Karen [my mother-in-law] had round 3 of 6 of chemo on Friday and requested we come over to cook today because Monday is usually her worst day. Thankfully after a pretty bad reaction last time, they switched her drug to a cousin of the last and she is doing MUCH better this time around. But she still needed a little TLC!
We started the evening with some POM seltzers (I’m trying to get more antioxidants in someone who doesn’t like fruit! But she still doesn’t love the POM!)
Last week she requested mashed potatoes and some kind of homey meat meal to go with it. So Matt picked up a whole chicken from The Organic Butcher and we roasted it with brussels, taters and bread
I don’t have any recipe guidelines for these – because I was busy helping Karen with her computer – so please just look up Barefoot Contessa’s recipe for any of the above and that’s probably about what Matt did to prepare them 🙂 The chicken was smothered in rosemary, salt and pepper and was DIVINE!
Brussels – roasted with bacon and bleu cheese (D’Auvergne!)
And the taters had more rosemary, buttermilk, butter and more crumbled bacon
Great Harvest Farmhouse White bread on the side
It sure felt like a Sunday night with this down home meal!
Afternoon snack: a perfect pair pear
We are back home and working on a few projects – one for the Queen Room! Although I am fading fast. I think it’s time to read in bed! Just nibbled on one of my Aunt’s oatmeal cookies for a nightcap!
[Reading update: Still reading The Thornbirds! I am so slow. I only get through about 10 pages a night before a dose off. But I am happy to say that the book picked up a LOT at about page 300!! (Yes, 300!) I’m enjoying it a lot now. Just have to stay awake!]
Nite!
Jilly says
You are so sweet! You guys have such a great family!
Feel better Karen xxx
Holly @ The Runny Egg says
Well I’m glad today is better than last week for Karen! Hopefully next week is even better as well.
That dinner looks delicious — I love using Barefoot Contessa’s recipes for roasted chicken and veggies — the woman knows what she is doing!
Abby says
Glad to hear that today was better for Karen! Dinner sounds divine! 🙂 Such a nice take on a classic roast chicken dinner!
Valerie @ City|Life|Eats says
All the best to Karen. Glad you got to spend some time with her 🙂
Stacy @ Every Little Thing says
Yum, definitely a homestyle dinner! I’m a big jealous of your organic butcher too.
Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday says
It’s great that she’s able to eat after her chemo treatments. When my mom had cancer she wasn’t able to keep down her food because of the terrible nausea.
Heather (Heather's Dish) says
anything the barefoot contessa makes i want to eat – it’s heavenly!
Emma (Namaste Everyday) says
a home cooked meal is the best comfort you can give a person, especially when the cooks are as skilled as you and Matt! I’m glad Karen is doing well today! my prayers are with her 🙂
staceyhealthylife says
That is a very nice down home classic country dinner. Everything looks divine. I hope Karen is doing well.
Estela @ Weekly Bite says
So glad Karen is doing well 🙂
Kat @ Cupcake Kat says
I hope Karen will feel better soon
Those mashed potatoes are making me drool!
Kristi @ KristiAteIt says
It’s so nice that you can be there for Karen like that. She is lucky to have such a great daughter-in-law like you! I LOVE brussel sprouts, but I’ve never tried making them with bleu cheese. Looks really good though!
Mary @ Bites and Bliss says
So glad she’s over the hump now, halfway done! She’s so strong for having such high spirits. My aunt recently went threough the same thing and it really brought her down. Go Karen! 😀
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is says
I had brussels today too. So good!
J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
Glad Karen is doing better with the new treatment!
Your dinner looks DEEELICIOUS! Love everything about it. YUM!
Concord grape juice, while not as many antioxidants as pom, has just as many health benefits as red wine and is a great source of antioxidants. Maybe she might like 100% concord grape juice. Dustin loves it! He guzzles it like crazy, lol.
rebecca lustig says
love what you did with the… BRUSSELS! Have a wonderful night 🙂
lynn @ the actor's diet says
totally unrelated to your post, but have you seen “mildred pierce” the new HBO miniseries starring kate winslet? i have a feeling you would like it…
KathEats says
I haven’t heard of that – and I don’t think we get HBO 🙁
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey says
I am glad Karen is doing better with this round of chemo – although no round of chemo is a walk in the park. Sending well wishes her way!
That looks like an amazing dinner!
Chelsea says
That looks like it was such a delicious meal! One of my favorite ones I’ve seen on your site!
Hope Karen continues to do well. 😀
Ashley @ Feeding Ashley says
Go Karen! She’s so strong and amazing.
Your dinner looks great and I can’t wait to see the new projects!
Cindy says
I’m glad Karen is doing better (and about halfway finished!)
Katie @ peacebeme says
That meal looks so healthy and delicious. I love vegetables, but I don’t like fruit either, except for apples. I don’t like how it makes me stomach feel.
Emily @ Savory and Savage says
I am so glad to hear Karen is doing better.
Mashed potatoes + bacon? the ultimate comfort food!
Courtney @ the granola chronicles says
So happy Karen’s body is reacting better to the new drug. Good vibes being sent her way!
Laughter-Loving Stacy says
I <3 Barefoot Contessa! Though it can be hard to make healthier versions of her recipes, haha 🙂
Baking 'n' Books says
How many pages are in that book?!! I’m reading a lite “chick” flick now but not feeling it and debating if I should continue – but I’m only 50 pages in – not 300!
LOVE roasted chicken. Am so guilty of buying the Rotisserie chicken at the stores because they smell so darn good. I know it’s cheaper to just get one and roast it on its own..but oh the ease and comfort of just taking it home 🙂
Lauren @chigallauren says
Brussels + Bacon….love!!
Justeen @ Blissful Baking says
Mmm such delicious comfort food!
Allie (Nutty FlexitALLIEan) says
I’m glad they were able to switch Karen’s medication- I’m working on an oncology service right now and it’s amazing what a little switch can do to help side effects! Those taters look divine- perfect comforting sustenance 🙂
Deva (Voracious Vorilee) says
That dinner looks divine – especially the mashed potatoes. I like POM, but it can be a bit tart for me – maybe blueberry juice would be another source to look at for antioxidants – or smoothies 😀
Liz @ Tip Top Shape says
That looks like the perfect comfort meal. Hope Karen is feeling better!
Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) says
300 pages? I don’t think I’ve read that much since college…in 10 years combined 🙂 Well, I kid. But not by much. Seriously, blog reading, magazine reading, my google reader, learning lightroom 🙂 and everything i can about photography has taken over my life. lol.
Onto Karen. I am sooo sorry she has to suffer with her chemo. I have taken care of people who have had chemo and really have so much empathy for her. Major hugs to her and to you for helping her 🙂
xo
Erin (Shortcut to Bliss) says
My husband will crack open a book in bed and immediately start snoring…I however will read all night long. It makes for long days at work 😉
julieloveslife says
KATH! You have a good heart! This meal looks *delicious*! Hope your night was FAB!
Natalia - a side of simple says
So happy to hear Karen could get her medication switched around a bit. Please let her know she is in my prayers. I’m sure she appreciates all the help you and Matt give her.
Julie H. (julieloveslife) says
As far as the book thing goes, it takes me forever to get throug a book that isn’t ‘work’ realated. I’m a teacher so I read textbooks and books on teaching alllllll the time but to read for ‘fun’ is rare! Enjoy your book now that you are past 300! 🙂
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
My thoughts are definitely with Karen. I feel for her and am so glad she has you two there with her. Dinner looks perfect for healing the soul.
Cara Craves... says
Virtual hugs to Karen; hopefully she feels better soon.
It’s nice that you live close to do dinner together
like that.
Angela (Oh She Glows) says
Hope Karen is managing ok. I can only imagine how comforting seeing you both and enjoying the meal was for her. What a nice thing to look forward to!
And your reading updates always make me giggle!
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
Feel better soon Karen *hugs
Laura (Starloz) says
oh, you’re sweet. this meal looks delicious
Hannah says
Everything you make looks so wonderful, but most days I start thinking: “But where’s the chocolate?” 😛
Stacie @ Imperfectly Healthy says
I’m so glad that Karen is doing better this round. As someone who’s had family members go through treatment, every little bit of that helps.
Kelsey @ Clean Teen Kelsey says
Aw, I bet she loved the dinner. How sweet!
aimee says
That chicken looks good! Oh man I could grub on some bacon mashed potatoes too…
Alaina says
I hope that Karen is doing well!
Those mashed potatoes look so good! I love it when the skins are kept in. 🙂
Cyndi says
I’m sure your meal for Karen was a bright spot and just what the doctor ordered … don’t discount the power of love and TLC for healing!
michelle says
How nice of you, what a delicious meal to get too! Thinking of her, hope she feels better after this round.
Namaste Gurl says
I love Barfoot Contessa’s recipes– simple, whole, yet delicious 🙂
I hope to find a husband like Matt someday– so nice the man can cook well! 🙂
Emily @ One Sweet Vegan says
The same thing happened to me with The Thorn Birds. I just finished it yesterday and only really looked forward to reading the last half of the book. But, all in all, I enjoyed it.
JenATX says
As the Bafefoot contessa would say, “how fabulous is that?” that you cooked for Karen, ha. sending good vibes & strength to your MIL during all of this!
