WHAT'S FOR DINNER - FEBRUARY 2014

[Sue]

For lunch I found some leftover white rice (when we ordered out we got fried rice so the white rice was leftover). I did a veg drawer cleaning with that and made a vegan kind of stir-fry except I used chix broth (I am not vegan) (but I do have veg broth). That was easy and good.
Felix, have you thought of shredding the brussels sprouts like cabbage along with the carrots and cooking them sort of like hash browns? That kind of thing appeals to me today. I'd cooked potatoes up and will be making potatoes obrien later. Chicken parm sounds dee-lish. I could swallow it whole on a big plate of pasta. I might make something like that next time I do Italian. Just had the ravioli last night--they were sooo rich. But I am glad we got that dinner done as now it is too cold really to grill well (we grilled up some steaks).
I miss the lazy days of summer with the smell of pork and smoke coming from the patio. Years ago Bill got in the habit of playing Stevie Ray Vaughan (blues guitarist) every time he grilled and it has become sort of a thing. Blues and BBQ.

[Felix4067]

My Parmesan chicken isn't one with tomato sauce...just a Parmesan and herb coating and then baked as opposed to Chicken Parmigiana. ;) I probably could shred them (that sounds really good, fried in butter), but I suspect that's going to require more effort than I'm willing to give for dinner. I'd be willing to bet cutting the Brussels sprouts in half and slicing carrots is about as far as I'm going to get. I've got to venture down the stairs for a shower today, and that takes most of my energy (and ability to stand) as well as requiring a pill. I definitely will keep the shredding in mind for another day, though, because it does sound really good! Maybe with some parsnips added in as well.

[Sue]

I am so glad I only had to do the step on the door stoop when I broke my ankle. I think I would camp out downstairs if I were you. If mine had broke when I lived up in Dayton, I would have taken one look at the stairs and said "nuh-uh". I really feel for you.
I hope arthritis doesn't set in to yours like it did to mine.

[Kchurchill5]

Sue, I would make stuffed potato skins; love those. Then, use the excess filling for soup. My favorite things.
You got lots of things to choose from

Felix, kinda of is usually how I cook. Sounds good to me. Love sprouts

[Felix4067]

They said it might develop arthritis, but since it's toes that's easy enough to fix (well, not easy, but it's what happened with my other foot last year so I know it's do-able). The problem with my house is it's all one level once you do the five steps to get inside. But we have two 3/4 baths: upstairs is a bathroom with a tub only, and in the basement is a bathroom with a shower only...the basement isn't finished except that one room. If it was summer, I would *totally* be camped out in the basement!

*There are a lot of days when I wash up in a dishpan instead of dealing with the steps, and most of the time I wash my hair in the kitchen sink so I don't have to stand in the shower as long. But I do try to get an actual shower in at least once a week, because...ew.

[Sue]

In my mom's old house over in Illinois they had a shower that had a seat in it. That kind of thing would have been great for either of us.
My first shower after I broke the ankle was a real learning curve. One foot and one hand (the other hand holding the crutch) and nothing I could sit on. I got a tub chair after that.
My dad broke his toes when he slipped on a loading dock guiding a truck back to it to unload and his foot went between the truck and the concrete. He never thought they felt the same after that.
I don't think my ankle will ever feel the same. I have lost about 20-25% of it's ability to flex/bend so I can't do extensive walking or running like I used to. It's really audible when I flex it too, like popcorn popping. There is some nerve damage in there besides the arthritis. Ice packs help when it swells up. Which it still does, almost 7 years later.

[Deepster]

I think I'd invest in a cheap plastic deck chair for the shower....or borrow one. I actually have 4 and I'd sure put one in the shower if need be. Just a suggestion.

Gosh, I hope everyone gets wells soon....and sustains it. It's definitely no fun being infirm.

Anyway, for tonight, I did a simple tortilla pizza with a spinach salad. I'll do fruit for dessert.

[Felix4067]

I have access to a chair, and I used one last year when I couldn't do the steps for almost three months and was sitting over the tub to wash up...but my shower is just a shower stall, not a bathtub. If I put a chair in there, quite literally there is no room for anything, including me sitting in it. This house was definitely not designed for injury!

[Deepster]

Guess that could be a problem, Felix!!

[Kchurchill5]

Having gone through 1 shattered ankle and 4 surgeries; and a 2nd broken one - I can relate. Yes, a $5 plastic stool from Walmart was key for the shower. Went through many plastic bags from the grocery store and duck tape too.

Stairs, at my house and at work. I went back right after surgery. They were interesting. And I lived alone. I got to be very creative.

Rehab, I only did 2 weeks; couldn't take the time off from work; but, I will say, I was given a 30% chance of walking normal. I now have almost 90% flex.
Twice daily I flex, stretch and do exercises on my ankle. I can do almost anything; but, it took tons of work - and still does every day. All at home. I just do the same exercises they gave me at the rehab.

Hang in there. But, make sure you do rehab, or exercises to continue stretching those muscles when you can. It really does work