It has been a while since I blogged on here, Life has been very crazy, In June we got a new puppy, a springer Spaniel named Lucy, she just turned 6 months old, she is great company for George
Since January I have been working at our local hospital, Working in food services and I am loving it. Most shifts I walk 10 k in the 8 hours.. We are still watching our diets eating mainly plant based foods and coking from scratch.. We had a very quiet Thanksgiving , I made @JamieOlivers rustic bread , Mushroom soup using Shitake, Cremini, and white mushrooms , we had Truffle Chicken, Asparagus wrapped in procutto, roast potatoes and mash potatoes from out garden, David also made his sage and onion stuffing the house smelled great only thing was it was only David and I .. A new fave dish I make about once a month is a tribute to Anthony Bourdain, he made a Portuguese fish stew, it is pretty amazing..Along with Jamie Olivers rustic Bread I love this recipe.
A new fave recipe is on I saw Jamie Oliver make Sicilian Pasta with Tuna, This is amazing and only a few ingredients to this dish, and 15 mins to make as long as it takes to cook to cook pasta shells!! It is a budget friendly meal and Oh so tasty.. I will write more later in the week and maybe post my amazing cheese sauce recipe.. David isn’t a cheese sauce guy, but I managed to convert him, when ever I cook cauliflower I had to make a white sauce and a cheese sauce, lol not anymore I just make my cheese sauce.. I hope all my friends and family in England had a happy safe Guy Fawkes Night Stay safe y’all
There is something very satisfying about going in to your garden and picking supper or lunch with a varying in salads!! I pick a Salad Bouquet, I love using different herbs and leafy greens.. I am going to figure out if I can do anything with the ferns, I know we have to be careful as most are not edible..
The 3 pica above is a Stroganoff I made from scratch!! I had a small piece of pork left over from the roast, I sliced cooked with onions, Garlic, peppers a little Swiss Chard , and garnished with Parsley , mushrooms and noodles serves with a mixed salad!!
Our Garden is our sanctuary, def lot more this year, the year of Covid 19.. We play relaxing music, have a glass of wine and play board games mostly Scrabble and Backgammon. We laugh a lot!! This is helping us through these stressful times. Having our Grandkids and kids with significant others close by, really is a plus.. .
Board Games are a great way of receiving stress Here is some info I found on the web!! re Board Games
Have fun and feel good. One of the effects of playing board games is laughter and it has be found out that this increases endorphins. This chemical in our body is known to elevate the feeling of happiness
Family time. Nowadays spending an uninterrupted time with your family may be quite impossible given the different schedules each family member has. Yet playing board games after a family dinner is one excellent way to get together and strengthen your family bond.
Memory formation and cognitive skills. The areas of the brain that are responsible for complex thought and memory formation are the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. These parts most benefits when playing board games.o get together and strengthen your family bond.
Reduces risks for mental diseases.Playing board games keeps your mind engaged by exercising it and building it stronger. It’s good to note that stronger brain has lower risks of cognitive decline.
Lowers blood pressure. As playing board games effects to laughing and endorphins. This things can help lower or maintain blood pressure.
Speed up your response. In a study at the University of Toronto, they found out that students who regularly played video games were far quicker in locating than those who don’t. Get yourself into board games and sometime soon, you’ll be able to find those hard-to-find car keys without searching the whole house.
Reduce stress. According to an online survey by RealNetworks, Inc., 64% of the respondents said they play games to unwind and relax. 53% play to relieve stress.
Grows your immune system. Research shows that negative thoughts and feelings can reduce the ability to fight disease whilst positive thoughts and feelings. The enjoyment and laughter you get from playing board games prevents effects with the chemicals being released by the body.
Child development. Playing board games help children develop their logic and reasoning skills, improve critical thinking and boost spatial reasoning. The ability to concentrate and focus for a longer period of time is also developed with just playing board games.
Therapy treatment. Most types of board games require players to use fine motor skills to pick up or move pieces which are actions that both involves coordination and dexterity. And have been found out that can really be helpful when added to occupational therapy treatments. Try not to be constantly watching the news, limit yourself to once a day other wise this will increase your stress… Live , Laugh and Love .. Eat a healthy diet and keep a healthy mind..
Virtually any form of exercise or movement can increase your fitness level while decreasing your stress. The most important thing is to pick an activity that you enjoy. walking, stair climbing, jogging, bicycling, yoga, gardening, weightlifting and swimming, walking the dog.. Music also is a great way to relieve stress , put on a great playlist and sing, cook, what ever you love to do!! Stay Safe everyone
Nasturtium Plant is a Foodies delight , at least mine!! Our garden is like a jungle LOL We have been eating lots of Salads , With Nasturtium leaves, parsley, Swiss Chard, Chives, tomatoes and lettuce, when I want a salads I go our to our garden and pick it all fresh. The mix of leafy greens flavour is incredible.. Did you know Nasturtium leaves and capers and petals of the Nasturtium plant are packed with nutrition, containing high levels of vitamin C. It has the ability to improve the immune system, tackling sore throats, coughs, and colds, as well as bacterial and fungal infections. Use to cook withAll part of the plant are edible; in the world of edible annual flowers, Nasturtiums are truly one of the tastiest and easiest to grow.
This info I researched and found on line it is very interesting.. The Flowers have a mild peppery taste are great for adding character and colour to dishes. Freeze into ice cubes to create a pretty addition for summery drinks. added to raw apple cider vinegar to make a peppery nasturtium vinegar or chopped and mixed with softened butter to make nasturtium butter. The recipe on here is actually pretty tasty Stuffed Nasturtium Leaves with Rice and Veggies or meat A take off of the greek Stuffed Vine Leaves .. There are lots of edible Plants
These rolls made from edible nasturtium leaves are great at room temperature, so can be excellent as a make-ahead dish for picnics or potlucks. I serve them at home as an appetizer or as part of the meal.
Ingredients
Filling
3 cups cooked short grain rice, (may substitute grains or other types of rice, or any combination)
1 T. extra virgin olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 cup chopped tomato, (fresh or canned/drained)
1/2 pound lean ground beef or lamb, (optional)
1/3 cup pine nuts, toasted
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat leaf parsley or mint
1/2 cup chopped nasturtium flowers
1-1/2 T. capers
1 T. extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp. lemon juice
For preparation
20-25 fresh nasturtium leaves – stem trimmed close to the leaf
3/4 cup vegetable broth, or chicken broth
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350F.
Wash the nasturtium leaves gently and set them aside.
Making the filling
Make the rice according to package directions and let it cool slightly before starting.
Place the cooked rice in a large bowl – you’ll be adding the rest of the filling ingredients to the rice.
Sauté the onions and garlic in the olive oil until softened but not browned, then add the chopped tomato and cook on medium heat for 3-5 minutes. Add this mixture to the rice and combine.
Place the ground beef in the pan in which you cooked the onion/garlic/tomato mixture, and cook on medium heat, chopping as you go to get a fine crumbled burger.
