Thread by @VABVOX

Today I am going to try and cook for the first time since I was paralyzed.

I used to cook most nights for me and The Wife. After Mass on Sundays, I would make brunch.

I made every holiday meal for 17 of our 18yrs together. I did the #Christmas baking.
#NewYearsResolutions
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I started cooking as a child. I grew up in a chaotic household. Great politics but a chronically ill mother. I was the oldest sibling & the maternal stand-in.

I became a vegetarian for political reasons at 14, so I had to learn how cook that diet cheaply since we were poor.

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In college I cooked for everyone. I knew how to stretch $.When I was in the domestic Peace Corps I taught people how to cook with next to no money.

I love feeding people.
I think food is an evocation of love for many folks.

I haven't been able to cook since I was paralyzed.
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The Wife misses me cooking.
I miss me cooking.
I've been working with the physical therapist on ways to adapt my environment so I can cook paralyzed.

I get exhausted quickly because I also can't breathe(thanks #cancer).
But I have been thinking about this for a while.Months.
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The Wife bought me one of those #Christmas gifts women hate to get from husbands: a fancy pressure cooker/crockpot thing--Instant Pot.

Subtle.

So I watched a bunch of YouTube videos and found this great Asian woman who uses this contraption.

So: #CookingWhileParalyzed
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So my plan is to make us General Tso's tofu with steamed rice & vegetables.I figured out that I can put my small quilt rack across the wheelchair with a cutting board on top. If I position the wheelchair parallel to the sink, I can reach the faucet (gratitude for being tall).
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Now #CookingWhileParalyzed is going to be quite different from my previous cooking life, so this may be too ambitious for my first foray.

My back up is a spinach/potato/leek frittata with braised baby carrots w/grilled tangerine. That's something I can make in my sleep.
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I was always a fearless person, but being paralyzed has made me far less so. I feel vulnerable all the time. Apparently this is "normal" for people suddenly paralyzed. :/

So I am trying not to be afraid of the logistics and the stove and fire.

#CookingWhileParalyzed
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But I have to try this.
And I have to accept that it might not work this first time.

#CookingWhileParalyzed is probably going to be a process.
And there's always that Instant Pot with no fire. But I'd love to make a meal for The Wife. 🍽🍾🥂
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So: make a #NewYearsResolution to do something REALLY hard, that pushes you out of your comfort zone, that makes you re-imagine something in your life.

I will be attempting a logistical feat: #CookingWhileParalyzed.

(Promise to post pics tonight, successful or not.)
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#CookingWhileParalyzed begins!
Prep may take me down, but we are doing this!

The ingredients are: onion, russet potatoes, yellow squash, baby spinach, brown cage-free locally sourced eggs, butter, cheeses--parmesan ends and sharp cheddar. Large skillet with lid.

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#CookingWhileParalyzed
Slice up everything very thin: onion, potatoes, squash.

Melt 2tbs butter in pan.
Add oinion.
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#CookingWhileParalyzed
Saute the onion.

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#CookingWhileParalyzed
Add the sliced potatoes.
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#CookingWhileParalyzed
Slice up the squash.
Be sure It's very thin.

Taste your potatoes to make sure they are nearly soft. Add the squash.
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#CookingWhileParalyzed
This serves four so, you want 4 potatoes, 2 small squash, 8 eggs, two handfuls of baby spinach wilted and torn up.
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#CookingWhileParalyzed
So I just started to cry, because I am really exhausted and it's hard to breathe. The Wife offered to finish this, but I am doing it.

Add the spinach to the pan. Lightly pepper the top.
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#CookingWhileParalyzed
Add the eggs, which you have lightly beaten with a touch of Tabasco, because you lived in Louisiana for a while. Do this hotter or less hot according to taste.
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#CookingWhileParalyzed
The cheese I am using is a Mexican blend of mild cheddar, Monterey Jack, Queso Quesadilla and Asadero. It has a little bite.

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#CookingWhileParalyzed
After the cheese is in, cover it till the whole thing sets with the cheese melted.
Finished it should look like this with the sides looking just a touch brown and coming away from the pan.

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#CookingWhileParalyzed
Well, not 100%, but a solid B+.
It should be more browned on the bottom--I didn't use enough butter. But The Wife just tasted it and declared it delicious.

So---yay! I did this. First time cooking since I was paralyzed.
Much harder than I expected.

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#CookingWhileParalyzed
In future I will need to space out the prep from the cooking.

But it's really good, so even though the final slice isn't gorgeous like I'd hoped, it tastes fabulous. Serve with a glass of chilled white or some zinfandel and some bread.
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#CookingWhileParalyzed
For those counting calories, this is 4 servings. Each serving is 390 cals.

Also, I don't use salt because of my lungs, so salt to taste.

Thanks for taking this journey with me today, friends.

One #NewYearsResolution down and it's only #Epiphany.
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#CookingWhileParalyzed
Now to watch the #GoldenGlobes with The Wife.
Sshh--no spoilers.
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