I decided not to go for my oxygen therapy due to the "cold" I have. I have only had a mild cold but I had a difficult decision to make this morning whether to go or not. I desperately need the oxygen therapy as my energy levels are at rock bottom. Though having oxygen therapy as it is given at pressure (like in an aircraft when you fly) it hurts you ears big time if you have the remotest signs of the snuffles. So you then have to ask them to stop the dive which I would hate to have to do for the other users. The other users still get their dive for the required time but they have to start all over again. Knowing that I am like I am I did not risk it as I did not think it would be fair on the other users.
I seem to have my baking head on this morning and I am itching to bake . I only have a certain amount of energy so I have to restrain myself big time I have decided to experiment with the oat berry muffins I make and exchange the oats for flaxseed. I have made 12 muffins and when they where cooking they smelt gorgeous. Our pooch was even crying as he wanted some. They seem rather successful I would just cook them a fraction more on hindsight.
Just finished 30 minutes on my whole body vibration machine time whizzed by on it as I listen to Queen and . So sitting down now and resting till DH comes come from the MS centre where he works voluntary on a Tuesday. About an hour now till he comes back. ROSEBUD I am doing a load of washing at the minute just the towels and foot towel ( one we stand on after showering). Only got bed linen left after that so have just about caught up.
I hope your DH has sorted out the travelling washing machine due to the slope in your home. I do not know if it is the same with your washing machines but you rectify this by highering or lowering the four pads that it stands on. Not possible the best description in the world but I hope you get the general idea. Is your washing machine a top loader or front. Here in the UK our washing machine are all front loaders. I think if you wanted something different than that you would really have to hunt high and low for it. Needless to say you would pay a high price for it also. I have a washer/ drier as a space saver as I have not got the biggest kitchen in the world. I do not use the dryer unless we have many days of consecutive bad weather. I am sure the things left in pockets are the bane of our lives when doing laundry. It is a nightmare I agree when tissues are washed and then fragment into about a million pieces over your clothing. You can guarantee it is when it is the dark wash too.
Talking of weather it still remains very cold here and it is forecast like that for the rest of the week. Today we are not getting above -1.
VALDINE Welcome back after your holiday at your parents home, I hope you had a enjoyable time whilst you where there. A happy new year to you also.
Your not the only one to put on a few pounds over the festive season. So have been reeling myself in since new year to get to my ticker weight. One more pound to shift so more days on plan and exercise should shift that. You should be the same now your back home and more in charge of what you are eating rather than a guest at mum and dad's. If like my parents they have not too much clue on healthy eating but fortunately they do copy one or two of my dishes now they have tried them at my house. I suppose my parent come from an era when eating healthy was not heard of never mind educated about at school.
I hope you soon re cooperate and get some rest with being tired. Look forward to hearing from you soon.
MEOWEE I hope you are well and that your back is on the road to recovery. It is one thing that takes it's time to get better once injured. Not easy when the weather is cold also.
Just going to wash my pots up from lunch. Nothing much with only being me. Hope to have a spare minute to drop by tomorrow to catch up on the news. Bye and take care.
HI LADIES ~ not much going on around here today; very, very cold outside; but, once again, we were blessed with gorgeous sunshine for most of the day. Just did stuff around the house today, keeping it light as my feet and legs were a bit tired after doing a lot yesterday. Oh well, one day on and one day off, is a good balance for me.
HI VAL ~ HAPPY NEW YEAR to you too!It's so nice to see you back. Don't worry about a few pounds; once you get back to work, I'm sure they will fall off with how busy you are ...
HEY PURPLE ~ probably a good idea that you stayed home; as you wouldn't want to spread that cold around to others either. Wow, you stand on your vibrating machine for 30 minutes; that's pretty good, I'd say. I'd probably lose my balance after about 10 minutes or so.
Yah, I am going to bake some fruit-bran muffins tomorrow; enuff to put some in the freezer too. I have some ripe bananas that I want to use up. Will likely add some prunes in mine too, as I like the rich flavor they add too. I usually cut up one prune for each muffin. I really like to have muffins for a snack becuz I don't overeat them; I am quite satisfied with one with a cup of coffee or tea. I make them only medium in size and low-fat as well.
In our country, most people have top loading washing machines and the front-loading ones are mega-expensive here: the opposite of the UK. How odd is that? I find the top-loading ones better for me, as they are easier on my back (the bending up and down is hard on my back with Spina-Bifida). I only do two loads in one day to spread it out, and I have a large folding wooden rack that I hang undies and socks on and let them air dry. That preserves the elastic in them and saves on using the dryer too.
Our dryer drum is so large that it can hold two loads at once; so that saves in power as well. Most times, I only have to run it once; and I asked DH to arrange it so that the heat stays in the house, so now we get double-duty from the heat: it heats the clothes first, then the house too!
