Which Colour Pumpkin will you choose this year? White, orange or maybe green!

Will it be white or orange this year? It could be a mixture of both. It could even be green, yellow, red, blue, or even tan! Yes, I'm talking about pumpkins.

You may be like me, when someone mentions the word pumpkin you automatically think orange! But apparently more of us are considering different colour pumpkins this year. Some family members have told me that they are on the lookout for white pumpkins.

Yes, white pumpkins, once a novelty, are becoming increasingly common in pumpkin patches, and these intriguing white orbs are all the rage when it comes to chic autumn decorating. Maybe it's the ghostly way they stand out on a dark night, or perhaps it's the clean smoothness of their appearance, which sparks creativity. Whatever the draw is, white pumpkins are ideal for growing, displaying, carving, and eating.

What is a White Pumpkin?
A white pumpkin is a pumpkin variety that has been selectively bred to feature white or ivory skin. The varieties widely range in size and shape. White pumpkins are also known as an albino pumpkin, ghost pumpkin, Snowball, Casper, Lumina, Baby Boo, and Cotton Candy Pumpkin.

Uses for a White Pumpkin
White pumpkins are awesome for carving because the skin is not quite as thick as an orange pumpkin's. They are even better for painting, whether you stencil a design or transform them to match your décor by painting them any solid colour of your choice.

White pumpkins provide great contrast in fall gourd and pumpkin displays. However, don't be afraid to think outside the Halloween box. A white pumpkin tied with a red velvet ribbon and positioned atop evergreen boughs would make a lovely holiday season decoration. Like many gourds, white pumpkins stored properly can last through the winter months.

Cooking and Eating White Pumpkin
The flesh inside a white pumpkin is edible, and it can be substituted for orange pumpkin in many recipes, whether you're baking white pumpkin pie or concocting a pumpkin soup. The satiny texture and sweet pumpkin taste of the Lumina variety is excellent for baking. Try using a hollowed-out white pumpkin as an attractive serving tureen.

A white pumpkin's seeds can also be eaten after toasting them in the oven or in a skillet/pan. Additionally, just like typical orange pumpkin, you can bake, scoop, puree, and then freeze white pumpkin.
More to read about pumpkins here

Related Pumpkin Posts

Health Benefits and uses of white pumpkins here
Health Benefits of Orange Pumpkins here
Pumpkin Colours here

However, a word of caution … Pumpkin is mildly diuretic and could be a problem for people who take certain medications, especially lithium.

Pumpkin, Kale and Goats' Cheese Frittata

Low Carb & Gluten Free, more details here

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. If you have any concerns about your health, it is always advisable to consult your doctor or health care team.

All the best Jan

Tuscan Chicken : The Mary Berry Way

Mary Berry is one of the best-known and respected cookery writers and broadcasters in the UK. This recipe based on a classic creamy chicken dish; Tuscan chicken is one of her favourites, especially when she needs an easy supper. She says it’s lovely served with potatoes, rice or pasta... but some readers may prefer a lower carb alternative, like mashed swede or cauliflower rice. As always, the choice dear reader is up to you 😊

Ingredients

Serves Six (adjust as necessary)

6 large skinless chicken thighs, bone in (see tip)
2 tbsp plain flour
2 tsp paprika
2 tbsp olive oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 large red pepper, deseeded and finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 tsp tomato purée
30g/1oz sun-blushed tomatoes, chopped
150ml/¼ pint white wine
150ml/¼ pint chicken stock
150ml/¼ pint pouring double (heavy) cream
150g/5½oz baby spinach
55g/2oz Parmesan, grated
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

1. Place the chicken in a bowl. Add the flour and the paprika and season well with salt and pepper. Toss together to coat the chicken.
2. Heat the oil in large, deep-frying pan over a high heat. Add the chicken and fry for 3–4 minutes on each side, until browned and crisp. Set aside.
3. Add the onion and pepper to the unwashed pan and fry for 4–5 minutes over a medium heat, until soft (you may need to add a little extra oil). Add the garlic and fry for 30 seconds.
4. Stir in the tomato purée, tomatoes, wine and stock. Bring to the boil then return the chicken to the pan along with any resting juices. Cover, reduce the heat, and simmer for about 30 minutes, until tender.
5. Add the cream and spinach and stir until wilted. Remove from the heat, sprinkle in the Parmesan and serve piping hot.

