Broccoli Salad with Creamy Avocado Dressing

This salad is crunchy, filling, and just plain yum, yummy! Be sure to use only organic ingredients!

Salad Ingredients:

• 1 pound broccoli heads, cut into small pieces
• 1 small head red cabbage, cleaned and shredded*
• 1/2 pound unpeeled, grated rainbow carrots
• 1 box grape tomatoes or 1 pound red grapes, quartered
• 1/2 cup toasted seeds (pumpkin or sunflower)

Dressing Ingredients:

• 2 avocados, peeled, with pits removed
• 1/4 cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons pink Himalayan salt
• 1 Tablespoon garlic

In a glass bowl, mix together the salad ingredients. In a separate glass bowl, mix together the dressing ingredients; make sure the avocado is well smashed and creamy. Then add the dressing mixture to the salad mixture and toss. Refrigerator for a few hours before serving to let the flavors "bloom".

Store leftovers in refrigerator in a Mason jar for up to two days.

* How to Shred Cabbage

Fear of Death

I've been thinking about the fear that cancer invokes. Because once the diagnosis is in, once the cancer has been confirmed, once the Western medical community provides you with its diagnosis and statistics for survival, it is ultimately your decision how you will deal with your completely understandable and legitimate fears.

There is a lot to fear. Your life has just been turned upside down! Will you need surgery? Can you trust your doctor, or should you get a second opinion? Will your family and friends be able to "handle" the diagnosis? There are financial fears. There are logistical fears -- getting to and from doctor appointments, diagnostic tests, chemo sessions, and surgery. Are your "affairs" in order -- wills, trusts, bank accounts, and other assets? And the really BIG fear -- am I going to die?

About Me

So who is Melinda? The voice behind the Colon Cancer blog?

I'm happy you asked and I'll be glad to tell you.

I'm a 3rd generation California girl, born in Martinez in Northern California (like Green Bay Packer Richard Rodgers, whom I've met in person and have a terrible crush on), raised in Sierra Madre and then Diamond Bar in Southern California. The thing about growing up in Southern California in the 1960's and 1970's is that you honestly believed there was no where else in the world as desirable or as wonderful a place to live. And why not? The Beach Boys lauded us, the Mamas and Papas dreamed of us, and the Eagles recorded our decadence and named us the place "You can check out any time you like / But you can never leave!" Oh, how wonderful to be in California then!

Writing Through Cancer from Diagnosis to Recovery

So grateful the De Pere Community Center

has agreed to host this class.

If you're in the Green Bay, WI, are please join us!