People who are new to the Fasting Lifestyle often pose the questions: “Can I really eat ‘anything I want’ on a Slow Day?” and “What should I eat on Slow Days?” To answer those questions, I have decided to add some blog posts to show some of the foods we eat on what the world calls NFDs [non-fast days] but which, in our house, we call ‘Slow Days.’ This feature will appear sporadically.
Dear Husband grew up fishing for and eating Bluefish. It is a migratory fish off the East Coast of North America and they run in large, hungry schools. This is not to be confused with “Boston Bluefish” which is Pollock named after its betters. The genuine article is a dense, dark-fleshed fish with a fine taste. I enjoyed it once at Legal Seafoods in Boston, where it was baked with a very nice sauce. Rarely do we see it in markets, but when we do, we snap it up. When I tried to emulate the restaurant sauce, I do believe that I succeeded very well.
The topping mixture consists of mayonnaise and Dijon mustard with salt, pepper, and maybe a little lemon juice. Combine the topping and spread it evenly over 3-4 oz fillets of fish per person. Bake at 400F. for 12-15 minutes. Ordinarily I would cook fish for 10 minutes per inch of thickness of the fish. But Bluefish is denser, so it takes longer to cook.
How this Fast DietLifestyle 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. Join me in the Fasting Lifestyle.
“Cornscateous” is one of the favorite weather words of the Old Farmer’s Almanac. They define it as ‘hot humid weather that is good for growing corn.’ Corn is native to the Americas and was cultivated extensively by First Nations people. Field Corn is for animal feed. Indian or Flint Corn is for grinding and for Autumn decorations. Sweet Corn, in all its variety, is for EATING! When I was a child, our family would have a ‘corn dinner’ every summer — the entire meal consisted of ears of sweet corn, all you could eat. Even the cat liked it. It is now corn season in New Hampshire, and we are making the most of it! Enjoy it while it is ripe. Do not buy it from the supermarket — get it from the farmer who grew it.
Here are 4 recipes for corn: two for breakfast, two for dinner. Two made with fresh corn, two made with variants of polenta.
Ham-Cup Egg with Corn: 140 calories… 6.7 g fat… 1.3 g fiber… 10 g protein… 11 g carbs… 36.8 mg Calcium… PG GF Ham and corn are such a grand combination. Easy to prepare ahead for a quick breakfast.
++1 two-oz egg ++++ 1 thin slice ham” [4” diameter at 21 calories/slice] ++++ 1 Tbsp fresh polenta OR ¾ oz cooked corn kernals ++++ 1.5 tsp red bell pepper, diced ++++ dash or two Sriracha ++++ 3 oz watermelon ++++ Optional: 5 oz fruit smoothie or berry-yogurt smoothie[88 calories] ++++ Optional:blackish coffee [53 calories] or blackish tea or mocha cafe au lait [65 calories] ++
Fit the ham into an oven-proof container that measures 3.25” in diameter and 1.25” deep. [I used a cleaned tuna can. It was perfect.] TIP: You might need to snip the ham on 2 sides and overlap the meat to make it fit better into the mold. Combine the corn/polenta with the diced pepper and season with Sriracha/salt/pepper to taste. Whisk in the egg and pour into the ham cup. HINT: I did this the night before and put it in the ‘fridge. Turn on the toaster oven to 350 F and bake the ham cups for 20+ minutes, until the filling is puffed and set. Prepare the optional beverages and the melon. Use a wide knife to loosten the ham cups from the mold before plating. Some of the egg will have oozed into the mold as it baked, but that is easy to remove too. This is a real treat!
Hoe Cakes with Two Toppings 183 calories… 5.6 g fat… 5.4 g fiber… 10 g protein… 23 g carbs… 44 mg Calcium… PB GF This recipe harks back to Colonial Days in the Ameri-can South. Everyone from enslaved people to President George Washington ate hoe cakes. HINT: This recipe makes 6 hoecakes – enough for 2 servings. Originally this would be made with white cornmeal, but the yellow has more nutrition. NB: Hoe cakes were never ‘cooked on a hoe’ by farm workers, as some will tell you. Silly notion.
