Posts: 3,167
11/18/12 11:49 P

Kabocha is a very hard squash so it is very hard to cut. I bake it whole and then take out the seeds, (unless I want to plant the seeds) I will save the seeds from a couple of the squash that I have right now and from the Sweet Sugar Pie Pumpkins as well.

After they are baked it is easy to peel off the skins and dice up the squash for making curries or other dishes. I find the most difficult problem is having chunks of the squash or pumpkin left to give the curries texture.

We got some Curried Ketchup and some Thai Curried Mayonnaise at Uwajimaya recently and I am pleased to say they taste great. I have asked Michael to take me by Uwajimaya while I'm up here to pick up some more of each. I also got a Raspberry Jalapeno spread that is absolutely delicious. Have you tried Garlic Jelly? You can get that at the Elephant Garlic Festivle at North Bend west fo Portland. I think that happens in July. Try the Garlic Ice Cream when you go to that festival.

Yes, I do llike strange things and my cupboards are stocked with many "exotic" ingredients, but it makes my cooking far more interesting for my family and I get fewer carbs. I am currently investigating the various rices for Carb content. I found a cookbook that I want to purchase. On one site, to which I have to return, the book sells for just under $20 and on Amazon they want $59 for the same book used. I was shocked. I always thought Amazon was inexpensive. Guess I was wrong.

Well, I am now in Seattle. We got up here shortly after six this evening. Michael's apartment was actually warmer than my house. It feels wonderful to be warm. Since Michael hasn't been able to pay for our propane Carol, my roommate has turned the heat down from around 80 degrees to 60. Because she had the cold air intake moved up to the ceiling the downstairs of our house is positively frigid, except for her room where she has auxiliary heat on. Thank goodness I have lots of warm clothing and an electric mattress pad.

Tomorrow I know where I will be going and when. Isn't the internet great for keeping track of your schedule. I can contact my medical professionals on a special site and they can contact me. So in the next two days I have at least five appointments. There was one missing and I'll have to check on that one tomorrow morning.

I'll probably see you all tomorrow sometime.

Love, Judy

Posts: 3,901
11/18/12 5:40 P

Judy, How do you prepare the Kabocha? I also love winter squash and also curry. I've had pumpkin soup with a touch of curry.

My family started mushrooming when the kids were pre-teen/early teen with a couple who had mushroomed for years. Our first trip was in the wooded foothills before you got to Mt. Hood. They were "older" (probably my age now!) and the fellow had a hip replacement so they didn't want to go alone. It has been a great hobby for my family and our sons are really good and knowledgable about it. I wouldn't attempt it on my own. We have several mushroom identification books but just getting out there and starting to see all kinds of mushrooms- some inedible but interesting and beautiful.

I love basmati rice but my family does not like brown rice. Who would think there were so many kinds of rice.

current weight: 191.0

238 212.25 186.5 160.75

135

Posts: 3,167
11/18/12 2:23 P

Good morning all,

Jan thank you for letting me know I don't have to stock up on Skippy. I really don't need to do any stocking up at this time.

I wish I were more confident about my mushroom hunting ability. That is something that seems so frightening to me. Yet, I love mushrooms and have just discovered what to do with the Portabello mushrooms. I made a killer soup with one last week. I was really sorry when I finished the last cup.
I guess I'll just have to make another.

This week I want to do some more Kabocha. There are so many things I can do with the winter squashes. I have always liked them best and each year it seems I find a new one to work with. What fun for me. New ingredient and new ways to use that ingredient. I love curried pumpkin. That is a great flavor combination. It is something that I can eat with relatively few concerns about the carbohydrate content too. As always moderation is still required.

I made up some of my own Splenda Brown Sugar mix. I went half and half using light brown sugar instead of the dark brown used in the commercial mix. I prefer light brown, I am not that fond of molasses anyway. We'll see how this works out. I think it will be less expensive in the long run. Costco hasn't ever had the Brown Sugar Mix, but they do carry large bags of Splenda so it is at least less expensive for that. They also carry large bags of light brown sugar occasionally so I will pick that up when I see it.

I happen to love the various different kinds of rice. We took my caregiver, Kristine shopping a while ago and one of the places we visited was our favorite Oriental market, Uwajimaya. (There is one in Portland, Jan.) Did you know there are at least eighteen different kinds of rice on their shelves? I have tried several of them and like them very much. My favorites for everyday meals are Basmati and Jasmine. I like sushi so that rice is one of those I keep in stock. I like the flavor and texture of the darker rices that haven't been over processed. Brown Basmati is wonderful and will hold up to foods with strong flavors. It smells like corn as it cooks.

I would like to see more recipes for foods that are carbohydrate safe that have a rice base. Surely in countries where rice is the mainstay of their diet they can't be having as much problems with diabetes and rice as do we. I wonder how that happens? I'll have to ask when I see the nutritionist tomorrow.

I am very excited today. My son will be here soon to take me up to Seattle for my medical appointments for this month and then its off to Vancouver on Wednesday. This will be a wonderful week. I gave my little bird extra food this morning so that he will be all right for a few days. I hope he enjoys that. I will put a couple of millet sprays in his cage for an extra treat for him before I leave.

See you all later.

Love, Judy

Posts: 3,901
11/18/12 11:09 A

Judy, I didn't mean to mislead you - Skippy peanut butter isn't going away - I meant Hostess was an icon from our past like some of those other manufacturers.

