Month: May 2012

One More Left!

Bea All Recipes, Entrées , , , ,

Dave and I spent a fantastic Memorial Day weekend with my dad. We drove to West Virginia, we enjoyed the drive, the weather was beautiful and we had a great time with my dad. It was refreshing to have a nice break from the routine to clear our minds.

Yesterday I had chemo no. 11, only 1 left yay!!!!!!. Since it was the day after Memorial Day we spent 6 hours at the hospital, the hospital was packed. I got upset since there were not enough chairs to receive the chemo and we had to wait for a long time, it was frustrating but oh well.  .  The good thing is that I saw Lynne, my incredible nurse. Several weeks ago, Lynne share a delicious recipe for salmon that I have posted below, thank you Lynne.

I am tired and extremely sensitive but I am doing well most of the time and I am excited that only one treatment is left. Three weeks after the last chemo on June 11 I will have a pet-scan to see the results of the treatment. I will have regular checkups each 3 months for a year and then each year or as requested by my doctor.

Thank you for your prayers, good vibes and positive thoughts. 🙂

Salmon with Pecan Crust
Recipe courtesy of Lynne Trench
Easy | Servings 4

  • 2 tablespoons Dijon Mustard
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter
  • 4 teaspoons honey
  • 1/4 cup fresh bread crumbs
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped pecans
  • 2 teaspoons chopped parsley
  • 4 salmon fillets (4 to 5 oz each)
  • salt and black pepper
  • lemon wedges

Mix together mustard, butter and honey in a small bowl: set aside. mix together read crumbs, pecans and parsley in a small bowl; set aside. Season each salmon fillet with salt and pepper. Place on a lightly greased baking sheet or broiling pan. Brush each filet with mustard-honey mixture. Pat top of each fillet with bread crumb mixture. Bake at 450 F (232 C) for 10 minutes per inch of thickness, measured at thickets part, or until salmon flakes when tested with a fork. Serve with lemon wedges.

My Favorite Dessert

Bea All Recipes, Desserts we Love, Positive things , , , , ,

I potentially have two more chemo treatments left. I can’t wait to mid June where I will have completed a total of 12.
Two Saturdays ago before chemo no. 9, I went with Team-in-Training to run, and my friends Jen and Kelli had a lovely surprise waiting for me. They prepared an incredible basket with magazines, cooking books, candies, and goodies to enjoy while I have my treatment. I also got a little Sudoku book (I love Sudoku).Thank you Kelli and Jen for being so thoughtful, you made my day and the treatment enjoyable.

This coming Monday I have my treatment number 11. It is funny how things change, because now I cannot stand the smell of saline or alcohol at the hospital. In fact, I have to tell the nurses to let me know in advance when they are using saline or alcohol so I can cover my nose with a scarf that has my favorite perfume Viva la Juicy. Two more chemos to go… Thank God.

Speaking about great things, I have to say that my favorite dessert is my mother-in-law’s White Texas Tea Cake recipe. I always look forward to visiting Dave’s parents house to enjoy this cake!. Thank you Kathy for sharing this recipe.
I have to say that the recipe looks simple to make, yet, it can be tricky. The first time I made it I thought I could use a normal cookie pan but the cake didn’t turn out as I expected. The second time I made it, I used a jelly roll pan (deeper than a cookie pan) and the cake finally had the height I expected. I have so much fun baking!!! Since I don’t have a great picture of my version of the cake, I have included a beautiful picture of the National Cathedral in DC. I took this picture when my mom and aunt Lupita visited in April.

White Texas Cake

For the mixture

  • 2 sticks butter
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 cups + 2 tablespoons of flour
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Bring butter and the water to boil. Remove from heat, add the baking soda, sugar, salt and flour. Then add eggs, buttermilk and vanilla. Beat well. Pour into 15x10x1 jelly roll  pan (make sure you have one jelly roll or pan that is deep enough). Bake at 350 F (176C) for about 20 minutes (add more minutes if you are above sea level). Set aside, let it cool.

For the frosting

  • 1 stick butter
  • 4 tablespoons buttermilk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 lb powdered sugar (450 grams)

Bring butter and milk to boil. Remove from heat, add powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat well. Pour warm over cooled cake.

Cooking tip: For the mixture, before you add the eggs make sure the mixture is not too hot, otherwise you will cook the eggs and the cake won’t taste delicious :)`

Singing a New Song

Bea Positive things

Only three more treatments and cannot wait to win this battle!!!. Physically I am strong and still have my short hair; yet I am mentally exhausted.

The last appointment with the doctor went very well and it was music to my ears and a relief to hear that my body is responding to the treatment. The scans have shown improvement!!. However, I have to say that it is hard to know and remember that cancer cells are still there in my body battling the healthy cells.

Lately, I am more emotional, I cry more often, and I am pensive most of the time.

In one of those not-so-good days I received a message from a good friend of mine that happens to be in California studying Theology. The words on his message spoke to me; those were the right words on the right time. His message served as a reminder to believe, to believe and trust God’s plan, to be certain that I am not alone, that I must maintain my faith strong in times of despair. Faith is a powerful tool not only for the soul but the minds. His message ended with the link to the great song “40” from U2 inspired on Psalm 40 (I encourage you to read it)

I will sing a new song….. Life is good!