Sometimes I'm An Outside Cat

So it’s been a while since I sat at the computer, the sunshine was calling and there is yard work to do, gardens to plan, a dog to play with, a hammock to nap in. While I was away from the computer, we made homemade root beer, strawberry jam, cleaned out two closets (it's amazing what you find!) and had a family game day for Mother's Day (with my traditional take out souvlaki).

It was an absolutely gorgeous May Long, which has always been gardening weekend at our house. My new garden shed was completed for Mother's Day, and it's everything that I wanted! My community garden plots are planted, the weeding is done, and the home garden is in pots waiting to be transplanted. The deck is now outdoor living space, the fire pit is set up, the gutters are cleaned out, the solar lights are hung and the rain barrel (which my day and son's made me) has a new base. I actually snuggled into my hammock with a book all of yesterday afternoon,  before the rain! 

Now that the weather has encouraged me to be an indoor cat, it's time to write again!

Summer Cooking

When people think of crock pots, they usually envision hearty winter comfort food, but I use mine a lot in the spring and summer. Once I’m outside, I don’t want to come it to cook. As much as we like to BBQ year round, it doesn’t make for good leftovers. Using the crock pot means you don’t have to heat up the house with the oven, and it’s the perfect way to take a dish to a potluck. (Once we are allowed to gather again, of course!)

I have learned that many oven recipes can be done in the crock pot. The texture may vary a little, but it works. If your crock pot has a ceramic insert ( I think they all do), you can take it out just before eating, and pop it in the oven to brown the top or do a layer of bubbly cheese. One of the lovely things about the crock pot is that you can throw the meat in frozen, although if I’m using hamburger or stew meat, I brown if first, it just tastes better! Crock pots keep more of the moisture, so you end up with more sauce, and the longer cooking tenderizes tougher cuts of meat (and a little freezer burn too!)

Frozen Meals - The crock pot is a great place to reheat those extra soups or casseroles that you put in the freezer. Just pop them in frozen (if they will fit) and set it on low. If your square freezer container won't fit in your round crock pot, you may have to defrost it first.

Night Before - Mix your sauce, put it in the fridge. Brown your meat while you are eating supper, put it in the fridge. The next morning you only have to toss them both in the pot.

Lasagna—Don’t precook the noodles and make the sauce a little juicier (the noodles need the moisture). Layer as usual. I find if the noodles touch the side, they are get crunchy, so I just give them a little space. Leave off the top cheese until the end and pop it in the oven to get it nice and bubbly.

Salsa Chicken

I used to always do this in the oven, but years ago attended an event, which I had forgotten that I needed a potluck dish for. I ran to the grocery store for some chicken, ran home for the crock pot, and voila! It turned out great, and I haven’t cooked it in the oven since. If it’s for a potluck, I often use thighs. The smaller pieces are nice because people have a little of each dish. Or cut chicken breasts into smaller pieces. Since the sauce ingredients are all from a jar or bottle, it would be a snap to pack it all up to go to a family reunion, and assemble in the crock pot when you get there. Or make the sauce and pack it in a canning jar or other container.

I usually make it when I have a couple of nearly empty salsa jars in the fridge (we have various taste in hotness). Adjust the ingredients to your taste, how spicy or sweet you like. If you don’t have enough salsa, use some diced tomatoes and increase the spices. If you aren’t a fan of ketchup, use a couple of small cans or tomato paste. I don’t use a lot of measuring with this recipe, you want enough sauce to generously coat all the chicken. Set it on low for all day cooking, on high for cooking between lunch and supper.

1-2 kg chicken pieces

3/4 c ketchup

1/4-1/2 jar of salsa

1-2 T mustard (I usually use Dijon)

1 T—1/4 c honey

1 tsp chili powder (more or less, depending on how spicy the salsa is)

1/2 tsp cumin

 

All this talk about potlucks got me thinking of my other favorite pack along item that can be assembled at your destination (just don’t forget the can opener). In the summer time, I switch up the fruit, or you can change it to whatever you prefer. If you like coconut, throw some in. Berries arranged on top, or some cupcake sprinkles make it very pretty for a party. If you are just making this at home for less people, mix up half at a time, it tends to get watery from the fruit. If you want to use real whipped cream, whip it with icing sugar to help it hold it’s texture, and make small batches at a time. Drain fruit really well.

Ambrosia

1 large container of coolwhip

1 500 ml container of cottage cheese

1 pkg jello pwd, any flavor to compliment the fruit or berries

1 can of pinapple tidbits, drained—I like the smaller pieces

1 can mandarin orange segments, drained

 

Amazingly Easy Fruit Salad

In a large bowl combine any fruit you like. Grapes and melons are especially good. Cover with pink lemonade and refrigerate for at least 6-8 hours for the lemonade and fruit flavours to blend. Bananas are not great for soaking in the pink lemonade, add them when you serve it, if you like.

