Showing posts with label weather. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weather. Show all posts
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Slippin' On the Ice
Our life for the past 3 weeks, and probably upcoming 2 more:
Is it any wonder why my husband really regrets moving back to NJ from Florida 15 years ago and has now decided that when he retires we're going back there? I already started checking out condos and apartment complexes and our doc said he can easily transfer our files back to his BIL's practice in Kissimmee again.
Think warm thoughts for all of us in the Northeast, okay?
And somebody lock up that groundhog!
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Gout Diet? We Don' Need No Steenkin' Gout Diet!
With apologies to the writers of The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. :)
After a long talk with the podiatrist, my husband decided to just go for it and add back all the foods he had been avoiding because of his gout and see what happens. As long as he has his colchicine to take, that is, and the podiatrist told him to just go ahead and take it daily.
So, slowly foods are back, starting with beans, then spinach, nutritional yeast, and tonight I'll roast some cauliflower when I toss the potatoes in the oven for a roasted veggies meal.
One of the beauties of him eating these foods again is that now I can make some new recipes as well as tried-and-true, and the first new recipe is Tunisian Sweet Potato Stew from the McDougall Starch Solution book. Hubby was never a fan of sweet potatoes, but what the heck - he's at my mercy when it comes to dinner, and I found these nice sweet potatoes at the only grocery store I can walk to (Cars remain snowed in).
The recipe:
TUNISIAN SWEET POTATO STEW
Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time:
Servings: 6-8
1/3 cup water
1 onion, chopped
2 jalapenos, seeded and finely chopped
2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic
1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground coriander
2-3 sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped
2 14.5 ounce cans chopped tomatoes
2 14.5 ounce cans garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup green beans, cut in 1 inch pieces
1 ½ cups vegetable broth
¼ cup natural peanut butter
¼ cup chopped cilantro
Place the water, onion, jalapenos, ginger and garlic in a large pot. Cook, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes. Add cumin, cinnamon, red pepper and coriander. Cook and stir for 1 minute. Add sweet potatoes, tomatoes, garbanzo beans, green beans, vegetable broth and peanut butter. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes, or until potatoes are tender. Stir in cilantro and let rest for 2 minutes. Serve over rice or other whole grains.
The Starch Solution
John McDougall, MD and Mary McDougall
My lazy gal changes:
Frozen onion/green pepper mix, about half a bag, instead of fresh onion and pepper.
Half a can of chopped chilies instead of fresh.
Oops, I forgot to add the ginger. It was flavorful enough without it, though.
A box of Pomi chopped and a 28 oz can of garbanzos.
Frozen green beans
Broth made from Bryanna's broth powder mix.
I skipped the cilantro.
And a confession about the peanut butter. For the longest time I had no nut butters at all in the house. Then my son got on a "healthy food" kick after his dad's CABG surgery and was looking for something to make sandwiches of instead of his usual cheese. He tried and hated hummus, refused to even taste seitan, and out of exasperation one day told him to go buy himself some peanut butter, so he did. Instead of buying the natural organic brand I told him to get, he came home with a jar of Jif. I admit it's not the healthiest peanut butter in the world, but it's better than processed American cheese, so as each jar of Jif ran out I would grab another in the store. I never bought that natural organic one because 1) I knew he wouldn't even attempt to eat it and 2) I would, and would finish the jar in less than a week. So when it came to making last night's dinner, Jif was all we had in the house so Jif is what I used. When the cars get out on the road again (Maybe another month - we're getting another storm tomorrow that's dropping an additional 8 to 12 inches of snow followed by some sleet to seal them in nice and tight), one of the first stops I have to make is to the local HFS, where I'll pick up some Eden brand beans, another bottle of Solgar brand Vitamin B-12, and a jar of Maranatha No-Stir Organic Creamy peanut butter. Sure, I can buy this through Amazon, but for more than double the price, once shipping is figured in (Not eligible for free Prime shipping). Until then, Jif will do because that's what the grocery store within walking distance to our apartment sells.
Now to get ready for the storm. I better take inventory and see what I need in the pantry and freezer and take another walk over and grab what I can before it hits. The least I'll grab is another bag of potatoes and onions and a loaf of WW bread. Looks like hubby will be taking another one of his pool days and stay home from work on Thursday, too, so better pick up ingredients to make a nice soup for our lunches.
I could strangle that groundhog!
After a long talk with the podiatrist, my husband decided to just go for it and add back all the foods he had been avoiding because of his gout and see what happens. As long as he has his colchicine to take, that is, and the podiatrist told him to just go ahead and take it daily.
So, slowly foods are back, starting with beans, then spinach, nutritional yeast, and tonight I'll roast some cauliflower when I toss the potatoes in the oven for a roasted veggies meal.
One of the beauties of him eating these foods again is that now I can make some new recipes as well as tried-and-true, and the first new recipe is Tunisian Sweet Potato Stew from the McDougall Starch Solution book. Hubby was never a fan of sweet potatoes, but what the heck - he's at my mercy when it comes to dinner, and I found these nice sweet potatoes at the only grocery store I can walk to (Cars remain snowed in).
The recipe:
TUNISIAN SWEET POTATO STEW
Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time:
Servings: 6-8
1/3 cup water
1 onion, chopped
2 jalapenos, seeded and finely chopped
2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic
1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground coriander
2-3 sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped
2 14.5 ounce cans chopped tomatoes
2 14.5 ounce cans garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup green beans, cut in 1 inch pieces
1 ½ cups vegetable broth
¼ cup natural peanut butter
¼ cup chopped cilantro
Place the water, onion, jalapenos, ginger and garlic in a large pot. Cook, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes. Add cumin, cinnamon, red pepper and coriander. Cook and stir for 1 minute. Add sweet potatoes, tomatoes, garbanzo beans, green beans, vegetable broth and peanut butter. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes, or until potatoes are tender. Stir in cilantro and let rest for 2 minutes. Serve over rice or other whole grains.
The Starch Solution
John McDougall, MD and Mary McDougall
My lazy gal changes:
Frozen onion/green pepper mix, about half a bag, instead of fresh onion and pepper.
Half a can of chopped chilies instead of fresh.
Oops, I forgot to add the ginger. It was flavorful enough without it, though.
A box of Pomi chopped and a 28 oz can of garbanzos.
Frozen green beans
Broth made from Bryanna's broth powder mix.
I skipped the cilantro.
And a confession about the peanut butter. For the longest time I had no nut butters at all in the house. Then my son got on a "healthy food" kick after his dad's CABG surgery and was looking for something to make sandwiches of instead of his usual cheese. He tried and hated hummus, refused to even taste seitan, and out of exasperation one day told him to go buy himself some peanut butter, so he did. Instead of buying the natural organic brand I told him to get, he came home with a jar of Jif. I admit it's not the healthiest peanut butter in the world, but it's better than processed American cheese, so as each jar of Jif ran out I would grab another in the store. I never bought that natural organic one because 1) I knew he wouldn't even attempt to eat it and 2) I would, and would finish the jar in less than a week. So when it came to making last night's dinner, Jif was all we had in the house so Jif is what I used. When the cars get out on the road again (Maybe another month - we're getting another storm tomorrow that's dropping an additional 8 to 12 inches of snow followed by some sleet to seal them in nice and tight), one of the first stops I have to make is to the local HFS, where I'll pick up some Eden brand beans, another bottle of Solgar brand Vitamin B-12, and a jar of Maranatha No-Stir Organic Creamy peanut butter. Sure, I can buy this through Amazon, but for more than double the price, once shipping is figured in (Not eligible for free Prime shipping). Until then, Jif will do because that's what the grocery store within walking distance to our apartment sells.
Another delicious meal! I served it over plain old brown rice. I never saw my husband so happy eating sweet potatoes and beans, and he licked the bowl clean. I'm pretty sure after that reaction that this recipe is another keeper. LOL
Now to get ready for the storm. I better take inventory and see what I need in the pantry and freezer and take another walk over and grab what I can before it hits. The least I'll grab is another bag of potatoes and onions and a loaf of WW bread. Looks like hubby will be taking another one of his pool days and stay home from work on Thursday, too, so better pick up ingredients to make a nice soup for our lunches.
I could strangle that groundhog!
Thursday, February 6, 2014
The End of Dieting Book Official Page Now Up
My inbox showed a message from Dr. Fuhrman announcing that his new book, The End of Dieting, is now available for pre-ordering, and he has a whole page set up for it now. The official release date is March 25, 2014.
Hopefully this snow will be gone by then and I can actually get out to a good grocery store to buy all the fresh produce I'll need if I want to follow the program instead of living on canned & some frozen veggies, freeze-dried fruit and tons of rice and boxed mashed potatoes that we're doing now, while our cars lay buried under layers of snow, slush and ice, thanks to the storms, a neighbor who aimed his snowblower anywhere he wanted, including on top of all the parked cars, and the deep freeze we've got going on outside again.
And more snow Sunday! I want to cry!!
Thank goodness for portable washing machines!
Hopefully this snow will be gone by then and I can actually get out to a good grocery store to buy all the fresh produce I'll need if I want to follow the program instead of living on canned & some frozen veggies, freeze-dried fruit and tons of rice and boxed mashed potatoes that we're doing now, while our cars lay buried under layers of snow, slush and ice, thanks to the storms, a neighbor who aimed his snowblower anywhere he wanted, including on top of all the parked cars, and the deep freeze we've got going on outside again.
And more snow Sunday! I want to cry!!
Thank goodness for portable washing machines!
Without this little baby we wouldn't even have clean underwear, since our landlord bans full sized washers and dries in these apartments and there's no laundromat within walking distance.
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Chickens' First Snow
Animal Place intern Andrea White captured these precious moments of hens rescued from battery cages experience snow for the first time. In July, Animal Place rescued 3,000 hens, saving them from being gassed by an egg farm - standard practice when hens reach the age of 1-2 on egg farms.
I act the same way when I'm forced out into that ugly white stuff! At least these gals have just an inch or so - we got a foot of it this week with more coming on Saturday.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Happy Accidents Stew
Michelle Berkowitz, on the Fuhrman forums, posted this recipe back in October (Sorry, but the link will only work if you're a paying member of the forums), and I've been planning to make it but never got around to it.
Oh, my! This practically filled my big 8 quart pressure cooker pot! At least after an hour of simmering the level went down a bit, thickening the stew nicely. We'll have plenty for tonight's dinner (with seconds?) and lunch for the weekend. I just have to find freezer or fridge room.
My changes:
I used 2, 32-ounce bottles of Lakewood carrot juice because that seems to be the only carrot juice in this entire city.
I did water sauté the onions.
Having no idea what size "bag" of tomatoes Michelle was referring to, so I just used 2 cups from the quart-sized container that I keep in the fridge and cut each tomato half in half or quarters, depending on its size.
Instead of black rice I used a cup of Lundberg Countrywild rice blend, which does include black rice.
A box of Pomi brand chopped tomatoes instead of canned crushed.
A bag of frozen cauliflower and about 2 cups of frozen spinach instead of fresh.
Yeah, my husband will appreciate this more that some baked potatoes, gravy and veggies for dinner, especially now that he's coming home in sleet and freezing rain.
And I better keep an apron handy to wear while eating it. I'm such a slob and carrot juice is a horror to wash out of clothes, especially "natural cotton" t-shirt material.
Happy Accidents Stew
64 oz jug of Odwalla carrot juice
64 oz water
2 chopped onions (raw or water sautéed)2 C Bob's Red Mill Vegi Mix
1 C black rice32 oz jar crushed tomatoes no salt added (Eden brand is good)
Bag of sun-dried tomatoesHead of chopped cauliflower
2 heaping T sweet curry powder
Water sauté the onions for a few minutes, then dump all the other ingredients into a large pot.
Turn to boiling, lower to a simmer and let cook for one hour.
Before serving, stir a bag of frozen chopped spinach into the pot.
Oh, my! This practically filled my big 8 quart pressure cooker pot! At least after an hour of simmering the level went down a bit, thickening the stew nicely. We'll have plenty for tonight's dinner (with seconds?) and lunch for the weekend. I just have to find freezer or fridge room.
My changes:
I used 2, 32-ounce bottles of Lakewood carrot juice because that seems to be the only carrot juice in this entire city.
I did water sauté the onions.
Having no idea what size "bag" of tomatoes Michelle was referring to, so I just used 2 cups from the quart-sized container that I keep in the fridge and cut each tomato half in half or quarters, depending on its size.
Instead of black rice I used a cup of Lundberg Countrywild rice blend, which does include black rice.
A box of Pomi brand chopped tomatoes instead of canned crushed.
A bag of frozen cauliflower and about 2 cups of frozen spinach instead of fresh.
Yeah, my husband will appreciate this more that some baked potatoes, gravy and veggies for dinner, especially now that he's coming home in sleet and freezing rain.
