Fake food!!! Plus Carrot and Coriander Soup

With every new invention of a type of food with omega 3 added to it, or a cereal with iron and vitamins forced into it, we move further into the realm of fake food.

Eggs generally do not naturally have Omega 3 - it is added to them my feeding the hen flaxseeds etc. Mass producers are going mad in their search for the perfect processed foods - while the real food, unadulterated (we hope!) is being left of a shelf. I have to say that I would rather have a real potato than fake 'low-fat' pasta. Fora that matter, I'd rather have proper pasta than the fake stuff.

We are messing about more and more with our food and it is not healthy! Many people still think margarine is healthier than butter. Butter is a natural by-product of milk. Very little other than churning and packing is done to it - marg is a whole other kettle of fish. Every part of it is processed.

We have become so obsessed with healthy eating that we are eating very unhealthy items because they have healthy nutrients added. This is not a good way to eat!

We need to return to a diet of non-processed foods, or very few if possible, of enjoying and savouring our food and not thinking about the nutrients in a particular product but in the overall goodness of a meal.

Anyone who has read 'In Defence of Food' by Michael Pollan, will recognise what I am saying. I recommend reading this book for anyone who is not sure they should drop the 'altered' cereal boxes.

Nutritionists keep changing their minds about what is good for us - protein, then carbs, not animal fat but trans fats, not trans fats etc. We need to realise that this is an industry closely linked to the processed food industry. We should trust ourselves. Eating a balanced meal of unprocessed foods is far healthier than a ready meal with low fat content and added vitamins.

My mum makes the best soups ever! She has a real talent for them. Last year she started making carrot and coriander soup but not with ground coriander/seeds, with the leaves. It was a blessed change and I found I loved this soup far more than the one with the seed. I can highly recommend this type of soup. So use up those excess carrots in this delicious soup. Simply substitute the ground coriander for fresh and use as much or little as you like!

Bon Apetit!

On another note, I have written 3 books. 2 are part of a series set in Scotland about the Sidhe, fairy folk. Available on kindle and in paperback: The Island of the Mist is book 2 The Stone in the Sword is book 1 The 3rd book is an adult, sexy witchy werewolf/vampire story set in New York and featuring a strong female lead character, again available in kindle and paperback formats: The Wolf, the Witch and the Coffin

Fabulous Fennel!

Fennel is one of my most favourite and most versatile vegetables out there. You can do so much with it and it really packs a punch. It also happens to be in season at the moment!

If you tried fennel and didn't like it, try it again. The flavour of raw fennel is very different from the cooked, which sweetens it. If you tried it raw, try it cooked and vice versa!

Fennel is wonderful raw in a salad with something citric, like orange or grapefruit, or as an accompanyment to fish (if roasting your fish, lay it out on top of a bed of fennel). Rather than reamin off a huge list of ideas, here are a few recipe links:

Fennel and Orange Salad

Sauteed Caramelised Fennel

Red mullet, fennel purée and fennel salad with lemongrass broth

Griddled fennel with a hot tomato and balsamic dressing

Chicken breasts with fennel

Fennel is not the only thing in season in July. This month has some of the most falvoursome fruit and vegetables available!:
apricots, blackcurrants, redcurrants, loganberries, cherries, strawberries, peaches, nectarines and raspberries
broadbeans, aubergine, chicory, courgette, beetroot, spring onion, swiss chard, watercress, tomato, cucumber, french bean, kohlrabi, greengages, globe artichoke, runner beans, peas, radish, rocket
lamb, mackerel, sardines, crab

So why not get them at their best!


On another note, I have written 3 books. 2 are part of a series set in Scotland about the Sidhe, fairy folk. Available on kindle and in paperback: The Island of the Mist is book 2 The Stone in the Sword is book 1 The 3rd book is an adult, sexy witchy werewolf/vampire story set in New York and featuring a strong female lead character, again available in kindle and paperback formats: The Wolf, the Witch and the Coffin

Maintaining Starters and Info on Nutrients

Firstly, I'd like to give a little advice on maintaining your sourdough starters. This is very easy but it does involve a committment. A starter is very much like a pet. You need to feed it regularly and make preparations for any time you happen to be away from home. I did hear on a food show a few months ago that there are now hotels that offer to look after your starter for you!!

