How this Fast Diet Lifestyle works: Eat these meals tomorrow. On Monday, eat the meals that will be posted on Sunday.  Eat sensibly the other days of the week.  That’s it.  Simple way to lose weight and be healthier.

My mother’s middle name was Margaret and her birthday is today. Tomorrow will be the feast of Saint Margaret of Scotland. Scotland is the country of several of my ancestors and the name “Margaret of Scotland” always sounded lovely to my ears. Born in Hungary of English nobility, her family sought refuge from a storm at sea in Scotland.  King Malcom of Scotland wooed and won the young Princess of England. In the course of her 48 year life [1045-1093], she is credited with ‘civilizing’ her husband [!!!] and raising her sons to be just and pious rulers. Sounds saintly enough for me!   Since Margaret was an ardent faster [for religious reasons], we will mark her day by Fasting with Scottish foods.

Oatmeal Pudding:  301 calories   3 g fat   3 g fiber      15 g protein     16.3 g carb      198.6 mg Calcium    GF PB   A riff on a recipe found in Marion Cunningham’s Breakfast Book, this can easily be prepared the night before.  NB: THIS MAKES ENOUGH FOR TWO [2] SERVINGS.  Make them both, as two are as easy as one, and freeze the other.

1/2 cup rolled oats, cooked in 1 cup water                                                                                                        2 tsp maple syrup                                                                                                                                                   ½ cup fatfree cottage cheese                                                                                                                           pinch of nutmeg or cinnamon                                                                                                                            4 Tbsp. blueberries [fresh or frozen]                                                                                                                5-6 oz fruit or green smoothie or natural apple cider                                                                          blackish coffee or blackish tea or lemon in hot water

Cook the oatmeal in the water, on the stovetop or in the microwave. Take off the heat, stir in the maple syrup and nutmeg. While it is still a little warm, stir in the cottage cheese. Let sit to cool. HINT: I did this part the night before while cleaning up after dinner. If making one portion, pour half of the pudding into a freezer container and top with 2 Tbsp blueberries. Freeze it. HINT: make the entire batch, eat half of it today and freeze the rest for a really simple-to-prepare breakfast for another day. With the remainder, stir in 2 Tbsp blueberries and pour the pudding into a ramekin. Nuke it for a minute to heat through – longer than that and it will bubble over. Serve with the fruit smoothie, and hot beverage for a hearty, healthy meal.

Rumbledethumps:   243 calories    10 g fat     4 g fiber       12.6 g protein    19.5 g carbs     171.4 mg Calcium  PB GF   Where do you get a recipe with a name like that? Sundays At Moosewood, of course. Hearty meals like this, made with winter vegetables are common in Scotland and Ireland. HINT: The recipe makes enough for 2 servings. Wrap half in cling-wrap and foil and freeze for another dinner.

¼ pound potato                                                                                                                                                     ¼ pound cauliflower                                                                                                                                              3 Tbsp skimmed milk                                                                                                                                                       1.5 tsp butter                                                                                                                                                            ¼ tsp ground mace                                                                                                                                                  2 egg whites                                                                                                                                                            ¾ cup cabbage, chopped                                                                                                                                                             ½ cup leek, sliced                                                                                                                                                                         ¼ cup broccoli, chopped                                                                                                                                                 1/3 cup cheddar, grated                                                                                                                                       per person: ¾ cup salad greens + 1 oz tomato + ½ tsp olive oil + ½ tsp cider vinegar

Cut potato into chunks and the cauliflower into florets. Boil until soft and mash with the milk, butter, and mace. Let cool. Steam the cabbage, leek, and broccoli until cooked. Take off the heat.  Whip the eggwhites until stiff and fold into the potato/cauliflower mash. Taste for salt and pepper. Gently stir in the remaining steamed vegetables. Smooth into a lightly-spritzed baking dish or loaf pan. [choose the dish with the idea that you will be dividing this into 2 equal portions] Sprinkle with the grated cheese and bake at 350 degrees F. until the cheese is bubbly and just starting to brown. Whisk the oil and vinegar together and toss in the greens. Serve the cool, crispy salad with the hot, creamy rumbledethumps. Good.

Ingredients for next week: breakfast, single portion

Dinner, single portion: