French Cooking for Cub Scouts

This upcoming weekend my son's Cub Scout troop will hold their annual Blue and Gold ceremony. As such, each unit has been assigned to cook something from a particular country. For us it's French.

Are French fries too obvious?

I studied the French language in high school. And I visited France as a young adult. But truthfully, the only food I remember from my trip is the wine. I think that may be a separate food group in France.

I told my husband that I could just buy croissants for the banquet. Both he and our son nixed that idea. "You have to cook something," they said.

So all morning I've been thinking about what to cook. And what came to my mind was the scene in Pulp Fiction where John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson are discussing the little difference between Europe and America. Travolta tells Jackson the quarter pounder is called "Royale with cheese," because of the metric system. And the Big Mac is "Le Big Mac." And they put mayo on their French fries instead of ketchup. Could I serve "Royale with cheese" and fries with mayo?

I told my friend Winnie my plan. She put her hand on her hip, looked me square in the eyes and said, "All you need to do is buy frozen crepes and stuff them with chicken or crab." She obviously didn't like my plan and I don't think a room full of elementary school boys are going to dig into crab stuffed crepes. Besides, a pound of fresh lump crab is $15.

So then I Googled for help. Recipes for rabbit in mustard sauce; Parmesan, goat cheese and spinach flans, and blue cheese, walnuts and bresala roll-ups, appeared. Again, I don't think Cub Scouts would buy into any of this. Then I looked at "Mastering the Art of French Cooking," from legendary Julia Child. I love Julia. I loved the movie Julie and Julia. But neither have cooked for a pack of hungry Cub Scouts many of whom carry pocket knives.

Finally I came across a recipe for chicken cordon bleu casserole from food.com. Looks easy. It got good reviews. Basic ingredients. I think we've got a winner! 

So this Saturday, as others are enjoying a day at the movies or walking in the park, I will be cooking for about 40 boys and their parents. God help us all.

Wondering if I should bring some Royales with cheese just in case?

The Wondering Texan

Seeing through the Fog of Cancer

A bronze outside of the Arts Center.

For the last three mornings, fog in my little town has been thick as cotton. Yesterday one of my water aerobics ladies who is renting a condo on the water looked out and saw her husband drinking his coffee on the deck overlooking the bay. "What are you looking at?" she quipped.

This morning, it was much the same. So I decided to try my luck, and I do mean it's luck, at taking photos of the water and surroundings against the hazy, gray sky.

The foggy harbor is still and quiet.

As I snapped, it dawned on me. Two years ago today, I began my journey through cancer treatment. It was on this day, Feb. 2, 2010, that I underwent my lumpectomy. A month later, I underwent a bi-lateral mastectomy. And a month after that, my chemo treatments began. Ironically, last night I was contacted by a former co-worker who has just been diagnosed with the same type of breast cancer. She is just beginning her journey and I assured her that she is strong enough to make it. However, she will never be the same.

A great blue heron looks for his breakfast.

I told her that it is my belief that stress caused mine. My mother had died, my workplace was undergoing leadership shifts, and of course, there's the usual family obligations. My friend Netty listened and told me she believes the same thing happened to her. Within the last three years, she and her husband split. Then both of her parents died within seven months of each other. Then a beloved uncle died. And of course, there are work pressures. She also has Lupus which may have played a part.

Netty said she posted her diagnosis on Facebook as a way to manage communication. I told her that when you are diagnosed with a potentially terminal disease, you really need a gatekeeper. Someone who manages access to you outside of family members. There is a wonderful online site called http://carecalendar.org/ that manages meals, lawn service, carpool, etc. Someone manages the site for you, then sends the password and link out to friends and family. People can go online and sign up for meals, home services, childcare, transportation. Also, updates on your treatment and condition can be posted on the site making unnecessary for you to rehash every detail. 

So, two years later, I'm as strong as ever. I go back to my oncologist in March for a check-up. That's always an anxiety-ridden visit. That's my new challenge now, managing appointment anxiety.

Wondering when there will be either a vaccine or cure for breast cancer.

The Wondering Texan