3 Tbsp yellow corn-meal [even polenta meal would do] — 2.5 Tbsp hot water
Combine by stirring well to make a mush. Let sit for 15 minutes
1 oz egg white— ¼ tsp yeast
Stir into the warm cornmeal mush and let sit for 1 – 12 hours This was 125 ml in volume
2 Tbsp cornmeal — 2 Tbsp water — ¼ tsp salt
Mix into the cornmeal mush. If you take some up on a fork, it will sit on top with a little batter dribbling through. If it is not like this, add more cornmeal or more water. This was ½ cup in volume.
Using 2 tbsp of batter per cake, drop onto a hot griddle sprayed with non-stick spray. This should make 6 cakes. Cook on both sides. Best if eaten while fresh.
¼ cup raspberries —1 tsp honey— one 2-oz egg
Put the fruit and honey in a small dish and microwave for 30 seconds. Fry the egg.
Optional: blackish coffee [53 calories] or tea or mocha cafe au lait [65 calories]
Plate 2 of the Hoecakes with the egg and the other with the berry syrup.
FRESH POLENTA: 1 sv = 1/3 cup = 80 calories PB GF From Jacques Pepin, this is excellent served with a simply prepared fish. Here you see it served with Fish Kabobs.
++ 1¼ cups corn kernels, fresh or frozen ++++ 1 tsp unsalted butter ++++ freshly-ground pepper ++++ salt ++
Puree the corn in a blender until ‘smooth’ [it will still be a bit chunky, but you shouldn’t see whole kernels]. Put butter in a warm pan, then add the corn, pepper and salt. Cook about 30 seconds or until it becomes thicker.
POLENTA: recipe from Bob’s Red Milleach slice [2.25x3x0.25”] =43 calories..0.2 g fat..1 g fiber..1 g protein ..9 g carbs..0 CalciumPB GF Serve with pasta sauce, instead of pasta; as a side starch; for Pocahantus’ Breakfast. Here you see two slices as a ‘side’, served with fish and Mediterranean Vegetables.
12 pieces, Sv 6-12
2-qt saucepan + 9×13” pan + non-stick skillet
3 c water or vegetable stock —1 tsp salt—1 cup dry polenta
Bring salted liquid to a boil in saucepan. Add polenta, a few tablespoons at a time, stirring after each addition.
Optional: dried herbs—crushed red papper flakes
Once all polenta is in, turn down heat to its lowest [I used smallest burner on its lowest setting], cook 30 mins. Stir often: to avoid lumps, to scrape down sides, to prevent sticking. Unlike risotto, it does not need constant stirring.
After 30 mins, polenta will be very thick – spoon will stand up by itself. Cook 2-3 mins more.
Olive oil
Brush a very thin layer of oil on a 9×13” baking pan, and turn the polenta into it. Nudge batter into corners, smooth out top. Let it cool and solidify.
Cut into 12 squares. Heat a non-stick skillet, spray with cooking spray. Cook polenta squares until they begin to take on a little color and are heated through.
Individually wrap pieces and freeze cooked or uncooked, until needed.
Ingredients for next week: Breakfast, single portion for Monday ……………… single portion for Thursday:
How this Fast DietLifestyle 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.
What do Anton Dvorak, problems with your in-laws, and Good King Wenceslas all have in common? The answer is Saint Ludmila. Her complicated life is the subject of a Dvorak oratorio; she is the Patron Saint of those having trouble with family relation; and she was the grandmother of the Good King of the well-loved Christmas carol. Born circa 860, she and her husband [Duke of Bohemia] were early adopters of the Christian religion. But not so the rest of the country, nor their daughter-in-law. After her husband’s and son’s deaths, Ludmila helped with the education of her grandson Vaclav [Wenceslas]. Annoyed by Ludmilla’s teaching of Christianity, Drahomira, her aggrieved D-i-L, had her strangled to death. Ludmila was quickly canonized and her fame spread throughout the Slavic countries.
