Melon is marvellous and so many different types

Do you like melon? We certainly do and there are so many different types:

Cantaloupe
The Cantaloupe melon is named after a small town near Rome, Cantalupa, and is appreciated everywhere for its exceptionally juicy, sweet, orange flesh. Like all melons, it can be used in sweet and savoury dishes, but its flavour is always enhanced by serving well chilled. It is available all year.
Uses: It is ideal in fruit salads, fish or poultry dishes and can be eaten on its own.
To store: Keep uncut melons at room temperature until fully ripened, then store in the fridge for up to 5 days. Cut melon should always be covered with clingfilm and used within 3 days.
To prepare: Halve and remove the pips and fibres. Use a melon baller to scoop out the flesh or slice and cut the flesh away from the skin.

Charentais
The small charentais melon is grown mainly in France and Spain and has a smooth pale green to cream skin. The very juicy flesh is deep orange in colour and it is one of the best dessert melons. They are available all year.
Uses: Serve chilled on its own, or as part of a fruit salad. Serve chunks of melon with black olives with pre-dinner drinks, or wrap melon cubes in smoked salmon and serve on cocktail sticks.
To store: Keep uncut melons at room temperature until fully ripened, then store in the fridge for up to 5 days. Cut melon should always be covered with clingfilm and used within 3 days.
To prepare: Halve and remove the pips and fibres. Use a melon baller to scoop out the flesh or slice and cut the flesh away from the skin.

Galia
This variety of melon has a thick green skin and sweet yellow flesh, which is full of flavour. It is available all year.
Uses: Serve on its own or in slices with a selection of cold meats. Add to fruit salads or purée the flesh and stir into orange juice for a delicious non alcoholic cocktail.
To store: Keep uncut melons at room temperature until fully ripened, then store in the fridge for up to 5 days. Cut melon should always be covered with clingfilm and used within 3 days.
To prepare: Halve and remove the pips and fibres. Use a melon baller to scoop out the flesh or slice and cut the flesh away from the skin.

Honeydew
An oval-shaped melon with yellow or green wrinkled skin, Its flesh may be pale green, yellow or pink, depending on type. It has a subtle, refreshing sweet flavour. It is available all year.
Uses: Cut into slices and sprinkle with a little ground cinnamon or ginger for a simple starter or dessert.
To store: Keep uncut melons at room temperature until fully ripened, then store in the fridge for up to 5 days. Cut melon should always be covered with clingfilm and used within 3 days.
To prepare: Halve and remove the pips and fibres. Use a melon baller to scoop out the flesh or slice and cut the flesh away from the skin.

Piel de Sapo
A Spanish melon whose name means 'toad's skin' - a reference to its dark green roughly textured surface. Inside the pale yellow to green flesh has a distinctive, delicate sweet flavour. It is available all year.
Uses: Delicious eaten Italian-style with thinly sliced prosciutto. Or serve with after-dinner cheese - it is especially good with salty feta or extra mature Cheddar.
To store: Keep uncut melons at room temperature until fully ripened, then store in the fridge for up to 5 days. Cut melon should always be covered with clingfilm and used within 3 days.
To prepare: Halve and remove the pips and fibres. Use a melon baller to scoop out the flesh or slice and cut the flesh away from the skin.

Watermelon
Quite different from the other types of melon available, water melons are usually quite large, with a dark green skin. The flesh is a bright pinky red colour and has a quite bland sweet flavour, it contains black seeds which provide a direct contrast in colour and texture to the flesh. Slices of water melon are especially popular in warm countries where they are served chilled as a refreshing alternative to a long, cool drink to help quench thirst. It is available all year.
Uses: Serve chilled and sliced as part of a fresh fruit platter.
To store: Keep uncut melons at room temperature until fully ripened, then store in the fridge for up to 5 days. Cut melon should always be covered with clingfilm and used within 3 days.
To prepare: Halve and cut into thick slices

Above taken from article here

Sharing one of our favourite melon recipes

Melon and Parma Ham

A gorgeous pairing of two delicate flavours - sweet and juicy melon with smoky slices of Parma ham. This makes a great starter dish for a dinner party, but could also be enjoyed as a light lunch,

and is such a refreshing combination of tastes.

Ingredients

Serves Four

1 honeydew melon

2 x 88g (2oz) packs of Parma ham, torn

50g (2oz) wild rocket (arugula)

pinch ground black pepper

4 tsp oil

Method

can be seen here

Of course there are many delicious recipes that use melon too, and you may have your own favourite, why not share it in the comments section.

A variety of recipe ideas/articles are found within this blog, and not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter. If you have any concerns about your health it is always advisable to consult your Doctor or health care team.

All the best Jan

Calcium - did you know ?

Calcium has several important functions.

These include:

• helping build bones and keep teeth healthy
• regulating muscle contractions, including your heartbeat
• making sure blood clots normally

A lack of calcium could lead to a condition called rickets in children, and osteomalacia or osteoporosis in later life.

