Cream coloured parsnips and crisp apple strudel, Beetroot and bok choi and swiss chard with noodles - 10/10 thread,

[TooTicky]

For anyone who wants a boost to their general health. The suggested goals are:

EAT 10 PORTIONS OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLES EVERY DAY - if you don't usually eat much fruit and veg I would build up gradually or you could upset your digestion.

DO (AT LEAST) 10 MINUTES OF EXERCISE EVERY DAY - can be yoga, stretching or something more energetic. The plan is that the idea of doing 10 minutes is not too daunting, and having started you may well find you want to do more.

There are no restrictions on what you eat so long as you get your 10 fruit and veg as well. The focus is not on weight loss but on improving our energy levels and hopefully our general mood and well-being. Sign up below and post here to tell us how you're getting on and how you are feeling.

Basic guidance on what constitutes a portion of fruit and veg here and you can download more detailed information by following the link at the very bottom of the page
here

Zippi I understand from my days living on my own (aeons ago) about it not seeming worth cooking for one but could you make something and then put two portions in the freezer and eat one? Then you would have something to fall back on? Or have salads...I always think even a salad for one is good, you can make them look so lovely before you even get to the eating bit?

Must dASH BACK in a mo

I do that, FK. Sometimes. I live on my own and I hate preparing a meal for myself. I never do it. But I do make 'proper' lunches when DS is here - I cook on a Sunday and freeze some so there is usually some decent food in the house. Other than that, I rely on dried fruit & apples. And toast.

How do I eat soy? I mean, what is it in? Do I have to eat tofu and use soy milk?

I have soya milk on my cereal, I prefer it now to ordinary milk. I haven;t yet been tempted with Tofu, I sort of toy with it occasionally in the shop and then put it back on the shelf

I've only eaten a handful of dried fruit today but have eaten copious veg. In fact supper was pretty much only veg (glances sideways at Pink)...raosted parsnips and beetroot with parmesan, mashed swede, and some savoy cabbage. Lunch was salad with grated carrot & peppers with goats cheese.

yes I have soya milk on cereal, the sweetened ones in particular are nice IMO

another two satsumas

we will gloss over dinner (god me and dp are both WRECKS we have just taken it in turn to lie around doing nothing)

but ds and I made pepper pots (raw pepper filled with bulgar wheat and veggies) for tomorrow so you can tick that off as a couple

we also bought lots of berries and cream to have with a meringue for dp's birthday on Saturday - 100 I think you are the meringue queen am I right? I followed your inspiration - dp not a big cake person but we always make one because, well, that's what you do, isn't it. This time I thought NO he would rather meringue. Are all meringue recipes the same or is there a specially good one I can use?

I always do Delia's meringue recipe - they always work well. She doesn't do the vinegar thing which, for some reason, always puts me off.

I used to drink soy milk but have stopped - should start again. Will add to list! I do the same with Tofu, FK

vinegar? ooh no I couldn't put vinegar in them. Could I? Are you really meant to?

the only way I enjoy eating tofu is to marinate the firm kind (can use any favourite marinade but I like soy sauce, brown sugar, lemon juice, paprika, mustard) in cubes and then either grill or shallow / dry fry it until slightly chewy / almost crispy on outside and still soft in the middle. I love it. it is nice with something like roasted vegetable and quinoa / couscous, or on vegetable kebabs with mushrooms, peppers etc, and then stuffed in a pitta

Hello all,

LL sorry to hear you've been so poorly, are you able to take any natural supplements to boost your immune system at all?

FK, hope migraine is better, and that you got something to eat mrs C.

Franny, I will get clothes in post to you in the next few days. I made some meringues from Nigella's Feast book last week, they were yum.

Have had satsumas, mango, raisins pear & thai veg curry with mangetout, aubergine, peppers, onions, mushrooms, baby corn twice, once for lunch and once for dinner!