Well, that's all the news from here; take good care ladies ROSEBUD
Nothing much happening at the minute though will be busier later today. I will be meeting my BIL for lunch for dinner. Long time no see well 3 weeks. We normally see him at least once a week and meet up for lunch. This is if he is not busy with his business or sky diving. He give sky diving instructions all over the world as he is a qualified instructor. After lunch I have got the grocery shopping to do not that there is a huge amount but more the daily staples we have just about run out of. Like milk, bread, vegetables and fruit.
Saw my parents yesterday. Dad had to go to the diabetic clinic as he is just about to commence on insulin 2 times a day. He has now got the prescription for everything needed. It is a list as long as your arm Good job he does not have to pay for it. He is exempt for paying as he is over 65. Or now because he is diabetic. The diabetic nurse is coming to my parents house when he is going to give his self his first injection.
ROSEBUD Yes I would hate to spread my germs to others. People with MS have comprised immune systems as it is so not good. That is why they recommend the flu jab and the pneumonia jab. When I say jab I mean vaccination.
Yes I hear top loaders are spacious inside for loads where as not so much room in a front loader. Yes in a way I would love a top loader because it is much kinder on the back and my balance is not what it should be so bending down can give me the wobbles.
The wobble machine I have does have hand rails at the side of you to hold on and I have gradually build up my length of time on one. It also does gentle vibration as well. They are not as wobbly as people think. Though they do give you a good work out.
Good way of utilising the heat from the dryer to warm the house. Anything that saves energy is great with bills being so high.
I still have a glut of bananas to use up so no doubt I will be baking again in the next day or so. I might make banana ice cream as well. All you do is slice bananas up put on a flat surface. I usually use a lid. Pop into the freezer. Before you wish to use it take them out 10 minutes to defrost slightly. Then pop in blender and they turn like soft ice cream. The ripe banana work best for this as they give better flavour. Or they can be used into smoothies to give a thick texture to the drink.
Time to go and finish getting ready to go out for lunch. Till next time take care all
The Twelve Days of Christmas brough me the same stupid, nasty gift everyday -- no Internet Connection. Eastlink Cable (my provider) did call and apologize a couple of times about the lengthy delay in getting things reconnected but they haven't yet offered a rebate for the time I was 'netless'.
We have had some really nasty storms over the last week and a half and there's another one coming tonight/tomorrow apparently. I'm just thanking my lucky stars that the only thing that I lost was my internet because there have been some real horror stories about people without power and heat for lengthy periods.
Anyway, I see that you got things going without me and I really hope I don't go missing again. Haven't had a chance to read up on the things I've missed yet, but hope to get to that tomorrow.
In the meantime, big for everybody and I'll see you all tomorrow.
HI MEOWEE ~ so glad you finally got back on the net and came back to join us again; we were starting to get very concerned as to what happened to you. I had done some research and found that your area had some bad storms; so figured that was the culprit again, at least we hoped that was the problem.
Hope you had a nice Christmas and New Years, despite all that happening. At least you got your hydro back on; I had heard some people had no hydro and no heat ... poor folks: winter is not the time you want to lose the power source that also runs your heat source.
HEY PURPLE ~ Sorry that your Dad has to go on insulin needles; but hopefully they will help him feel better and balance his sugars for him. I'm am so fortunate that the Metformin combined with healthier eating is keeping my sugar levels in check for me. Thank goodness that sweet stuff is not a big problem for me and I am able to eat most carbs in measured amounts now.
It probably also helps that I eat whole grain breads, buns, and crackers most of the time. When I make my muffins, I use mostly whole wheat flour and add some bran to that as well. My biggest problem has been snacking; tried really hard to limit that this year.
Went to town to pick up the weekly perishables; got some strawberries, pineapple, bananas, and oranges plus a bit of meat, veggies, and bread for DH. Got some walking in and my feet and legs can really feel it now; I always pay for it later, and of course, the cold temps don't help much either.
I made salisbury steak patties with mushrooms and onions; plus we had some leftover veggies and a measured amount of red potato (I had about 1/2 cup). I take more veggies and that fills me up. We had a mix of broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, turnip, celery, corn, and onions (really mixed up two bunches of veggies and it all tasted great together). Just had some late dessert tonight I had some CHOCO-BANANA FREEZE; yummy! I measured about 1/4 cup per container, which was about one banana per serving. I will try making some plain banana freeze with ripe bananas for a change for the next batch, although I do love the chocolate one.
