How this Fast Diet Lifestyle works: Eat these meals tomorrow, for a calorie total of less than 600. On another day this week, eat the meals from a different post, another day of eating 600 calories or less. Eat sensibly the other days of the week. That’s it. Simple way to lose weight and be healthier.

In the story ‘A Scandal in Bohemia‘, Sherlock Holmes refers to Dr. Watson as “my Boswell,” saying he would be lost without him.  And who is Boswell? The son of a Scottish judge, James Boswell was born on October 29, 1740, into the time of the Scottish Enlightenment. In his heart he yearned to leave Scotland due to its provinciality and up-tight religious views.  While staying in London, the young lawyer was introduced to Samuel Johnson, noted author, essayist, wit, and man-about-town, at a bookshop. Their friendship lasted for 20 years, during which time they traveled and socialized. All the while, Boswell took notes. Johnson joked that it was as if Boswell were spying on him. After Johnson’s death, Boswell dug into his own journals and wrote The Life of Samuel Johnson, L.L.D.  It has been called ‘the greatest biography ever written’ for its lively style and Boswell was hailed as ‘the first of biographers.’  Indeed the noun ‘Boswell’ means ‘one who records in detail the life of a famous contemporary.’  If Johnson is famous today, it is because Boswell made him so.                                                                                                                                           We will celebrate Boswell by serving the foods of his rejected land: Tattie Scones and Cullen Skink, both as Scottish as Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh.

Tattie Scone with Egg:  286 calories   5.4 g fat  3.6 g fiber  13.3 g protein   47 g carbs   210 mg Calcium   PB  Tattie Scones have been part of a Scottish Breakfast ever since potatoes were considered fit to eat. Easy to make with left-over boiled or mashed potatoes.

One 2-oz egg                                                                                                                                                               1 tattie scone, see not by bread… Feb 7 2018                                                                                               2 oz pear                                                                                                                                                                     5-6 oz fruit smoothie or green smoothie or natural apple cider                                                                     nearly-black coffee or tea or lemon in hot water

Prepare the Tattie Scone and keep warm or re-warm. HINT: Prepare the night before and cook them, too. Fry the egg to your liking. Prepare the fruit and beverages. Plate the scone, top with the egg. Plate the fruit and pour the beverages. Almost instant, if you made the scone beforehand.

Cullen Skink:  228 calories   4.5 g fat  2.9 g fiber  26 g protein  20 g carbs  161 mg Calcium  PB GF  We found this old Scottish recipe to be divine!!  Despite the low calorie count, it is very satisfying. Comfort Food with a Scottish dialect.

3 oz finnen haddie [smoked haddock]                                                                                                               3 oz milk                                                                                                                                                                small pinch ground cloves                                                                                                                                bay leaf                                                                                                                                                                              ¼ cup onion, chopped                                                                                                                                           2 oz potato, diced                                                                                                                                                                            2 oz asparagus in 2” slices                                                                                                                                                        1 tsp butter                                                                                                                                                            parsley  for garnish

Skin the fish and put it in a small pan with the milk and bay leaf. Cook gently until the fish is warm. Remove the fish from the milk and break it into large pieces. Add the onions, potatoes, and cloves to the milk along with a little water. Simmer, covered, until the vegetables are tender. Remove the bay leaf. Run the milk and vegetables through the blender/food processor/VitaMix [or use immersion blender] to a fine puree. Cook the asparagus. Return the fish to the pan with butter and the puree and heat. Add pepper to taste. Plate the fish, cover it with the ‘soup’, sprinkle with parsley, and arrange the asparagus around the sides. You will want to eat this again!