And I better keep an apron handy to wear while eating it. I'm such a slob and carrot juice is a horror to wash out of clothes, especially "natural cotton" t-shirt material.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Last Sandy Video
Just another "Sandy" song I found and didn't want to waste. Unlike what Dion and the Belmonts sing, I really don't long for Sandy nor do I want to feel her touch - EVER again!
VeganMoFo Day (whatever) - Chili/Cheeze/Potato Casserole
This is what I planned on making the day after the hurricane hit, but with no electric I couldn't run the blender to make the sauce or use the defrosted formerly-frozen hash brown potatoes from the freezer. It's still worth sharing the post, even if I didn't make the dish last week.
~~~~~~~~~
An oldie but goodie. I never saved the url from the original post, but way back on the old VegSource boards, Seedy posted this casserole, made with canned chili and a batch of bean-based cheeze sauce. You can spice it up as much or as little as you want. It's become a favorite in this family.
~~~~~~~~~
An oldie but goodie. I never saved the url from the original post, but way back on the old VegSource boards, Seedy posted this casserole, made with canned chili and a batch of bean-based cheeze sauce. You can spice it up as much or as little as you want. It's become a favorite in this family.
Seedy's Chili/Cheeze/Potato Casserole
Bottom layer:
3 cans vegetarian chili, or
1 can chili beans in sauce, 1 can kidney beans (rinsed), 1 can black beans (rinsed)
Middle layer:
Golden Cheeze Sauce
1 1/2 cups Great Northern beans, cooked (or one 15.5 can)
6 T nutritional yeast
1/4 cup pimiento pieces (or roasted red peppers)
juice from one freshly squeezed lemon
1 T low-salt shoyu (soy sauce) or tamari
1 t onion powder
1/2 t any type of prepared mustard
1/2 t salt
Blend all until smooth. Refrigerator any leftovers in sealed container.
Top Layer:
1 bag hash brown potatoes sprinkled with chili powder.
Bake uncovered at 400 degrees until potatoes brown and cheeze sauce is bubbly (30-45 min.)
* ~ * ~ * ~ *
Depending on how may cans of chili I have in the house at the time, I use either 3 cans of it or as many as I have plus canned kidney beans.
Because I'm sodium-sensitive I usually omit the soy sauce in the cheeze sauce and nobody even notices.
WHen I make this dish I also usually pop on a batch of cornbread, either this one from Lori or the one in this recipe from Jan Tz.
And speaking of oldies but goodies, today's Hurricane Sandy ditty is Sandy, from Ronny and the Daytonas. "Sandy, you laugh and run away. You just don't care." Yeah, sounds like our hurricane!
Monday, October 29, 2012
VeganMoFo Day 29 - Simple Foods Today
Not even a recipe in use today. I'm roasting up a few baked potatoes, opening a can of cranberry sauce, warming up some frozen veggies, and for hubby, making up a box of store-bought stuffing mix. He calls this an Unchicken Dinner and has even requested it as his birthday dinner next month. Fine with me! Gives me more time to stare out the window and at the television and obsess over the storm! Right now (8am) it's barely a drizzle with a little breeze blowing.
Today's musical homage to Hurricane Sandy is this little ditty by Dolly Parton called Sandy's Song.
Today's musical homage to Hurricane Sandy is this little ditty by Dolly Parton called Sandy's Song.
Friday, October 26, 2012
VeganMoFo Day 26 - Like A Hurricane
If we do lose power, I have a full pantry of items that can be easily put together to make a filling and delicious McDougall-friendly meal. It has to be room temperature, though, as propane stoves are illegal for indoor use in our city, and we have no balcony, deck, porch, roof or even yard access with this top floor walk-up apartment. Besides, I've seen the damage even candles do in these old places and forgo all open flames aside from the kitchen stove. And who can use a camp stove during a hurricane or blizzard, anyway?
I did a little grocery shopping today to grab some needed items for next week's dinners, because our usual shopping day, Sunday, the stores will be crazier than they were today. I have my bottled water all ready should we have no water for some reason, but that never goes out unless we have a water main break, not from storms. Paper plates, disposable cutlery & cups, all our flashlights have fresh batteries, and we have plenty of book, cards, and board games to keep us busy if worse comes to worse.
Good luck, fellow East Coasters, and hopefully we'll all be fine and on-line with little or no interruptions. In the meantime, enjoy some classic Neil Young:
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