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Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts

Saturday, June 3, 2017

Be kind to your body

Hello and good morning. As I was sitting here eating my breakfast while browsing the internet, I suddenly remembered, it is not recommended to eat at the office desk. I'm not sure why that is, possibly because it encourages you to rush food and get back to work, or, that you should concentrate on every mouthful and let your taste buds savour the moment without interruption. 
I must say, I don't go along with this, for me eating and looking at a screen go hand in hand. I eat more slowly while reading or watching a video. My breakfast has just taken me 25 minutes to eat.
I know a certain person, won't name names but someone I know well, who shoves his food down his throat at breakneck speed. When I am in his company eating a meal he always berates me for eating so slowly. He says I should eat it while it is hot because it will be cold before I am finished. I could never understand why this should be a problem, hot food cold food what does it matter. I think the fact that he is overweight says a lot about his eating habits. 
 Food digestion starts in the mouth, by chewing food and mixing it with saliva not only adds to the enjoyment of eating by titillating your taste buds, it also starts the breaking down process in preparation for it moving on  through the gullet and into the stomach. If you are going to force feed yourself your body will not be able to extract all the nutrients it needs, and you will probably end up with one awful belly ache as it struggles to break everything down.

I like the saying, 'your eyes are bigger than your belly', yes, it happens to me sometimes, but not very often. I nearly always eat everything on my plate. Occasionally I stop eating before it's all gone, and put it in the fridge for the next day, but not very often.

When I am at home all day my breakfast takes me 25 minutes to consume, my lunch 40 minutes, and my dinner 45 minutes. Admittedly when I was working full time I wasn't able to give so much time to eating, but now I am retired I am more mindful about how I should treat my body.

I prefer to eat alone, because I can concentrate on every mouthful, even in front of a screen. When I am in company I find it difficult to have a conversation and eat at the same time. My mum told me never to speak with my mouth full, and yes it is rude if your friends can see what's going on in your mouth.

I never stick to set times for my meals, I have approximate times, depending on whether my previous meal has gone through me quickly or slowly. I wait until my stomach tells me it is ready for more. Breakfast is about 8am, lunch between 11.30 and 1.30pm, dinner between 5 and 7pm.

Eating tons of food at a fast pace is basically self abuse. I sometimes read about eating challenges where people sit round a table scoffing vast quantities of one type of food, eggs comes to mind. Some of these people must be totally oblivious to the damage they are causing themselves. Indeed some of them do die. I would like to see this type of challenge totally banned. Aside from the health point of view, there is a moral issue that to publicly fill yourself to bursting point is an insult to those who don't have enough to eat.

To wind up, are you a slow eater or a fast eater? Do you watch a screen while you are eating, like me, or not? Do you eat alone or with others? Do you put too much on your plate, or is the quantity just right? Do you have a cooked meal at lunchtime or something lighter? Do you have a cooked meal in the evening or is that high tea time? Questions questions questions, come on, tell us your scoffing habits, or tell me to mind my own business, ha ha.

Thanks for popping in, have a nice weekend, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

Sunday, May 14, 2017

Garden update

Hello. The weather was pretty grim this morning. It had rained overnight, and was still raining until mid morning, then it brightened up. Thank goodness I mowed the lawns yesterday. It's a bit cloudy with some blue skies and sun now, a bit changeable. 
I thought you might like to see how the garden is doing. The little pansies are thriving, that was a good buy at 20p for four plants. 
I have some plastic trellis around the beds to keep the cats off. The fuchsias are coming back again, hoping for a good show.


The plastic flowers are doing really well  ;o)


Don't ask me the names of the plants, I haven't a clue. Can't remember names.


Oooh look, I have three lemons growing on the side of the garage ;o)

You may remember that I chopped down the lilac tree last year, well here it is all greened up again. There won't be any flowers but never mind, at least the gap in the hedge is filled now.

