Today’s culinary delight !! good for our The gut microbiome A bean stew with White Kidney beans h haricot beans , some leafy greens Swiss Chard, Parsley and thyme, tomatoes green and red from my garden..
Yesterday I made a Texas Caviar made with Black eye peas, a home made tomatoe basil soup did use 2 cans of tomatoes but everything else was fresh, then made home made scotch Baps omg
Diet and gut health are very closely linked. Try to avoid processed foods, high-fat foods, and foods high in refined sugars this is very important in maintenance for a healthy microbiome, as these foods destroy good bacteria and promote growth of damaging bacteria. There are also a number of foods you can eat that actively promote the growth of good bacteria, contributing to your overall health. We started to change our Diet 2015, adding theses foods to our diet as I had a lot of gut problems.. After 2 surgeries I am watching my gut health more than ever.. Eat a High Fibre Diet, legumes, beans, peas, oats, bananas, berries, asparagus, and leeks have shown a positive impact on gut health, I love all of these. Garlic and Onions, may have some anti-cancer and immune system-enhancing properties . I cook with lots of these!! Another great food or foods are Fermented ones such as kimchi, sauerkraut, yogurt, tempeh, miso, and kefir are great dietary sources of probiotics, also are in many varying ways their benefits on the gut microbiome big fan of these foods..!! I am a fan of making my own broths, bone broth, or Salmon, fish stock may be beneficial to overall health and gut health !! Cooking from Scratch..
Another important benefit is to Eat, sleep, and be healthy!! The human gut is more complex than previously thought and has a huge impact on whole-body health. A healthy gut contributes to a strong immune system, heart health, brain health, improved mood, healthy sleep, and effective digestion, and it may help prevent some cancers and autoimmune diseases. There are a number of lifestyle changes you can make to positively affect your gut health and your overall health as a result. Whole foods, cooking from scratch, do a little research in to gut health and the way you eat, making small changes along the way .. We do eat out once in a while, order in once in a while for the most part we love cooking from scratch, its funny , once you start doing tis, your outlook on grocery shopping !! We do buy canned goods Tomatoes, some canned varieties of beans, we are loving eating this way!! it is truly amazing how your tastebuds change, Must admit I still love a burger or a sun sandwich once in a while..
When ever I am in the Kitchen cooking I always think of my Mom, she was an amazing lady, who taught me a lot about cooking , being a good person and always to help others.. We have taught all our kids all 3 of them, or at least shared recipes and traditions. I look forward to teaching my Grandkids, Today is the first Day of the rest of your Life.. A Random Act of Kindness is one of the most amazing things you can do
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
In the garden yesterday picking lettuce, chive, parsley, swiss chard, nasturtiums, tomatoes..thinking how I could do the salad a little different .. I think I will do my layered salad !! To my garden mix I added, Grated Carrot, diced bell peppers, diced Celery, diced cucumber and bean sprouts, Spring Onions .. I put on a great play list and started this amazing salad, my diced salad should be done preferably the day before to let all veggie flavours be absorbed !! I layered some lettuce and swiss chard & Nasturtium leafs rolled up and cut , the parsley, a layer of bean sprouts, then carrots, celery and cucumber , bell peppers, chives and a layer of the Spring onions, then a layer of the lettuce, swiss chard and nasturtium leafs, toppings the salad with diced tomatoes, if you like you can add grated cheese to the top of this amazing salad.. then cover with cling film and place in the fridge.. I like to serve this with an oil and vinegar dressing .. The flavours, and textures are amazing , you can use whatever veggies you like, your choice your salad!!
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Rating: 4 out of 5.
I had some good news yesterday the Home Health Nurse said I am fully recovered and signed off from their visits, they are truly amazing ladies, TY for helping me .. I had my last dental appointment for this year..
After Supper David and I played Backgammon in the back yard , we sat chatting until we had to put on the lights, it was such a relaxing evening , during these stressful time a crazy world and the Covid 19 Virus, it is important to have a healthy body and mind.. Eat to live and not Live to eat..
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
By oh boy is this Canadian Simmer like a British summer where I come from in the UK!! Cumbria. Such a beautiful place and such a lot of history.
