Looking forward to Spring!
Dearie me! I've had a couple of those weeks. You know the kind. The kind which last year I was determined not to have any more of. The kind of week where I focused on ONE thing to the exclusion -almost - of all the other things which make me happy. I have been ensconced in the kitchen.
One of last week's favourites: mixed vegetable fritatta. I made it with coconut milk as I am laying off the dairy for a while. Packing in the veggies, though!
I was searching for some anti-inflammatory recipes to pin onto my "Recipes for Health" Pinterest board, and I got completely carried away. Pinning late into the night, and making shopping lists ..... followed by four days of solid cooking . Apart from a lovely day in the studio at Jane-Ann's last Saturday, not a stitch has been stitched, I haven't been into my sewing room ALL WEEK. But we have eaten some fabulous - and very healthy - food, which I am pleased to say have met with approval from Himself as well as me.
We had this yesterday. It is a vegetable loaf, made with eggs and coconut flour and coconut milk.
It was delicious, both hot, with a homemade tomato and leek sauce, or cold with a little sauce smeared on it. It was a little like quiche and fritatta and .....strangely enough - a little like a savoury drop scone!
Below is a little something we had as a side dish with some cold left over chicken on Tuesday. Sweet potato, mushrooms, red and yellow peppers, (garlic of course!) red onion and spinach just wilting down gently.
This little lot became a deeply nourishing and quite ridiculously delicious Smokey Butternut Squash, lentil and coconut soup. We had it two days running and scraped our bowls each time. Yum!
Below you can see the dish of homemade hummus/humus/houmus/humous however you care to spell it. I added some very finely grated fresh turmeric for its extra anti-inflammatory properties. Jim had his on sourdough bread and I dug in with slices of carrot and celery. MMMMmmmmmmm!
And this mixture below became meatballs the following day, after a night in the fridge for the flavours to mingle.
This is celeriac and cauliflower mash - into which I chopped fresh coriander leaves to give it that lovely green colour and a subtle addition to the flavours. They really do go together very well.
Here it is in my favourite kitchen bowl. I'm topping today's fish pie with the remains. So we have eaten some very tasty and interesting new dishes these last ten days or so - I didn't photograph each one!
I have of course been playing music, that doesn't get forgotten. However I am beginning to feel the need to get my hands on some fabric again, so this weekend I will be back in the sewing room and revelling in cloth, wool, thread and yarn. Speaking of which - see what I have modified to help me sort my threads out!
The spot lamps which Jim bought me a couple of Christmasses ago were twisted around and put to good use:
All neatly packaged and ready to be threaded without a fight! I just looked at the lamp last week and suddenly the light bulb went on!!! So, finally, I can end this post with a photo which bears some relation to Textile Treasury! One of these days I will have my life arranged so that I do a little of everything in proportion, every week. How nice that would be! Hopefully I shall be heading for the sewing room tomorrow and into the weekend. to make up for all the time I haven't spent there. Have a good weekend, and I promise to find the time to read the huge backlog of your blog-posts which I have neglected.
Wondered what you had been up too and why you were off grains etc. Do you always have to use coconut milk or could you substitute almond, rice or oat? In Gaywood there is a shop on the corner (almost opposite Aldi and the chemist) The Spice Market I think. In there, they have packets of Coconut Powder, something I have been looking for, for ages.
ReplyDeleteHi Dc, yes, off grains as a boost to some weight loss, and as part of my drive to lover my inflammatory markers, having been reading about the inflammatory response which underlies most illness. `nothing in particular wrong, a touch of asthma, spotty face, occasional aching joints ...and of course the recent Mystery Outbreak which has never really been diagnosed. Yes, I've been into the Spice Market, only once, and shall definitely go back again. And yes, I have tried almond milk, not into the rice and oats at the moment; only used the coconut because I am experimenting with all things coconut at the moment. Cashew cream is really good also, though those nuts are the most expensive! Anyway, hoping to get things more in proportion next week - I am too single minded about my enthusiasms for my own good! Lx
Deleteright then lynne - put down those pans and back slowly away from the kitchen!!!! seriously i cannot share your enthusiasm for cooking BUT i can see that you have been busy and all the food looks fantastic - i am a bit similar in that there are times when i get too involved in one particular activity but variety is the spice of life - so they say!! love the extra use for the spotlights - maybe worth sending to the maunfacturers so that they can list them as thread winders too!!!! hope you continue to eat healthily this week - have you noticed a definite improvement to your joints yet? AND have a great weekend and week ahead xx
ReplyDeletehahaha! Lynne you make me smile! However, I am not eating this way specifically for my joints which - touch wood - don't give me much bother. It is just general wellness and a desire to find out which foods are making weight loss even harder than it need be, and cutting them out, for a while at least. More textile stuff next post, I promise! Lx
DeleteOh, yum yum! I could easily eat and enjoy any of the food you showed. Just up my street.
