Celebrating Her Last Cancer Treatment

SciAggie · March 2020

My beloved wife was diagnosed with breast cancer this past July. She has undergone chemo, surgery, and radiation. Today was her last radiation treatment and we wanted to celebrate. She has gone through the process and has responded exceptionally well to treatment. The party is for her and for all of our friends that have supported us through these past challenging months.

We decided to serve brisket tacos with charro beans and Mexican coleslaw. I made salsa negra, salsa verde, and served my fermented hot sauce.
The whole process started earlier this week with a trip to HEB. I found a Wagyu and a prime 1 brisket and got them both.

On Wednesday I made the salsa negra and salsa verde.

I power washed the kitchen and my offset smoker just to be sure everything was nice and clean.

Thursday I made the beans. Me being me I decided to make them in my clay olla - just because it’s fun for me.

That night around midnight I started the offset. My plan was for the cook to take around 12 hours then FTC until serving time. I wanted to leave plenty of time since the cow drives the cook.

Briskets were seasoned with nothing more than S&P. The smoker ran at 225 - 250 degrees. Usually right at 225.

I wrapped the meat after about 6 1/2 hours. I liked the bark and the meat was solid into the stall. I wrapped in butcher paper.

The Wagyu brisket gave up first after 10 1/2 hours. I was surprised it cooked that fast. It was jiggly and probed like butter though so I declared victory. The prime brisket took almost another two hours. Sorry no picks for this as it was either too dark or just a pile of putcher paper...

That afternoon I prepped the pork belly for burnt ends. Cubed them up and used some rub I acquired throught he rub and sauce exchange. The ingredient list started with chili powder so I ran with it. These went on the smoker for a couple of hours.

While the briskets were resting and the pork belly was getting happy my wife and I got ready for guests.

After a couple of hours the pork belly was put in brown sugar, honey, and butter and covered in foil. Then back on the smoker.

As the guests started to arrive the belly pieces were taken out of the braise and coated in BBQ sauce for a glaze. They went back on the smoker for about ten minutes. These were a big hit with the guests. Most of them had never heard of burnt ends and had never had pork belly like this.

We are blessed with many friends that helped my wife in many ways. Most respond with, “I didn’t do much” - but in total they supported her (and me) when we needed it most. Here’s a couple of token shots.

Now for the food. I started by serving the Wagyu brisket first. It cut well, was tender, and had a great bark. Several people commented on how much they enjoyed the brisket. I believe they were sincere and not just being polite.

It made for a great taco in my opinion. I should have taken more pics but was a bit involved with the guests. We never cut into the Prime 1 brisket. I’ll have to see how it tastes tomorrow.

I kept the taco simple - fresh handmade tortilla (not by me), meat, coleslaw, salsa, and hot sauce. It didn’t stink.

All together it was a great evening with friends. We shared food, drank wine and beer, and talked. Good times for sure.

Thanks for looking y’all.

WeberWho · March 2020

What a fantastic way to celebrate! I don't know you personally but I'm happy for you and your family. Especially for your wife. The food and company looks wonderful!

dbCooper · March 2020

Your health, good friends, roof over head, good food, who needs more?

Great post.

GrateEggspectations · March 2020

Congratulations to you, your wife and family for this journey and outcome. Very nice to read this good news after weeks of downers on other fronts. Looks like a real banquet and I am sure it was most appreciated by all. The best to you and your wife Mary.

GoooDawgs · March 2020

Amen brother. Beautiful post.

nolaegghead · March 2020

Beautiful story, I can only aspire for this level of cooking one day....

lkapigian · March 2020

Thank you for sharing her Journey , excellent story and cook ...

kl8ton · March 2020

Great post! Thanks for sharing.

CPFC1905 · March 2020

A wonderful post. My best wishes to you all.

YukonRon · March 2020

First, congratulations to your beautiful wife for winning a very emotional and physical battle. I do not have the capacity to understand the will power, as well as courage, which is absolutely required to face and defeat such a dreadful enemy.

She is an inspiration to us all.

I would also like to acknowledge the wonderful support staff that got together and dug in with her. I know to have friends that will selflessly provide whatever, whenever, is paramount for such a difficult path of endurance, and to ultimately win.

