Support and ideas for those on low-carb diet

Thanks Anya. Will do that tomorrow. Got some leeks in fridge.

Tonight we had salmon steaks lightly fried in oil (4 mins each side) on a bed of thinly sliced leeks and courgettes braised in white wine and creme fraiche with cavolo nero stir fried in goats butter.

The fennel was delicious with grilled fish, leeks, green beans and grilled tomatoes.

Love black kale. Grew loads but it's all gone now.

Ours is nearly gone as well but the sprouting broccoli is nearly ready so we'll move on to that.

Dinner tonight Hairy Bikers Old Fashioned Chicken and Vegetable Stew

Chicken legs
Smoked bacon
Onion
Celery
Chestnut mushrooms
Carrots
Leeks
Seasoned with thyme, black pepper and bay leaves

And served with spring greens.

Leaving out flour, will reduce to thicken.

I have found a jar of chargrilled artichokes from Carluccio's in the back of the cupboard so we'll have Chicken and Artichoke Salad from Persiana tonight. I think I have all the other ingredients - there's quite a lot of them. It looks delicious!

DH has threatened to leave home if I give him any more leeks!!

It is a freezer / store cupboard day, so will use the monkfish tail that we bought and froze last week. Will do a Moro recipe with saffron, bay leaves, sherry, sultanas and pinenuts, but not sure what to have with it. We have some spinach in the garden, some slightly elderly cauliflower, jars of artichokes, an aubergine, red peppers, and tins of asparagus. Any ideas?

Last week we had steamed cauliflower, mashed with cream cheese, grated parmesan and a little crushed garlic.

We're going away for two nights next week for a belated birthday treat for DH and our wedding anniversary. I think it should be easy to stick with the diet plan but I think we'll have to be naughty and indulge in a couple of puds because it's all paid for!!

love the new heading.

#thatllhelp.

Umm. It's the same freaky diet.

Well, thanks to my freaky diet I'm just off to walk my dogs as the rain looks like it's going to hold off. I can now power walk for the first half mile which I wouldn't have been able to do a few weeks ago as my knees were too painful.

IBS and fluid retention has also disappeared.

Thanks to whoever recommended magnesium tablets on here for improving muscle function. I've been taking them for three weeks now and I think they're helping a lot

Please keep your ideas coming, because there are some lovely ideas on here for us gluten-intolerant weaklings. I do get a bit despondent sometimes.

Inspired by the sound of a diet that focuses on foods I actually like, I had an avocado for breakfast. Nice . Bring it on!

A teaspoon or two of creamed horseradish gives cauliflower mash a nice kick

Thanks for that - I made soup and it was so bland!

Lunch today was a salad topped with a slice of melted goats cheese. Just eaten it while watching Shaun the Sheep with GD2. Think it'll be avocado and prawns in mayonaise for lunch tomorrow. Thanks Soutra for reminding me how much we like avocado.

Can I recommend Jamie Oliver's Szechuan pepper, chilli and ginger salt? If you can get hold of it. It certainly spices up any dish. I used it, along with freshly ground black pepper. But go easy to begin with, better to under spice until you get the flavour you want.

Merlot not even had a hint of heartburn since I started this diet.

I'm having the same lunch, Anya! With some sunflower seeds thrown in.

We had a salad of avocado, last of cold spicy lamb, tomato, asparagus, beetroot, cashew nuts and red pepper for lunch today. Have just spotted the last of the smoked salmon plus an egg mountain, in the fridge. I now know what to have for breakfast tomorrow!
Still not sure what to have with the monkfish tonight. It is an alcohol day so I shall have a glass of dry pink Saumur.

DH is out today so I've just thrown some leftover veg in a pan and made soup for lunch. I will top it with some shavings of parmesan.

Tonight we're having a beef and mushroom casserole done in the slow cooker. I will add some red wine at the end and thicken the sauce by reducing it on the hob. I'll serve it with braised cabbage - with some chopped walnuts and ground nutmeg sprinkled over the top and green beans.

Breakfast or lunch eggs:

Heat up leftover roasted peppers, red onions, courgettes etc in frying pan, make two wells and crack an egg into each, cover and cook eggs until almost set.

Another, is large amount of defrosted frozen spinach, sauteed with a dash of olive oil, again crack in two eggs, cover and cook until eggs set.

I often add chopped anchovies on top of the eggs.

(I don't like runny eggs mixed with veg so do them until well done; runny eggs need toast!).

Lunch idea. Had this twice now and DH like it too.

Broccoli muffins serves 2-3 (2 count as 1 of your 5-a-day)

Heat oven to medium heat. Use muffin tins or Yorkshire pud tins lightly greased.

Steam a medium head of broccoli until soft and mash and season.
Divide between tins - should line 6.

Beat together 3 eggs, a large handful of grated cheese and a slosh of whipping (or other) cream. Season with black pepper (and a dash of that JO stuff mentioned earlier if you have it).

Pour over broccoli (grate a bit of Parmesan on top if you like) and bake in oven till just browning. Leave for a couple of minutes so you don't burn fingers.

Slide out and eat (using fingers) with a dip of mayonaisse.

Easy, filling, tasty. Don't get hung up on exact quantities, they seem to come out ok no matter what!

PS If you can get it use Vintage Gouda it's better for you.

That is interesting Anya. I guess it is almost a soufflé?