Hanging Out

I just spent the last several days at Marty's and Sheila's in Burlingame. Every night Marty lit a fire for us, either in the living room or the outside barbeque. Dinner was sheer pleasure sitting down together in the dining room with big band or jazz playing in the back ground. I love that family. They have been through hell the past year but seem to be coming back to a new normal now that Andrew has finished chemo and he's finally eating and putting on weight again. He is both precious and precocious.The other night he said, "Mom, I think I'm coming back!" He loves nothing more than to "prep" for dinner by washing and cutting vegetables, setting the table, and helping to serve the food. Family mealtime is really important to that little guy. When he's in charge, we sit where he directs. Samantha is an amazing young woman also. She works, attends jr. college, saves money, and has good relationships with everyone in her family. She is fun to talk with and has a strong element of common sense about her.

Andrew is a fabulous artist. The family room wall is covered in art that Andrew created. Most of it looks like it came from a gallery, honestly. Some pieces are painted while others are collaged and still others are 3-dimensional. Yesterday we shopped at Michael's together, picking up scrapbooking paper, stickers, clay, clear glass ornaments and other supplies. I'm on an art kick myself, I guess because of the holidays, but also because I discovered through an art class recently at the Wellness Center (cancer related) that art can be very therapeutic.

Bruch Update and Recipe

Yesterday after church, I drove over to Burlingame and spent the day with Marty and his family. I enjoyed being with them so much! Andrew is so tiny. He is in the 3rd grade and weighs 38 lbs right now. The feeding tubes have been invasive and not very effective, so this week the doctor's are going to put a tube right into his stomach. They want Andrew to gain 10 pounds. Samantha is an amazing young woman. She graduates from high school this Spring. Today she is going to take Andrew bowling. He has been sick and not able to leave the house for quite some time. The way Sam spends time with Andrew reminds me of how close Tel and Clayton were, although the age difference between Sam and Andrew is greater. Please keep the little guy and his family in your prayers.

Last night I brought food and cooked dinner for us. Sheila set the table and Marty (in his gracious, Southern-training fashion) put on some wonderful music and lit candles. Here's the recipe for what I cooked, which Marty insists belongs in a restaurant!

Pecan Crusted Chicken Breasts

Make a small batch of cornbread. Marie Callendar's is my favorite but Jiffy is good too. Do NOT use a homemade recipe that calls for baking powder--too bitter and not worth the effort.

Melt 2 sticks of butter (what else?) in a bowl or pan large enough for dipping chicken breasts. Set aside.

Grind fresh pecans in a food processor until you have 3 cups.
Add 3 cups of crumbled cornbread (about 1/2 of an 8x8 pan, or several muffins)

Add 1-2 teaspoons of seasoning salt.

Cut skinless, boneless chicken breasts into 2 or 3 pieces each. Dip in butter, roll in pecan/cornbread mixture. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. This will make a full pan. Drizzle any remaining butter over chicken. Press any remaining pecans on breasts. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes.

Prepare a salad of baby spinach and romaine lettuce, English cucumber, fuji or another sweet type of apple(not grannysmith), dried cranberries, figs, or golden raisins, and feta, gorgonzola or another like cheese.

To serve, mound salad on plate, place warm chicken breast on top and drizzle with raspberry or balsamic vinagrette dressing. Delicious! (I'm sure this would be great for ranch dressing lovers as well).