My last radiation treatment was day after Thanksgiving 1997. I only had my 12 front teeth so chewing things like meat was difficult. By spring most of my taste was back except for sweets like chocolate. Then along came summer and all the goodies that go with it, one of the few good reasons for living in NJ. So here are some of the things I enjoyed that first summer and still do.

It's asparagus season. Make lots of hollandaise sauce. It's really easy. If you need a recipe, I'll post. With this, I usually had a samll piece of salmon fillet. Take spoonful of hollandaise sauce and a piece of asparagus or salmon. Should go down real easy. You'll be eating these in almost equal parts.

It's also strawberry and about to be blueberry season. I clean these up, add a few tablespoons of sugar and refrigerate for a few hours. Then serve in a bowl and pour heavy cream over them. Delicious. In August I do the same with peaches or have them on cereal if you can chew it.

Come July we will have corn and tomatoes. The corn with lots of butter was easy. If you haven't got front teeth, cut off the cob. Tomatoes, because of the acid, were a little tricky. As long as I stayed away from dressings with vinegar I could eat them. I used blue cheese that was low in vinegar for a few years but I'm certain you can find others that work if you sample.

Then there are the cantalopes and melons which I could also tolerate. Watermelon, but I don't like it.

I' certain there is more, but that is a few ideas to get started with. Your local produce usually is very moist so easy to eat. Anything Citrus or acid will be a problem for a while, so sample slowly.

Take care,
Eileen

Great post, Eileen. Even if you're stuck with liquids, like me, there's lots you can do with summer fruits. Make smoothies! And even if your mouth is sensitive like mine, some of them--especially peaches,cantalopes and nectarines-- are very easy on the mouth even if it is sore. There are also some yummy chilled soups you can make in the summer, I'll see if I can post some recipes.

Nelie

Link to a quick basic recipe for chilled cucumber soup:

http://www.cooks.com/rec/doc/0,1848,159169-240206,00.html

I've made a blueberry soup pretty close to this recipe. I'd be careful with the cinnamon and ginger if your mouth is still sensitive.

http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/spice_blueberry_soup.html

and if you have an ice cream make, there is nothing like fresh peach ice cream!

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Peach-Ice-Cream/Detail.aspx

Just today, I saw a recipe on NPR for cold cantalope soup. Yum. Well, except that I would not put the rum in (my mouth burns if I put anything in it with alcohol like that) and I would change the orange juice (which also stings my mouth) to pear or peach or maybe mango juice. I still think it sounds good and another way to appreciate summer's bounty!

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91555071&ps=bb1

Speaking of NPR and summer bounty again, today they have recipes for FOUR creamy summer soups (corn, berry, tomato and squash).
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93135535&ps=bb1

The only one that would give me problems, because of mouth sensitivity, is the berry one--I definitely couldn't take the cranberry and lemon juice and if you are someone who still has mucositis of any kind you may want to beware of those ingredients too. Of course tomatoes are acidic as well though you can get very sweet nonacidic ones at some farmer's markets. Sure makes me want to head for my loca produce stand.

Oh yeah, they also have some general tips on making soups in a blender, most of which I have already workd out for myself but they might be useful to some of you here.......

Nothing I like better on hot day than a cold soup, cucumber and vichysoisse being two of my favorites and two I was able to enjoy the first summer after radiation. My recipes are lots of work but I'm certain you can find simpler ones online. The ones you posted look tasty and simple. Give them a try.

Take care,
Eileen

yes, please post hollandaise sauce. This may be a dumb question, but I have heard that the sore throat gets so bad some people do not want to eat. Is organic baby food an option? I am sure my sister will try pureeing fresh organic food as well, but just wondered. Does putting lemon juice on food get too acidic? THANKS FOR ANY RECIPES FOR WHEN THE THROAT IS TOO SORE.

Lemon would burn like heck if you have any mouth sores at all or have recently finished treatment.

For a sore mouth/throat try banana yogurt, canned peaches, chocolate milk, soup broths, warm tea with honey, and or course milkshakes/smoothies.