Warning: Food talk inside. Kitchen Supply shops for Jam/Jelly/Canning supplies?

Ooh sounds fab, I am loving the maple syrup in that, must taste awesome. I am now really craving some cooked veg, so have that to look forward to on Monday, and also looking forward to bean/chickpea type things. I think it is probably because the weather has turned really nasty. Havent been doing much at home apart from evening dinners, so got some jars at ikea today for the xmas mince.

Have been making some lovely stuff at work though.

Also was a naughty lady today and got some shopping treats!! Booooooooots I have boooooots!! and skinny jeans!!!

How has your week been chicka, I have really missed ya, are your hubbies parents ok now?

Jez
xx
 
Hi hon. My inlaws appear to be on the mend. Certainly more self sufficient, but still healing. Thanks so much for asking. :)

Me unfortunately, am having, again, a spell with my neck et al. BUt thats usual. :( I suppose thats why I was up at 5.30am on a Sunday. Grrrr. I just don;t sleep well when my everything flares, as I cannot get comfy. And I have not learned yet wether or not its the fibro mylagia or the arthritis -so I am not sure how to treat it. Pain meds, or muscle relaxers, etc. If I take both - NOTHING gets done. But i do go to a happy place. :D

If I lay on my side, my hips hurt. If i lay on my stomach, my neck and feet hurt. If I lay on my back, nothing hurts - but I can't sleep. lol So I am like a rotiesserie chicken spinning around all night. Hey ho.

I am going to go for a nice long walk today and hopefully loosen some things up.

Just feeling a bit glum....I know the arthritis is mow moving into my feet. So, I am literally a bundle of unhappy nerves from head to toe. I am way to young to feel this old. :( Sorry for moaning.

BUt - I refuse to let it stop me!!!! :D

I bought some lovely fresh figs, so going to make a couple of fig breads tofay and bung in the freezer as not really sure what else to do with them - they were just so beautiful I had to buy them!

Also making some Olive and Feta cheese muffins to take to work tomorrow, as a request from one of the ladies there. They do sound nice - olives, feta cheese, fresh herbs, and pumpin seeds.

Bit more tidying - did a deepo clean on the kitchen yesterday. Almost hate to cook in there now. lol

Hows your much deserved weekend going> I hope you are enjoying every minute of it.,

xx
 
Poor you

Hi BL,sorrry you are in pain again. I know you have had a busy time too.Enjoy your walk today, at least the weather looks good today. I hope to get out to do a bit of gardening later, but first must write up a work report. Work getting a bit heavy at the moment and suddenly my back pain has resurrected! Must be tension related (exactly what I always say to other people)!
I'm putting off doing the report -hence I'm here at this time in the morning.
My lovely little cat Mayfair is a bit of a Mummy's girl has just come to sit on my keyboard!
Hope to see you tomorrow at LL.It's WI that keeps/gets me on track.
Jez- let's see the photo of the boots. It really is boot time.
You know what your next problem will be after today's shopping spree?
Running out of space to keep everything!
Have a good day ladies.
What's everyone else up to?
:gen126:
 
Baked figs with honey and greek yoghurt
Serves 6
12 figs (large)
6oz walnuts and almonds, roughly chopped and toasted
1 tspn sesame seeds – toasted
1/6 tspn ground cinnamon
1/6 tspn ground cloves
tub of Greek yoghurt
6 tspns honey
Put figs in pan, cover with water, bring to boil and simmer for two minutes. Remove from heat and leave to cool. Mix nuts, cinnamon, cloves and sesame seeds. Slice off the top of each fig and make a small hole in the centre. Fill with nut mixture and replace lid on top. Place figs in baking tray and bake at 150C for ten minutes. Serve with yoghurt and honey.
 
Yum Yum

Aren't figs perfect atthe moment.
I baked some the other day too.
Split them into 4 across the middle without slicing right through. Put them into an oven proof dish with a couple of halved nectarines which are a bit under ripe from the supermarket. I squeezed the juice of an orange over the whole lot and sprinkled with cinnamon. Baked in the oven for about 20 mins then drizzled a teaspoon of clear honey over the top.
It was delicious. Had half hot with a dollop of natural fat free yogurt one day and cold the next.
Deeeelicious.
 
Hey Ladies

BL so glad the in laws are on the mend :) But so sad to hear you are feeling a bit grim :( Have you considered accupuncture? A colleague of mine who suffers from tremendous back and hip pain has it occasionally and says it does him wonders. Not sure if I could manage it myself, but he swears by it. Also have you spoken to a naturopath re some herbal remedies, they can be pretty effective too?

Figs are fabbie at the moment, brought some home from work then realised I could not eat them yet, so took them back :( Was dying for a baked fig. Your recipes sound delicious as always ladies and I can't wait to try them. I am still not sure what is going on with me tastebud wise, as I cannot get enough of things I never used to touch before!!! It certainly is making me a healther person.

My Lily is getting the most pretty little well not so little pregnancy belly!! Not sure how many little ones she has in there, but now suspecting it is more than 2!!!! She is due a month today - so starting to get supplies in and find a nest box etc.

Clothes wise if you have a squizz in the RTM you will see what my latest purchases were - I feel deliciously naughty and wonderful and celebratory!! And it is fantastic that people still don't recognise me!!! I love that :) It was also fabulous today when I was paying at DP (put it on the old account) and used my Evans card, because it was empty and can be used there, and the lady said what are you doing with this card, you are way to small to be shopping there!! I just grinned and said to her ah but 6 months ago I was absolutely big enough to be shopping there!! She couldnt believe it and said "there is no way you could have been fat you are so small" I litereally bounced out of the shop!!!!! Floated on air all the way home.

Am going to post my Burns Night menus, here as it is our little foodie thread, and TI and Morticia want to have a look at them. Would love your thoughts, I think they are ok?

Have a great day and I look forward to catching up after WI tomorrow, not sure how much I have lost though, all this food seems like too much.

Jez
xx
 
What a super post Jez. All those shopping experiences and comments. How lovely.
:happy096:
 
Ladies, we need a little revival here, how is the peach jam BL? Hope it worked ok. SB where have you been hiding of late. Must say I cannot wait for the 14th! I am finally getting around to making my Xmas cakes tomorrow - can't wait. I am still loving all these great recipies I am coming up with. Food at work too, not just my lower cal versions. Am very excited we are doing a dinner for the obesity forum, so I get to really show my skills off and do brilliant, amazing but healthy low cal food on an event. Thinking of working it all out calorie wise and putting a little calorie count next to each dish?? What do you think?

Got lovely tuna and prawn with bok choy stir fry tonight - should be yummy - also found a blueberry muller light which I am dying to try.

Think it is almost time to start my bread culture what with bread week coming up. BL did you ever start one, if so how is it? Might make some Xmas mince meat tomorrow also - god the house will smell divine.

Big kisses

Jez
xx
 
Excuse me........

Sorry I haven't been here for a few days. It's not through lack ofinterest honestly. Just so busy.
Work, busy, my boss is on hols so trying to do 2 jobs!
Home, also busy. Have got 2 foreign students, a husband, 2 cars and my house to look after as well as my full time job.
We've got painting going on at the moment in 3 areas, so everything is jumbled up in the wrong rooms.
As I said to BL. It's like living in a charity shop without being able to buy anything.
My weakness is collecting old china. I've got loads which I keep on open shelves, so that's had to be all taken down, washed and stacked in the sitting room. Cats think it's an adventure playground.
We've also ordered new carpets which won't come for about 3 weeks. When will everything get back to normal?
Never mind,it will be worth it and it keeps me busy.
Jez, how is your lovely pussy cat with the expanding belly? Do you know how many kittens she's expecting?
Your work with he obesity forum sounds interesting. YES,put the calories. It's what people are interested in. They can't believe that tasty, beautiful looking colourful dishes can be healthy. Take some photos please.
Can't wait either.
My nectarine and plum jam turned out well. Beautiful colour and good texture due to nectarines starting out under ripe. Christmas presents.
Yesterday the dishwasher decided to leak. Been out with OH trying to decide which one ot get. Headache - too many reviews, too much info.
Anyway, must go now. I'll try and pop in here a bit more, but won't be as much as usual for a week or so.
Love to all.xxx
 
Hey SB and BL

Sounds like things have been hectic at your house SB!!! Glad you are coping with it all so well. Will absolutely post everything we are doing for the obesity forum, I am more than excited about it, what a wonderful opportunity!! Miss Lily is ever expanding and the blog is updated regularly. She is such a darling cat child and so happy in her pregnancy, very serene, only hope I can be as serene should I ever be blessed enough to have kids. Very excited about the 14th, can't quite believe it is going to happen!!! It will be a really special day!

Cooking wise, the xmas cakes or the first batch are out of the oven, the house has smelt gorgeous all afternoon, really festive, have a few more to make, as all the friends are getting a small cake and jam from our house for xmas gifts. So satisfying making things instead of indulging in the rampant commercialism!! Lol well I have to admit, there is a secondary reason, leaves me a few more pounds to spend on clothes!

The jam sounds gorgeous SB, how did yours go BL. I am sure your mom will love it. My mom finally got around to having some of the apricot jam that I made earlier this year and said it was better than anything she has ever eaten. So feel very chuffed.

Got xmas biscuits to make soon too, and all the bags of truffles. Really getting into the spirit of it all now. I saw the most gorgeous Delia Smith Xmas cookbook today, but wont, buy that till payday. Usually I am not a massive fan of her stuff, but this looks fab.

Now ladies, what are you planning for your healthy festive feasts?? Would love to compare what we are all going to cook. I think for a week or 2 prior to the big day I will have some low cal weeks, like RTM week 3, so I can have a little room to play over Xmas. Thing is I know that my body wont fit in what I think I want to eat and sadly even now the thought of a roast potato makes me feel quite ill. I did see a gorgeous brown rice and apple salad in the delia book which I will absolutely make.

I do want to be able to indulge slightly in a few small things like a taste of the xmas cakes etc. I will absolutely not start this new year with weight to loose, so need to plan ahead. How did you or do you ladies plan to approach this?

Jez
xx
 
Hey ladies

I made my Peach Jam with vanilla nad Bourbon today - turned out perfect! ANd we sampled the strawberry jam I made last month - sublime is a word that springs to mind. Really lush. It is hidden in the back of the fridge now. :D But really happy with the peach. Have 6 jars of variety sorted out for mom = Garden Mint, Plum, Black & Blueberry, Peach, Brandy Nectarine and Peach. Wish I was bringing them in person. I cant believe my OH is going to be gone a month. Longest by dar we have ever been apart. Made me really sad today. HEy ho.

Glad your momma kitty is doing so well. Did I mention I too have a simamese? I adore him. He is the clvereist cat I have ever known in my life.....feisty and loving in equal measure.

Not sure what we are doing for holiday meals this year. Probably roast beast as the outlaws are nto fans of turkey. Shame, I love cooking a roast turkey meal - its my fave to cook.

Well, dinners just about to ding, so will try to catch up more later!!

xx
 
Can't wait BL, and would love to see piccies of your Siamese baby:) They are far too clever for their own good sometimes!!!

Jez
xx
 
What a beautiful fur child! He manages to pull of looking disdainful and inquisitive all at the same time :) Tooooo cute!

Jez
xx
 
Thanks Jez xxxTime for a new one soon I think, How about you ?
 
HELP!!! I made a chicken broth and left a lemon in it to long and it has gone bitter. Any idea about what I could put in to counteract the bitterness? I tried a bit if sugar which helped - but any more and it would then become sweet.

Balsamic? Red Wine? Any other trick you cooks might know?

Ta
xx
 
Well, marathon in the kitchen this morning!!! I have been getting a little slack in having plenty of healthy choices readily available for the week ahead, and it was beginning to get me in trouble. SO back in I went, and have come up the following concoctions!

BROCCOLI SALAD
Chopped Broccoli, red onion, red pepper, celery, apple, dried cranberrys, roasted pecans, pumpin seeds and pine nuts, dressed in my tofu mayonaise mixed with garam masala, bit of red vinegar, pinch of splenda, S&P. Yummmm.

GINGER WHEAT GERM MUFFINS - loaded with Ginger chunks. To have the batter I added linseeds, sunflower seeds, and dried cranberries. Topped with toasted sesame seeds.

TOFU "EGG" SALAD - tofu diced and cooked after sauteeing yellow onion and garlic....coated with turmeric, dill, dry mustard and yeast powder, tossed in Tofu Mayoanise with yellow mustard

SPICED CASHEWS AND ALMONDS - roasted in oven with splenda brown sugar and cayenne pepper and salt.

SWEET POTATO-WILD RICE Soup/Stew.... Sweet potato, 1/2 brown basmati rice and 1/2 wild rice, red pepper, cannelini beans and baked beans, tomatoes and the juice, low fat coconut milk, leeks, onion, garlic, seasoned with Smoked paprika, garlic, paprika, cayenne, piri piri. Topped with lowfat greek yogurt. delish.

So - phew - thats me sorted for a while - fridge and freezer at the ready.

Oh yeah and a thing of jelly. :D

x
 
God they all sound amazing, and some are eatable for me right now!!!! My only fear, and probably a misguided one is all the cals from the seeds and nuts, I allow myself only tiny amounts because of the high cal content, but perhaps it's like salmon and good cals??? The muffins sound fab, can you send me the complete recipe?

Ta Hun

Jez
xx
 
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