So what's in the sandwich today then? Cream cheese, cheddar cheese, cucumber, beetroot and two eggs. Hot out of the microwave. Very nice. 
That's a sign it's summer, the ice cream van is in the street. Let's hope the sun stays now it's here. Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

Saturday, May 13, 2017

Keeping it under control

Hello. For ages now I have been buying Aldi cheese, the big blocks for £1.45, and always the extra mature cheddar because I like tasty cheese. I was eating too much of it, nibbling it every time I opened the fridge door. It had to stop. The fact that they increased the price, it shot up to £1.75, was another reason to cut down on my cheese habit. I started studying cheeses, prices and different varieties, and found other alternatives, so no more big blocks of extra mature cheddar. 
Last week I popped into the local Spar shop on my way back from the vet, to see if they had any reductions. They never have much here, but worth a look if passing. I found this pack reduced to 80p. The sticker covered the label so I peeled it back to see which kind it was. Luckily extra mature cheddar. I don't like mild cheese at all, might as well eat a packet of lard. 
So, a much smaller pack for 80p. I tried it, and my goodness is it tasty. I thought it would be similar to the Aldi stuff, but it isn't, it's ten times better. I won't be scoffing loads though because it's doubtful that I will find any more like this reduced, and I won't be paying full price for it. Just as well, I don't want to get hooked on it. Hard cheese is now in the same category as chocolate, only buy it when it is on special offer or reduced. A treat rather than a must have. By the way, Aldi have their big blocks on offer at the moment, at £1.50 something. I won't be buying it.  
This is the next stage of my latest artwork, the embroidered circles. I have used a piece of recycled snooker table green baize as the backing. Looking good so far.

The lawns need mowing, it rained yesterday, they might be dry enough to mow today. Last time I did it I raised the blade on the mower, but I'm going to lower it again because I like a close cut. Don't have to do it so often then, it saves me time and electricity.

I'm getting all excited about sandwiches now, thank you for your suggestions. Thanks for popping in. Enjoy your weekend. We'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

Friday, May 12, 2017

Do you have a recipe for that?

Hello. Sometimes it's just so easy to make a sandwich when you don't want to go the whole kabooble and cook a meal. The fillings can be anything you fancy, or anything you happen to have in your fridge or cupboard. Yes, there are the well know recipes for sandwiches, cheese and pickle, ham and mustard, egg and cress, everyone has heard of those,  I find regular sandwiches boring, and like to try new combinations of fillings.

The prepacked sandwiches you see in shops just don't appeal to me at all. They have a shelf life and are packed in boxes so they end up flat with all the filling  squished out and the bread very soggy. Even if I am hungry I can't bring myself to buy them.

I went to town this morning and when I came back I made a sandwich lunch. I eat mine with a knife and fork because I pile so much into them. Far easier to cut them up into bite size pieces.

My sandwich recipe for today is two slices of multigrain bread, spread with cream cheese. Slices of cucumber, two fried eggs, spinach leaves, and a dollop of mayo. It was very filling.

Sandwiches are also called butties and sarnies, I'm sure there are other names for them. If they are made with a bread roll they are called baps or barm cakes, or cobs.

If you want any ideas for sandwiches take a look at this Wiki page. There are sandwiches from all around the world.

So, what's your recipe for a tasty sandwich? What kind of bread do you use? How often do you eat sandwiches? Do you buy them out or make your own? Share your ideas.

Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon. Toodle pip

Tuesday, May 9, 2017

A few random photo's

Good morning. I need to get this done in half an hour because I've got a busy day today. Helping my friend deliver leaflets for her de cluttering business, so there will be a lot of walking up and down garden paths. All helps to keep me fit. I've a few random photo's snapped over the last few days. 
Popping in to Morrisons the other evening I found these yogurt drinks. I would never pay full price for them but for 50p I'll have them. I am using them for my breakfast, pour onto cereal, add water to the empty bottle, shake, pour this on. Twelve bottles, twelve breakfasts, yes they will be ok to use even though they are out of date. 
Also from Morrisons, a quiche for 65p. Why on earth do they make them without a crust? Bonkers if you ask me. Four portions make four meals, with salad or steamed vegetables.

There you are. Spinach, mushrooms, cucumber, cheese, and beetroot. Just how I like a meal, no cooking.

The garden is looking very green now, in fact it's green most of the time because I planted the hedgerows with evergreen bushes. This is the view as I eat my lunch al fresco, sat on a chair at the back door.

My mini chopper is still in daily use. By using this I can get my quota of nuts, seeds, and dried fruit inside me. My teeth can't cope with eating whole nuts, this is an ideal solution for me. 
This was a cobbled together meal from a couple of days ago. I made two portions, one eaten with a spud in the microwave, the other I ate with pasta. Mushrooms, a tin of mixed bean salad, spinach, turmeric and garlic powder. It was lovely.

Are you still wondering what I am going to do with the embroidered circles? Here's a clue. I have enough now.

This is what happens when I sit down at the computer, Mayze cat craves my love and attention, rendering my right arm out of action. I can manage to move the mouse, but have difficulty with the keyboard. She is a sweetheart, a crazy cat that doesn't walk anywhere, just dashes about. She is often in the windowsill surveying the world outside.

