Tesco Healthy Living Tomato and Basil Soup
2008-04-27 02:59:58
I had high hopes for this one...ready-made tomato soup with no added sugar and available in small, one person/portion-sized cartons (300 g). Here's a pic, so you know what to look out for.It contains:tomatoes (59%)tomato puree (30%)onionvegetable oilcornflourbasil (0.6%)garlic pureesaltoregano - N.B. a powerful anti-fungal!black pepperNothing that should antagonise (encourage?) any lingering yeasty-beasties. But, for me, the flavour was too sharp and slightly bitter (really needs sugar sadly), and I didn't get on well with the large chunks of tomato (I prefer a smooth texture). Still, others might disagree - it's worth giving it a go.
Read more: Tesco
, Living
, Tomato
, Basil
In Which I Thumb My Nose at the Flour Shortage
2008-03-24 04:01:53
Thank God, my weekend alone is over. I have to say, as weekends go, this one sucked more than usual. This was going to be my first time to sleep in (even just a little) since the time changed last weekend. But did I get to sleep in??? Hell, NO!PS: Would anyone like to purchase a cat? He's a fine cat, a great mouser, very personable. His only fault is that he gets lonely when his children are gone and then feels the need to suck on ones pajamas and purr loudly at 6 AM. No amount of cursing and physical abuse will deter him. (Interested takers, contact me soon.) OK, have any of you people happened to meander into a store to buy flour lately? Dammit, I just have to buy a bag of flour for the first time in three weeks, and it's like the world has suddenly gone crazy. IT COSTS TWICE AS MUCH AS
Read more: Thumb
, Flour
, Shortage
Watch Out for Us, 2008! Here We Come
2008-03-21 03:53:27
Well, the big birthday is over, and I'm now officially (ack) 38 years young. Not a spring chickie anymore, but not exactly standing with one foot in the grave, either. Also, as of today, it's also been two years exactly since the last piece of meat passed my lips, and that feels grrrrrrreat!I got some super gifts for this momentous occasion. My kids got together and bought me an ass-kicking cast iron frying pan which I desperately wanted. It's big enough and heavy enough to cause serious damage to an intruder, were I to smack them in the balls with it. Here's a tip: If you have any concern about being low in iron, (women are anemic twice as often as men) using cast iron cookware is a great way to get a little extra. It's especially helpful to make acidic foods in the pan, such as tomato b
Me and The Veggie Weenie- A Reluctant Love Story
2008-03-07 05:22:37
Last night, I came home from work to a fridge absolutely stuffed with veggies (I opened it up and a broccoli flew out at me... I swear it's true) but despite this explosion of greenery, all I could think about eating was a plain old veggie dog. (I had already ingested so many greens in smoothie form that I think my skin was starting to turn a funny colour.)Now, I'd love to show you a picture of it, but last night our new camera arrived. (YAY!) In the commotion to try it out, like, NOW, we ended up with a terrible blurry picture, so I present to you this stand-in shot from many moons ago...close enough to last nights scoff, only I actually didn't have greasy fries with it this time around.Me and the veggie weenie didn't really hit it off in the beginning. I swear to you, if there is a bran
Read more: Veggie
Moroccan Stew for the Spice Challenged, Some Fine Moroccan Flatbread, and, Uh, Tales from the Dressing Room
2008-03-07 05:18:11
WOWZA, what a busy weekend! I haven't spent a weekend doing so many different things for a really long time.***I started out on Saturday morning by taking the brats to the local Superstore photo department to have their picture done. For those few of you who might actually have access to a Superstore, they do SUCH a nice job. better than anywhere else I've ever had their photos done. Dan even co-operated enough to manage a small smile. ***Saturday afternoon, I actually met a dear old friend of mine for drinks in town. We actually dated in junior high, and I hadn't seen him in 18 years. He's a computer programmer who gets to travel around a lot, (he actually lives in the Yukon) so I feel really honoured that we had the opportunity to get together. Dave, if you're reading this, you're a real
Read more: Moroccan
, Spice
, Tales
, Dressing