Once the burger is completely cooked, add it to the rice mixture, and combine.
Now stir in the remaining ingredients – toasted pine nuts, chopped parsley, chopped nasturtium flowers, and capers. Taste, adjust with salt and pepper if needed.
Making the stuffed nasturtium leaves
Place one of the nasturtium leaves on your work surface, stem side down.(I like to use a large plate for this.) Put a teaspoon or more of the mixture in the center of the leaf, then carefully fold the two sides partially over the rice and roll tightly towards the top of the leaf, ending with the edge tucked underneath.
Repeat with all the leaves and pack tightly in one layer with the seam of the leaf down (so they don’t unroll), into a glass or ceramic baking dish.
Pour chicken broth over the stuffed nasturtium leaves.
Cover the dish tightly and bake on the center rack of your oven for 45 minutes. Check to make sure the rolls are not drying out about halfway through cooking. If they are, spoon some hot broth over them. (Don’t spoon cold broth into a hot glass or ceramic baking dish, as it can cause the pan to shatter!)
Cool slightly and serve warm, or wait longer and serve at room temperature.
Before serving, drizzle with one tablespoon or so of olive oil, and a teaspoon or so of lemon juice. Refrigerate any remaining rolls.
Notes
This is a very flexible recipe. Use your imagination and what you have on hand to create a delicious filling! This recipe makes enough filling for 20-25 nasturtium leaves. Extra filling can be frozen or used for something else.
I did a little research in to the Nasturtium plant go this off The Microgardener.com great info
Nasturtium Pesto
This is from Yummly.com some great forcipes on this site I love to cook from scratch Once my tomatoes are all red going to be making some Pasta sauce ..
US|METRICSERVINGS: nasturtium (flowers 1/2 – 1 cup, 25g)leaves (Nasturtium, with stems 1/2- 1 cup, 25g)3/4 cup olive oilParmesan cheese (just under 1/3 cup, 25g)pine nuts (just under 1/4 cup, 25g)1 pinch rock salt (ground in a pestle and mortar)
This blog is a little different, I am starting this off with a Thank You To the AHS, All Nurses , Home Care Nurses, Dr Aniki (my family Dr). Dr Buni ( Internist) & Dr Indar, who did my 2 surgeries!! One Nov last year & One May this year.. Thank you so much!! I HAVE MY LIFE BACK. !!
I have always loved to cook and always watched what I eaten for many years now have lean towards somewhat vegetarian for or at least Plant Based.. Could be something to do with the years I spent working in KGH Dietary!! Fun times great people!!
It seemed what ever I ate it hurt, I hurt all over……
2015 We watched a few Documentaries about food and processed foods.
one was Plant Pure and the other , tohttps://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=Awr47Kb3uhVfUBcA54ZXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEya2Jva3AwBGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDQzAxNjRfMQRzZWMDc3I-/RV=2/RE=1595288440/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fwww.plantpurenation.com%2f/RK=2/RS=n42C6OMT0bSpJ3KTTX227mpW39M- Knives over Forks, Cooked was an amazing Documentary Michael Pollan’s new Netflix series explores the history of cooking!!! This really made us think about what we eat , how we cook it, fast foods, processed foods! yes they are quick, by all means once in a while is OK .
I was getting symptoms that scared me, I was beginning to think that this could be a cancer!! My yearly checkup with Dr Aniki early 2016, I knew wasn’t going to go well as this past year had been a tough one, results came back I was scheduled for a scope May 3rd 2016!! But as it happened I had to re schedule as that day I had an apt in Edmonton (Sinus Dr!! another amazing Dr ) and could not go, re scheduled for Sept
May 3rd 2016, there was a forrest fire, we woke up early set off to go to Edmonton wit and over night bag, it was 28 degrees hot .. Kate and Aaron were looking after George. We set off at 7 am bright sunny clear skies the Forrest fire seemed to be under control!! Within 2 hours being on highway 63, we wee getting txts from Katie, Ian and Victoria, the winds had changed the fire was heading for Fort McMurray, first it was , this was not good. At First voluntary Evacuations then came the big one Mandatory Evacuations for the city of Fort McMurray!! My heart was in my mouth, my kids, grandkids and dogs were in Mac!!..
Wikipedia
On May 1, 2016, a wildfire began southwest of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. On May 3, it swept through the community, forcing the largest wildfire evacuation in Alberta’s history, with upwards of 88,000 people forced from their homes.[12] Firefighters were assisted by personnel from both the Canadian Forces and Royal Canadian Mounted Police, as well as other Canadian provincial agencies, to fight the wildfire. Aid for evacuees was provided by various governments and via donations through the Canadian Red Cross and other local and national charitable organizations.
Sweeping through Fort McMurray, the wildfire destroyed approximately 2,400 homes and buildings. Another 2,000 residents in three communities were displaced after their homes were declared unsafe for reoccupation due to contamination. The fire continued to spread across northern Alberta and into Saskatchewan,[14] consuming forested areas and impacting Athabasca oil sands operations. With an estimated damage cost of C$9.9 billion, it was the costliest disaster in Canadian history.
The fire spread across approximately 590,000 hectares (1,500,000 acres) before it was declared to be under control on July 5, 2016. It continued to smoulder, and was fully extinguished on August 2, 2017. It is suspected to have been caused by humans in a remote area 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from Fort McMurray, but no official cause has been determined to date.
We spent the next 4 weeks on a friends Pig Farm in Camrose. Irvings Farm Fresh. They have amazing pork products.. Allan and Nicola Irving good friends of ours.. David worked on the farm, I was doing some of the cooking, putting to use what we had learned watching the documentaries. That was a tough month for me as I was not feeling well.. George our Springer Loved the farm, we had a lot of laughs. One when David fell off the pig barn after a torrential down pour and landed in the Piggggggg mud ( POOP)
We eat out once in a while, and try little to no processed foods, but for the Most part now we cook everything from scratch, I bake my own bread and buns weekly, Meat we use as an ingredient not the main part of the meal!! Gut health has become a huge part of out life, we eat a lot of beans, Legumes , Eating this way cuts down on your garbage , we put the bins out maybe every 3 weeks..
Gut Health is important!! Eat Lots of Vegetables, Legumes, Beans and Fruit , fiber can be digested by certain bacteria in your gut, which stimulates their growth. Beans and legumes also contain very high amounts of fiber. Some high-fiber foods that are good for your gut bacteria!! Your system gets used to the gassy food believe me .. This change in the way we eat was part of getting me well and getting David off the Gout Medication, Cholesterol meds and blood pressure meds! Working out became a regular this, our busy lives made exercising and eating right kinds difficult.. We made changes slowly!! , shopping became different , no pre packaged meals, buying a lot more fresh produce, none or little fast food, this would be a treat.. For me this was the start of me getting well. Cook fresh , from scratch!!
Photos below were this weeks Culinary treats, Home made Scotch Baps they are amazing, a fresh fruit salad I made to have at breakfast , a Soup made with Carrots, Onions, Cabbage Garlic and potatoes with a veg stock them I puree it .. Then a pic of my boy George..
Fast forward to Sept 2016, I went to see Dr Indar and he sent me for a scope, I had a problem with my colon, not to sure what it is as yet possible Diverticular, disease.. Then I saw Dr Buni, More scopes at one point was on Steroids for a few months!! Then after a couple more visits, I was referred to Dr Indar and 2 Surgeries later !! Life is good, fingers crossed Bricks4Kidz can start back up once school starts!!
I feel amazing get up early walk George do house work , of-course have an amazing play list on, starting to work out . I truly can’t remember last time I felt this well.
We will continue our journey with food and eating from scratch!! This time of the year, we have a few different types of leafy greens and herbs growing in our garden potatoes and tomatoes!! Lots of fresh tomato sauce and pasta sauces to freeze!! Eating this way cuts down on our household garbage, Less packaging, less pre packaged foods and less processed foods Your tastebuds change!!! For the better
Eat to Live don’t Live to Eat!!..
Me being told when this was first Diagnosed to find a hobby relax do yoga!!!! Hmmmmm I also started to crochet #Hugs4Cops Blankets for Cops & All First Responders , For Cops with PTSd or just need a hug ( #Hugs4CopsBlanket) We actually play a lot of Backgammon and a scrabble game I got when i was about 8 yrs old!!
Every stitch a hug, making a difference a stitch at ta time … MY Journey continues during this 2020 Covid 19 and World unrest!! Think Positive, be the best person you can be, always be up for a random act of kindness!! Live Laugh and Love, you never know what tomorrow brings..
Photos of David and I, Our kids and grand kids!! My life.. dogs Meg and Molly MY Mommy and Daughter Springers) and Penny my daughter and son in laws dog over the rainbow Bridge, Paw prints forever on our hearts. Now George and his sister Gracie , she is Aaron, Katie and Asher Dog and Coal Matthew, Bailey and Colins rescue dog.
These last 3 Pics are my challenge coins, I am truly honoured and humbled to have these !! Love y’all
Happy Hump day ( Wednesday) Day 13 post op and feeling the best I have ever felt.. Eating a balanced diet it important to me more than ever.. We don’t have a huge garden, but love to plant the things we like, tomatoes, Lettuce, SwissChard, potatoes, Chives, Spring Onions various Herbs.. Cooking from scratch, i find to be so satisfying !! I know not everyone can do this, but if you start small.. Maybe just by making your own bread, or growing a few veggies or fruit, and start small..
Smoking foods, David smoked some Cheese this week, oh my gosh.. David smokes most meats and makes amazing Smoked Salmon , I love to make a Salmon Moose with the salmon..
Our Change in Diet has been over Id say the past 5 years, as David had a few small health problems on being gout! , since we started the plant based diet, in Spring 2015 David took his last pill.. Since then our diet and small changes in processed foods he has not taken a gout pill.. Once in a while we have a Steak, but for the most part Meat is an ingredient not the main part of out meals..
One of the reasons we decided to change one was , I have always had IBS not diagnosed, ut this was getting worse, Christmas 2015 , I procrastinated going to drs, the pain was getting worse plus blood!! March I went for a Yearly Physical, was sent for blood work and poop test, I knew that this would come back with questions, The phone rang my dr wanted to see me, he had concerns , Me to so I sent over my request for a scope the the hospital, mean while We had a Sinus apt for me at the U of A in Edmonton for May 3rd 20 16, go figure my scope was the same day, I re booked for a later date. Mean While The Fort McMurray Fire Hit, We had left town that morning to clear skies, we only had an over night bag with us and were planning to be back on May 4th. We left George and Kate was coming to pick him up later that day!! This is History, we spent the next 4 weeks on Irvings Farm in Camrose, @Irvingsfarmfresh!! Where George made friends with Spike and Dozer the 2 farm Dogs, I did most of the cooking with our new way of eating cooking from Scratch, not yet plant based.. I had pain and it was getting worse . Some days it felt like a flu bug, I was nauseous, low fever, aching all over. Fast forward my Scope was in Sept 2016 with Dr .. Diagnosis Diverticulitis!! Diverticu WHAT!!
This info is from Healthline.com Not me, I thought this may be of interest to Y’all!!
Although it was rare before the 20th century, diverticular disease is now one of the most common health problems in the Western world. It’s a group of conditions that can affect your digestive tract.
The most serious type of diverticular disease is diverticulitis. It can cause uncomfortable symptoms and, in some cases, serious complications. If left untreated, these complications can cause long-term health problems.
Read on to learn more about diverticulitis, including its causes, symptoms, treatment options, and how your diet might affect your risk of developing it.
Abdominal pain is the most common symptom of diverticulitis. It will mostly likely occur in the lower left side of your abdomen. But it can also develop in the right side of your abdomen.
If you develop any of the above symptoms, such as vomiting or blood in your stool, it may be a sign of a serious complication from diverticulitis or another condition. Call your doctor right away.
Diverticular disease develops when pouches form along your digestive tract, typically in your colon (large intestine). These pouches are known as diverticula. They form when weak spots in your intestinal wall balloon outward.
Diverticulitis happens when diverticula become inflamed and in some cases infected. This can occur when feces or partially digested food blocks the opening of the diverticula.
There’s no single known cause of diverticular disease. Instead, experts believe that multiple genetic and environmental factors likely contribute to its development.
To diagnose diverticulitis, your doctor will likely ask you about your symptoms, health history, and any medications that you take. They’ll likely perform a physical exam to check your abdomen for tenderness or, if they need more information, a digital rectal exam to check for rectal bleeding, pain, masses, or other problems.
Several other conditions can cause symptoms that are similar to diverticulitis. To rule out other conditions and check for signs of diverticulitis, your doctor might order one or more tests.
If you have diverticulitis, these exams and tests can help your doctor learn if it’s uncomplicated or complicated.
More than 75 percent of diverticulitis cases are uncomplicated, leaving about 25 percent to develop complications.
These complications can include:
abscess, an infected pocket that’s filled with pus
phlegmon, an infected area that’s less well-confined than an abscess
fistula, an abnormal connection that can develop between two organs or between an organ and the skin
intestinal perforation, a tear or hole in the intestinal wall that can allow the contents of your colon to leak into your abdominal cavity, causing inflammation and infection
There are a few medical treatment, Nothing was really helping After many Visits to My Family Dr and the Internist, I was referred to the amazing Surgeon here in fort Mc and a Bowel resection with colostomy, was done in Nov and May got this reversed!!
In a bowel resection with colostomy, the surgeon removes infected sections of your colon and attaches the end of the healthy section to an opening in your abdomen, known as a stoma.
Diverticular disease usually affects adults. But in rare cases, babies are born with diverticula. When this happens, it’s known as Meckel’s diverticulum. If the diverticula become inflamed, it’s called Meckel’s diverticulitis.
If you suspect that your child might have diverticulitis, make an appointment with their doctor. Some people have this and it never really affects them, for me this has been very dramatic. But I am now feeling better than I have ever felt and I have been given a second chance.. Please eat a sensible diet and pooping daily is important.. LiveLaughLove rat a healthy diet.. Love y’all A Huge Thank you to all Front line Workers, Drs and nurses at out @NLRHS Thank you all Frontline Staff. We live and appreciate you.
Since Im from the UK I will do this segment about war time 1940 in the UK 70 yrs ago, was a lot different as there had been 2 Wars, with massive rations, that lasted years after the war, Here is Pic Rhubarb and Apple Jam, not mine was on a web site i cane across wile researching rationing and wartime foods .. I guess they had to try make heathy meals from the rations WW 2 rationing in the UK started Jan 8th 1940 with such foods as Bacon, butter and sugar, then a year to r so later other foods such as Meat, Milk, Cheese and Eggs also cooking fat which was a Lard. Could you imagine running a household, during these times.. My mom was am orpan during the first WW, bless her the stories he told, just break my heart. Sorry that was a side track!!
First World War 1914-1918 My mom was born the end of this war..
Second World War 1939-1945
A ww1 from 1918 on 1940 experiment . Com Recipe for Garlic and Cheese Scones ( Biscuits) Im going to try this
Wild Garlic & Cheese Scones (based on WW1 Ration Scones from 1918 above)
5 oz of white self-raising flour
2 oz of butter or hard margarine
1 egg and a little milk
1 oz grated hard cheese (cheddar would be fine if you have no Parmesan)
Several wild garlic leaves chopped very finely
Large pinch of salt.
Method
Sift flour and large pinch of salt into a bowl
Dot in the butter and then rub into the flour
Add the grated cheese
Add the chopped wild garlic leaves
Add the eggs and milk mixture leaving a spoonful to brush tops of scones before baking
Form a dough that is not too sticky and can be handled.
On a floured surface roll out to about 1/2 inch thick and use cutter or end of glass to create 6 scones (you may get more if you are lucky)
Place on baking tray, brush with egg mixture and sprinkle a little more salt on the top of each scone
Place in pre-heated (200 C) oven for about 20 minutes until a nice mid golden colour.
Remove and place on wire rack.
Enjoy while still slightly warm with butter. Would also be lovely served in a bowl with stew!
Makes 6 or 7
Preserving produce and I guess growing, having a little garden would have been beneficial. this info about the Victory gardens was on Wikipedia
Victory garden
victory gardens
Victory gardens, also called war gardens or food gardens for defense, were vegetable, fruit, and herb gardens planted at private residences and public parks encouraged people to transform their front and back gardens into vegetable plots. The goal was to replace imported food, thus freeing up shipping space for more valuable war materials, and to make up for food that was sunk in transit. By the end of 1940, 728,000 tons of food making its way to Britain had been lost, sunk by German submarine activity. hens had to be killed and sold off as food, as there was a shortage of stuff to feed them. This led to an egg shortage, and egg rationing of 1 egg per person a week. People could start to keep Chickens in their back yards, you would give up your egg ration and then you were entitled for a grain ration . Some Hotels kept Chickens . There was also a Pig Club, Communities set up neighbourhood Pig Clubs, to buy a pig, then feed it scraps from the households involved. (In many towns, the councils put food waste bins in the streets: Fed this to the pigs. Also Rabbit keeping became popular, rabbits breed all year round so this was a great source of meat! I couldn’t have eaten a rabbit but I guess these were desperate times..
These were the days before refrigeration and freezing was common in household kitchens, cannon and preserves were important.. The Ministry of Food educated people with leaflets, radio programmes and community demonstrations on the latest and greatest food preserving techniques, to ensure that no food went to waste. Also an interesting tip Eggs could be kept fresher for a bit longer by rubbing them with lard to seal the pores,
There was a Women’s Land Army, as all the young men, went to fight the war. Ladies Went to work, doing the work usually met did!!
British women ( All over the world) took on a variety of jobs during the Second World War. They also played a vital role on the home front, running households and fighting a daily battle of rationing, recycling, reusing, and cultivating food in allotments and gardens. Before ww2 , Britain imported most of its food. Then war broke out and this had to stop, now Britain had to grow most of its food.
Britain’s wartime women gained a new sense of power. There were women who could talk down aircrews, break codes, track battleships, drive 10-tonne trucks and save lives. No concession was made, however, for the fact that women had to go on running the home. After a 10-hour day in a factory making aircraft wings, a woman would still have to shop, clean, feed her family on rations and “make do and mend”. After the war, the home was where they were expected to return.
In 1945, a group of rightwing women formed the British Housewives’ League to protest against rationing; at their peak they had 100,000 members.
D-Day: What is it and why is it important? From BBC News
It has been 76 years since the D-Day landings, which took place on 6 June 1944 during World War Two. Women had a vital Role in WW2, Women were conscripted in December 1941. They were given a choice of working in industry or joining one of the auxiliary services – the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) or the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS). I think it is very important to remember this day, even though I wasn’t born for a long tome after this.. I remember my Grandmas stories, and one I remember my dad telling many times, they were in Belgium , not sure where or why! Dad and a few friends were invited in to a Belgium, family house for supper.. Dad said the Supper was delicious, and the most amazing meat, he asked what it was and their reply was it was Tinned Monkey!! Needless to say my poor dad always had a very delicate tummy!! He Went and threw up!! Funny thing I found this article LOl
Feeding soldiers in prolonged combat is no easy feat. Besides the fact that conditions may well be adverse – snowy, mountainous, extremely arid and/or humid – troops may not have the time or the equipment for cooking. This is where “monkey meat” proved useful! This small tin of beef preserved in brine, with a close resemblance to cat food and an unappetizing odour, could be heated up or even eaten cold. It sustained soldiers throughout World War II and was the exemplary solution for the difficulty of providing healthy food to soldiers carrying out strenuous tasks in stressful situations. Such nourishment needs to be balanced, tasty and attractive, lightweight, compact and waterproof, as well as easy and fast to prepare!
Below ww2 ration book, these were issued to the public 5 days after war was declared, Sept 8th 1939 . They were not actually used until four months later, however. Bringing rationing into effect was postponed several times owing to a campaign in the press led by the Daily Express newspaper, which called rationing an unnecessary folly and government interference with civil liberties. The government finally overcame political resistance and rationing came into effect on 8 January 1940. Rationing meant that no matter how rich you were, the food available was equally shared at fair prices.Once the ration booklets were received for that year, you would take them and register them at the grocery stores you intended to use them at. I cant imagine these times..
What food did they eat during the war?Fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and bread were hard to find. … These were solid, heavy, belly-filling meals such as:
Bean soup and bread, followed by treacle pudding.
Toad-in-the-hole and potatoes.
Mutton stew and suet pudding.
