THE NEW ME.... THANK HEAVEN FOR NEUTRAL MASH (DAY 13) - A gluten free, natural sugars, less alcohol diet

Breakfast - Bacon on a bed of neutral mash



 

A normal busy day yesterday, catching up on paperwork, which seems to be never ending, and it will be much the same today.  But, I did manage to go to the gym first thing, and even walked briskly on the treadmill for 1km (which took me just over 11mins to achieve).

It was a good day for the diet with regards food intake i.e. no goodies such as yummy Sarah Lee Chocolate Cake or delicious home-made sugar rich pavlova.  In particular, Taff had cooked some neutral mash the previous day, which I ended up having for breakfast, and was I chuffed or what!

We call it neutral mash based on a philosophy by Howard Hay who created the Hay Method (a way of eating more than a diet).  The idea being that you don't mix foods that fight, you don't mix proteins and carbohydrates in one meal.  OK, so the Hay Method is a little more complex than just one rule, but neutral mash is straightforward.  Comprised of veggies, but excluding potato, you can have different versions (a bit like bubble and squeak with leftovers).  The version I had comprised cauliflower, swede, carrot, celery, butter and seasoning.  It's fantastic for snacks, is very light on the stomach, and keeps it's shape, so that you can be a little more creative.

Talking about creativity, being addicted to the American TV Series 'Extreme Cheapskates' (TLC channel in the UK), I've become more courageous in my bargain hunting.  I ended up going to the local DIY store (B&Q - created in the late 60s by Richard Block and David Quayle) to pick up some white paint, but more excitingly wallpaper samples.  Such fantastic vibrant colours and designs. I was like a kid in a sweet shop.

Then I arrived home, and there it was staring me in the face, a whole load of ironing to do.  Ironing is one of my pet hates.  Don't know why it just is.  I do it under duress, but a glass of wine helps it go much quicker.  Even though in this case, as much of it had dried on the washing line outside, it took twice as long to iron.  So that was the end of me being 'dry ' for the evening. 

I'm more positive about today as I've no ironing to do.  I've got cushion covers to make instead.  Fingers crossed.

What I ate yesterday (Day 12)

Snack
1 glass orange juice with water (50/50)
1 glass milk
1 small glass water

Breakfast
Neutral mash - cooked cauliflower, swede, carrot, celery butter and seasoning
3 cherry tomatoes stewed in passata
2 slices smoked bacon grilled
1 pint water

Snack
1 cup hot milk with Stevia

Lunch
Anchovy salad - 4 anchovies soaked in red wine vinegar + cucumber, spring onions, 3 cherry
    tomatoes, leftover new potatoes
1 glass elderflower presée

Dinner
Turkey schnitzel (in butter and seasoning)
Coleslaw - lettuce, carrot, onion, pear
Rice pudding over the stove - Basmati rice + sultanas, cashew nuts, milk
Wine

I STILL MUST TRY HARDER

Signing out

Pam
:)

Writer, creator and thinker
http://www.pamandtaffjones.com/
Mummy of Nancy Jones (star of 'Tales of Nancy Jones' children's book by Taff Jones)

THE NEW ME.... I'M OFF TEA (DAY 12) - A gluten free, natural sugars, less alcohol diet

A lunch of lightly fried veggies

OK, so yesterday was Sunday, semi chill-out day.  I still did some work in addition to tidying the home, a whole load or washing and going out with Taff (better half) to look at some pre-loved stores (AKA charity shops).  I just love looking at different styles, fashions and designs; not just of clothes but also brickabrack.  I find them a breath of fresh air and very inspirational.

Watched 'Made in Dagenham' while Taff saw the 6 Nations Rugby.  A very moving film, based on a true story about the strike of 1968 by the female Ford Sewing Machinists fighting for equal pay.  Did some knitting at the same time, as I always have to be doing something constructive.  I'm not a great knitter as I'm self-taught, but I get by with knit and pearl.  That's where sometimes I wish I'd have had a mum in much of my teenage years, to learn all her secret recipes and tips on sewing and knitting.  Obviously not meant to be.  I'm grateful for having known her.  She tried to be a good mum, although we never really saw eye to eye.  I'd love to meet her now, as I would the rest of my blood family.  I'd take them out to the seaside, cook them some curry with Taff, and play them some music, and get Taff to tell his stories and role-play poems with different accents.  If only I had a TARDIS.

