Pink Kitchen

It’s hard to see the bright side when everything seems uphill. Breast cancer is more than the disease itself…we also have to deal with hair loss, body part loss, and way too many other types of losses.

But as for going bald, there is one benefit – you get to try all kinds of short hairstyles that you may never have had the courage to try. Since you’re bald, you need to start from scratch anyway – so you may as well have fun with it, right?

I’ve always loved Ashley Judd‘s short hairstyles, particularly in High Crimes and Double Jeopardy. So as my hair was growing in, I decided to explore my inner Ashley Judd. Why not? We have the same face shape (…although she has a much better nose…). And I found that I loved my hair that way. But I didn’t keep it that way for long – I was in a hurry to get my hair back to the way it was before my life was interrupted by cancer.

Now my hair is past my shoulders again. And I like it a lot….except… lately I’ve felt the calling of my inner Ashley Judd again. So I find myself torn between going short and staying long. And while this may seem like a very minor problem in the grand scheme of things, for some reason it’s really been stressing me out.

Finally I figured it out…or rather, my 12-year-old daughter did:

“Mom, why are you stressing about this if you know you look good with that haircut? Does it remind you of going through chemo?”

BINGO. It reminds me of going through chemo – and every hurdle that went with it. Losing body parts. Losing hair. Losing energy. Basically, losing my former identity.

I like long hair. But maybe my strong need to grow my hair back was subconsciously a strong need to grow my femininity back…grow my life back.

Now I’m really leaning toward the haircut – because I’m starting to realize something. I will never be the girl I was before cancer. But in some ways, that’s o.k. The pre-BC girl was often afraid to express herself – and she put up with way more BS than she should have. However, the post-BC girl has a zero-tolerance policy for BS. Why? Because life is way too short.

And, hey – unlike my body parts, I can always re-grow my hair.

Why stop there? – I can re-grow my life.

Thanks, Ashley.

~~~~~

Since sweetness and change are my goals today, our featured recipe is a dessert. The ‘new me’ avoids sugar to keep cancer away. But that doesn’t mean I have to avoid sweetness in my life altogether!

This is one of the easiest healthy desserts you will ever make…and it’s simple to change it up to suit your own taste buds.
Below is the recipe for Chocolate Mint Creme. To make Lemon Creme or Cherry Vanilla Creme instead, scroll to the bottom.

Lisa’s Fabulous Creme Dessert

(2 servings)
1 can of Thai Kitchen Coconut Milk (Important: DO NOT GET LIGHT COCONUT MILK – it won’t work in this recipe)
1 packet of NuStevia
2 tbsp. cocoa powder
1 tsp. natural mint extract

Place the unopened can of coconut milk in the fridge at least 2 hours before you prepare this. Yep. Just stick the can in the fridge.

Later when you open the can, you will see that the thick creme has become somewhat solid at the top of the can, while the water remains at the bottom of the can. Scoop all of the creme out carefully with a spoon. You only want the creme, not the coconut water.

The next step is up to you. You can mix all ingredients together by hand, or you can put everything in a blender. Both ways taste delicious, but the blender really makes the creme smooth.

Garnish with fresh mint if desired. DONE!

Refrigerate until ready to eat – unless you’re ready now

PS – Don’t throw out that coconut water! Save it for a smoothie.

Lemon Creme:
Omit cocoa and mint extract. Instead, add 2 tbsp. lemon juice, the zest of 1 lemon, and natural yellow food coloring (optional).

Cherry Vanilla Creme:
Omit cocoa and mint extract. Instead, add 1 tsp. almond extract and 1/4 c. black cherry fruit spread (w/no sugar added).