Well, that's all the news for now from here. NIKO is bugging to go outside right now. Hi to VAL and NUMPSTER: your work-weeks are almost half over now. Take good care ... ROSEBUD
Dropped by a bit later today as I was struggling to get going this morning. I need a good to get me going. Still not the livest bunny going. I have a little bit of what my dog Rizzie is on. He seems to have boundless energy and it is not like he is a puppy at 10 years old.
I am going to my parents tomorrow so more than likely will not be popping on. Though should get time at the weekend
MEOWEE Welcome back sorry to hear that you have been internetless for 12 days. It saw would be a nice gesture to have a rebate especially as you are paying for somethng that you did not get.
Yes that does sound horrid for those without power for long periods of times especially in winter where temperatures I guess are well into the minus. I hope that the storms do not cause any damage they are such a worry.
ROSEBUD yes shame Dad as had to go onto insulin. He has really resisted going on it and has been tittering on the edge for a long time knowing that it is a real posiblity but dragging his heels. He could drag his heels no more and something had to be sorted. I am sure that the reality of it is far less traumatic than he thinks. I think he had got visions of a huge needle rather than a tiny little thing.
Never heard of salisbury steak patties so you will have to let me into the secret I used some of my glut of ripe bananas today by making a dessert from them. I blitzed them up in the blender with some plain fat free yoghurt and frozen raspberries. Perfect for me as I like things a tad sharp but did have to but a smidge of sweetener in for sweet toothed DH.
to Numpster and Valdinehope you are both well and you are not too tired from work.
Time to go and make a coffee. My mouth feels like sandpaper, the joys of my medication gives you chronic dry mouth Till next time take care
Thanks for the support ladies! I joined a weight loss competition at work with a friend and our weigh in is tomorrow.
Purple - did your dad just 'decide' to go on insulin? I ask because my mother is type 2 diabetic... and she should be on insulin because the drug she is currently on is hard on her heart (she has family history of heart problems). but all I can do is mention to her that her insulin needles are smaller than my needles and I would really hope she would chose to go on the insulin to protect her life. I dont know what more I could do.
Rosebud what did your husband do to keep your dryer heat in your home? Did you two have to seal your windows for the winter to keep condensation at bay?
I am still trying to untangle myself from the financial black hole that is my brother. Because of his intense foot pain from working a standing job, he only works part time.. and he's getting used to the idea that i will take care of him so i let him know I will be paying myself and my own savings account first out of all my paycheques. I may be able tohelp him.. but he wont get the majority of my take home anymore.. its getting kind of ridiculous. I've been working this amazing job since october.. only to support him.
HI LADIES ~ boy, I have been having trouble getting into this site; I kept getting a E-BULLETIN saying the server was too busy, try again later ... Well, I tried to post last night to ask someone something and got booted off with the same message and a couple of nights ago too; and lost both my posts.
Apparently, 3FC's Site was featured in a NEW YORK TIMES article and now the place is getting so many hits that the server can't keep up; this is the worst I have seen it. Anyways, I just was able to get in now, so better take advantage of it.
Poor MEOWEE loses her internet for 12 days and then just gets back and now we can't get in becuz the place is too busy; we just have to keep checking to see when the slow times are. I figured later at night would be best as many would be getting off to go to bed. I guess peak times are from 4 pm to 9 pm (after work hours).
HI VAL ~ TGIF nice to hear from you; glad you are taking some positive steps to help dear brother help himself. It's OK to help, but we shouldn't let someone bankrupt us; that isn't good for us or them. Good for you putting some money in savings each pay; you will never regret that decision. Pay all your bills pertaining to your house first, including mortgage & utilities (includes phone & internet); other necessary bills like car and house insurances; then savings; then food and the other household expenses like toiletries and cleaning supplies, gas for work, P/A (personal spending allowance), etc. Whatever is leftover after all that, can be put away for more savings for vacations and Christmas gifts. GOOD LUCK!
REGARDING THE DRYER ~ yes, we had a gaping hole around the vent pipe going under our house and the cold air pipe didn't have a special flap to stop intake of the outside cold air and it was making our kitchen very cold. I told DH that I could feel cold air coming in from around the washer & dryer and it turned out to be the dryer vent. So DH pulled it out; stuffed it with plastic bags and put a large piece of 1/4 plywood over it. Then we put a nylon stocking over the exhaust pipe at the bottom back of the dryer. Now about condensation: when I use the dryer now, we turn on our stove exhaust fan and the bathroom exhaust fan which is right next to our laundry center ~ this help take the excess moist air out of the house. We still get the heat, but the fans circulate it outside. Our furnace doesn't come on when the dryer is on now. We do have new windows in this house so condensation isn't a problem really.
