Week 6 - Christmas Low Carb Bootcamp

[BIWI]

Evening all!

Starting next week's thread now as I"m off to bed shortly.

Here's the SoF

Last week's thread - after the trolling - ended up a little quiet, so I hope people weren't scared off. It's always good advice to ignore the trolls! But also, if you have been lurking, please come out from the shadows and tell us how you're getting on!

This week is the last where we're doing a hybrid (you are, aren't you?), so Bootcamp during the week and Bootcamp Light, if you want, at the weekend.

I realise that as we get nearer to Christmas, and there is more and more stuff in the media about Christmas cooking, that it is more challenging. But hold fast, and you will only benefit!

Good luck to us all

@KeyLimePies can I introduce you to Ketonuts?! I discovered them recently - very pricey but very good so, no joke, I've asked for some for Christmas!

www.kinetickitchen.co.uk/collections/keot-donuts

@pinknsparkly sounds like me - I've not got massive amounts to lose and seem to have zero tolerance for carbs so minor indiscretions see me set back very quickly.

TBH Im almost in a place where I want to agree with myself that my target is unachievable / not necessary and accept maintenance from a higher number. Im well into the Why We Eat Too Much book and will be interested to see how I feel when I've finished it.

Got to run as just seen the time!

@FusionChefGeoff - oh wow! Those look amazing. And the cakes! Actually it’s reminded me that I have a keto baking magazine somewhere that has a recipe for donuts, I may dig it out.

I have tried the Seriously Low Carb brownies, but I wasn’t that keen on them, they are a bit too coconutty for me.

Anyway, strict boot camp for me this week , no more talk of sweet treats.

@KeyLimePies feel my pain, it's my DD's 16th birthday tomorrow ( ) so have made choc sponges and will be slathering them in buttercream and ganache tonight. Just about managed not to dive into the raw cake batter last night, avoiding the icing will test all my resolve!

@BIWI Leeds was looking lovely in the chilly sunshine yesterday but I am glad to be back at my home desk today. I was born in Leeds but after a childhood spent all over I have (for some unknown reason) ended up living in Wakefield . Been here for 30 years so should be used to it by now... 🤣

Ooh! Where did you grow up. @MotherBuckets? We lived in Gledhow/Roundhay.

Slightly the other side of the tracks to you @BIWI, my dad was from Beeston and my mum from Bramley! I lived in Farsley till I was 2 then we moved to Lancashire and then Northants. Not sure why I ended up here.

@MotherBuckets I'm Northants!! Northampton itself to be precise how about you??

OK so continuing my earlier abandoned post with appreciation of the butter chicken recipe on the recipe thread and also made a gorgeous Malaysian prawn & spinach curry last night. With a cauli rice / mushroom combo.

Today I'm flying solo for food so going to try shashuka for the first time - I've got a recipe from last weeks thread but it's just tomatoes and I'm sure I remembered it having aubergine too?? Anyone link me to a recipe / tips?

Tonight I'm making pork burgers - pork mince, shallots, garlic, an egg, olive oil, plenty of salt and a very generous squoosh of Worcestershire sauce. I'll probably have them with a generous portion of buttery (shoogled ) cauliflower and maybe some asparagus.

Morning,

I’ve not had breakfast as our dining out at The pig, new forest today

Last time I went they had amazing LC options - including pork crackling for starters!! Hope they still do! Yum

@prettybird I have developed a massive live for shoogled cauliflower, it's really delicious. I tried shoogled sprouts and they were OK but still a bit too sprouty for me

@FusionChefGeoff I lived in Bugbrooke till I was 18! That is many many many years ago though.

Giving away loads of identity clues today...

The good news is I have lost the 5lbs I had put on. Bad news I have caught the dreaded disease. Feeling ok provided I lie in bed and do nothing. Once I move it’s another story. I am over 50 but thanks to bootcamp I am now a normal weight. Reasonably fit. I had no idea I could feel so weak. DH has been bringing me meals. All low carb. He has obviously been watching what I have been eating over the last year. I haven’t the energy to ask for anything. He most definitely does not eat low carb. Day 4. No loss of taste or smell. No cough. Very jealous of those who test positive with no symptons.

