What’s On my Workdesk this Wednesday? Nothing new, I’m afraid. Still working on my eco project, so the sewing machine has been in use in the studio this week, and I’ve been doing some hand-sewing while watching TV etc. I am waiting for a couple of things to arrive from Ebay which should come this week or next, and then I should be able to begin Part 3 of the project. After that, all will be revealed!
In the meantime, it’s food.
Meal Prep Tuesday
This is what I was up to yesterday after my grocery delivery, which consisted mostly of fruit and veg.
Harvest Festival chez Shosh? Looking at it en masse like this, I am amazed that we will get through most of this in a week!
Some of what I ended up with, after quite a bit of chopping and other prep.
Also this:
Only two lots of sauce to feed us for the week! Over the next few days I shall tackle some recipes to feed us till the next delivery. We ate half of the Creamy White Sauce with some roasted veggies left over from yesterday for our supper. Very tasty.
Last week someone suggested getting a chalk pen to write on my new black labels, so I did, and it’s great. It’s slightly thicker than I wanted, but perfectly fine. I need to die cut some more of the labels, and also bring some waxed paper down from the studio to stick them on if I want to re-use them on other containers.
Recipe of the Week
I have chosen Chef AJ’s Yummy Sauce this week. I discovered Chef AJ some time ago and she is very inspiring. Her hubby said this sauce was “yummy” and the name stuck. As you will see from the video, it’s really easy to make. I usually keep some in the fridge, and a few months ago I bought some of those plastic squeezy sauce bottles from Ebay which don’t take up too much room in the door of the fridge. Too much to go in one bottle, so I put the rest in a couple of containers to freeze for another time. For her mustard, I substituted Dijon.
This sauce really is yummy! You can add other things to it to vary the flavour if you want, and by altering the thickness, it can be used as a salad dressing or a dip. It goes with so many things and you are getting a good portion of legumes. Enjoy!
Weight Loss
Both my hubby and I had got stuck on a bit of a plateau with the 5:2 diet. He was losing a little, but I was stuck at half a stone heavier than my target weight and seemingly unable to break through that barrier. Living about 80 percent on the whole-foods plant-based diet for the past few weeks (not yet strictly vegan or vegetarian) I have now shed another 3 pounds and my hubby 2. It’s really great, because unlike the 5:2, where you are calorie-restricted for 2 days each week, on the plant-based diet, there is absolutely no restriction and you can eat as much as you like. It’s so satisfying because it’s rich in whole grains (resistant starch and plenty of fibre). It is literally the only diet which has been proved over many years, with plenty of studies and trials to back it up, to prevent and even reverse many of the common chronic diseases plaguing the western world, and our greatest causes of death: coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes and many cancers. Eventually I would like us to adopt this lifestyle exclusively. Not only is it so healthy, it is also really delicious, interesting and satisfying. Win-win!
Health Update
Last Thursday I had my two hospital appointments, the first at lunch time at Torbay Hospital, and the second in the evening at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, where I had been referred for a second opinion about my parastomal hernia.
Unfortunately I wasn’t able to see Mr. Pullan at Torbay, but I saw his registrar instead. That was fine, but Mr. Pullan is so nice and I missed seeing him! Anyway, the registrar said this wasn’t the first time that appointments hadn’t co-ordinated properly, and he would have preferred to have seen me after the CT scan and with the results in front of him. He looked at my notes for the date when I’d seen Mr. Daniels in Exeter, and it was four months ago! That’s a very long time to be kept waiting for a scan – almost a scan-dal, you could say! Anyway, there wasn’t much to do, so I went on my way and will have to wait to be called in again after the scan results are through. I wasn’t sure of the procedure, whether I would just be followed up by Mr. Daniels in Exeter, or whether the Torbay team would still be involved, but I am glad that I seem to be being followed up by both. This is why I was a bit confused about why I had been sent an appointment to see Mr. Pullan when I hadn’t even got the appointment for the scan yet.
We went on to Exeter in time for my scan in the evening. When I went in, the radiographer did all the usual stuff, inserting the cannula for the contrast etc., and going through my questionnaire about allergies and so forth. Then she said, “Lie down,” and because she hadn’t said anything about what position I should be in, I said that Mr. Daniels had asked that I be prone (face down) for this scan. She looked surprised, and said, “Oh, we never do scans in that position.” I told her that he had specifically requested this, and that I had asked whether I could have the scan at Torbay rather than going 20 miles to Exeter and he’d replied, “No – they wouldn’t understand about you being prone. Here at RD&E they know my quirky ways.” She said she just had to do what the radiologist had ordered, and nothing had been said about my position. I was pretty annoyed, and said, “I don’t want to have to wait another four months for another appointment, and have to come back again to have it done how Mr. Daniels specifically requested it!” She said, “Wait a minute, I’ll have to check. The doctor will come in and speak to you.” She disappeared, and I could see her speaking on the phone, and after a few minutes she reappeared (no doctor), and without any explanation or apology, said, “Lie down on your tummy,” which I did, and I was duly scanned!
If I hadn’t been articulate and well-engaged with my treatment, and also stroppy enough to make a fuss, I would have meekly done what she said and then I would have had to be called back again for another scan. I really wasn’t impressed. I thought the woman was quite brusque and off-hand, as well. And I’m certainly not impressed with having to wait four months for it!
So no news at all yet. They said the result may take a bit longer than usual to come through because my case was “complicated.” All I can do is sit tight and hope for the best, and hope that Kermit continues to behave and I don’t get another obstruction!
No more news this week, I don’t think. Have a great creative week everybody!
