Tranquil Moments

Although the world we are living in at present is not in a good place, I give thanks for simple pleasures, and try to take something from each day.

Here in the UK the weather has been more spring-like and I have been fortunate to spend time outside enjoying some sunshine. 

Although this bird feeder, had no birds on it, (I probably scared them away), I'm sure they will be back for more seed soon ...

I always enjoy spotting our lovely European Robins 

as regular readers will know ... my favourite bird

daffodils are flowering well - such a cheerful sight

and how about this lovely scene - seen here

wonderful how the sunlight shows through the trees

Whatever your plans are this weekend may you find some tranquil moments 

All the best Jan

'Provençal Chicken' ... you can make this recipe veggie if preferred!

Chicken has many plus points - its versatility, as well as the ease and speed with which it can be cooked - make it one of the most popular meats around. It has a high level of good quality protein, as well as B vitamins, iron, copper and selenium.

The pale flesh has a close texture and a mild flavour that pairs up well with many different ingredients. Never eat raw chicken, and always thoroughly wash your hands, utensils and cutting board as soon as you've cut or handled raw chicken.

Today, I am sharing a favourite recipe for 'Provençal Chicken'. There are quite a few 'Provençal Chicken' recipe ideas around and you may indeed already have your own particular favourite. Recipes to me are to be shared, enjoyed, sometimes amended to suit your particular likes and needs.

For those readers who may prefer a veggie version, please see the tip below.

Ingredients
Serves Four
1 tbsp. oil
100 g lean smoked bacon medallions, roughly chopped
1 red onion, cut into wedges
1 courgette (zucchini), halved and cut into chunks
1 aubergine (eggplant), cut into small pieces
4 tomatoes, cut into large wedges
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 red chilli, chopped
500 g carton passata
half a chicken stock cube, crumbled
460 g chicken thigh fillets
14g of fresh flat leaf parsley, washed and roughly chopped
2 tsp mixed herbs

Method
1. Preheat the oven to 200°C, 180°C fan, gas 6. In a large oven proof pan, heat the oil and cook the bacon for 5 minutes until crispy. Remove and reserve for later.
2. Add the onion, courgette (zucchini), and aubergine (eggplant) to the pan and fry for 5 minutes. Then add the tomatoes, garlic, chilli, passata, 50ml water and chicken stock cube. Bring to boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for another 5 minutes.
3. Add the chicken thigh fillets, half of the parsley, reserved bacon and mixed herbs. Stir to coat the chicken in sauce and cook for 30 minutes in the oven. Remove from the oven and serve straight away garnished with the remaining parsley and seasoned with freshly ground black pepper.

Tip - Make it veggie
Leave out the bacon and chicken, and replace the chicken stock cube with a vegetable stock cube. Cook the vegetables and serve with a nut roast.

Original recipe can be seen here
Bon Appetit.

This blog offers a wide variety of recipes/food ideas, and not all may be suitable for you. Always take account of your personal circumstances, needs, illnesses and medication you may be taking. Any allergies, or underlying health issues must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter. If you have any concerns about your general health, including medication, you should contact your Doctor / health care provider.

All the best Jan

Signs Of Spring ...

Peek-a-goose! Bright yellow daffodils start to bloom in early spring

In many areas of the UK these first few days of March has seen some sunshine and slightly warmer weather, which has been very welcome, definitely signs of Spring! Spring is the season when temperatures start to rise and beautiful flowers - including snowdrops, daffodils, and crocuses - begin to bloom again.

It's also when clocks 'spring forward', making our evenings much lighter.

But when does spring officially begin?

The answer isn't as straight-forward as you might think, as people can't agree on exactly when winter ends and spring starts.

Some people - including weather forecasters - prefer to go by meteorological spring, which starts on 1 March every year.

Other people prefer to go by astronomical spring, which is on 20 March in 2026, although the date can change each year due to the Earth's orbit around the Sun.

What is meteorological spring?

In meteorology - which is the science that studies the Earth's atmosphere, weather, and climate - the year is split into four seasons, each made up of three full months.

This stays the same every year, making it easier for people who study the weather to compare seasons from one year to the next.

The spring months are March, April and May - meaning the season begins on 1 March and lasts until 31 May every year.

This is different to astronomical spring, where the dates can change each year.

When does astronomical spring begin?

The astronomical calendar follows the dates of the two equinoxes that happen in March and September every year.

Astronomical spring follows the date of the spring equinox - the one that happens in March.

On the spring equinox, the Earth's axis isn't tilted either towards or away from the Sun like it usually is, making day and night nearly equal in length.

This year, astronomical spring falls on 20 March and will last until what's known as the summer solstice on 21 June.

During this period, the days will be longer than the nights.

The equinox happens at exactly the same time for everyone on the planet.

However, the seasons are reversed for people living in the southern hemisphere (south of the equator), meaning the equinox on 20 March is actually their first day of autumn.