Fish and potato pie, then baked raisin pudding, nothing was wasted..
I could go on and on about the rationing in ww2, but I must cook super.. We can certainly learn a lot from these times, like not over buying, less waste.. Appreciate what we have.. Live Laugh and Love life is so short enjoy every moment .. Love y’all I received this today form the Fort McMurray RCMP I feel so humbled to have this,, I crochet #Hugs4Cops and all first responders to show my appreciation, respect for their work Thank you
Good Morning, another rainy day, lets just take a deep breath and stretch to start your day! I did, had my berries and yogurt , feeling great.. Today is leftover day, before I start to cook for the weekend, I am going to make a slaw, that is good for snacks also .. Im craving a Veggie Pizza , maybe tomorrow I will make a one.. We love a veggie pizza, they are so juicy .. I loved when Colin and Bailey would come over and we would make personalised Pizza !! I miss them so much, and love them to the moon and back !! Being a grandparent is the best, We do fun road trips, family fun nights, telling the kids stories of when we were little. Dreaming of things to com.. We don’t take over from the parent, we have been there done that, After your children grow up and leave home, life changes. many mums and dads, this is the period when ‘empty nest syndrome’ begins, Lets travel, we did this. Having the empty nest takes some getting used to..A new lifestyle. Soon your Kids are married and having children of their own, filling up the family tree with little babies. Now another transition. Now, you’re stepping forward into a new role. Your family is growing again, and you’re taking on a fresh title, Gram, Grand, Nanna, Grandad, Grams, Gramps!. Both as a parent and as a grandparent, Your Heart is bursting with pride and a never ending love for your offspring. But while parenting is a balance between care and guidance, grand parenting is a little-different.
As grandparents have all the luck. We get to enjoy the unconditional love of our grandchildren without having to shoulder the responsibilities parents have and these days this is a lot different . Of course, we’ve already paid those dues when we raised our own children! Daily life brings with it a to-do list. But not at grandma’s. At grandma’s, it’s all about having fun. Here there are no dentist appointments to attend, no chores to be done, and no to-do lists to check off. As a grandparent, you needn’t concern yourself with the day-to-day necessities of life with children. These are left to their parents, meaning your time spent with them can be focussed completely on having a great time. When ever needed will jump in and help..
Being a grandparent is not just about your cute, grandkids, it’s about your own children too. There’s nothing that can compare to the magic of watching your children turn into loving, caring parents. Having that feeling of She’s like my mom, or my dad used to say that, oh my I taught her that when she was young and now she is teaching this to her kids, Witnessing the growth can feel miraculous and very emotional, For many grandparents, this period brings about , pride. You can feel secure in the knowledge that you did an amazing job raising your kids, as you see them doing the same with their own children. Being a parent is the most beautiful thing in the world, but being a grand parent os a 100 x that feeling, when you don’t get to see this grand kids, for what ever reason you miss the, “ Gram I love you Ohh my heart Fun times with Gram and Grand XOXOXOXOX
Oh my my eyes seem to have developed a leek.. If I could turn back time..
Staying Well! Look after your health and eat a healthy diet helps your mental health and for now and in the long term of things, you will reap the benefits.. The first oic is one of our fave lunches, Grilled Cheese in WW bread, not proceed slices, but cut from a block of cheese, Aged White Cheddar and a Scottish Cheddar, and my pickled red onions, I made a home made Tomato Soup, this is one of our comfort foods!!
Muscles in a Tomato Wht wine sauce. This has been on my want to cook list for a while, I looked over a few recipes and , decided this was the one I wanted to try! I made the tomato sauce the day before, with 2 small cams tomato, garlic, onions, a little basil, salt and fresh ground black pepper.. This sauce is light and flavourful, with out to many spices.. I diced a hot red pepper, 2 tsp minced garlic cooked in a little Olive Oi; them added the muscles , once they started to change colour I added the tomato sauce I made previously , once it came to a bubble, I added 1/2 cup of Dry White Wine your Choice, while this was simmering I made Spaghetti, once th Spaghetti was done I drained and put back in the pot and added Garlic Olive pol A PC brand and amazing, I then portend the spaghetti and added the Muscle and tomato sauce, We also like to add fresh ground black pepper to his once served .. Well David had 2 helpings of this, I will def make this one again.. My next Feat is to make a Sea Food Paella .. It is a crazy week, our son has been in Hospital in Edmonton, but is now back in YMM Hospital, the next week I go into hospital.. Up and onward another adventure.. I think I will do a little relaxation and yoga tonight ..
Been doing a little research on relaxation and yoga, along with your diet. These are not my words but some info I thought you may find interesting Practising this daily can provide an inner peace and relaxation, it just takes a few Mins daily We all face stressful situations throughout our lives, ranging from minor annoyances like traffic jams to more serious worries, such as a loved one’s grave illness. No matter what the cause, stress floods your body with hormones. Your heart pounds, your breathing speeds up, and your muscles tense. this is a stress response . Challenging situations in daily life can set off the stress response. We can’t avoid all sources of stress in our lives, nor would we want to. But we can develop healthier ways of responding to them. I love this one and do daily!!
This is just one way to de stress
Breath focus. In this simple, powerful technique, you take long, slow, deep breaths (also known as abdominal or belly breathing). As you breathe, you gently disengage your mind from distracting thoughts and sensations. Breath focus can be especially helpful for people with eating disorders to help them focus on their bodies in a more positive way. However, this technique may not be appropriate for those with health problems that make breathing difficult, such as respiratory ailments or heart failure. I have been doing this since the Birth of my first Daughter Victoria 30 + yrs ago.. These are stressful times , lets all take a few mins a day to breath and relax, play some music, not head bopping, but a relaxing tune.. As of late I have been doing a morning stretch, once this last surgery is over, I do walk daily with George and David, but I need to get in to shape.. Up and Onward, #Stay Safe and Stay Healthy!!
Condolences to this Pilots Family and Snow Birds Family, We watched them fly over Fort MCMurray ,on the Operation Inspiration tour.. I shed a tear , it was such a beautiful thing for them to do! Now we are mourning the lost life of Capt jenn Casey. RIP
public affairs officer with the Snowbirds, died in the crash, the Canadian Armed Forces said in a statement.
The pilot of the CT-114 Tutor aircraft, Capt. Richard MacDougall, sustained serious injuries in the crash, My Heart Aches and I think I will crochet a Hugs Blanket for the Snow Birds, in Memory of Capt Jenn Casey #Hugs
With the Covid 19 virus, flooding we had , Surgery for me on the 27th, and our Son in Hospital in Edmonton, a crazy time for us.. Up and Onward an we are looking forward to one day soon having friends and family over for a BBQ. I awoke this morning not feeling great, my heart was heavy, so I thought I have to shake this feeling, what better way that a healthy Breakfast.
Here are 11 good reasons to include berries in your diet.
