Seems I've been writing this blog once a year. This year's resolution is to write more-- write as if my life depends on it, because it probably does. Nearly everything I do, except my artwork, happens through my writing-- emails, blogs, social-media-- keeping up with friends, doing marketing so I can earn a living, and researching things online to make life go more easily.
As I mentioned in my last post on taste buds, Betty wants meat, and because she has it, I tend to eat it too. But I've been cutting down on doing that recently. I've been able to provide her with meat, sometimes by cooking it for her, or by stocking up on frozen dinners. At the same time, I've been making soups, eating more lightly and feeding myself what I need to eat to be healthy and happy.
I lost some weight in the last year-- but not for a good reason. I had a hell year with trying to refinance my house and stay solvent. This meant that I often skimped on food for myself, while making sure that Betty and the animals had what they needed. When I saw that I was losing weight as a result, I paid more attention to what I was doing and tried to keep it up. Then a gold filling fell out of my mouth and I had trouble chewing. Lots of oatmeal, applesauce and soups kept me full, but I was still losing weight. Total weight loss has only been about 12 pounds, but it's progress.
Just today I was looking for information on how to cook steel-cut oats on the stove, instead of in the crockpot as my friend April taught me. I found a terrific post, and a number of commenters had terrific suggestions-- veganyumyum.com. What better way to begin the year than focusing on food that is delicious, healthy, extremely versatile, and good for the wallet!
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Monday, September 01, 2008
Taste buds
Can't believe it's been ten months since I posted. I post in my head pretty often. Getting thoughts from my head out onto the computer is the sticking point. There's always too much to do, not enough time.
For awhile I was doing pretty good, eating mostly vegan food. Now, I'm eating more dairy (because I miss my cheese) and more meat. Betty just saw the TV commercial (Wendy's I think), where the guy tells the girl he's dating that he's a meatatarian, and she loved it! Agreed! Living with that makes it hard to be vegan.
Something I saw on CNN recently taught me that our taste buds change because of medication and age. Mom always told me my tastes would change as I got older-- in a positive way. She didn't tell me they'd continue to change and lose sensation. Apparently, having less of a sense of taste and/or smell can lead to overeating because a person is craving TASTE (which could be part of my problem, since I have a hard of hearing nose). But this is probably also part of the reason Betty wants more meat than ever before in her life. She used to be a chicken/turkey lover. Now, she still likes that, but wants her beef-- much more than she did we we first got together 21 years ago. And Betty thinks a lot of my vegetarian food is tasteless.
So, I've gotta see what I can do to ramp up the taste, without resorting to hot spices that cause gastric distress.
For awhile I was doing pretty good, eating mostly vegan food. Now, I'm eating more dairy (because I miss my cheese) and more meat. Betty just saw the TV commercial (Wendy's I think), where the guy tells the girl he's dating that he's a meatatarian, and she loved it! Agreed! Living with that makes it hard to be vegan.
Something I saw on CNN recently taught me that our taste buds change because of medication and age. Mom always told me my tastes would change as I got older-- in a positive way. She didn't tell me they'd continue to change and lose sensation. Apparently, having less of a sense of taste and/or smell can lead to overeating because a person is craving TASTE (which could be part of my problem, since I have a hard of hearing nose). But this is probably also part of the reason Betty wants more meat than ever before in her life. She used to be a chicken/turkey lover. Now, she still likes that, but wants her beef-- much more than she did we we first got together 21 years ago. And Betty thinks a lot of my vegetarian food is tasteless.
So, I've gotta see what I can do to ramp up the taste, without resorting to hot spices that cause gastric distress.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Electric knife didn't do it's job
Well, I made the Maple Orzo Squash, and it was great. But the electric knife didn't have the power to cut the butternut squash easily. I finally microwaved it for four minutes and it softened enough to cut. It was cool enough to de-seed easily and finish cooking in the oven.
A couple of days ago, I made Harvest Pot Pie, http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/9989?section=, and cubed the squash first. I pre-cooked it for four minutes, again, but still the knife had trouble, and the blades even slipped out. Oh well.
The one I want, that will probably work, is sonic, using sound waves to cut. But it's about $100 and I can't afford that just now. Looks great, though: http://www.sonicblade.com/ -- impressive, huh?
A couple of days ago, I made Harvest Pot Pie, http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/9989?section=, and cubed the squash first. I pre-cooked it for four minutes, again, but still the knife had trouble, and the blades even slipped out. Oh well.
The one I want, that will probably work, is sonic, using sound waves to cut. But it's about $100 and I can't afford that just now. Looks great, though: http://www.sonicblade.com/ -- impressive, huh?
Monday, November 12, 2007
Electric knife arrived
It's been on backorder for a couple of months, but my electric knife arrived today. Feels weird, since I'm eating less and less meat, but I didn't buy it for that. I bought it to cut open squashes before cooking them-- I just don't have the strength for it. So tonight, is Maple Orzo Squash for Betty, Carolyn and me.