KathEats says
Haha – love it!
Ellie@fitforthesoul says
hehe now all you need is a lil kath or matt jr. 😛
Maria @ Oh Healthy Day says
Karen is in my thoughts and prayers! What a delicious and comforting meal! The only way I’ll eat brussel sprouts is with bacon in them 🙂
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says
My best to Karen – glad she did a little better this time. I remember my dad going though treatments… it is definitely no walk in the park. 🙁
Those brussels lok great! Matt’s smart – Ina is a great go-to. That woman can COOK.
Kate (What Kate is Cooking) says
I hope Karen feels better! We are rooting for her 🙂
Dimple Snatcher says
So so sweet how you love your husband and so so your MIL. Mmmm. In other news, the mashed potatoes just spiked my greedy! Thank Karen for that–and give her my kind healing thoughts.
clara says
Hey Kath,
I don’t know if you and Karen are aware of this but there have been studies that show that animal protein leads to the growth of cancer cells. Here is one example http://www.medindia.net/news/view_news_main.asp?x=12180 but there are more! Maybe you two should look deeper into this and Karen could beat her cancer long term with a new vegetarian/mostly vegan diet! It’s definitely worth a try!
KathEats says
None of us eat very much meat.
clara says
http://www.thechinastudy.com/
I would also recommend this!
Khushboo says
Grilled chicken with greens and mashed potatoes is such comfort food! I love how you guys took one of the most basic meals and turned it into a completely gourmet meal! I hope Karen feels better.
Christie {Nourishing Eats} says
Sending Karen lots of love and healing.
Lauren says
Awww, so glad Karen is doing better this round. I bet that dinner was just what she needed. 🙂
Lauren @ Healthy Food For Living says
Glad to hear Karen is responding better to this new treatment – she’s such a trooper!
Dinner looks fabulous. I especially love the bleu cheese on the brussels – great idea. Well done, Matt! I think my husband could learn a few things from yours ;).
alison says
I’m glad Karen is doing well this week. She’s lucky to have such good care takers in you and Matt.
kaila @ healthy helper! says
Tell Karen to hang in there! She seems to be a true fighter! That meal looked so comforting and yummy…perfect for a the end of a challenging day.
M says
All the best to Karen ! I can’t imagine having to go through all this treatment the same
year she moved to a completely different city and preparing for a new job, etc.
That really shows that Karen is a tough cookie (woo hoo for strong women!!)
“A woman is like a tea bag.You never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water”
Eleanor Roosevelt
Hope you feel better day by day Karen. We enjoy you immensely on this blog and are thinking of you!
mom says
Love those Eleanor Roosevelt quotes!
Amy says
Woo hoo, Karen is halfway there! That must feel good.
Dinner looks amazing – roast chicken is one of my all-time favorites. Mmm. Must try brussels with bleu cheese and bacon too!
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope says
Karen is lucky to have such wonderful cooks in the family! 🙂 Dinner looks fantastic, and I’m sure she appreciated the extra hands a lot. Hope this round goes MUCH better for her!
Allie says
My heart goes out to your mother-in-law, chemotherapy is rough on the body and the mind to say the least (my mom had breast cancer and my grandmother is currently going through chemo for lung cancer). Ginger type things help … eating ginger, ginger supplements, or ginger ail (the oncologists have probably already relayed that though …)
Rachel says
Aw, I will be thinking of your mother in law, I hope everything ends up ok!
I am very puzzled by people who don’t like fruit. I just don’t understand.. 🙂
Elizabeth@The Sweet Life says
Poor Karen–what a trooper! Sending her wishes for a speedy and thorough recovery.
Toni says
Glad Karen’s treatment was a little less rough this time! I know how awful it is – I took care of my father during his chemo and it really does a number on the body! 🙁
The chicken looks great! I have such a hard time roasting poultry. I either under or over cook it and it always comes out dry. Do you have any suggestions for keeping chicken moist while it cooks??
KathEats says
We tend to pull it out of the oven JUUST when it hits temp – or even a few degrees less because it cooks more while it rests
Kate @ NaturaStride says
You are such a great daughter in law for being so supportive! My thoughts go out to your family.
Dinner looks fabulous – nice to have a nice, hearty, yet nutritious meal now and then!
Jumanah @ Healthy Living in the Middle East says
Those mashed potatoes look so good! A little bacon and cheese make everything better! So glad to hear that Karen had a better time with the chemo this round.
Erica says
Looks like a fantastic meal! Especially those mashed potatoes. I’m sure Karen really appreciated it. Hope you two are doing well
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says
I’m so glad that Karen is doing better this week! She is still always in my thoughts. 🙂
Hope says
I hope Karen feels better soon! It was so nice of you and Matt to prepare her a special meal. Dinner looks so good! Chicken and mashed potatoes are the total comfort foods!