Cumbria is best known for containing the Lake District National Park, an area some 30 miles across, containing England’s highest mountains (four over 3000 ft), and some of Englands biggest lakes. Also within Cumbria is a small part of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Beatrix potter, In all, Potter wrote thirty books; the best known being her twenty-three children’s tales. With the proceeds from the books and a legacy from an aunt, in 1905 Potter bought Hill Top Farm in Near Sawrey, a village in the Lake District which at that time was in Lancashire. I love Beatrix Potter always have and one of my fave movies is Miss Potter staring Rene Zelwegger. Beatrix Potter and the National trust. here is a link you will find interesting “Hill Top Farm ” Make me want to go visit again..
William Wordsworth , Info on poet. here is a pic, not mine but found on net. Google Beatrix she is amazing.
Early LifePoet William Wordsworth was born on April 7, 1770, in Cockermouth, Cumberland, At the end of the 18th century, poet William Wordsworth helped found the Romantic movement in English literature. He also wrote “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud.” Hmm I have often Said this!! I think I may read some of his works..
Yesterday I coked a roast, potatoes , and veg in the Crock Pot, I then picked some Swiss chard from the Garden and made my version of Collard Greens, boy it was good .. I diced 1 medium onion, garlic 1 tsp minced garlic, 1 small Jalapeño sautéed. then added a huge bunch of Swiss chard from our garden and sliced added to the onion mix, I then added some of the stock from the roast and cooked on. a low heat, I added salt and fresh ground pepper. Yummy.
Here is a little History on Collard greens. Not my info I found this on line and it goes along with todays Blog
Collards are also known as tree cabbage or non-heading cabbage. Though greens did not originate in Africa but originated in the eastern Mediterranean, it wasn’t until the first Africans arrived in Jamestown, Virginia in the early 1600s that America got its first taste of the dark green, leafy vegetable. Collard greens have been eaten for at least 2000 years, with evidence showing that the ancient Greeks cultivated several types of collard, as well as kale. Collard greens are close relatives of kale. Like Swiss chard and rapini, collards are harvested for their edible and slightly bitter leaves. But unlike Swiss chard and rapini, collard greens‘ thick stalks are not commonly consumed. you can eat the stalks of Swiss chard.. Now the remember last Blog I mentions eating lots of Leafy Greens. OMG your will love this!! I guess I love all my green veggies, since my surgery I can enjoy them .. These are in the Super Foods. so I guess Super greens. Enjoy them and be creative with them they are good for you. remember Eat to Live not Live to eat. you can add a lot of these to your recipes and hide them if your children don’t like veggies so much!! Puree in to the recipe.. LOL.
Provide Detox SupportJust like the health benefits of kale, their cruciferous ( Brussel Sprouts to. Yummy) cousin, one of the top health benefits of collard greens is that they’re a natural detoxifier. They not only help remove toxins, but they eliminate them from the body. Cruciferous vegetables are vegetables of the family Brassicaceae with many genera, species, and cultivars being raised for food production such as cauliflower, cabbage, kale, garden cress, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and similar green leaf vegetables.Wikipedia. This is from Wikipedia. man I love that site.
Well, now to take George for a walk. Oh Did you know Beatrix Potter also had a Springier Spaniel again not my pic. But OMG love it.
My Boy George. !!! Love Y’all Stay Safe. Wash your hands regularly!!
Eating during COVID-19: Improve your mood and lower stress!!
So David was craving deep-fried chicken , I looked up recipes and found a Mock M Browns , oh boy was it food and not greasy at all !! Flavourful, I added a little more spices!! Not my recipe it was on line and is amazing , not something I would eat regularly bur def a great treat..
I added a little savoury spice and some paprika to colour the flour.. I made scalloped potatoes and green beans with this.. LOL not a word was uttered at the supper table.. Today Im making home made bread and going to give some to my neighbour, Tonight a coast salad made with home grown romaine lettuce and my home made dressing!!
Tomorrow I am making Collard Greens but Substituting the Collard Greens with Swiss Chard !
Low-Cal ChardDelicate in taste, chard can be used as a substitute for collards as it can withstand long cooking times, even though this vegetable cooks much more quickly than collards do. … Like spinach, a 1-cup serving of chard contains 7 calories.
Dark Leafy Greens
Leaf vegetables, also called leafy greens, salad greens, pot herbs, vegetable greens, or simply greens, are plant leaves eaten as a vegetable, I make wraps out of the leafy greens ,
Which Green Vegetables Should You Eat?
There are many leafy greens you can eat. Here is a list of the healthiest greens commonly available:
Kale: It contains almost all the goodness leafy greens can offer. Kale is rich in vitamins A, C, and K, calcium, folate, potassium, and fiber. It protects the heart and can prevent or slow down cancer.
