Garlic Ice Cream and my Brazilian Mom

Luis has been doing much of the cooking since I was diagnosed. First, I wasn't in the mood, domesticated tasks seemed to be a waste of time, and a diet of Girl Scout Thin Mints was fine with me! And after chemo started, I couldn't smell anything cooking without wanting to stick my head in the porcelain bowl.

But yesterday I decided to cook. Luis had great news at work, and I thought it would fun to treat him, so I made Fennel Rubbed Pork Loin with Roasted Fennel Wedges and a Arugula Salad with Lemon Parmesan Dressing. Yummy!

I went to the store, and while I was shopping in the produce section, a Kroger employee walked up to me, asked me if I needed anything, and then proceeded to help me around the store, went through my shopping list, and got everything I needed. This is the first time I have gone shopping bald and alone, which I guess makes me look like I need help, but I am not gonna complain! I hate shopping, so if someone wants to help out, I am not gonna stop them.

When I was in Brazil for my semester abroad, I lived with a lady named Mariana Cantanhede. She was a psychoanalyst, really cool, loved movies, and did Tai Chi every morning at the Ponto do Arpoador (her apartment was in the perfect location between Ipanema and Copacabana). The Point where I lived (and where she did Tai Chi) is pictured below. I have never had a better homestay experience in my life. Marce and Ellie will remember her when they came to visit over Thanksgiving in 2001. She was the uber-cool grandma figure that everyone really wants.

Anyway, point is, her daughter just wrote me to tell me that she passed away. I am bummed because I didn't make the effort to see her when I was in Brazil last, but she knew I cared for her a lot. I don't even think I have a photo of her, but I will try to dig some up.

Okay, my last weekend before chemo, so I am going to live it up and pork out! My goal is to make a batch of homemade ice cream. My first batch (cantaloupe coconut) coconut failed, so I am going to try again tomorrow. I think the base was wrong, but I am going to try another flavor.

I actually like savory ice creams a lot, garlic is one of my favorite, so I might go that route. Here is a link to a recipe I might try from the Gilroy Garlic Fest (which of course I was lucky enough to attend). Imagine driving toward the festival, and 8 miles before you get there, you can smell the garlic cooking! They even had garlic wine, which just tasted like an alcoholic version of the ice cream. Now we're talking!