Just a Wee Bit of Cooking, and My First Treadmill-related Injury
2008-03-06 05:16:25
Hi folks! How the hell are you? It's now ten minutes to seven on Saturday morning, and once again, I'm awake at a ridiculously early hour while the rest of the family snoozes. Truly, I suck. It's been one of the busiest weeks in a long while here in Hooterville, so our meals have been more of the every-man-for-himself variety than usual. I've been digging the green smoothies, and I'm looking forward to a trip to the store today to stock up on some fruit and veg. I'm lovin' all the smoothie suggestions you've been sending me! Keep them coming! I did pull myself together enough this week to make some more of these raw date and almond balls......such a great alternative to cookies and crap when you just crave a little something sweet. Although I don't think I'd ever want to go 100% raw, I'd
Read more: First
, Treadmill
, related
, Injury
Fish-Free Fish Cakes
2008-03-03 20:08:47
When it comes to being a vegetarian, fish are a problem. Not only do a lot of folks think vegetarians eat fish (they aren't vegetables, people!) but when it comes to the issue of animal rights, rights for fish are a hard sell in the meat-eating world. For me, the decision to avoid eating fish is largely based on three things: The issue of the pain that the fish feels being caught and let die out of water, the fact that our oceans are being overfished and dredged to pieces, and the fact that fish can be loaded with toxins like mercury, due to our pollution of our waterways. For these reasons, it is easy for me to avoid eating fish, even though I used to like nothing better than a nice greasy plate of fish and chips. If overfishing of our oceans continues at the pace it is going today, it wo
Read more: Cakes
Watch Out for Us, 2008! Here We Come
2008-03-03 00:07:18
Well, the big birthday is over, and I'm now officially (ack) 38 years young. Not a spring chickie anymore, but not exactly standing with one foot in the grave, either. Also, as of today, it's also been two years exactly since the last piece of meat passed my lips, and that feels grrrrrrreat!I got some super gifts for this momentous occasion. My kids got together and bought me an ass-kicking cast iron frying pan which I desperately wanted. It's big enough and heavy enough to cause serious damage to an intruder, were I to smack them in the balls with it. Here's a tip: If you have any concern about being low in iron, (women are anemic twice as often as men) using cast iron cookware is a great way to get a little extra. It's especially helpful to make acidic foods in the pan, such as tomato b
A Long and Souper Saturday at Home....
2008-03-03 00:01:37
For me, the best kind of day is sometimes a day when you never leave your house, and yesterday was one of those great days. Nothing to do but shovel out the hovel, study, exercise, and veg out in front of the TV a little. Days like this have been sorta scarce lately, causing me to be a bit crankier than usual. I really need my downtime, man.....I was busy, but I still found the time to snuggle up on the couch in front of a roaring fire, with an annoying cat on my chest, and read this great book I got from the library....I'm only a quarter of the way through it, but I'm totally digging this chick. As you may remember, I read her book "Green for Life" a short time ago, and I've been whipping myself up green and glorious smoothies ever since, now by the litre. A cup just won't cut it for me a
Read more: Saturday
The Scoop on Poop
2008-02-27 19:46:00
All my studying lately into the ins and outs of good digestion is giving me a new appreciation for poo. Yes, you read that right, I said POO. Indulge me for a moment.....As it turns out, the state of ones deposits are not just the reason for much hilarity and/or personal angst. (An incident involving a train station restroom, a class field trip, and a toilet that wouldn’t flush comes to mind…) Your poo can actually tell you quite a lot about the workings of your innards.One of my favourite TV heroines, nutritionist Gillian McKeith of the British show “You Are What You Eat” certainly believes that a poo is a valuable indicator of a person’s health. (If you haven’t caught this little gem on TV yet, do yourself a favour and check it out. You’ll laugh your head off.) During the c
Read more: Scoop
Kicking Some Serious Butt in 2008.....I Unveil Our Secret Weapon!
