1. < Just Want to Talk

Recipes, Food Tips, Healthy Eating & More

Posted by Debbra Williams, Alumna Mentor @debbraw, Feb 22, 2019

Some of the members of the Gratitude Discussion Group were interested in having a place to share recipes and food ideas. I’m hoping that we can use this thread as a place to have that kind of discussion. I’d love to hear your ideas for quick meals, comfort food, healthy snacks, and more.

Personally, I’ve just been through a bad reaction to one of my medications that left me with a very queasy stomach. I would love to hear ideas – or recipes – that might be used when you need to get something on your stomach, but don’t want to overdo it.

Hopefully, this thread will even be a place where we can share recipes for special treats and yummy rewards. It doesn’t always have to be healthy!

I’d love to hear from members who have been part of other discussions AND from new members who have good ideas, recipes and food tips to share. I’m excited to see who might start us off here with an awesome food suggestion!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Just Want to Talk Support Group.

Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Mar 22, 2019
In reply to @parus "@hopeful33250 This is what the lentils look like sprouted. I posted a picture in the gratitude..." + (show)
@parus

@hopeful33250 This is what the lentils look like sprouted. I posted a picture in the gratitude discussion. Yes, they are sprouted in the baking dish. Only takes a couple of days. They will continue growing if placed in soil. This is not my purpose. Once they sprout they are ready to put into soup and cook like the unsprouted.

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Thinking about lentils, I just saw this lentil recipe in a Mayo newsletter, "Recipes for Healthy Living." It is called Lentil Ragout.

Here is the link,https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/recipes/lentil-ragout/rcp-20197726?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=recipes

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1 reply
Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Mar 22, 2019
In reply to @gingerw "@hopeful33250 @jakedduck1 I love cooking bags! Both slow cooker liners or roasting bags- the cleanup is..." + (show)
@gingerw

@hopeful33250 @jakedduck1 I love cooking bags! Both slow cooker liners or roasting bags- the cleanup is so much easier and what's not to love about that! Besides the fact that things do turn out much more flavorful used in the cooking bag in the oven.
Ginger

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@gingerw
So much for the microwave. I’m cooking pork chops in a bag in the oven. The seasoning is good but 500mg sodium. Oh well, I guess I can stray once in awhile. Having broccoli and mashed potatoes. Potatoes aren’t very tasty without salt, butter and a dab of milk but I’ll find something to put on them. Maybe some malt. Any suggestions???
Jake

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4 replies
lioness | @lioness | Mar 22, 2019
In reply to @imallears "Hi, As others have said the microwave is a big no for cooking. FYI for the..." + (show)
@imallears

Hi,

As others have said the microwave is a big no for cooking. FYI for the most tender and flavorful and juicy boneless chicken breast this is the way I do it. This is for one breast.
Preheat oven to 450 ....yep 450
Rub chicken with olive oil
Mix your seasonings...salt, pepper, whatever else you like with a little bread crumbs on a sheet of wax paper and roll that chicken in the mix and press those seasonings into every nook and cranny. The more seasoning the better.
Put on on alum foil or parchment paper in preheated oven...10 minutes each side, flip, 10 minutes the other side.
Let it sit and rest for a couple minutes ....Perfectly cooked , juicy...you will be surprised. Slice vertically and put any leftovers over salad if you like.

Chicken is often over cooked . Cooking longer at a lower temp makes for dry chicken. I cook bone in chicken breast this way too. High heat...short time, like you would grill a juicy burger on a hot,grill. Maybe you can do your chicken in your new appliance this way .

Ps,looks,like you are taking more of an interest in cooking....good for you....the science behind it is interesting.

Regards from Mary...

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@immallers. Going to try this for supper sounds easy and good

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lioness | @lioness | Mar 22, 2019
In reply to @gingerw "@hopeful33250 @jakedduck1 I love cooking bags! Both slow cooker liners or roasting bags- the cleanup is..." + (show)
@gingerw

@hopeful33250 @jakedduck1 I love cooking bags! Both slow cooker liners or roasting bags- the cleanup is so much easier and what's not to love about that! Besides the fact that things do turn out much more flavorful used in the cooking bag in the oven.
Ginger

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@gingers A friend who made cheese sauce always used a cooking bag in her roasted or slow cooker

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margieinia | @margieinia | Mar 22, 2019
In reply to @jakedduck1 "@gingerw So much for the microwave. I’m cooking pork chops in a bag in the oven...." + (show)
@jakedduck1

@gingerw
So much for the microwave. I’m cooking pork chops in a bag in the oven. The seasoning is good but 500mg sodium. Oh well, I guess I can stray once in awhile. Having broccoli and mashed potatoes. Potatoes aren’t very tasty without salt, butter and a dab of milk but I’ll find something to put on them. Maybe some malt. Any suggestions???
Jake

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I use salsa or cottage cheese on my potato’s. Also I use bagel seasoning and that brings out the taste of meat and stuff.