@SciAggie you sir, are a saint. I will not say I know how you must feel finishing this journey with such an amazing woman, nobody can, until they watch and experience the one they love so much, fight everyday to make it to the next.

I will say this; a very heart felt congratulations to you and your victory, the greatest prize you will ever have in your life, is healthy and with you for many years to come. You are truly a very fortunate man.

The food always looks phenominal in your posts, this one no different.

Thank you so much for sharing this story with us, you have always been an inspiration for me in many ways, this presentation, was the greatest of all.

Enjoy every minute, every day. Do not waste one moment in misery. You two have done enough of that. Now celebrate the life she has fought for and deserves.

My best to your lovely wife, and to you, my friend.

Amazing as always.

kdink · March 2020

Know that's a great read! Good Luck and prayers for your wife and family.

Sea2Ski · March 2020

Awesome awesome awesome! In every single way this is an awesome post.

My mother-in-law just went through surgery/chemo for cancer as well, all while her husband was hospitalized then in long term rehab from an incident starting at 1:00 AM Thanksgiving morning. He got home for the first time two weeks ago, and her last treatment was this Tuesday. Prognosis for both of them very good.

Let us celebrate these times and share the joy we all feel at this moment. Your party may have taken place well before my post, but please believe me when I say that I am celebrating with you now as I type this. Let the celebration of life continue!

MJG · March 2020

Great post. Best wishes to you and yours.

johnmitchell · March 2020

What a great post.. God bless.

DoubleEgger · March 2020

First and foremost, I’m really happy that your wife has completed the treatments and is responding well. That’s awesome news. Second, that’s a helluva cook and a fine gesture for those who have assisted throughout your wife’s journey. Sounds like she has a great support group.

MasterC · March 2020

Very happy for you both. Fighting cancer is a long and hard journey, emotionally and physically, you definitely have reason to celebrate.

Foghorn · March 2020

This is the best post on here in a while. Thanks for reminding us what is important in life.

dmchicago · March 2020

Wonderful news and beautiful post.

Thanks for sharing this.

bluebird66 · March 2020

Outstanding!!

northGAcock · March 2020

Gawjus.....just Gawjus on all fronts. You and your wife should enjoy this victory with all you have done.....and we as a community, applaud this story and outcome. God bless you and friends.

blind99 · March 2020

Amazing! Very glad to hear she’s doing well. When I think about how our love for others is reflected in our cooking, your example just blows me away.

Dobie · March 2020

Way to celebrate, congratulations to you both.

thetrim · March 2020

Congratulations to you and your lovely wife on getting thru that tough time.

Thank you for sharing it with us!

Reading this was a great way to start the weekend after a tough and crazy week.

It comes as no surprise, but your cook looks and certainly was truly amazing as always, but with this one, the reason for the cook beats it 1,000,000 over.

Cheers!

Wolfpack · March 2020

What an amazing way to celebrate her journey. Congratulations to you both.

lousubcap · March 2020

What an amazing journey, post and tribute. Way to get after and beat cancer. I cannot begin to understand or appreciate the emotional roller-coaster journey to yesterday's celebration. You and your wife are extremely fortunate to be surrounded by such a caring support group. Of course, your interactions with those great people over the years were the cornerstones.

And I've got nothing but the highest praise for your cooking prowess. This cook was extra special and you delivered on the expectations. Congratulations across the board and especially to your wife for beating it.

CigarCityEgger · March 2020

Awesome post! Congratulations

bucky925 · March 2020

Congratulations! Prayers of praise and thanksgiving from our household to yours.

saluki2007 · March 2020

What a great celebration. Congrats on every level and front.

JohnnyTarheel · March 2020

Great post brother... all the best to your family... what a meal!!!!!!!

JohnInCarolina · March 2020

This is easily the best thing I've read in a while. What a great story and meal. Here's hoping your wife continues to recover and everyone has a long and happy life.

Mattman3969 · March 2020

Congratulations to your family for the victory over cancer!!

Oh and your celebration cook deserves high kudos as well.

Celebrating Her Last Cancer Treatment

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