As you know, to make a starter you simply combine equal parts of water and flour. Occasionally you can feed your starter something sweet like honey or sugar - just a little (a half to one teaspoon once a fortnight is enough). You may also be aware that starters last a lifetime if treated well, in fact many people travel to the likes of Italy to purchase hundred year old starters!!

Feeding dailiy initially is essential. Once it is maintained you can feed it daily to every other day and it should be fine. If you are going away for a long weekend/a week, you can feed it on the day you leave and pop it in the fridge. it will be fine for a week but a fortnight is a little too long to go without being fed. You may want to get someone to feed it for a couple of nights after the week, then refrigerate again for 4-5 days after.

A sourdough starter can easily last a lifetime if it is looked after. Please see other posts for how to use in breads.

Secondly I wanted to mention the fact that many of us think we're geetting enough nutrients from our fruit and vegetables but we are not - unless they have come from a small farm or local gardener. Any mass-produced fruit/veg has far less nutrients because the land is being over-farmed. The soil doesn't have time to replenish and so we acrtually need 2-3 times what we take!! This means our 5 a day minimum should possibly be a 12-15 a day!!! Growing our own is a solution to this, or going to smaller businesses who don't produce for supermarkets. Farm markets (if you are lucky enough to live near one) are the place to go! The other option is going organic, as mass produced non-organic veg tends to have less than half the nutrients of organic (and organic produce tends to be farmed on a smaller scale). Have a look at the Soil Association website for more information (products are not necessarily organic but if they have the Soil Assoc seal of approval then they are the genuine article).

Making a pot luck soup (whatever you have at the time, buing into a pot with stock, garlic, white pepper and blitz when cooked, is a good way to get a mixture of nutrients into you (and is, alas, still classed as 1 of your 5 a day).

Happy cooking!

On another note, I have written 3 books. 2 are part of a series set in Scotland about the Sidhe, fairy folk. Available on kindle and in paperback: The Island of the Mist is book 2 The Stone in the Sword is book 1 The 3rd book is an adult, sexy witchy werewolf/vampire story set in New York and featuring a strong female lead character, again available in kindle and paperback formats: The Wolf, the Witch and the Coffin

Mediterranean diets

Firstly I would like to stress that I do not mean diets as in limiting food/calories. I mean the kind of food people in the Mediterranean eat. The average person from this area eats plenty of tomatoes, olives, fish, fresh fruit, aubergenes (egg plant), courgettes (zuchinis), lots of garlic, figs and spinach, to name a few items.

This is most certainly the time of year to start eating in a fashion similar to those who are lucky to live in this wonderful area of the world. People from this area tend to be healthier for longer, and live far longer than those of us who do not live there!

Beginning small:
We had a guest over for dinner tonight. We had a selection of antipasto (as a starter). These included red peppers stuffed with feta cheese, olives stuffed with garlic, red grapes, cheddar cheese and a few salamis. Everything was fresh and packed with flavour as they had been purchased from a local delicatessen. The Perfect Antipasto Plate is a great place to start if you're not sure what to serve but I would hasten to say that breads should be an accompaniment for a main course, or soups, rather than antipasto (in my humble opinion), as they tend to fill you up quicky.

If you wish to go much further and really immerse yourself in this type of eating lifestyle, have a look at the Mayo Clinic website for a little insight.

At this time of year raw vegetables are simply divine, especally served with a homemade vinaigrette drizzled over it. Olive oil should always be the base for any Mediterranean food. Please note that the above link uses a 3:1 ratio for oil-vinegar but I do like a tart vinaigrette, so I tend to add a little more vinegar.

I hope you enjoy the Mediterranean diet this summer xx

On another note, I have written 3 books. 2 are part of a series set in Scotland about the Sidhe, fairy folk. Available on kindle and in paperback: The Island of the Mist is book 2 The Stone in the Sword is book 1 The 3rd book is an adult, sexy witchy werewolf/vampire story set in New York and featuring a strong female lead character, again available in kindle and paperback formats: The Wolf, the Witch and the Coffin

Do diets actually work?