Above words and image taken from article here

What's the weather like where you live?

Is it snowing, raining, too hot or too cold?

Please share in the comments.

 *I published this post then saw this weather news,

so I've edited the original one and re-posted *

A remarkable display is expected in the skies over the UK later this week as a vast plume of Saharan dust drifts north over much the country.

The dust, made up of fine sand and mineral particles lifted from the deserts of North Africa, will have travelled thousands of miles on warm southerly air currents.

As it moves across the UK, it is expected to transform ordinary sunrises and sunsets into striking displays of deep gold, amber, and burnt orange.

However, the downside of Saharan dust is that when it mixes with rain, it can leave dirty deposits on surfaces, particularly cars and windows, a phenomenon commonly known as blood rain.

Photo Credit John T and more to read here

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Please note ... you will find a variety of articles, studies etc. plus recent news/views and recipe ideas within this blog, not all may be suitable for you. Always take account of your personal circumstances, needs, illnesses and medication you may be taking. Any allergies, or underlying health issues must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter. If you have any concerns about your general health, including medication, you should contact your Doctor / health care provider.

All the best Jan

Leek, celery and gruyère gratin ... so delicious

I do enjoy Gratins - they taste so good and can work well either as a side dish or a main course. This recipe goes well with a Sunday Roast Dinner, but can be enjoyed any day of the week - how about tomorrow!?

Ingredients
Serves Six
750g (1½lb) leeks, trimmed and cut into chunks
6 sticks of celery, chopped
400ml (14fl oz) vegetable stock
100ml (3½fl oz) half-fat crème fraîche
nutmeg, grated
25g (1oz) breadcrumbs
100g (3½oz) Gruyère, grated

Method
1. Preheat the oven to gas 7, 220ºC, fan 200ºC. Boil the vegetables for 5 minutes, drain and put in an ovenproof dish.
2. Mix together the vegetable stock, crème fraîche and nutmeg. Season.
3. Pour the creamy mixture over the vegetables, cover in foil and bake for 25 minutes, then remove and set aside.
4. Remove the foil from the vegetable dish and sprinkle with breadcrumbs and cheese. Cook for another 20 minutes until the topping is golden and crispy.

Nutrition Per Serving
Carbohydrate 8.9g Protein 8.2g Fat 7g Fibre 4.3g

Tips
If you do not have any leeks, try using spring onions (scallions) or white onions instead.
If you need a substitute for gruyère cheese look here
From original idea here

For more gratin choices have a look here

~ may your day be a good one ~

This blog offers a wide variety of recipes/food ideas, and not all may be suitable for you. Always take account of your personal circumstances, needs, illnesses and medication you may be taking. Any allergies, or underlying health issues must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter. If you have any concerns about your general health, including medication, you should contact your Doctor / health care provider.

All the best Jan

I Can't / Don't Eat Eggs - what substitutes could I use?

Now I enjoy eggs, in fact I start the day with one ... boiled, poached, scrambled, baked or fried! In fact eggs are so popular in recipes that it may seem impossible to avoid them! However, what do you do if you may have an egg allergy or intolerance, or as some, prefer not to eat eggs at all! While it may be hard to believe, there is a way to enjoy “eggs,” and recipes that call for them, with some stand-in replacements. Have a look at these eight egg substitutes.

8 Vegan Egg Option Substitutes

Tofu

A favourite scrambled egg replacements is silken tofu.
However, if soy is on your list of food allergies or intolerances, it's perhaps better to pass on this egg substitute.

Baking powder with oil

A perfect way to replace eggs in baked goods for the moisture and volume content is by using baking powder and oil.

Applesauce

Another great contender to replace eggs in baked goods is applesauce. This is an especially good choice when you are baking something sweet and want added moisture.

Being made from fruit, applesauce will not contain the protein value of an egg when used in recipes. It does have a little fibre and it contains carbohydrate based calories. Use unsweetened applesauce and rely on the naturally sweet flavour of the apples to boost the taste of your finished breads, cakes or muffins.

Bananas

Bananas are one of the best replacements for eggs in sweet baked goods. They provide moisture and fullness, offering density and natural sweetness to breads. 

Just like it’s cousin the apple, bananas are made up of mostly carbohydrates with a bit of fiber, so they won’t contain the protein content an egg does when used in a recipe.

Flaxseed

Flaxseed is another egg replacement that has a mild, mostly undetectable flavour. It’s a great alternative to use when baking anything, including savoury dishes. On top of that, its mucilaginous consistency makes it a great binder, much like an egg. Being mucilaginous, or slimy has its benefits for the digestive tract too.

Mucilaginous compounds naturally coat and sooth the upper intestinal tract and help autoimmune gastritis issues when they are ingested. While flaxseed isn’t the source of protein an egg is, it does have plenty of fiber and is a very good source of essential fats.