Both the Ambrosia and the Fruit Salad would be very pretty served in teacups or glass fruit dishes for a shower or a birthday tea.  For Appy potlucks I have served them in paper candy cups and tiny appy spoons from the dollar store. I have also packed it in jam jars for individual servings on a picnic. I love packing picnics.

        

 Are You Compensating For Something?

No, that isn't an innuendo, but maybe a little punny! Much of a massage therapist’s job is treat compensating pain. Compensating pain is soft tissue pain that is a result of or a reaction to the original injury. It develops for a few different reasons.

Spasm—muscles seize up around an injury to act like a splint, this is what happens with whiplash

Muscle imbalances—when you break or sprain your ankle you lift the injured side off the ground, to do that you either have to bend at the knee or “hike up” your hip; or when you wear a walking cast, it’s like wearing one platform shoe

Overuse– if you injure your dominate arm/hand, suddenly your non-dominate side is doing all the work, without as much dexterity

Increased weight bearing—casts and braces are heavy

Use of aides—anyone who has used crutches can tell you how their shoulder and hands hurt, using a walker or can often means leaning into it

Referred pain—an injury to one part of a limb can send shooting pain throughout

Incisions—surgeons sometimes have to go through tissue to get to the route of the problem, the resulting scars can be tight and restrict movement

Swelling—edema or swelling can restrict mobility of a joint

Immobilization—having a cast, brace or sling can prevent healthy muscles and joints from moving which can lead to stiffness, weakness or even atrophy

Change in body positioning—having to sleep in a different position, or change the chair you are using, having a limb elevated or in a sling can all lead to stiffness or imbalances in the muscles

In some cases, the compensating pain can cause more trouble than the initial injury. Walking with a limp or using a device like a walking boot for weeks or months can create a “new normal” that is hard to overcome. The healthy limb has gotten significantly stronger while the injured limb loses muscle mass. It can be hard to balance that without physiotherapy. A good physiotherapist is worth their weight in gold! (But only if you do your homework—physio is NOT passive!)

Having a significant injury that was painful can lead to a protective instinct. Even once the injury has healed completely, you may be reluctant (consciously or unconsciously) to put it fully to use. Guarding a body part keeps it from regaining it’s full strength and creates the imbalances we have discussed before. One of the most common places for this to happen is our jaw. If we have a sensitive tooth, or cavity or some other issue that makes chewing on one side uncomfortable, we get into the habit of only chewing on the “good” side. It becomes such a habit, that even after the dental care is completed, we still only chew on one side. Eventually that will lead to temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ). Not to be confused with tempura, which is delicious!

What can you do?

An ounce of prevention—If you are scheduled for a surgery, the stronger and healthier you are before you go, the better the healing will be. Get whatever cardio and other exercise that you can, it makes a difference.

Seek therapy - If you have an injury or have had a surgery, go for treatment as soon as you are able. Even when your massage therapist can’t work on the site yet, she can treat those compensating muscles that are working too hard.

Do your homework—If you have been prescribed physiotherapy, GO! The biggest factor in building your strength back and retaining or regaining your mobility is whether or not you do your physio homework. This includes stretches, exercises and hydrotherapy (hot & cold). Physiotherapists are doing internet appointments right now, so don't use physical distancing as an excuse!

Be supportive—You may need extra pillows or stools for support at your desk, your chair, or in bed to keep limbs elevated or parts supported. Make sure supports like crutches fit you properly and have the padding they need. 

Educate yourself - Many people do not use crutches, canes or walkers correctly, which causes unnecessary pain and frustration. When you use crutches, the weight of your body shouldn't be supported by your armpits.  You shouldn't be hunching over a walker so much that it hurts your back. Pay attention to the professionals who are fitting you for these supports. Speak up and tell them if something doesn't feel right.

Take a break—Your compensating muscles will need more frequent breaks than you needed before. Healing takes a lot out of you, so you need more rest to heal.

H2O—This is a great time to pull out the heating pad or wheat bag—while you are icing your injury or taking that break, put some heat on the compensating muscles to reward them for their hard work! If you have to, bring ice packs in an insulated lunch bag to use at work. Bring your wheat bag, most places have a microwave now, use it.

Speaking of Water - The pool is a great place to do rehab. The buoyancy of the water takes stress off the joints and the over worked muscles. The cool temperature reduces inflammation. By using flotation devices, you can focus on just the limb that needs to build strength; kicking with just one leg, just using your arms, etc. You can use foam "weights" under water to increase resistance once you are ready. 

Accept help– for a short time you may need others to assist with some tasks. Trying to do a job with your non-dominate side can lead to the good side getting hurt—and then where will you be.

Slow down—I frequently ask my athlete clients, "would you rather sit out for one tournament, or the whole season?" Allow things to heal properly. Years ago, I knew an amateur bull rider who broke his arm. Instead of taking the time to heal, he got right back on the bull, got thrown, and broke his other arm. Both arms were in full casts—he couldn’t feed himself, dress himself or use the washroom by himself.