motivation to get started. I know nothing gives him more pleasure than describing to an audience the detail of his culinary masterpieces. It is my pleasure to share them with you and it is my hope that they bring a little magic to you and your families.

So I am starting off this blog with the menu of my very first solo cooking experience…. My first dinner date. I was a sophomore in college and extremely excited to have boy over for dinner in my very first apartment! Who better to call that my hopeless romantic dad, obsessed with old sappy films, books, and FOOD!!! Not going to lie, I fully expected to get a to-die-for recipe that would not only be delicious, but would make my date fall completely in love with me. I was disappointed to say the least when my Dad suggested that I buy the “Better Homes and Garden Cook Book”! I could hardly believe that he expected me to make something out of a cookbook?!?! Only later did I realize that cooking is harder than it looks and my skills had only made me made mac and cheese before this. Dad only wanted me to make something edible on my very first dinner date. He did help me decide on chicken, and recommended I buy a bag of “Lipton Cheddar Broccoli Rice”. I decided on BH&G “Lemon Mustard Chicken” found http://www.bhg.com/recipe/chicken/lemon-mustard-chicken/ coupled with the rice and a store bought Caesar salad mix.  The meal was a hit, and is still something I make today. Enjoy!

BTW I highly recommend the BH&G cook book because on top of great easy recipes it has a complete section on cooking basics that really helped me get started. It’s practically fool proof!