2008-02-25 19:24:36
So, now that I've told you our resolutions surrounding food for the new year, it's time to fill you in on our fitness goals as a family. It all starts with our new Secret Weapon
, something I've been holding out on for a few weeks now. Check out this short video clip:Yup, it's our very first treadmill, and it kicks serious butt, too. I've wanted a treadmill for like, oh, let's say forever. but we wouldn't buy one until we could afford to get one that's really good quality, will stand up to almost constant use, and will last a good long time.(OK, so actually we still can't afford it, but we considered it to be an investment that we were making for our health. All the beer and chips were giving up should pay for most of it, haha.)Since I find it easy to get distracted in the evening, between
Read more: Kicking
, Secret Weapon
So, What Happens When You Put Spinach in the Magic Bullet, Anyway?
2008-02-24 02:09:00
I'll tell you what.....you get a smoothie that looks like this.......So, I know you are asking yourself, why on earth is she drinking something that looks like liquified pond scum? Well, I blame it all on this book........ by Victoria Boutenko. I got this book from the library on Friday afternoon, and I have to say, I was so mesmerized by it that I had to read the whole damn thing from cover to cover.Why, you ask? I don't know! It sucked me in! It's not a long book, and really boils down to one key point: You should blend green leafies into smoothies for excellent, wonderful, A Number One super big health. I think the reason I was so intrigued is that I have a hate-hate relationship with salad greens. I mean, I want to eat them. I know I should love them. They truly are the fountain of you
Read more: Spinach
, Magic
, Anyway
Some Ideas are Simply Ahead of their Time..
2008-02-24 02:06:34
You know those cathartic weenie biscuits I whipped up, just a few short days ago? Well, I really dug them. I really dug that I got to be destructive for just a little while. I loved that it made the whole house smell like veggie weenie, taking me back to summer memories of barbecue accidents and bug bites. And I especially love that it actually freaked out my family, just a little. (After all, I have to keep them on their toes, right? Right?)After the whole weenie episode, I was sitting at work the next day, digging the weenie biscuit in my lunch and talking to a co-worker (who may or may not have been digging the weenie thing; I can't tell, as she is far, far too polite) when another idea came to me: The Weenie Crepe.YES!! Why not make a crepe out of a weenie? Especially now that I am the
Midweek Miscellany, Busy Weekday Meals, And Kickin' the Caffeine
2008-02-21 02:50:16
One comment that I get quite often from folks about living the meatless life is that they feel that they're just too busy and simply don't have time to cook, so they couldn't possibly go veg*n. I say that's silly. Our lives are just as busy as everyone else's, but somehow we manage to get supper on the table.Like this week. Monday night I had my first yoga class. (And boy, am I sore in places I never even knew I had! Don't let anyone ever tell you that yoga isn't a tough workout. It'll kick your ass from today to tomorrow. Even the end my nose aches, and I don't remember balancing on my face. Maybe I've just been picking it too much.....haha) Anyway, I knew supper had to be over in a hurry. Enter stage left, my trusty slow cooker. Fifteen minutes of prep in the morning, and we came home
Read more: Midweek
, Miscellany
, Meals
, Caffeine
Tales from The Ladies Room
2008-02-21 02:48:11
So, I'm in the stall at work taking a wee wee, when my eyes are drawn to the pair of feet in the stall next to me. I don't recognize the feet, but they are facing in the wrong direction for someone who should be doing their business. Furthermore, they stay that way the entire time I'm in there, even after I've finished and washed my hands (slowly, because now I'm curious.)So, what do you think this person was doing in there? Add the fact that no one bit of sound emanated from the stall of the Mystery Person, ) ie: nose blowing) and I was intrigued. Thoughts?The day before, I once again found myself in need of the facilities, only to discover that my favourite stall (the first one, cuz I'm usually too lazy to walk any further) is taken. So I reluctantly go to the second stall.I open the doo
Read more: Tales
Diet fitness - I have not died
2008-02-20 21:20:41
So, I get an email yesterday from my Mom, wondering if perhaps I'd shrugged off my mortal coil and no one got around to informing her. Nope, I'm still here Mom, just too damn busy to cook anything whatsoever worth looking at.I mean, look at this pathetic meal from last night.....I actually served spaghetti sauce FROM A JAR. I don't remember the last time that happened, probably because it NEVER HAS BEFORE.The last two weeks have been so hectic, we've been dining on a rotating meal plan of canned beans, veggie burgers, packaged salads and pizzas on pre-made crusts. With one notable exception: I did find time to whip up two big batches of seitan cuz we were all out, and last Saturday, we had chicken-fried seitan with all the fixins. (With frozen veggies, as I was too tired to peel anything.)