Loaded with antioxidants. …
May help improve blood sugar and insulin response. …
High in fiber. …
Provide many nutrients. …
Help fight inflammation. …
May help lower cholesterol levels. …
May be good for your skin. …
May help protect against cancer.
The Science Behind Breakfast
Why breakfast is the most important meal of the day
You might think that the recommendation not to skip breakfast is just plain good advice. After all you need enough fuel to make it through the morning, right?
But research has found even more reasons for making room for the “most important meal of the day.”
Probably the most appealing benefit is that breakfast jumpstarts your metabolism and, thus, helps you burn more calories throughout the day. Even George my Springer Joins in our breakfast, he loves Yoghurt and a Salmon Oil Capsule, he really loves them , we like to shake up our wake up !!
Cognitive function
Breakfast also restores glucose levels, an essential carbohydrate that is needed for the brain to function. Breakfast can improve Memory, and concentration, and makes us happier, I know if i get hungry i get Hangry, lol
When did the word breakfast originate?15th centuryIt was not until the 15th century that “breakfast” came into use in written English to describe a morning meal, which literally means to break the fasting period of the prior night; in Old English the term was morgenmete meaning “morning meal.”
Right now I think it is time for a Cup Of tea ! #StaySafe out there #LiveLaugh and Love Love y’all
I then proceeded to make a Home Made Hand Sanitiser, for our personal use.. This afternoon I am finishing a #Hugs4Cops Blanket to send to an RCMP officer hurt in the line of Duty . I actually have 2 to send one here in Fort McMurray and one near Edmonton . Just my way of showing them we appreciate their work, Firefighters also !!
This morning we were up early, had our Berries , Yoghurt and coffee on the back deck, we chatted about what we wanted to achieve today! Lets start to Spring Cleaning, As we were finishing our breakfast the doorbell rand and It was the Flowers Studio with flowers for me with some chocolates, Thank you to my son Ian .. David started in the Ensuite in our bedroom and I started on the main floor. There was a great 80’s playlist on , this makes housecleaning great.. 2 hours later we decided to have lunch, I opened a bag salad I had bought, “Eat Smart, Kale, strawberries carrots, broccoli and lots more yummy veggies, I cooked a turkey patty and cracked 2 of the Hutterite eggs ( they are delicious ) put them on an english muffin with a little mustard and red pickles. What I call a “Granny McMuffin”. Back to housework, i them vacuumed and dusted the main floor and stripped Ians bed to wash the sheets. By this time it was almost 5 pm , I still have to get my lottos tickets for tonight.. I ran to Uncle Bills got them and back home, David walked George my faithful Spaniel and I made supper. like I said the 80’s called and wanted my Monte Cristo Sammich!! I made it my way! We try not to eat to much Deli Meats and would rather have with patties eat from scratch!!
with home made bread, sliced turkey, home made garlic mayo, Scottish Cheddar, Goats Cheese and some Avocado , dipped in and egg , garlic and fresh ground black pepper mix and put in to a skillet with a small drop of Olive Oil and cook slowly so the cheese and egg Cook, we had this with my home made Mushroom Soup oh my goodness, the meal was amazing, tasty and from Scratch!! except the salad!! 🙂 soon we will be able to pick our salad and strawberries from the garden!! Our plants seem to have weathered well even though 2 days ago we had 2″ inches of snow!! David looked after them put a tarp over and tied it down..
Since we are talking Sandwiches , most of you know am from the UK, Corby Hill 5 miles from Carlisle , Cumbria. Britts love their Sandwiches. Never let it be said that Brits aren’t serious about their sandwiches. Oh yes, we Brits (well, John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich) invented the sandwich
Everything goes in a sandwich ! Even Potatoes Chips a good old Crisp sandwich!! Now one of my faves is an egg and cress sandwich here we call it an egg salad sandwich! How about a chip butty!! yummy French fries in a sandwich! Maybe a Cucumber sandwich, I hear Her Royal highness Queen Elizabeth likes these! I would make mine with Cucumber and Goat Cheese on a crusty WW bun!! My Way!! BLt same as Here but there is a sandwich you have to try Welsh Rarebit here is some info on this amazing Sandwich
How about a Bacon Butty and a cup of tea!! Mmmmm
To call this creamy, savory sandwich melted cheese on toast would be a sacrilege. Welsh rarebit is a traditional snack, ideally based on locally produced Cheddar or Caerphilly cheese, melted and mixed with butter and cream or ale, then poured over a piping hot, buttered toast.
The dish stems from the 14th century as a way of accentuating the greatness of wheat bread and Welsh Cheddar. The debate about rabbit versus rarebit went on until the late 19th century, when the word rarebit caught on. The rabbit version derives from the fact that the Welsh were extremely bad hunters, so their dinners resulted in cheese instead of rabbits. Today, it is one of the most famous Welsh dishes and an ideal comfort food, with a few variations such as Irish rarebit, made with Irish Cheddar; Scottish rarebit, made with Dunlop cheese; and English rarebit, made with farmhouse Cheddar, seasoned with Worcestershire sauce, then poured over toast that has been soaked in wine.WALESEurope I have tried this as a brunch and it really is amazing.. TY WALES
Not a Sandwich but the amazing Cornish Pasty ! Here is d some info I found on the Cornish Pasty! A Minors Delight, Here is some history I found and thought it was interesting..
When the Cornish came to the copper mines of the Upper Peninsula, they brought with them a lot of mining knowledge which the other ethnic groups did not have. The other ethnic groups looked up to the Cornish and wanted to emulate their mining successes. Many Cornish practices were then copied by the other ethnic groups, including the pasty as the standard lunch for miners. The pasty became popular with these other ethnic groups because it was small, portable, was very filling, and could stay warm for 8-10 hours. Pasty rivalry occurred between the Finns, Swedes, Irish, Poles, Germans, Scots, Italians and French with each group contributing something in the way of seasoning and other ingredients. All groups agree that pasties must contain two things, potatoes and onions. The portability of the pasty not only made it easy to carry, but if it should get cold it would be relatively easy to heat up. This was done by putting the pasty on a shovel and holding it over a head-lamp candle. Miners never ate a pasty with a fork, they ate it end to end, and held it upright to keep the juices in. Since entire Cornish families worked in mines and each member of the family wanted different ingredients in the pasty, the Cornish wife would stamp the bottom corner of each pasty with an initial. According to the Cornish Recipes Ancient and Modern, “The true Cornish way to eat a pasty is to hold it in the hand, and begin to bite it from the opposite end to the initial, so that, should any of it be uneaten, it may be consumed later by its rightful owner. And woe betide anyone who take’s another person’s corner!” There was a superstition among the Cornish miner’s that the initial corner should not be eaten, instead it was dropped on the ground for the mining gremlins to eat. These “gremlins” caused mischief in mines, causing accidents and mine collapses, feeding them supposedly kept them out of trouble. There is
some truth to this rumor, because the early Cornish tin mines had large amounts of arsenic, by not eating the corner which the miners held, they kept themselves from consuming large amounts of arsenic. The pasty remains relatively unchanged today, a few places have put in healthier vegetable shortening instead of lard, and a couple of other minor changes like the cut of meat used. It’s importance in this area can be seen at local fund raisers for local groups and charities. Local food businesses make and sell anywhere from 50 to 100 pasties every day!
