Home From The Hospital

Well the easy part is over with and I came home Friday with a brand new knee and now begins the hard part - rehab.  This process is composed of three parts beginning with being active and walking as much as possible.  The second part is the eleven exercises that are done three times per day and the last part is going to a rehab center three times per week for more intensive therapy.  The first two items were started in the hospital the day after surgery although we only did the exercises once per day.

This is my home set up which contains most of what I need to function.  If you didn't know otherwise you might ask "what knee surgery?"

Knee Replacement

Hi Faithful Readers - As of Monday morning, I have a brand new right knee and the doctor said everything went very well.  When I came back from recovery, I went very quickly from the bed to a recliner and they actually took me for a short walk mid-afternoon.  After a night of very little sleep (checked my vitals every two hours and my machines kept alarming) I went off to my first therapy about mid morning and I really enjoyed it - NOT.

I now really know how spoiled I am eating Bev's cooking as the meal for lunch today reminded me of high school cafeteria food - all part of their plan to help me lose weight.

I'll keep you posted when something eventful happens and I can do a food post if anyone is really interested in what I'm eating here.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by Almost Heaven South.

Larry

11/23 & 11/24/15 event date

Basil Garlic Chicken Breasts With A Tomato Basil Sauce Ala Pam

We had three chicken breast languishing in the fridge waiting for a recipe when Pam over at For The Love Of Cooking posted this one and we knew it was for us.  I followed her recipe with a few changes – used canned tomatoes and all dried basil.  Plus we used an extra breast and still had plenty of sauce.  Please check out Pam's blog for the original recipe and her photos.

Basil Garlic Chicken Breasts With A Tomato Basil Sauce – Slightly adapted from For The Love Of Cooking

Ingredients:

1 tbsp olive oil, divided

3 boneless skinless chicken breasts

Dried basil, to taste

Garlic powder, to taste

Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste

½ small sweet yellow onion, finely diced

Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes

3-4 cloves of garlic, minced

2 cups fire roasted canned tomatoes (15 oz. can)

3 fresh plum tomatoes, peeled and diced

Heaping 1/8 cup of Pepperonata Sauce*

1½ tbsp butter

1 tbsp dried basil

S&P to taste

*Bev bought a jar of this sauce in Florida and we've been adding it to our tomato sauces to kick them up a little.

Directions:

Pound the chicken pieces until 1/2 inch thick and cut in half if too large.

Heat pan over medium-high heat. Add 2 teaspoons oil to pan. Season both sides of the chicken pieces with dried basil, garlic powder, salt, and freshly cracked pepper, to taste.

Place into the hot pan, and cook until golden brown, about 4-5 minutes. Flip the chicken over and continue to cook, until the chicken is cooked through, about 3-4 minutes.