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1 reply
lioness | @lioness | Mar 22, 2019
In reply to @jakedduck1 "@gingerw So much for the microwave. I’m cooking pork chops in a bag in the oven...." + (show)
@jakedduck1

@gingerw
So much for the microwave. I’m cooking pork chops in a bag in the oven. The seasoning is good but 500mg sodium. Oh well, I guess I can stray once in awhile. Having broccoli and mashed potatoes. Potatoes aren’t very tasty without salt, butter and a dab of milk but I’ll find something to put on them. Maybe some malt. Any suggestions???
Jake

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@jakedduke Now that sounds good just heat up in micro Don't cook as you found out For mash potatoes I use a small amount of sour cream ,pepper,Mrs Dash seasonings Your becoming a better cook now we will get you through

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1 reply
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Mar 22, 2019
In reply to @jakedduck1 "@gingerw So much for the microwave. I’m cooking pork chops in a bag in the oven...." + (show)
@jakedduck1

@gingerw
So much for the microwave. I’m cooking pork chops in a bag in the oven. The seasoning is good but 500mg sodium. Oh well, I guess I can stray once in awhile. Having broccoli and mashed potatoes. Potatoes aren’t very tasty without salt, butter and a dab of milk but I’ll find something to put on them. Maybe some malt. Any suggestions???
Jake

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@jakedduck1

Hmmm, maybe a dollop of sour cream, yogurt, chives, green onions, hummus, or a sprinkling of shredded cheese?

Also, you can scrape off some of the seasonings before you eat the pork chops (there will still be flavor). You might try seasoning with Mrs. Dash next time you make pork chops in the oven.

I'm getting hungry thinking about it.

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Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Mar 22, 2019
In reply to @lioness "@jakedduke Now that sounds good just heat up in micro Don't cook as you found out..." + (show)
@lioness

@jakedduke Now that sounds good just heat up in micro Don't cook as you found out For mash potatoes I use a small amount of sour cream ,pepper,Mrs Dash seasonings Your becoming a better cook now we will get you through

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@lioness
I finished off my sour cream last night. Are you sure your up to the challenge? What I really need is a cook but short of that a tutor might help. How long can you keep cooked pork chops in the fridge??
Jake

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1 reply
Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Mar 22, 2019
In reply to @jakedduck1 "@lioness I finished off my sour cream last night. Are you sure your up to the..." + (show)
@jakedduck1

@lioness
I finished off my sour cream last night. Are you sure your up to the challenge? What I really need is a cook but short of that a tutor might help. How long can you keep cooked pork chops in the fridge??
Jake

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@jakedduck1 @lioness I wouldn't go past 2 or 3 days with pork chops in the fridge. On the other hand, you probably could take and freeze a cooked pork chop if you don't want to eat pork by yourself for the next multiple days. That is a bane of cooking for 1. I can't have pork, shellfish or things like mushrooms because of my gout. There are other things I can't have because of my kidney disease, including potatoes. Once in awhile I splurge and have half a baked potato. But as far as seasoning for a baked potato, try a little bit of sour cream or plain yogurt in place of butter. Add diced onions if you like, black pepper, Mrs. Dash salt free seasoning. Or try a bit of chili or garlic powder. The seasonings choices are endless. Depending on what you used for the seasoning mix from the pork chops if you got one of those bag and season concoctions from the grocery store you might be able to put a little bit of the seasoning from the pork chop on to the baked potato after everything is cooked. Cooking is not an exact science by any means - lots of experimentation. Sometimes you will find a recipe and say "by golly I'm going to do that again". Other times you want to just throw it down the garbage. Ask me how I know!
Ginger

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Debbra Williams, Alumna Mentor | @debbraw | Mar 22, 2019
In reply to @imallears "Hi Theresa and all, I originally joined this forum for hearing loss but find I am..." + (show)
@imallears

Hi Theresa and all,

I originally joined this forum for hearing loss but find I am enjoying this food related thread a lot. I do love to cook. I am all about nutrition and foods effect on your body and overall health. I’m the one who reads the labels on everything and try to avoid sugar and corn syrup and ingredients I can’t pronounce. Five years ago I was diagnosed with early dry Macular Degeneration. My doctor prescribed eye vitamins and all the greens I can eat. It’s been stable for 5 years. My Doctor loves that. I also have 3 gym classes a week, exercise regularly and eat well. I have more energy at almost 78 years of age than ever, my hair is shiny and skin is clear. I don’t “diet” and I love my nightly wine and dark chocolate and my share of pizza. My osteoporosis has improved and I have no aches or pains. Eating well requires a knowledge about food and nutrition which I find interesting.

My daughter and I love to read cook books. Both she and my son are better cooks than I am. My grandkids eat well at home but all of them eat more fast food than they should.

The young people of today eat way too much fast food...there’s just too many places available. You all know about the obesity epidemic in this country. Cooking well is actually easy and not time consuming but so many people can’t be bothered to learn.
You don’t have to eat like a caveman but you truly are what you eat.

Off my soapbox now.
Thanks and regards from Mary

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Hi Mary! @imallears - I am so glad you joined this group. I know I am certainly enjoying and benefiting from your love of cooking and your willingness to share. You said that you and your daughter like reading cookbooks. I do too! I'm in a caregivers support group for partners of people with dementia. There is one guy in the group who is very nice guy and he makes himself even more popular by bringing delicious and healthy snacks to eat at our meetings! He talks about food the way you do - healthy is a lifestyle that he has adopted not just a fad since he had to learn to cook. Last month, he suggested two cookbooks. Right away I put them on my list of gifts I want for birthday/holidays. I'll share them here in case you and your daughter haven't gotten to these yet:
~ Genius Foods by Max Lugavere https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35008533-genius-foods
~ Detox Kitchen Bible by Lily Simpson https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22929660-the-detox-kitchen-bible?ac=1&from_search=true
Please let me know if you have either of these or if there are others you particularly recommend. Other members, too! I'm always looking for suggestions. Some women think you can't have too many shoes - I believe you can't have too many cookbooks!

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