Tomato Pie : A Taste of Summer : It's Low Carb Too

Tomatoes are in season during August; simple salads of fresh tomatoes are a highlight of summer. Look for bright and firm tomatoes with wrinkle-free skins that are not split, and have a sweet, earthy scent. If sold on the vine, choose a thick, strong vine with tightly attached tomatoes. It's best not to put tomatoes in the fridge as this will impair their flavour and texture.

But ... have you tried tomato in a pie? This savoury low-carb pie is best with fresh summer tomatoes from a Southern garden. If you can’t get Southern tomatoes, just get tomatoes! You can enjoy this pie by itself, or with salad, but it's also delicious served with grilled meats - as always dear reader the choice is yours.

Ingredients

Six servings
5g carb per serving
Crust
1¼ cups (3½ oz.) shredded/grated Parmesan cheese
¾ cup (3 oz.) almond flour
1⁄3 cup (1¼ oz.) oat fibre**
1 egg
2 tbsp butter or coconut oil
¼ tsp salt
Filling
5 (1¼ lbs) large tomatoes, sliced
1⁄3 cup (2 oz.) finely slivered red onions
½ cup mayonnaise
1¼ cups (5 oz.) cheddar cheese, shredded/grated
½ tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil

Three Tips
** The oat fibre can be replaced with 2 tbls. of coconut flour (1 pie).

Thyme can be used instead of instead of oregano / basil.

For more flavour, feel free to sprinkle chopped, cooked bacon over the tomatoes before baking the pie.
Need help with weight/measurement conversion, see here
Find recipe instructions here

If it's more like tomato soup weather where you live you might like this post here

Tomatoes and their health benefits

read more here

You will find a variety of articles and recipe ideas within this blog, 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 (more about this here) 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

Tea Cup Salad !

The weather in parts of the UK has been quite warm and definitely salad weather, in fact I enjoyed one today ... and I know Eddie was smiling down at me saying trust you to eat it in a tea cup 😀 Yes, as regular readers will know, I do like my cup of tea, but how about this! Watermelon salad in a tea-cup ... that's different.

Watermelon salad in a tea-cup

This recipe is from Lee Holmes, and she writes:-
"This dainty salad is a gorgeous, refreshing snack, light meal or post-meal enjoyment that will provide instant refreshment as well as a welcomed hit of hydration and nutrients. Watermelons are mostly water — about 92 percent — but every juicy bite has significant levels of vitamins A, B6 and C, as well as lycopene and beauty-boosting antioxidants that help keep your complexion glowing all summer long...

Ingredients
Serves 3
350 g (12 oz/2 cups) diced seedless watermelon
90 g (31/4 oz/2 cups) baby English spinach leaves
Small handful of mint leaves, torn or roughly chopped
1 large celery stalk, thinly sliced
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
60 g (21/4 oz/ 1/2 cup) crumbled goat’s cheese

Dressing
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp lime juice
Handful of coriander (cilantro) leaves, chopped
130 g (41/2 oz/ 1/2 cup) sheep’s milk yogurt (available from supermarkets)
Celtic sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Method
Whisk all the dressing ingredients together in a small bowl.
Combine the salad ingredients in a large bowl, then divide between three wide-mouthed teacups, mugs or bowls. Spoon the dressing on top and serve immediately.

Supercharged tip
Keep the salad and dressing separate until just before serving, then when you’re ready to eat spoon the dressing on top."
Image and recipe from Lee Holmes here

~ good wishes to all readers - sharing some summer soft shades ~

(image from google)

You will find a variety of recipe ideas within this blog, 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 (more about this here) 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

With thanks, from the bottom of my heart ...

As you can imagine these past weeks have not been easy as I adjust to life without my darling Eddie. I am so fortunate to have wonderful family and special friends who are very supportive and helping me through this difficult period.

I must also say a big thank you to all my blogland friends. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the wonderful thoughts and good wishes you have left in comments and emails... they mean so much to me.

I do hope to get back to blogging soon and continue posting on the low carb diabetic blog that Eddie first started back in 2010. For now I'm going to sign off with words that Eddie often wrote, "good luck and good health to all"

~ my thanks ~

All the best Jan

With Great Sadness ...

It is with great sadness, I share with blogland friends and readers, the death of my beloved husband Eddie. He touched so many lives, was a very special husband and soul mate. A great Dad and Grandad too; the family have so many wonderful memories of time spent together.

With regard to this blog he was a firm believer in the lower carb lifestyle, and how dietary changes can help with diabetes. 

Rest in peace my darling Eddie

All my love Jan

Welcome August 2024

As we say goodbye to July it's time to say hello to August.

Yes, the eighth month of the year is here!

Wonderful Yorkshire, Northern England, UK - see fact 10

August

1. The month of August was named after Roman emperor Augustus Caesar. In Latin, Augustus meant auspicious or venerable.

2. Before 8BC the Romans called it Sextilis as it was the sixth month in their calendar.

3. The Anglo-Saxons, though, called August “weod-monath” (weed month).

4. In the USA August is the month that has the highest birth rate; in the UK it is September.

5. Traditionally the season for eating crayfish in Sweden begins on the second Thursday in August.

6. In the USA August is National Hair Loss Awareness Month.

7. August was the 18th most common name given to a baby boy in Denmark in 2015.

8. In 2009 the Icelandic Naming Committee declared August unacceptable as a child’s name. Augustus is also not allowed.

9. Henry VI Part I and The Tempest are the only Shakespeare plays that mention the month of August. Cymbeline is The Bard’s only play mentioning the Emperor Augustus or anyone else of that name.

10. August 1st is celebrated as both Yorkshire Day and World Scout Scarf Day.

11. August's birthstones are the peridot, sardonyx, and spinel.

12. Its birth flower is the gladiolus or poppy. Gladiolus stands for strength, honour, and love at first sight. Poppies symbolize sleep, comfort after death, wealth, and success.

13. The Western zodiac signs for the month of August are Leo (until August 22) and Virgo (from August 23 onwards)

14. August 15th it's Lemon Meringue Pie Day in the US

15. International Strange Music Day is on 24th August, created by Patrick Grant

16. In the UK on 30 August it's National Burger Day, you can find plenty of low-carb and keto burger recipes here

The above from articles here and here and here

There are so many other interesting things about August, I've only included 16 … you may know of some others!

~ and now for a delicious recipe suggestion ~

Courgette / Zucchini Pizza Boats

For pizza's with a difference, why not use courgettes / zucchini as your base. Just halve and roast fresh courgettes before loading them with your favourite pizza toppings, such as chorizo, creamy mozzarella and fresh basil. These tasty courgette pizza boats are ready in 30 minutes. More details and recipe can be seen here

~ Wishing you a happy August 2024 ~

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