Why? Because I have made waffleberry pie for pudding. If there is one dessert guaranteed to get my family's attention and undying affection, then this is it! D has decided it must be a healthy pudding as it has berries in it. I countered that with it must be really bad for you as it has loads of cream in it. Are you drooling yet? Here's the recipe.
And to thank me for my largesse K is cooking dinner - ham and mushroom pasta bake. I might suggest some garlic bread to go with it, but might not having just been shooed out the kitchen.
A is working late tonight, and doesn't read this blog, so he doesn't know what he's missing.
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Tuesday, 6 July 2010
Tuesday, 29 June 2010
Fats - the good, the bad and the downright ugly
Two posts in one day! Scary, huh?
I know my blog is daily reading forthousands a few of you, so here's my latest health warning. (Or rather, my only one apart from be safe in the sun). There was an article in The Times on Saturday, in their Weekend supplement (I can't link to it as they expect you to pay these days), concerning trans-fats and their closely related cousins hydrogenated fats. Apparently these are the seriously bad boys of the fat family, being blamed for the dramatic increase in levels of heart disease, certain cancers, strokes and diabetes. These are only the things we know about at the moment; this list may well grow over the next few years.
Now I'm normally quite sceptical about government advice on what is bad for me to eat, but if you could read this article you would see that our government, unlike the US, aren't saying much about banning these fats. In fact, the UK Food Standards Agency thinks that legislation would be "unlikely to deliver any significant health benefit" as our intake levels are "approximately half that of recommended levels". Hmmm, the government want us all to eat healthily, lose weight, get more exercise, reduce type 2 diabetes and heart disease, yet there's no reason to bring in legislation to ban the stuff.
Over in the States, whole areas have outlawed these fats in restaurants, whilst in California (ever the extremist on the health front) has intoduced a state-wide ban. Any food manufacturer who wants to keep their market share over there has removed it from their products. Are you outraged yet?
Trans-fats are made by processing polyunsaturated fats. These types of fat are runny at room temperature and quickly go rancid. By adding hydrogen to them - no you're not getting a complicated chemistry lesson on how this happens, it just does OK - their structure is altered and they become partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. This gunk can be found in many processed foods including, but not limited to, popcorn, chips, cakes, biscuits. If you want to avoid it, and who wouldn't, look for products that are labelled 'all butter', or are made with a different fat. You should avoid anything that has 'vegetable fat', 'shortening', 'margarine' or 'partially hydrogenated vegetable oil/fat' in the list of ingredients.
So that's the ugly out the way. The bad could be attached to saturated fats, and until recently it was. Although it still shouldn't be consumed in great quantity it is less harmful than trans-fats. Saturated fats can be found in goods such as milk, butter, meat, some nuts and cocoa butter.
The good fats are the unsaturated fats, both poly- and mono-. Poly-unsaturated fats are the omega-3s and omega-6s. The ideal balance is 3 x 3s to 1 x 6s. Polys can be found in seeds, nuts and oily fish. If these aren't prominent in your diet it might make sense to take a supplement. Monos can be found in avocado, olive oil, eggs and lamb, amongst other things. Here at Dark Corner we do all our stir-fries in olive oil.
I've already discussed it with he who thinks he's boss (unless it's Sunday when it IS his turn) and I've bought some butter today, along with a butter dish - a proper pot one. All I need now is to work out if I can fry chips in olive oil, or whether sunflower oil is ok. Don't anyone mention oven chips, not unless you can recommend ones that taste like the real thing instead of cardboard/sawdust sweepings.
I hope you all find this of some use.
I know my blog is daily reading for
Now I'm normally quite sceptical about government advice on what is bad for me to eat, but if you could read this article you would see that our government, unlike the US, aren't saying much about banning these fats. In fact, the UK Food Standards Agency thinks that legislation would be "unlikely to deliver any significant health benefit" as our intake levels are "approximately half that of recommended levels". Hmmm, the government want us all to eat healthily, lose weight, get more exercise, reduce type 2 diabetes and heart disease, yet there's no reason to bring in legislation to ban the stuff.
