A new 'tougher' thread... and so it continues

JIL

LavenderBees wrote: »

My friend gave me her old BM in November, and I've made about 4-5 loaves since, but I really can't get away with the taste. It's really too sweet for me. A typical recipe is -

3.5 cups white plain flour
3 tablespoons of white sugar
1.5 tablespoons milk powder
1.5 teaspoons salt
1.5 tablespoons butter
1.5 cups cold tap water
2.5 teaspoons yeast

The bread rises/comes out absolutely fine but the taste is quite doughy, and as I say, too sweet for me. Is this normal? Is there anyway you can see I could adapt the recipes to reduce the sugar? Is there too much yeast in it (tastes doughy even when cold)?

Any help, MUCH appreciated. I really want to use the BM, but the only way I can eat the bread is with jam on it to disguise the sweetness a bit.

I have tried this recipe and it is really good (i reduced the sugar to one tablespoon with no problems)

http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/994/best-bread-machine-loaf.aspx

theres also a good pizza base recipe on there using semolina

But just lately I tried this recipe and it really is very very good.

http://mortgagefreeinthree.com/2011/12/our-daily-bread-ciabatta/

Byatt

fuddle wrote: »

Everyone I seem to talk to don't iron! Their clothes look absolutely fine to me but if I was to put one of my non ironed delights upon my back I would look like a crimpled, crumpled sheet!

How do you do it?

I hang up as soon as clothes are dry (kind of )...or fold, especially jeans/trousers in a loose over once, back twice, over third time.

I never iron sheets, t towels or towels, or underwear (I have a friend who loves ironing and irons everything). I don't get items that will crease heavily anymore. The last time I ironed was September 2010. I remember because it was an outfit for a wedding and needed to make the effort...within seconds after getting into the car, it was creased. :cool:

Byatt

mumto2monkeys wrote: »

Thanks Byatt. She has around another 18 months of chemo to go. It's approximately 2.2years of treatment for a girl, but they tag any delay time onto the end, and she's had a few delays when she's not been up to treatment. We're getting there. It's the uncertainty I find hard. I was working FT and on a good income (main earner) before, now money is diminishing and it's my employment future I worry about. Once she's better, I will probably struggle to get work. I realise that I'm not alone in this predicament though. As all of you know, these are tough times for us all.

I understand your worries about your emplyment future. I know I am probably stating the obvious and you have already thought of things, but as someone who gave up a good job to look after my dd, and despite doing things in-between like setting up an ebay business, going to uni to get a degree, the bottom line was I had zero experience for the current market (things move on so quickly), my age is now against me, late 50's) and I just didn't have the skill set they wanted; not enough confidence either...SOOOOOOO, is there any way to fit in some volunteer work in the area you want to work in, or go part time? Perhaps you are part time already. I don't want to worry you, but I have realised the hard way that women often lose out in the job market when their children no longer need them so much. A gap of 2-3 years is just too long.

I know you have enough to cope with and it's probably too much to take on anything else, but when you do have a moment, maybe look at some courses?

Yes, uncertainity takes its toll. Does your dd understand why she is having treatment? My dd would always amaze me with her adaptability after any treatment, but she was often scared before and I would sometimes forget to explain in detail, wrongly assuming she understood what was going to happen. I can still forget she doesn't absorb information in a non verbal way.

:A

Mrs_Chip

Mard

For one point of view have a look at Dr John Briffa's blog. He is very much in the 'low-carb is good' camp, and also has some views on cholesterol in the diet which might be of interest.

I know that the more carbs I eat the more knackered I get, but still do it anyway:o, normally in the form of chocolate:o:o and more chocolate:o:o:o.

Kale is an excellent ingredient for any low carb diet, along with sprouts and cabbage :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:.

Byatt

Mrs_Chip wrote: »

Mard

For one point of view have a look at Dr John Briffa's blog. He is very much in the 'low-carb is good' camp, and also has some views on cholesterol in the diet which might be of interest.

I know that the more carbs I eat the more knackered I get, but still do it anyway:o, normally in the form of chocolate:o:o and more chocolate:o:o:o.

Kale is an excellent ingredient for any low carb diet, along with sprouts and cabbage :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:.