Recipe Tips

i) Sun-blushed tomatoes are sometimes sold as semi-dried tomatoes, slow roasted tomatoes or sun-soaked tomatoes.
ii) If you can only find smaller chicken thighs, you might want to add a few extra (they often come in packs of eight in supermarkets). Or use chicken breasts if you prefer.
iii) This dish freezes well.

You can see the original recipe here

Have you tried the Mary Berry recipe for Butternut Squash Soup? See it here

~ many good wishes for happy October days ~

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

A Pleasant Afternoon Stroll

In our part of the UK, we have been enjoying cooler Autumnal mornings, turning into sunny days, simply perfect for getting our walking boots on and enjoying a pleasant afternoon stroll. Out recently we spotted some mallards on the lake and walking a little further came across some lovely Autumnal trees, such beautiful colours. I do like this time of year.

Mallards on the lake

Mallard Ducks on the bank - don't you just love their colours

The mallard is a dabbling duck that breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Eurasia, and North Africa and has been introduced to New Zealand, Australia, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, the Falkland Islands, and South Africa.

Yes, we were pleased to once again take a little time out for a pleasant afternoon's stroll.

Have you enjoyed a walk recently? I know many readers do.

All the best Jan

Pumpkin Stew with sour cream : Vegetarian

"This lentil and pumpkin stew is all about how to make a straightforward recipe a lot more exciting - with very little effort. Perfect for when it’s cooling down outside and you want something really warming.

Ingredients

Serves Four

40g/1½oz butter
2 onions, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
1 stick celery, chopped
3 sprigs rosemary
2 bay leaves
1 clove garlic, chopped
400g/14oz lentils
1.2litres/2pints 2fl oz vegetable stock
600g/1lb 5oz assorted pumpkin or squash (total chopped weight)
small bunch parsley, chopped
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
4 tbsp sour cream

Method

1. In a large pan melt the butter and then add chopped onions, carrot and celery. Tear in the rosemary and a couple of bay leaves and after a few minutes add the chopped garlic. When all have nicely softened, tip in the lentils and pour over 1litre/1¾ pints of vegetable stock. Bring to the boil and then leave to simmer whilst you tend to the pumpkin.
2. Using a variety of pumpkins and squashes gives the stew a more complex flavour. Here I use acorn squash and Cinderella, but you want to end up with about 600g/1lb 5oz of peeled pumpkin in large chunks. Add them to the stew, season and then pour over enough water to just cover all the ingredients. Put a lid on the pan and leave to simmer for 30-40 minutes.
3. When the stew is almost ready, add the chopped parsley.
4. To make the stew creamier, remove a small bowlful to a food processor and blitz it with 200ml/2fl oz of stock. Pour it back in and the stew becomes instantly more velvety.
5. Serve the stew in bowls, finishing each helping off with a cooling spoonful of sour cream.

Each serving provides 

8g protein, 28g carbohydrate, 12g fat, 9g fibre and 2g salt."

From original recipe idea here

Related Post

Although pumpkin has many health benefits which you can read about in this post 

Pumpkin - Health Benefits - here

A word of caution … Pumpkin is mildly diuretic and could be a problem for people who take certain medications, especially lithium.

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

Noodles and Silly Hats

Did you know that October 6th (tomorrow, as this post publishes) is known as Noodle Day as well as Mad Hatter Day.