Over in the States, whole areas have outlawed these fats in restaurants, whilst in California (ever the extremist on the health front) has intoduced a state-wide ban. Any food manufacturer who wants to keep their market share over there has removed it from their products. Are you outraged yet?
Trans-fats are made by processing polyunsaturated fats. These types of fat are runny at room temperature and quickly go rancid. By adding hydrogen to them - no you're not getting a complicated chemistry lesson on how this happens, it just does OK - their structure is altered and they become partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. This gunk can be found in many processed foods including, but not limited to, popcorn, chips, cakes, biscuits. If you want to avoid it, and who wouldn't, look for products that are labelled 'all butter', or are made with a different fat. You should avoid anything that has 'vegetable fat', 'shortening', 'margarine' or 'partially hydrogenated vegetable oil/fat' in the list of ingredients.
So that's the ugly out the way. The bad could be attached to saturated fats, and until recently it was. Although it still shouldn't be consumed in great quantity it is less harmful than trans-fats. Saturated fats can be found in goods such as milk, butter, meat, some nuts and cocoa butter.
The good fats are the unsaturated fats, both poly- and mono-. Poly-unsaturated fats are the omega-3s and omega-6s. The ideal balance is 3 x 3s to 1 x 6s. Polys can be found in seeds, nuts and oily fish. If these aren't prominent in your diet it might make sense to take a supplement. Monos can be found in avocado, olive oil, eggs and lamb, amongst other things. Here at Dark Corner we do all our stir-fries in olive oil.
I've already discussed it with he who thinks he's boss (unless it's Sunday when it IS his turn) and I've bought some butter today, along with a butter dish - a proper pot one. All I need now is to work out if I can fry chips in olive oil, or whether sunflower oil is ok. Don't anyone mention oven chips, not unless you can recommend ones that taste like the real thing instead of cardboard/sawdust sweepings.
I hope you all find this of some use.
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
This Year's Goal
Apart from finding a job, that is, is to eat more healthily. It got off to a shaky start but I've finally got my act together a bit better.
And not before time. On Sunday I weighed in at 13st 6lbs!!! I haven't been that heavy for nearly 2 years. Today I found I'd lost 4lbs which made me feel a bit better but it has all been the required kick up the bum to get on with things. I know you shouldn't weigh yourself so often because of such crazy fluctuations but I was scared the weight was still going up, and I don't want to return to the 14st I was carrying 2 years ago.
So for lunch today I had a jacket with cheese and beans, and a piece of garlic bread. Very good, huh! Then for dinner tonight I had this:
And not before time. On Sunday I weighed in at 13st 6lbs!!! I haven't been that heavy for nearly 2 years. Today I found I'd lost 4lbs which made me feel a bit better but it has all been the required kick up the bum to get on with things. I know you shouldn't weigh yourself so often because of such crazy fluctuations but I was scared the weight was still going up, and I don't want to return to the 14st I was carrying 2 years ago.
So for lunch today I had a jacket with cheese and beans, and a piece of garlic bread. Very good, huh! Then for dinner tonight I had this:
Yes that really is lettuce, tomato and peppers you see on my plate, along with some potato wedges, homemade pork curry-burgers and cucumber raita. I ate most of the salad but only some of the burgers (they were small) and no wedges. I was stuffed!!!!! (And, no Joy, I didn't smother the salad in Balsamic dip like I said I would, the raita was enough).
Those of you who know me well will probably be climbing back into your chairs whilst checking if your heart has stopped. Those of you who don't will probably be bemused as to why a plate with salad on it is cause for such merriment. Well, I HATE salad, the texture, the taste, the whole shebang. Or I did. Today it really called to me to eat it so I did. Admittedly it was in a mini pitta bread with raita and a mini pork burger. BUT I ATE IT WITHOUT GAGGING, which is a very big thing. There are going to be a lot of people all over the country who are going to be seriously gobsmacked.
