Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Low-carb bootcamp

Join discussions about low-carb bootcamp plans, meals and progress. Consider speaking to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Week 7 Pre-Christmas Low Carb Bootcamp

156 replies

BIWI · 28/11/2021 23:11

So we come to our final fortnight.

From here you can decide what you want to do. If you like, you can move to Bootcamp Light - or if you feel you need to be super strict you can stay on/move back to full-on Bootcamp.

Here's the link to the Spreadsheet

I promised that I'd post another vegetarian recipe, so here's one of my favourites (which is on the vegetarian recipe thread), from Simon Hopkinson:

Grilled aubergines with olive oil, garlic, parsley and feta cheese

Serves 4

Ingredients:

4 long, thin-skinned purple aubergines (alternatively use the ordinary plump, pear-shaped variety available from most supermarkets)
1-2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
handful parsley leaves, finely chopped
5-6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
a little sea salt and black pepper
150g/5oz feta cheese
lemons, for serving

Preparation method:

Preheat the grill to high.
Run a small, sharp knife round the top of the aubergine, 1cm/½in or so below the stalk and only just cutting through the skin; then make four evenly spaced, similarly shallow cuts, along the length of the aubergine right down to the end.
Grill the aubergines for about 20 minutes, turning every 5-7 minutes or so, until evenly cooked with charred skin, and until the aubergine feels soft, but not too collapsed within. In the case of the purple aubergines, the skin will also have turned a dull brown colour. Transfer to a large, oval, white plate and allow to cool for two minutes.
Peel away the aubergine skin in four long, narrow sheets using a small knife. Without cutting right through the stalk end, cut the aubergines in half lengthways and gently prise apart until you have two horizontal halves remaining attached at the top end
Mix the garlic and parsley with the olive oil until well combined and spoon the mixture over the aubergine. Season lightly with salt (not too much - the cheese is salty anyway) and pepper, and crumble the feta cheese over the top. If liked, trickle over more olive oil to finish.
Serve warm, or at room temperature with lemon squeezed over.

Although this is lovely, it is a bit faffy - so sometimes I just cut the aubergines in half, cut a deep criss cross in each aubergine half and then drizzle very generously with olive oil (as the aubergine soaks up the oil like a sponge), season well and then roast till soft.

In a small saucepan I also gently warm some finely chopped or crushed garlic in more olive oil, sometimes with chilli flakes, and when the aubergine is pretty much cooked through, I pour this flavoured oil over it and roast for another 10 minutes or so, with the Feta cheese crumbled on the top.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
prettybird · 05/12/2021 11:47

Hopefully not @BIWI - but a) Niles seems to be disappearing for longer periods and b) we had this problem with Cosmo with a neighbour across the back of the houses across the road (fortunately she got in touch with us via our neighbours across the road): she would complain that he would come and eat her cats' food and then fight with them. We had to tell her in the nicest possible way well don't f%#g feed him then Grin She's dead now though and we know the people who live in her old house - and they know our cats Wink

Anyway, Niles has been spotted in our back garden by dh so I can relax now Grin

venusandChristmars · 05/12/2021 13:24

I don't think I need to explain my festive name Xmas Grin

@WildMaryBerriesWithBrandyCream you must be so relieved to be back in a semi functioning kitchen. Before we had ours done I imagined that it would be an easy few weeks - the toaster, kettle and microwave were in the dining room, along with essentials; we have a downstairs bathroom so easy access to water; plus I imagined a few delicious salads and a some nice meals out.

The reality felt entirely different. I hated washing up in the bathroom sink. I had no inspiration for even the simplest of microwave meals. I even lost my mojo for eating out. It was the one rare time in my life when I lived on takeaways.

Suddenly I had the tiniest of glimpses into the mental challenges (as well as the more obvious financial and physical issues) faced by people forced into 'temporary' B&B accommodation and trying to make do without cooking facilities.

I was so frustrated and demoralised by it that when the worktops had been mis-measured and didn't fit, I tried to accept it. The company refused saying it didn't meet their quality standards and I had another 3 week wait for replacements. Worth it in the long-run obviously.

I appreciated we have great fortune in being able to afford a house, and to get a new kitchen, but stress isn't competative.

My other 1st world problem is that my nails keep splitting. Last month I was at a charity ball did I mention that previously? and had a fabulous time getting a new outfit, my hair done (the only other time was my wedding) and - a first for me - getting my nails done. Thoroughly enjoyed the whole event and the experience. However, getting the acrylic nails on meant they filed the surface of my nails, which has obviously weakened them. I've gone from naturally strong (and long) nails to sore, ripped nails with a chewed and bitten look. Just as well I've got no-where exciting to go for Christmas!

So now back on topic...
Yesterday I had left over veg omelette for lunch, and the IPD mousakka for dinner, with cavelo nero (that is such a wonderful recipe, it is about the 5th post in the meat recipies thread, try it!). Today I've made some cauliflower soup (including the leaves, stems etc) with some rather old stilton belnded in to it.

I've also been experimenting with 'Christmas dinner in a bite'. I slightly cooked some pancetta and have wrapped it round chicken turkey, stuffing, and shoogled sprouts. I mixed the chopped sprouts with a little bit of creamed parsnip to add creamy moisture. I'll let you know how it goes...

prettybird · 05/12/2021 13:37

@venusandChristmars - you've reminded me that although I've bought some low carb sausages to adapt as the stuffing in my "Christmas in a bite" snacks (rather than the breadcrumbs in the recipe), I've forgotten to buy the fresh cranberries Xmas Blush

Hopefully my local greengrocer will have some Xmas Smile

I also need to check if I have puff pastry in the freezer as I'll use the rest of the sausages to make my famous curry puffs (mini sausage rolls with curry powder mixed into the sausage meat). They're great for having in the freezer uncooked, ready to be cooked whenever visitors drop by Xmas Grin provided Christmas isn't cancelled again this year Xmas Sad

StuntNun · 05/12/2021 15:46

PrettyBird that happened with one of my cats so I bought one of those Pawtrack tracking collars so I could see where he was going. Then I put up posters around the area he was spending a lot of time asking people not to feed him. We still see him most days for food and then he disappears back out to his new family. Sad

prettybird · 05/12/2021 16:06

Unfortunately, neither of our cats wear collars - but I am thinking of putting a paper collar on him for a few days with the message, I am not lost, please don't feed me. Call 07xxxx xxxxxx for details of where I live

To be fair on the guy who "found" him, he was responsible enough to take him to a vet to be scanned. And he must have brought him back home and "released" him.

Although Niles has been scittery ever since: of the two cats, he's the one who prefers to be handled very much on his own terms and it must've been quite difficult for a stranger to get him into a cat basket and then to a strange vet. He won't scratch but he'll avoid you. Unlike his brother Frasier who is just a big softy and will let anyone pick him up Grin

They don't look exactly starving (picture taken 4 days ago) Wink

Week 7 Pre-Christmas Low Carb Bootcamp
BIWI · 06/12/2021 00:03

Final week thread

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread