The Lord's Day - Sunday 30 September 2012

B: Low Carb 'Cheesecake@
D: Roast lamb, pointed cabbage, carrots, roasted parsnips, sprouts, broccoli. Blueberries & cream
T: Pork loin with roasted green beans.  74% chocolate


I forgot to have my chocolate yesterday so I will have it today with today's ration.  It will seem like a real treat to eat so much chocolate at once, I will save it for when I'm watching Downton Abbey.

I realise parsnips are not low carb but this is going to be my weekly treat during the winter months.

I got quite a large leg of lamb so it will do two meals and I can make soup with the bone.

Been busy making the roast dinner for lunch so no time to listen to a sermon, will have to make time later today. Think I might try listening to the series on Luke with  Twin City Fellowship online sermons.  It will fit in well with our study on a Wednesday night.

Computer problems - Saturday 29 September 2012

B: Bakewell porridge
D: Fried garlic spam & stir fried savoy cabbage.  Pistachio nuts
T: Pork loin in a cheese & onion sauce with roasted green beans.   84% chocolate.

The pork loin steaks are still on offer at Lidl so got another pack of those and also stocked up on parsnips as DS loves them.  I may treat myself to them once a week with Sunday lunch.

Yesterday I was feeling pleased that I had made more space in the freezer by using the rhubarb to make jam, this morning father in law brings round a huge bucket of apples so these will now replace the rhubarb.

Had computer trouble this morning when it kept crashing.  Did disc clean up and seems to be alright now.

R & R - Friday 28 September 2012

B: Scrambled eggs & bacon
L: Garlic spam fried with stir fried savoy cabbage.  Cashew Nuts
D: Pork Loin with roasted green beans. 2 squares 74% chocolate

Callanetics: 35 mins


Feeling tired today and could do with resting a bit more.   However I prepared the rhubarb last night ready to make rhubarb & raspberry jam so need to complete that.  Not sure where I'm going to store it when its made.  It is to make up an order of 40 jars for a friend.

Something happened to the water this morning whilst having my shower as it suddenely turned to freezing, had to quickly nip along to the other bathroom and use that shower.    Then at lunchtime I tried to open the tin of spam and the ring pull broke.  I finally succeeded in opening the tin after trying three different tin openers.

Deja Vu - Thursday 27 September 2012

B: Fried egg, 2 rashers of bacon & 1 sausage
L:  Homemade vegetable soup.  Cashew nuts
T: Mince casserole, mashed swede & cabbage.  Cup of Cocoa

Callanetics 35 mins

Introduced a new exercise to my Callanetics routine yesterday and it kills.

Got meeting about going to Sixth Form for DS tonight so need to get tea organised early.

Got rhubarb and sugar prepped ready for jam making tomorrow.

Quiet day - Wednesday 26 September 2012

B: Fried egg & 3 rashers of bacon
L: Homemade vegetable soup
D: Mince casserole, mashed swede & cabbage.  Blueberries & cream.

Callanetics: 35mins

Very quiet here today, but I'm enjoying it.  So far managed to make vegetable soup and put mince casserole to slow cook in oven.

Got house group tonight, we're studying the Gospel of Luke with study notes from John McArthur.

Then There Were Three - 25 September 2012

B: Fried Egg, bacon and sausage
L: 2 lamb chops , stir fried cabbage & celery
D:  Smoked haddock with broccoli & cauliflower in a cheese sauce.  Cup of Cocoa

Drove back all day yesterday in this dreadful rain! 

DD2 now deposited at Uni and having a great time by the sounds of it.  I was determined not to cry but what should happen, DD2 shed a few tears as we said our goodbyes,  I managed to hold off until we got to the travelodge.  Yesterday we called in and had lunch with DD1 before continuing the journey home. 

House is very empty now.  It will take some getting used to.

Did the weekly shop today and can't believe how much less we need.  Saved £13 using coupons.

Last Day - 22 September 2012

B: Low carb 'cheesecake'
L:  Celery sticks with lactofree soft cheese & peanut butter
 I don't even like celery but the cheese and peanut butter disguise the taste a little and my taste buds are changing.
D: Chicken Curry & fried cauliflower & okra.  Blueberries & cream.