At 5 o'clock (2 hours later than normal) I fancied some chilled wine, so I did.  I know I'm supposed to be giving up, but the thought of having no treats, and having a restless sleep, with time standing still doesn't really rock my boat.  I figure that if I alternate days, 1 day alcohol 1 day Elderflower Pressé, then I've halved my alcohol intake already and given my liver a rest some of the time.  Not ideal but it's a start.

As soon as I had the chardonnay my feet warmed up immediately and I went to bed at normal time and had 6 hours solid sleep, which helps me function normally, so I don't regret it... yet.

What I ate yesterday (Day 11)

Snack
1 glass milk
1 blob leftover curry & rice salad (no turkey)

Breakfast
1 mug of tea with Stevia - Awful, so I'm off tea (I used to love a hot cup of tea, now it's gone for
    ever)
Leftover cream, sour cream and mandarins - Pavlova thrown away as it was now uninspirational

Lunch
Mushrooms, celery, spring onion, cheese lightly fried in coconut oil and butter with boiled pepper with cashew nuts.
   - I was going to do stuffed pepper but I overcooked it while I was multi-tasking tidying the home.
1 glass water

Snack
2 tsps. chilli that Taff had on the stove - mince, peppers, onions, seasoning,passata
3 heaped tsps. Greek style yoghurt

Dinner
Turkey tikka with lemon on a bed of lettuce - Turkey marinated and cooked in Greek style yoghurt
     and curry powder
3 slices coconut flour banana cake
1 glass water
Wine

Plans for today - Really busy day on paperwork but will go to the gym first thing, after I've gone back to bed for a couple more hours kip.


Signing out

Pam
:)

Writer, creator and thinker
http://www.pamandtaffjones.com/
Mummy of Nancy Jones (star of 'Tales of Nancy Jones' children's book by Taff Jones)

THE NEW ME..... ELDERFLOWER PRESSÉ IS THE NEW CHARDONNAY (DAY 11) - A gluten free, natural sugars, no alcohol diet



Pavlova made with Stevia



 

So, it was Saturday yesterday, and a full day working.  Luckily as I'm a morning person I usually manage to do a few hours in the middle of the night, and often go back to bed, and then do lots more.  It means I can squeeze more into one day and have the evening free. 

Managed to crack a writing piece that I was working on, cured of writers block, for that day at least.  Then was about to start another piece when our blacksmith friend came round with a massive home-made cheesecake for tea-break.  Luckily our friend, who is sometimes on a diet herself, wasn't offended when we didn't partake in the loveliness of the cheesecake.  I'm quite proud of myself as normally I would have stuck right in there and had 2 large slices without thinking twice. 

However, what was only supposed to be 5 minutes probably ended up being 3/4 hour, but it was nice to see her and have a few laughs. She also gave me some suggestions on non-alcoholic drinks that I may like to try.

Wrote my other piece, and then did some abdominal crunches with Taff standing on my feet and me laid on the floor.  I've found it's the only way that I can get my back off the ground!

Later in the afternoon having finished my writing for the day, I went supermarket shopping for some fresh air.  Found a couple of non-alcoholic bottles of liquid, having read the labels in detail, which looked promising.  Also managed to get some lovely material from the 'bargain bucket' as I call it, at the local fabric shop, for 50p - a piece large enough to make a cushion cover or something.

Came home and watched 1/2 hour of a 'fly on the wall' programme we'd taped, in between 'The Six Nations' rugby matches that Taff was watching.  Then made a pavlova with Stevia sugar replacement (used 1/4 cup to replace 6 oz sugar), which was OK, but nothing like the wow factor of a genuine pink, gooey, crisp, home-made pavlova with caster sugar.  Although, it did give me ideas for other puddings like lemon meringue pie and Angela cake.