I've been reading on the American Diabetic Assoc. website and it sounds like checking your blood sugar regularly to see what causes spikes so you can avoid that food or reduce the amount of it. That's a trick when it looks like Medicare only pays for 100 test strips every 3 months and those strips are expensive.

I'm planning on making good choices and eating carefully over Thanksgiving. My youngest son will be here probably from Wednesday night through the weekend. That means the kids will go hunting for chanterelles and porcinis. Yay. I love mushroom hunting but my bursitis does not like climbing those wooded hills or uneven surfaces.

current weight: 191.0

238 212.25 186.5 160.75

135

Posts: 3,167
11/18/12 2:06 A

I didn't know Skippy Peanut Butter is going away. It is my favorite. Guess I'll have to see if I can find some, just for old time's sake.

I can't take the Metaformin because of previous kidney damage. My only choice is to lose weight and watch the carbs. However, losing weight is a good thing so I am not upset about that. I lost 18 pounds during October. I'm kinda proud of that, but November isn't looking so good. I haven't been able to get to TOPS for the past two weigh-ins and I will miss this week too.

I am really going to have to be careful over Thanksgiving. We are going to my Daughters for the day so I am sure they will help me to stay in the safe range. I will take my glucosemeter with me and use it. I am sure I can manage it if I really try. I've lost weight over holidays in the past so I think I can do it again. Her family eats fairly lightly anyway, so this trip is for family, not just for eating.

I hope you all will have a great week. I'll try to keep up with you all, but it may be difficult since I will be running between appointments on Monday and Tuesday and from Seattle to Ashford to Vancouver WA on Wednesday. This computer has a battery, but I haven't tried to use it yet.

See you all whenever,

Love, Judy .

Posts: 3,901
11/17/12 9:09 P

Louise, It's good to hear from you. Since you have both diabetes and thryoid, can you see (I think it's) an endocrinologist- they oversee those systems? I think it's wise, if you are able to do it, to see a doctor you feel comfortable with. My doctor started me on Metformin on a very low dose. Every seven days I increase it until I'm taking 1000 mg. twice a day. She isn't adverse to taking me off of it if there are problems or if I don't need it any longer. What a balancing act it is! I think the kidney thing is about damaged kidneys and I'm not sure if stones fall into that category- your doctor should answer questions like that. I wish you well.

Sarah, that light Twinkies dessert sure sounds good. I don't remember the light Twinkies but I loved their Hostess 100s strawberry cupcakes. You got 3 tiny cupcakes for 100 and it was a nice treat for the sweet tooth. I guess Hostess going away is like Oscar Mayer weiners going away or Skippy peanut butter going away (can't you see Annette Funicello telling us about Skippy?).

current weight: 191.0

238 212.25 186.5 160.75

135

SparkPoints: (83,932)
Fitness Minutes: (23,539)
Posts: 12,114
11/17/12 6:46 P

Hi Sarah and Jan and all who will follow! I have not forgotten this Team but I am trying not to get on the computer a lot. I have to work on my health like planning my meals better and exercising more. Jan, I am like you---my doctor did not like my last A1C. It was 8 something--she wants me to be on metform but I am really afraid of medications especially since it says if you have trouble with your kidneys not to take it. I am subject to a lot of kidney stones. So I am really going to try to lose weight without the medication. I think she forgets I have Hashimoto Thyroid and it is slow losing the weight. However, I found out from another friend that this doctor is prejuice against overweight people. I had that feeling but I thought it was just me! So I am looking for a new doctor.

I was thin
king about leaving SPARKS but I think that I will stay on and just be on this Team. I got off leadership of one Team all ready and left that Team. I am still waiting to hear from SPARKS if the person I recommended for Leadership on the other Team I was leading will take it. If that person does, then I will leave that team and just remain on this Team. I will not be on a lot though.

It has been getting cooler---for Arizona that is. My friends and family back in Massachusetts have been having really bad weather. One of my cousin's daughter who lives in Western Massachusetts was going home from work and she was 15 minutes away from her house but it took her five hours to get home! They got a lot of snow. I cannot remember if that was this was this past week or the week before.

Well, everyone, please have a wonderful rest of Saturday!

GOD BLESS!
Louise

Posts: 1,457
11/17/12 4:17 P

It is sad to see an old brand go by the way side. I use to make the dessert that called for the lighter Twinkies and you pour jell-o over them and frost with Cool Whip. Very refreshing. At least it was lol

Posts: 3,901
11/17/12 3:59 P

Hello,

This is a stay at home day. I've been reading and balancing out my nutrition. One load of laundry and two to go. Tomorrow I start thawing the turkey. Actually I might start today.

Sarah, That is something about Hostess closing. I remember as a kid watching some commercial about the Hostess cupcakes - chocolate with creamy inside. Somehow when I had one it wasn't as creamy as the commercial made it seem. I like the Twinkies. Of late I've enjoyed the Hostess 100s cupcakes - the strawberry ones. It seems sad to see a company like that close down.

current weight: 191.0

238 212.25 186.5 160.75

135

Posts: 1,457
11/17/12 3:28 P

Hi Everyone

Hope your Saturday is going well. The lady that shops for me is here so busy day. I did some hand laundry before she got here.

Did you hear that the Hostess company closed? No more Twinkies!!!! As a kid I loved them but I haven't had one in years. Not the best of foods but a traditional kid food.

Enjoy your day!