NATIONAL NOODLE DAY

Noodles can be found all over the world in all shapes, sizes, and colours. They’re most often made from flour but can even be made from beans or vegetables like zucchini (courgettes) or carrots; there are oodles of noodles possibilities! Celebrate today by eating your favourite type of noodles!

This Veggie Packed - Minestrone Soup

uses zucchini (courgette) noodles

more details here

NATIONAL MAD HATTER DAY

National Mad Hatter Day was created in honour of the Mad Hatter from Lewis Carrol’s Alice in Wonderland. Today you are strongly encouraged to take a walk on the sillier side of life. Perhaps, you could host a dress-up tea party, and wear some silly hats.

image and more details here

You may like to take along this delicious

Victoria Sponge Cake

to the Mad Hatters tea party, it's low carb / keto

recipe details here

... and also, did you know that on 6th October in 2010, Instagram was officially launched? The social media application gained 25,000 users on its first day.

Dear reader, this blog brings a variety of articles and recipe ideas, and it is important to 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 a reliable 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

B is for Broccoli, Bell Peppers, Brussels Sprouts

Would any of these be your choices? Do you have another dish that would fit 'B is for' ?

Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

B is for Broccoli and a tasty

Broccoli and Chickpea Frittata

see more details here

B is also for delicious

Baked Mini Bell Peppers

look at that yummy cheese topping

see more details here

If you are a regular reader here you will not be surprised by this choice

B is for Brussels Sprouts and Cheddar Cheese Soup

so delicious, see more details here

You will find a variety of recipe ideas within this blog, and it is important to 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 a reliable meter. If you have any concerns about your health it is always advisable to consult your Doctor or health care team.

Have you seen the choices for 'A is for' ? See them here

All the best Jan

Pumpkin Time Comes Around Again, with a special tribute to Queen Elizabeth

A farmer from Eye, Suffolk recently gave an early warning that pumpkins won't be as big as usual this Halloween, due to the hot weather and lack of rainfall.

Pumpkins stop growing in temperatures over 28 degrees, so this year's hot UK summer means they haven't had as much time to grow, resulting in smaller fruit.

Freddy Vaudrey said "Sadly we're not gonna have some of the huge, gigantic pumpkins that we had over previous years."

Story from here

However there is a pumpkin farm in Hampshire, Southern England, UK  that has created a huge Paddington Bear mural tribute to the Queen. It is made out of 10,000 pumpkins and squash. Isn't it wonderful, read the full story here

grandson with a lovely pumpkin, photo taken in 2014 ... wonderful memories

it will soon be time for the 2022 pumpkin

we'll just have to see how big the pumpkins are

~ and if you may be looking for a pumpkin recipe, how about this one ~

Provencal Pumpkin Tian

lovely Autumn / Fall food

Perfect for this time of year. A creamy starter, or side dish.

It works really well with roast meats and chicken.

see more details/recipe here

You will find a variety of articles/recipe ideas, within this blog. It is important to 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

Answers to October Quiz Plus ... a recipe for Dauphinoise Casserole with Cabbage or Celeriac

Hello there, I hope you enjoyed yesterday's quiz. Many thanks to all those who read the post and special thanks to those who took time to comment.

Marigold - image from here

Did you know the answers? Well, as promised here are the answers to the seven questions. For ease I have repeated the questions ...

What is Halloween better known as?
All Hallows’ Eve

What are the two birthstones for October?
Opal and tourmaline

What is the birth flower for October?
Marigold is generally recognised as the main birth flower, although Cosmos is shown on some sites

Which holiday is celebrated by Canadians in October?

Thanksgiving

If you were born on October 30th, what is your star sign?
Scorpio

The night before Halloween is named after which vegetable?
Cabbage - read more about it here

In October 1926 this book was published and written by A.A.Milne. What was the book?
Winnie the Pooh

~ Who can resist Winnie the Pooh, and this Autumn themed giphy ~

 

How did you do? Before I researched the answers, I knew five 😊

... and now on to a tasty recipe suggestion, which you may wish to try.