Sources of calcium
Sources of calcium include:

• milk, cheese and other dairy foods
• green leafy vegetables – such as curly kale, okra but not spinach (spinach does contain high levels of calcium but the body cannot digest it all)
• soya drinks with added calcium
• bread and anything made with fortified flour
• fish where you eat the bones – such as sardines and pilchards

How much calcium do I need?
Adults aged 19 to 64 need 700mg of calcium a day.

You should be able to get all the calcium you need from your daily diet.

What happens if I take too much calcium?
Taking high doses of calcium (more than 1,500mg a day) could lead to stomach pain and diarrhoea.

What does the Department of Health and Social Care advise?
You should be able to get all the calcium you need by eating a varied and balanced diet.

If you take calcium supplements, do not take too much as this could be harmful.

Taking 1,500mg or less a day is unlikely to cause any harm.

Above words taken from here

For readers who cannot tolerate dairy this post may be of interest
Non-Dairy Sources of Calcium-Rich Foods see here

The above is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. If you have any concerns about your general health, you should contact your local health care provider.

Dear reader, a variety of articles, studies and recipe ideas are within this blog, and not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter.

All the best Jan

Thai Fish Cakes : Low Carb

Full of intense flavours with green beans for extra texture, these Thai fish cakes make a lovely low carb meal served with a salad.

Ingredients

Serves Four

For the fish cakes

600g/1lb 5oz salmon fillet, skin removed and cut into chunks
1 large free-range egg
2 tsp lemongrass paste
2 tbsp Thai red curry paste
1 tbsp fish sauce
4 kaffir lime leaves, finely shredded
100g/3½oz green beans, finely sliced
1-calorie sunflower oil spray
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 limes, cut in half, to serve

For the salad

2 carrots (about 200g/7oz), peeled and cut into thin ribbons
200g/7oz cucumber, peeled and cut into thin ribbons
½ red onion, thinly sliced
12 radishes, thinly sliced
large handful of coriander, roughly chopped
60g/2¼oz mixed salad leaves
1 tbsp rice wine vinegar
1 tbsp soy sauce
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

1. Put the salmon into a food processor with the egg, lemongrass paste, curry paste, fish sauce and lime leaves. Season with salt and pepper and blend until the mixture comes together but still has some texture. Transfer to a bowl and fold in the sliced beans. Cover and leave in the fridge until needed.
2. To make the salad, mix together the carrot, cucumber, red onion, radishes, coriander and mixed leaves in a large bowl.
3. Heat a large pan over a medium–high heat. Divide the fish cake mixture into eight equal-sized pieces and shape into patties. Spray a little oil into the pan and add four of the fish cakes, spacing them apart and flattening each one slightly. Cook for 2–3 minutes on each side or until cooked through. Set the cooked fish cakes aside on kitchen paper while you cook the remaining fish cakes.
4. Add the rice vinegar and soy sauce to the salad and mix well. Divide between serving plates and add two fish cakes and a lime half to each plate. Serve straight away.

Recipe Tip
To freeze, place the uncooked patties on a tray lined with baking paper and freeze until firm, then pack into a zip-lock bag or container. Defrost fully in the fridge before cooking as per the recipe.

From original idea here

Dear reader, you will find a variety of articles and recipe ideas within this blog, and not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues please take these into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter. If you have any concerns about your health it is always advisable to consult your Doctor or health care team.

... and just a reminder to keep checking your spam folder as many bloggers are still finding comments are going incorrectly into spam - read more here

All the best Jan

Happy Sunday

It is the month of June,

The month of leaves and roses,

When pleasant sights salute the eyes,

And pleasant scents the noses.

–N. P. Willis (1807-67)

It's hard to believe that today will be the last Sunday of June 2022.

The year is certainly flying by.

Whatever your plans are.

~ I wish all readers a Happy Sunday ~

All the best Jan

From Knob Throwing To Nettle Eating : The Mind Boggles !

The summer months can see many different types of Festivals, Fayres and Concerts, and thankfully to the delight of so many there have been quite a few dotted around the UK.

However, one event that couldn't be held this year, because it got too popular to run, was the Dorset Knob Throwing Event. The event can attract 8000 visitors and it should have been held in May, but due to various reasons the Dorset Knob Throwing committee had to cancel it ... a shame. The one-day event which usually incorporates a food festival and live music started in 2008 and features a host of fun knob-themed events using the spherical biscuit including a knob and spoon race, guess the weight of the big knob and knob darts.

These knob biscuits have been made by the Moores family in Dorset for more than 150 years. Originally, they were made from leftover bread dough with added butter and sugar, hand-rolled and left to dry in the dying heat of the oven. It is thought their name comes from the hand-sewn Dorset knob buttons that were also made locally. They can be eaten with Blue Vinny cheese, dipped in tea or cider, or taken with honey and cream - known locally as thunder and lightning. No-one likes to cancel events and the committee are hopeful it can be held in 2023 ... we shall have to wait and see. This story from here

One charity event that is happening this weekend is, The World Nettle Eating Competition, which sees hopefuls try and chew their way through as many stinging nettles as they can in one hour. The winner is the contestant who has stripped and eaten the leaves from the greatest number of stalks. The tradition dating back to the 1980s has been taken over by Ryan Strong and has been kept in the town of Bridport at the Dorset Nectar Cider Farm. The nettles, picked the day before from his organic cider farm, have to be eaten raw and there is "no mayonnaise, no ketchup or deep-frying". "This is a competition of mind over matter, it is quintessential Dorset", Mr Strong said. Contestants must also have the stomach for the challenge as vomiting is not allowed. Cider-maker Mr Strong, who came second in 2019, said he had a "numb-blackened tongue" and his chin "stung for hours afterwards". The contest has previously attracted entrants from as far afield as Australia and Canada. This story from here

Do you have any local events that you enjoy going to?

