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Sugar

June 13, 2012 by Robin Ellis

I was lucky growing up in the fifties, neither of my parents took sugar in tea or coffee–spoilt the taste they insisted.

Like a good son, I copied them and in spite of Ma’s talent for baking–coffee cakes and flapjacks were unrefusable offers at “tea-time”–I didn’t develop the raging sweet tooth some people have to feed.

So the changes I made after I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes thirteen years ago were minimal and not really painful.

“Out with the whites” (refined carbohydrates like white rice, white pasta, white bread)–an earlier post–became the rule and I don’t miss ’em!

I prefer wholewheat pasta, brown basmati rice and whole rye bread–I prefer the taste I mean.

And of course I don’t drink artificially sweetened soft drinks, though I remember in the fifties enjoying my share of something colored red called TIZER, bought in large bottles from “The Tuck Shop” in Highgate Village after school.

I was doubly lucky it turns out, according to this piece from The Guardian:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/jun/11/why-our-food-is-making-us-fat

I was brought up before the development of high-fructose corn syrup (H-FCS) produced in the 1970s from a glut of corn.

This readable article is an introduction to a three-part TV series to be shown on BBC2  starting this Thursday evening.  Journalist and film maker Jacques Peretti identifies SUGAR–and in particular the development and wide spread introduction into food and drink products of H-FCS–as villain in the search for why people (especially children) are dangerously overweight these days.

Obesity is strongly linked to the development of Type 2 diabetes in adults–and, more recently, also  in children.

(Meredith just told me that her father restricted her to one bottle of Coca-Cola a day in the fifties but lifted the order when Diet Coke was introduced. Game, Set and Match to Coca-Cola!!)

Posted in Diabetes, Food, other sides to this life | Tagged , , , , , | 39 Comments »

Sights and sounds from house and garden!

June 11, 2012 by Robin Ellis

This morning I was doing my Yoga for Softies routine under the trees in the garden when I heard a noise overhead–a sort of chug-chug. Odd sort of bird sound I thought. In fact it was a red squirrel doing his rooftop rounds–checking out the early fruit on the wild mulberry.

I watched as he elegantly progressed past the church facade and towards the hedgerow, disappearing from sight and sound and leaving me to my contortions.

Two days ago as I was on my way to the tomato patch to water-in the last six plants, a branch of the Judas tree snapped overhead and fell at my feet.

I looked up and there was Beau–looking down big-eyed at me from even higher than this morning’s squirrel–clearly surprised but otherwise unworried. I was the worried one and started shouting for him to go back when Meredith came out and said calmly “ignore him”!

Sure enough as I returned, watering over, there he was on a low branch readying himself to leap onto the garden table!

If you stand still in the courtyard these days and listen carefully you become aware of a low tweeting and twittering.

If you listen harder you might be able to locate the three little hens–working the undergrowth like fully grown adults and on their very own social network–keen to show us that in fact they were the trend setters and the whole world has followed their lead!

Resting tweeters …

Searching for a trowel in the pigeonnier last week, I heard a snoring sound.

Quite loud–the sort you might expect to hear in the lounge of a traditional men’s club in London–after lunch.

I looked high and low–and eventually found the source–snugged in deep on a shelf against the wall, masked by a small bowl.

Marmalade—soundfully asleep!

He is not well. His left cheek shows signs of swelling and his eyes run–the cancer in his nasal passages causes the snoring sound. He eats and shows his customary friendliness to us and has some quality of life, but at some point we’ll have to make the painful decision.

For the time being though he still likes to encourage me to keep going on the yoga mat and not be distracted by a chug chug from above!

“What on earth is he doing?!!…”

Posted in other sides to this life | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 26 Comments »

Post no. 300!–Aubergine/eggplant slices with a walnut and garlic spread…

June 8, 2012 by Robin Ellis

…from the Starters and Light Lunches section of Delicious Dishes for Diabetics:

This tasty seasonal starter is useful for company it as you can prepare it beforehand–it makes regular appearances through the summer.

(A couple of ripe cherry tomatoes will add colour to the plate in a month or so.)

Serves 4

2 large aubergines

salt
2 tbsp olive oil
2–3 tbsp wine vinegar

Sauce:

3–4 cloves of garlic – crushed with a little salt
60 g/2 oz walnuts – shelled; if you do this yourself, take care that no pieces of shell get left with the kernel.

a handful chopped parsley

  • Wash and cut the aubergines lengthwise into 1.5 cm/1/2 inch slices.
  • Salt them slightly and put them in a colander for an hour or so, to drain off some of their bitter juice.
  • Dry them thoroughly and brush generously with olive oil on both sides.

Heat the oven at 240°C/475°F/Gas Mark 9.