Most of my 'get healthier, get fitter' stuff will be posted on my other blog. You'll find the main body of this post repeated there, along with my weight loss tracker widget. I want to keep this blog for 'life'.
Anyway, post a comment to let me know you're out there and still reading.
Friday, 29 May 2009
So far, so good
I've now done two Pampered Chef parties and earned myself £65. It doesn't sound much for 3 weeks work but when you realise that it was less than 8 hours work in total, the hourly rate is much more interesting - somewhere around £8 - £10 per hour. Certainly worth my while! June is already busy with 5 parties (but I can certainly squeeze in one or two more), and I've already started booking for July.
Today is a beautiful day. The kids are in town with friends, and A is at work, so the house is all mine - a rarity till September when both D & K are at college. So I'm sat at the computer listening to Bon Jovi and catching up on reading some blogs. I may even drag up Civ IV shortly. Oh, the decadence! I probably should point out that there are already 2 loads of washing on the line and all the paperwork from last night's party is dealt with, so I'm not being a lazy toad all day - though it does have its appeal.
Last Sunday friend E had a house-warming party. Her back garden has very little shade but some kind soul had brought along some umbrellas to act as parasols, so I borrowed one - not a perfect solution but better than nothing. I survived in short sleeves for a few hours until the rash started. I'm not downhearted about it this year, as spending 4 - 5 hours in direct sunshine is probably asking for trouble. However I am feeling quite smug about it as the rash didn't develop into full-blown red spots - it was more bumps in the skin. Now all I have to do is wait for them to clear off (up to two weeks from flare up).
The kids have finally spotted themselves a nice little earner - unfortunately it is me that is coughing up. They've twigged that voluntarily doing chores round the house and helping me with my PC stuff will probably trigger financial remuneration. D, in particular, has been most helpful in the last few days as he has too much month at the end of his allowance (as usual).
A is working hard but seems to have his hayfever under control (so far!). I've probably jinxed him now. We're making a slow but steady effort in sorting out the garage so that - GASP! - we can get to anything in it from the internal door instead of having to open the main door to get to the fuse box. Wonder if the local tip will start charging us business rates for all the clutter we're getting rid of.
Today is a beautiful day. The kids are in town with friends, and A is at work, so the house is all mine - a rarity till September when both D & K are at college. So I'm sat at the computer listening to Bon Jovi and catching up on reading some blogs. I may even drag up Civ IV shortly. Oh, the decadence! I probably should point out that there are already 2 loads of washing on the line and all the paperwork from last night's party is dealt with, so I'm not being a lazy toad all day - though it does have its appeal.
Last Sunday friend E had a house-warming party. Her back garden has very little shade but some kind soul had brought along some umbrellas to act as parasols, so I borrowed one - not a perfect solution but better than nothing. I survived in short sleeves for a few hours until the rash started. I'm not downhearted about it this year, as spending 4 - 5 hours in direct sunshine is probably asking for trouble. However I am feeling quite smug about it as the rash didn't develop into full-blown red spots - it was more bumps in the skin. Now all I have to do is wait for them to clear off (up to two weeks from flare up).
The kids have finally spotted themselves a nice little earner - unfortunately it is me that is coughing up. They've twigged that voluntarily doing chores round the house and helping me with my PC stuff will probably trigger financial remuneration. D, in particular, has been most helpful in the last few days as he has too much month at the end of his allowance (as usual).
A is working hard but seems to have his hayfever under control (so far!). I've probably jinxed him now. We're making a slow but steady effort in sorting out the garage so that - GASP! - we can get to anything in it from the internal door instead of having to open the main door to get to the fuse box. Wonder if the local tip will start charging us business rates for all the clutter we're getting rid of.