HI PURPLE ~ SALSIBURY STEAK PATTIES are meat patties I make from X-tra lean hamburger; I put about a tbl of natural bran and 2 tbl ground oats in mine; and mix with a fork with some seasonings like garlic and onion powder, and a small amount of salt & pepper; OR 1 tbl onion soup mix which is really nice. Form into 2 oz patties: I like these better than the larger ones becuz they cook faster. My SM likes to put chopped onions in hers, but I always cook them with sliced onions (just happened to have some fresh mushrooms in the fridge so I tossed them in too); these are nice with sliced tomato and a new potato and coleslaw. One of my Dad's favorite things to eat, and DH loves them too becuz he has problems with his teeth. They only takes a few minutes to make so it's worth it to make them so happy; and hey, I love them too!
CREOLE PATTIES ~ My grandmother (who was also Irish) made something called CREOLE PATTIES which are the same patties as above only with more oats and 1 egg (which I just omit now) and some ground sage with salt & pepper & 1 tsp garlic powder combined with the lean meat (12-16 oz) and formed into patties cooked with chopped onions; when browned, add a large tin of chopped tomatoes and simmer until patties are cooked through (about 30 mintues). This is really nice served with mash potatoes, corn and green beans and coleslaw. My mother passed this recipe down to us from her mother.
I really like the vanilla yogurt I picked up; it has no sugar or sweetener in it but the vanillas sure makes it takes like it does. How interesting to notice how much the smell of a food makes it seem sweeter. I mixed in some raspberries that I had thawed and sprinkled with a bit of sweetener as the berries were very tart.
I talked to NUMPSTER last night for awhile; she has been very busy as usual; and she has a high-maintenance hubby (I mean, for attention), but he is a real sweety though, so he's worth it ... a real nice guy. And, he spoils her a lot too; picking up dinner for her after work, so she doesn't have to cook and stuff like that. Anyways, they are doing very well ...
Well, we had baked fish and chips tonight with coleslaw and sliced cukes and tomatoes; I was good and only had 12 chips and gave the rest to DH. I am doing much better in that regard. When I fill up on lots of veggies and/or salad, I don't miss them.
We took down all our inside decos and our tree today; it's all finished. Well, I better get this posted, as I don't want to lose it (I copied it, just in case this time too). Take good care, your friend ROSEBUD
Last edited by Justwant2Bhealthy; 01-08-2009 at 10:30 PM.
Well my plans changed as the whist drive we normally go to on a Friday was cancelled due to illness so we did not go to my parents home. In around about way will be better as next Friday is Dad's birthday so we will see him on that day instead. We have had a guest come this morning for a flying visit. He was here for about 30 minutes I was in the process of cooking lunch as well so just slowed the whole process down until he went. It is always nice to see him we only made friends with him as he came to service my pull cord alarm system. Though it has been up graded now and it is no longer pull cord system. Now I have a pendant around my neck that I press when in trouble that in turn dials a number and I am then able to speak to them. It has a speaker type phone that is very sensitive so can hear you all over the home. It also has a fire alarm on the same system should that go off it will call the number as well and dial the emergency team who deal with it as appropriate.
Went to bed early last night and had a good sleep that I really needed. Unfortunately it is TOM and it is making me extra tired. Oh well looks like it will be early to bed for the next few nights till I am back to normal. It was weight in day today which I do every Friday I think a combination of not being well and healthier eating has lost my excess weight put on over Christmas.
VALDINE I have joined a group on here in the 300+ section and I am doing the biggest loser challenge for the next 12 weeks I think. So hopefully it will keep me on the straight and narrow now for a bit. The last one I took part in I lost 6lbs over 12 weeks. I know that is not heaps but when we get nearer our target weight it does not come off so easily more like half a pound a week. Good luck in your endeavours in the work competition anything that is positive is helpful in losing weight. I have managed to lose my extra weight put on over Christmas but there again I have not felt so well so not eaten as much as normal due to loss of appetite.
Dad was dragging his heels big time about going on insulin for the same reason. Not that Dad said anything about it being the needles but you know men and talking about his feels. I wonder if the diabetic clinic or which set up your mum attends would show her the needle involved and allow her to inject just sterile water into herself. Maybe the reality of just doing it is not so fearful as she once imagined. It may take a few trips for Mum to get to the point where she is happy to give it ago. I know it must be desperately frustrating for you when you know something so simple as a daily injection would improve the quality of her life. I know what it is like as my Dad does not eat the best diet in the world. oh he does for the first few weeks after having a heart attack but the old habits come creeping back. I think the only time he eats properly constantly is when he come to me. He has Obsons choice I am cooking so I take control of the food and the way it is cooked. So hence there is little red meat, plenty of vegetables and sugar/fat free desserts. Oh you have to be inventive to create them but with thought and time it can be done. Lets put it this way there is always an empty plate after meal So it is not as if he does not like it. It is a matter of sometimes just standing back and thinking I can not do no more. The one thing I can do is be in charge of my own health. I do hope things get better on this front with your Mum. ROSEBUDYummy these Salisbury patties sound delicious Not sure though what hamburger meat is though (is this like ground beef), You have got me to thinking that I could make so of these with ground beef or for a healthier option ground turkey. I know my DH would love them maybe serve with potatoes and vegetables. Or baked potato and baked beans. I like the fact there is fibre hidden in these, and I bet you can not even taste it.