Many towns and villages have scarecrow festivals which are always fun and colourful. I have enjoyed 'wellie throwing' at summer fetes but the thought of eating raw nettles is not something I would like to try. However, you can forage for wild nettles (carefully) and use them in your cooking. They are similar in taste to spinach, and nettles make a great addition to soups, pesto and pie fillings, they are also a tasty toast topping, a selection of recipes here not all are low carb!

Whatever your plans are this weekend, I wish you a good one.

Dear reader, you will find a variety of articles and recipe ideas within this blog, and not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues please take these into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter. If you have any concerns about your health it is always advisable to consult your Doctor or health care team.

All the best Jan

'How To Get Every Vitamin And Mineral On A Vegan Diet'

Lifestyle and diet is always a personal choice. Many readers may wish to change their lifestyle because they want to lose weight, feel healthier etc. Some readers may choose to eat vegetarian, or vegan, some choose a Mediterranean style diet, while others talk low carb or keto. While what we eat is a personal choice, and for Eddie and I it is LCHF, one thing we must all take into account is the nutrients we get from the foods we eat.

If you are vegan Michael Joseph at Nutrition Advance Site published an interesting article on 15/06/22

"How To Get Every Vitamin and Mineral On a Vegan Diet
Vegan and predominantly plant-based diets have gradually increased in popularity over the last several years.

Carefully formulated vegan diets can meet all nutrient requirements. However, many people do not follow a nutritionally adequate vegan diet.

For example, veganism has been associated with low intake levels of vitamins B2, B3 and B12, vitamin D, iodine, zinc, and calcium, among other nutrients.

This article provides a list of vegan-friendly foods for every vitamin and mineral.

What are the best dietary sources for each nutrient?

Table of contents

Calcium  Copper  Iodine  Iron  Magnesium  Manganese

Phosphorus  Potassium  Selenium  Sodium  Zinc
Vitamin A, Retinol Activity Equivalents (RAE)
Vitamin C  Vitamin D  Vitamin E  Vitamin K
Thiamin (B1)  Riboflavin (B2)  Niacin (B3)  Pantothenic acid (B5)
Vitamin B6  Folate (B9)  Vitamin B12

Vegan-Friendly Dietary Sources of Every Vitamin and Mineral
The guide lists ten vegan-friendly dietary sources for each vitamin and mineral.

Furthermore, for each dietary source, the guide will present the amount of the nutrient a typical serving provides and how that contributes to the recommended daily value.

The USDA’s FoodData Central database is the source of all nutritional data. Recommended daily values (% DV) have been calculated using this data alongside the FDA’s published daily values."

You can read all of Michaels article with relevant links here

~ xxx ~~ xxx ~

Do you prefer a vegan or vegetarian diet?

Are you eating as much meat nowadays?

Perhaps you've recently cut down on your sugar in-take!

You may just prefer a little of everything!

Do please share your thoughts in the comments.

You will find a variety of articles and recipe ideas within this blog, and not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues please take these into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter. If you have any concerns about your health it is always advisable to consult your Doctor or health care team.

All the best Jan

Pork, with a creamy mushroom sauce served with courgetti : Low carb

Pork makes a tasty dish, and is usually reasonably priced. If you've had a busy day you may not want to spend too long in the kitchen cooking dinner, so this recipe suggestion - ready in about 30 minutes - may be just what you are looking for! It uses pork medallion and makes a good alternative to chicken.

Ingredients
Serves One
2 tsp oil
1 very small onion (50g/1¾oz peeled weight), finely chopped
100g/3½oz lean pork medallion, roughly chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed (optional)
100g/3½oz mushrooms, roughly chopped
100ml/3½fl oz chicken stock
3 level tbsp half-fat crème fraîche
1 tbsp chopped fresh chives (optional)
salt and freshly ground black pepper

To Serve
150g/5½oz courgetti (or alternative butternut squash noodles)

Recipe Tip

Courgetti, also known as courgette spaghetti or zoodles, refers to courgette that has been cut into ribbons using a spiralizer, julienne peeler or sharp knife. Offering a similar texture to spaghetti, it provides a healthy alternative to pasta with significantly fewer calories. You can buy courgetti already prepared from most supermarkets, but if you have a spiraliser you can make your own – one large courgette/zucchini (about 175g/6oz) should give you around 150g/5½oz courgetti. If you don’t have a spiraliser, you can use a vegetable peeler to cut thin ribbons, about 3mm thick, from a courgette, then use a sharp knife to slice them into long, thin strips. Sprinkle the courgetti with a little salt and place in a colander for 10 minutes to allow some of the liquid to drain. Either cook the courgetti in a microwave on high for 2 minutes or steam over a pan of boiling water.

Method
1. Heat the oil in small frying pan. Add the onion and cook for 3–4 minutes.
2. Add the pork, garlic (if using) and mushrooms and cook for 2–3 minutes.
3. Pour in the stock, cover with a lid and cook over a low heat for 5–10 minutes, or until the pork is cooked through.
4. Remove from the heat, stir in the crème fraîche and chives, if using, and season to taste.
5. Cook the courgetti in a microwave on high for 2 minutes. Leave to stand for 1 minute.
6. Serve the pork and sauce with the courgetti.

Nutrition Per Serving

29g protein, 8.5g carbohydrate, 18g fat, 3.5g fibre and 0.3g salt.
From original idea here

~ enjoy your day ~

You will find a variety of articles and recipe ideas within this blog, and not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues please take these into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter. If you have any concerns about your health it is always advisable to consult your Doctor or health care team.

All the best Jan

Salads, Salads and More Salads !

I think salads can be enjoyed at anytime, and they are certainly very popular when the warmer summer months are here! There are so many varieties to choose from. A more simple Green salad to a lovely Greek salad, or even a Chicken Caesar salad.

Reading an article on Diet Doctor site about low carb and keto salads, it stated that 'many people think of salads as boring diet food that will leave you hungry and unsatisfied.' (I don't find that).'Low carb and keto salad recipes are rich in protein — and they’re filled with nutrition, flavours, and healthy fats to keep you fuelled all day long! From Caesar to Taco, Greek to Egg, low carb / keto-friendly salads are the perfect side, main, lunch, or dinner.' Read more at Diet Doctor site for their top ten keto salads and top ten low carb salads, the link you need is here

Related Post/Article

Super Salads, Some Tips for Building A Better Salad

read it here

Do you enjoy salad? Have you a favourite salad recipe?

One of our favourite salads is

Triple Berry Summer Salad

Ingredients

Serves four

9oz baby spinach, torn

1 cup sliced strawberries

1 cup raspberries

1 cup blueberries

1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted

1/3 cup chopped basil

1 avocado, chopped

4oz goat cheese

 see the recipe details/instructions here

You will find a variety of articles and recipe ideas within this blog, and not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues please take these into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter. If you have any concerns about your health it is always advisable to consult your Doctor or health care team.

... and just a reminder to keep checking your spam folder as many bloggers are still finding comments are going incorrectly into spam - read more here

All the best Jan

Hot weather: Some tips on how to sleep in the heat

Hot weather: How to sleep in the heat
When the temperatures are high many of us struggle with the challenge of getting a good night's sleep. However, there are things you can do to try and beat the heat.

1. No napping
Hot weather can make us feel a bit lethargic during the day. That's because we are using more energy to regulate our internal temperature. If your sleep is disturbed at night, try to avoid napping during the day. When it's hot, sleepiness can be precious - save it for bedtime.

2. Keep to routines
Hot weather can encourage you to change your habits. Don't, because that can disrupt sleep. Try to keep to your usual bedtime and routines. Do the things you normally do before bed.

3. Remember the basics
Take steps to make sure your bedroom is as cool as it can be at night. During the day, draw the curtains or blinds to keep the sun out. Make sure you close the windows on the sunny side of your home, to keep hot air out. Open all the windows before you go to bed, to get a through breeze.

4. Use thin sheets
Reduce your bedding but keep covers handy. Thin cotton sheets will absorb sweat. However hot it is in your bedroom, your body temperature will fall during the night - that's why we sometimes wake up feeling cold.

5. Chill your socks
Using even a small fan can be sensible in hot weather, especially when it's humid. It encourages the evaporation of sweat and makes it easier for your body to regulate your internal temperature. If you don't have a fan, try filling your hot water bottle with ice cold liquid instead. Alternatively, cool socks in the fridge and put those on. Cooling your feet lowers the overall temperature of your skin and body.

6. Stay hydrated
Drink enough water throughout the day but avoid drinking very large amounts before bed. You probably don't want to wake up thirsty - but you don't want to take an additional trip to the bathroom in the early hours either.

7. But think about what you drink

Be careful about soft drinks. Many contain large amounts of caffeine, which stimulates the central nervous system and makes us feel more awake. Avoid drinking too much alcohol as well. Many people drink more when the weather is hot. Alcohol might help us fall asleep but it promotes early morning waking and a poorer quality of sleep overall.

8. Stay calm
If you are struggling to sleep, get up and do something calming. Try reading, writing, or even folding your socks. Just make sure you don't play on your phone or a video game - the blue light makes us feel less sleepy and the activity is stimulating. Return to bed when you feel sleepy.