Saturday, 9 May 2009
I have a job!!!!!
And I didn't need to attend an interview to get it. I've been trying to find paid employment since October last year. I've had 4 interviews and no success, out of upwards of 50 applications. Now I have one. Like I said, no interview, no competition for the coveted role, no set hours, no office politics and all the holidays I want. Sounds good, eh?!
What am I doing, I hear you ask. Well, last week I went out with friend A to a Pampered Chef party. Now I've been a fan of their Stoneware for a year or two, so I took the plunge and signed up to be a Kitchen Consultant. My kit arrives on Monday (my first official day) and my first party is on Wednesday, held here at Dark Corner Towers (those of you who know me know where that is). D is hosting it and I get to practice my patter and cooking skills.
I'm keeping away from the rings, wreaths and plaits for a while - need to get them sorted out before I let them loose on an unsuspecting public - but am game to try anything else. The rest of the household are salivating at the thoughts of having to 'road test' my efforts - it's a hard life they lead.
So, if there is anyone out there who is interested in Pampered Chef, wants to come to my party on Wednesday, wants a party of their own, or fancies being their own boss, get in touch. I'll be more than happy to see you.
What am I doing, I hear you ask. Well, last week I went out with friend A to a Pampered Chef party. Now I've been a fan of their Stoneware for a year or two, so I took the plunge and signed up to be a Kitchen Consultant. My kit arrives on Monday (my first official day) and my first party is on Wednesday, held here at Dark Corner Towers (those of you who know me know where that is). D is hosting it and I get to practice my patter and cooking skills.
I'm keeping away from the rings, wreaths and plaits for a while - need to get them sorted out before I let them loose on an unsuspecting public - but am game to try anything else. The rest of the household are salivating at the thoughts of having to 'road test' my efforts - it's a hard life they lead.
So, if there is anyone out there who is interested in Pampered Chef, wants to come to my party on Wednesday, wants a party of their own, or fancies being their own boss, get in touch. I'll be more than happy to see you.
Friday, 26 December 2008
A not so merry Christmas
On Tuesday it felt like I had yet another catarrh waterfall down the back of my throat and my cough returned with a vengeance, especially after trying to talk to anyone for more than a few moments. That evening I got really cold. By the time I went to bed I was shaking that violently I could have whipped cream with no voluntary effort on my part. A got me a hot water bottle to add to the double layer of blanket over a heavy duvet, as well as a nightie and socks. It still took over an hour to stop shaking.
During the night I warmed up so discarded many of the extras. The next morning I had REALLY warmed up - to 102 F! Not good. Plus my appetite disappeared (really not good), and family had arrived the previous day for the festivities. One of them has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease so me being laid up with something yukky was seriously not a good idea. Hence I spent the day in bed doing a lot of sleeping and drinking just enough lemonade to stop A nagging at me about dehydration. I was coughing, blowing my nose, drowning in catarrh, going hot and cold yet maintaining the 102 F, couldn't have eaten a crumb, it felt like my eyes were being squeezed out of my head, and my poor leg joints were in agony. Just what you need on Christmas Eve! Mum said it sounded like the flu and to stay in bed. Well I certainly wasn't in any fit state to argue.
Christmas Eve night was a disaster, sleeping maybe 45 mins to an hour then spending the same again awake coughing and trying to get comfortable (oh, and I discovered that too much coughing gives you stress incontinence - hope it goes away just as quick). Needless to say I was a zombie come present-opening time and just mindlessly unwrapped anything passed my way (including one that should have been for my Mum and Dad, sorry Bro). I went back to bed to sleep till lunch was ready. It was more in hope than expectation that I put some food on my plate - it looked and smelt great! Unfortunately 3 bites later (1 roast potato, half a chipolata and a small piece of turkey) that was me full, so back to bed.