Last full day with DD2 today.  Lots of last minute things to get done.

Lidl shop resulted in stocking up on pork loin steaks and chicken inner fillets.  We won't need so much now there is only three of us.   I was disappointed to note that Lidl have replaced  their full fat Greek yoghurt with a low fat version.

Need to list stuff on ebay today as it is a free listing weekend.   Then I need to submit till receipts and barcodes to Shop & Scan.

I'm hoping to fit in callanetics somewhere today.  I also need to prepare an overnigth bag for myself and OH.  We are stopping off at a travelodge on Sunday evening to break the journey.   On Monday we will stop off at Sheffield to see DD1.  This means I will not post tomorrow or Monday but I'll be back on Tuesday.

Jeans! - Friday 21 September 2012

Last night I spilt something on the trousers I was wearing. I was going out to a quiz night so needed to change but didn't have much clean/ironed. Decided to try my jeans, last time they wouldn't fasten. Tonight they went on quite easily and are fairly comfortable, and to top it all we Won the quiz!

B; Fried egg & bacon
L: 2 boiled eggs (struggling for ideas, need to make soup but no time)
Changed my mind, decided I need some greens, so now I'm having; 1 tbsp peanut butter, 1tbsp lactofree cream cheese with lettuce and celery.  Will have a glass of water too.  
D: Chicken Curry with fried cauliflower and okra.  Raspberries & cream

Callanetics: 30 mins

Struggling to drink sufficient water these days.  Now the weather has turned colder I don't really want to have cold water to drink.  Will have to be disciplined as I think this may be one of the reasons for the leg cramps.

Need to get ironing done so that DD2 can get packed.

Set myself a task of listing 2-3 items per day on ebay.  I've quite a few cross stitch charts to list and have been putting it off for months.  I listed 4 yesterday and 4 today, doesn't seem so bad when broken up into smaller lots.

Quiz Night - 20 September 2012

B; Fried egg, bacon & mushrooms
L: 3 sausages.  Peanuts.
D: Bolognese & cabbage.  Blueberries & cream

Snack; 2 squares of 85% chocolate
Had a cup of unsweetened cocoa made with cream this morning.

Tonight is the monthly quiz night at father in laws church to which we are expected to go and which we enjoy.

Busy sorting out DD2 laundry so that she can pack.

Took Ebay items to post office and did other bits of shopping whilst out.  Got caught up with surveys.

No time for Callanetics today will have to try on to make time on Saturday.

Baking Day -19 September 2012

B: Fried egg, bacon & mushrooms
L: 2 boiled eggs
D: Bolognese on bed of cabbage. Raspberries & cream

Callanetics: 30

Going to bake some muffins today for DD2 to take to Uni with her.  If there's time will do a cake for Father-in-law too.

I am making Lasagne for the rest of the family tonight so I will just have the bolognese sauce.

Still suffering from painful cramps in my legs during the night.  I've bought some tonic water to see if that helps.

Weekly Shop -Tuesday 18 September 2012

B: Flax Porridge
L: Spam & peanuts.  85% chocolate
D: Smoked Haddock & broccoli.  Raspberries & cream

Didn't fancy making much for lunch after I got back from shopping today and I wasn't very hungry anyway.

Saved about £10 using money off coupons today.

Away overnight at the weekend so have stocked up on pork curls, salted cashews, chocolate and lactofree portions.  Still don't know what to do about breakfast on Monday morning as we are staying in a Travelodge.  I'm thinking of making up some flax muesli, putting it in a sandwich bag, then if I take a bowl and spoon I can have that.

Letting Go - 17 September 2012

 Feeling really emotional and weepy last few days and have snapped at everyone at some point.  Getting really upset at the thought of DD2 going to Uni. This is the second time I've done this and it doesn't get any easier. In fact it is harder this time. With DD1 I was in ignorance when we deposited her at Uni. I thought 'oh it will be ok, at least I'll see her during the hols which are quite long' On the journey home OH quickly dispelled that idea by telling me DD1 had effectively left home, she would have to work during hols and so wouldn't be home as often as I was expecting. This time I know what to expect, DD2 is further away and it will be even harder for her to get home. DD2 is the one I worry about the most. She has mild asthma and food allergies, and is the quiet one, so I guess I've always been more protective of her. Her term does not finish until 24th December so it may be she won't get home for Christmas 

B: Fried egg and bacon, mushrooms.
L: Spam Salad.  Nuts
D: Lamb chops & roasted green beans.  Blueberries & cream.