Naturally, today’s menu’s feature food favorites of Bohemia/Czech Republic. The yellow plums at breakfast are particularly loved by the Czechs, and meat stew is enjoyed all over central Europe.
Czech Breakfast: 233 calories 5 g fat 3.8 g fiber 11.7 g protein 37 g carbs [18 g complex] 65.6 mg Calcium NB: The food values are for the meal and fruit only and do not include the optional coffee. I’m told that the majority of citizens of the Czech Republic eat this for breakfast daily. Join them: they are on to something!
1 or up to 1.6 g sourdough rye bread 1 oz sliced ham, 3% fat ½ oz Hermelincheese, or substitute Camembert 2 yellow plums Optional:frothy mocha cafe au lait [65 calories] or blackish tea or lemon in hot water NB: No Smoothie
Whether you pile everything on the bread and eat it that way, or sample each item separatly, this is a hearty way to start the day. For those of you who start your daily eating at lunchtime, you should try this meal.
Gulyas: 283 calories 9.5 g fat 2.9 g fiber 40.4 g protein 8 g carbs [7.6 g Complex] 42.6 mg Calcium GF This version of the Hungarian stew is from Craig Claiborne’s International Cookbook. HINT: The recipe makes 8 [eight] servings, so make it once and freeze in serving sizes.
Served with the noodles, which are peaking out on the sides.
2 pounds beef chuck [shoulder], cut in 1” cubes 1 Tbsp sweet Hungarian paprika 1 tsp olive oil 2 onions, chopped 2 Tbsp tomato paste 1 tsp salt + 1 tsp pepper 1.5 cups beef stock per serving: 1 oz green beans optional: ¼ oz egg noodles which add 27 calories 1 g fiber 2 g carbs [simple]
Heat the oven to 300 F. Toss the beef chunks with the paprika, salt, and pepper. Heat the oil in a Dutch oven [large, heavy, covered pot] and brown the beef in batches. Move the beef around in the pan to prevent it from sticking. Add non-stick spray as needed. Remove the beef to a plate. Add some water to the pan and saute the onions until they are transluscent. Return the beef to the pan and pour in 1.5 cups beef stock. Stir thoroughly, scraping brown bits off the bottom. Cover the pot and cook in the oven for 2-3 hours. Every hour, check the pot and stir, adding more water as needed. Taste for salt at the end. Divide into 8 portions, reserving the remainder for future meals. TIP: Freezes very well. Plate with the green beans and optional noodles.
How this Fast DietLifestyle 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. Welcome to slimmingteas48 who is now Following.
Its that time again: end of Summer, when the zucchinis multiply like rabbits. You take a tour of the garden after breakfast and spy six dear little squashes, making note to harvest them before dinner. But by late afternoon, they have assumed the proportions of zeppelins and are suitable only for Zucchini Bread or to leave on your neighbors’ doorsteps under cover of darkness. Happily, there are many delicious recipes for this Meso-American squash with the Italian name. [BTW, ‘zucchini’ means ‘squash’ in Italian, so don’t be redundant by calling it ‘zucchini squash.’] We are having zucchini for breakfast and zucchini for dinner. Splendid.
Zucchini Nests for Egg: 122 calories 7 g fat 1.7 g fiber 8 g protein 7.6 g carbs [7 g Complex] 50.7 mg Calcium NB: The food values given above are for the egg and nest only, not the optional beverages. PB GF Found this recipe online, then I changed it to fit our calorie restriction requirements. Note: the egg used for the photo is a pullet egg, which weighs in a 1.5 oz instead of the 2 oz eggs we usually use. If you can find them, pullet eggs can be useful as they give you the egg flavor but with reduced fat and calories. Pullets, as you know, are merely young hens which lay small eggs until they grow up enough to lay larger eggs. HINT: This recipe makes enough for 2 nests which serve 2 people. Hmmm, I’m not sure how that piece of toast got into the photo, but I’d ditch it and replace it with some fresh fruit!