I must get on, packed lunch to make as I'm out for the day. Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

Friday, April 28, 2017

Knocking up some odd meals with what's left

Hello. Hoooray, it didn't rain today, in fact it was warm enough to sit in the summer house this afternoon. I did the six mile walk again this morning, the same one as last Friday. Determined to keep up and not slip back. It should have taken a couple of hours but, I met Paul with Doogal dog, Sandra stopped her car for a natter, and a young lady I talk to, the one who does a lot of running, was passing with her little boy Eric, so I had to stop and chat. Eric is lovely. All that added another forty minutes onto it, so I was pretty hungry by the time I got back. 
Dinner yesterday. I am very low on fresh veg, this is the last of the broccoli, with just a few carrots left. I made up half a packet of macaroni cheese. A cheap meal, yellow sticker veg and 23p for the macaroni. 
Lunch today was quick and simple, because I was late getting back. Spud in the microwave, half a tin of mushy peas, and grated cheese. That's the last potato.

And dinner tonight was similar to last night, except I had to add some frozen peas and beans to the carrots and onion. I don't mind simple meals, less faffing in the kitchen.

Mayze loves this table in the mornings when the sun shines through the window. 
I'm visiting rellies tomorrow. Auntie Pat is having a plant sale in her garden for charity. Have a nice weekend whatever you are doing. Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Keeping busy indoors

Hello. That got you going. Did you like my colourful words, ha ha. The weather is still unpredictable, I've been in most of the day, apart from when I went to the Post Office, then did my three mile walk. I got caught in a shower of hail and wind, just managed to stop the brolly from blowing inside out. 
A couple of recent lunches, one from yesterday and one today. I don't have much veg left so it's root in the cupboard and the freezer time. Two slices of toast, half a tin of spaghetti hoops, and two Value Tesco veggie grills. A cheap meal. 
Today I made a sandwich with two slices of toast, cheese spread, Danish Blue cheese, and the last of the salad leaves. I plonked the rest of the tin of hoops on top.

This pile of 14 cleaning cloths used to be a toweling bath robe. It was looking a bit grubby, and a lot of threads were pulled due to Mayze cat pummeling me with her paws. She thinks I am her mummy. These will come in handy for dish cloths, floor cloths, polishing cloths, (not that I do much of that), and any other type of cleaning job.

I've started another project. These small circles of fabric, 2 inches across,  are Suffolk Puffs, ironed flat and decorative stitching added. I need lots of these.


I came to a halt with the wooden garden sculpture because I ran out of small pieces of wood. I found a big box of scrap wood yesterday at the back door of Wicks the DIY store, they said I could take what I wanted. I will be able to get on with that when the weather is a bit warmer.

I need to make a phone call now, so I'll leave you to it. Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

Thursday, April 6, 2017

A bit of an allsorts day.

Hello. I'm a bit late tonight, that's because I was following my own advice and getting up off my bum to walk. I didn't go till 8.30pm. It was lovely, nice and quiet, no one about, and quite mild. 
I trimmed my hair, didn't take as much off as I normally do, couldn't be bothered to get the two mirrors out and hang them on opposite doors. I put a small mirror on the window ledge outside the back door, and hacked away. Looks fine to me. Red is fading and brown roots coming through. 

I had one of my ready meals yesterday, it's like a brick. Eight minutes in the microwave soon brings it back to life.

I like to do a little job before breakfast while I have my morning coffee. Today it was sorting the buttons out.

All bagged up, now it's easy to find what I want.

The new super bespoke garden table was very useful today. I was given a load of pottery, ornaments and mugs etc, to sell on our cat stall. Best wash it outside in the sunshine, then I don't need to dry it. 
Dinner tonight was wholemeal pasta with runner beans, broad beans, and peas. A sprinkle of grated cheese and a dollop of mayo. Simple but filling.

 And then there were three. A pack of tee lights in B & M was £2, I went to Poundland and bought them for ......£1. I bought a jar of coffee from B & M for £4.50, the same jar was in Poundland for £5, as a managers special. It's a chuffin nightmare to keep track of prices. I had a nosy in the small Asda, the prices in there are a lot more than in the big store.

I didn't get to the vets, will have to do that tomorrow. I'm waiting for the plumber to get back to me, he is supposed to be servicing my boiler and checking my gas fire, but he is ever so busy. I've been chasing him up but he is not replying.

