DOWN AND OUT

Most of my life, my immune system has been pretty worthless.  I was a very sick kid, a sick teenager, who made all As in high school despite the days out and was a very sick young adult.  The problem?  My lungs, mostly.  As a teen, I became an uber-health-goddess.  I figured it couldn't hurt, and hoped it would help. 

Family members liked to tell me my organic, meatless lifestyle was why I was always sick.  My take?  It was helping and I'd be even sicker without it.

I still don't know who was right, but I feel that Dr. Oz would side with me.  And all I really know for sure is that I went through a very early menopause, at which time my immune system woke up as from a deep freeze.

I never knew I was menopauasal.  Never went through those nasty symptoms like hot flashes an\d random bitchiness.  (My bitchiness was always well calibrated!)  One day I experienced what I'd heard described as a hot flash.  It wasn't so bad, but I went to my herbalist for an herbal cocktail and never had another symptom.

At 42 ~ after a blood test ~ my doctor confirmed that I was post-menopausal.  After that, I had very little need for said-doctor.  It was as though something awoke in me ~ and that something was quite like an immune susstem.  I didn't even struggle with my asthma or allergies anymore.  My migraines were contained.  All the work I'd done for my body seemed to finally be paying off.

Why do I mention this?  This week I was knocked on my butt by something that feels like pneumonia.  Where is that lovely immune system I've been praising?

I'd begun coughing weeks ago. All my homeopathic meds seemed to be keeping things at bay.  Until Friday.  I'd been awake half the night with what doctors would call a "productive cough."

Next morning, my whole body was sore and my chest was tight.  All I wanted to do was sleep.  My boss gave me the day off ~ and was nice enough to bring me some medicine.  Real medicine, not homeopathic meds.  (Sometimes you've got to bring out the big guns!)

I slept til 5:30 p.m. ~ never changing out of my PJs. Around 11 p.m., I settled into a deep sleep again.

I wondered, "How can I write a blog when I can't even read?"   The words on the page literally swim before my eyes.

The answer is:  I can't.  Literature will have to wait.

I can, however, mention a cookbook I love for many reasons:  Healthy Eating During Menopause. by Marilyn Glenville, PhD.  This book is "over 100 really delicious recipes for healthy women." Above each recipe, Glenville explains WHY each dish is good for you.

This is one of many cookbooks I have read from cover to cover, highlighting and taking notes as though it were a beloved textbook.  Glennnville's book is not vegetarian, though all meat-included recipes are health-full.  She does have some fried dishes she recommendes you only use for the rare apecial occasion.

Though I'm not big on fried foods, they do make me think of comfort foods ~ which are what my down and out body is longing for just now. 

So . . . I give  to you a couple of my own feel-good-foods!

RECOMMENDED PURCHASES

Healthy Eating During Menopause by Marilyn Glenville ~ If you'd like to eat healthy (whether you're menopausal or not!) this is a great cookbook for you!

RECIPES

Yesterday I was so sick I couldn't even think of eating.  Then aroung 7 p.m., I realized I coudln't NOT eat!  I scrounged around and found I had one medium sweet potato.  After peeling it, I cut it into bite-sized pieces.  These went into foil with butter and coarce sea salt.  I baked them at 450 for about 45 minutes.  O ~ that hit the spot!!!

When I first wrote this, it was New Year's Eve and my daughter's 21st birthday . . .  Her entire life, Lilli has had Lit'l Smokies on her birthday.  To celebrate New Year's Eve and Lilli's special day, I made this very simple dish.

Little Smokies

2-3 pkgs. Hillshire Farms Lit'l Smokies
Lartge can tomato sauce or puree
1 cup brown sugar

Add all ingredients to a crock pot in the AM.  (Mix sugar in well.)  By evening, this sweet, savory dish wil be ready to enjoy.  The sausages will release their fats into the sauce.  See ~ COMFORT FOOD!  NOT healthy food! It's okay ~ it's a rare special occasion day!