Exhausted Parent - Famiy Celebration of Summer

Written by Julie Taylor

A Family Summer Celebration for The Exhausted...

Feeling exhausted?  Recovering from cancer or any other trauma?  Rarely see family - but on the other hand have no energy to play host? 

One of the greatest sources of joy can come from family.  Trouble is when you have just been through major trauma or illness it’s really difficult to balance getting the rest you need with the work of fun family get-togethers.  One of the other greatest joys is sharing good food with friends and family. Here’s a suggestion…

One of the answers I’ve found is to share the load – and at the same time to be (possibly) at home so you can disappear quietly for an hour and lie down in your own room.  The trouble also is that this all takes a lot of organization…  What I am hoping to do here is show you how to do that organization from your laptop on your bed!

A little organization can make your home a central hub for your family and friends, be high on their list of places to pop in several times a week and allow you to rest rather than have to 'do it all'... Read on!

A great way to make your home a 'central hub' is with one of these machines - which will help you and everyone you care about back to good health in the process.  I've seen it work myself! People love to be part of a busy group and are happy to contribute in return for a couple of gallon bottles of this water to take home.  And they happily pay $5 for each bottle too - which is still less than half the price of bottled water (even Evian is inferior) and pays for the machine.   This water has been voted #1 for health and taste and helps bring joy back into your life.  Everyone is rushed off their feet today - if you want your family and friends to pop in, make your home a good part of their routine.  CLICK HERE to read more about this water.

Morph casual drop-ins into a Celebration of Summer - or any other time of year!  Just cut and paste a different task - something you need contributed, be it a food dish or chore - into an invitation to each member of your family – make it simple so they can 'just do it'. Don't forget to ask that if they cannot join you would they please remind you of the task you asked them to provide so that you can take care of it.  If everyone follows their instructions, you will end up with a banquet!  Of food and family!  (And they will want to know how you made them part of such a wonderful 'whole'.)

Now for the Celebration of Summer Menu!

Zesty Salad, Coleslaw, BBQ - and a Delicious Dessert (my favourite part of a meal!)…

A great salad makes any occasion. And the sky’s the limit on what you can create with a few healthy ingredients. Here are 2 recipes – you could ask for both and if by some chance one person couldn’t make it at the last minute, you’d still have one.  I’ve used this same idea for the main course too.

Most people are grateful when you send them a recipe or ask them to do something specific – most people want to help but are at a loss as to what they can best do.  This is a lovely solution for everyone.

I would also ask in my email for a clean up crew and suggest those that didn’t make food.

Try it!  Just cut and paste all the parts of this menu into emails to your guests and keep your fingers crossed!

Spicy Sesame Cucumber Salad is as pleasing to eat as it is easy to make. This salad needs a little time to marinate and therefore keeps/improves for a few hours after it’s made. Here’s what you’ll need to make 4 servings:

• 2 medium cucumbers
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon xylitol or some honey
• 2 teaspoons toasted sesame seed oil
• ¼ teaspoon Tabasco or hot sauce
• ½ teaspoon salt

Peel cucumbers, and cut in half lengthwise. Scoop out seeds with a spoon, then slice cucumbers into ¼ inch slices and set aside. Combine all other ingredients in a shallow bowl, and stir well. Add cucumber slices to dressing and toss to make sure each slice is coated. Cover and marinate in refrigerator for about 3 hours, occasionally shaking bowl to redistribute dressing.

(Time Needed: 10 minutes preparation, plus 3 hours for marinating.
53 calories and 2g of total fat, per serving).

Salad Niçoise. Niçoise is to France what coleslaw is to America.

Here’s what you need to make 4 servings, but (as with all of these recipes) you can do the math to make as much as you need:

• 2 cups sliced cooked new red potatoes, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 2 cups green beans cooked al dente
• 2 heads butter lettuce
• 2 medium quartered tomatoes
• 2 small cans water-packed tuna, drained and chunked
• 8 anchovies (optional)
• 2 hardboiled eggs, cut in quarters
• 12 black olives (Niçoise preferred)

Mix potatoes and green beans with half of the Basil Dressing (below). Toss and chill several hours. Line bowls with lettuce leaves. Mound potato-bean mixture in center of each bowl. Place remaining ingredients around potatoes and beans, and then top with dressing.

(Time Needed: 35 minutes.
267 calories and 6g total fat, per serving)

Basil Dressing. It’s a simple olive oil recipe spruced up with fresh herbs. To make 4 servings you’ll need:

• 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 4 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
• 4 teaspoons chopped fresh basil (or 1 teaspoon dried)
• ½ teaspoon salt
• Dash pepper

Combine ingredients and mix until well blended.
(126 calories and 20g fat, per serving)

A Baguette or Two – a stick or two of French Bread is handy to have at every feast.  Please bring some juice or cider and this whole item can be straight-from-the-grocery-store for someone you know who isn’t a cook.  Paper plates, serviettes, and clear plastic glasses could make up this request...

Mandarin-Orange-Sesame Slaw is a delicious combination of sesame seeds and fruit. For 4 servings you’ll need:

• 3 cups chopped cabbage
• 1 cup Mandarin orange segments, chilled and drained
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil
• 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

The oranges you use can be fresh or canned (in water), cut or in whole segments. Just mix the cabbage and oranges, toss with oil, sprinkle with sesame seeds, and enjoy!

(Time Needed: It will take no more than 10 minutes to prepare this dish. 124 calories and 9g total fat, per serving)

Seafood Brochettes. Here’s what you need to make 6 of them:

• ½ cup dry sherry
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon crushed sesame seeds
• 1 minced clove garlic
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• Freshly ground pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons fresh grated ginger
• 6 medium peeled (except for tails) and deveined shrimp
• ¾ pound sea scallops
• 1½ pound fresh pineapple, cut into 1 inch wedges
• 12 cherry tomatoes
• 1 medium onion, cut into 67 wedges
• 1 large seeded green pepper, blanched 3 minutes in boiling water and cut in 1-inch pieces

To prepare, combine sherry, sesame oil and seeds, garlic, salt, pepper, and ginger and pour over shrimp and scallops in a shallow glass or ceramic bowl. Cover and place in refrigerator for 30 minutes. Drain but reserve marinade. Pierce one shrimp on each skewer, along with scallops alternating with pineapple, tomatoes, onion, and green pepper. Grill the brochettes 4 to 6 inches from heat for 8–10 minutes, turning several times and brushing often with marinade, until seafood is cooked.

(Time Needed: Total prep and cook time should be about 50 minutes.
161 calories and 5g total fat, per brochette)

Tip: Did you know? You can find wooden skewers in the cookware section of your grocery store or in specialty shops. Soaking them in water for at least 30 minutes before using helps to prevent them from charring when they’re placed on the grill. If you make brochettes or shish kabobs frequently, look for reusable metal skewers—they never break or char.

Ginger-Citrus Chicken. For four servings, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• 4 lemons or limes
• 2 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
• 2-inch piece ginger root, minced (or 2 teaspoons powdered ginger)
• 4 small or 2 large (halved) boneless, skinless chicken breasts (½ pound total)

Juice the citrus and mix with soy sauce and ginger root. Place chicken breasts in a plastic bag. Add citrus and soy marinade, and rub into chicken. Close bag tightly and marinate for several hours or overnight. Place chicken on grill. Cook for 5–7 minutes on each side, depending upon thickness.

(Time Needed: While the total preparation time is 15 minutes, you do need to allow for a few hours for marinating, as well as the cooking time. 183 calories and 7g total fat, per serving)

Summer Evening Cobbler. You can follow these instructions to make 6 servings of this delectable treat:

• Olive oil pan spray
• 3 tablespoons tapioca granules
• 1½ cups grape juice (purple or white)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 peeled and sliced pears
• 1 cup berries (your choice or mixed)
• ¾ cup oatmeal
• ¼ cup raw sesame seeds
• 1½ tablespoons hazelnut oil (may substitute other oil)
• 2 tablespoons brown rice syrup or honey

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a pie pan with olive oil spray. Mix tapioca with juice and vanilla and pour into pie pan. Layer the pear slices, followed by berries, on top of the tapioca mixture. Mix oatmeal, sesame seeds, oil, and brown rice syrup until well blended. Sprinkle on top of fruit. Bake for 30 minutes. Serve warm.

(Time needed: 45 minutes.  231 calories and 7g fat, per serving)

Health note! Tapioca comes from the roots of the cassava plant, which is native to South America. Compounds in cassava are being investigated as a treatment for cancer.

Berries and Ice-Cream I always add a very simple request – a large tub of ice-cream (plain vanilla or Neapolitan could be suggestions) and a large tub of fruit in season.

There is something here for everyone...  I have one son (out of 4) who has incredibly fussy tastes - even now that he is grown up (sorry Ben)!  He will always eat plain ice-cream though and share the French Bread and a chicken breast!

Bon Apetit!