djeffries

Marty:

Just look for the cute doctor, that has the boat in the 'pool', that is in the backyard of the 'mansion' that our 'office visit payments' helped to pay for. And the sports cars are 'parked' in the five-bay garage, located next to the tennis courts, that 'helped' finance.

By the way, the magazines in my doctor's office are 2004, but then again, they MOSTLY have to do with golf. No wonder he is always late for his appointments with his patients.

Denny

Michael:

YEA, it probably would work. Just make sure you drain the liquid/syrup off the fruit. Not sure about blueberries though, they might be a little delicate.

Chef Denny

Kimberly:

I 'feel' for you and your situation. I have a few questions. Is the house in both names? Are you legally separated?

IF the house IS in your name AND if you are legally separated, could you check in getting a Protection From Abuse order. That way, IF he comes within a certain distance of you, he can be arrested ON THE SPOT.

Just trying to help.

Denny

Michael:

GEE I didn't know I had that many statistics. And I thought I was not doing any good.

I APOLOGIZE everyone.

Denny

To those who responded:

Thanks for setting me straight. I guess I was expecting too much, but what Jean said IS TRUE. Thank you Jean, for 'setting me straight'.

Denny

007:

Good luck on your sleep apnea test and results.

I had a sleep apnea test done three years ago. It was at a sleep center. I slept through the night, but the technician was ready to go to Wal-Mart to buy duct tape and rope. He said he never saw a person that 'changed sleeping positions' EVERY 5 minutes.

Just wanted to share my sleep apnea story - No I was not trying to 'steal' your thread.

Denny

Hello All:

I am including a poem that I wrote on my wife's last wedding anniversary card. I think that this should express my love.

Roses are red, violets are blue

Thirty years ago, I said "I do"

We've had challenges since we met,

but the love of my life, I DID GET.

Denny

Janice:

I thank you from the bottom of my heart that you would think so much of me that I would be included on your 'Top Ten List'. I know that the names ARE not in order, because you probably listed them as they came to mind.

Chef Denny

Pam:

I wish you would have told me you were 'terminating' the snake. I was 'perusing' the internet for snake recipes. I found recipes for baked, deep-fried, barbecued, snake cakes (cimilar to crab cakes), etc.

Oh well, that's okay Pam. And I am glad you found a 'significant other', and I am really excited that he is a 'survivor' also. I think that it will work out because you each know what to expect from each other.

Chef Denny

Pam:

I saw in the baking aisle where you can buy a product called 'Dipping Chocolate'. You just put in the microwave a few minutes, and then you can 'dip' to your heart's delight.

Chef Denny

Hi Pam:

YES people do eat chocolate coated Ants, as well as chocolate coated grasshoppers and other insects. In some countries, they ARE considered delacacies. I have not personally tried them, but I've heard where they add protein to your diet, and they are somewhat crunchy. As I told Jean, type in chocolate covered ants into your search and hit ENTER. You will come up with 1494 pages of links, concerning this subject. There is even a link, where the question is asked "Do people really eat chocolate covered ants"? Also, in reading this link, some people, in other countries, eat insects as part of their daily diet.

I hope this helps Pam. Be on the lookout, they may be sold in a store near you, or even at a gourmet food store in New York City.

Chef Denny

Jean:

I'm 'hurt' that you think I would 'POST' a recipe that is 'fake'. If you think I'm joking, type in 'Chocolate Covered Ants' in your browser, and look at the results. I found 1481 pages of 'links' on this subject.

I hope you will 'trust' me more Jean.

Chef Denny

PS: As far as boiling lobsters, if you lay them on their backs, and 'tickle' their bellies, it will 'hypnotize' them, and they won't 'scream' when put in the boiling water. Note: I learned this trick in culinary school. And YES, it DOES work.

Hi Vicki:

When I read your blog title, I KNEW what kind of festival you were talking about. You see, being a chef, I knew what brats were, and you are correct - bratwurst. Not many people know what brats are, except for un-discilplined, snobby, non-mannered kids.

If the festival WASN'T so far, from PA, I might just be in attendance. Oh well, we have some local festivals too. Enjoy yourself, and tell your kids that I am 'cheering' them on to 'break the record'.

Chef Denny

Amy:

I know how your husband feels. I've been there and done that. And I know the pain he is experiencing.

After my stroke, I was working in a retirement community, at the buffet line. I was closing up, and when I lifted out a container of 185

Hi Pam:

CONGRATULATIONS !! You are 'discovering' that you are still 'creative. And having your own apartment, where you can fix it up 'to suit you', it will allow this creativeity to 'bloom'.

I liked the part where you said you can find 'stuff' at a yard sale/ garage sale / getting-rid-of-my-junk sale, and find a NEW USE for it. That shows creativity is still present. Just because we had a stroke, we don't have to give up the things we enjoyed, we just need to find a way that we can still do them, just differently.

Keep up your fine work Pam.

Denny

Hi Kim:

Thanks for the sweet poem. It brought tears to my eyes

SOoooooooooooooo I'm going to return the favor:

On Strokenet is a lady named Kim

who started writing poems on a whim.

People thought she was crazy

but she proved her brain isn't hazy,

although some people's view is dim.

Chef Denny

Hi Pam:

I am so excited that you are getting your own 'domain'. The biggest 'comeback' for a stroke survivor is their feeling of independence. Your new apartment sounds wonderful, with such a view of a beautiful, picturesque, serene view. Just be careful moving stuff, I don't need you 'over-exerting' yourself. I'm not being 'bossy' I am just showing my concern.