Read more: fitness
Finally! Snowed in at Home, With Time for Cookin'!
2008-02-20 21:16:47
I'm baaaaaack! Didja miss me? I've been busy this past week or so, but although I haven't found much time for cooking, I haven't stopped checking up on all my buds in blogland. Even though I haven't had the time to leave pithy comments, don't worry, I've stopped by!This weekend, I finally had the time to actually cook something that didn't at least partially originate from a box or can. Turns out we were due for "slight accumulation" of snow...check out the dusting or snow we got this afternoon.... thank God they weren't calling for a blizzard, or we never would have been able to dig our asses out of it. Anyway, it was pretty and since I didn't have to go out and drive in it, the whole thing was cool with me. Today, I decided to focus on All Things Bread. Hey, I know I've said it before, b
Read more: Finally
, Snowed
The importance Of Omega 3 In Our Diet
2008-02-20 21:14:50
The three indispensable omega3 fatty acids, ala (alpha-linolenic acid), Environmental Protection Agency (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) are of import for human health. The organic structure necessitates them in order to work properly, but it cannot green goods them naturally. That is why they have got to be added through nutrient consumption or supplements.The modern man's diet is very imbalanced: the amount of efas is very low, while the amount of Z 6 is very high. A long series of medical statuses are owed to this imbalance: from diabetes, obesity, to shot and bosom diseases.Many medical establishments urge lowering the amount of Z 6 and adding more than Z 3 rich nutriments in the diet.One of the fatty acids in Z 3, DHA, is a chief constituent of the cells' membra
Read more: Omega
Hi, and How the Hell Are You!
2008-02-20 21:08:36
Wow, a week since my last post. I should be bitch-slapped or something. Fact of the matter is, folks, I've been soooooo busy. So busy, in fact, that thoughts of abandoning this blog altogether have flitted through my brain on more than one occasion. However, I've decided to keep showing up now and again for the time being, at least. I still have a project ongoing that's causing me all sorts of stress. Still under my hat for now, but believe me when I tell you, from time to time this week there were a few occasions when I could have choked someone. Anyway, it's now a peaceful Sunday morning and I'm not grinding my teeth, (at the moment, anyway) so it's all good. Food wise (and that was the point of this blog, I think) nothing much of note. Bob is going through a nacho phase, so it's hard k
What is Metabolic Syndrome X?