Dauphinoise Casserole with Cabbage or Celeriac

Casseroles 'dauphinoise' can be just perfect LCHF dishes. Here we have one made with cabbage.

It is a combination of nutritious and inexpensive green cabbage and cheese.

The result is a creamy, delicious casserole.

Can be served as a side dish or as a vegetarian main course. More details here

~ wishing you a happy month of October ~

A variety of articles 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 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

October - Time for the first of the month quiz - plus - recipe for Autumn Frittata with Butternut Squash and Spinach

~ some October foods in season, read more here ~

As we welcome October, the tenth month of the year, it's time for the first of the month quiz. I'm only asking seven questions; I hope you may have a go at answering them.

What is Halloween better known as?

All Hallows’ Eve
Candy Day
Costumes Day
Trick or Treat Day

What are the two birthstones for October?

Amethyst and tourmaline
Blue topaz and emerald
Garnet and sapphire
Opal and tourmaline

What is the birth flower for October?

Chrysanthemum
Holly
Marigold
Gladiolus

Which holiday is celebrated by Canadians in October?

Independence Day
Thanksgiving
Valentine’s Day
Veterans Day

If you were born on October 30th, what is your star sign?

Libra
Scorpio
Virgo
Capricorn

The night before Halloween is named after which vegetable?

Cabbage
Carrot
Cucumber
Pumpkin

In October 1926 this book was published and written by A.A.Milne. What was the book?

Alice in Wonderland
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Peter Pan
Winnie the Pooh

How did you do? Do write down your answers at home and come back tomorrow when the answers will be revealed. 😊

~ and now for a delicious recipe suggestion ~

Autumn Frittata with Butternut Squash and Spinach

tastes great and nutrition per slice is - Fat 11g Carbs 7g Protein 15g

see recipe details here

This blog is presented in a magazine style - we hope something for everyone. You will find a variety of articles, studies, thoughts, photographs, music and recipes! However, not all the recipes' ideas featured in this blog 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

Harvest Festival Time

photo credit

'We plough the fields, and scatter the good seed on the land;

But it is fed and watered by God's almighty hand:

He sends the snow in winter, the warmth to swell the grain,

The breezes and the sunshine, and soft refreshing rain.

Chorus All good gifts around us

Are sent from heaven above,

Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord

For all His love.'

above lyrics as published in 1861 in A Garland of Songs

The months of September and October are wonderful harvest months with vegetables such as Aubergine (egg-plant), Cabbage, Celeriac and Swede ... each of which is a low carbers favourite ... to fruits like apples, plums and raspberries, with raspberries definitely on many a low carbers dish. I used to enjoy both my local church and school harvest festivals and of course these still continue each year, many of which include the hymn above.

Yes, Harvest Festival is a traditional event celebrating the successful gathering of the year's crops. Often celebrated in churches and schools, people are encouraged to donate homegrown produce, fruit and vegetables to those in need. The Harvest Festival is a time for feasting, celebrating and giving thanks. It is also a time for honouring those who grow and reap crops.

In recent times the rise of food-banks has given Britain's harvest festival tradition a new momentum - but has left little room for fresh produce as part of the celebrations.

In the past, September was a time when churches and school halls were filled with an abundance of seasonal fresh fruit, vegetables and bread, much of it destined for those in need.

Although this still happens it has changed. Tinned and dried foods have become more prominent, and a strict 'no-perishables' policy is now common among many harvest festival organisers, whose goods are increasingly bound for foodbanks and charities.

When is the Harvest Festival celebrated?

The Harvest Festival occurs on the Sunday nearest to the appearance of the harvest moon. This is the full moon that appears closest to the autumn equinox, which is usually at the end of September or the beginning of October. The traditional start of the autumn season.

How is the Harvest Festival celebrated?