I love the sound of the recipe that is passed down by your Irish grandmother. Not that I have heard of it I will run it by my BIL sometime who is Irish to see if he has heard of it or eaten it anytime. We use to have especially on a Monday something called Rissoles. They are made from the left of meat from a roast joint or chicken for that matter. This is minced along with onions, bread and bound together with an egg. You make patties with this mixture with your hands and then fry then until golden brown on each side. Not the healthiest with being fried. Though I am sure in this day and age of the spray oil less oil can be used. Also not use the whole egg only the egg white would make this recipe much healthier for today. It was an excellent way to use up roast meat especially if it was not enough to go around the whole family on its own. Minced (grounded ) up this way it makes it go a whole heap further.
Excellent adaptation of the drier to heat the house very inventive I would never have thought of it. I bet it heats up the kitchen a treat during the winter months.
We had a dessert today that i had made from tinned peaches which I had drained and patted dry with kitchen roll. I chopped them up very small and added this to the plain yoghurt with a 10grammes of apricot jam ( can use diabetic if sugar is an issue maybe) and mixed. I then spooned the yoghurt over the chopped peaches. I love tinned peaches so a nice way to serve them.
The house now looks so bare now the decorations have all gone you walk in the room and feel something is missing. I feel like that for a couple of weeks after decorations have been put away for another year.
Right must go and make my coffee I did start but ended up with not enough water in the kettle for me. Not sure what planet I am on but it is very rare I do not get the right amount of water in the kettle to make to mugs of drink. So I bid you goodbye till next time ladies and take care.
HI LADIES ~ we are having another gorgeous sunny day, but as you have probably guessed, it is still pretty cold out there (woke up to -20C) although that is better than -30C's. DH took the outside decos down today; we waited until the sun had melted the snow and ice off them. They are now thawing out in our back porch.
YES, PURPLE ~ you are so right; after we put everything a way, I told DH the same thing ... it looks so bare in here; too bad we couldn't have the tree up longer. So we have decided that next year, we are gonna put our tree up earlier, maybe in November. I heard a young lady say that one day while at the store, that now that she is married and on her own, she puts her decos and tree up in November becuz she loves Christmas so much. I heard of one lady that keeps them up year-round, but it's her hobby to find Christmas decos and she has turned her house into a museum and gives tours now ...
Glad you liked those recipes: yes, hamburger is ground beef; some call it ground chuck too. Yes, you could use ground turkey no problem with that recipe. I buy Xtra-lean ground beef here and don't use fat the fry them; a spray in a non-stick pan will do. The xtra-lean meat here costs more, but so does the ground turkey, so not much difference to use it. Does your ground turkey have less fat in it? Not sure about that here??? Would have to inquire about that ...
I'll bet your mom gets some healthy ideas when they come to stay at your house for awhile. Eventually, some will rub off on them. You have done so well finding ways to create meals that taste good but are healthier. And yes, I do put some natural bran and ground oats into all my meatballs and patties, and you cannot even tell that they are in there. Hehe ...
I like the idea of the egg white and omitting the egg yolk in some meat mixtures; often now, I just leave that out and they are fine. For my meatloaf, I often add some tomato soup (1/2 can in the loaf and 1/2 goes on top) or 1/4 cup skim milk to give it a bit of moisture. If you want meatloaf that slices, then the egg white will help bind it better.
I made my banana bran muffins with flax seed today; I added 1/4 cup flax seed to the recipe I use for 18 muffins. PURPLE ~ You didn't mention how much you add to your recipe for FLAX MUFFINS.
BANANA-BRAN & FLAX MUFFINS (makes 18 medium muffins)
2 small bananas, mashed
2 large eggs, beaten
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup cooking molasses
1 + 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 + 1/2 cups natural bran for baking
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tsp baking POWDER
1 tsp baking SODA
1/4 cup flax seeds
1/2 cup raisins
1 cup pure apple juice (or prune juice)
(xtra: 6 sliced dried & pitted prunes for my 6 muffins)
Combine and pour 1/4 cup into each prepared muffin tin (for 18); and bake at 400F for about 18-20 minutes. I add sliced prunes to my 6 muffins just before baking. These are very tastey and sweet but only use 1/2 sugar.