1 tsp olive oil ¼ cup diced onion 2 tsp fresh sage or 1 tsp dried sage, chopped 1 clove garlic, minced or pressed large pinch hot pepper flakes or 1 jalepeno, chopped 1 c. zucchini, grated on the coarser holes of the box grater 2 tsp cider vinegar 1 oz roasted red pepper parsley, chopped salt and black pepper 2 eggs [2-oz or pullet] Optional:blackish coffee or frothy mocha cafe au lait or blackish tea Optional: 5-6 oz berry-yogurt [88 calories] smoothie or green smoothie
In a non-stick pan, spritz lightly with olive oil or add 1 tsp. Cook the onions until lightly browned, 4-6 minutes. Add the sage, garlic, and hot pepper and stir for 30 seconds. Add vinegar, zucchini, some black pepper, and ¾ tsp salt. Cover and cook about 6 minutes longer. Add roasted pepper and parsley. Cook 6 minutes longer ‘until zucchini is light brown.’ Mine never looked light brown, but it looked done to me! HINT: Do this part the night before to save time in the morning.
Next morning: Divide cooked vegetables into two heaps [scant ½ cup each] in the saute pan and make an indentation in each heap to form the ‘nest’. Cover and heat for 1 minute. Uncover and break egg into each ‘nest.’ Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Then cover and cook on the stove top for 4-5 minutes longer or until the eggs are cooked to your liking. Prepare your optional beverage and/or smoothie. Now that’s something different!
Zucchini, Stuffed: 300 calories 6.2 g fat 5.4 g fiber 28.8 g protein 25.3 g carbs 141.5 mg Calcium PB GF You can prepare this meal any time of year that you find zucchini at your store. Avoid the notion of using a door-stop zucchini for this recipe. HINT: this recipe makes enough for 2 [two] servings
In this case, the pound of zucchini produced four boats for stuffing.
1 pound Zucchini, which is 2-3 slim zucchini 5 oz chicken, cooked ¼ tsp olive oil ½ cup onion, chopped 1 clove garlic ½ cup cooked brown rice 2 Tbsp Parmesan cheese, grated ½ tsp salt + ¼ tsp paprika + ½ tsp dill weed + black pepper
How this Fast DietLifestyle 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. Welcome to Sumit Jaitely who is now Following.
Tomorrow, September 2, is the birthdate of my Father-in-Law. He was a very accomplished man. Trained as a physician, he was a pioneer in the field of pediatric allergies. At the same time, he was a recognized breeder and judge of gladiolas. In his spare time, he was an accomplished cook [much to the delight of his wife!]. Dear Husband and I like to recognize the birthdays of loved ones by serving meals they like/liked. “Dad” was the one who prepared the breakfasts, and poached egg on toast was one of his favorites. Dinners were also in his repertoire, and his bay scallops were a real treat. The scallops shown here are not of his invention. Dear Husband follows in his father’s footsteps as a very fine cook [much to the delight of his wife]. Happy 111th Birthday to Father E!
Poached Egg on Toast: 156 calories 5.6 g fat 2.4 g fiber 10.5 g protein 14.6 g carbs [10 g complex] 52.6 mg Calcium NB: The food values given above are for the egg, toast, and fruit only, not the optional beverages. PB GF — if using GF bread I never used to like poached eggs, but on a Fast Day, they taste good.
one slice of 70-calorie whole-grain bread one 2-oz egg 1 and ½ oz of apple -OR- 2 oz melon Optional: 5-6 oz fruit smoothie or berry-yogurt smoothie[88 calories] Optional: blackish coffee [53 calories] or blackish tea or lemon in hot water If using an egg poacher, lightly spray the egg cup and heat the water to a simmer. If not using an egg poacher, poach the egg using the simmering-pot- of-water method. Toast the bread but do not butter it. Poach the egg for 3-4 minutes, according to your taste. Slide the egg onto the toast; season to taste; enjoy with your optional hot beverage, and fruit smoothie.