Collards: Collards contain nutritional value very similar to Kale.
Green leaf, red leaf, and Romaine lettuce: These are full of vitamin A and folate. The darker leaves are more nutritious than lighter varieties.
Turnip greens: The tops of turnips are low in calories, and are loaded with vitamins
Swiss Chard: These vegetables have a beet-like taste and a soft texture. They contain a healthy amount of vitamins A and C.
Broccoli: It is rich in vitamins C and A, potassium, folate, fiber, protein, and iron. Broccoli also contain cancer-fighting sulforaphane.
Spinach: Spinach contains folate, vitamins A and C. Cooked spinach is more nutritious than raw.
Mustard greens: These greens have a similar nutrition profile to turnip and collards.
Cabbage: This vegetable is an excellent source of vitamin C and cancer-fighting compounds.
Small leafy greens, like cilantro, parsley, mint, spearmint, sage, thyme, and fenugreek: Never heard of this !! These greens are potent in nutrients similar to the large leafy greens noted above.
Herbs and many more
Scratch Cooking, for us is the way to go, we limit the amount of processed food, and this time of year we grew a few veggies in our garden , The Swiss Chard and Herbs can be frozen to be used at a later date, the tomatoes I make a tomato sauce and freeze
All in all a healthy diet and exercise ( we love to take George for daily walks) We play Scrabble and Backgammon and have lots of laughs.. We aren’t perfect by any means and everyone handles stress in a different way , for us scratch whole food cooking and eating is helping us..Our family and grand kids to Love y’all Stay Safe ,
Birthday Weekend, Canada EH!! Then Asher turned 1 year and then bailey turned 10 years !! We got to spend the best part of the weekend with Family.. For Canada Day David made a Huge Burger with Ground Chicken, Lean Ground Beef and then Ground Pork from Irvings Farm Fresh! The burgers were Huge a Gigantic Burger .. David also Smoked a Brisket that to was amazing.. I tried a new brand of Flour, it wasn’t to bad except the Power went out part way through cooking so I had to finish it on the BBQ!! For Snacks and Lunches I made 2 bean dishes One was Texas Caviar and the other a greek Salad made with Chick Pea that is amazing !!
Then for the weekend, I made a Veggie Stir Fry with a little of the Brisket Beef , the flavours in the stir fry WOW.. Today is a veggie day !! A Bean Stew made with Black Beans, Lentils and Butter beans to give the stew meatiness.. Lots of other Veggies!!
As Canada Day Fast approaches, what are you all doing for this?? Were staying home just having a BBQ for us! There was a new Covid 19 Out break a couple of weeks ago and as from Yesterday we were at
There is one new COVID-19 case in Fort McMurray and three new recoveries. This brings the total number of active cases in the city to 13, with 29 recoveries.
The number of cases in Wood Buffalo’s rural hamlets remains unchanged, with 11 active cases and three recoveries!! With name being a little over a month Post Op, I don’t want to do anything to harm this.. I am feeling great, eating a healthy diet really helps.. Our Youngest Grand son and his mom Came from Lunch then we took lunch to them, and of course David ( Grandad) Got Asher very dirty so he bathed him, we also got to see Colin and Bailey for a short visit, Miss B is turning 10 in July and Asher will be 1 year.. In Sept Colin is turning 14, oh my where does the time go.. lol Its nice to talk and visit now with Close family as Anxiety can get pretty wild… So Staying Healthy both mentally and physically is important and always remember there is always someone who will listen, my door is open if you need to talk, Believe me I’ve been there !! So this week we have had a lot of greens from the Garden salads and Swiss chard, we have 8 potato plants through and the garden is really coming along ! I did make Kedgeree, this week a Jamie Oliver recipe.. It wasn’t bad..
I have 2 chapters to read in the amazing Autobiography book 30 years of Frontline Policing in the UK..
Firearms and Fatals: An Autobiography of 30 Years Front line Policing Exposed
David cooked a roast of beef on the BBQ earlier this week and I boiled potatoes with the skin on they are just like baked potatoes only a wee bit juicier.