You don't need an oven to cook a squash-- cook it like a baked potato in the microwave. Prick the squash so the steam can escape, and after it's cooked (fork goes in easily) you can cut it open and scrape it. But I want to see if the taste and texure is really different in the oven, and I want the burned edges look and taste. So, for the oven, have to cut it in half and seed it before it gets cooked.
You don't need an oven to cook a squash-- cook it like a baked potato in the microwave. Prick the squash so the steam can escape, and after it's cooked (fork goes in easily) you can cut it open and scrape it. But I want to see if the taste and texure is really different in the oven, and I want the burned edges look and taste. So, for the oven, have to cut it in half and seed it before it gets cooked.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
taco salad
Last night, Carolyn made a taco salad for dinner. It was great! She made a vegan chili that was really good all by itself. Then served it on top of salad, chips, and veggie cheese. I think all four of us had seconds. It was a good way for me to eat more salad than I normally do. Sadly, I didn't think to get the recipie from her, but it's starting to be Spring now, so the chili season is almost over.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Gotta get serious
It is time to get serious about cutting meat and cheese out of our diets, at least 6 days out of the week!
Last week Betty was complaining about her big toe hurting her. She couldn't remember what she had done to it, but I suspected she dropped something on it. So I did all of the home care things I knew, and some others I looked up online-- soaked her foot in warm salt water, elevated it, used homeopathic remedy, got Dad's walker from the basement so she'd not have to put weight on it. Instead of getting better, she got worse.
So, on the second day (well, night, 1 am), called the advice nurse and because Betty's pain was severe, she told me to take her to the ER. I did that, and we were there till 4 am. The diagnosis was gout!
What my thin-air knowledge says is that means she's been eating too much meat. And, I'm partly right. The previous week Betty ate a lot of meat. Seems that as I try to cook more vegan foods, she reacts by eating more meat.
Well, I think the universe isn't only trying to tell Betty something, it's hitting her over the head with the message! She now has four things wrong with her body, all directly connected to food: gout, pre-diabetes, GERD (reflux disease), high cholesterol.
Good thing Betty likes my cooking! And good thing I've been cooking vegan food for years-- it's not entirely new to either of us. It's the focus that's new, and the elimination of other things we like that is hard.
Last week Betty was complaining about her big toe hurting her. She couldn't remember what she had done to it, but I suspected she dropped something on it. So I did all of the home care things I knew, and some others I looked up online-- soaked her foot in warm salt water, elevated it, used homeopathic remedy, got Dad's walker from the basement so she'd not have to put weight on it. Instead of getting better, she got worse.
So, on the second day (well, night, 1 am), called the advice nurse and because Betty's pain was severe, she told me to take her to the ER. I did that, and we were there till 4 am. The diagnosis was gout!
What my thin-air knowledge says is that means she's been eating too much meat. And, I'm partly right. The previous week Betty ate a lot of meat. Seems that as I try to cook more vegan foods, she reacts by eating more meat.
Well, I think the universe isn't only trying to tell Betty something, it's hitting her over the head with the message! She now has four things wrong with her body, all directly connected to food: gout, pre-diabetes, GERD (reflux disease), high cholesterol.
Good thing Betty likes my cooking! And good thing I've been cooking vegan food for years-- it's not entirely new to either of us. It's the focus that's new, and the elimination of other things we like that is hard.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Cheese woes
I've said it before, I love cheese!! And I've been rediscovering soy cheese. It used to be awful, but now it's very satisfying. It works in recipies, and grilled cheese sandwiches. And for cream cheese, I've been buying Tofuti Better than Cream Cheese and it's good. It's NOT the same, but it has the same creamy quality that satifies.
Betty loves it, but she doesn't seem to know it. It's an action speaks louder than words situation. The last time I bought the Tofuti cc, she said, "you know that's not cream cheese right? I prefer cream cheese!" But the next time I looked, both tubs were gone, and I hadn't had any.
Today, though, it's starting to snow and the store we went to isn't good for tofu products. I just had a grilled cheese with Real American Cheese. And it was wonderful. Been years since I even had American cheese, and bought it on a whim. Guess my taste buds are lagging behind the changes in my mental attitudes.
Betty loves it, but she doesn't seem to know it. It's an action speaks louder than words situation. The last time I bought the Tofuti cc, she said, "you know that's not cream cheese right? I prefer cream cheese!" But the next time I looked, both tubs were gone, and I hadn't had any.
Today, though, it's starting to snow and the store we went to isn't good for tofu products. I just had a grilled cheese with Real American Cheese. And it was wonderful. Been years since I even had American cheese, and bought it on a whim. Guess my taste buds are lagging behind the changes in my mental attitudes.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