The Harvest Festival is usually a time to share locally grown produce with those in need and celebrate with a big feast. Churches are often decorated with fruits and vegetables brought by parishioners, which is then donated to charity.

The Harvest Festival is celebrated around the world across many different faiths and cultures. It takes place at different times of the year in different countries, according to when the main harvest is for each country. In the USA, the Harvest Festival is known as Thanksgiving and is a national holiday in November every year.

A nice vegetable for the harvest festival table is swede/rutabaga. It sits comfortably in the roasting tin alongside parsnips, carrots, beetroot and celeriac (also in season right now). However, swede does make a delicious soup or is great, simply mashed with butter and black pepper, as a vegetable side. Low in fat, high in fibre, packed with vitamin C and the minerals potassium (for a healthy heart) and calcium and magnesium, which are great for the bones.

You can read more about this vegetable, plus see some recipe suggestions here

As regular readers know, this blog is presented in a magazine style - we hope something for everyone. You will find a variety of articles, studies, thoughts, photographs, music and recipes! However, not all the recipe ideas featured in this blog 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

'New study: Keto reduces, not raises, cardiovascular risk'

Sharing a post by Dr Bret Scher MD at Diet Doctor site

He writes:

"Does a ketogenic diet put people at higher risk of heart disease? Recent research suggests, in fact, the opposite is true.

Patients on a keto diet may significantly reduce their risk of heart disease, while losing weight and improving blood sugar, blood pressure, and other metabolic markers.

The latest study to show this is a new small pilot study published in Metabolites. The research team, including keto weight loss expert Dr. Tro Kalayjian, partnered with a local manufacturing plant. They signed up interested employees with obesity and higher risk of cardiovascular disease to follow a weight loss and metabolic health program with carbohydrate reduction for six months.

The patients were taught how to eat keto and wore continuous glucose monitors and used ketone meters. They were supported by medical visits, Doctor Tro’s app, and had access to a health coach (including keto coach Amy Eiges, whose 230-pound weight loss success story was previously shared).

Of the 10 patients who followed the program for six months, patients averaged a 44% reduction in their relative cardiovascular risk. Not only that, but the average weight loss was 38 pounds (17 kilos) and significant money was saved on prescription drug costs."

You can read the full article and see a video from Dr Bret Scher here

Please note that articles within 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.

All the best Jan

Welcome to spider season

Welcome to spider season: Why you should never catch and kill

Spider season is here, with daddy long legs and house species popping up in homes throughout September and October.

Invertebrate charity Buglife revealed that as many as 200 billion spiders could be making themselves comfortable across the UK at the moment, which sounds far less than ideal.

This of course means that arachnophobia season is also in full swing, because no matter how remarkable the eight-legged scuttlers may be, for those who live in fear, every new piece of information just adds to the alarm.

For instance, there are 38,000 species of spider in the world, and many more to be discovered. They're also found on every continent 'except Antarctica', and in one acre of land, there are around one million of them. The list could go on.

Why you shouldn't catch and kill spiders
The arachnophobes out there (over 6% of the global population have 'an intense fear of spiders') will know all too well the screaming dread of seeing that dark shape whisk by across the floor, noiseless and seemingly directionless.

Fortunately, for much of the year, spiders lurk unseen, or outdoors, busy building their webs between plants, being part of the eco-system, and causing no trouble.

But come autumn – mating season – the weather turns chilly, and the spider population wants to be warm and cosy, find somewhere to settle down and raise their many eight-eyed kids.

Understandably there is the urge to charge at them with a heavy hardback or the desire to leap onto a chair and stay there until we finally feel we are 'safe' again.

There are, however, good reasons not to do this. For a start, spiders are the Henry Hoovers of the 'minibeast' world, catching and eating all the annoying flies, bluebottles, midges and mosquitoes in your home. Say what you like about spiders but there are probably far more noisy and irritating disturbances you could have to deal with at night.