I like to make Pastys, I love the Cheese Potatoes and Onion Pasties, even veggies and potato with a little Nutritional Yeast that gives the pasty a cheesy taste.. below are minced turkey and Veggie pasties and Cheese Onion and Potato Pasties,
During this Covid 19 Isolation time, it is important to stay Healthy Mentally and Physically! It’s easy for your anxiety to spike.. you’re taking in new information all the time. And there’s a lot of mis-information out there when it comes to COVID-19. To combat this, only collect information from credible sources to get a clear, accurate sense of your personal health risk. Don’t watch the news a couple of Dozens time a day!! Your mental health will be better if only check win on the news once or twice daily!! David checks the world news when he first gets up and then at Supper we both watch the CTV Edmonton News.. Self Isolation and Social distancing are a tough one to follow, I am a Hugger !! It is tough not seeing my grand kids, we saw Asher yesterday briefly, it was so amazing
We haven’t seen Colin and Bailey for a couple of weeks now, this is tough. I had a dream last night that they came to visit, we were out back playing board games and having fun, I woke up early with tears streaming down my face.. I guess I am anxious and Scared.. In difficult scenarios, we tend to think about the worst possible outcomes. Mental health experts call this “catastrophizing” and it’s so common that it appears on every list of unhealthy thinking styles out there. At the same time, we underestimate our own abilities to overcome the situation. We will Survive.. We take advantage of this down time, we play lots of Backgammon and Dominos, I some times sketch., david loves to play cards on the computer and watching Documentaryies.. I also Crochet a lot especially #Hugs4CopsBlankets.. We love to cook, also , put on a great playlist and sing along to this.. We have been trying to go to bed at a decent time so we can get up and enjoy the day .. Physical activities are important when in Isolation, Jog, bike ride, treadmill, work out to that old DVD of Richard Simmons, oh my I loved the and Jane Fonda work out tapes back in the 80’s.. If you are feeling overwhelmed there is on line help, or call a friend , Face time, is great
Richard Simmons of ‘Sweatin’ to the Oldies’ is posting fitness videos ‘as a comfort’ during the coronavirus pandemic You can do it and get a giggle Found this link on line and this great pic of Richard Simmons . Oh I didn’t tell y’all I got a date for my Surgery May 27th, after the Surgery , I think I will do a little Sweatin to the Oldies
This is a way back to when I was living in Carlisle England , I didn’t or don’t have the recipe I just out together the way I remembered the Pierie’s Patty , there was a Fish and Chip Shop in Carlisle that sold these patties , oh my goodness they were amazing !! It tasted the way I remembered them. A little taste of home, I used ground pork for the filling, onion, a small carrot, garlic, black pepper and tomato paste.. Mashed potato. I am going to try these with different fillings, like Cheese and Onion, Chilli, Curry!! I love cooking and as We like to call kit #ISoCooking , when we cook a batch of food we usually put one or two Porch Packages together for Friends and family..
One batch was my Scotch Baps and Tomato Basil Soup!! The Second batch of Baps was the best! Here is a pic of some young ladies enjoying my soup and scotch baps !!
Yesterday David cooked , a batch of Spaghetti Sauce and we froze the for a future meal, and a #PorchPkg
Supper David made his amazing Chicken and Leek dish Oh my goodness this was amazing , He has been making this since we came to Canada, I cant remember where he got the recipe, everyone loves this. The we cook , we have a great playlist on and sing along as we cook!!
Today, my phone rang, and it was Katie to say she was going to take Asher for a Drive so she popped bye for the garden toys , we have had the slide since Katie and Victoria were small, the toy Police car was Colin and Baileys , so was the little tykes Bike or as Cling called it his “Crappy Bike” I am so please that they are going to get used again. We kept a #SocialDistance Here are a few new and old pics of my Grandkids enjoying these toys, I do apologise, I am having a minor melt down as I see these pics. I love y grand kids so much and miss them ..
Wow what a crazy week,!! We have 2 rivers convert here in Fort McMurray, the Athabaska River and the Clearwater River, we have had a long winter and it has stayed colder this year so the Ice is a lot thicker!! We have a huge Ice Jam and the Lover part of Fort McMurray has had to evacuate due to flooding . Through fire and flood, some residents in Fort McMurray are quietly longing for the rocky shores they used to call home while dealing with a pandemic and a natural disaster. There has been about 13,000 people evacuated !! “Hell to High Water!!” What else cold go wrong, Fort McMurray People are strong and
2016 we had the Beast come through our City of Fort MCMurray the entire city was evacuated Approx 90,000 ppl We rebuilt , but this flood has also destroyed a few of the houses and businesses that were re built. My Heart Aches for this town.. David also got temp lay off, so we are Self Isolating at home, this past year was tough on us as I also had a Mgr Surgery and am awaiting another, that was delayed due to the Covid Crisis.
Up and Onward.. 45 yrs married, we have our tiffs, but make a cup of tea and carry on.. We f We both love to cook so for our Anniversary on April 26th I cooked Eggs Benny for breakfast, and David cooked steak for supper and I made twice baked potatoes!! We are missing hugs from our 3 Grand-babies Colin 13, Bailey 9 and Asher almost 10 Months Old !! We planted seeds about 3 weeks ago and they are sprouting, soon we will be able to transplant in to the garden ,Herbs, Lettuce, Swiss Chard, Tomatoes, Spring Onions , Strawberries and flowers, it is not a lot but , we love going in to the garden to pick a salad !! Fort McMurray We can do this #StayHome #StaySafe #DontHoard #EveryonehastoSurvive Thank you to all the First Responders, Drs and Nurses all the grocery store workers and Truck Drivers, we could not do this with out you I love you all and Miss you!! I’m a Hugger ..
David and I are finding lots to do during the Self Isolation, We love Chinese food, from the leftover roast beef which wasn’t a lot I cut in to tiny strips, 1 onion in chunky pieces, 4 cloves of garlic diced4 plum tomatoes diced, 1 Jalappeno sliced thin / left over carrots from the roast dinner, I added 2 tbl spoon curry powder, i tsp madras paste, and 1 tsp Grace creamed coconut, the simmered a while then added the left over gravy from the roast, oh my gosh you should taste this curry!! We made a veggie stir fry, rice and spring rolls, these ones I bought in Super Store they we Thai, shrimp and delicious
There wasn’t a lot left over from this dinner Just some rice and curry! Then we went in to the sun room and played our first game of BackGammon for this year, I am getting pretty good t this game.. We always have a playlist on, we sing , cook and do house work to this.. George is enjoying his daily walks , as yet we cant walk him far as yet again he is limping.. this is an intermittent thing on a yearly, basis it comes and goes,
Another day another day to create , hmmm so I have 1 1b ground beef, i brown this meat and half it, one half is going to make my Spaghetti Sauce and will be delivered to friends as a gift, the other half of the meat will go in to malign one of Davids fave Holopshy , For us for Supper I have 1 1/2 cup of cooked rice , 1/2 1lb browned ground beef, 4 garlic cloves diced,Large can tomato sauce, 2 tsp dried mustard , 1 medium green cabbage, fresh ground black pepper , 1/4 the cabbage and slice thn, layer on the bottom of a casserole dish mix meat, onion, rice and garlic laover the cabbage, top layer is thinly sliced cabbage.. Mix the mustard powder , pepper with tomato sauce and poutr over the cabbage, cook in a 360 f oven for about 1 hour, let stand to cool a while.