Egg Replacer

Another clean egg substitute free of allergens for most people is Ener-G Egg Replacer. Made up mostly of resistant potato starch, fiber, and some baking powder, it’s an excellent choice for use in baked goods.

Aquafaba

Aquafaba is a popular egg substitute. It’s readily available or easy to harvest just by opening a package of beans and draining them or by saving the water when you’re done boiling your dried beans.

Vegan Egg

VeganEgg (also known as Just Egg) is the product that most closely mimics a real egg. It can be used to replace scrambled eggs for breakfast, or used in baked goods if you should choose to make them. 

Words above, and much more to read, can be seen at article here 

PLEASE BE AWARE
Articles within this blog (and any comments) are provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. Always take account of your personal circumstances, needs, illnesses and medication you may be taking. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter. If you have any concerns about your general health, including medication, you should contact your Doctor / health care provider.

All the best Jan

Spinach, Aubergine (Eggplant) and Chickpea Curry : Gluten Free : Vegan : Vegetarian

This vegan/vegetarian curry with chickpeas and aubergine (eggplant) is packed full of flavour and ready in less than 30 minutes.

Aubergines/eggplants are an excellent source of dietary fibre. They are also a good source of Vitamins B1 and B6 and potassium. In addition it is high in the minerals copper, magnesium and manganese. 

This meal provides 251 kcal, 13g protein, 8.3g carbohydrate (of which 11.6g sugars), 15.9g fat (of which 2.1g saturates), 13.5g fibre and 1.2g salt per portion.

Ingredients

Serves Four
1kg/2¼lb fresh spinach
2 tbsp olive oil
2 medium red onions, chopped
200g/7oz tinned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 fresh hot green chillies*, halved and thinly sliced, seeds included
1 tbsp coriander seeds, ground
1 tbsp cumin seeds
1 large aubergine/eggplant, approx. 400g/14oz,cut into 2cm (3/4in) dice
400g/14oz tinned chopped tomatoes
salt

*Alternative to fresh hot green chillies - Jalapeño peppers offer medium heat

Method
1. Cook the spinach in boiling water for two minutes, then cool it under cold running water and squeeze gently to remove most of the liquid. Place in a food processor and chop the spinach to a coarse purée.
2. Heat half the olive oil in a large pan and cook the onion, chickpeas, garlic, chilli and spices for five minutes over a medium heat.
3. Add the remaining olive oil and the aubergine/eggplant. Cook for ten minutes, stirring often, until the aubergine/eggplant is coloured.
4. Add the tomatoes and a pinch of salt, then cover the pan, lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes until the aubergine/eggplant is soft. Stir in the spinach purée and serve.

From idea seen here

A tasty meal any day of the week ...

~ just had to share these beautiful crocus ~

This blog offers a wide variety of recipes/food ideas, and not all may be suitable for you. Always take account of your personal circumstances, needs, illnesses and medication you may be taking. Any allergies, or underlying health issues must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter. If you have any concerns about your general health, including medication, you should contact your Doctor / health care provider.

All the best Jan

Welcome the 1st of March 2026

I'm always pleased when the 1st of March is here because it's nice to think that Spring is just around the corner. The daffodils are springing up well and lots are showing their lovely colourful, cheerful heads.

It's also St David's Day today, and St Patricks Day on the 17th March.
Meteorological spring starts on March 1, while astronomical spring begins this year on 20 March.

"The Month Of March
“March” is named for the Roman god of war, Mars. However, we think of it as the beginning of spring, as March brings the vernal equinox on the 20th March and also the Full Worm Moon on the 3rd March, more notable this year because it coincides with a total lunar eclipse.

March’s birth flower is the daffodil, which signifies regard or unrequited love.

March’s birthstone is the aquamarine; its colour can be pale to dark blue, greenish-blue, or blue-green; deep, intense blue versions are more valuable.

March’s Zodiac signs are Pisces (February 20 to March 20) and Aries (March 21 to April 20).

March weather can bring rain and mud! Sprinkle salt on carpets to dry out muddy footprints before vacuuming.

more to read here

6th of March is White Chocolate Cheesecake Day

so in readiness of celebration, here is recipe for a low carb

~ White Chocolate Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake ~

Ingredients

Raspberry Sauce

1 cup frozen raspberries

1/4 cup water

1/4 tsp xanthan gum

Crust

1 1/2 cups almond flour

Powdered sweetener equivalent to 1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup butter, melted

Filling

16 ounces cream cheese, softened

Sweetener equivalent to 3/4 cup sugar

1 1/2 ounces cocoa butter, melted

1 large egg, room temperature

1 tsp vanilla extract

3/4 cup whipping cream, room temperature

Instructions

more details here

~ Wishing you a happy March 2026 ~

You will find a variety of articles and recipes within this blog, and not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter. If you have any concerns about your health, it is always advisable to consult your doctor or health care team.

All the best Jan