Curried Scallops: 244 calories 8.4 g fat 4.9 g fiber 21.4 g protein 12 g carbs 108.7 mg Calcium PB GF Our son used make his own Indian curry powder, which is fabulous-tasting. He has moved on to Thai curries, but we still cook with his original powder. These scallops are delicious and filling. It is Dear Husband’s recipe.
¼ pound scallops 2 Tbsp Indian curry powder ½ Tbsp butter 1 Tbsp white wine 3 oz broccoli
Trim the scallops of the white tissue which may be on the side. Slice the scallops so that each disk is half its thickness. Pat them dry with paper towels. Sprinkle a plate with the curry powder and dredge the scallops in the powder, coating on both sides. Choose a heavy saute pan which is just large enough to hold the scallops in one layer. Heat the pan over medium heat. Add the butter and spray well with non-stick spray. Place the scallops in the melted butter and cook on one side. Turn over and cook further, adding some more non-stick spray if pan seems too dry. When the scallops are done [this takes very little time], remove to your plate. Turn down heat and add the white wine to the pan to deglaze it, scraping up brown bits. Pour over scallops and plate the broccoli. A very easy and special meal.
How thisFast DietLifestyle 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. Welcome to b. lunsford who is now Following.
Sutter’s mill.
John Sutter left Switzerland and settled in Northern California along the banks of a watercourse he named the American River. He recognized that this would be a good place to build a water-powered lumber mill for his newly-created settlement of New Helvetica. James Marshall was taken on as a partner and he began to build the mill. A mill of that type needs a trough called a tail race to take the water away from the mill. Clearing the race of pebbles washed in by the fast-flowing water was a daily task. In January, 1848, Marshall found gold nuggets in the tail race. He and Sutter decided to keep it a secret since they knew that others would want to get some gold too — fairly or illegally. In August of ’48, The New York Herald published the news and the Rush was on. Sutter eventually left the mill unfinished and his tannery failed — all his workmen quit to go prospecting for gold! Sutter washed his hands of the whole gold business and quietly went broke.
Our meals today include the famous breakfast from ‘Hangtown’ [aka: Placerville, California] which was concocted from the most expensive ingredients that a restaurant could find to suit a miner’s whim. The dinner is the meal that every miner aspired to: lobster thermadore, as served in a fancy restaurant.
Hangtown Bake: 135 calories… 7 g fat… 1 g fiber… 8 g protein… 5.4 g carbs… 46.3 mg Calcium… NB: The food values given above are for the egg bake and fruit only, not the optional beverages.PB GF According to legend, this meal, full of then very expensive items, is what a gold miner ordered after he struck it rich in Old California.
++ 1 two-oz egg ++++ 2 oysters, raw and out of the shell ++++ ½ oz bacon, un-cured is preferable ++++ 1 Tbsp scallion leaves, chopped ++++ 2 oz strawberries ++++ Optional: 5-6 oz fruit smoothie or berry-yogurt smoothie [88 calories] or natural apple cider ++++ Optional: blackish coffee [53 calories] or tea ++
Set the oven at 350 F. Cook the bacon until it is a little underdone, then chop it up. Chop the scallion and oysters and stir in a little bacon fat, along with the bacon. Whisk the egg, then add the other ingredients and whisk again. Pour into a baking dish lightly-spritzed with non-stick spray and bake for 12-15 minutes. Prepare the beverages and plate the baked egg along with the fruit.
Lobster Thermador: 269 calories… 13.4 g fat… 5.5 g fiber… 29 g protein… 18.4 g carbs… 130.5 mg Calcium… PB GF Lobster is wonderful for the Fasting Lifestyle, whether you get it baked or boiled. The damage comes when it is slathered in butter. I think that butter masks the clean, subtle taste of the lobster, so I haven’t dunked my lovely crustacean in it for years. This recipe is so elegant yet lacks calories to such an extent that I have added a very French dessert course: fresh peaches and raspberries.
