My One Hundred and Sixth - Club Sandwich -100 Meals You Never Thought You Would Eat Pureed - Recipes for Head and Neck Cancer patients

My One Hundred and Sixth  - Club -100 Meals You Never Thought You Would Eat Pureed - Recipes for Head and Neck Cancer patients

Soup and sandwiches always go hand in hand.  The temperatures in Boston have been running from 45-85 degrees. All week, I've been craving a club sandwich and it took me a while to buy all the ingredients, because I normally don't keep them in the house.

I've never been a fan of the mess created by eating a club sandwich, so this is a wonderful option

Pureed club sandwiches are much neater than regular ones - granted you don't get the crunch like a real one.

RECIPE

2 slices of toasted bread
A dollop of Mayo (or Miracle Whip in my case)

2 slices luncheon meat
2 pieces of bacon ( or 1 piece of luncheon ham)
Thick slice of ripe tomato
Large piece of soft lettuce.

Makes about 4 cups

TOASTED BREAD
Many club sandwiches have three layers of bread, but the third layer only makes the puree thicker, without adding any extra flavor.

DOLLOP OF MAYO

Yes, that sounds like a lot.  Unlike a real sandwich you don't get the mayo squishing out of the corner of your mouth that you get to lick off.  So, you don't get a spike of mayo flavor.

LUNCHEON MEAT
Some people use turkey.  Some people use beef.  Some people use chicken.  Truth is, it doesn't even have to be luncheon meat.  Roasted chicken breast works well too.

PORK
I'm a fan of bacon, and I understand people like ham in their club sandwich.  I won't judge.  I think it is important to have a salted meat though . . . 

TOMATO
Beefsteak is the standard for club sandwiches.  I find that cherry and grape tomatoes have become my standard for measuring tomatoes to add to purees- strictly because I tend to have a lot of half sliced tomatoes in the refrigerator. They are also my favorite home-garden vegetable.

LETTUCE
Use what you like.   I find I get a better puree with softer leaf lettuces like - Boston Lettuce or Red Leaf Lettuce.  I feel I get more "Greenness" per ounce.  I'll use Romaine in a pinch.

MUSTARD
I've hidden mustard down here for two reasons. First, mustard can overwhelm the other flavors.  Second, mustard can burn the mouth for lip-sippers.

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My One Hundred and Fifth - Chilled Pasta Salad -100 Meals You Never Thought You Would Eat Pureed - Recipes for Head and Neck Cancer patients

My One Hundred and Fifth  - Chilled Pasta Salad -100 Meals You Never Thought You Would Eat Pureed - Recipes for Head and Neck Cancer patients

It's June and we are already having a heat wave in Boston.  Always looking for something cold to eat on these hot days  . . . I'm tired of fruit smoothies . . . . tired of veggie smoothies . . . .

I had picked up penne pasta for my daughter and made her a chilled pasta salad for when she comes home from school.  You know, I could puree that too.  A vinegar based dressing could spice up the doldrums. 

There must be about a million different pasta salads recipes out there.  They all have pasta, veggies, and seasoning.  Some people throw in beans for a little protein.  There is no right way to make it, so don't worry.

Most of my summer pasta salads are a hodgepodge of what I have on hand, which is a result of what is fresh at the market.  For example, I wanted to add fresh corn on the cob  kernels, but neither my farmer's market nor Whole Foods had corn on the cob available.

The food is easy enough to puree.

RECIPE

1 cup pasta salad

1 cup water

PASTA
I like my pasta salad over cooked so it is nice and soft.  If you like firmer pasta, remember that pasta pureed and stored in the refrigerator will thicken up and absorb more water out of the blend.

VEGETABLES

The only vegetable that can be an issue is olives.  They don't puree as easily as the other cut veggies.  Puree twice to be sure.  Raw broccoli has a very strong flavor so you don't need much to flavor the blend.

BEANS
Can and boxed beans work best, because they are soft.  Besides when it's 90 degrees out who has time to cook fresh beans.  I cook my fresh beans in the winter when I need to both warm the house, and humidify the air.

SEASONING
There are a million different ways to season pasta salad,  when I'm not in an overly creative mood, I look at the bottles of salad dressing, and add a dash of two different dressing, with a little mayo as a thickener.