You may find ways to save on sugar or fat in this recipe, but it does make 18 medium muffins, so it is already low-fat and low-sugar. You could try cutting down to 1/4 cup sugar to see how they are; and 2 tbl oil, they just might not be as moist as these ones are. DH just loves them and so do I ...
HI TO MEOWEE ~ hope that newest storm hasn't knocked off your hydro and internet again ...
HI TO VAL and NUMPSTER ~ yeah, it's FRIDAY and the weekends here again!!! However, I know how much you love your new job, VAL, and we're so glad for that!
I didn't do as well last year as I had hoped, so all I can do at this point; is look towards this new year and keep on going. My legs are really giving me problems, so I am trying to find different ways to burn more energy through other means. As soon as the snow melts, DH and I are going to go out to the lot where I can walk around better. Here, I am trying to do dancing and aerobics indoors; but I have to do them in the morning, as my legs and feet hurt too much later in the day now. We hope that by this spring, they will have recovered enuff, so that I can walk a bit better.
Well, that's all for now; take good care, your friend ROSEBUD
The latest storm was one of flickering lights . . . you know the kind of little power outages that last just long enough to make all the clocks start flashing at 12:00 It gave us a bit of everything in an ongoing cycle of snow, followed by freezing rain, followed by rain; then back to freezing rain and some more snow. Today has been sunny and calm, but very, very cold. Wonder what will come next?
Have a great evening everybody . . . hopefully we will get some degree of normalcy for all of us.
Good afternoon gosh it still remains biting cold here today. Braved the weather wrapped up like a snowman to go the farmers market. It is a small outdoor market so I do not envy the poor stall holders having to stand there for hours on end in this freezing cold weather. Did not get very much as unfortunately a few of the stalls was not there. I do not know whether it was due to the weather conditions or the fact it was not there on the normal first Saturday of the month. I wondered whether some stall holders have another market to attend to on the 2nd Saturday of the month. I normally get my ostrich burgers from here as they are low in fat and very filling for a meal. I bought some bread, blackberry and apple jam and some wholemeal sugar free scones.
I started to watch a television drama started on the BBC ( television channel here in the UK) it was a 6 part television series about the Anne Frank diary. I can say honestly it is a brilliant drama at the minute and shows what it must have been like for a teenage girl growing up during such turbulent times in confined space with all those hormones racing around. At the same time there has been a one of documentary on another diary written roughly at the same time by a girl roughly the same age in the ghetto in Bedzin Poland. It covers a 3 month period of her life. Unfortunately the girl in question went on to die during the atrocities of that time but her father did live and remarried. He had one other child a daughter and it is her journey to find out more about her half sister whom she did not know about until she was 14 years old herself. This diary came to life in 2005 and it has now been publish and is part of the Polish curriculum of school children of about 14 years old. This is very sad but at the same time compelling to watch.
Not done so well on choosing the right foods yesterday I went and pigged out on nuts. These are my downfall I know they are. A few are not enough I really have to be careful around them. I suppose they are always going to be my nemesis no matter how hard I try. These where brought to the house by my parents that is how they came to be here. I had not opened them until last night in a weak moment I gave in. Looks like it is a hard session on the wobble machine to pay for my naughties
Looking forward tonight to the start of dancing on ice. Not sure if you have this programme in your parts of the world but this is like dancing with the stars but on ice as the name suggests. I love the razzle dazzle I suppose and the costumes. Nice to have a programme that is not peppered with bad language for once. So I know what I will be watching tonight Not sure what else is on or whether that it is it for my taste.
ROSEBUD Lean ground mince beef and turkey roughly pan out at the same price so both rather pricey. Turkey here has less fat as it is made from the breast meat so that is low in fat. Meat is very expensive here now. Lamb is especially costly now for some unknown reason. Good job we eat less meat now and smaller portions so it goes a lot further than it use to with our old eating habits.
Now the flaxseed recipe that I use is high in flaxseed. The first one is courtesy of some kind poster here on the weight loss surgery section. Please note that flaxseed and flax meal are the same it is just that in the UK it is called flax seed so I may have put that down in my saved recipes which I collect.
1 Minute Flax Muffins
1/4 cup Flax Meal (available at health food stores or Netrition.com)
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 individual packet of Splenda
1 tsp cinnamon (experiment here if you want)
1 egg
1-2 tsp oil (I use olive oil)
Mix the dry ingredients in a large coffee mug. Add egg and oil and mix well. Microwave 45 seconds to 1 minute. This is the tricky part since everyone's oven is different. The muffin should rise way up. It is done when the top isn't wet looking anymore but still moist. You'll know the look after a time or two. Pop it out immediately and put the cup to soak or it'll be a devil to clean. Enjoy plain or with a little butter or jam. I can only eat 1/2, the rest is great toasted.