I also made bread to fo along with the Spaghetti sauce for a gift I will leave on their porch joust to say , we are thinking of you . I have also bee crocheting baby slippers, David has got his seeds planted and keeping the in a warm place, so that when the snow eventually goes we cn plant our garden, out sanctuary for the summer..
How then can we mindfully make good food choices? a web site I got this from health.harvard.edu
Make a schedule or a daily meal plan. A schedule is more predictable for you and for everyone in your household.
Consider apps to stay connected around a meal. Skype, Zoom, or FaceTime with family and friends. Share recipes or even cook virtually together.
Plan for groceries. Try to buy fewer processed, high-salt or high-sugar snacks.
Load up on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and lean proteins.
Save money. Skip the high-sugar soda and juices; instead flavor water with edible citrus or berries.
Plan and enjoy an occasional comfort food for a weekly treat — pick a day and enjoy whatever you want, just not all your favorites on the same day!
Manage your environment. If candy is simply not in the cupboard, then you can’t eat it.
You might be surprised to learn that certain nutrients in foods have been shown to reduce anxiety or spur the release of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine — and we all want to feel as good as we can during these times of uncertainty. People are feeling a lot of stress right now, and the unfortunate reality is that stress worsens feelings of low mood or angst, and it also suppresses our immune systems. Therefore, targeting immune-boosting foods will have a dual effect — you may feel less anxious and boost your immunity.
I’d suggest incorporating these foods as a way to include healthier options into your nutrition during this unusual time of stress and uncertainty. We all have to eat, so attending to our nutrition is something we can all control, and then reap the benefits of an improved mood.
Reduce anxiety and boost immunity by choosing:
Citrus fruit and red bell peppers (both rich in vitamin C, which in some studies has been shown to support your immune system)
Spices: ginger, garlic, turmeric, and capsaicin (from chili peppers) can be easily added to soups, stews, stir-frys, or salad dressings.
Foods rich in zinc such as oysters, clams, mussels, cashews, liver, beef, and egg yolks. You may recognize zinc as an ingredient is the cold remedy Zicam, as zinc has some virus-fighting effects.
Magnesium-rich foods may help you to feel calmer, and help support immunity. Stress can deplete our magnesium levels too. Examples are legumes, nuts, seeds, leafy greens, and whole grains.
Fatty fish like wild Alaskan salmon contains omega-3 fatty acids. A study on medical students in 2011 was one of the first to show that omega-3s may help reduce anxiety.
Eat probiotic-rich foods such as pickles, sauerkraut, miso, and kefir.
Add some antioxidants to your anti-anxiety diet, which can support your immune system.
The bottom line:
Staying at home during the COVID-19 pandemic is challenging for everyone, and the increased anxiety (and boredom) can cause people to abandon their healthy eating intentions and snack on whatever is around. But with a little thought and planning, you can continue to make good food choices and maybe even boost your mood and immunity.
Happy Easter to all my readers, family and friends,This was a strange Holiday, We are so used to hosting dinners for family and friends, this easter there was just 3 of us, David, myself and our son Ian ohh and George my faithful Springer.. The start of the weekend I groomed George as he was a hairy mess, its nor perfect but he looks not to bad.. Then I decided to put on a great playlist Phil Collins and Glass Tiger.. Sat I cooked Scotch Eggs they were amazing , and some Mushroom Soup.
Scotch Eggs
2 pkgs Sausage meat ( I used 2 as I swear these are smaller)
6 Medium Eggs
1 cup panco bread crumbs
Italian seasoning
fresh ground black pepper
Soft boil the eggs, once the water was boiling i cooked the eggs for 3 mins, then took them off the stove emptied the boiling water out and poured cold water on the eggs to stop them cooking.. I then placed half of the bread crumbs in a dish and the other half to coat the scotch eggs in . I peel the shells of the eggs , then mix the sausage meat, bread crumbs, spices then, put a ball of sausage meat in your hand and make a hollow, place the egg in the hollow and wrap sausage meat around it. then roll the egg in bread crumbs, once done deep fry for 5 or 6 mins, let cool an they are ready to eat, they are really good..
Mushroom Soup
oyster mushrooms
2 portobello mushrooms
White mushrooms slice all the mushrooms
1 onion diced
1 celery stalk diced
900 mills veg stock
fresh ground black pepper
1 tsp minced garlic
drizzle of truffle oil
olive oil
2 tbl spoons sour cream
in a pot placate Olive Oil, mushrooms onion and celery, and garlic sauté until soft add the stock bring to the boil and let cool a little, then I blend add sour cream and a drizzle of truffle oil and black pepper, mis and simmer this is delicious with home made bread , to dunk in .. As for the Mushrooms it is your choice of which ones to use, I find the Porcini mushroom has a very earthy taste to it, i usually have a pkg chefs blend dried mushrooms, but did not have this time..
Easter Dinner was a Roast Beef. small potatoes, the trivet was Onions,Carrots, and parsnip, I also did leeks in a Dill n Pepper sauce it was not bad, along with that yorkshire puddings all produce was from The real Canadian Super Store, and Save on Foods here in Fort McMurray..
After Supper Kare , Aaron, Asher and Miss Gracie face timed us, loved every second of the call. Them Matt, Krystal, Colin and Bailey brought dropped off the most amazing dessert a carrot cake bunt cake in bunny rabbit shapes, it was amazing . Along with Dessert Colin Hand made a leather Note Book for Grandads Birthday, it is beautifully done, great Job Colin.. Grandad will have this for ever.. #Safe Distancing was done.. I love my family, I am a hugger, I hug everyone, I cant wait for this to be Over , I have a lot of hugs to give.. Love y’all #StaySafe #Stay Home and this will all be over soon..
Since Evac in 2016 I have been Crocheting Hugs Blankets. In 2013 a Police dog got Killed, in the line of duty, Quanto was his name, Katie and I Scrapbooked a picture collage for the #EPS and Dog Handler. I presented it, it was a heart wrenching . I cried.. Since Then I have supported #First Responders #Hugs4Cops Id say twice a month I go buy wool at Walmart.. Thank you First Responder and Cops for the job you do on a daily basis
Intuitive Chef 