A new low-carb support thread for 2016

I'd love a spiraliser, but the Lakeland one takes up a lot of space, dunnit? Would you recommend it, seacliff ? I can't decide whether to get a similar one or a hand-held. Any advice? :-)

I have a Lakeland spirallized . It fits well into my kitchen cupboard, and I keep it in the box. My kitchen is small, no room for a table.

My Lakeland spiralizer is the fold-away one, not cheap but does a good job.
Length 24cm x depth 15cm x height 15cm (9.5"x5.75"x5.75"). My cupboards are jam-packed so it sits at the back of the counter In a corner. It takes only moments to unfold and washes up easily. www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lakeland-Easy-Store-Spiralizer-/281873529557?hash=item41a0f8bad5:g:YhgAAOSw~bFWMKkY

* Shysal* same as mine

I have a small pencil sharpener type one (oxo good grips). Bought to save space but wish I'd bought counter top Lakeland sort. This is hard work if your wrists arnt strong.

Rowantree, I haven't bought one yet. Just bought some ready made courgetti from M & S, enjoyed it.

Don't want another biggish gimmicky gadget with the extra blades to store . I wondered if I need to eat veg in thin strips could I just chop it small with good knife?

On another forum people recommend this, as it is used vertically and is better than most.
e www.amazon.co.uk/Cuisique-Spiralizer-Courgette-Spaghetti-including/dp/B00PR54V30

The other option is the Oxo Julienne. I like their veg peeler.

www.amazon.co.uk/OXO-Good-Grips-Julienne-Peeler/dp/B0000CCY1S/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1461700153&sr=1-1&keywords=oxo+julienne

I want to eat this way long term so may invest in spiralizer, just not sure yet.

I thoroughly recommend beetroot spiralised and roasted in the oven. Or you can make a rainbow mix with beetroot, sweet potato, or squash, carrot, and of course courgette.

Makes a nice lunch added to this or that.

But more and more shops are selling spiralised veg if you don't want to invest just yet.

Anya what a great idea. I never thought to spiralise beetroot, but will certainly try it. Is it very messy?

Not especially as you are best to use cooked ones BB

We are trying this monkfish with orange butter sauce tonight.
www.rarebits.co.uk/recipes-roasted-monkfish-with-chicory-asparagus-and-orange-butter-sauce
As we only have three asparagus spears in the garden, I thought I might try cauliflower saffron mash with it.

Blimey Riverwalk you can't blame the cabbage - you virtually massacred the poor thing

You're quite right Anya the blame lies with me - just bought another one and will endeavour to do better

Only just read this interesting thread. Some lovely ideas. I put myself on low carb. as diagnosed diabetic in the states late last year. Took myself in hand and am now in full remission with normal blood sugars. I still miss rice and pasta but apart from that doing well. I can only eat the 'above ground veg' as all the others spike my blood sugar. Make own baked bean recipe as tins loaded with sugar. I eat the odd slice of home made bread but only sourdough made with spelt flour. Special breakfast? 3 scrambled eggs laid first thing, with chopped chillis from the freezer. Yum.

Nice to meet you Izabella
We make spelt bread too. I like the sound of scrambled egg and chillies.

Well that was an interesting dinner. Took two of us cooking full pelt for the last bit. I thought the red pepper was unecessary but the monkfish, chicory, asparagus, orange butter sauce combo was worth repeating. The cauli saff mash was delicious and looked amazing.

Welcom Izabella This is an excellent thread , with friendly and informative posters and a great guru * Mamie* I was diagnosed as diabetic late February this year and decided to low carb. I have lost 1and a 1/2 stone so far and blood sugar has normalised. I really enjoy this way of eating and trying out the different suggestions and recipes posted.

Thanks for the welcomes!! ? Dinner tonight was fresh salmon and green beans from the freezer. OH had new potatoes too.

We have a huge organic allotment and our own small flock of hens so can enjoy all our own berries and veggies. Oranges and bananas taboo for me too. Apples stored and eaten with relish. I find they tide me over a hungry patch. Husband makes wonderful south dough spelt bread which is the ONLY one not spiking my BS. And that is restricted to two slices per week, so really I am virtually carb free I suppose. I have high fat such as butter and olive oil in moderation. Absolutely no reduced fat for yogurt but still use skimmed milk as I do nt like the fatty taste of semi skimmed and it has to be lactose free anyway.

Looking forward to more recipe ideas. Mamie your Monkfish sounds wonderful. We get fresh fish in our village once a week.

Another organic gardener here Izabella. We have half an acre deep in the Normandy countryside. No chickens because all the neighbours have them! We have the same cold spring here and all the plants are piled up in the potting shed waiting to go out.
Heavy garden day today, so eggs for breakfast, cheese and chickpea biscuits for lunch and spag bog with courgetti tonight.
Will we get the grass cut between hailstorms?

DH made supper last night. A huge salad using up all the stuff in the fridge. Lettuce, watercress, grilled artichokes, avocado, cucumber and tomatoes. Plus some Parma ham and he griddled some Haloumi. It was lovely.
Spaghetti Bol for us tonight as well. Sauce already made, just courgetti to do nearer the time.
We have a tiny garden plot. I usually grow broad beans, then salad veg, green beans and courgettes. No room for much more.

Welcome Iabellla

There's something very satisfying about making a good meal from leftovers isn't there BB? I did buy some belly pork, but used up left over (uncooked) veg such as half a Savoy cabbage (lighting steamed note Rowan) a large leek (last one from our allotment) and a nice mash made from carrot and sweet potato which had seen better days.

Simple and tasty lunch, eggs on wilted spinach today.

Anya I notice you have a Remoska. Do they have any advantages over a slocooker?

Also tried cauliflower rice recently and made lovely cauliflower and Stilton soup with the stalks and rind from the cheese. Delicious.

Mamie those biscuits sound wonderful. Would love the recipe, fingers crossed they are sugar free too. Also how do you cook your courgetti and for how long please? Always happy to try things. At this rate I will end up with a spiralizer.

Recipe here Izabella
food52.com/recipes/28121-za-atar-spiced-chickpea-crackers-with-maldon-sea-salt
I change the spices depending on how I feel.
I just spiralize the courgette and toss it in a bit of oil for a minute or two.

Due to an error on my part I'm the recipient of nearly a kilo of blueberries - I only eat a small handful a day as am not very fruity!

Can I successfully freeze them?

I don't see why not. I would freeze them on a tray and then bag them up so that they don't stick together.
Mushroom omelette for lunch and OH is cooking gurnard for dinner.
Tomorrow is the village walk and picnic and I have made chocolate tiffin to pass round. Haven't tried it, though very tempted!

I did a veggie version of the minced lamb, pomegranate and aubergine recipe below. The quorn mince was very tasty and filling with the spices, I left out pomegranate. I didn't really enjoy the actual aubergine, even though I'd baked it on own first. In future I'd do the mince with courgetti or a bed of cabbage, or poss cauli mash.

I had no breakfast, just the above for lunch, and was so stuffed, I just had Greek Yoghurt/berries/seeds later in evening. This low carb regime has really stopped my desire for junk food, thank goodness.

I'd do the same as Mamie with the blueberries, they're sold frozen so would be fine I'm sure. That's a lot of bluberries!

www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3404259/Eat-beat-diabetes-just-eight-weeks-s-life-changing-diet-help-avoid-reverse-Type-2-diabetes-best-s-tasty-way-health.html