++ ¾ cup lobster, cooked and cut into chunks ++++ 1 Tbsp heavy cream ++++ 2 Tbsp Bechamel sauce [I always keep Bechamel sauce frozen in small amounts] ++++ ½ tsp Dijon mustard ++++ flat-leaved parsley, chopped, for garnish ++++ 3 oz green beans ++++ Dessert: 1 oz raspberries [fresh or frozen] + 2 oz peaches, cut into cubes [fresh or frozen] ++
Stir together the cream, Bechamel, and mustard. Lightly fold in the lobster. Heap into a ramekin, sprinkle on the parsley, and heat at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Cook the beans and put the fruits together in a lovely bowl for dessert.
People who are new to Fasting often pose the questions: “Can I really eat ‘anything I want’ on a Slow Day?” and “What should I eat on Slow Days?” To answer those questions, I have decided to add some blog posts to show some of the foods we eat on what the world calls NFDs [non-fast days] but which, in our house, we call ‘Slow Days.’ This feature will appear sporadically.
Sunday Breakfast is enshrined in our house as a special meal: a day for something out of the ordinary. Pancakes and waffles were popular in Dear Husband’s family, while yeast-raised cinnamon buns were my family’s favorite. Recently, a large supply of luscious strawberries gave rise to inspiration: crepes in a strawberry-maple syrup. The crepes were already prepared and in the freezer, which made it SO much easier. [You know how I always urge you to make things in bulk and freeze them for later? This is why! And crepes don’t take up a lot of room, even in a small freezer.]
In the foreground, you see 1/3 cup maple syrup with a teaspoon of butter.
Six crepes [not the savory ones made with buckwheat flour, but the sweet ones that were made for the Strawberry Moon blog on 16-June-2019] were taken from the freezer and thawed in their plastic storage bag overnight. They were warmed on a griddle. The maple syrup was warmed with a little butter and the strawberries were put in briefly, so they didn’t cook down to mush. The syrup took on a wonderful color and flavor from the berries! Chicken sausages were cooked and plated. The crepes were put on the plate open, generously laced with syrup and berries, folded in half and doused with fruit and syrup again.
How this Fast DietLifestyle 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. Welcome to thewackyspoon who is now Following.
Catherine Ségurane was a washerwoman in Nice. Nice was not part of France in the 1500s, it belonged to the Duke of Savoie who had a long-standing disagreement with Francois I, the King of France. Mostly, this was of no consequence to Catherine. But Francois made a pact with the Ottoman Empire, an odd thing for a Christian sovereign to do. If the Ottomans would attack his enemies, Francois would arrange a lucrative trade deal. Done. The original target was the Papal army in Italy, but that would be a bit audacious. So the Ottoman fleet was sent down the coast to besiege Nice. When they scaled the walls of the unprotected city, they were met by ordinary citizens carrying whatever ‘weapons’ they had handy. Our girl Catherine was ready with her clothes-beating stick and she hit the standard-bearer of the attacking Turks, knocking him down and taking his flag. According to the story, she then hiked up her skirts and mooned the invaders. As good Muslims, they were so shocked by a woman with crude behavior that they retreated to their ships and Nice was saved. Sometimes average people rise to the occasion and perform great acts.
If a humble laundry-lady can defeat an army, then couldn’t you overcome your urge to over-eat for a day and eat only 600 calories? Of course you could. Today’s menu showcases the flavors of Nice and shows how delicious a ‘Mediterranean Diet’ can be.
Mediterranean Bake: 138 calories 2 g fat 1.4 g fiber 10.4 g protein 8.4 g carbs [7.5 g Complex] 55 mg Calcium NB: The food values given above are for the egg bake and fruit only, not the optional beverages.PB GF Oh! Those sunny flavors!
one 2-oz egg 3 Tbsp Mediterranean Vegetables , see Sidekicks II, 4-Oct-’19 for recipe 1 Tbsp chevre cheese salt + pepper + large pinch of herbes de Province 2 oz melon Optional: blackish coffee [53 calories] or blackish tea or lemon in hot water Optional: 5-6 oz fruit smoothie or berry-yogurt smoothie [88 calories]
Set the toaster oven at at 350 degrees F. Spritz a ramekin with oil or non-stick spray and spoon in the Med. Veg. Pop the ramekin in the warming toaster oven for 30 seconds to warm the vegetables. Whisk the egg with the cheese and seasonings. Pour in the egg mixture over the vegetables and bake in the toaster oven for 12-15 minutes, depending on how you like your eggs. Brew your optional warm beverage; shake and pour the optional smoothie; plate the melon. A fine way to enjoy a breakfast.