9. Think of the children
Children are usually quite robust sleepers - but they can be very sensitive to changes in family "mood" and routine. Make sure usual bedtimes and bath times don't go out of the window just because it's warm! As part of the bedtime routine, lukewarm baths are recommended by the NHS UK website. Make sure they aren't too cold, as that will boost circulation (your body's way of keeping warm). A baby can't let you know if they are too hot or too cold, so it is important to monitor their temperature. They will sleep best when the room temperature is kept between 16C and 20C. You could install a thermometer where the baby is sleeping.

10. Get over it
Most of us need about seven to eight hours of good-quality sleep each night to function properly. But remember that most people can function well after a night or two of disturbed sleep. Although you might yawn a little more frequently than usual, you'll probably be fine.

These tips were based on suggestions by Prof Kevin Morgan, former director of the Clinical Sleep Research Unit at Loughborough University, and Lisa Artis, of the Sleep Council. This article was first published in July 2019.

All words above and more can be seen here

~ I hope you sleep well and wake refreshed ~

Have you any tips for sleeping in the heat?

Do please share them in the comments.

For those readers not experiencing the heat at the moment but still having problems sleeping this article may help:-

If Sometimes Sleep is Elusive - Getting Quality Rest Helps -see here

You will find a variety of articles and recipe ideas within this blog. Please note, not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter.

All the best Jan

Paneer and Roasted Vegetable Curry : The Mary Berry Way

Paneer is an Indian cheese with a mild flavour, that stays firm when roasted. It is combined with roasted cauliflower and sweet potato in this deliciously rich, satisfying and creamy curry.

Paneer is made from curdling cow’s milk with a vegetable-derived acid (like lemon juice), it has the same solid consistency as halloumi (and looks the same to the naked eye). Although it has the desirable non-melting properties of halloumi, it isn’t as salty and flavoursome so it works better in curries or with sauces rather than dry.

Ingredients

Serves 4 - 6

4 tbsp sunflower oil
1 cauliflower, cut into florets
300g/10½oz sweet potato, peeled and cut into 2cm/¾in chunks
225g/8oz paneer, cut into 1cm/½in dice
2 onions, sliced
3cm/1¼in piece fresh root ginger, peeled and grated
1 tbsp curry powder
1 tbsp garam masala
¼ tsp ground cloves
2 tbsp plain flour
600ml/20fl oz hot vegetable stock
2 tbsp mango chutney
150ml/¼ pint double cream
115g/4oz baby spinach
1 lemon, juice only
salt and freshly ground black pepper

To Serve - Suggested Options

Cauliflower Rice - the lower carb alternative

some readers may prefer some freshly cooked rice

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 220C/200C Fan/Gas 7.
2. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of the oil into a large roasting tin, add the cauliflower and sweet potato and stir to coat. Season with salt and pepper and roast for about 15 minutes.
3. Add the paneer to one end of the roasting tin and return to the oven for 5–10 minutes, turning halfway through, until the cheese is golden on both sides, the cauliflower is golden and the sweet potato is tender.
4. Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil in a large, deep frying pan. Add the onions and ginger and fry for 5–10 minutes, or until softened. Sprinkle in the spices and flour and stir over the heat for a few seconds. Gradually pour in the stock, stirring until thickened, and simmer for a few minutes over a high heat.
5. Stir in the mango chutney, cream, roasted cauliflower and sweet potato and the spinach. Stir until heated through and the spinach has wilted. Stir in the lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.
6. Add the paneer at the last moment and serve piping hot, with your choice of rice.

From original idea here

Mary Berry, is one of the best-known and respected cookery writers and broadcasters in the UK. She describes her cooking style as 'family' - practical, healthy recipes that incorporate lots of fresh ingredients.

'Posh Roasted Vegetables - The Mary Berry Way'

You may have seen this popular vegetarian recipe suggestion from Mary before.

It is a different take on a classic ratatouille with the vegetables arranged prettily in a dish,

and you serve it in slices, see here

A variety of recipe ideas are within this blog, but please note, not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter.

Just a reminder to keep checking your spam folder as many bloggers are finding comments are going incorrectly into spam, read more here

All the best Jan

Happy Fathers Day 2022

image from google

Today Sunday 19th June 2022 here in the UK and many other countries we celebrate Father's Day. It is usually held on the third Sunday of June and is a day to honour fathers and father figures, such as grandfathers and fathers-in-law. Many people make a special effort to visit their fathers or to send them a card or gifts. More information can be read here

If you live in America it was back on June 19, 1910 that Father’s Day was founded, in Spokane, Washington at the YMCA by Sonora Smart Dodd to honour her father, Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart, for all his efforts as a single parent raising his six children. According to Hallmark Fathers Day is the fourth largest card sending occasion. More information can be read here

In our house cards and gifts are given, some arrived early by post yesterday ready for Eddie to open ... and we have been fortunate to see family members both yesterday and today, a lovely family time.

Wherever you may live we wish all who will be celebrating this day a happy day.

If you can smell a wonderful aroma wafting from your computer screen it will be the Roast Chicken cooking, everyone's favourite meal 😋

Sunday Roast Dinner : Classic Roast Chicken and Gravy

see more details and recipe here

Dear reader, you will find a variety of articles and recipe suggestions within this blog, and not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter.

