Beef liver: How to make it taste good

In my quest to rebuild my immune system, my doctor suggested that I eat beef liver. I was aghast at the thought of eating liver. I’d been deeply scarred as a child with the smell of liver cooking on the stove top. My mother, who was anemic, regularly cooked beef and chicken livers to boost her iron levels. She also bought other organ meat, like cow’s tongue, intestines, and other unsightly things and stored them in our freezer. This awful, smelly experience went on for years and I vowed I would never, ever cook liver for my own children nor for myself.

Now my doctor was recommending that I eat liver. It was time for me to get over my hang up and research how to make liver taste good. I went to Whole Foods and asked the butcher for pasture-feed, hormone-free beef liver. Sure enough, they had it available in the frozen department. I bought a pound of it and put in the passenger seat along side of me as I drove home. I kept staring over at the liver and hoping that it would jump out of my car and then I’d have an excuse not to prepare it! No such luck.

I checked with several friends on the best way to cook liver. The consensus was to sauté it with onions. However, this is how my mother prepared it and it just stunk bad. Finally, a neighbor recommended sautéing it with onions, garlic, and bacon. She reassured me that the bacon flavor would kill the smell and make the liver taste good.

I procrastinated in fixing dinner until 8:00 pm last night. Finally, I could wait no longer. I pulled the liver out of the refrigerator and said a prayer of it. Then I started chopping the onion, mincing the garlic, and baking the bacon. I threw everything in the pan with the beef liver on top. I added some leftover Sauvignon Blanc wine to the pan hoping that would add some flavor, too. After 15 or 20 minutes, the liver was ready to eat. Lo and behold, there was no bad smell. In fact, the beef liver smelled like a gourmet entree! It tasted pretty good, too. 

Beef liver is loaded with essential vitamins, minerals and other nutrients our bodies need. The only disadvantage to liver is that it’s high in cholesterol. Take a moment to check out the chart to the right for a comparison of beef liver to blueberries, kale, and other beef.

P.S. Now my neighbor and I get together regularly for "liver fests". It's great to have a friend who also enjoys liver. Why not make a festival out of it? 

(Chart: Chris Kessler, “Liver: Nature’s Most Potent Superfood,” Chris Kresser L. AC, http://chriskresser.com/natures-most-potent-superfood)

Exercise before, during and after cancer

Before I was diagnosed with cancer, I never had a regular exercise regimen. I would take random walks, maybe for 30 minutes, around the neighborhood once or twice a week. These walks were usually initiated when I felt guilty about over indulging in a dessert or spending an afternoon eating cookie dough. I never exercised for pleasure or to maintain a fit body. 

A year before my diagnosis, I became curious about yoga. I started attending beginning yoga classes twice a week and found that I enjoyed the experience. I continued to attend yoga actively during my diagnosis, surgery and chemotherapy because of the mind-body connection. Yoga gave me clarity and purpose in my life. It also helped alleviate some of the nausea associated with the chemotherapy. When chemotherapy started to make me dizzy during yoga class, I immediately found a substitute form of exercise that kept my head upright. I started jogging on the treadmill, followed by 30 minutes of light weight lifting. Eventually, I added twenty minutes on the elliptical trainer three times a week. For the first time in my life, I committed to exercising on a regular basis because I enjoyed the workouts and looked forward to the positive side effects of exercising - a better attitude, decreased depression, weight management, and increased muscle tone.

Exercise is important to an exceptional life because it promotes good health and life balance. While we are pursuing our passions and eating a healthy diet, we must find time in our weekly schedule for regular exercise at least three to five days a week. If you can’t think of how to exercise, then start by walking your neighborhood three times a week for thirty minutes at a time. There are many facilities in your community that offer classes and a complete weight resistance gym. Call your local community center, WMCA or fitness club. Here you will find adult classes in yoga, zumba, spinning, tai chi, and swimming. Seniors, over 50 years old, usually receive a discounted price so you can easily incorporate a few classes a week into your schedule for a nominal fee.

Consider joining a local bowling or bocce ball team. Not only will you benefit from exercise but you’ll also make new friends. My Father, who is well into his seventies, has always enjoyed bicycling. He belongs to two bicycling clubs which keep him cycling three times a week anywhere from 45 to 60 miles each day. In addition, these clubs plan weekend outings and camping trips which has enabled him to enjoy a full social life, too. If you’ve spent a good portion of your adult life as a couch potato, then it’s time to make a permanent lifestyle change by committing to getting yourself out of that old rut and get moving. By doing so you will become the example for your spouse, your children and everyone around you. 

(Photo credits: Tai chi - kootation.com; Yoga - boston.com; Zumba - casadecampoliving.com; Spinning - dreamstime.com)