They also keep crops safe, by gobbling up pests that threaten the harvest, and protect plants by eating more insects than birds and bats combined. They have a vital place in the ecosystem – and they themselves provide nutritious food for birds, which won't work if they're smeared all over your heaviest encyclopaedia.

In fact, it has been estimated that spiders eat more insects than 'the weight of the human population' every year. As long as they don't come for us next.

How to safely get rid of spiders
However, while they may be essential to maintaining bio-diversity and balancing the entire eco-system on their eight little legs, many of us don't want them shacking up in our houses. So how do we gently persuade them out?

You could try conkers, which are said to contain saponin, a substance spiders hate to smell. Though while you might put them in every corner if your home, just in case, there is no evidence to prove this works.

And if you don't have a partner/child/parent/flatmate who's willing to gently carry them outside while you breathe into a paper bag, there's only one solution: The spider catcher, available online and many shops, supermarkets. Luckily, it's brilliant. Suck up Mr Spider, seal the tube, carry outside and release. Then walk away and don't look back.

Above words from article here

We all have our own ways of dealing with any unwelcome spider visitors,

this is mine - I then release it outside

how do you deal with spiders?

please share in the comments 

~ xx oo xx ~

Dera reader, this blog is presented in a magazine style - we hope something for everyone. You will find a variety of recipe ideas, food suggestions and articles within the 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 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

Happy Weekend Wishes

The Autumn Leaves are beginning to fall

 

Time to enjoy a walk in the woods

Returning home to a delicious bowl of ...

Celeriac and Bramley Apple Soup

see recipe/more details here

~ Enjoy your weekend ~

All the best Jan

Pizza Fish - whatever next - it is low carb

Have you tried Pizza Fish? This recipe idea from Diet Doctor site gives you Pizza flavours without the carbs! This low carb/keto meal only has 6 grams of net carbs per serving and takes less than 30 minutes to make. The refreshing, clean bite of the cabbage salad is a perfect pairing for this higher-satiety low carb and keto fish dish. The fish is oven-baked with classic Italian flavours of tomato, garlic, and oregano and topped with mozzarella. It's fast to assemble and delightful to eat, making it a weeknight winner ... try it and see what you think.

Ingredients

Serves Four

Pizza fish

1½ lbs white fish fillets
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp garlic powder or fresh garlic
½ tsp salt
½ tsp ground black pepper
½ cup (2 oz.) shredded mozzarella cheese, or any other cheese of choice
1 tsp dried oregano

Cabbage salad

1 lb green cabbage, finely shredded
3 tbsp olive oil
¼ cup white wine vinegar
¾ tbsp dried oregano
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 tsp salt

Instructions

Pizza fish

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
2. Place the white fish fillets in a baking dish.
3. Add tomato paste, olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and ground black pepper to a small bowl and combine.
4. Pat the fish dry with paper towels and spread the tomato mixture over each fillet. Top with the shredded mozzarella cheese. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the fish is cooked all the way through.

Cabbage salad

instructions for cabbage salad, some tips and original recipe idea, can be seen here

Alternative Mini Pizza's

Here are two suggestions, one is for mushroom mini pizza, and the other is for aubergine (eggplant) mini pizza. They are both a good lower carb and tasty alternative. More details here

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

Choosing Sustainable Fabrics

Sharing snippets from an article by Mark Sisson, at Mark's Daily Apple site

"Are you wearing sustainable fabric? It matters.

The provenance of your shirt, pants, and underwear isn’t just aesthetic or ornamental. It’s serious stuff. Consider food, which isn’t that different from clothing. Textile production is an industrial process, with all the economies of scale and chemical adulteration that entails. Just as processed food bears increasingly little resemblance to whole food, clothes are not “whole textiles.” They are processed junk fabric enhanced with plastic fibres and many of the same chemicals we try to limit in our foods.