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Sauteed Soft Shell Crab -100 Meals You Never Thought You Would Eat Pureed - Recipes for Head and Neck Cancer patients

Sauteed Soft Shell Crab -100 Meals You Never Thought You Would Eat Pureed - Recipes for Head and Neck Cancer patients

Ummmm, Jeff, have you flipped?  Yes and No.  Notice, I didn't give this one a recipe number.  I don't recommend soft shelled crab to anyone going through cancer treatment.  But I feel, I needed to mention that I bought soft shell crabs, dressed them myself, and sauteed them in sherry and butter.  Why?  Because I could - and damn it, cancer was not going to stop me from eating the foods I really love.  I'm seven years out from the first cancer I had, and it will not break my spirit.

I was standing at the Eataly of Boston looking at the salmon to purchase for my wife, because she love a good piece of king salmon.  And the soft shell crabs were looking at me, saying TAKE ME HOME, YOU'LL LOVE IT. And I did.

The point is, the whole reason we go through this awful treatment is so that life will get better.  Soft Shell Crab represent my triumph over cancer treatment.  Take the victories as they come.  There must be some dish that you look at and think - "I'll never get to eat that ever again . . . Put that on you Pureed Bucket List and put it on the refrigerator. Don't get mad that you can't have it, be motivated that some day you will celebrate by having your victory supper with that dish as the main course.  Some day, you may not have to puree and that dish will be served as intended.  Every bite-full will be the best bite-full you ever had.

Undressed soft shell crab

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My One Hundred and Fourth - Red Sox Special (hot dog and peanuts) -100 Meals You Never Thought You Would Eat Pureed - Recipes for Head and Neck Cancer patients

My One Hundred and Fourth  - Red Sox Special (hot dog and peanuts) -100 Meals You Never Thought You Would Eat Pureed - Recipes for Head and Neck Cancer patients

After the 17-6 shellacking of the Minnesota Twins by the Boston Red Sox,  I woke up this morning craving hot dogs and shelled roasted peanuts.  (In true I've been craving boiled peanuts for years, but they don't makes those in New England ::sad face emoji:: )  So I hopped on my blog to down load the recipe for pureed hot dog.  OH DEAR LORD THERE ISN'T ONE!!!! WHAT WAS I THINKING.  Well, at least my second recipe was frank and beans, so I am not too embarrassed.

I have been a long-time Red Sox fan, even before I was treated at Dana Farber.  When my kids were young they had Red Sox jerseys. And yes, that NY team is the evil empire.

Every time I return to Dana Farber for a check up, I take Dr. Dana Farber's picture with "Jimmy"

The food is easy enough to puree.

RECIPE

1 hot dog

1 buttered, toasted hot dog bun

Shot of yellow mustard

Shot of ketchup

1 cheap non-alcoholic beer
Half dozen shelled peanuts

Puree until smooth

HOT DOG
“Hot Dog” – beef, pork, chicken, turkey, tofu, nitrate-free . . .  I won't judge. I love my beef dogs roasted on the grill so there is a nice smoky flavor.  I cook up an entire package and keep the rest chilled in the refrigerator.   The color and the aroma are pure summer-time. I used to have to buy chicken dogs for the kids, but neither eat them anymore.

HOT DOG BUN

The traditional hot dog bun is just gummy white bread.  So white bread will do in a pinch.  Now I understand that Fenway Park doesn't toast their hot dog buns, but this is my house, and my rules.
I cook my bun on the stove.   Like you would a grilled cheese sandwich.

CHEAP BEER
OK, so there aren't any cheap non-alcoholic beers.  I've not advocating alcoholic beer . . . but then again . . . I keep O'Douls Amber on hand, typically for chili.  So now I have to go out and buy regular O'Douls.
Back in the 80's the Fenway Park beer was closer to sex in a canoe, but now you have quite a bit of options for quality beers and ales.

Non-Alcoholic beer of choice

SHELLED PEANUTS

There is something therapeutic about shelling peanuts.  And since you only have to shell 6, it is not a big deal.  Salt or unsalted if personal choice. Oh and don't throw the shells on the kitchen floor - trust me.