For Canada Day David wants to make his own burgers with lean ground beef and Ground Pork from Irvings farm fresh amazing pork products We had a laugh about the burgers and David wants to do a Hulk Size Burger , I will cook portobello mushrooms and make big buns lol … Please all stay safe and stay healthy .. These are tough times we are going through.. I on a daily basis do deep breathing exercises and stretching, as yet I have to be careful, once I am all healed its back in the Gym and Yoga.. David and I laugh a lot and , play board games, recently we have been playing scrabble I got this when I was 7 or 8 yrs old .. We also play Backgammon these games help us .. Well guys Up and onward Live Laugh and Love
45 yrs of marriage to tis man and I love him more today than ever, Best Friend, Husband, Grandad, Dad , Springer Dad a great cook, amazing person who would do anything to help a fellow person!! Wishing all the Dads all over the world, past and present We love you all.. To all First Responders and front line workers who are working today… Today David wants to cook so were having Chicken, new potatoes and Asparagus.. I haven’t cooked much tis week, as we have had a few BBQ’s and then David made his spaghetti sauce, I have had quite a few Salads from the garden.. Oh I did make a batch of Texas Caviar for David and I as that is amazing for your gut Health..
Tomorrow I go see my Dr to see how I am Healing, I feel better than i have ever felt and I am so pleased that I had the Surgery in Nov, them the one the end of may to reverse the stoma.. Now let me get on with my life..
Jamie Olivers Cooking , Man I love this man, and his cooking. I would love to cook with him.. David Smoked some Haddock yesterday and has frozen ti for later this week, I am going to make Jamie’s Kedgeree!! What is Kedgeree, it is a popular British Breakfast dish ( were having it for supper one day) it consists of curried rice, smoked Haddock or any fish you desitre. , boiled eggs, parsley and lemon juice. Not the usual British breakfast. Though, it is the origins of the dish which gives meaning to it as it is steeped in British and Indian history. There is a wee bit of history to go along with this Dish.. Kedgeree may be considered a traditional British breakfast dish but its roots are well bedded in Indian cooking having started its life as khichari, a humble dish of rice and lentils. Originally there was no fish in this dish so the Britts. added this for protein and turned into something more familiar to those serving in India, and it returned to these shores with them. I guess just like the English Kippers for Breakfast they to are a smoked fish yummy but way to many bones for me, My mom loved Kippers.. A little info from wikipedia on kippers
Why are kippers called kippers?The exact origin of kippers is unknown, although fish have been slit, gutted and smoked for centuries. … As a verb, to kipper means to preserve by rubbing with salt or other spices before drying in the open air or in smoke. So beef or other meat preserved in the same fashion can logically be called “kippered.” When Cooking cooking just kippers, you could boil water and add the Kippers once water is boiled.. In about 10 mins theKippers are ready to serve.. delicious served with scrambled eggs, or with poached eggs that have been cooked in the kipper water. Boiled Eggs My mom loved some Brown Bread and Butter with them . Fish is a super food Why is eating fish healthy? Fish is a high-protein, low-fat food that provides a range of health benefits. White-fleshed fish, in particular, is lower in fat than any other source of animal protein, and oily fish are high in omega-3 fatty acids, I love fish , I have a few fish recipes I should share with you.. I remember the fish van coming around once a week, thats when my mon would buy amazing smoked haddock cook it in milk and make a fish Pie, or buy kippers OMG the stump the house out but are so good.. Funny the things that bring back memories ..
Ingredients
2 large free-range eggs
680 g undyed smoked haddock fillets , from sustainable sources, ask your fishmonger, pin-boned
2 fresh bay leaves
170 g long grain or basmati rice
sea salt
1 tablespoon pure butterghee
1 thumb-sized piece fresh ginger , peeled and grated
1 medium onion , or 1 bunch of spring onions, finely chopped
1 clove garlic , peeled and finely chopped
2 heaped tablespoons curry powder
1 tablespoon mustard seeds
2 tomatoes , deseeded and chopped
2 lemons , juice of
2 good handfuls fresh coriander , leaves picked and chopped
1 fresh red chilli , finely chopped
250g fat-free natural yoghurt
Method
Boil the eggs for 10 minutes, then hold under cold running water. Put the fish and bay leaves in a shallow pan with enough water to cover. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer for about 5 minutes, until cooked through. Remove from pan and leave to cool. Remove the skin from fish, flake into chunks and set aside.
Cook the rice in salted water for about 10 minutes and drain. Refresh in cold water, drain again, and leave in the fridge until needed. Melt the butterghee in a pan over a low heat. Add the ginger, onion and garlic. Soften for about 5 minutes, then add the curry powder and mustard seeds. Cook for a further few minutes, then add the chopped tomatoes and lemon juice.
