WHAT DID WE HAVE FOR TEA?

[Wendyf]

Judging by Colin and Kev's experience it is just as easy. If you have been diabetic for a long time then, as you say, your insulin production is compromised by beta cell damage, but if you are pre diabetic or newly diagnosed then it's more likely that you are insulin resistant and your body is flooded with insulin which can't be used. High insulin levels are now considered as dangerous as high blood glucose!

[Marilyn]

However...extraordinary stressful situations and prolonged periods of mental/physical stress can change otherwise normal blood sugar readings...giving ambiguous readings...

[Stanley]

I am constantly impressed by the level of intelligence and expertise I find on the site. I am absolutely certain that any progress I have made is as much due to listening to what you lot say as on medical intervention. There is a place for both of course and all I have to contribute to the current debate is that we should always remember that the 'recommended' levels are based on an average and I take comfort in the fact that my diet and exercise regime aren't 'average'. I suspect this applies to you lot as well.
Yesterday was a half a bowl of mutton and veggies X two for dinner and tea, Nuts and an apple for afters. I find that for my first meal of the day after a 14 hour fast doen't need to be large, less than half a bowl of whatever is adequate and I never feel hungry. My danger zone is the nibbling after tea and that, plus portion size, is the basis of my new regime. It is working, my weight is once more slowly falling and that in itself is a good thing!

[Stanley]

Steak pudding and peas for dinner. Three slices of Haslet and three hard boiled eggs for tea followed by Ice cream and nuts.....

[Tripps]

This constant 'triggering' by use of the words 'steak pudding' has finally had an effect. I've found that Morrisons are selling Hollands steak puddings - frozen. Missionary work to the South. Food of my youth - with chips and gravy was 1s/3d. Eleven pence for the pud and four pence for the chips.

Instructions say steam for 40 minutes, but I'm too impatient for that so I've microwaved. Nearly as good as I remembered them. Later steamed one, and it's about the same. There are actual recognisable pieces of meat and kidney in them! I went back for some more, and found they had increased in price from 4 for £2 to 4 for £3. I think they were mispriced at first.

The company seems to be doing OK. Hollands of Baxenden.

[PanBiker]

I get my steak puddings from our butcher or Miles our artisan pie maker. Both better than Hollands in my view.

Hutchinson's Pie Shop

[Marilyn]

Try making your own! Buy the meat locally, from a real Butcher, then you know what you are eating!
I say this because we went out of our local area today, and wandered through shops we do not frequent. I was interested to compare prices of certain things, and I noticed meat labelled as if it was from different "outback type beef ranches" that I had never heard of. I get very suspicious about such things, considering the cheap prices....
Who knows what to believe...I think we are all being conned...

[PanBiker]

I think I have that covered in both my choices of suppliers. Apart from that I don't think I could better Miles as he used to be head pie maker at Drake and Macefield's.

[plaques]

I'm going back over 60 years now. My uncle worked part time at Hollands of Baxenden as a night watchman. Every now and again he would arrive with a big bag full of pies. Technically I suppose he was still keeping an eye on them. When asked what went into them he would always say "real cow meat" and then would qualify it by adding "the full cow". We left it at that! After all, at that time there was always at least one meal a week that came from the UCP tripe shop.

[Marilyn]

I've poached a small Chicken Breast this morning. Tonight I will slice it thinly and lay it on some Foccacia Bread, with Cheese and Avocado...and grill it. Sunday nights are always easy. Dinner on trays in front of TV.
We had three nights of Veg Soup this past week, so I am looking forward to the Chicken.

[Stanley]

Nice to see you coming round to my weekly treat David. Not a lot of pastry on a good steak pie. Yesterday I had scotch egg and peas for dinner and Smoked Finnan Haddock with butter pepper and peas for tea. A Kathy trifle and nuts for afters.

[Marilyn]

I'm thinking Sausages with Onion Gravy. I've taken the 4 Sausages out of the freezer to defrost...and that's as far as I have got.
(Febby had 3 and I have 1).
I generally buy the Sausages in multiples of 4, and freeze them 4 to a freezer bag. No waste! After years of cooking for many, it seems a bit sad to stand and cook 4 small Sausages nowadays. Funny how life changes...

[Stanley]

That's my biggest problem Maz, I cook in industrial quantities! However, all my veggies (Cauliflower, cabbage and carrots) fitted in one big cast iron pot yesterday. I roasted a chicken in cider with a good smearing of BBQ sauce on it and made a bowl of high class stuffing with the gravy when it was cooked.
Dinner was a scotch egg with veggies and tea was the meat off two chicken wings, veggies and stuffing, all cold. Nuts for nibbles.

[Big Kev]

I made my interpretation of a low carb cheesecake yesterday and I like it. The base is hazelnuts, almonds, butter and a spoonful of stevia. The filling is marsapone, double cream and lime juice, I finely grated the zest of 2 of the limes as well and there's a big spoon of stevia in it too. It's topped off with whipped cream and finely grated 85% cocoa solids chocolate

[Stanley]

I'm impressed Kev... What the hell is Stevia?

[Big Kev]

It's a sweetener made from plant extracts.

[Stanley]

Ahh, that's why I don't recognise it.

[Wendyf]

Sounds delicious Kev!

[Big Kev]

It seems to be going down well, Wendy.

The base could probably do with being a bit 'wetter', I'll try more butter in the next one

[Stanley]

I had chicken meat, stuffing and veggies, all cold X two for dinner and tea.

[Stanley]

Same as yesterday as I am still enjoying my chicken stuffing and vegetables. I took the precaution of bringing the veggies up to boiling point as they have been sitting on the hob and not in the fridge like the stuffing and chicken. So chicken and veggies for dinner and tea with nuts for fillers.

[Marilyn]

Made a "two night" pot of Cheese and Cauliflower Soup..
Just took a sample up to Febby, who is freezing to death at the computer. His hands now work, thanks to the life-giving warmth of Soup! We have all the windows open up there to clear some condensation. It was 0 degrees here overnight, with a snappy grass frost. Very pretty...

[Stanley]

Exactly the opposite here Maz, very hot.
Had the last of the chicken and stuffing with veggies for dinner. Tea was one and a half rollmop herrings with onions, the last of the veggies and two boiled eggs. Nuts for nibbles!

[Marilyn]

A kindly neighbour caught us walking past and gave us a bag of fresh Lemons and Limes from her trees. So I've made Lemon Drizzle Cake ( like Mrs McCarthy makes for Father Brown on the BBC)
Yet to try it, as it is cooling, but smells rather good!

[Stanley]

I love it Maz but of course it's verboten these days......