I know a low carb diet works for me, and had started really well a month before Xmas...but somehow Xmas got in the way I'm going to start again, as like you I felt much better on it, my mood improved too. Chocolate is my downfall though.

Could you PM me your yoghurt recipe please?

Kimitatsu

Hello All

Only coming out of lurkdom temporarily

Can I recommend this book to anyone thinking about dieting? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Target-Your-Fat-Spots-banish/dp/1844008207

Not so much for the dieting advice - it broadly follows the mediterranean diet and gives what I term to be "sensible advice" 50% of your plate should be veg, then the rest lean meat and low carbs. But it explains why when our hormone levels are out of kilter that we put on weight in specific areas and why our bodies will not shift it.

Mardatha - like you, I eat very little but I have not been able to shift the weight on my stomach despite losing several stones, and I too was feeling exhausted. I took the advice in the book about adrenal fatigue and have felt miles better and slowly the weight is coming off again - turns out I am not fat because I eat too much but because I have teenagers and am stressed (thats a joke lol!) It explains why because our food is often processed and our soil is very poor that we do not get enough magnesium in our diets as well as other trace minerals, and why pollution and the hormones found in our every day lives can affect our bodies.

Fascinating read and as an ex nurse it made a lot of sense, no faddy diets no eat three caroway seeds this day and four fennel seeds the next, just basic advice and add these supplements in, with some exercises for specific areas if you want to do it.

I am pretty sure you would be able to order it from the library so may be worth having a look

greenbee

Interesting that the diet books is often bought with a decluttering book that makes sense to me too. Its all about sluggishness and energy blockages.

I'm on a diet and supplement plan for hormone balancing (alongside more conventional treatment) and having had a break over christmas and suffered the consequences I can see how well it works - when my oestrogen levels drop my hips, bust and tummy shrink

Kimitatsu

greenbee wrote: »

Interesting that the diet books is often bought with a decluttering book that makes sense to me too. Its all about sluggishness and energy blockages.

I'm on a diet and supplement plan for hormone balancing (alongside more conventional treatment) and having had a break over christmas and suffered the consequences I can see how well it works - when my oestrogen levels drop my hips, bust and tummy shrink

Cant disagree with that! I have been gradually decluttering whilst losing weight.......I should have a house thats empty now but its not, but the flow is miles better

Im not a fan of diets as such so it was a purchase out of the ordinary for me (and to be honest I cant remember why it jumped out at me) but it was a good read in none jargon language.

Stillstruggling

Happy New to Everyone sorry its a bit late i would like to say its because we have been celebrating but its excatly the opposite in fact it has ben the worst Christmas we have ever had:
DD2 (21yrs old) was admitted to hospital and had to have her Appendix removed 2 days before Christmas, but was home in time for Christmas.
DD3 (11yrs old) All of her electronic Present didn't work on Christmas Day :-( eventhough they were tested beforehand. All sorted out the day after Boxing Day. and lots of other things but i don't want to bore or depress you further.
Tree and decorations have all been taken down today thank goodness.
I have spent the day cleaning, washing. and last night i cooked a gammon joint in coke OH MY it was fabulous.
Fuddle - Don't worry you are not on your own i Iron as well although you would never believe it as sadly my basket is never empty.
Apologise to everyone else i have read back but as a newbie i couldn't remember eveyones name to add personal comments i will try better i promise.
HELP!- Today while at the shop i bought a reduced Creme Fraiche use by today date - what can i do with it, Will it freeze and if so do i need to do anything with it first? ( i thought it was cream when i bought it)
2012 - No resulutions from me, apart from the usual try to be more fruggle and try to post on here everyday ( well maybe 3 time a week is more do-able)

greenbee

I've also realised that being interested in food helps. I lost my appetite due to anaemia and then iron supplementation, and am now so uninterested in food I can't be bothered to plan and cook properly.
Unfortunately i have a freezer full of food that needs eating, otherwise I'd be happy just with meal replacements. It isn't even particularly nice food, as since I stopped being interested in it, the quality of the cooking has dropped dramatically.

So I think i need to rediscover my love of food and cooking in order to eat properly and have a sensible diet.