All the best Jan

DIABETES NEWS : 'Rural Canadian doctor documents diabetes improvements with low carb'

Sharing this very interesting article from Diet Doctor site

"Rural Canadian doctor documents diabetes improvements with low carb

Dr. Waldy Loewen is a retired family doctor, working in a small Canadian town, who coaches patients with type 2 diabetes to use low carb diets to improve or reverse their diabetes.

Over the last two years, Dr. Loewen has collected health data on 22 of his patients with diabetes who have completed one full year on a low carb diet. Only one of the patients was lost to follow-up during the second year; the remaining 21 patients continued with his coaching for another 12 months of low carb eating.

And the results? Impressive.

His patients lost an average of 31 pounds (14 kilos) in the first year. All 22 had significant reductions in their blood sugar that greatly improved or even reversed their diabetes. The majority were able to come off insulin and reduce or eliminate other drugs.

“My message is that an ordinary retired family doctor, working with ordinary humans, can achieve remission rates of type 2 diabetes that rival any more-sophisticated and expensive practice in the world,” said Dr. Loewen who practices in the Northern Ontario town of Kenora, near the Manitoba border.

Kenora has a population 15,000 people, of which 20% are Indigenous (First Nations). In Canada, the Indigenous population has nine times higher rates of diabetes than the general population.

Dramatic life-changing results

Dr. Loewen’s small study documents individual results that were dramatic and life-changing. For example, one 47-year-old Indigenous patient, Charlene, who started the low carb diet in March 2020, weighed 360 pounds (163 kilos) at the beginning of the intervention.

She lost 62 pounds (27 kilos) in the first year and maintained a 50-pound weight loss at 24 months. Her HbA1c (a measure of blood sugar levels over three months) went from a diabetic level of 7.10% to a normal level of 5.5% over the 24 months of low carb eating. Her C-reactive protein (CRP — a measure of inflammation) declined from 12.93 mg/L to 5.4 mg/L.

But most notably, she’d had a recurrent unhealing diabetic leg ulcer for seven years that had even necessitated hospitalization. The leg ulcer finally healed within eight months on the low carb diet, which astounded and relieved both Charlene and Dr. Loewen.

“It is interesting that if this patient eats sugar, which she rarely does, the area of former ulceration becomes intensely itchy,” said Dr. Loewen. “She is strongly motivated to persist with carbohydrate restriction because a close relative had both her legs amputated due to type 2 diabetes.”

Some find it easy, others find it hard

Dr. Loewen notes that staying on the diet long-term can be challenging for some patients. There was some “slippage” among the patient group in the second year during the pandemic, with an average weight regain of 5 pounds and slight increases in HbA1c.

However, the majority continued to be much improved in all their health markers. For example, the reductions in HbA1c went from an average of 8.6% to 6.6% in the first year and settled at 7.10% in the second.

“For some people, doing low carb is incredibly easy, particularly if they haven’t had diabetes for very long, or they’re very motivated by having had friends or relatives with diabetes complications,” Dr. Loewen said. “But for some people, keeping to the diet is really hard. They start off okay for the first 6 to 12 months. But psychological stress, bereavement, depression and the isolation and anxiety of the pandemic can all make it much harder to stick to low carb. Temptations are everywhere, such as a family birthday party or get-together. Under stress and with temptation in front of them, it is easy to go back to old styles of eating.”

While four patients had a return of their diabetes in the second year, three of them have now recommitted to low-carb eating.

Dr. Loewen presented his findings in a poster session at the Metabolic Health Summit in Santa Barbara in May, where his work impressed many of the delegates, including Dr. Bret Scher, medical director of Diet Doctor.

“Dr. Loewen has great results,” said Dr. Scher. “It is not surprising that we see companies like Virta Health, with coaches, and extensive online resources achieve reversal of diabetes. But Dr. Loewen shows that a solo doctor working in the middle of rural Canada can achieve good results, too, with little to no support staff. That’s so cool!”

In 40 years of practice, never saw diabetes reversal

Dr. Loewen’s story of discovering low carb diets, and deciding to focus in his retirement on helping people with diabetes do the diet, is inspiring.

Now 78, he graduated from medical school in 1968. In more than 40 years of practice as a GP, most of that in Kenora, he had never seen a patient with diabetes improve. “They just got worse and worse. It was a horrible feeling to not be able to help them as a doctor, no matter what you did.”

Then, in 2014, he attended a primary care conference in Vancouver and heard Dr. Jay Wortman speak about his experience working to reverse diabetes using a low carb, traditional diet among Indigenous patients in the remote community of Alert Bay, BC and creating a documentary.

Dr. Loewen was shocked, surprised, and fascinated by Wortman’s work. Why had he never heard in his many years as a doctor that diabetes could be improved, even reversed, with a low carb diet?

He set out to learn everything he could about the diet, even visiting Dr. Wortman in his office, visiting Alert Bay to talk to patients and clinicians there, and attending many low carb conferences and cruises over the intervening years.

