Wednesday, October 26, 2016

CEREBRAL PALSY STORIES: The Handy Lap Tray


Over the years while I was growing up, my family and I have done everything possible to make it easier for me to things for myself because of my disability.  One of the prime examples of equipment that my Mom made years ago is a lap tray she got while shopping at Ikea.  When she originally bought the tray, that's all it was-just a tray.




Now you might imagine that for someone like me, it would be somewhat difficult to use a tray while worrying about whether or not it slip off my lap and fall to the floor, but my thanks to my Mom's good skills at adapting special equipment for me over the years, she thought of this beforehand while designing it for my use.  

To make thing easier for me she did two things.  First, she put a pillowcase cover on it so that whatever we would put on it, I would be able to move it around easier with my hands since the surface of the tray was originally much more grippier that before the pillowcase was added. Secondly, she added a pair of hook straps to the tray so that it could be tied around the armrests on my wheelchair.  



The train sits on my lap and I loop the straps around the supports for my wheelchair's armrest.



Then, I hook the straps together to keep the tray from sliding off.

As for how the tray itself comes in handy for me, its main purpose is for the TV and sound remote controls while watching television.  I also use the tray to put my snack plate on during the day when I'm feeling hungry for a snack as well as my cell phone when my Mom goes for her morning run. Without it my hands and arms would definitely get stiff and tired from holding these various objects myself.  



The Handy Lap Tray has definitely proven its worth and value to me ever since I started using it many years ago.  I would say my favorite thing about it is that I don't have to roll up to the TV and change the channel like people had to in the old days.  So if you are in a family of someone who is disabled, a lap tray like mine could be useful in allowing those members of the disabled community some freedom and independence while either watching the local news or a Sunday football game in peace.

Tim Musick
Copyright 2016
All Rights Reserved.


Sunday, October 16, 2016

TODAY'S MENU: Ispanaki Patates and Bacon/Spinach Omelet


It's a Popeye themed day today. Spinach and potato casserole for dinner...Turkish style...plus bacon/spinach omelets for breakfast. Recipes at the links below.

You'll be good to the finish if you eat your spinach...


BREAKFAST: Bacon/spinach omelet using our basic omelet recipe and stuffing with bacon, spinach, and cheese.


DINNER: Ispanaki Patates Casserole

Darryl

The Cocktail Hour - Copper Canyon

A cool, copper colored drink with tequila as its base.  This is another of my custom creations and since it uses a Mexican spirit I named it after the big canyon in Mexico that civilization has hardly touched.




INGREDIENTS (two drinks)
2 oz - tequila
1 oz - blackberry brandy
1/2 oz - lime juice
1 cup - raw cranberry juice
splash of pomegranate syrup

Pour all ingredients into a shaker 1/2 filled with ice.  Shake and strain into two chilled cocktail glasses.

Cheers!

-Darryl

Friday, October 7, 2016

DINNER: Grilled Chicken in a Shitake Cream Sauce


You've got your basic four barnyard meats...beef, pork, and chicken. Oh sure, you might mix it up with a duck or some lamb.  Maybe some sausages or even fish but for the most part, you're going with the big three.

It's imperative to mix it up as much as you can, try something different, to build your recipe database and to not get bored.

This is what I did with this week's meal..we'd had steak last week and only had a pack of chicken thighs along with the beef in the freezer so I needed a new way to prepare the chicken.

Of course, the easiest way to change it up is with a new sauce...

INGREDIENTS


3 or 4 chicken thighs (we leave the skin on)
1 small, white onion
8 whole shitake mushrooms
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon tarragon
1 tablespoon strained bacon grease or lard
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup half and half
salt and pepper to taste


The chicken is grilled on the barbecue according to our barbecued chicken recipe. When done, we just pour the sauce on top.


Finely dice the onion and two of the mushrooms. I use a small food processor for this.


Heat up the bacon grease (or lard) in a small sauce pan.  When hot, add the diced onion and mushroom mixture.  Cook on high until the onions are translucent.







Slice the remaining mushrooms. Add them and the chicken broth to the sauce pan and bring to a boil.


Add garlic and tarragon. Reduce heat to low and simmer 15- 20 minutes to reduce.





Turn heat off. Two minutes after turning off heat, add half and half, stir in, and ladle over chicken to serve. Add salt and pepper to taste.



Darryl Musick
Copyright 2016 - All Rights Reserved