This recipe has been around a while and has been experimented with a great deal. You can do pretty much anything with it. I've heard of people putting cocoa powder in for a chocolate one! You can sub the Davinci SF syrups, you can make it sweeter, it's all about what you like. Almost forgot, leave all the sweetness out and put in a seasoning you like like Italian and use if for sandwiches.
I have put nuts / dried fruit you can experiment with it. If you want to make a batch to put in the freezer for a later date. Make about 4 times this quantity, some time I put in mashed bananas (2 or 3 smaller ones) and cut down on the oil used. I put muffin cases in to a muffin tray or grease the muffin tray ready for the mixture. Divide mixture into 12 cases and cook for 20 to 30 minutes (normally for mine oven it is 21 minutes) at 375F/190C/ gas mark 5. I hope I have not missed anything out.
Here are two other recipes I use
OLD-FASHIONED BRAN MUFFINS
1/4 cup shortening
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup molasses (I use cooking)
2 large eggs
1 cup milk
1-1/2 cups NATURAL WHEAT BRAN
1 cup flour
1-1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup raisins (opt)
Cream shortening and sugar together; add molasses and eggs; and beat well. Add milk, and then bran. Combine flour with baking powder, baking soda, and salt; then add to liquid ingredients. Add raisins; then place in greased muffin pans. Bake at 400F or 200C oven for 18-20 minutes. Make one dozen large muffins.
Note that flaxseed can be used for shortening. Shortening is margarine or butter. But the ratio for flaxseed is 3 to 1. For example if the recipe asked for 1/3 cup of butter you would replace it with 1 cup of flaxseed.
COCOA FLAX MEAL MUFFINS
Prep time: less than 10 minutes
Bake time: 12 -15 minutes
Makes 9 large muffins
Ingredients:
3 eggs
¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
2 tbsp canola oil
¼ cup Splenda (or whatever sugar substitute you use) she used sugar free syrup, but I couldn't’t find any
2 tbsp water
1 tbsp vanilla
1 cup flax meal
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp baking powder
2 tbsp cinnamon (sometimes I leave this out)
2 heaping tbsp cocoa powder
¼ - ½ cup sliced almonds, toasted and coarsely chopped
1/8 tsp salt
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C
2. In a medium sized bowl, beat the eggs with a fork . Beat in the oil, applesauce, sugar, water and vanilla
3. In a small bowl combine the dry ingredients.
4. Add the dry to the wet,mix well and let the mixture stand for 5 minutes.
5. Line large muffin tins with paper cups and spray them with low cal butter flavoured spray.
6. Spoon the batter into the cups and bake for 12- 15 minutes.
I hope these give you some ideas to play with. I know you are an experienced cook and so will have the ability to change recipes and tweak them to your needs and what you have handy. Sometimes I need a basic recipe to look at and then my mind whirls away and thinks how can I make that work here in the UK or I do not have that ingredient now what can I use instead
Yes you are right one or two recipes has rubbed off on to mum and dad. Mainly the low fat desserts I suppose that it is a start. I think the main meals are a step to far at the minute but maybe one day I will be surprised In many ways they are set in their ways and are blinkered but that is partly to due with their age. Dad is worse than mum in this.
MEOWEE Sounds like you are living on a knives edge regarding your hydro at the minute. I hope that you still remain with power it must be horrid just wondering all the time. I know when I was growing up there power cuts in I think the year 1970 our home was lit by candles and oil lamp. We were much luckier than most as my house had a gas cooker ( due to when I was little I decided to put my hand on our electric one well after it was off and needless to say it hurt so my parents rapidly changed it) and gas central heating. It would happen 2 to 3 days a week as I recall but I do not remember anymore than that as I was only 6 at the time. I do hope the matter settles down very swiftly
Your weather sounds all over the place never knowing what you are going to get next. It is hard knowing what clothing to put on and what to take with you just in case.
All my news and gossip for now I think So till next time before I sign off I will say a big hello to NUMPSTER and VALDINE. I hope both you are not effected by the hydro problems being experienced by meowee. I hope your both well and enjoying the lovely weekend away from work. Till next time take care all
Thanks for those recipes PURPLEORC. They sound good and I'm going to try a couple over the next few days.
According to the latest forecast, we are supposed to have a couple of days of mostly sunny weather with the next storm moving in tomorrow night sometime. The next one is going to bring some really cold weather with it though.
THANKS PURPLE ~ those recipes look great, esp for someone who has to watch their sugar intake and wants to lower the fat too. Sadly, SPLENDA is very expensive here; over $8.00 for a bag or pouch of it. When my DH sees the price of some things like that and cereal, he gets quite upset now. One of my favorite cereals is BRAN BUDS but in the last month, they have jumped up to $7.00 for a small box.