Hello. DD had her mmr yesterday and has been a bit off today. Not poorly just cross

I've just burnt some turkey curry but it was nice. DH gets a turkey from work on Christmas eve but mil does Christmas dinner so we had a 14.5lb turkey to cook! This was the first batch - it's in portions in the freezer! Anyway, peppers and onion in that. Beans at lunchtime...... oh heck. That's it! 2 portions! Arse.

I ran again yesterday and I'm doing yoga tonight and running tomorrow.

Just a thought TooT - do you eat yeast? Because it's living isn't it? And do you avoid beeswax too? A vegan who used to come into my sweet shop to buy our jellies mentioned beeswax once and I hadn't even thought about it!

[arrives in white sugary crown]

Here I am. Meringues such a good idea as a cake - this is always ds1's birthday cake. His abiding passion in life. I made a two tiered one for his last birthday - but you all know this. You were all very kind during the birthday season.

Key to a good meringue is letting it dry out properly. Leaving it all night in the oven for instance, after you've turned it off. I don't do cornflour or vinegar either.

I have googled and the vinegar thing is apparently to make a pavlova gooey in the middle, which I would like to do

what do you think 100? [earnest]

No, mine are always gooey, just the right sort of gooey I promise you, not crisp like shop ones at all. I am v. unconvinced by vinegar and cornflour - I think I might use the same Delia recipe as OR. I think we might have found it together when we lived in that shed.

Do you want me to copy it down for you?

I will do this for you.

I shall tell you why.

dd LOVED that woodwork set thing you linked to, and which we gave her for Christmas. It was the perfect present. And she has made a table and a sculpture and a person with string arms AND she took them in to school today AND she got a house point.

A house point!

They asked her 'did your dad help you with this?' and she said 'No my dad can't do anything useful.'

So. I will happily scribe.

well that would be fabulous

we are having a week of bonding look everyone

I will not feel like I am putting upon you too much as I know meringue only has about 2 ingredients

Yes yes don't be afraid of vinegar. You can't taste it in the finished product.

Have had mixed nuts and dried fruit for brekky with a mixed fruit/spirolina smoothie, for lunch a nicoise salad with mixed greens, tomato, red and green pepper, olives, tuna, egg and cucumber.

I was naughty and had a diet coke and a little chocolate.

[grabs Franny and does a tango]

Look at us everyone!

Okay will go and get the book

3 large fresh eggs
6oz caster sugar (175g)

Pre heat oven to 150c. A lightly-oiled baking sheet, lined with silicone paper which peels off very easily (MOST IMPORTANT, I can't tell you the times we've been picking bits of greaseproof paper out of our teeth)

Place egg whites in a large clean bowl and have the sugar measured and ready. Now whisk the egg whites until they form soft peaks and you can turn the bowl upside down without them sliding out (DON'T over beat the eggs or they will collapse - see, cooking is like life isn't it?)
Then whisk in the sugar, about 25g at a time.

Do you know how to do the pavlova out onto the baking sheet bit?

"You must never do a tango with an eskimo, oh no no, oh dear no,
If you do you'll get a breeze up
and you'll end up with a freeze up,
You must never do a tango with an eskimo
No no no no no no no."

I know nothing

teach me

anorak I have to do what 100 says about meringues

it is my penance

ooh wombling thank you about the clothes

I am excited

what happened to your 'along' btw? Did it drop off?

I read that as

"we are having a week of bondage"

Seriously, was reading back to front to didn;t get any context until I read the bit before.

Wonder how Boco is getting on?

That's the way I do mine too - and nicely gooey in the middle. I do agree with Anorak, you can't taste the vinegar in them if you use it but it just doesn't feel right to me!

100, how do you feel about bondage? I think we need to discuss this before our relationship goes any further

I have spent most of the day on the food nostalgia thread. I feel like I have eaten spam fritters, vespa curries and lemon meringue pie but I think I have probably had something else.

Off to read thread.

PLUS

what is silicone paper? I don't have it