  • Put the aubergines on well-oiled foil in a shallow oven tray.
  • Cook them in the oven for about 20 minutes to brown them, turning after 10 minutes.
  • While the aubergines are in the oven, make the sauce.
  • Mix the crushed garlic with a tablespoon of olive oil.
  • Chop the walnuts in a processor or pound them in a pestle and mortar.
  • Combine these two ingredients with the parsley in a bowl and add another tablespoon of oil.
  • Mix well and check for salt.
  • Take the aubergines out of the oven, put them on a serving plate, brush with the vinegar and spread the delicious sauce on top.
  • Serve warm or room temperature.

Posted in Food, other sides to this life, Recipes | Tagged , , , , , | 19 Comments »

Courgette/zucchini and onion frittata

June 6, 2012 by Robin Ellis

This has been on the menu for years.

The combinations in this classic Italian omelette are Marcella Hazan’s and depend on slow cooking in the first and third stages.

I tried doing it with three pans this time–don’t tell Meredith!

She thinks I use more pans than any cook in the history of the world.

It made life easier and reduced the cooking time a little in the second stage.

It’s a good dish for company that can be cooked beforehand and served tepid.

for 4 or more

3 onions–sliced thin in a food processor

4 tablespoons of olive oil

3 medium courgettes/zucchini–sliced thin in the processor

salt and pepper

5 large eggs

50gms/2oz grated parmesan


Stage 1

  • Heat the oil in a medium pan (29cm/11.5″) and add the sliced onions.
  • Turn them over in the oil and cook on a low heat until they color nicely.
Stage 2
  • Transfer them to the larger pan (if using)–33cm/13″–and add the sliced cougettes/zucchini and a pinch of salt.
  • Turn the mixture over thoroughly and cook over a medium heat until the courgettes are soft.
Stage 3
  • Push the mixture to the handle side of the pan and slip something under it to prop it up at a slight angle.
  • Leave it to cool for 10 minutes or so, allowing some of the oil to separate from the courgette mix and settle at the bottom of the pan, making the frittata less greasy.
Stage 4
  • Break the eggs into a large bowl and whisk them together.
  • Add the cooled down courgette and onion mixture and integrate it with the eggs and season.
  • Fold in the parmesan cheese.
  • Heat a tablespoon of oil in the third pan (26cm/10″)–to avoid the mixture sticking–and pour in the mixture.
  • Cook this over the lowest possible heat for about 30 minutes–until there only a small puddle of  the mixture left on top.
  • Heat the grill and slip the pan under it for a minute or so lightly browning the top of the frittata.


Posted in Food, Recipes | Tagged , | 25 Comments »

Out on Kindle!

June 4, 2012 by Robin Ellis

Delicious Dishes–gone digital!

You can now download the cookbook to your Kindle.

In it you’ll  find the recipe for this spicy delight on page 114!

Spicy courgettes and prawns with fresh coriander

(Haven’t seen the Kindle version yet ourselves. We don’t have one. We’re  wondering how well Hope James’  lovely water color sketches come through….)

Here’s the link to the digital version: http://tinyurl.com/DeliciousDishes/.

Posted in Diabetes, Food, Recipes, Robin Ellis | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments »

Allez les Bleus (part 2)–Dommage!

June 3, 2012 by Robin Ellis

When we heard an encouraging cheer from the hamlet up the hill–we hopped in the car and headed for Place Soult in Castres.

Toulouse were leading at half time but Castres  equalized within minutes of our arrival and we thought we’d brought good luck!

Wishful thinking!

Castres Olympic 15….Toulouse 24.

The end of the dream–as the truth sinks in.

Posted in other sides to this life | Tagged | 4 Comments »

Not the slow food movement! (Another demanding family)

June 3, 2012 by Robin Ellis

A busy morning on the bathroom windowsill.

Meredith’s steady hand catches this extraordinary al fresco feasting.

A Great Tit brings her hungry fledglings to feed on crushed madeleines.

Posted in Food, other sides to this life | Tagged , , | 15 Comments »

Allez les Bleus!!

June 2, 2012 by Robin Ellis

It’s semi-final day–Castres Olympique play Le Stade Toulousain in Toulouse today.

Rugby of course–this is SW France where the game is a religion–and the end of season play-offs for the Coupe de France.

Dominique’s cheese stall is flying the flag for Castres Olympique early this morning and blue pendants are hanging from all the lampposts in town. There’s a special edition of the local paper (a cherished keepsake–if they win!).

Our cheese man is a master conversationalist (bavadeur). He thinks nothing of letting a long queue build up as he pursues a subject that takes his fancy–wrapping a piece of cheese with a lovely flick and fold routine the while.

When there’s no more fun to be wrung out–he reluctantly weighs the beautifully wrapped cheese and takes payment, at last raising the hopes of the next in line.

“Vous allez y aller, ce soir?” [You going tonight?] I ask  him.

“Non, mois je vais rester ici, on peut regarder le match à Place Soult.” [No I’m staying here to watch it in Place Soult.]