So now, I just throw things in the basket and tell him to go for a walk, so he doesn't see it. Our LAMB here is very expensive too; always has been as is VEAL; and if we try to get BISON OR OSTRICH burgers here, they are very high too. Most people would find them too pricey; actually, all the food prices here have taken a huge jump recently, and no-one seems to know why. That isn't good, becuz it makes it hard on those with lower or fixed incomes like seniors.
People want to eat healthier, but the stores are counteracting by putting the prices up on the most healthy foods to capitalize on that. Our doctors often send people to the local dietician and she takes people right to the store and shows them what to buy and what to avoid. I heard her and some ladies having a discussion about the high prices of the leaner meats, and how to deal with that ~ she suggested they buy cheaper meats like LIVER and lean Pork to bring costs down, as well as to eat more MEATLESS meals with eggs, cheese, and/or beans ...
BTW ~ Flax meal and Flax seeds are different products in Canada: Flax Meal is GROUND UP Flax Seeds like a coarse flour. I see two of your recipes call for Flax Meal and don't include any flour in them. Without sugar and flour, they would be good for diabetics for sure; and Meowee would really appreciate them. I bought Flax Seed; might have trouble finding Flax Meal here now that we only have one grocery store now.
You are fortunate to have a Farmer's Market year round there; ours only runs from August to the end of October, and the stuff sells out so fast, it is unbelievable. They can hardly keep up demand on the fresh veggies and baked goodies. You need to make sure that you can be there as soon as it opens or you are outa luck ...
I also have a problem with snacking; I thought I'd have nuts for my snacks, but it is very difficult to stop eating them. A serving is a handful but next thing you know, you have downed half a small tin. I prefer to buy those small 100 gram or less bags of non-salted nuts from the grocery, and even them only on occasion. I am trying to halt all the munching this year, so that is on my tweaking list for 2009.
HI MEOWEE ~ glad you made it back in again; and aren't any worse for wear becuz of all the finicky weather you are getting out that way. I think you will really like those recipes that Purple posted as they hardly have any sugar or flour in them; let us know how they turn out.
HI TO VAL and NUMPSTER ~ hope you ladies are having a nice restful weekend ...
Well, we spend the morning dusting and vacuuming the floors and rugs, and putting away the outside Christmas decos; boy, that's good exercise for ya. Dh said he was working up a sweat; I swept the floors, and he did the vacuuming. He surely knows now how much work housechores are now.
Well, that's all from here for now; take good care ROSEBUD
Last edited by Justwant2Bhealthy; 01-10-2009 at 03:52 PM.
happy new year!! I am back. Just really tired. and a few pounds heavier. Will try to stop by tomorrow!
. I only have a certain amount of energy so I have to restrain myself big time 
I have decided to experiment with the oat berry muffins I make and exchange the oats for flaxseed. I have made 12 muffins and when they where cooking they smelt gorgeous. Our pooch was even crying as he wanted some. They seem rather successful I would just cook them a fraction more on hindsight.
. So sitting down now and resting till DH comes come from the MS centre where he works voluntary on a Tuesday. About an hour now till he comes back.
for everybody and I'll see you all tomorrow. 
to get me going. Still not the livest bunny going. I have a little bit of what my dog Rizzie is on. He seems to have boundless energy and it is not like he is a puppy at 10 years old.
I used some of my glut of ripe bananas today by making a dessert from them. I blitzed them up in the blender with some plain fat free yoghurt and frozen raspberries. Perfect for me as I like things a tad sharp but did have to but a smidge of sweetener in for sweet toothed DH.
Not sure though what hamburger meat is though (is this like ground beef), You have got me to thinking that I could make so of these with ground beef or for a healthier option ground turkey. I know my DH would love them maybe serve with potatoes and vegetables. Or baked potato and baked beans. I like the fact there is fibre hidden in these, and I bet you can not even taste it.
I did start but ended up with not enough water in the kettle for me. Not sure what planet I am on but it is very rare I do not get the right amount of water in the kettle to make to mugs of drink. So I bid you goodbye till next time ladies and take care.
Today has been sunny and calm, but very, very cold. Wonder what will come next?
here today. Braved the weather wrapped up like a snowman 
to go the farmers market. It is a small outdoor market so I do not envy the poor stall holders having to stand there for hours on end in this freezing cold weather. Did not get very much as unfortunately a few of the stalls was not there. I do not know whether it was due to the weather conditions or the fact it was not there on the normal first Saturday of the month. I wondered whether some stall holders have another market to attend to on the 2nd Saturday of the month. I normally get my ostrich burgers from here as they are low in fat and very filling for a meal. I bought some bread, blackberry and apple jam and some wholemeal sugar free scones.
and gossip 
for now I think 