Reka says
Kath,
The “pear picture” is definitely my favorite one!!! Very professional looking. You’ve become quite the photographer! 🙂
Reka
KathEats says
Thanks!
Lucy @ The Sweet Touch says
I’m glad to hear Karen is doing better on this round. Thankfully she has an awesome family to help out!
I was going to check out the Thornbirds for my last trip until I saw how HUGE it was at the library – I did not want to lug that all the way to England and back!
jenna says
what a beautiful dinner! I hope that Karen is doing better!! I’m sure its hard for her to have just moved and now is dealing with being so sick!! She’s very lucky to have you both! 🙂
Stephanie @ LiveCookLove says
Feel better Karen!!!!!! I’m so glad she is doing better this time 🙂
Joy says
OMG, that dinner is gorgeous!! It def. looks like something the wonderful Ina Garten would make 🙂
Wow, I must really be clueless; I thought Karen was a close family friend, I didn’t know she was actually your Mother-in-Law! Well that just makes the relationship that more special 🙂
Please give her all our good thoughts and prayers for everything she’s going through. Your family is def. in my thoughts.
M. Carter @ the Movies says
My thoughts and prayers are with Karen and with her family. I’m glad she found a drug that can combat some of chemo’s nasty side effects. Unfortunately I understand what you and Matt are going through because my father was diagnosed recently with extended-stage small cell lung cancer, and he’s had two rounds of chemo so far. The human body’s abillity to handle such powerful drugs and keep going astounds me.
KathEats says
So sorry to hear of your father
Parita @ myinnershakti says
I hope your mother-in-law continues to feel better. It’s nice that you and Matt are there whenever she needs you. I’ll keep y’all in my thoughts!
Katie G. says
Looks delicious, Kath! Hope the mother-in-law is doing better after the rough patch directly after chemo treatments. This past fall when my friend was going through chemo (at age 25!), we took turns making her dinner/bringing carryout during the toughest days. I think your dinner has defintely topped any of mine that I made for her!
Gena says
Kath, sweetie!
I’m sorry I’ve been behind on blog reading, but I just saw that Karen is in chemo and wanted to offer my support. I saw my own mother through chemo for breast cancer seven years ago. It was very hard. The best thing you can do — as you already know, judging from this post — is to offer support in small, everyday ways. And anything you can do to incite laughter is good.
Also remember to take good care of yourself — caregivers can often forget that, and it’s crucial in order to keep up energy and focus.
The great news is that my Mom has been in solid recovery/remission with no sign of the cancer returning for over 6 years now, which is huge. So I know about the light at the end of the tunnel. Email me if you have any questions. <3 you!
G.
KathEats says
<3 Glad your mom is in remission now!
Mary (What's Cookin' with Mary) says
What a wonderful dinner ! I need to make som b-sprouts with bacon… that looks SO yummy.
My thoughts and prayers are w. Karen and your whole family. My husband’s Father was diagnosed with cancer in 2008 and passed in 2009. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever been through and my heart goes out to you all.
KathEats says
So sorry to hear that 🙁
Becca @ bellebottoms says
Those brussels look UH-mazing!! I can’t figure out the best way to roast them….how long do you normally keep yours in for??
KathEats says
20-30 mins?
Becca @ bellebottoms says
sweet, thanks 🙂
I’m going to roast them with a little maple syrup tonight!
Sarah says
This looks like a very delicious dinner. I am glad Karen’s treatment was a little easier this time!
Erica says
Karen is such a lucky lady to have you and Matt so close and willing to help! And you, Kath, are an amazing daughter-in-law. And YAY for being halfway done with chemo! I did a little happy dance at my halfway point, and celebrated bigtime when I was finished. Tell her to hang in there…she’s almost done! <3
Kate@fittingintothewindycity says
You are such a nice daughter in law. My mother in law is going through chemo right now as well and I’m sure you’re support is doing a world of good!
Christine @ Merf In Progress says
I love whatever that is that you put the pear on. Such a neat picture! Glad Karen did better this time. :-/
Mandie says
I’m not a huge fan of brussel sprouts, but will eat almost any other vegetable. Are there any fruits or vegetables you don’t like?
KathEats says
Onions!!! I won’t touch them with a 26 foot pole
Jennifer White says
Yum! I love brussel sprouts and enjoyed them (roasted) for dinner last night too!!
I tell everyone they have to roast them in the oven with some olive oil and s+p and a little paprika and it is life changing! Sometimes, if you don’t mind really cooking your veggies, it helps to steam them a little before baking. It really makes them delicious.