Hi sue that’s great thanks I’ll call doctor today & see if I can get something, I had a lovely day y’day Brian took me for my b’day pressie & he decided on a pandora Bracelet starting with a pink charm & after every treatment he’s going to add another charm so by the end the journey will be marked on my wrist lovely thought 
Hopefully this time next year my 52nd b’day will be far happier than this one ? Xxx
Haha thank you Xxxx
Ha thanks bella it’s the burn more than burps away to call doc & get something for it ? Xxxx
I know !! Just called doc he’s gonna call me bk this morning so hopefully get something to help.
Just thought I wld share a lovely act of kindness I received this morning … I had gone to see a hairdresser b4 chemo re nhs wigs (still on going) anyway he texted me last Friday offering to wash & dry my hair for me, I declined. This morning I was feeling/looking particularly rubbish (hair is like candy floss) so I texted him asking if he was free anytime today would he be able to wash & dry my hair … He texted back right away saying his local salon is closed today but he’s happy to pick me up & drive me to his other salon 30 mins away & sort out my hair all for free !!! I was & am very humbled at such kindness wtat a nice man so keep the faith ladies there are still angels out there … Lots of love
Bella yr a genius Xxxx
Got tabs from doc for heartburn so pick up later … Onwards & upwards ? Xxxx
Bring on the soup recipes I don’t have soup maker tho so just be in a pot Xxxx
Hi bella thanks I’ll wait on recipes hope pre chemo goes ok let me know how u get on ? Xxx
Celery and Cashew Nut Soup
Utterly divine soup. I’ve included the garnish although to be honest, I can never be bothered to do that. Packed with protein and lot of veg. Surprisingly creamy given that there’s no cream in it. From The New Covent Garden Soup Book
Serves 6
75g butter / dairy free spread
2 heads of celery, roughly chopped
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
150g unsalted cashew nuts
1.5 litres of vegetable stock
To Garnish
50g unsalted cashew nuts, chopped
celery leaves
Melt the butter and cook the celery and garlic gently for 10 mins in a covered saucepan, without colouring. Grind the nuts finely in a food processor and add to the pan along with the stock. Cover, bring to the boil and simmer for about 30 minutes until the vegetables are tender. Cool a little, then purée in a liquidiser. Pass the soup through a sieve into a clean saucepan.
For the garnish, put the cashew nuts into a frying pan over a high heat. Shake frequently until the nuts brown. Cool.
Reheat the soup gently and serve garnished with toasted chopped cashew nuts and chopped celery leaves.
Creamy Potato, Parsnip & Butterbean Soup
Substantial soup that really fills you up. I’ve never made this dairy free but I see no reason not to experiment which some of the milk alternatives if you want to avoid dairy.
1 tbsp Marg
1 large onion, chopped
3-4 garlic cloves, crushed
3 medium potatoes, chopped
1 15floz can butter beans
1 pint water
1 ½ stock cubes
3 bay leaves
Pinch oregano
1 tbsp lemon juice
½ pint milk
S& P to taste
Melt the marg, add onion and garlic, fry gently till soft. Add potatoes & parsnips and stir. Add butter beans with stock cubes, water, butter liquid, herbs & lemon juice. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer for 20-30 mins till soft. Remove bay leaves, add milk, blend then season to taste.
Rice Chicken Pesto
Not soup but an incredibly easy dinner for those utterly exhausted days. It even freezes well (cook for the first 40mins then remove from oven, add tomatoes, cool & freeze. Reheat by cooking for 30mins at 180c/gas )
Serves 4
6oz long grain rice
8 Chicken thighs
1 pt stock
1 pack of cherry tomatoes (weight unimportant, whatever is to hand)
1 jar green pesto
Pre heat oven to 180c / gas 4
Put rice in casserole
Place thighs on top
Mix together and pour over stock & pesto
Cook for approx. 40 mins.
Add tomatoes.
Cook for further 20mins.
Serve with salad
Bella Thank you for recipes they sound delicious XXXX
More Soup. This time with a photo! No photos for the others I’m afraid, not sure they exist. This is from Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall’s Cook on the Wild Side. Nettles are incredibly nutritious and very delicious.
Nettle Soup
Be careful to pick where dogs don’t pee!
Serves 4
1/3 carrier bag full of nettles, tops or young leaves
Knob of butter
1 medium onion, finely sliced
1 large carrot, chopped
2 sticks celery, chopped
1 large potato, diced
1 large garlic clove, crushed
500-750 ml chicken stock
pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
Good dollop of crème fraîche plus extra for garnish
salt & pepper
Garnish: fresh chives, parsley
Using gloves, pick over nettles and wash thoroughly. Discard tough outer stalks.
Melt butter in a large pan and sweat the onion, carrot, celery and garlic till soft but not brown. Add the potato and cook till edges soften. Add stock and pile in the nettles. Bring to the boil and simmer for 5-10mins, until tender. Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg.
Purée the soup. Return to clean pan, heat through without boiling. Check seasoning, serve. Garnish with swirl of crème fraîche and a generous sprinkling of chopped herbs.
I’m on the celery & cashew soup & chicken pesto sounds delicious xxx
Morning ladies little tip … If yr experiencing dry mouth/gums fresh pineapple is good it contains its own saliva producing enzymes also good to freeze & suck chunks if mouth is a bit sore, also always have some sweets in yr bag starburst are a good one get the juices flowing & LOTS OF WATER & keep a bottle with you sending love & hugs
Hi sue I know I was spoilt rotten it was a lovely day from start to finish & I build up my red blood cells with 2 glasses of red wine … Excellent for iron build up so win win Xxxx
Soup making Belle with an e here 
Feeling more like Lolly making Belle, actually, as I’ve been making tonnes - just got some lolly moulds & thought it would be a nice way of upping the fruit & fluids, soothing the mouth and having a healthy treat. Lolly moulds not necessary - paper cups & sticks work just fine. Happy to post recipes if useful? Honestly, you’d think I was obsessed with food. Oh, wait …
On the subject of lymphodema briefly, at my pre chemo chat yesterday, the nurse wasn’t over keen on the idea of never using my affected side for cannulation. She said they’d avoid it for the first few cycles but thereafter regarded it as fair game. I was a bit taken aback so didn’t challenge her. The reality is that I’ve only had 2 lymph nodes removed but even so - what d’you think? I was wondering about contacting my breast care nurses?
B x
ps. definitely don’t delete!
Hi bella yr chemo date hasn’t bn set yet so I wld go for it ! I assume sabe feet & hands wld be same ? Just b4 chemo dark normal polish on both with acetone free remover is also fine Xxx
Good juicing for swelling is
1/2 med fresh beetroot
1 Apple
1 pear
2 sml carrots
2 sticks celery
If too earthy add an extra Granny Smith ? My face etc was very puffy after chemo I had this juice & it’s great fir lymphatic drainage hope it helps xxx
Chicken Soup
We all may have read about Chicken SOup for the Soul or the Jewish Penicillin - so here is my take on it.
based on 500ml organic chicken stock. I made up a load of stock and decanted into 500ml containers into the freezer.
Simply add a
1 x diced carrot
1 x handfull of very small pasta shapes - I use either Stellette from De Cecco (7 mins) or Lubella (Tesco - 3 mins)
100g left over chicken or chicken sandwich bits (plain)
1 x handful of frozen peas
1 small pinch of sugar
Adjust cooking times to allow for carrots and pasta are cooked adequately (about 10-15 mins for the carrot). Season with Salt and Pepper, if required - to taste.
Bon Appétit!