2 hours after normally starting a glass of chardonnay, I poured myself a glass of Belvoir Fruit Farms Elderflower Pressé, which I'd chilled seriously in the freezer.  The bottle was similar to an alcoholic bottle.  The glug sound when pouring the nectar was the same.  Slightly frizzante (bubbly) and not too sweet.  I ended up having 3 large glasses, some of which was with my evening meal, and it went down a treat.  I even stayed up an extra 2 hours before going to bed.  The only downside is that I had to force myself to go to bed, and it took me a while to get to sleep, and here I am now, wide awake after only 4 hours of restless sleep instead of the normal 5.  But, at least it gave my liver a rest, which I suppose is a good thing.  Maybe I'll have to have some hot milk before I go to bed to wind down.  Another challenge to face.

What I ate yesterday (Day 10)

Snack
1 glass milk
4 desert spoons neutral mash - cauliflower, swede, carrot, celery, leek, salt and pepper

Breakfast
1 banana sliced + grapes + cashew nuts + sultanas + milk
1 mug tea with milk and 1/2 teaspoon Stevia

Snack
1 glass milk

Lunch
Dollop of leftover turkey curry with rice + celery + cherry tomatoes + sultanas mixed in
2 slices ham
1 glass water

Snack
1 glass elderflower pressé

Dinner
Ploughmans - 1 slice turkey, 1 hard boiled egg, 3 cherry tomatoes, grated carrot in a vinaigrette (olive
    oil, red wine vinegar, horseradish sauce as we had no mustard), grape nut and celery salad in 
    Greek style yoghurt and dash of salad cream
2 glasses elderflower pressé
2 small slices of Stevia pavlova with cream combined with sour cream and 1/2 tin of mandarins


Writing about all this food has got me hungry.  Well I'm not hungry really, as on this diet I'm always full, but I just fancy something.  Aha, a dollop of leftover curry and rice salad.  Yummy!

Signing out

Pam
:)

Writer, creator and thinker
http://www.pamandtaffjones.com/
Mummy of Nancy Jones (star of 'Tales of Nancy Jones' children's book by Taff Jones)

 

THE NEW ME.... VANITY COSTS (DAY 10) - A gluten free, natural sugars, no alcohol diet.

 

My creative breakfast - stuffed mushrooms with chipettes



Another busy day writing and doing paperwork.  This time my research was not about biscuits, or cakes for that matter... and anyway even if it was, I could help myself to the coconut flour banana tray-bake I'd made the previous day.  So, I felt pretty good.  I also managed to go to the gym, and did some ab work, and felt OK.

However, there's nothing worse than clocking watching.  Used to working straight through, for 12 hours, just breaking for snacks, I had to put everything on hold to go to an optician appointment to consider contact lenses.  In a massive rush with 15 minutes to get dressed (as I was still in my dressing-gown after having bathed earlier as my feet were freezing) and cook something for lunch, I yaffled some curried some vegetables.  I must admit though, with this diet, I do feel full on it, even with just a handful of veg.

Excited about the possibility of not having to wear glasses all the time, I turned up for my appointment to see the contact lens expert.  I sat in the big black chair thinking 'This is it, I'm going to look a little more pretty.'  Thinking that I was considering only 'dailies' the expert carried on talking, until I explained to him that I didn't know what my options were.  Al I knew was that I had only worn contacts for a couple of weeks some 15 years earlier, had a sensitive body, and didn't like the feel of them then. 

He went on to explain that things had improved since then, as there were not only dailies, but monthlies and bi-monthlies.  My options depended on how regularly I was going to wear them, whether every day, or only a couple of days a week, to ensure sufficient oxygen got to the eyeballs.  The optician also said that as I have astigmatism the price of contacts would be greater.  It wasn't so much the price that I was little miffed about, it was the fact that for the 20 years that I've been seeing an optician, I never new I had it.  I felt a bit of a defect! :(

What I thought would be a simple appointment, where I'd just be able to buy 2 boxes of daily contact lenses, like I did 15 years ago, was not to be.  I had to decide the regularity of my usage.  How did I know?  I couldn't get used to them then, so I may not be able to get used to them now. 