1 hour Gardening

Dug up first of the potatoes today and managed to transplant the rhubarb and asparagus in our back garden.

Sunday Lunch - 16 September 2012

B: Low carb raspberry 'cheesecake'
D: Pork chop, cabbage, carrots, broccoli & sprouts. rasberries & cream
T: Fried Spam with salad.  2 squares 81% chocolate.

Shopping Day - 15 September 2012

B: Raspberry Low Carb 'cheesecake'
L:
D:

Today is quite busy.  This morning I went Lidl shopping and stocked up on the half price sausages and reduced price vegetables.   This afternoon we are going shopping for Uni stuff and this evening I am going to a Wedding reception.  Not really sure what I will be having meal wise for the rest of the day it depends on what I have time for. 

Tired Day 14 September 2012

B:  Fried egg and 3 rashers of bacon.
L:  Cauliflower and cream cheese soup.  Pistachios
D: Chilli Meatloaf, cabbage, sprouts & mashed swede.  Blueberries & cream

Callenetics:  30 mins.

Very tired today.  Done very little apart from making the evening meal.  Got busy weekend ahead as need to get stuff for DD2 going to Uni.  Then next week we will need to pack it all up ready to take her to Wales next weekend.

As you can see above I made Cauliflower & cream cheese soup for lunch.  It was very nice but I think I need to get a hand blender as the texture was not quite right.  To make it I just boiled some frozen cauliflower until softened ( I also added a little chopped celery which needed using up).  In another pan I soft heated some lactofree soft cheese until it was even softer and slightly runny.   I then mashed the cauliflower and added a little at a time to the cream cheese, until I had a lovely creamy soup!

More Please! - Thursday 13 September 2012

B: Scrambled eggs with 3 rashers of bacon
L: Salted Cashew nuts and 2 squares 81% chocolate
D: Chilli meat loaf, roasted green beans & broccoli.  Blueberries & cream

Callanetics: 30 mins

Arrived in good time for the performance of Oliver last night.  Had plenty of time to climb several flights of stairs (we were in the Upper Circle) and was just getting my breath back when it was announced the performance was delayed by 15 minutes.  Finally we were allowed into the auditorium and got ourselves settled.   Thirty minutes into the performance and the actors walk off stage and the lights in the auditorium come back on!  Someone mentions a fire alarm which I'd failed to notice amongst all the other noise.   The whole theatre had to be evacuated.   Ten minutes later and we were allowed back in (had to climb all those flights again), but it must have been a good twenty minutes before everyone was back in their seats.  Despite the early interruptions we had a very enjoyable night. Most thought Brian Conley was excellent in his role as Fagin but I think Cat Simmons as  Nancy and Iain Fletcher as Bill Sykes were better.  Didn't get to bed until after midnight.

Despite sleeping in this morning I still feel exhausted.  Still managed to get the ironing done.   Climbing all those stairs has taken it out of me, think it will take a few days to recover.  Will have an easy day tomorrow.

Oliver! - Wednesday 12 September 2012

B: Scrambled eggs & 3 rashers of bacon
D: lamb chops with roasted green beans.  Blueberries & Greek yogurt
T: Homemade Chicken Soup

Snacks: Salted cashews.  81% chocolate.

Callanetics; 30 mins

DD2 and I are off to the theatre tonight to see Oliver.  Really looking forward to it.  The snacks listed above are to take to the theatre with us.

Weekly Shop - Tuesday 11 September 2012

B; 3 rashers of bacon and a fried egg
L: Homemade chicken and vegetable soup.  Small tub of peanuts
D: Indian omelette with lambs lettuce.  Blueberries & cream

Today is my weekly shopping day.  Most of my shopping is split between Aldi and Tesco.  Today I saved over £15 using money off coupons.  My freezer is so full I  am struggling to fit things into it.