There’ll be a giant screen in place for those supporters not going to Toulouse tonight–about a 50 mile drive–and if the atmosphere’s anything like it was when we watched France win the soccer World Cup in 1998, it’ll be a riot–and this is only the semi-final.

Another stallholder dressed in a black shirt and black apron greets Dominique with the ritual “Bonjour!–ca va?”

Dominique looks at his friend’s funereal costume and replies:

“Ah! tu es en deuil pour Le Stade!–tu es en deuil pour Le Stade Toulousain!” [You’re in mourning for Stade Toulousain!]

I doubt the man in black is a Toulouse supporter, more a convenient (and willing) stooge for Dominique’s on-going performance!

On my route home I stop at the roundabout close to the Castres Sapeurs-Pompiers [Fire Station] to let four fire vehicles pass–no sirens or red lights flashing–so clearly no emergency; just blue and white balloons streaming from every opening, some falling and bouncing gaily by the roadside as the shining red convoy proceeds on its circuit round the town.

(At least they are up and running if they get a call!)

Meanwhile the message is clear:-

“Allez les Bleus–jusqu’au bout!”

Posted in Food, other sides to this life | Tagged , , | 14 Comments »

Casting clouts and deciding on a sauce for the first green beans

June 1, 2012 by Robin Ellis

“I’m putting away my winter wardrobe,” Meredith says this sunny morning.

About time–it’s the first of June!

Ne’er cast a clout ’til May be out—my Mother liked  to quote.

(I’ve read that the MAY in question refers to the blossom of the May Tree which would keep the month of May still merry!)

In France–further south–they say:

En Avril, ne te découvre pas d’un fil—mais en Mai,  fais comme il te plaît!

[April’s not to be trusted so don’t  take off a thread ; in May though, do as you please!]

Anyway it was a relief to see the stalls of the organic market in Castres featuring spring vegetables yesterday–at last.  The very cold spell in March followed by a very wet spell has skewed the timing and made life difficult for local producers.

I need a starter for the guests tonight and the small pile of silky green beans I bought will make a perfect prologue to the tangy chicken tagine to follow.

In summer some ripe cherry tomatoes briefly sautéed in garlic and olive oil then squidged in among the beans makes a colorful and tasty first course– but it’s too early for them. The anchovy sauce alternative is a risk as some people cannot abide anchovies!

So I looked for another idea in The River Café’s Pocket Vegetable Book and found a mustard  sauce.

We had a trial for lunch–and both agreed it was a shame to mask the taste of the first green beans of the season with anything but salt and a splash of good olive oil!

Here’s the sauce, though– just in case…

for four

1 lb fresh green beans

3 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

juice of a lemon

1 tablespoon parsley–chopped

4 fl oz/125 ml olive oil

Salt and pepper

  • Make the sauce by whisking the mustard in the lemon juice and vinegar and seasoning with salt and pepper.
  •  Add the olive oil in the manner of making mayonnaise–slowly whisking it into the mix.
  • Cook the beans in boiling well salted water until they are just tender.
  • Put them in a serving bowl and fold in the sauce.
  • Sprinkle over the parsley.

Posted in Food, other sides to this life, Recipes | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments »

Trout fillet with cumin and lemon and warm cucumber slices

May 30, 2012 by Robin Ellis

I’ve been eyeing trout fillets for ages. They are always on the stalls here.

Pink–like salmon fillets, but not as thick and with the more delicate taste of a fresh water fish.

This morning’s looked very fresh.

Lunch I thought and bought a cucumber to go with.

for 2

400 gms trout fillet

salt and pepper

half a teaspoon cumin powder

juice and zest of a lemon

1 cucumber–skinned and sliced thin–a food processor with a slicing appliance works well for this.

a few leaves of mint–chopped fine

2 tablespoons of olive oil

  • Wash and dry the fillet(s).
  • Run your index finger over the fish and remove as many of the pin bones as you can before you tire of doing so.
  • Sprinkle pinches of cumin from the spoon over the fillet(s) with the lemon’s juice and zest.
  • Cover the fish with a plate and leave to marinade for an hour or so.
  • A few minutes before you are ready to cook the fish, heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a medium size pan.
  • Spread the cucumber slices over the base and sprinkle over the mint.
  • Turn the slices carefully in the oil and the mint and season well with salt and pepper.
  • Let the cucumber gently heat through while you cook the trout.
  • Heat a largish pan to hot.
  • Season the trout fillets with salt and black pepper.
  • Cook skin-side down on a high heat for 3 minutes.
  • Flip the fillets over boldly and cook them about a minute longer–the time depends on the thickness of the fillet.

Meredith–not overwhelmed by this, but I liked a change from salmon.

Posted in Food, other sides to this life, Recipes | Tagged , | 9 Comments »

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