The Continuing Adventures of Cauliflower Ear

I got up yesterday morning and my ear was worse, not better.  I called my doctor, who couldn’t see me for a couple of days and thinking that I wouldn’t be able to endure the pain for much longer, without really injuring someone else,  I decided to try Solantic, the new urgent care facility here in town. I got there around noon and there was only one other person in the waiting room, which was immaculate and very large and I was appreciative of all that space because the other person waiting was clearly coughing up a lung.  The young women doing admissions were very nice and when I asked why they needed my social security number if they had my insurance information, they agreed that it was unecessary; which is good because I have issues with my SS# being tossed about willy-nilly.  I did notice that they shared an odd look, but I have come to expect that when I get all funny about sharing too much information…

Anyway.

I sat down and didn’t wait too long before I was escorted to a room where they took my “vitals”.  My blood pressure was elevated, but it always is the first time they take it, because hello?  I hate going to the doctor and I’d been in pain for two days. After we discussed that and I assured the nurse that I had very recently had an entire physical which I’d passed with flying colors, because I’m a bit of an over acheiver and couldn’t have it any other way, she left me to wait for the doctor.

After about 15 minutes, the doctor came in, looked in my ear and started to make noises that were rather unnerving.  She invited my 11 year old daughter to look and I was a bit more concerned when Haley yelled, “Oh my God, gross!”  Apparently I have a severe bacterial infection in my middle ear, which is pretty serious.  The course of action my new health care provider decided on was an antibiotic shot in the butt (which wasn’t so bad except for the burning part), a course of antibiotic ear drops and just for good measure a hydrogen peroxide earbath that might be in direct violation of the Geneva Conventions.  It was so painful, you can’t believe it.

I came home and got into my pajamas which I’m still wearing (although I’ve got fresh ones on now and have taken a shower), I’ve been hopped up on 800mg Ibuprofen and have been administering the ear drops religiously. I’m better now than I was last night and it no longer looks like I have a goose egg hidden in my cheek, but I have a feeling it’s going to be a couple of days till I’m actually functioning properly.

I would absolutely recommend the folks at Solantic in Ocala, they were professional and friendly and the only complaint I might have is that when I asked if something was going to hurt, more than one of them said, “Oh it won’t hurt me a bit”, which in retrospect is kind of funny, but sort of made me cry a little in my oh-so-sensitive state.

My Achilles Ear

I have another ear infection.  No, that’s not right.  I may have an alleged ear infection. See, you can’t really tell and they could prescribe anti-biotics, but I hate anti-biotics and think we over use them.  If I have an obvious infection that I can’t seem to shake, I’ll consider them, but other than that, I don’t want them.  Even when they prescribe something they can’t be sure if it’s the anti-biotic that got rid of it, or if whatever it is just left when it ran its course.  Unfortunately, I get these a lot.  I’m a 44 year old woman who is prone to agonizing, swollen, fluid filled, ear… situations. And I have to tell you, it has made me a real advocate for babies with earaches born to parents who don’t get them. It’s excruciating.

Last night I felt it coming on.  My ear started to sound squishy and I could feel a certain warmth deep down in the ear canal.  Uhoh.  I went to bed about 12:40 and fell asleep easily although I remember my last thought being something about how it sounded like the ocean in my ear.  At 5:40 this morning, the pain and the pressure woke me up. I’m so familiar with waking up like that - I hate it.   I’m useless today. There’s so much fluid in my head and everything is loud, but I’m having trouble differentiating between the noises. If I lower the television, I can’t hear it at all, but it’s like some sort of audio depth perception problem.  I can’t read because I’m in too much pain to concentrate on a book, and I’m not really sick, so I don’t need to sleep.  I’m just miserable and bored and cranky and hurting.

I put some homeopathic ear drops in the ear.  It’s a glycerin drop and it feels like a thick oily post nasal drip, except it’s coming from my ear, not my nose.  I’ve had warm compresses on it on and off all day.  It still really hurts.  Another lovely side effect is that my equilibrium is a bubble off plumb.  So yeah, I’m seriously useless today.  Jim’s supposed to be off at 6 tonight, and he’ll bring home dinner. but I’m not counting on his actual arrival at any set time.  In the meantime I’ve enlisted my children’s help.  The upside is that it’s really nice that these kids actually like taking care of me. It’s funny.

Any other ideas out there for homeopathic ear ache remdies?  You know, that won’t make me lose my hearing?  Thanks.

Korean Short Ribs over Jasmine Rice and Peas

Last week short ribs were on sale, so I searched for the best way to make them in the crock pot due to the Air Conditioning Debacle of ‘09. My first stop on any crock pot search is always Stephanie and she had a great recipe that she got from Stefania.  I made it and it was delicious!  I served it with cole slaw, because I’m obsessed with coleslaw, and it was amazing.  However I had a lot of delicious liquid left over and couldn’t help but think that the next time, I would make rice so that I could pour this heavenly liquid over the rice.  Here’s what I did:

2 packages short ribs (total 10 pieces)
1 cup soy sauce
1 cup brown sugar
1 T. red pepper flakes

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3 cups Jasmine rice
4 cups water
1 bag frozen peas
2 sweet onions diced
3 T. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

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Sear the short ribs

When done, transfer to crock pot and add brown sugar

and soy sauce and pepper flakes and stir to combine

Set crock pot for 6 hours on low

When there’s 30 minutes left, heat a dutch oven and add Olive oil.  When heated, add onion and saute for 10 minutes or until translucent.

How many of my recipes have this exact picture of the sauteing onion???

Add rice

and saute until rice is pearly

Add the water and bring to a boil.  Lower the heat and allow to cook for 20 minutes or according to package directions.  Meanwhile, prepare the peas according to package directions. When the rice is done, add peas and fluff.  Spoon rice/pea mixture into bowl and add a couple of ribs.  Spoon sauce over ribs and rice.  Delicious!

Pasta with Goat Cheese, Tomato and Arugula

Do you like goat cheese? A lot?  No?  Then move along, there’s nothing for you here.

Still here?  Good.

1 lb. penne rigate (or anything you like really)
4 cloves garlic chopped
1 lemon
1 bunch arugula, washed
4 med. tomatoes, diced (or a pint of cherry tomatoes, halved would be terrific too)
3 T. Olive Oil
4 oz. goat cheese

Put a large pot of water up to boil. Cook pasta according to package directions.

In a large non stick pan heat the oil, add the garlic and saute for 2 minutes, add the chopped tomatoes and stir, allow to cook for 5-7 minutes until they start to break down.

Add the goat cheese and the juice of the lemon and stir frequently.  Lower the heat if necessary to make sure that the goat cheese doesn’t burn.

Drain the pasta and transfer it back to the original pot, but keep it off the heat.  Add the arugula and then pour the goat cheese sauce over the top.  Toss to coat (I find tongs work best for this).  Plate and eat.

This was delicious, but very rich and next time I think I’d thin it with a little stock, or maybe some wine.

Mango Orange Smoothie

Sunshine in a glass!
So we all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, right? Well, I have a problem with breakfast. I don’t like to eat in the morning. I can’t find any way around it. So, even though I know I need to do it, I don’t. Until now.
I have found a great way to make sure that I get a decent breakfast. It’s easy, it’s fast and it’s delicious.

1 serving frozen mango (about 11 pieces - shown here)
12-16 oz. Orange Juice
2 heaping tablespoons Silken Tofu

Add all ingredients to blender

Blend on medium until smooth.  Pour into tall glass with a bendy straw (’cause I said so) and enjoy!

Breakfast of champions, yo.

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