Big news I’ve started, well not exactly a diet but more a way of eating. I have read a lot about fasting and how not only does it help with weight but can also have great health benefits.
So last Sunday evening I started the 16:8 way of eating, which means I fast for 16 hours and have an eating window of 8 hours. My window is from 10.30 till 18.30. Lots of people do 12.00 till 20.00 but I felt really fuzzy headed not eating breakfast the first couple of days, so decided to break my fast earlier and I can just eating my dinner earlier. I therefore have a cup of black coffee or apple cider vinegar in hot water at about 07.00 and then do my morning dog walk and any little chores to keep me busy and then have breakfast at 10.30.
Obviously you still need to eat sensibly but I don’t have to restrict what I eat. It was a little hard to start off with but I am now on day 7 and it is really not too bad. I have so far lost .8 kg which is about 1.7 lbs.
Yesterday morning I had a very naughty but yummy breakfast of mini cinnamon rolls. These were so easy to make and took no more than 30 mins. I have to thank @fitwafflekitchen for the recipe the link is https://fb.watch/cIKkJODfoL/
When I moved into my house the previous owner had left a very ugly, plastic garden storage chest. I have just stored old pots and various rubbish in it. It stood in the place where my new garden shed now stands. I was going to take it to the tip but then suddenly had a brilliant idea to repurpose it.
I cleaned it, rubbed it down with sandpaper and then painted it with some chalk paint I had. I then bought two posts and an expanding trellis for a backing and filled it with soil. I used 3 X 40l bags and only half filled so will head back to garden centre this week to get more to fill. I can then plant my tomato plants in it, which can then be secured easily on the trellis as they grow and pop some French Marigolds and basil in front of them to keep bugs away.
It is placed in front of the compost heap to act as a screen.
I did find another great walk to take the dog’s on with an amazing field full of dandelions. I will head back there this week and pick some so I can have a go at making dandelion honey.
This week the letter for the herb or spice is ‘L’. As I don’t like lemongrass very much I thought about using Lovage. It has been long cultivated in Europe, the leaves being used as a herb, the roots as a vegetable, and the seeds as a spice, especially in southern European cuisine. Also known as sea parsley, the leaves and stem of the lovage plant add an intense celery-like flavour to soups, stews and stocks or pork and poultry dishes. It can also be used to enhance the flavour of potato dishes. Unfortunately I have so far not been able to source any 😢 but as soon as I do this is one recipe I will be doing which uses lovage oil.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/clementine_gin_salmon_37829
Instead I have hopped to ‘M’ and a little used spice Mace. It is the spice made from the reddish seed covering (aril) of the nutmeg seed. Its flavour is similar to nutmeg but more delicate; it is used to flavour baked goods, meat, fish, and vegetables, and in preserving and pickling.
I made this yummy risotto for my Saturday night dinner for one, as my eldest daughter was at work. A creamy amalgamation of chestnut and porcini mushrooms, goats cheese, cream with a hint of mace.
https://delishably.com/grains/quick-easy-mushroom-risotto-recipe
That’s all for this week I’m off on a hunt for lovage, whether the actual plant or oil.
Enjoy your Bank Holiday.
Stepping Into Sixty and Out Of The Comfort Zone 