Salade Nicoise: 283 calories 16 g fat 3 g fiber 22.5 g protein 12.7 g carbs 198 mg Calcium PB GF ‘Nicoise’ of course means ‘as they do it in Nice’ and boy-oh-boy is it ever nice. HINT: If you plan ahead a bit, this meal goes together in minutes. A few days before, eat a meal of baked or grilled salmon, served with green beans. Prepare 3 oz more salmon than you’ll need for that meal and save it for this meal. Also cook an extra bit of green beans and save them in the ‘fridge. Here’s a TIP: If you won’t need the salmon for a week or more, cooked salmon freezes well. Just leave enough time to thaw it thoroughly.
3 leaves Romaine lettuce, sliced into 1/2″ pieces 3 oz cooked salmon 3 oz green beans, cooked and cooled 2 black olives, quartered ½ hard-boiled egg 1 radish, sliced 5 cherry tomatoes DRESSING: 1 tsp white wine vinegar + 1.5 tsp olive oil
Whisk the oil and vinegar in a wide, shallow serving bowl. Add the beans and turn them to coat with dressing. Remove to another plate. Coarsely slice the lettuce and toss with dressing. Place the salmon in the center of the salad. Surround it with the remaining ingredients. A wonderful meal in no time flat.
How this Fast DietLifestyle 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. Welcome to akashbhadran who is now Following.
Long ago, in the 4th century CE, in Cappidocia, lived a woman named Nonna. She was a Christian but her husband was not. She raised their two sons and one daughter to follow her faith and daily she prayed for the spiritual health of her family. Her husband Gregory converted and became a bishop of the young Turkish church in what was then the Roman Empire. He eventually was named a saint. Beyond the conversion of her husband, Nonna is revered for her piety and for being the mother of three — count ’em: 3!! — saints. Gregory [theologian, archbishop, poet]; Caesarius [doctor, politician]; and Gorgonia [model wife and mother]. Nonna was declared a saint, and thus the entire family was so honored. My, my — what a legacy!
‘Nonna’ is also the Italian word for ‘grandmother.’ Saint Nonna was a grandmother, since her daughter had several children. In honor of grandmothers, we will enjoy a homey porridge for breakfast and real comfort food for dinner.
10-Grain Pudding: 181 calories 1.3 g fat 5.4 g fiber 10.4 g protein 35 g carbs [29 g Complex] 43.5 mg Calcium PB Delicious hot cereal for any day of the week. The applesauce and maple syrup give just the right sweetness.
1/4 cup uncooked Bob’s 10-Grain Cereal 2 Tbsp cottage cheese 1 tsp maple syrup 1.5 Tbsp applesauce pinch of nutmeg + pinch of cinnamon sprinkle of sliced strawberries or blueberries Optional: blackish coffee [53 calories] or blackish tea or lemon in hot water Optional:3 oz fruit smoothie or berry-yogurt smoothie[44calories]
Put the cereal in 3/4 cup of boiling water, turn down to a simmer and cook, covered, for 8 minutes. HINT: Do this the night before. Cool the cereal, then mix in the cottage cheese, maple syrup, applesauce and spices until well-combined. In the morning, put into a microwave-safe bowl and cook in the microwave for 50 seconds until hot through. Top with a little fresh or frozen fruit. Pour the beverages and you will have a warm, filling start to your day.
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, cut 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 [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 and ‘soup’, sprinkle with parsley, and arrange the asparagus around the sides. You will want to eat this again!
How this Fast DietLifestyle 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.