Good for you for standing up for yourself about the scan Shoshi. At least that is one less thing that will need repeating unnecessarily. Congratulations on the weight loss. The diet looks delicious and extremely healthy all right. Hubby is waiting for a scan appointment on his back and is rattling with all the medication he is on. Happy WOYWW and meow to Lily and Ruby. Sarah #9
Morning Shoshi. My word – what a post this is! I couldn’t believe the picture of all that fruit and veg! So much – but then, there are two of you, and as I can’t eat fruit at all, my pile of bits from a weekly shop looks pretty pitiful compared to yours… Glad you got your scan done – having been away I am still catching up with where folk are at! – and glad you got it done lying the right way!
Take care. God bless.
Margaret #3
Morning Shoshi. Not sure what happened there – presumably I pressed a wrong button – but everything I had typed in disappeared into the ether!!! Enjoy all that food this week – what a huge pile, I thought, then remembered that there are two of you and you have fruit as well as veg. My own pile after a weekly shop looks pitiful in comparison – but there’s never fruit on my worktop. Enjoy!
Glad you got your scan done – the right way up!
Take care. God bless.
Margaret #3
Wow, that is some kind of harvest festival, Shoshi! We try to eat salads for dinner a couple of times a week (enriched with houmous, feta cheese, boiled egg) but the fresh ingredients go off too quickly if we don’t eat them within a couple of days and I find myself throwing away a lot of fruit and veg by the end of the week. Good that you have the time and motivation to do all the prep in advance. Do you put them in the freezer or use them very soon? Fingers crossed for Kermit!
Waiting time and jumbled appointments are all so frustrating. You are not alone with this Shoshi but you were right to speak up, I often think about procedures we have to go through where we never ask questions when our life is in someone elses hands. I hope the wait will not be too long and that they can get a clear result.
Look at the colours of those veg, bet the smell is wonderful. I love those flat peaches especially if I can catch them with a little bit of crunch left in them.
Happy WoywW Hugs Tracey #14
P.S Well done on the weight loss, every pound is an achievement x
Hi Shoshi. Pity your stuck waiting for things to arrive right now, hopefully they come soon and let you get going again. Have a Good Week. Hugs Rita xxx
Hi Shoshi, indeed a good job you stood your ground- clearly a case of poor communication. You’d have thought if it was so important he’d have made sure to put it on the request! Great stock of stuff for the freezer. Have a lovely week, Hugs, Shaz #6 X
Blimey that’s a lot of veg!! I thought we ate a lot but you win hands down. I followed the links to the yummy sauce recipe and will be trying that for sure. Thanks for the link!
Hugs LLJ 10 xxx
don’t some people just make you want to spit (figuratively!) how unnecessary of her…. glad she listened to you though and it wasn’t a completely wasted trip.
cannot believe that pile of veg!! have a lovely week. Helen #2
Good for you Shoshi, standing up for yourself. I hope she got a bit of a ticking off somewhere along the line. I can understand these people not taking our word for it in some ways but at the end of the day there was no need for rudeness. Another thing that annoys me is that they should listen to us, we know our own bodies and surely our opinions on things counts. I had better leave it there before I get carried away.
Love the food and am amazed at your veggie shopping which you will use within a week. That is good eating for anyone.
Chef AJ’s Yummy Sauce – that is something I have been wondering what it was for a couple of weeks now. So glad you have chosen it for the recipe of the week. Must go and see now what you use and do.
I never thought I would get my meat eating other half on veggie meals but I have. We now have a couple of nights a week where we have gone a bit more veggie – well meatless! Now to look at your link and what it entails.
Hugs & Thanks
Neet 1 xx
It’s all about managing your own treatment these days isnt it. I had an MRI on 31st May to check that the old brain isnt regrowing anything it shouldnt, and am about to start chasing a result. I assume no news is good news but I think I probably should hear that from a medic! Your vegetable delivery looks gorgeous doesnt it, I think we’re probably about 50% of that amount in veg and 50% fruit, I follow a different diet/regime but I do Locke a lot of fresh!
Good for you for standing up for yourself! And for knowing exactly what is going on and what was required! Your food prep looks awesome – so many vegetables! I watched the Yummy sauce video, and may have to try it – I’m a sucker for sauces! Have a great week! Lindart #26
Hi Shoshi, I’m so pleased you stood your ground with the scan appointment – that would have been very frustrating had you not. My goodness that is a healthy week’s shop. I’m the same as Zsuzsa, things go off if we don’t eat them quickly enough, but that may be because they get lost in our fridge. I should perhaps prepare them all like you, and then I wouldn’t have the problem, but time is often against me. I hope all goes well with your next appointment. I have a trio of appointments at different hospitals over the next few months, good job I’m not ill! Have a lovely week, hugs Heather xx #25
Hi Shoshi. I read the message on Tracey’s blog. The inner ear thing is what usually causes sickness with a migraine. I must say you are doing really well with the diet and you’re right it is a healthy way to eat. Pleased to hear you got the scan sorted. Sorry I’m late this week but getting round now. Have a lovely belated woyww, Angela x15x
I agree with the ladies, it’s great you stood up for yourself. I find it so annoying how rigid some medical staffers can be. After all, you are the patient who is paying their bills so why not show some kindness and respect? I am glad you didn’t back down. I think I drooled a bit when I saw all of those vegetables. 🙂 I love it! It’s very motivating when you see them all like that. I do a cleanse twice a year and when I prepare the recipes, I always feel so good looking at all the beautiful veggies.
Sending healthy wishes and crafting joy your way,
Belinda #27
As a fruit and veggie lover, I was enamored by your gorgeous picture displaying all your fresh produce. I’ve been trying to eat better and exercise regularly, but I’ve only managed to loose a little over 2 pounds thus far. Happy belated WOYWW!