WARNING

The two big issues with this recipe are the ketchup and yellow mustard.  Yellow mustard, does give a nice aroma, but can have more of a “bite” than you might expect.  Ketchup has vinegar and can burn  

Picked this up at the Supermarket at a fraction of the cost of Fenway Park

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My One Hundred and Third - Sashimi -100 Meals You Never Thought You Would Eat Pureed - Recipes for Head and Neck Cancer patients

My One Hundred and Third - Sashimi -100 Meals You Never Thought You Would Eat Pureed - Recipes for Head and Neck Cancer patients

 "Consuming raw or under-cooked meats, poultry, seafood, shellfish, or eggs may increase your risk of food-borne illness."

If you have any concerns about raw food skip down to POACHING. 

NO REALLY, love of food should not make you ill.

My wife and I, typically, went out for anniversary dinner to eat sushi and sashimi.  When we order out we order the same couple of fish every time, so the anniversary was the time to try new fish.

When my children were old enough to cook, they would make my wife and I a "seven course Valentine's dinner", which would also include sushi.  Sushi started on the menu, because when they were really young we did not have confidence in their cooking skills.  Also, they never told us what was on the menu, they just don't me which ingredients to purchase.  If I ask you to try something new, I should be willing to do the same.

I could have called this one "Sushi".  However, sushi rolls are problematic.  Especially. if you need to poach them as they fall apart horribly in the hot water. If you are going raw, you can use sushi nori rolls.  Different sushi chefs use varying ratios of protein to rice . . . use what you like.

Sashimi is just raw fish (and other seafood).  They are soft and easy to puree.  However, you need to build a "sushi-version in order to puree

SIMPLE RECIPE

1 Unit sashimi

2 Units cooked rice

1/2-unit ginger or picked ginger

one packet of soy sauce - (we always have extra packets in the refridge.)

thin with tea

OPTION

Wasabi to taste - go light

seaweed to taste

FISH

My three favorites are Salmon, Tuna, and Mackerel. All three are very soft and do not take long to puree, and easy to purchase at H Mart.  You can choose your favorite fish from your favorite Sushi Restaurant.

ROE

Fish eggs are a great replacement for salt and add a great fish flavor.

SEAFOOD

There are other versions of seafood that you can use, like squid, octopus, or scallops.  Just make sure that you purchase SUSHI quality seafood.  Shrimp is most often served cooked.

GINGER

We are used to eating picked ginger with our sashimi.   However, I always have ginger and turmeric in the house (since they are both good anti-cancer foods), so I leave the pickled ginger for my wife, and add fresh ginger to the blender.  A dash of turmeric isn't a bad idea.  I hide this message down here so the sashimi purist won't hunt me down.

SOY SAUCE

You can use a bottle of say sauce or tamari sauce; however, if your house is like mine you have a stash of leftover soy sauce packets in the refrigerator for all the Chinese food takeout orders.

POACHING

If you have ANY concerns at all - poach the sashimi.  Make sure that you cook the seafood all the way through.  Which is pretty easy because the pieces are small enough to cook all the way through.  The nice thing about poaching is that you can't OVER-COOK the fish.  I bring the water to a roaring boil and add the fish.  When the water returns to a hard boil.  I cook it for one more minute, and then use a screen to "fish" the pieces out of the water and add them to the blender.  If you use sushi rolls, everything with dissolve in the water and make a mess.

I have an H Mart nearby which sells both whole and sashimi pieces

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Seasoned to burp -100 Meals You Never Thought You Would Eat Pureed - Recipes for Head and Neck Cancer patients

Seasoned to Burp -100 Meals You Never Thought You Would Eat Pureed - Recipes for Head and Neck Cancer patients

Aftertaste is a key to eating and healing.  Many cancer treatment survivors lose their taste during treatment.  The types of flavors lost is as varied as the number of patients.  The duration of taste-lost is just as varied.  

For those who are getting most of their nutrition through a tummy tube, lip sipping is more about taste than it is about nutrition. A good after-taste will entice them back to sip again.

Some foods are actually found to be repulsive.  What is important to know is that this just happens, and does not reflect on you as a loved one nor a chef.

Just roll with it.

Below are some flavors that tend to last a longtime in the form of burps ( in no particular order)

BACON
This is not a meat, nor is it a protein.  It is a flavoring.  You will never hit your protein goals with bacon.

CINNAMON
One of the most powerful flavors there are.  Sometimes the flavor is intensified during treatment.  Some days it was the only flavor I could taste.

LEMON
Especially, pureed lemon rind or lemon zest.  I found this flavor very refreshing when eating was boring

COCOA
One of my favorite nighttime flavors.  Especially Ghirardelli dark cocoa.  But being from San Fran. it is a personal thing

PEANUT
Particularly peanut-butter.  The only issue is that I got peanut-butter overload in all of my smoothies

CHILI POWDER
I added this a lot to anything with rice.  Still do

TANDOORI
Wonder spice blend.  I love it with chickpeas.

CURRY
Oh Yea.  I would have this once or twice a month for a change of pace, especially with raisins.

CILANTRO
Fresh cilantro would stay with me a long time.  Some people hate it so be careful

BANANA
Banana tends to overwhelm all flavors except cinnamon.  I grew so tired of bananas I can not tell you how glad I was that bananas burned my mouth so I didn't have to eat them again

BBQ
I put that sh*t on everything.  Sorry I stole the slogan, but I couldn't use hot sauce.

FISH
Not only do the odors linger in the house, they linger in the belly  

Let me could what other flavors I should add.

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Protein Powders -100 Meals You Never Thought You Would Eat Pureed - Recipes for Head and Neck Cancer patients

Protein Powders -100 Meals You Never Thought You Would Eat Pureed - Recipes for Head and Neck Cancer patients

As a 7 years cancer survivor, I have had a lot of experience with protein powders.  When going through cancer treatment the number one job is to retain weight.  The number two job is to do it "healthily" . . . Weight loss is a major reason for cancellation of cancer treatment.  It is also a leading reason care-givers fight with cancer treatment patients. Been there, done that.

Yes, my son and daughter have a number of horror stories about dad ignoring mom, and then they have to step in and make sure that I got as much food in my belly as possible.  Patients love/hate spouses being caregivers as much as caregiver spouses love/hate their spouse has cancer.

I'm not going to preach about why one protein is better than another protein.  There are more than enough social media sites that will piss you off telling you how you are BAD BAD BAD for not using the right type of protein powder. . .

I'm here to talk about "taste".  Most proteins do not have much of a taste, but they do have long-term after-taste.  I'll talk about which powders I use, with which meals, so there is a better blend of taste and aftertaste.

The number one thing to think of is - "DOES THE MEAL ALREADY CONTAIN THAT FLAVOR?"

In the USA, protein powders are ubiquitous.  They are available through supermarkets, drugstores, health food stores, online and through personal consultants ( like Arbonne, Juice Plus, or Shakology).  It is important to read the labels to see which ones are right for you.

In no particular order:

SHAKE POWDER
WARNING - I throw the warning on here, because many protein powders on the market are "whey shake" powders or "soy shake" powders and have a lot of added sugars, so check the labels. Most cancer treatment dietitians request a diet low in sugars.  Don't even get started on a conversation on cutting down on sugars during cancer treatment . . .  everyone has an opinion.  I'm just saying not all protein powders are "protein only".

VANILLA PROTEIN POWDER
It doesn't matter what the protein powder is made of, once they add "vanilla flavor" it becomes the dominate flavor in the puree.  Any meal that you would normally add vanilla extract to, is a candidate for vanilla-flavored powder - Pigs in a Blanket, or Strawberry Waffles. 

CHOCOLATE PROTEIN POWDER
Like vanilla-flavored, chocolate is a powerful flavoring.  Especially if it a cheap or artificial chocolate.  I usually add this to smoothies instead of meals.  The exception is chili.  Chocolate goes well with chili nachos.

PEA PROTEIN
Great to add to vegetable heavy meal.  Anything with peas or dark beans seems to work well - Chicken Pot Pie, or Bangers and Mash.
  

HEMP PROTEIN
It started out as my little protest that Dana Farber would not prescribe cannabis as an option to pain relief for cancer treatment, because of federal USA laws.  But now, I use it regularly because it taste good in purees.  Anything that has "cabbage" or spinach is a good pureed meal - Eggs Benedict w/ spinach, Sole Florentine, or Roasted Vegetables

 SOY MILK POWDER
My soy milk helps calm my tummy when it is upset - but that just the way I work. this is the only one that I use indiscriminately.  Although, I take offense to the term "milk" - you don't milk cows the same way you milk soybeans. 

BUTTERMILK POWDER
I like buttermilk in my  Pigs in a Blanket, or Strawberry Waffles.  Any place where you would use cream or cheese as a thickener you can add buttermilk powder - Fish Chowder, Lasagna, or Au Gratin Potatoes.

GOAT MILK POWDER
I got this originally because my daughter prefers lactose-free dairy.  I don't always have carton of goat milk or lactose-free milk in the refrigerator.  I substitute this instead of buttermilk powder when I make Strawberry Waffles for the both of us (like I did this morning).

WHEY POWDER
It's dairy.  Yup, just dairy.  If you added dairy to the meal, you can add whey protein. I almost left this off the list, because it is nearly impossible to find powder that hasn't been flavored with vanilla, chocolate or sugar.

VEGAN PROTEIN POWDER
This is one of the easiest of all. Typically, on the package they will proudly go into depth on the front advertising what vegetables they used to create the "plant formula" - broccoli, kale, spinach, alfalfa juice, etc. So add it to any meal that you have already added these vegetables - Falafel, Sole Florentine, or  Roasted Vegetables

NUT FLOUR
Sometimes protein-type powders goes under a different name.  A lot of "Nut flours" have a lot of protein.  They make a good substitute in a puree that need a nutty flavor.  The flour is great to use if you do not have a powerful blender.  My personal favorite in almond flour.

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My One Hundred and Second - Chicken Caesar Salad -100 Meals You Never Thought You Would Eat Pureed - Recipes for Head and Neck Cancer patients

My One Hundred and Second  - Chicken Caesar Salad -100 Meals You Never Thought You Would Eat Pureed - Recipes for Head and Neck Cancer patients

A month ago, I was asked to research more salads.  I've been a little hesitant because most salad dressing contain vinegar, which will burn the mouth of most lip-sippers who are going through cancer treatment. However, when we approached the Ides of March, I thought I do an homage to Caesar.

It is easy enough to juice a Caesar Salad, but puree comes up with the problem that the solid parts will settle to the bottom, unless there is enough starch to hold the blend in suspension.  The answer is either plenty of croutons, or a Caesar Salad Wrap.

The second problem, with pureeing a salad, is that lettuce is mostly water and when pureed there is not much left but liquid. All you are left with is pureed lettuce skins which is an odd texture on the lips and tongue.

Now I added "chicken" to the title, strictly to get more people to read this article, because pureed Caesar salad, isn't very catchy.  However, any protein can be added - tofu, shrimp, beef, hard-boiled egg, etc.  The protein also adds a better texture to the puree.

SIMPLE RECIPE
1 Unit protein (grilled chicken)<1 font="" pieces="">
2 Units romaine lettuce
1/2 unit Caesar Dressing
1 Unit crouton 
thin with water

WRAP RECIPE
1 8" wrap
1 cup (grilled chicken)<1 font="" pieces="">
2 cups romaine lettuce
1/4 cup Caesar Dressing 

thin with 3 cups water

OPTION
shredded cheese
tomatoes
squeeze of lemon
Avocado???


CHICKEN
If you decide to use breaded chicken, instead of grilled chicken, you can cut out most of the croutons.  

CROUTONS
In a pinch you can use dried bread stuffing.  During American Thanksgiving, you can make a Turkey Caesar Salad using turkey and bread stuffing.

CHEESE
Most Caesar salads include a little shredded cheese on top.  Easy enough to do.

TEMPERATURE
Serve chilled.  Definitely not something to serve warm . . . kinda unnerving

TOMATOES
When I got my grilled chicken Caesar salad wrap from Ken's NY Deli in Bedford MA they added tomatoes.  I don't traditionally have it with tomatoes, but tomatoes and chicken are always welcome together in a puree.