Denny

Vicki:

These are for you. I'm so proud of you for your husband's birthday party. I KNOW what 'torture' you went thru to plan, make arrangements, attend, and whatever else. You did fine. As I always said "I do my best and God does the rest."

On the good side, were you pleased with the people that attended (regardless of their reaction)? Were you pleased with the food provided, mugs that were made, choice of beer and wine? Was there ANY detail that was left undone, on your part? Yes, planning a party IS hard. It takes alot out of you because stroke survivors DO GET TIRED ! ! !

As far as your relatives, your sister-in-law had no compassion for you. Your brother-in-law was just as bad. MAYBE they were feeling guilty BECAUSE they PROMISED to help, but didn't. Then when they attended, and saw how you 'put your heart and soul' into this party, THEY FELT PRETTY GUILTY. So, you should give them your thanks, in this way --

Yes Vicki, the party is over. Now you can relax. Fill the tub with some Calgon, light a few candles, put on some soft music. And think of how your husband has the most thoughtful wife.

Sweet Dreams,

Denny

If I Cook it, They Will Come

Kimberly, I think that would be an excellant 'gathering'. We could even get NBC to make it into a 'Reality' Show. The Stroke 'Survivors' who followed Gilligan to a 'lost island' that became 'Fantasy Island'.

Yes, I'll bring my 'wild game' cookbooks, my 'portable' kitchen, and I will bring my FAVORITE kitchen magnet. " Tonight's Menu: Choice of two - Take it or Leave it". However, if I do the cooking, I AIN'T doing the dishes.

Kimberly, what time are we 'meeting' at the docks? I can hear the skipper now "All aboard, have your tickets ready.' OOPS, that's a conductor.

It will be fun. Count me in Kimberly. I can make anything 'taste like chicken'.

Chef Denny

Thanks Cinder. I apparently typed in the wrong URL.

Oh well, it must of been a 'stroke moment'

Chef Denny

Hi Asha:

Vegetarian recipes 'ey. Well, let me suggest the following. Under the 'title bar' at the top, is a white space where you can 'type' in recipe names. Just type in Vegetarian Recipes and 'hit' enter. I just 'did a search and I came up with 63,067 different sites to look at.

Also, being a vegetarian, I'm not sure what type you are. A 'full-fledged' vegetarian, where you eat no meat, nothing that comes from an animal or fowl (meaning milk/milk products or eggs) or if you eat some or all the products, but NO meat. I think by doing a recipe search, you can 'pick and choose' what your family would like or dislike.

I hope I have answered your question. In the meantime .......................

Keep on Cookin'

Chef Denny

Hi Janice:

Just wanted to share my 'fish story.' I'm sure you'll enjoy it, just don't fall off your chair.

When I was a little boy, my dad 'made' a fishing rod for me. Hey, I was 11 years old and my dad could make anything. Anyways, he made it from a tree branch, about four foot long, and some string (not sure what type) and he tied a fishing hook on the end.

I was fishing below a small dam and I had a 'bite'. I 'yanked' on the 'rod' and the fish landed on the stream bank. it 'flopped' about three times on the grass, back in the water, and away it swam. DRATS !!!!!! It was close to 12-inches long.

So, that was the one that 'got away' and I'm sticking to my story

I found a recipe, but you will have to look under my blogs. I didn't want to 'post' it twice. Hope you understand, and happy fishin'.

Cindy:

I was 'moved' by your Blog. Yes, life is a good thing to love. And I 'marvel' at your initial response to when you 'heard it -- "I Love Life"'.

I 'know' where it came from, and I know the Author who 'planted it' in your thoughts. It WAS God. Don't take me the wrong way, I'm not getting 'religious' on you. I just know from personal experience, that God 'speaks' to me, when I am 'down-on-myself'.

The important thing IS that when you started to say 'I Love Life', at different times, or when it came to mind, you 'felt' a whole lot better, like , yes I had a stroke, but I ain't giving up hope. I can do things in spite of my circumstances. Cindy, you know what I'm trying to say.

Thanks for sharing this, and here , these are for you.

ChefDenny

Hi Michael:

Yes you did beat me to a recipe. That's okay. It doesn't bother me. Your recipe DOES sound good. I might just have to try it sometime. As far as it sounding weird, DON'T worry about it. Some of the best recipes were created just this way. People 'experiment' and then they 'tweak' it a little bit. I know that I have 'created' one or two this way - the ingredients sounded weird being put together, but the 'end results' weren't all that bad.

Keep up the good work.

Denny

Hi Pam:

I'm really sorry that you like to 'burn all your bridges behind you.' I've read most of your blogs and this is the one that I think most needs my response. (The one about God and Easter REALLY TORE ME APART, but I won't go there).

I also realize that I DON'T have the problems that MOST 'post-stroke survivors' face. HOWEVER, I think, and this is just my opinion that you might need to 'keep some bridges' just in case you might be 'put in a situation' where you might need to 'retreat.' In the same way, you 'don't want to bite the hand that feeds you.'

Yes, I've had friends that 'have turned their backs on me.' Yes, I've had people that think I was too young to have a stroke. But, by God's great and mighty love for me, I've 'learned' to 'keep my chin up, chest out, and live my life as if today might be my last. DANG, didn't mean to put that in, but hey, I AIN'T taking it out either.

I'm just saying that I am 'living' my life with the 'hand that I was dealt.' If people don't like how I react to situations, try to encourage them or try and 'walk in their shoes', the problem definitely ain't mine !!

Hopefully, I didn't 'add more fuel' to my 'burning bridge'.

ChefDenny