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.

Lori, Volunteer Mentor | @loribmt | Jul 1, 2021

In reply to @jakedduck1 "@loribmt I'm afraid my satisfaction level is higher than yours. I wonder what it would be..." + (show)

Oh Jake, heavy sigh…I don’t think I said anything about my satisfaction level with the amount of chocolate. Truly, if I could live life without limitations I’d be hooked up to an IV of chocolate!
Alas, I’ve been tossed a second chance at living my best life and it is best lived at this point with moderation and limits. It’s ok though!! I’m just happy to be alive and am giddy most of the time with the knowledge of being around for years annoying the heck out of people. 😉
Lucky you! 😬

Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jul 1, 2021

In reply to @loribmt "I’m not above bribery! 😀" + (show)

@loribmt None of us are, Lori

imallears | @imallears | Jul 1, 2021

@avmcbellar

We don't go down to Tarpon much but I know I had a good Octopus in one of the restaurants. If anyone knows how to prepare it, it's the Greeks. The sponge docks are so commercial and crowded and there are a lot of tacky little shops so we generally avoid it. There are a lot of Greek dishes I don't like and some in our family don't care for octopus so that's mainly the reason. What I like in Tarpon are a couple of small Italian restaurants we discovered off the beaten path and have eaten several times there....plus a great Greek Deli.
Calamari is always good...grilled or fried....everyone ends up usually ordering fried. Have you tried our Key Lime Pie? When we go into Dunedin we pick up Coconut cake when Stracchens Ice Cream has it....can get a slice or a whole cake...so creamy and rich. But we try not to go out of our way just for desserts.

FL Mary

MGMolly | @Erinmfs | Jul 1, 2021

In reply to @loribmt "Ohhh I forgot to mention that to Jake…that I’m am unsweetened ice tea fan! And Dark..." + (show)

I'm an unsweetened ice tea person too! and dark chocolate. One thing I love is Schwann's Chocolate Ice Cream, it's delicious.

avmcbellar | @avmcbellar | Jul 1, 2021

In reply to @imallears "@avmcbellar We don't go down to Tarpon much but I know I had a good Octopus..." + (show)

@imallears there are many restaurants on the main road(dodecanese boulevard) of the sponge docks. My husband and I have tried many places including Mykonos and Hellas which most people see. I was not impressed. Our favorite is on Anthens St, Costas Restaurant, which is off the main road. I had gone there many times with different friends. I never pushed the grilled calamari or octopus but after they had a taste of mine they loved it! No more negative comments after that. They couldn’t get over how much they enjoyed it. My friends continue to go there. My husband and I don’t like feta cheese so at restaurants we have to be careful when ordering. The Greeks put it on everything, lol. Some of the greek dishes can be rich. We stay away from those. We always try the fried calamari in Italian restaurants wherever we go. We especially liked it at Kafe Kokopelli in Dade City. Not sure if it is still around. The building was an old Ford car factory with interesting history maintained by the restaurant.
We have been at the Dunedin ice cream shop but haven’t tried their key lime pie. We enjoyed the sweet treat during our visit at Key West. We prefer less sugar. After all sugar is addictive, but we love our dark chocolate, 70-90% cacao. Thanks for the recommendations. Time for chocolate😋!

Lori, Volunteer Mentor | @loribmt | Jul 1, 2021

In reply to @Erinmfs "I'm an unsweetened ice tea person too! and dark chocolate. One thing I love is Schwann's..." + (show)

Ooo yummy!! I agree! I used to love Schwann’s Ice Cream. Bummed that a few years ago I realized I’m lactose intolerant! But I have found Lactaid chocolate ice cream and the Salted Caramel are so gooood! And no issues! ☺️

imallears | @imallears | Jul 1, 2021

In reply to @loribmt "What’s the saying? Sisters by another mister? LOL. I’m a honey in my tea person. I’m..." + (show)

@loribmt

I didn’t know people in the south drank sweet tea…I’m from NY myself. Don’t order much ice tea out but when I do I always specify unsweetened. I have tasted good iced coffees that were flavored , and sweet but generally not my choice. And I don’t think I have had soda in 30 years.
I know what you mean when you accidentally drink a sweet drink and were not expecting it….it’s really a shock. Amazing how our tastes evolve over the years. Always had a sweet tooth but it’s the sweet drinks I don’t like…ugh to apple juice and orange juice too….cranberry and prune juice….juices in general. And too many of my friends (some overweight and sone not) have some type of diabetes .

Have a good night sister

FL Mary

Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Aug 18, 2021

@imallears
I actually bought some smoked salmon last night. I ate some without anything on it years ago but in case I’m not wild about it what can I put on it?
I was walking around the store and saw some sardines in a glass jar. I thought I was going to heave then and there. Just writing about it makes me queasy.
I’m curious if have you wrapped your adventurous taste buds around anything interesting lately?
Bon appétit,
Jake

imallears | @imallears | Aug 19, 2021

In reply to @jakedduck1 "@imallears I actually bought some smoked salmon last night. I ate some without anything on it..." + (show)

@jakedduck1

Oh my yes, smoked salmon on a bagel with cream cheese and a slice of red onion. One of my favorite lunches. It’s the only way I eat smoked salmon….I don’t like it by itself either. You need the cream cheese and can just put it on crackers or toast if you don’t have bagels.

Funny you should ask. I was at dinner last night with family at a northern Italian restaurant last night and had ….drumroll….grilled octopus appetizer to share. It was better than the octopus in my other favorite restaurant in Orlando…absolutely infused with flavor. They had a dipping oil for bread that had black olives in it and was the best I have ever tasted. Excellent bruschetta…almost like a crusty cake with heaps of tomatoes .

It wasn’t adventurous but I had short ribs and spaghetti with red sauce. Meat was tender and tasty…too much sauce on the pasta. My grandson taking leftovers to work.

Almost had the black ink squid pasta but they said the garlicky olive oil was spicy. Always wanted to try that but don’t like too much spice. Split a chocolate chip mint ice cream cone with my granddaughter at another place.

I am the only one in my family who loves sardines. I get them in cans with olive oil at Costco and just have them with crackers. Bought canned anchovies last time by mistake…similar taste and just as good. The sardines in the jar are awful…don’t know why. Have also tossed linguini with chopped up sardines…very good.

Smoked salmon is not cheap so don’t let it go to waste and it’s good for you. What have you been cooking? And I have told people about your business card “advice”.

FL Mary…feels like an Amazon swamp down here

Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Oct 15, 2021

I bought a 14” Gothan steel hammered frying pan because my friend said nothing sticks and even when I burn stuff it doesn't stick. A quick wipe with a paper towel does the job. I don’t know if it’s a good pan for cooking or not but then it’s not as though I were the galloping gourmet.
Jake