Cooking to Combat Cancer 2 - An Event

Where has the winter gone? It seems as though Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Easter were one week after the other! Now, April is here, knocking on our door. I am jumping this event off a little late, but better late than never!

Last year, I hosted the first annual Cooking to Combat Cancer. Not knowing many people who have not been touched by cancer, my grandmother’s battle with pancreatic cancer was my first introduction to this ghastly disease. A life changing experience for our family, it really wasn’t a battle since, once diagnosed, it was only a few months when we lost her. Its a time in my life I will never forget, and it still causes raucous feeling in my stomach.

My Gram

Then, with friends of my parents, members of the community, I became a little too familiar with cancer when I was diagnosed with Thyroid cancer in April 2001. Although I am seven years out, I don’t think there is a day that goes by that I don’t think about it. Specifically, my morning ritual of taking my thyroid medication stands as a pretty significant reminder.

I wish I could say there weren’t a lot of foodies who have battled/are battling some form of cancer. Truth is, there are too many. Other than checking on the latest, donating to the cause, participating in Relay for Life, and cooking for Barbara’s LiveSTRONG with a Taste of Yellow event, this is one small way I can continue to promote awareness.

While my gram is always first in my heart and mind with these events, this year will also be carried out for my long-time friend Ken, who was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer and my colleague/friend, Dr. E, who was diagnosed with Breast Cancer a month or two ago and who is just began her Chemo regimen.

Last year’s round up brought about an outstanding twenty-five participants. Let's do it again! As you're cooking over the next couple of weeks, utilize recipes which include ingredients that help the body fight cancer. In short? Healthy recipes . Mayo Clinic Recipes is a great place to look, as well as the places online Kalyn suggested last year - including this list of Cancer Fighting Foods and Spices, this list of 11 Cancer Fighting Foods, and Prevention Magazine's list of articles about cancer fighting foods. I also find this online Thyroid Cookbook a great resource, as there were several occasions I had to follow a low-iodine diet.

I want to make sure this event doesn’t take away from A Taste of Yellow (deadline 4/19). So, this year’s deadline for Cooking to Combat Cancer 2 is not until the end of the month, the date I was diagnosed. Please post your cancer combating culinary creation (that is for this event only), with a link back to this posting, no later than Tuesday, April 29, 2008. After you post, please send an email to me - ccc2event (at) gmail (dot) com - with the following information:

• your name
• your location
• the name of your blog
• the name of your recipe
• a permalink to your post
• a picture (if you'd like)

Happy Cooking!