ReplyDeleteI think it is good therapy to have a big cook up with nourishing healthy ingredients especially during these dark, cold, damp days. I had sunshine last week in the form of a visit from the German branch of my family. The happiness and joy from the children lit up the days and cheered me no end. I miss them when they leave but it was such a happy time with lots of craftiness with the 4 year old, laughter cuddles from her and her 4 month old baby brother.
I'm looking forward to your textile burst next!
Stay warm and well,
Jo x
Hey Jo I always envy you your visits - either to or from - your family in Germany; and of course the new little one must be an extra joy. We make do with Skype, and a visit every two years - New Zealand is a bit further away! I have been cracking on in the sewing room this afternoon and intend to do plenty more over the weekend. Have a good one yourself! Lx
DeleteI do like to have a day in the kitchen on a regular basis but if I spend more than 1 day on any one thing it is sewing. Mind you once i get my crochet hooks mastered that might alter. Lovely looking food, just as colourful as your textile work. Pam x
ReplyDeleteI love to cook, Pam and usually have one day when I'm trying something new, or batch cooking, but this last 10 days or so I have been totally immersed in trying new recipes and cooking with new ingredients, it quite took me into another realm. Which is all well and good but not when it keeps you from wanting to do other stuff. I am going to be looking a SOCK KNITTING this weekend, so help me! As well as getting the threads and felt out. Have a good weekend. Lx
DeleteThe kitchen seems like a good place to be at the moment. The food looks delicious- my kinda food! I've been pinning away ideas for the garden, just longing for better weather. Flissx
ReplyDeleteCertainly nice there when the weather is cold and grey, isn't it? My OH is desperate to get in the garden but it is all very very wet. Lx
DeleteReading your blog has made me think about food . Every thing on your blog looks delicious . It's almost 9,30 pm . Not a good idea to be eating but perhaps a little soup !!
ReplyDeleteI have not heard of coconut flour . I will look into it's uses .
It's a gluten free flour, made from ....ok you guessed! Denser than wheat flour it absorbs more liquid, eggs etc, and it isn't cheap, but my 500gm packet seems to go a long way. You don't HAVE to use it in these recipes BTW.
DeleteI have just been looking at your felt . I like working with felt . Love what you are doing , wondering what you will use those rings for
ReplyDeleteoooh I find it a bit disconcerting addressing someone as Cottonreel! But I respect your privacy. Ahem, right: those rings will become varying sizes of bracelets if you delve further back into my archive you'll find loads of posts about them, I have been mostly doing work with wool and felt now for a few months! Thank you.
DeleteThank goodness I'm not the only one with an ongoing battle to find a balance between my different passions. No prizes for guessing which one wins, hands down, at the moment!
ReplyDeleteWhen are you open for table bookings? I'm first in the queue - a window seat onto your garden and the view beyond, please. :)
I think we've had this conversation before, Haven't we, Jayne! I am getting a LITTLE bit better, but not much! And of course, your writing is who you are, so of course it takes a big part of your life. Wouldn't it be nice to have a few Burwell friends round to supper? Or an informal garden party in summer - with music of course!
DeleteWow, wow and wow again. All those lovely mouthwateringly meals look just fabulous. I so enjoy new recipes, always cooking from scratch too. The fritatta is just up my street. Thanks for sharing Lynne. x
ReplyDeleteThanks Patricia, I will try and get my pinterest button on the blog (technophobe me!) then you can all just click through to the recipes. Lx
DeleteHave you tried wheat free for joint pain etc, I am mainly wheat free (apart from the odd lapse) and am so much better. I don't get so tired and my joints are better. maybe worth a try. Love the wool winder. lol
ReplyDeleteBriony
x
Hi Briony, yes, I am doing wheat free at the moment, but just for generalised anti-inflammatory, I don't suffer with joint pain.That's what all the experimentation is at the moment - wheat (and other grains) and dairy free for a while and seeing what substitutions I can make. It has been an eye opener just how tasty the meals are.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, everything about this posts making my mouth water Lynne! That butternut soup and frittata ....yum! Thanks always for all your great comments Lynne, sorry. Meant to say that I am sure you can join in the year of books, just pop over to Laura's blog Circle of pine trees and add your name, I am sure it won't be a problem at all.
ReplyDeleteThanks Penny, I'll do that. And always nice to chat! :) Lxx
DeleteMy mouth is watering and it's only breakfast time! It all looks so tasty, I think my favourite would be the hummus, soup and frittata - actually I'd love all of it! Clever use of the lamps there, Lynne!
ReplyDeleteHi Jay! Yes it was all good, and I shall certainly be making all of those dishes again and again. Do you think I should write to the manufacturers and suggest a sponsorship? ;) Lxx
DeleteI have had a wonderful half an hour reading your blog, I love it all, the food, the bangles, pin cushions, quilts and such interesting posts.. I know what the feeling is like to suddenly have a 'I want to make a quiche or open puff pastry veg tart with crumbled feta cheese and drizzled with olive oil' Just when I should be eating less after Christmas! I shall pop back from time to time to see what you are getting up to
ReplyDeleteChris x
Gosh thanks, Chris, so glad you've enjoyed the posts. I think the secret is WHAT you eat. We are eating very well at the moment and I feel great.
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