Health Update and Pain au Chocolat

So... health. It sort of sucks again causing me no end to the panic. I'm on week seven of a frightening down turn. It got bad enough that about five weeks ago I went back on my pain meds and that escalated quickly to quite the mess. This week I am back off them as my back pain and mobility issues seem to be equally bad with or without the meds, so why pollute my body with mind-numbing chemicals?

The timing really couldn't be worse though as I have a half-marathon and a week long vacation to Florida in nine days... and I'm flopping around like a fish in the bottom of a boat with back spasms, looking half-dead from lack of sleep and yelping from just walking across the room.

It's not pretty. But this time I have a plan. 

(Kind of like Avery here - beating his brothers at a card game)

I'm going to slow down (even more... I'm feeling positively glacial at this point) and focus on these rascals, loving them, making sure the moments we have together are precious ones.

And maybe they'll remember this little blip as a time with good food and laughter

Instead of mom hiding in the bathroom crying.

The plan is to nourish, to be gentle and to get through it together. 

To make pain au chocolat (the healthy way), prepare your favorite whole wheat bread dough allow it to rise once. Roll it out flat and cut into rectangles, then triangles. Roll up a chocolat baton in each. Alternatively you could add preserves, almond paste or even chocolate chips. Allow to rise (40 min), brush with an egg wash and sprinkle with sugar.  Bake for 30 min or until golden.

Note: Some folks cut their dough in rectangles and put chocolate on each side and roll both ends towards the center like a scroll.