But there’s better clothing out there, just as there’s better food. There’s clothing made of sustainable fabric—fabrics that sustain life, rather than detract from it.

When I say “sustainable,” I’m not thinking about the planet as much as I’m thinking about the health of my own body and my family’s. For if something is going to be sustainable on a global level, it must first be a sustainable fabric for the individual. It has to support the life of the organism that populates the planet and is indeed part of the planet. Again, let’s refer back to food. If a diet isn’t compatible with good health in the population, how can it be good for the planet? Is there any situation where a diet heals the planet and its biological systems while leaving the individual animals who eat it sickly, diseased, weak, and infertile? Of course not.

For clothing to be made with truly sustainable fabric, it must be good for individual health and the environment. No other definition of “sustainable” is acceptable. And so when determining the sustainability of a given fabric, we have to consider the health impacts.

The Best Sustainable Fabrics

Organic Cotton

Linen

Wool

Tencel

How to Make Good Choices about Sustainable Fabrics

Make good choices when and where you can.

• Don’t wear snug fitting plastic (polyester) underwear. Maybe don’t wear underwear at all.
• Limit or eliminate print tees.
• Limit water-resistant or stain-resistant clothing.
• Limit wrinkle-free clothing.
• Buy your leggings and yoga pants carefully.
• Focus on quality over quantity. Be willing to spend a little more for better feeling, “healthier” more sustainable fabrics that last longer.
• If you’re dressing your baby or child, spend the money on quality stuff. At the very least, minimize child clothing with prints and graphics and aim for natural fabrics.
• Buy natural sustainable fabric like organic cotton, linen, and wool whenever possible and realistic.
• Visit thrift stores for well-worn natural sustainable fabric clothing that’s had plenty of time to leach out most of its chemical load.
• Blends are better than nothing. Remember that most of the studies discussed above found that cotton-polyester blends were less harmful (and in some cases totally harmless) than pure polyester clothing."

The above words are just a snippet from Marks article, which you can read in full here

I do like to wear cotton during the warmer months and wool when it gets cooler. However, it is not always possible to wear sustainable fabrics, and at times a blend of fabrics works well. I found the last point about cotton-polyester blends very interesting. Do please share any thoughts / comments below.

All the best Jan

This Autumn enjoy some Rustic Ratatouille, so tasty and colourful

This Autumn why not enjoy some rustic ratatouille. It is really simple yet wonderfully colourful.

Tuck in quick - before it's all gone!

Ingredients

Serves Four

225g cherry tomatoes
1 red onion
1 medium aubergine (eggplant)
1 yellow pepper
2 red peppers
2 courgettes (zucchini)
1 fennel bulb, small
90ml olive oil
1 garlic clove, peeled and roughly chopped
10g fresh basil, torn
1 pinch salt
1 pinch black pepper

Method
1. Pre-heat the oven to Gas Mark 4, 220°C, fan 200°C.
2. Peel the onions, cut into quarters and then cut each quarter lengthways again. Roughly chop the remaining vegetables to a similar size and place into a large bowl with the onions.
3. Pour over the olive oil, add the garlic and use your hands to mix thoroughly. Spread out the vegetables in a roasting tray and season with salt and pepper.
4. Place the roasting tray in the oven. Once the vegetables have started to colour, around 10-15 minutes, add the tomato and basil.
5. Mix well and return to the oven for a further 20 minutes, or until the vegetables are well coloured but remain reasonably crunchy in texture.
6. Remove from the oven, season to taste and serve.

Nutrition Per Serving
Carbohydrate 13.6g Protein 4.1g Fat 11g
From an original idea here

Aubergines (eggplants) are an excellent source of dietary fibre. They are also a good source of Vitamins B1 and B6 and potassium. In addition, they are also high in the minerals copper, magnesium and manganese. Aubergines have been recommended for those managing type 2 diabetes or managing weight concerns. Initial studies indicate that phenolic-enriched extracts of aubergine/eggplant may help in controlling glucose absorption, beneficial for managing type 2 diabetes and reducing associated high blood pressure (hypertension). Aubergines may also help to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. These positive effects are likely to be down to nasunin and other phytochemicals in aubergines.