2008-02-20 21:04:55
The Metabolic Syndrome
X (or just metabolic syndrome) is condition that is characterized by a group of risk factors found in one person that increases the chances of coronary heart disease, stokes, type 2 diabetes (adult-onset diabetes) and other related modern diseases. The underlying causes of this disease are poor nutrition, overweight/obesity, physical inactivity and genetic factors.A person is considered to have metabolic syndrome if they have at least three of any of the characteristics below:* Central obesity-- excessive fat tissue around the abdomen.* High triglycerides (a bad type of fat in the blood)* Low HDL cholesterol ("good" cholesterol.)* Insulin resistance or glucose intolerance (high blood sugar levels)* High blood pressure (130/85 mmHg or
Drinking Water to Lose Weight
2008-02-19 10:00:09
What if someone told you you could lose weight with no effort on your part? What if there was a secret to losing weight that didn't involve increased exercise or decreased calorie consumption? And what if this method was free and easily available to you? Would you jump at the chance to do it?The secret to some fast weight loss without exercise or diet changes is to drink more water!Here's where I know there must be some kind of self-sabotage involved in my battle to lose the last ten pounds. I know I should be drinking more water, and it is the easiest thing in the world to do. It doesn't involve willpower, it doesn't involve dragging myself out to exercise, and it doesn't involve cutting back on calories. So why aren't I doing it?It's not just me. Most North Americans are dehydrated. In
Read more: Drinking
, Weight
, Drinking Water
Vegetarian Weight Loss Plan
2008-01-20 23:05:45
Like any weight loss or diet plan, the best vegetarian weight loss diet is a balanced eating plan, because losing weight is easiest when your body is healthy and well nourished.Health Benefits of a Vegetarian
DietA vegetarian diet provides a wide range of health benefits. Research shows that vegetarians suffer less from many of the diseases associated with the typical Western diet, including obesity, coronary heart disease, hypertension, type II diabetes, diet-related cancers, and constipation and gall stones.Vegetarian Diets Follow Dietary GuidelinesA typical vegetarian diet reflects most of the dietary recommendations for healthy eating, being low in saturated fat and high in fibre, complex carbohydrates, and fresh fruit and vegetables.Balanced Vegetarian Weight
Loss Diet PlanThe easiest
F-Plan Weight Loss Diet
2008-01-20 23:04:57
The diet is effectively a low-fat high-fiber diet. The theory is that a high intake of dietary fiber fills you up quickly, providing the bulk of food without the high calories. Most fiber content passes through the digestive system. In addition it was thought that by chewing high fiber foods, it was easier to detect the body's satiety level. The staples of the diet are complex carbs, such as whole grains, baked potatoes, and legumes, and lots of fruit and vegetables. Fiber content will obviously be higher than the Recommended Daily Intake of 25-30g. A typical daily calorie count for the diet would be around the 1250 mark.BreakfastCereal/fruit mix with low fat milkPiece of fresh fruitLunchNutty ColeslawFresh fruitDinnerSkinless baked chickenBaked potatoMixed SaladCereal/fruit mix with low f
Read more: Weight
Macrobiotic Diet
2008-01-20 23:04:06
The Macrobiotic Diet is part of the Far Eastern philosophy of Macrobiotics (literally "Great Life"). Despite a reputation of being nothing but brown rice, there is more to the Macrobiotic Diet than just brown rice. The food guidelines have been evolving over a number of years. The basic diet is essentially:50% whole grains25% seasonal vegetables, cooked or raw.10% protein foods - such as fish or legumes.5% sea vegetables5% soups5% fruit, nuts, or seeds.Food should be organically grown and eaten fresh. The Macrobiotic lifestyle also governs how food should be prepared. No microwave should be used - rice must be cooked in a pressure cooker. Food should be eaten and chewed slowly, in a relaxed manner.What's not allowed?Sugars, spices, alcohol, eggs, meat, and cheese. This has everything to do
Fat Flush - Detox and Weight Loss Plan
2008-01-20 23:03:29
The Fat Flush Plan is both a detox diet and a weight loss diet. The idea is to provide all the necessary ingredients to boost metabolism, reduce water retention, and promote fat loss.The program has 3 phases:Phase 1 - 2 weeksThis is a restrictive phase of between 1100-1200 calories per day. The intention here is to "lose bloat" - which refers to reducing water retention as well as some fat loss. In this phase you are not allowed to eat; margarine, alcohol, sugar, oils or fats (except flaxseed oil), grains, bread, cereal, starchy vegetables, dairy products. Even the herbs and spices are restricted to a small list.Phase 2 - OngoingHere the calorie allowance is lifted - to 1200-1500 calories. The idea is to continue on with the program until the desired weight loss is achieved.Phase 3 - The m
Read more: Weight
, Detox
, Weight Loss
Recipe: Luscious Leek & Potato Soup
2008-04-28 05:56:48
My own recipe, this simple soup has no added fat (someone is trying to lose a few pounds so she can fit back into her skinny jeans!) and is suitable for vegans, as it has no added dairy.Luscious Leek & Potato
SoupMakes 3-4 servings5-6 medium potatoes1 large leek1 shallot or small onion1 tbsp Marigold Vegan and Yeast-free stock powderfreshly ground black pepperfreshly ground nutmegPeel and chop the potatoes into two or three pieces. Place in a large saucepan and just cover them with cold water. Cover and bring to the boil. Simmer until the potatoes are starting to soften, and then add the leek, well rinsed and chopped and the stock powder. Stir, re-cover and simmer until potatoes are cooked. Leave to cool for a few minutes.Remove the vegetables and about two ladles of the cooking liquid
Can Diet Help to Cure Arthritis? Or Can It Make It Worse?