When he retired from general practice in 2019, he decided to focus on helping patients with diabetes. He let health providers in his region know that he would take referrals of their patients with diabetes. More than 20 doctors and nurse practitioners sent him referrals.

At first, he met with patients in person, but when the pandemic hit he moved all his consultations online. Now he is back seeing patients in person again. He plans to continue to collect data on the patients he is still seeing into a third year.

The original 22 patients range in age from 26 to 79, with an average age of 58. There were 7 men and 15 women. The average starting weight was 239 pounds (108 kilos). Dr. Loewen referred patients to the Diet Doctor website for recipes and information. He kept meticulous records of their progress.

Along with improved HbA1cs and weight loss, he also documented improved liver function tests, reduced inflammatory markers, and improved blood lipids.

“I’m surprised that more physicians aren’t documenting the dramatic benefit of carbohydrate restriction in a systematic way that would prove its effectiveness,” he says.

Dr. Loewen has been invited to present his findings to medical staff in a Grand Rounds session at the regional Lake of the Woods Hospital at the end of June. He has also sent a paper summarizing his approach and data to Canadian medical journals.

“I’ve been telling everyone who asks what I’m doing. It is so rewarding to see the impact on my patients – especially since, for decades, I never saw anyone get better with diabetes. Now I’m having so much fun. It is life-changing for them and so rewarding for me.

“I think more doctors will be drawn to something that is so satisfying as a doctor. We just need to share our data,” he says.

Congratulations Dr. Loewen for showing how this important information and coaching can dramatically improve patients’ health. "

Please see the original article, with related images, here

Older Related Articles/Posts

Diabetes Canada publishes paper endorsing a low-carb option - see here

North Bay pharmacist opens low carb clinic to help people with diabetes, weight loss - see here

Study shows low carb reverses diabetes and saves money - see here

Please note that ALL posts/articles on this blog are provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. If you have any concerns about your general health, you should contact your local health care provider.

A variety of articles, studies and recipe ideas are found within this blog, and not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter.

All the best Jan

Lettuce Cups Are Never Boring : Three Recipes To Try

Lettuce Cups can make a welcome change, and you will find the best greens for edible cups are sturdy head lettuces with thick ribs on each leaf. Examples include iceberg, bibb, Boston, and little gem (romaine and cos). Each leaf should be deep enough to hold the filling, and hardy enough not to wilt with heavy or warm additions. Give floppy, thin, or wilty lettuces a miss for these three recipe suggestions.

Lettuce cups with deli turkey, tomatoes and mayo

Ingredients

Serves One

3 (3 oz.) Romaine (also known as Cos) lettuce leaves

2 tbsp mayonnaise

5½ oz. deli turkey, cut into bite-sized pieces

6 (3½ oz.) cherry tomatoes, halved

½ (2⁄3 oz.) a stick of celery stalk, finely chopped

1 tbsp fresh parsley, roughly chopped

1 tbsp lemon juice (optional)

salt and pepper

Instructions

and more detail can be seen here

Boom Bang-a-Bang - Chicken Cups

Ingredients

Serves 8

100g smooth peanut butter

140g full-fat coconut yogurt or natural yogurt mixed with 2 tbsp. desiccated coconut

2 tsp sweet chilli sauce

2 tsp soy sauce

2-3 spring onions, finely shredded

3 cooked skinless chicken breasts, shredded

2 Baby Gem lettuces, big leaves separated

½ cucumber, halved lengthways, seeds scraped out with a teaspoon, cut into matchsticks

toasted sesame seeds, for sprinkling

Instructions

and more details can be seen here

Cajun Chicken Lettuce Tacos and Carrot Fries

Ingredients

Serves One

50g beetroot

half an avocado

1 baby gem lettuce

half a lemon

1 tbsp. oil (coconut or olive)

1 tsp Cajun spice

1 tsp tahini

170g (free range) chicken breast

200g carrot

little sea salt and black pepper

Instructions

and more details can be seen here / here

~ I wonder, have you a favourite recipe out of these three? ~

You will find a variety of recipe ideas within this blog, and not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues please take these into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter. If you have any concerns about your health it is always advisable to consult your Doctor or health care team.

Just a reminder to keep checking your spam folder as many bloggers are finding comments are going incorrectly into spam

All the best Jan

Chicken with a creamy mushroom and mustard sauce : Recipe for a special occasion

Marcus Wareing is an English celebrity chef who is currently Chef-Owner of the Michelin-starred restaurant Marcus, in Knightsbridge, South-West London. Since 2014, he has been a judge on T.V's. MasterChef - The Professionals.

I am sharing this creamy chicken recipe by Marcus, it is loaded with wine and brandy, (so not suitable for children) two types of mustard, crème fraîche and plenty of butter, definitely food for a special occasion.