Read more about aubergines here

~ xx oo xx ~

You will find a variety of articles/recipe ideas 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. If you have any concerns about your health, it is always advisable to consult your doctor or health care team

All the best Jan

It's Tuesday ... the day after an historic Monday

Like many readers both here in the UK and worldwide Eddie and I sat and watched the television yesterday as Queen Elizabeth II was laid to rest in an historic state funeral. She certainly fulfilled her promise to devote her whole life to our service and that devotion to her duty is an example to us all.

Of course, it is now time for her eldest son Charles to take her place and at the age of 73 he becomes King Charles III. He is the oldest monarch to ever take the British throne. I feel sure he will do an excellent job because he is the longest serving, and the most prepared, heir to the throne in British history. I wish him well.

... and as we sat down for dinner after such an historic day

we enjoyed a pork and plum casserole see recipe details here

~ I wish all readers a good week ahead ~

All the best Jan

Autumn - some interesting facts

The time of year that Keats called the 'Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness', autumn is a season famous for its harvest times, turning leaves, cooling temperatures and darkening nights.

1. Autumn begins
There are two different dates when autumn could be said to begin. Autumn, as defined by the Earth's orbit around the Sun, begins on the equinox which falls on 22 or 23 September.

However, to record climate data, it is important to have set dates that can be compared, so meteorological autumn always begins on 1 September.

2. Trees prepare for winter
One of the most stunning signs of autumn is the turning of the leaves. The shorter days are a sign to trees to begin to prepare for winter.

During winter there is not enough light for photosynthesis to occur, so as the days shorten throughout autumn, the trees begin to close down their food production systems and reduce the amount of chlorophyll in their leaves.

3. The chemistry of colour
Chlorophyll is the chemical which makes tree leaves green and as it declines other chemicals become more prominent in the leaves.

These are responsible for the vibrant ambers, reds and yellows of autumn. The chemicals responsible are types of flavonoids, carotenoids and anthocyanins.

Did you know some of these chemicals are the same ones that give carrots (beta-carotenes) and egg yolks (luteins) their colours?

4. People born in Autumn live longer
A study in the Journal of Aging Research found that babies born during the autumn months are more likely to live to 100 than those born during the rest of the year.

Their study found that 30 % of US centenarians born during 1880-1895 were born in the autumn months.

5. The days get shorter
The word equinox comes from the Latin equi (meaning equal) and nox (meaning night) accounting for the equinox marking the time when day and night are of equal length.

We often notice the nights begin to draw in from this point as after the autumn equinox, the nights are longer than the days, until this is reversed at the spring equinox.

6. A date for your diary - 24 September 2303
Generally speaking, the autumn equinox always falls on either 22 or 23 September, but not quite always.

Because the Gregorian calendar is not quite in perfect symmetry with the Earth's orbit, the autumn equinox will very occasionally fall on September 24. This last happened in 1931 and will next happen in 2303.

7. Persephone's return
In Greek mythology, autumn began when Persephone was abducted by Hades to be the Queen of the Underworld. In distress Persephone's mother, Demeter (the goddess of the harvest), caused all the crops on Earth to die until her daughter was allowed to return, marking spring.

8. Autumn and Fall
We typically think of 'fall' as the North American version of the word 'autumn', but it was in fact in widespread usage in England until relatively recently.

Originally a shortening of the phrase fall of the leaf, the phrase was common in England in the 17th century.

The word autumn entered English from the French automne and didn't become common usage until the 18th century.

These eight facts taken from here

To readers who live in the northern hemisphere I wish you a happy Autumn. However, for those readers who reside in the southern hemisphere ... happy Spring 😊

All the best Jan