Leighton's Fight
Leighton is a little boy who was diagnosed with Juvenile Monocyclictic Leukaemia (JMML) at only eight months old. He has been in and out of treatment ever since and I have recently been keeping up with his progress and his mummy's brave efforts. It is remarkable that someone so young has so much strength and I thought "What can little old me do to help this little man?".
The idea I came up with, if I do a blog post making a recipe with Leighton's favourite foods in the link it to his facebook page, I could raise awareness of JMML and encourage people to buy his wrist bands to raise money, particularly for the Birmingham Children's Hospital which his Mum, Zoe, Is doing a tandem sky dive for. Good luck.
So let's give this local lad (Worcester) a little hand.
And as September is national Childhood Cancer Month, why not try this little lad's recipe or send a donation. His Mum has the most respect from me for fundraising and taking care of her son at the same time. A true inspiration for mums and it put a lot of things in prospective for me.
Facebook:
Tandem Sky Dive Sponser Page:
PayPal for Wrist Bands:
If you wish to purchase a wrist band they are £2 each plus £1 p&p for everyone you buy. And once you have made the payment please personal message your delivery details. The pictures below and right are of the wrist bands.
My Task
Leighton, from what I have gathered, sometimes loose appetite during treatment, so when he does eat it has to be something he likes and knows is going to taste great. Mum has told me that grapes and broccoli have always been his favourites before and during treatment. And that he prefers softer foods as his teeth are currently sensitive. Then I have to consider my angle, tasty, lots of energy for treatment and playing and key vitamins to encourage growth and weight gain. Oh, and something quick and easy that mum can do after a long day. Easy you say? Well it's taken me near on a week thinking about this one so not as easy as it initially sounds.
My Conclusion
Leighton likes broccoli? Then broccoli he shall have! I wish broccoli was one of my sons favourites. So, here it is ... main course: broccoli cheese with chunky wedges and for pudding mixed grapes and evaporated milk. Yes, I believe all fruit tastes amazing in evap milk. Personal weakness.
Broccoli Cheese & Wedges
Yes it is basically coliflour cheese without that white vegetable my son has a distinct hatred for. So this idea of mine has turned out pretty good for little Tyler. The broccoli contains loads of key vitamins and is also a great source of iron for keeping our little men strong. The sauce that will go over it will provide plenty of calcium and vitamin D as well as protein for muscle growth and muscle repair. The potato wedges are jam packed with carbohydrates to keep those mess makers going ten to the dozen as well as a surprising high amount of vitamin C!
Ingredients
- 5 tbsp. broccoli (Frozen £1 a bag, Iceland)
- 1 pint Whole Milk (£1, Iceland)
- 3oz Cheddar Cheese (£1, Iceland)
- 2 White Potatoes (Large 4kg bag, £3, Iceland)
- 1oz unsalted butter (£1, Iceland)
- 1oz plain flour (£1, Iceland)
The Not-So Nitty Gritty
First, for the cheese sauce. If keeping on the hob while the broccoli and wedges cook, stir regularly to avoid burning as cheese sauce burns as quick as it is made.
- Melt the butter in the sauce pan and sift in the plain flour.
- Stir in the milk gradually to slowly build up the texture.
- Simmer for 10 minutes.
- Stir in the cheese, allow to melt and serve as soon as this step in done.
Now, for the main bit.
- I am putting the broccoli into boiling water for longer than usual (10 minutes) as Leighton is better with softer foods at the minute.
- That aside, I will peeled and cute into wedge shapes the white potatoes.
- These need part boiling for 15 minutes.
- Once the potatoes have been boiled put on a baking tray with a drizzle of oil and put in the oven at 180 degrees for approx. 15 minutes. Check after ten to be on the safe side.
And there is your main meal!
The Easy Peasy Pudding
Get your red and white grapes, I would say 6 - 7 of each. If your little one is below 1 year they might prefer them pealing as they are easier to chew then, I always had to peel Tyler's, much to my frustration! Wash the grapes and dry off with kitchen towel.
Put the grapes in a small pudding bowl and add that lovely sweet evaporated milk. Then Serve, bliss!
Unfortunately, Tyler is off grapes at the moment.... so no picture and no review of that, but I love it!
What My Little Monster Made of It
Loved it! We ended up in a bit of mess with the cheese sauce, I might use a bit less on his plate next time but he ate all his greens for once! So I would class this meal a success as he has had good vitamins and minerals and he is full up for the night so he will sleep brilliantly.
More Information on JMML
JMML is serious chronic leukaemia (cancer of the blood) that mainly affects children under the age of 4 years old.
JMML only accounts for 1 - 2% of childhood leukaemias.
Most children with this condition are male.
Most children are diagnosed around the age of 2 years old.
Hope you like it Leighton!
Love From Hollie & Ty :)
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