Later that evening I was sweating even more. A took my temperature to find it had climbed even more, to 104 F! Half an hour later I got my Mum to give me a tepid bath because, by then, it felt like it was climbing even more and I was beginning to feel a bit panicky. During the night I slept better, though I woke up once and found the pillow and the upper part of the duvet soaked with sweat.
This morning my temperature was pretty much back to normal. Today I have begun to eat again. I managed to play cards for a while this afternoon. I'm back in bed now with my trusty laptop whilst the family get up to their last night of festive frolics.
So, sorry I haven't been online wishing you all Season's Greetings. Hope you all had a good time. I'll be back in circulation over the weekend, fingers crossed.
During the night I warmed up so discarded many of the extras. The next morning I had REALLY warmed up - to 102 F! Not good. Plus my appetite disappeared (really not good), and family had arrived the previous day for the festivities. One of them has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease so me being laid up with something yukky was seriously not a good idea. Hence I spent the day in bed doing a lot of sleeping and drinking just enough lemonade to stop A nagging at me about dehydration. I was coughing, blowing my nose, drowning in catarrh, going hot and cold yet maintaining the 102 F, couldn't have eaten a crumb, it felt like my eyes were being squeezed out of my head, and my poor leg joints were in agony. Just what you need on Christmas Eve! Mum said it sounded like the flu and to stay in bed. Well I certainly wasn't in any fit state to argue.
Christmas Eve night was a disaster, sleeping maybe 45 mins to an hour then spending the same again awake coughing and trying to get comfortable (oh, and I discovered that too much coughing gives you stress incontinence - hope it goes away just as quick). Needless to say I was a zombie come present-opening time and just mindlessly unwrapped anything passed my way (including one that should have been for my Mum and Dad, sorry Bro). I went back to bed to sleep till lunch was ready. It was more in hope than expectation that I put some food on my plate - it looked and smelt great! Unfortunately 3 bites later (1 roast potato, half a chipolata and a small piece of turkey) that was me full, so back to bed.
Later that evening I was sweating even more. A took my temperature to find it had climbed even more, to 104 F! Half an hour later I got my Mum to give me a tepid bath because, by then, it felt like it was climbing even more and I was beginning to feel a bit panicky. During the night I slept better, though I woke up once and found the pillow and the upper part of the duvet soaked with sweat.
This morning my temperature was pretty much back to normal. Today I have begun to eat again. I managed to play cards for a while this afternoon. I'm back in bed now with my trusty laptop whilst the family get up to their last night of festive frolics.
So, sorry I haven't been online wishing you all Season's Greetings. Hope you all had a good time. I'll be back in circulation over the weekend, fingers crossed.
Wednesday, 24 September 2008
At last!
Amazing what can happen in 24 hours. D has come home today with all the bumpf needed to do Stats 2 in Further Maths! Now all he has to do is get on with it, which shouldn't be an issue.
Yesterday he sat in on an AS Geology class. He sorted it out himself with the teacher, and is going to sit in on a couple more before getting it added to his timetable.
Today he received a letter from college - no, it doesn't make sense to me either seeing as he's there all day - asking him to attend ICT Key Skills workshops to work towards Level 2. Umm, the boy is studying A-Level Computing. I hardly think that his ability to file handle and make Office do its thing is going to be sorely tested here. This is the boy who, at 6 years old, was rescuing his primary school teacher's files and folders from wherever she'd hidden them on the class PC. Ah well, the hoops we have to jump through just so the boxes can be ticked.
As a total aside to all this, my daughter loves me! What did I do to bring this about? I made lasagne for tea, a whole load of it. Then she promptly invited a friend over to help make a big dent in my hoped for freezer supplies. Now A will be taking some to work tomorrow for his lunch so I may be lucky to get 3 portions frozen. Not bad for 3lbs of mince ;-)
Yesterday he sat in on an AS Geology class. He sorted it out himself with the teacher, and is going to sit in on a couple more before getting it added to his timetable.