I've just been reading on a forum that someone had their car broken into and their handbag stolen. They are a bit peeved about that as you can imagine. Some lowlife was caught on camera using the card to withdraw cash out of a machine. What I want to know is why does anyone leave any valuables in their car anyway. People, please do not leave handbag, phone, keys, camera, satnav, computer, or anything of any value in your car.

I think it's bed time. Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

A game I want to win

Hello. The talk last night was a bit strange, it was in a pub, and the group were due to eat after I had finished. They were short on numbers, only five turned up, others had sent their apologies that they couldn't attend for different reasons. Not to worry, I just got on with it. A small audience is a lot more difficult than a large one, especially as they were in such close proximity to me. Give me a hundred or so any day. It ended up like a chat, I had examples of my arts and crafts to show, and some of my newspaper cuttings. They seemed to like it. The food arrived before I had finished, so they started scoffing while I was winding it up. I didn't want any food, I had eaten before I left home. 
The end of the night was very enjoyable however. After I left I decided to go home via the big Asda store. I don't usually shop there, because it's at the other end of town. It was gone 9pm when I arrived and not many shoppers about. I soon had to change my basket for a trolley when I saw the mound of food that was being reduced to literally pennies. I well and truly struck gold. Everything on this photo was 2p per item. It reminded me of the time I went there with the Rip off Britain crew, we found a lot then, this time I get to keep everything. 
A brief rundown. Three large bags of potatoes, asparagus, grapes, blackberries, raspberries, baby salad leaves, grated carrot, rice noodles, watercress, snacking fruit, parsnips, turnips, casserole veg, diced carrots and swedes, butternut squash, courgettes, 6 bread rolls. My neighbour next door, and the one across the road, each had a bag of spuds this morning, and I shared a bag with my friend up the road.

There were a few other items which cost a bit more. Total shop was 94p. Didn't I do well!

 Who would buy 21 raspberries for £2? Bonkers.

 Who would buy 37 blackberries for £2? Crazy.

I will have them for 2p thank you very much. The banana is from my yellow sticker shop a week ago at Tesco. They might have black skins but they are fine on the inside.

The prepared veg needs cooking, so here are the main ingredients for a pan of stew. Three bags, at a cost of 6p. 
Here's whats in it.

And ten minutes later on the hob, no prepping, I have four portions of stew for the freezer. My ready meals. The second pan is cooling down now, another four portions. By the way, if you freeze them in margarine tubs like this, they are difficult to get out. Never microwave in the tub, I use a pyrex dish to heat them up. To loosen them, because they are like a solid brick, waft a hairdryer over the bottom and sides for a minute, then they will come out.

My lunch today was mushrooms, (needed to use them up), grated carrot, and rice noodles, on a bed of watercress. Very nice.

Someone asked me in an email, a week or so ago, (I am a bit slow at replying to emails), what would I do if I couldn't buy yellow stickers. Well, my attitude to shopping would still be the same.

Know the prices of the items I buy on a regular basis.
When anything goes up and it becomes too expensive, look for a similar product which is just as good and cheaper.
Be flexible with my eating and spending. I don't have to eat the same things week in week out.
I am prepared to eat the same meals three days running, if I find food that is very cheap and must be eaten before it goes off.
If there are any not to be missed offers I will stock up.
I will shop in lots of different places, often looking for reductions in the most unlikely of places. Poundland sometimes sell six eggs for 50p. The discount stores have chiller cabinets and sometimes reduce items.
I check shelf labels. I shop with price in mind. I don't make a list, I buy what's cheap.
I don't meal plan, because to work out what you are going to eat in advance means that you need to make sure you have the ingredients for a particular dish. I open the fridge door and eat what will go off the soonest. I make up meals, I don't have a recipe book.
I treat shopping as a challenge, to get the very best for my money at the cheapest price. It's a game I want to win. I make an effort to pop in shops on the way back, or when I am passing.
If there were no yellow stickers I would survive.

When you think about it, supermarkets will never get their stock orders exactly right. There will always be items that are overstocked and some that will run out. It's best to sell off the overstock cheaply rather than bin it. There are attempts to give any spare food to charities, which is a great idea. This in theory would work best with tins and packets, it would be very difficult to give away food that has to be eaten on that same day or the day after. It would need to be collected by the charity pretty quickly, or delivered by the supermarket. The logistics would need to be worked out. A lot of people wouldn't touch food that has gone past the date, so the difficulty there would be who would want it. I can't see the yellow stickers ending just yet.

That's all for now. Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

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