Ingredients

Serves 2 - 4

3 tbsp olive oil
125g/4½oz unsalted butter
4–6 boneless chicken thighs, skin on
2 fresh thyme sprigs
2 bay leaves
½ bulb garlic, unpeeled, and 4 garlic cloves, chopped
2 small onions, finely chopped
300–400g/10½–14oz small button mushrooms
1 bunch fresh tarragon, stalks and leaves separated, leaves chopped
100ml/3½fl oz brandy
250ml/9fl oz white wine
1–2 tbsp wholegrain mustard
1–2 tbsp Dijon mustard
500g/1lb 2oz crème fraîche
150g/5½oz wild garlic (or spinach)
1 bunch asparagus, tips and stalks separated (or use broccoli florets)

Method
1. Preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6.

2. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 75g/2¾oz of butter in an ovenproof casserole. Once hot, add the chicken thighs skin-side down and cook for 3–4 minutes on each side until browned.
3. Add the thyme, bay leaves and garlic bulb to the casserole and cook in the oven for 15–20 minutes, or until cooked through. Check that the chicken is cooked through by making sure the juices run clear with no trace of pink when the thickest part of the meat is pierced with a skewer.
4. To make the sauce, heat 25g/1oz of butter and ½ tablespoon of oil in a frying pan and gently fry the onion, chopped garlic, mushrooms and tarragon stalks for 8–10 minutes, or until the onion and mushrooms are cooked. Pour in the brandy and white wine, stir and cook until slightly reduced. Stir in the mustards and crème fraîche. Add the tarragon leaves and wild garlic and cook until wilted. Place the cooked chicken thighs in the sauce.
5. Heat the remaining oil and butter in a separate frying pan, add the asparagus and cook for 2–3 minutes until just cooked. Stir the asparagus into the chicken mixture just before serving.

Note - This dish would work equally well with pork.

From original idea here

~ enjoy your day ~

You will find a variety of recipe ideas within this blog, and not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter. If you have any concerns about your health it is always advisable to consult your Doctor or health care team.

All the best Jan

For hands that do dishes, gardening, crafting, reading and may even hold a glass of low carb Pimm's !

Our hands are always busy, even when we may be sitting down reading a book! Well pages need to be turned!

It has often been said, that one of the ways to tell a woman’s age is by looking at her hands. (Does this go for men too?). These multi-functional extremities are often neglected, and on the basis that they are almost permanently on show, is this a missed opportunity?

Growing up my dear Mum introduced me to hand cream sometime in my teens and from that day onward hand cream has always been part of my daily routine.

There are a few tips that can help hands hide those signs of aging and using a good hand cream daily can help. There are also some available that can help reduce age spots. It is also a good idea to put suntan cream on the backs of our hands, something that is often overlooked when applying it to our bodies whilst on holiday, or just sitting in the garden soaking up some of the suns rays.

It is always a good idea to wear washing up gloves when doing the dishes, as our hands in hot soapy water can cause our skin to dry. If you want to pamper your hands and keep your nails looking good a manicure is a great idea, even if you have short nails, this can make a difference.

As we grow older many of us find that a good distraction is jewellery; a large cocktail ring is sure to take away the focus, and adds a bit of ‘Bling’ to your fingers - so important when you are holding that summer glass of wine or Pimm's, or drink of your choice ...

Low Carb Pimm's

Serves One

Ingredients

3 oz. Pimm's No. 1

Zevia Ginger Beer or Diet Ginger Ale

1 Cucumber Spears

1 Sliced Strawberry

1 Lemon Wheel

1 Mint Spring

Ice crushed

Instructions

can be seen here

Do you use hand cream? Do you like manicures?

Do you wear gloves for washing up and gardening?

If you have any tips to keep hands in tip top condition do please share them in the comments.

Enjoy your day ~

Dear reader, you will find a variety of articles and recipe ideas within this blog, and not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues please take these into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter. If you have any concerns about your health it is always advisable to consult your Doctor or health care team.

Just a reminder to keep checking your spam folder as many bloggers are finding comments are going incorrectly into spam

All the best Jan

June can be a wonderful month for Strawberries

June, in the UK, marks the true start of summer, bringing with it plenty of fresh seasonal fruit and vegetables to enjoy. Bright crisp radishes and salad leaves add punchy flavour to salads and sides, while broccoli is a reliable addition to any easy summer dinner. The abundance of fresh summer fruit means desserts require minimal effort – big bowls of strawberries and double (heavy) cream are all you need for a delicious way to finish a meal.

Strawberries
These iconic berries are at their best from now until September. Store them unwashed in the fridge but bring to room temperature before eating to maximise their sweet flavour. I enjoy eating some with double (heavy) cream.

You may wish to try
Strawberries with sugar free and low carb Vanilla Ice Cream - see details here
Strawberry Cheesecake - see details here
Low Carb Strawberry Sponge Cake (made in the microwave) - see details here
Triple Berry Summer Salad - see details here

Do you enjoy eating strawberries? Do you have a favourite recipe that uses strawberries, do please share your thoughts in the comments.

Dear reader, you will find a variety of articles, studies etc. plus recent news/views and recipe ideas within this blog, we hope something for everyone to read and enjoy ... but please note, not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter. If you have any concerns about your health it is always advisable to consult your Doctor or health care team.

All the best Jan