I want to discuss dieting and whether various diets actually work. The quick and simple answer is no in the long run. The whole concept of dieting means you cut things out. When we do this for a while we often find that we will fall off the wagon - be it for sugar, coffee, carbs or fats.

What a lot of these diets don't mention is that many omitted items are actually essential for a healthy body and mind.

Cutting down in some foods is very wise, especially if you are overweight. If you have a high carb diet then cutting this back is good for you. Carbs are essential for our bodies and so we should never cut them out completely but we can ease up on them if we have carbs for each meal and as snacks.

Sugar should be part of our daily diet but not refined sugars. This is where we go wrong. Refined sugars are not part of nature and are harmful to our bodies. To me, honey and maple syrup ar naturally occuring ingredients and can be taken in small amounts as part of a healthy lifestyle. Fruit is another natural sugar. However I would not have more than 1-2 portions a day, as this is not good for you, especially if you are diabetic already.

Fat is essential for our bodies but we have too much or we tend to have the wrong kinds (such as trans and saturated fats). Olive oil is good for us, as is sunflower oil etc if not over-done. Avocados and nuts/seeds have healthy natural fats. If you are trying to lose weight then focus on these fats and ignore spreads, chips, crisps and anything else processed.

Meat/fish. If you are doing this purely for diet, then its not really worth it. However, if you are making a lifestyle choice because you cannot bare to eat meat/fish again then good for you - make sure you have a balanced diet without them. Pulses and legumes should become your best friends. Do not substitute cheese for your main protein as your weight will shoot up, as will your cholesterol and in many cases, your blood pressure. A small amount now and again is fine but do not substitute it daily for your meat/fish as it is simply unhealthy. It is pure fat - and bad fat at that.

If you are believing the hipe re Quorn adverts that it is healthier than red meat then you should realise that quorn is not a natural ingredient either and is processed. Some articles have even linked it to cancer, alhough I would take that with a huge pinch of salt. A little lean red meat, especially lamb (which is very high in protein) goes a long way and is not unhealthy if cooked properly. Smothered in grease, anything is unhealthy. Fish is very good for you, an excellent source of Omega 3, and while there is news about shellfish containing cholesterol, it is the neutral kind of cholestel that does not harm, much like eggs.

As someone who has tried many diets myself, I know what does and doesn't work. Cutting things you enjoy out of your life completely is dooming yourself to failure. As I have said before, and will no doubt say again, everything in moderation. I know this to be true. Cutting things out will cause cravings to kick in and while these may melt away after a few days/wek, they will keep coming back. If you are strong enough willed to maintain that omission, good for you but I know several others who are like me and always return to my vice (in my case, sugar). When you give your body a little of what it craves, just a little, you do not crave it so much and it can become manageable.

To conclude, balance is key. Cutting certain food groups out is not always the answer. Maintaining your health is very important and do not forget to take plenty of water and to take regular exercise. I don't especially like hearing that either bt its true :)

On another note, I have written 3 books. 2 are part of a series set in Scoltand about the Sidhe, fairy folk. Available on kindle and in paperback:

The Island of the Mist is book 2

The Stone in the Sword is book 1

The 3rd book is an adult, sexy witchy werewolf/vampire story set in New York and featuring a strong female lead character, again available in kindle and paperback formats:

The Wolf, the Witch and the Coffin

Fibre and a shocking discovery

2 items on the agenda today.

1. Fibre. I keep seeing adverts for senokot and other laxatives to purchase when you can't go to the toilet. This is so bad for you! You cannot go to the toilet (unless you have an underlying medical issue) because you lack fibre in your diet. Fibre regulates bowel movements. Now this works the other way too. If you go too much (and again, don't have an underlying medical condition), fibre can ease that up.

The key is having a balanced diet. Eating plenty of vegetables and a couple of pieces of fruit regularly. Doing this will keep your bowel movements regular. If you have a good diet and still find you are going too much or not enough, then please see your doctor. IBS, thyroid issues, and other matters can be the cause of going too much or not enough, it is not always cancer, as many people assume. Either way it is good to go to your doctor as early as possible to get it seen to.

My other mention is regarding a policy that is being decided today (and I only learned of today). Big business is trying to interfere in the daily lives of 'the people'. By this I mean that the EU are ruling on whether or not they should prevent people from selling and sharing seeds - such as tomato and other vegetable seeds. This is backed by big companies like Monsanto. Please sign the petition to let them know we will not comply with any ruling preventing us from sharing seeds. It is the right of every individual to grow their own food!!

Petition

Please sign and share.

Sincerely.

On another note, I have written 3 books. 2 are part of a series set in Scoltand about the Sidhe, fairy folk. Available on kindle and in paperback:

The Island of the Mist is book 2

The Stone in the Sword is book 1

The 3rd book is an adult, sexy witchy werewolf/vampire story set in New York and featuring a strong female lead character, again available in kindle and paperback formats:

The Wolf, the Witch and the Coffin

Using as much food up as possible

Waste not, want not, people always used to say, and they were right. We are a generation of throw aways now, chucking perfectly good food in the bin rather than using it up.

We need to make sure we plan out meals and if we don't do this, no time or whatever reason, we need to make sure we make something out of the food we have before it goes out of date.

Iwould also like to note that 'out of date' is a relative term. Many items have best before dates that are there simply because they have to put a best before date. Always check the food yourself. Meat is something you have to be very careful with, and fish/shellfish as well. Cheese will last a lot longer than the date - unless its a soft cheese. Let your nose be your guide. If cheese has a hint of mould, cut it off and keep using (not if pregnant, dump it) - it will be fine for a couple more days. If, however, it is covered in mould, or has a good bit of dark mould, please dump it.

Eggs are easy to test. because they fill with gas the older they get, they float in water when they are past their best. place egg in pan of water. If it floats, dump it. Otherwise, use it.

Just because a garlic clove has a green stalk at the tip, doesn't mean its past its best, and as long as it isn't squidhy, its usable. Firmness is a good guide for vegetables. If carrots/potates/onions and other root veg are a little soft, its up to you whether you want to use or not. if a potato is green it can be toxic. If you peel it and still green, dump it, if not, its usable.

If you find food about to go out of date, cook it up and freeze it or fridge it and have it the next day - it will be fine. Rice and pasta will go a little beyond their sell-by dates too but be wary in the spice/herb department. They do lose flavour after a while, so use your nose for these.

There are so many ways to use food up = preserves, conserves, freezing, stewing and freezing, you name it. Please try to use what you buy and save yourself some money by not throwing food you;'ve paid for out!

Throwing away left overs is a bit of a crime. Potatoes left over taste amazing the next day and frying them in a little oil, or using them in a stew/pie is just wonderful. Meats can be reheated - as long as you heat them through thoroughly - this goes for rice as well, as most upset tummies after a take-away are often from rice not reheated fully enough. I have a friend who takes whatever she had the night before and uses it in the meal she prepares the following night. Nothing is wasted. We don't have to do that but it gives you an idea. Your stew one night, leftovers can be the base of a curry.chilli the following night. Be creative and waste not, want not!

On that note, I have written a bit of a sexy witchy/werewolfy/vampirey book (not erocita, but sexy). If you like Charlaine Harris, Carrie Vaughn, Patricia Briggs, hopefully you'll like this. It is available on kindle and now in paperback.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Wolf-Witch-Coffin-ebook/dp/B00CCWL6ES/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366023812&sr=8-1&keywords=the+wolf%2C+the+witch+and+the+coffin

On another note, my second book, The Island of the Mist, is now available on both Kindle and paperback formats:

Kindle: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Island-Mist-Kingslayer-Series-ebook/dp/B0092TUS7U/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1346945410&sr=1-2

And paperback: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Island-Mist-N-Roy/dp/147921292X/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1346506656&sr=1-2

and in the US: http://www.amazon.com/Island-Mist-N-Roy/dp/147921292X/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1346946271&sr=1-2&keywords=the+island+of+the+mist

My first book, The Stone in the Sword, is now reduced in price: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stone-Sword-ebook/dp/B006ZQIEPG/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1327179005&sr=1-3