2008-04-29 09:38:25
The medical profession mostly rejects the idea that there is any connection between diet and arthritis (with the exception of gout), but many naturopaths and holistic practitioners disagree.There are many factors to consider with regards to arthritic diets and nutritional healing, and no hard and fast rules can be applied. For example, some people are allergic to certain foods, and these allergies can indeed worsen some types of arthritis.Eating foods that contain sodium nitrate or tartrazine can worsen the inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis, while ingesting foods containing a substance called hydrazine can contribute to systemic lupus erythematosus, an arthritic condition connected to lupus, Eating black walnuts can cause flare-ups in people with a rare type of arthritis called Behcet's
Read more: Arthritis
Easy Recipe for Stir-Fried Spinach with Garlic and Parmesan
2008-04-28 18:59:24
I love to buy those big containers of organic baby spinach from Costco and use it for spinach salad, then when the spinach has been in the fridge for a while but there's still some left, I'll make this easy and quick version of stir-fried spinach which tastes wonderful. This recipe uses the same stir-frying technique of seasoning the oil I talked about earlier. This time it's garlic that gets sauteed for a few minutes in the hot oil, seasoning the spinach with a delightful garlic flavor.I don't participate in a lot of blog events, but when Chris of Mele Cotte announced Cooking to Combat Cancer again this year, I didn't want to miss it. Not only is Chris a fellow educator, but she's a cancer survivor herself and a great person! Spinach
is one of those cancer fighting superfoods we should al
Read more: Fried
, Garlic
, Parmesan
Ban Bottled Water
2008-04-30 13:05:17
There's an old saying, "a good salesperson could sell snow to an Eskimo," which pretty much sums up my feeling about bottled water. To say we don't need bottled water would be an understatement. Most everyone in developed nations actually has water, good water, government tested, high quality, great tasting water. It comes right out of the tap. But companies are always looking for ways to make a buck.Why is bottled water such a bad idea? You could complain about the price, which is often 3 times as much as what we pay for gasoline, and even more in restaurants, or you could consider the fact that sometimes bottled water (such as Aquafina) is just bottled tap water, but really the main problems are waste and pollution. Bottling and shipping water is a waste of energy and is a source of poll
Read more: Bottled
Mango Salad Recipe with Hearts of Palm, Radishes, Lime, and Cilantro
2008-04-30 10:40:47
I've always been a bit cookbook-challenged, which means I rarely make a recipe the way the cookbook author writes it. I do use cookbooks endlessly though to get ideas for flavor combinations. This recipe combined ingredients paired with mangos in two of my favorite cookbooks, with a few of my own food preferences thrown in. I was completely taken with the combination of flavors (and once again I ate all the salad in the photo before I even looked at the photos - very bad food blogger!) It does have strong flavors, but if you like all the ingredients, definitely give this one a try.This salad has a lot to choose from for Weekend Herb Blogging, where you can write about any herb, plant, vegetable, or flower, but I'm going to feature hearts of palm, an ingredient I learned to love in college,
Read more: Mango
, Salad
, Hearts
, Cilantro
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