Quarter the eggs. Add the fish and rice to a pan and gently heat through. Add the eggs, most of the coriander and the chilli and stir gently. Place in a warm serving dish. Mix the rest of the coriander into the yoghurt and serve with the kedgeree.
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.
Eating right for your gut is so important, this was one of the reasons we changed the way we eat, more than ever since my second app eating right for my gut health is important. Our diet is 99% Whole foods, cook from scratch and little processed food.. One of our fave snacks is Texas Caviar, Black-eyed Beans, tomatoes, red onion, chilli pepper , green or red peppers , garlic , fresh ground black pepper and some chunky salsa.. Once you have tried this you will love it.. I also made Acorn ASquash soup and fresh bread, this is one of Baileys fave Soups, I never forget the first time I made it , I gave her some soup she took a few pieces of fresh baked bread and never even used a spoon for the soup, she soaked the soup up with the bread and that little fave of baileys.. Oh my I love that little Miss, and Gram misses you so much!! ( Another Side track lol) Also since surgery I have been taking a pro biotic , or a yogurt. Your digestive system is home to trillions of bacteria, some are beneficial and some are harmful. Beneficial bacteria can help digestion,
They are high in fiber, which can’t be digested by your body. However, 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 these are
Prebiotics are foods that promote the growth of beneficial microbes in the gut.
They are mainly fiber or complex carbs that can’t be digested by human cells. Instead, certain species of bacteria break them down and use them for fuel.
Many fruits, vegetables and whole grains contain prebiotic, but they can also be found on their own.So really an all-around healthy diet, cutting out, processed foods or at least try to.. Somedays it is difficult..
Sunday Dinner A joint lol
Today I’m feeling amazing and am going to cook a Sunday Roast ( Joint as called in the UK) I marinated the beef last night,
1 cup flour
Mustard your choice
Fresh Ground black pepper
garlic
pkg Know Onion Soup Mix
1 pff beef Bouillon (OXO)
Rb the mustard all over the beef, massage in to the meat! All dry ingredients place in to a large ziplock baggie.. Place the meat in this mis and seal the bag, taking out the air Shake the meat and place in refrigerator. I took out the meat about 2 hours ago bringing it to room temp, and prepare the Dutch Oven, I usually use a vegetable trivet for my roasts, not today I am using a metal trivet, it helps the meat cook evenly. I add a pkg Know, Pkg soup mix and one diced onion and water,, Add the meat, cover and I place meat in a 380f oven for 20 mins then turn to 240 f , until done.. Then crank the oven to 425 and heat up my muffin tins for Yorkshire puddings, I par cooked the potatoes as we are having roast potatoes, have the carrots in Chicken Stock ready to cook and also brushes sprouts.. Once beef is done I will take the meat and place on a cutting board to relax,, Then make the grave out of the stock , i usually add a little Sherry or port to the gravy, today I have red wine.. I try not to go to the store to much, I make do with the ingredients I have at hand.. With the left over beef I am going to make a Beef Stroganoff.. Im already thinking ahead. Some of the gravy I will keep for a future curry!! With all meats I cook, I keep the stock to gravy to use at a later date.. TY Western Family ( Save On Foods for the amazing produce and friendly service from your Thickwood Store Love this store..
I Love making a Sunday Dinner, it brings back so many memories of my Mom, a wonderful lady and an amazing cook, I lost my Mom andDad 6 months apart when I was 31 yrs, taken to young.. I hold my friends and family close, you just never know. LiveLaughLove .. Stay Safe y’all I love y’all until my next blog Muwahhhhhhhhhh
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
Another cool rainy day! I have got my crochet out ! Every day I feel I am getting stronger, for supper last night David made a fabulous salad! The Lettuce was out of our garden and the eggs were Hutterite eggs! Salad and a slice of home made bread amazing, I added a kite Kimchi to my salad
What is kimchi?
Contains healthy bacteria and probiotics for the overall wellness of your body. …
What is kimchi?
Indeed, this low-fat and high-fiber meal is so famous it’s widely available in Asian grocery stores and health food stores all over the country. But, what exactly is kimchi? Kimchi is a red, fermented cabbage dish (occasionally, with radish) made with a mix of salt, vinegar, garlic, chile peppers and other spices. These ingredients are fermented in a tightly closed jar and are subsequently served with rice, noodles or soups in every Korean’s household. We always have a jar of Kimchi in the house, def good on salads, to burgers.. Your Choice
Fermentation is an ancient technique of preserving food.
The process is still used today to produce foods like wine, cheese, sauerkraut, yogurt, and kombucha.
Fermented foods are rich in beneficial probiotics and have been associated with a range of health benefits — from better digestion to stronger immunity One reason I am adding it to my diet for a while is The probiotics produced during fermentation can help restore the balance of friendly bacteria in your gut and may alleviate some digestive problems !! Slowly adding again beans as they to are amazing for gut health!! We are all about this !! The pics of George here, the one at the bottom of the stairs, my health nurse came to see me and while she was here George guarded the stairs!! I will post the Texas caviar later..
What a week, Surgery went well, thank you to all the Hospital Staff at our Northern Lights Hospital here in Fort McMurray,Dr Indar and Nursing Staff are amazing, loved my post ope meals thank you Dietary! Also all staff on the front lines! I started this journey a few years ago, with Diverticulitis, never confirmed when I was young, but we suspect, i may have had this most of my life .. But as you all know David and I changed our diets to 80% Plant based and also cooking from scratch!! I have to say, we do feel well eating this way! I went in to the Surgery with a Positive attitude and carried that all the way through and still am thinking positive in my recovery.. I got home Sunday, as I entered my house, it was so clean!! George was so happy to see me, and David had a chicken ready to put on to the Rotisserie , with a mashed potato, and chunks of sweet potato he ha d pa boiled and finished on the BBQ!! it was amazing, we then sat out on the back deck !! David surprised me with the patio lanterns, as it grew darker the magic of my back yard was amazing ..
We sat n the back Deck for a couple of hours, listening to Hippie music LOL David had also smoked some cheese while I was in hospital, we had to try this, oh my . yummy it was delicious.. Eating for a healthy recovery Monday Morning I had Avocado on flax seed toast,Supper David made Salmon, a creamy mash and carrots, it was amazing . Banana and bought for breakfast and avocado and flax seed sandwich and green tea for lunch tonight I think is leftovers yummy Chicken.. I have to really watch my diet after this surgery!! So far I am amazing, I feel as though I have been given a new lease on life, as before with the diverticular, was a challenge..
After surgery, your body needs enough calories and nutrients to fully recover from the Opp. Eating the right foods/diet after surgery can decrease risk of infection, speed healing of the incision and increase strength and energy. The best post–surgery foods to eat are packed full of vitamins and mineral Avocado is an incredibly nutritious food with a high content of healthy fats and nutrients. Avocados are beneficial to your health because they boost your good HDL cholesterol. , Added to a salad or a slice of whole grain toast, or made it into a guacamole dip, avocados are a great way to get the benefits of this amazing Veg, the amazing Avocado! One of the best things you can do to improve your nutritional status when you are recovering from surgery is to focus on whole foods. That means to choose foods that are “whole” or unprocessed This is the way we cook and eat. it takes a little more thought in to your weekly menu, once you are in the swing of things and cooking what you eat and very little processed foods, your tastebuds change, you crave less fast food, and you feel way healthier So, aim to obtain most of your nutrition from these whole foods, which is actually a healthy way to eat every day, not just the weeks following surgery. This is my second surgery in 6 months, fingers crossed the last. David and I have plans, diet , working out and relaxation techniques! I love to do deep breathing and stretches I guess a little like yoga!! My way, lol seems to be the theme of most of what I do My Way!!
Remember today is the first day of the rest of your life, life is short!! As I am lol Live, Laugh and Love .. Love y’all
This has been a strange week, Lots of healthy earring, made one of our fave Snacks a Veggie Slaw, yummy!! I Ninja’d Colin and Bailey, they didn’t expect it, bless them.. I cant with to wrap my arms around them and tell them how much I love and Miss them.. We went to see Kate and Asher had a great Afternoon in the garden, I played with Asher and David and Katie planted the garden.. Came home and made the Most Amazing Chilli, with a lean ground beef, 3 types of beans, a hot pepper and Chilli Spices OMG the best ever, then yesterday ate light, as today Is surgery day.. With luck thus will be the last one !! Yesterday a book I ordered written by a friend in the UK, who has Been a Cop for 30 yrs, So far it is a great read, I also have another book to read, it is about The Fabulous Finn, aPolice Dog who was Stabbed and he made remarkable recovery!! I will post the links for both of these books after my Surgery.. Love Y’all Stay Safe !!
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,
Intuitive Chef 