Garden Harvest

So today I got to enjoy a tomato. I'm sure that sounds a bit silly, but I don't do a lot of tomato on keto.

This was a fresh, perfectly ripened tomato which I sliced and arranged onto a few layers of paper towels, salted each side and let sit while I got a couple other things ready for a small, simple lunchtime meal (peeled some boiled eggs and cubed up some cheeses). I also plucked some basil leaves before setting down to eat it all. The salt and paper towel arrangement was to draw out excess moisture from the tomato and make the flavor pop.

Those tomato slices were so good! Words don't do it justice! Whether with or without a basil leaf, or cheese, or even egg, it was just fabulous! Such is the wonder of a tomato sometimes!

So I recalled how well a recent thread about what we were eating went over, and thought I would ask what people are doing with their freggies? Be they grown in your own garden or out of the freezer. I'm just curious what amazing things this incredible group of people is doing with their freggies? Even if you're not eating any today (you can always eat more tomorrow) what's your favorite freggie recipe that you wish to share?

I like making caprese salad (tomato, fresh mozzarella, basil, olive oil, salt & pepper; sometimes just by itself or on top of a ryvita and sometimes with avocado.

I also love just roasting veggies: aubergine, courgettes, anything really.

My absolute favourite though is a beet salad with quartered beets, salad leaves, peppers, feta and seeds. 😋

✅ exercise
✅ calories
✅ tracking

I’m still poorly and don’t have an appetite. I walk 4-5 miles every day. Moms don’t get days off 😂

I know not everyone here has to adhere to a low calorie diet, but for those looking for ideas with a lot of bulk for the calories, here are some of the things I am eating:

The great thing about all of dishes is that if you have a large appetite like I do you can eat until you are full and it is hard to get 300 calories, IF you stay away from the oil.

The other day I was gifted a couple of cabbages and was determined to use them somehow rather than bowl them into the woods, which was my first inclination. I ended up shredding the whole head (minus core) and put it in a huge pan with some Pam. I cooked it on high heat until it was browned and softened and then added a can of Rotel tomatoes with chilis. It was delicious! I am having it with the other head tonight and really looking forward to it!

I shred a huge zucchini and add 2 beaten eggs and bake it up, then top it with a little mozzarella and salsa.

I regularly make an Indian inspired stew. I start with cubed eggplant then add what ever I have--peppers, onions, mushrooms, zucchini, carrots. That gets cooked up some with Pam and garlic until it is softened some. Then I add canned tomatoes, chickpeas and a ton of spices like curry, turmeric, paprika, etc. and throw it in the oven to bake down.

I take a big bag of spinach and cook it down--it requires no oil. Then at stir in a can of Rotel tomatoes and top it with some mozzarella.

I roast a lot of carrots and brussell sprouts. I have found that if I throw them in a zip lock bag and shake it I can get away with as little as a teaspoon of oil per pound.

I make a salad of diced cucumber, tomato, and red onion and fresh mint then marinate it in balsamic vinegar. (no oil lol). Sometimes I add chickpeas and/or feta cheese.

I make massive salads with greens and other low cal veggies like bell peppers, onions, cucumbers, and grape tomatoes. I can get away with 1 tablespoon of lite vinaigrette(25 calories) for a mixing bowl serving. I have recently discovered that adding a clementine is a real flavor booster!

17/09/2021

Exercise – yes
Tracked – yes
Calories – yes

Less exercise than usual today – missed the bike ride as I took my mum to a hospital appointment this morning. She would get there by herself (she still drives) but it’s an eye treatment and her vision is impaired for a few hours afterwards. However, I did still get some cardio done and I vacuumed and washed the car.

I don’t grow my own veggies but I buy fresh veg locally. I am trying to be more aware of environmental issues such as air miles and buy mostly local grown veg but it can be difficult especially in winter.

I have lots of salad for lunches, and then with dinner I have my veg steamed, roast or stir fried depending what meat/fish I’m having. I eat anything except spinach (it disagrees with me). A good vegetable curry is great way to use up odds and ends.
Fruit is more difficult to find UK grown – I love melons, satsumas, grapes, plums ….. all fruit.

September 17, 2021

Did I exercise for at least 20 minutes? Yes
Did I stay within my calorie budget for the day? Yes
Did I keep track of everything I ate and drank? Yes

Kitchen Closed? Yes
Did you go "nuts" with nuts today? No (17 days-free )
(I go "nuts" with nuts most times, trying to continue a good habit this month. Counting the number of "nuts" free days.) I am still learning a lot about myself in this area!

Pass day 0/3 (this is for accountability to myself and my records).

Today mark 1 year I lost a friend from weight related issues.
Another reminder that we need to take care of ourselves. This is the only thing that nobody on earth can do for us. If you are a newbie, still around please do not quit. These simple 3 UAC rules will bless you and help you along this journey.

✅ exercise
✅ calories
✅ tracking

Garden Harvest:
Cherry and grape tomatoes-eaten until my mouth is sore, then freeze for a pop of flavor in stuff or dried and stored in olive oil
Roma tomatoes-Canned 49 quarts of salt-free, oil-free pasta sauce
Sweet peppers-mostly in the sauce, some chopped and frozen for in stuff later
Cucumbers-ate enough to float a boat, made 36 pints zippy relish, 24 pints regular relish
Strawberries, blackberries, raspberries-ate some, froze the rest for eating and making jam later in the fall/winter
Tomatillos-frozen for Turkey Pozole Soup to be made later this fall/winter for canning
Jalapeño/poblano peppers-59 pre-made poppers, frozen, ate a bunch of freshly made poppers, the rest canned for later use
Yellow squash/zucchini-eaten lightly grilled, almost daily until they got buggified. 2nd crop just coming on

Coming up-fresh spinach, chard, kale

Sorry if it seems like I'm bragging, but actually I AM This old country gal just likes to can!

Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.- Abraham Lincoln

9/17
Did I exercise for at least 20 minutes? 👍🏻
Did I stay within my calorie budget for the day? 👍🏻
Did I keep track of everything I ate and drank? 👍🏻

2 Pass Days Remaining
Used #1 pass