Marie Sklodowska Curie stirred and stirred her cauldron of melted pitchblende. It was 1898, and she was in a wooden shack behind the Sorbonne in Paris. This was not the university life she had imagined as a child in Poland. Marya [Marie] had entered the Sorbonne to pursue a degree in science when the University of Krakow [Poland] would not admit her. She did research into the energy given off by certain salts and crystals [like Uranium, discovered in 1789], an energy which she dubbed ‘radiation.’ Together with her husband Pierre, a professor of chemistry at the Sorbonne, Marie thought that pitchblende/Uraninite contained undiscovered elements which were radioactive. By July of 1898, they had isolated one of those elements, which they named Polonium in honor of Marie’s native land. By the end of the year, they also identified and named a second element, Radium.
Foods in honor of Polonium should have a distinctly Polish slant to them. Horseradish is a popular flavoring in Eastern Europe, so that is in the breakfast. The dinner of cabbage soup, also very Polish/French, evokes Curie’s stirring the pot of pitchblende. Marie was a busy woman, having some soup in the freezer for a quick meal would have appealed to her.
Horseradish-Cheesey ScrOmelette: 158 calories 9.8 g fat 0.7 g fiber 11.4 g protein 5.8 g carbs [5 g Complex] 105.6 mg Calcium NB: Food values shown are for the ScrOmelette and fruit only, and do not include the optional beverages.PB GF Barney Greengrass’ place in Manhatten combines eggs with a horseradish-cheese mixture and here is my version. Tangy and unusual. Oh, and good.
1-½ two-oz eggs per person HINT: If you are serving one person, crack three 2-oz eggs into a small bowl or glass measuring cup. Whip up those eggs and pour half of their volume into a jar with a lid and put it in the ‘fridge for next week 1 Tbsp Barney Greengrass cheese mixture*** ½ Tbsp crushed tomatoes ½ clementine Optional: blackish coffee [53 calories] or tea or lemon with hot water Optional: 3 oz green smoothie or fruit smoothie [34 calories]
***Cheese Mixture: 2 Tbsp Old English cheese spread + 4 tsp horseradish from a jar. Save the remainder for another time.
Stir the cheese mixture and tomatoes together until smooth. Whisk the eggs with salt and pepper to taste, then whisk in the cheese/tomatoes. Pour into a hot pan sprayed with cooking oil. As the eggs set, lift the edge and tilt the pan so that uncooked egg flows underneath. When the eggs are still very moist on top, fold the omelette, take off the heat, and put a lid on the pan. Plate the fruit and pour the beverages of your choice. Then plate that warm, tasty omelette. Yum.
Cabbage-Sausage Soup: 264 calories 11 g fat 5 g fiber 14 g protein 25.5 g carbs [22 g Complex] 66 mg Calcium PB GF Since this is Jacques Pepin’s recipe, I’ll let him say it: “When the weather gets cooler in the fall, I make soup. I generally cook up a big batch and freeze some for whenever I need it. This one, with sausage, potatoes, and cabbage, is hearty and good for cold weather.” Or for a quick meal anytime of year.
8 ounces mild Italian sausage meat [using bulk sausage is easiest] 1 ½ cups onions, sliced 6 scallions, cut into ½-inch pieces (1¼ cups) 6 cups water 1 cup chickpeas 16 oz potatoes, peeled and cut into ½-inch chunks 8 ounces savoy cabbage, chopped/sliced 1¼ teaspoons salt
“Break the sausage meat into 1-inch pieces and place it in a saucepan over high heat. Sauté, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to keep the meat from sticking, for 10 minutes, or until the sausage is well browned. Add the onions and scallions and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the water, chickpeas, potatoes, cabbage, and salt and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and cook for 45 minutes.” Portion for storage or serving. One portion = 1 cup.
Ingredients for next week:
Breakfast, single portion for Monday ………………… single portion for Thursday:
plain yogurt + honey + edible flowers
1 two-oz egg
Camembert cheese or Brie
Arnold brand Sandwich Thin
watercress or microgreens
grapes
Golden Berries/blueberries
Canadian bacon/Jones brand
Optional smoothie
optional smoothie
optional hot beverage
optional hot beverage
Dinner, single portion for Monday: …………………………. single portion for Thursday:
