Saturday, April 9, 2011

Invalids and Moon Cakes


Where have we been for the past month? While Rachel took her annual sojourn down to the Baja as a missions-cook, my absence started off with a bad chicken salad sandwich. What started as a lovely lunch out with my children and in-laws, spiraled downwards as all but one of our party came down with a nasty case of salmonella poisoning (Chief/Grandpa wisely stayed away from the chicken salad, opting for the safer and consequence-free pastrami). Of course, it took us a week of symptoms, indescribable on a food-blog, for us to realize that this was not a common GI bug. And of course, Mike was off to Belize with a plane-full of high-school students leaving me solo with two sick little monkeys. We breathed a sigh of relief as health seemed to re-appear in our household, only for me to be struck down by the after-effects of a case of salmonella, onto round 2. It took one excruciatingly painful swollen knee, several ER drainings, and a total inability to weight-bear before I was diagnosed with Reactive Arthritis. With the miracle of modern medicine, aka a cortisone injection, I seem to be on the road to recovery.

Now, this has had two consequences: The first is that Mike has become more aware of my local rock star status, well amongst the 80 + crowd. As an occupational therapist, most people, including my husband aren't totally sure of what it is I do. Despite a few stabs at explanations, most people find it easier to file away in their minds that I'm a nurse. Finn knows that I work at the hospital, but I'm honest with myself: When Mike asks me how my day was, my family doesn't really care that 92 year-old Violet can once again use the toilet independently; or that Reginald thinks that the microwave is a washing machine (actually, Finn would like that). So when Mike took my doctors script into the Red Cross to get me a pair of crutches he was unprepared for the reaction that greeted this request-

Haley Campbell?

THE Haley Campbell, the OT?

These crutches are for Haley Campbell?

Hey guys! - Haley Campbell needs crutches (chuckles all around).

Yes, I am the queen of raised toilet seats and safety frames.

The other consequence of being an invalid for a few days, is the realization of our community. Suddenly we have a freezer full of casseroles and childcare offers. Auntie Wiena spent a morning cleaning my floors. It's a good feeling that after living in Chilliwack for two and a half years we have friends and a church community that quickly steps up and provides us support when we need it.

So while I'm getting back into the kitchen, and gearing up to pepper you with our next exciting food theme (whole grains), I am going to leave you with this recipe from Anne, who made us a lovely meal this week with these cupcakes for dessert. Mike, who professes to not be a sweets guy, was quite firm in his insistence that I get this recipe!

A huge thank you for all of you who brought us meals or who watched our kiddies last week!

Moon Cupcakes
(She didn't specify how many this makes, but I'm guessing 1 dozen)

Beat Well: 8 oz cream cheese, 1 egg, 1/3 c sugar, dash salt
Add 1 c mini choc chips

Separate Bowl: 1 1/2 c flour,1 c sugar, 1/4 c cocoa, 1 t. baking soda, 1 c cold water, 1/3 c oil, 1 t. vinegar

Use mixer and beat- don't over beat.

Put this mixture in bottom of cupcake liner.

Fill to 1/3 level.

Then put cream cheese mixture over this in liner.

Bake 350 for 15-20 minutes.

7 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness! So glad that you are on the road to recovery. We are also super fans of our church community who have been there for use through the arrival of each kid, sickness, loss etc. Glad you have the same thing!

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  2. I am glad too Haley!! I love those cupcakes. I make them a lot and often use the lazy version - use devil's food cake mix for the cupcakes. So easy and fast! I do believe Marc ate 10 of these once in one evening of playing the Farming Game with friends. I was amazed at how quickly the plate disappeared but we were playing the game with three large hungry men. (Including Marc!) After finishing the game and discussing the number of cupcakes we had eaten, one friend said he was too full from dinner and hadn't eaten any, the other said he had had one, with me having two (did I really eat more than the big men? Yes!) that meant Marc had eaten ten! Tell Mike to top that. ;)

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  3. The OT becomes the patient. Oh, the irony. I trust you are able to use your crutches safely on the stairs. ;)

    Glad to hear you are on the road to recovery, I was wondering about your absence on Reems Eats.

    And these look wonderful. Maybe I will make a batch for Kevin to take in to school (his fellow teachers are confused by the fact that he lives with La Gourmandesse, yet fails to bring in any treats for the staff room).

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  4. Eeek - sounds awful and all while pregnant. Glad to hear you are being well looked after!
    Oh, and can i have your autograph?

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  5. Haley that's crazy! So glad you had help knock on your door. Hope you are back to full health soon!

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  6. i love these posts. jeff always wants to know why on earth i am chuckling at the computer. and i'm pretty sure i will be making these very soon. looks delish!

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  7. Haley - I'm just catching up on your antics - YIKES pregnant and sick how horrible!! I'm glad to read that you're doing better and how lovely was that to be taken care of by all the sweet people in your life? Must mean you're just as sweet back to them. Here's to uneventful last months of pregnancy.

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