Then we spoke about price.  I couldn't do the one off trial, as was suggested when I booked the appointment last week.  I had to commit to the type (regularity) and a contract. The suggested type were to be bi-monthlies at £28 per month.  Dailies would be cheaper at £17.50 but I could only wear them a couple of times a week (not daily as the name suggests).

If I was financially rich, I would indeed consider the contract as money would then be no object.  But, the NEW ME is on a BUDGET, and even though VANITY COSTS, at present I'll remain ugly.

So, the alternative option was to look at some specs.  The 2 for 1 offer sounded great.  There were glasses that were £25, £45, £79, £99 and beyond for the designer type.  When I was an employed accountant I may have considered spending £99 + anti glare and all the added costs on top.  The lower price range is now more my style, picking a lovely pair for £45.  Perhaps I could get the free version converted into sunglasses?  Alas no, the 2 for 1 offer only kicked into action from £79 onwards.  Silly me!  I left.

Did some retail therapy and window shopped at Fabric Land for inspiration, and bought some lovely, what looked like new, material from a pre-loved store to make cushion covers.

Having writers block, after 9 hours of working on a piece earlier that day, I chilled with Taff and chardonnay, watching the TV.  I know I'm weak.  Oh, and coconut flour cake too!  But that's allowable.  The cake I mean.

What I ate yesterday (Day 9)

Snack
1 glass milk

Breakfast
1 stuffed mushroom with blue cheese - a little lively for the morning, would try Cheddar next time
      poached in butter
4 cherry tomatoes - poached in butter with the mushroom
Leftover potatoes, made into mini chips and fried in coconut oil
Lettuce, leak and cheese fired in coconut oil.

Snack
1 glass milk
1 glass milk

Lunch
2 pieces curried turkey - which Taff had on the stove (yummy)
Curried leak and mushrooms - Steamed in butter and coconut oil, with Mr Naga curry paste
  tomato puree and water
1 glass water

Dinner
Turkey curry with leftover curried leak and mushrooms  - Onion, garlic and ginger gently fried in
      coconut oil, with turkey escalope cut into pieces, curry paste, curry powder, passata, coconut
      milk, coriander, salt and pepper.
Basmati rice
Blob of yoghurt
Green pepper, cucumber, tomato salad in red win vinegar
1 glass water
wine
4 small slices home-made coconut flour cake


Next step, low alcohol or alcohol free wine.  Wish me luck.

Signing out

Pam
:)

Writer, creator and thinker
website - pamandtaffjones.com
Mummy of Nancy Jones (star of 'Tales of Nancy Jones' children's book by Taff Jones)
    

THE NEW ME... EUREKA (DAY 9) - A gluten free, natural sugars, no alcohol diet

 

Gluten free, coconut flour, banana tray-bake

With regards food, my day went OK, starting off with a chickpea salad for my early breakfast snack... super yummy!  However, my backlog of writing and paperwork caught up with me yesterday, so I decided to knuckle down.  With a 12 hour working day, sadly I didn't have the energy or inclination to go to the gym.  I think what I'll have to do is go to the gym first thing in the morning and get it over and done with, as I'm a morning person. 

Also, I had a relapse and consumed some wonderful chilled chardonnay as a treat. It was the research on English biscuits that did it, particularly as I'm a Rich Tea addict.  So what have wine and biscuits got in common?  Not dunking, as one dunks a biscuit in one's tea.  It was the fact that I was treatless.  I had nothing to look forward to.  Selfish I know, but I love making cakes, I love eating them, and I love wine.  I'm determined to remain gluten free as much as I can.  Thus I gave way to alcohol. 

Then a 'Eureka' moment came.  Taff walked in with a bag of 100% coconut flour.  Thanks to William Davis (author of Wheat Belly), I discovered that you can use this flour as a gluten flour substitute. 

As most of my cakes are based on the 4, 4, 4, 2 method - 4 oz SR flour, 4 oz sugar, 4 oz butter, 2 eggs - I thought I'd wing it and try and make a cake.  Unlike gluten free flour, where you just substitute gluten flour with gluten free flour, coconut flour behaves differently.  Yet, knowing what consistency I was aiming for I was able to produce a wonderful tray-bake. Even Taff (who's on a special diet, which is also gluten free) had some.  I was well chuffed.