Today he received a letter from college - no, it doesn't make sense to me either seeing as he's there all day - asking him to attend ICT Key Skills workshops to work towards Level 2. Umm, the boy is studying A-Level Computing. I hardly think that his ability to file handle and make Office do its thing is going to be sorely tested here. This is the boy who, at 6 years old, was rescuing his primary school teacher's files and folders from wherever she'd hidden them on the class PC. Ah well, the hoops we have to jump through just so the boxes can be ticked.
As a total aside to all this, my daughter loves me! What did I do to bring this about? I made lasagne for tea, a whole load of it. Then she promptly invited a friend over to help make a big dent in my hoped for freezer supplies. Now A will be taking some to work tomorrow for his lunch so I may be lucky to get 3 portions frozen. Not bad for 3lbs of mince ;-)
Tuesday, 29 July 2008
Not much happening
Just thought I'd check in.
The kids are off on camp till Sunday - peace and quiet reigns.
Scooby is on antibiotics again. This recurring superficial pyoderma is a pain. His appetite will go and it will be 'interesting' trying to get all his pills down him - the ones that go on his food will be untouched otherwise.
Thank goodness today is a little cooler. This hot weather is not doing my sense of humour any good. I have lumpy skin but it's not glaringly obvious like it usually is at this time of year.
Gammon, egg and chips for tea tonight.
The kids are off on camp till Sunday - peace and quiet reigns.
Scooby is on antibiotics again. This recurring superficial pyoderma is a pain. His appetite will go and it will be 'interesting' trying to get all his pills down him - the ones that go on his food will be untouched otherwise.
Thank goodness today is a little cooler. This hot weather is not doing my sense of humour any good. I have lumpy skin but it's not glaringly obvious like it usually is at this time of year.
Gammon, egg and chips for tea tonight.
Sunday, 29 June 2008
What we did on our holiday - part 2
Before we discovered the aforementioned urban jungle we spent the day at Skegness, taking MIL with us for a day out (MIL and FIL are not together). It was a lovely day and, once again, my kids proved why whisking them off somewhere exotic is a waste of time. All they want is a sandy beach, then they create their own fun.
This was taken at just after 4.30, and it was still pleasant. MIL and I were sat out of that bracing breeze that Skeg is famous for. A pity we didn't take the kites really.
We also got D on a rollercoaster. He's worse than me for not wanting to get on one so we were somewhat shocked when he agreed. A had only asked him in fun.
We bought the kids wristbands for the funfair and they certainly had their money's worth out of them. The dodgems were the favourite. I think each child notched up at least a dozen drives.
Foods is also cheap in Skegness. A double-coned whippy ice cream with a flake cost £1. Five hot meals and drinks came to under £25. All of these were bought right next to the beach.
All in all a good day. The kids are already planning next year's East Coast invasion.
Friday, 21 March 2008
Mummy Kudos
I am riding the wave of love being showered on me by my family. The reason for their undying - at least for the next hour - devotion? I spent the afternoon in the kitchen turning cooking chocolate into wonderful food.
I made a standard Victoria sponge, filled with chocolate butter icing and topped with chocolate icing. There's now half of it left. We have yet to properly taste the Double Chocolate Hot Cross Buns, though ours are triple chocolate. I got the recipe from the latest Sainsbury magazine - the one with the yummy chocolate cake on the front. We don't like currants/raisins/sultanas so the shop-bought ones are no good to us. I'll let you know in the next few days how good these are.
I made a standard Victoria sponge, filled with chocolate butter icing and topped with chocolate icing. There's now half of it left. We have yet to properly taste the Double Chocolate Hot Cross Buns, though ours are triple chocolate. I got the recipe from the latest Sainsbury magazine - the one with the yummy chocolate cake on the front. We don't like currants/raisins/sultanas so the shop-bought ones are no good to us. I'll let you know in the next few days how good these are.
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