AVOCADO
I have not added an avocado to my Caesar salad, but I've seen other do it.  Avocados are highly recommended by dietitians to help fatten up cancer treatment patients who are losing weight rapidly.  The avocado might overwhelm the flavor for lip-sippers, less a problem for tummy-tubers.

Ken's New York Deli of Bedford, MA is one of my go-tos when testing new recipes

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My One Hundred and first - Pu Pu platter for two -100 Meals You Never Thought You Would Eat Pureed - Recipes for Head and Neck Cancer patients

My One Hundred and first  - Pu Pu Platter for Two -100 Meals You Never Thought You Would Eat Pureed - Recipes for Head and Neck Cancer patients

Dedicated to the Aku Aku Restaurant in Massachusetts, that nurished a number of college students through the years

Yea, I bet you didn't see this one coming . . . The beauty of this recipe - there is too much food for one person to eat, so you have to share a meal with a friend.  Sharing is caring.

When I lived in Somerville, MA back in the 80's, my housemates and I used to order Chinese delivery all the time.  We tipped well, so we were always delivered food first - and HOT.  Now, unlike most houses that waited until everyone came home before we ordered, the first person came home and ordered Chinese food, and then the next person ordered more Chinese food, and typically there was a third order before the night was through.  Free delivery was wonderful, and the driver got tipped each time.  I remember one night he was driving with his young daughter in the car, and he brought her up to our door to meet us. . . 


Takee Outee was a New Orleans Mardi Gras favorite, but I don't remember Pu Pu Platters . . . it was 2 AM though, that might have had something to do with it.

For those not familiar with the American-Chinese Pu Pu platter, it is an appetizer for two typically containing an egg roll, boneless spare ribs, chicken wings, chicken fingers, beef teriyaki skewered beef, crab rangoon, and shrimp tempura. Typically served with sweat sauce and hot Chinese mustard sauce on the side.

For the pureed eater, this recipe is going to take a lot of extra work, because instead of dumping everything in and pureeing it, you need to make 3-4 different small purees.  I simply rinse out the blender between serving.

Since I do about 2 cups per meal, this means I'll make four 1/2 servings.  Typically 3/4 pieces of meat make about 2 cups, so you only need one or two pieces to make a 1/2 cup.  The big decision maker it whether the meat is breaded or not.

You have the option to puree everything before you sit down to eat, or puree as you go.  I'll give you the puree-as-you-go option.

I break the grouping into - seafood, chicken fingers, beef, then pork.  I typically consume them that way too.

LIQUID
Instead of using warm water, I blend each one with hot tea.  If you are a green tea drinker, use green tea. Add the solids, then fill the blender to the 1/2+ cup mark.  

SEAFOOD
 (Remember to remove the hard tail piece of shrimp before you puree.)
This would include the crab rangoon and the shrimp tempura.  You only need two pieces, so one of each or two of the same.  I typically use regular tea and no sauces.  I love me crab rangoon by itself.

CHICKEN FINGERS
As I have already posted on sweet and sour chicken, we are basically headed in the same direction.  I typically use the sweet sauce here, and save the hot mustard for the boneless spareribs. 

BEEF SKEWER / EGG ROLL
Since the beef doesn't have any starch, I pair it with the egg roll.  You are going to have to cut the egg to make sure that the size of the egg roll portion is equal to the beef section. Typically this is going to make closer to a 1 cup size, if you use the whole beef skewer.  Remove the beef off the skewer before pureeing . . . just saving.  Also, I've been known to use the bamboo skewer to push through any pieces of meat that get stuck in the feeding tube . . . don't tell my family.

BONELESS SPARERIBS
Yes, I saved this for last.  Finish with Chinese mustard sauce.  I'm too afraid to start the night with hot mustard sauce. Just sayin . . . 

Since there is no starch on the boneless spareribs, I use whatever starch is leftover.  Are the egg rolls gone?  Did we order rice?  In a pinch I will use a fortune cookie . . . 

CHICKEN WINGS
I skip the chicken wings, and save them for lunch the next day.  There is no spacial seasoning on the chicken wings, and no one ever fights over who is going to get the chicken wing, so it is what it is

Traditional Chinese-American take out

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