@FusionChefGeoff I made Shakshuka last night. It’s a regular favourite here. I add a pepper. Or if it’s a single portion half of one and generous tsp spoonful of smoked paprika and if cumin. I also often add spinach or last night it was Swiss Chard as I have it in the garden. I also add chilli.

@Pleaseandthankyou take care of yourself. Hope you feel better soon.

@Jollyholibobs but should it have aubergine or did I dream that?!

@FusionChefGeoff I think that 'shakshuka' is a Maghnedi Arabic word for 'mixture' therefore I tkae that as licence to add whatever is lying around (within reason). My veg base always has onion and tomato, the spices always include smoked paprika and cumin, and theer are always eggs. The rest of it varies - sometimes aubergine, sometimes kale, sometimes the stalks of chard, sometimes peppers in the veg base. Sometimes corriander / chilli / fenugreek in the spice mix. Sometimes the addition of spicy sausage, minced fried lamb, or more usually feta...

@venusandmars I love that approach to cooking - very much my natural style .

Excellent - fridge melange it is!!

Thanks @Jollyholibobs I just want to wash my hair but haven’t the energy. Really glad I have had 2 jabs

Veg box has just arrived. It's got celeriac and leeks. I feel a celariac mash coming on

Sorry to hear you have the dreaded lurgy @Pleaseandthankyou . But well done to MrPleaseandthankyou!

Hope you're feeling better soon. (And thank goodness for the vaccine)

Poor you Pleaseandthankyou, if you give your hair a good comb and tie it back it might feel better and save you some energy.

Had duck confit with roast courgettes and Brussels sprouts yesterday. Tonight is celeriac and leek gratin with anchovy cream, chicken and steamed cabbage.

@FusionChefGeoff doesn’t need aubergine but no reason why not. Always eggs though in Shakshuka here.

Feeling virtuous today - yesterday I did one of those jobs that I’ve been putting off for ages (painting the kitchen) and today I have done an exercise class. Am also feeling happy because I’ve ordered books from Amazon to read and I love that feeling of having new books on the house!
Appetite is back down, which is good. Had a very weird lunch of rollitos, corned beef and pickles and have a homemade chicken soup cooking.

I've only just washed my hair (yesterday) for the first time since I had Covid For the first two weeks I didn't have the energy and then I knew I had so many birds' nest knots that I was scared to, so kept putting it off Fortunately it's now quite long so as long as I brushed it regularly and ignored the birds' nests that I could feel as I did so it looked ok

Took me half an hour in the shower yesterday with a shedload of conditioner - and all this hair pulled out even though I was trying to be careful .

Hello 👋

Just joining to placemark really, have been lurking for a while.

I recently had a sleeve gastrectomy, but before that I had started to try and go low carb and will be continuing that now, especially as I don't have much room in my stomach now so have to focus on protein first!!

There are some lovely sounding recipes on this thread that I'm looking forward to trying 😋

Just sharing tonight's entirely made up dinner!

Crispy chicken thighs from air fryer.

Stir fried Pak Choi with garlic, ginger, chilli flakes, turmeric and coconut milk

Very delicious and very filling

V busy day for me. My NFV is going to Lidl with partner after work but before dinner to stock up on red wine for Xmas. Normally I would have the raging munchies by this point (5 hrs since lunch), but calmly shopped, buying only what was required. My appetite now in check.
I had a long journey to one of our offices today. I like to break up the journey with a flat white. Having researched it, getting almond milk version should be ok, as even normal ( not the unsweetened) type is only 2.3 carbs/100g. I do this no more than once a week.
Lunch was salad with Pizza Express original dressing, full fat cotttage cheese & crab sticks.
Dinner was six (count ‘em) yes, six veg, plus seared scallops, which I love. Veg: cauliflower mash, Cole slaw (2 veg), green beans, spinach, & lettuce. My OH had been in a hotel for three nights, & meals, though substantial, sorely lacking in veg. He was appreciative.
Reporting on M & S “crisps” , the pancetta ones are edible.
I am getting the Seriously LC bread, rolls & brownies tomorrow. I am a bit wary of ersatz food but I am going to pace myself re consumption. Tomorrow I plan a burger for dinner & will use a roll. Good night all. To bed.