Chicken Stock Anyone?

I saw a nutritionist through Inspire Health earlier this week and she reminded me of the multiple benefits of bone broth.  So, feeling inspired at the prospect of being able to do something to help myself heal in a small way (I don't pretend that bone broth is the magical elixir of eternal life) I purchased a book called Nourishing Broths at the nearest Chapters, found a recipe, visited a local organic (cough) hipster butcher, and found myself at home with one big pork hock and much more than the called for six cups of chicken bones.  Nine hours of simmering later and the broth or stock in this case was complete.

Given that the radius of foods that my healing gut will tolerate is about as big as one of those snack sized miniature carrots (so far I can tolerate white rice, store bought chicken broth, eggs, canned tuna, chicken, white bread, almond butter, cream of wheat, maple syrup, almond milk, Gatorade, mayonnaise, miso, water, and some protein powder) I was a bit curious if my gut could handle all this nutritional goodness... Maybe I shouldn't have made 3+ liters of the stuff... oh well... go big or go home.

So far cooking rice in the stock hasn't turned out so well for me.  I'll give it a break for a couple of days and then try some of it in smaller proportions that has no fat in it.  See if that works.

In the mean time if any of you in  Vancouver would like some homemade Organic (cough) hipster chicken stock that has so much gelatin in it that it wiggles and shakes when you move it feel free to stop by my place and pick some up!

Okay now I feel like I am past the 2-3 week long departure from blogging....

It has now been over two months since my return from hospital and over all I find myself feeling more acceptance over the hurry up and wait to heal piece and the take it easy don't over do it advice that all of you remind me of (some of you bless your heart - daily - Tina, Dylan).  

Highlights since I have last written that I will hopefully write more about later:

• Up to 140 lbs - i left the hospital at 127 lbs
• Pain is much better managed with a Fentanyl  patch (unlike hydromorophone Fentanyl doesn't rely on the digestive tract for absorption).
• Went to my first ever support group for men living with/or survivors of cancer (huge for me as before I avoided these like the plague thinking that if I went I would some how come down with cancer - ok I exaggerate a little bit).  The group was very helpful.  I will be back.
• Started therapy for desmoid tumours.  I am taking a drug called Imatinib by pill once a day.  It has a 30-50% chance of working.  If it works great, and if not it's a stop gap until I am well enough to go on the same type of chemo that worked for me last time.  I will have a CT scan in 14 weeks to see if the drug is having any effect.  
• Green Guys on The Drive is going really well and I have felt really honored and supported by all the friends and family who have come out to help. We are expecting our first harvest in middle of May.  We have a website too now that you can follow:  http://greenguysthedrive.weebly.com/our-story.html
• Games night every week with friends and family.  So far the game of choice has been Puerto Rico.  At some point we will switch it up.  If anyone has any suggestions for another good board game let me know.  Any and all are welcome to come.  They are usually Wed nights starting at 6:30 PM at my place. 

Okay I will write more later.   Right now I need to hoof it to the kitchen to make myself some white rice with eggs, miso, canned tuna and store bought chicken broth. Hey it's better than not eating at all!  Okay I'm not going to pretend that this last statement of mine wipes away food fatigue and it helps... it helps.  

Hope all of you are well.  Send me an email or drop me a comment on the blog.  It's great to hear from you and helps me get over the cone of silence that one can get from blogging into the nether regions of the internet.  

Cheers,

Dan

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