Last night was my second night without using St John's Wort.  I am trying to wean myself off it.  Originally I was taking 2 capsules per night,  Ireduced down to one capsule per night.  Now I am taking one capsule for two nights and then missing a night.  I intend to reduce quite slowly so as to give my body time to adjust.

Another Frog! - Monday 10 September 2012

B: Fried egg and 3 rashers of bacon
L: Pilchard curry with prawn & cabbage bhaji.  Peanuts
D: 3 sausages with stir fried cabbage.  Blueberries & cream

Did an hour at the allotment. Got almost all of the potatoes weeded until I came across another frog!  Decided I would give it time to get away and I would resume weeding another day.  Removed more of the strawberry plants and re-planted them in tubs on our patio.  

Sunday Menu - 9 September 2012

B: Flax muesli with watered down lactofree cream
D: Roast chicken, cabbage, carrots, broccoli, sprouts.  Blueberries & cream
T: Pilchard curry with Cabbage & prawn bhaji.

Lidl Shopping - 8 September 2012

B: 3 sausages and a fried egg
L:  ramekin filled with pistachios and 1 packet pork curls
D: Pilchard Curry with prawn and cabbage Bhaji.  2 squares 81% chocolate

Today from Lidl I got:

Haddock Fillets
Lamb Chops
Steak Mince
Pork Mince
Corned Beef
Eggs
Free Range Chicken
Celery on offer for 49p
Cauliflower
Savoy Cabbage
Pistachio nuts
Greek Yoghurt
81% chocolate

Thats me well stocked up for the week now. 

Dropped off resignation letter for the allotment today.  Just need to get plot cleared and transfer fruit to our garden.

Was disappointed to find I've put on another 1lb this week.  Probably because I had porridge whilst we were away and oats always make me put on weight.  Have lost another 0.5" off my hips.  Hopefully now diet is back on track the weight will start dropping off again.

Managed a few ebay listings today.

Rich Chocolate Brownies - Friday 7 September 2012

B: 2 Fried eggs and 2 rashers of bacon
L:  Sardine salad.  Peanuts
D: Corned beef casserole with cauliflower.  Blueberries & cream

Callanetics: 30 mins

Rich Chocolate Brownies

12 oz 70% chocolate                                 2/3 cup of ground pecans (other nuts will do)

12 oz milk chocolate                                  3 extra large eggs.

3/4 cup of butter 

Preheat oven to 350F

Line the base and sides of an 8" square cake tin with baking parchment or greaseproof paper.

Break the 70% chocolate and 1/4 of the milk chocolate into pieces, and put into the top of a double boiler.  Add butter.  Melt over simmering water, stirring frequently.  Remove from heat.  Stir ground pecans and eggs into melted chocolate.

Chop remaining milk chocolate into chunky pieces.  Stir half of the remaining chocolate into the warm mixture, and pour into the prepared tin, spreading it into the corners.   The milk chocolate doesn't need to be completely melted.  Sprinkle with the remaining chopped milk chocolate.

Bake brownies for 30-35 mins, until they rise and are just firm to touch.   Let cool in the tin, then cut into squares of 16.

20g carbs per brownie.

Can be served garnished with raspberries or strawberries,  or with a spoonful of cream.

I think I may use all 70% chocolate and thus reduce the carbs even more.

Back Home - Thursday 6 September 2012

Had a really lovely holiday with Lochs & Glens.  The above pictures show the view which greeted us each day from our hotel.  We were surrounded by beautiful countryside.   I enjoyed having someone else do the cooking, it was a real rest.  We hope to go back one day.  Managed to keep to Low Carb diet but with the addition of fruit for dessert.


I still did callanetics whilst OH went for a run or climbed a mountain.  We had to climb three flights of stairs to our room so that was quite enough exercise for me!

Today's Menu

B: Fried egg and 3 rashers of bacon
L: Peanuts and two squares of 60% chocolate
D; Bolognese with cauliflower.  Blueberries & cream