Gluten free, coconut flour, banana tray-bake

Ingredients
4 oz salted butter
1/4 cup Stevia (sugar replacement)
2 very heaped cups of coconut flour
2 bananas (squashed)
ground mixed spice (approx. 2 heaped tsps.)
2 heaped tsps. baking powder
3 eggs
tap water

Method

1. But the butter, sugar and flour into a bowl.  Using your clean hands, mix together as if doing a
    crumble topping (although as you are using coconut flour don't expect a crumble texture).

2. Add the bananas (squashed with the hands or mashed), spice and baking powder.  Mix together
    with your hands.

3. Add the eggs and stir.

4. Add water to get a smooth thickish consistency.

5. Pour into a lined (with greaseproof paper) rectangular tin and press down the top with the back of
    a spoon to level the mixture.

6. Bake in the oven (gas mark 4, 180 °c, 350 °c) until brown on the top and cooked in the centre
    (approx. 20 - 30 minutes even longer depending on how wet the mixture is).

7.  When still warm, empty the cake onto a wire rack or clean chopping board.  Peel off the
     greaseproof paper.

8.  When cool, cut into slices.


Yummy!  Why not have a go.


Going back to my diet, this is what I ate.


What I ate yesterday (Day 8)

Snack
1 pint water
Chickpea salad (olive oil, red wine vinegar, ground black pepper, garlic, cucumber, garam masala,
        sliced raw leeks, cherry tomatoes, chickpeas, coriander.
        - different recipe to the previous day as I tend to use up what we've got in the fridge, in that we
          had no spring onion, so I used leeks.  White or even red onion would do just as good.

Brunch
1 slice ham
1 slice turkey
Grape nut and celery salad - with a small amount with salad cream and Greek style yoghurt
1 bowl Greek style yoghurt - pudding
1 glass water

Snack
1 slice turkey
1 small potato with salad cream

Dinner
Ploughmans - mature Cheddar cheese, 1 slice ham, 1 slice turkey, 1 hard boiled egg, fried potatoes
       (coconut oil), cucumber and cherry tomatoes in a red wine vinegar, pickled beetroot
1 glass water
Wine
2 pieces coconut flour banana cake

I still MUST TRY HARDER, particularly when it comes to giving up wine and doing exercise. 


Signing out

Pam
:)

Writer, creator and thinker
website - pamandtaffjones.com
Mummy of Nancy Jones (star of 'Tales of Nancy Jones' children's book by Taff Jones)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE NEW ME... ORANGE IS THE NEW CHARDONNAY (DAY 8) - A diet with no refined sugar, flour nor alcohol.

2 egg omelette with cheese, tomatoes and spring onion

Yesterday was a good day, no unexpecteds, which meant I could plan my dietary intake. 

I had a 2 egg, cheese/tomato/spring onion omelette for breakfast, which looked impressive and tasted nice.  Though the eggyness of 2 eggs was a little too much for my taste.  I'm a 1 egg girl.

As it was Orange Wednesdays we went to the cinema.  No popcorn or fizzy drinks for us.  In fact we haven't done that for years.  If we do have anything we drink water.  It's surprising though how many people you can hear munching on popcorn at 11 o'clock in the morning, supping their drinks noisily through a straw.  Do they not eat breakfast?

So by the time we'd gone to the supermarket to get our groceries (and some reduced bargains!) and returned home we were starving, and it was mid afternoon.  All the way through the film I had visions of eating a delicious chickpea salad, and that is what I had with some cold meat.  For the next hour I was telling Taff (better half/husband) how lovely and satisfying it was.  I think I'll have some more today... maybe for breakfast.

Also, I tried to crack the habit of alcohol.  I figured I needed a substitute, as it's drinking liquid from a wine glass that I like.  Thus, I decided on pure orange juice... diluted - 50% juice 50% water.  I had 2 large glasses and I felt good... and it meant I'd trunk 1 of my 5 (fruit/veg) a day.  Orange is the new Chardonnay.

What I ate yesterday (Day 7)

Snack
1/4 glass cow's milk - full fat
1 glass almond milk - unsweetened

Breakfast
2 egg omelette + cheese + cherry tomatoes + spring onion
1 glass water

Late lunch
1/2 slice ham
1 slice turkey
Chickpea salad - tinned chickpeas, olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, cucumber, squeezes of lemon
      and lime juice, spring onion, garam masala, cherry tomatoes
1 pint water

Dinner
Turkey tikka - turkey escalope, marinated in yoghurt and curry powder, then grilled
Lettuce
Lemon
Blob of Greek style yoghurt
1 glass water
2 glasses orange juice - diluted

Must go to the gym today, and do some ab work.

Signing out

Pam
:)

Writer, creator and thinker
website - pamandtaffjones.com
Mummy of Nancy Jones (star of 'Tales of Nancy Jones' children's book by Taff Jones)

THE NEW ME....A CREATURE OF HABIT (DAY 7) - A diet with no refined sugar, flour, or alcohol

 

Lettuce carbonara

I started off the day well, and was good.  This lasted until my friend came round for a baking lesson and a bite to eat (no blame on my friend only myself). 

As you may know, I luuuuuuuv cakes, and love to bake.  So my friend and I made a couple of cakes.  The first was an impressive looking Swiss Roll.  Of course I had to take a slice, it would have been rude not to!  However, it was the same, original, disappointing, eggy flavour that I remember as a teenager when I made a Delia Smith chocolate version (Note: This is not a dig at Delia, as Delia is a Goddess).  Our version sadly didn't taste like a shop bought one, even though we were strict to stick to the recipe - a rarity for me - and even had full gluten flour!  I think I'll have to have a go at making my own version with butter and gluten-free flour... not sure if it will roll and crack though.

The second cake we made, rather pudding, was the amazing Banoffee Pie.  I must admit, I'd had 'banoffee' from shops a handful of times but always found it bland and expensive.  Then late last year I made my own from a recipe online.  I was an immediate addict.  I don't know if it's because it was invented in the UK (East Sussex) in the year I was born, but I know I just loved it.  Easy to make, relatively cheap, very tasty, and impressive looking.  But, the recipe we used yesterday was from a book we (Taff, Nancy and I) gave our friend for Christmas.  This time we adapted it, as their quantities were suspect.  This time, I didn't eat a slice, as I could imagine the ambrosial sweet caramel, with gooey bananas and rich double cream in my mouth.  Pat on the back for me.

I then cooked us Spaghetti Carbonara.  My friend had spaghetti, and because I didn't have any gluten-free pasta, I had lettuce instead.  A nice refreshing green taste to offset the rich cheesy sauce.  I was pleasantly surprised.

So... it doesn't sound too bad, just one piece of home-made Swiss Roll to contravene my diet.  But wait, once my friend had gone, to wind down I had some wine.  I didn't even necessarily crave it, I just wanted to wind down... more out of habit than anything else.  Therefore, I have no sympathy for myself waking up with a headache - after all alcohol is a poison.  I wouldn't mind but I didn't have masses. My body obviously is getting used not to having it. 

What I ate yesterday (Day 6)

Snack
1 glass almond milk
2 large mouthfuls Taff's home-made chilli - mince, coconut oil, green peppers, chillis, passata, salt,
      pepper, Worcestershire sauce

Breakfast
Leftover potatoes - gently fried in coconut oil and mixed dried herbs
4 cherry tomatoes - dry fried
1 piece bacon - dry fried
1 poached egg
Heinz tomato sauce
1 mug hot milk - I'm missing a nice hot cup of sweet tea

Lunch
1 small slice gorgonzola cheese
1bowl Greek style yoghurt
1/2 glass milk

Snack
1 small piece gorgonzola

Dinner
Carbonara sauce - garlic, spring onion and bacon gently fried in butter with strong Cheddar and
        Smoked Cheddar cheese and double cream
Lettuce (iceburg)
1 glass water
Wine

I MUST TRY HARDER!

Signing out

Pam
:)

Writer, creator and thinker
website - pamandtaffjones.com
Mummy of Nancy Jones (star of 'Tales of Nancy Jones' children's book by Taff Jones)