Nutrition and diets

I was looking around a bit today on the web for information about a variety of diets, and came across the one that tells you want foods you should eat or avoid if you are of a particular blood type.

I'm type A, and apparently this is the Vegetarian type, who can eat most types of deep water fish but not coastal fish or shellfish (grr), and should also avoid mushrooms, most dairy products, and quite a few lovely condiments like ketchup and capers.  Oh, and apparently I should avoid all nightshades - tomatoes, potatoes, peppers... 

Take all the joy out of my life, why don't you, Dr. Lam? 

Actually I don't doubt that he's got something there, and I'd already been researching low-glycemic,  anti-inflammatory, and paleo diets.  I might be able to come up with some compromise here.  I've already been cutting a lot of processed foods out of my diet.  I really want to be able to control or cure diabetes without taking medications.  I am SO bad about taking meds, and I don't like the side effects some of them have on me.

The major problem I have is cooking for two when one won't or can't eat what the other one does.   It's hard enough to cook for two when you're eating the same thing - trust me, it's a hell of a lot easier to cook for 4 or 8.  Broccoli Boy only likes certain vegetables, so I'll have to make stuff just for myself so I can have more variety.

Real 3D

Hope this gimmick of virtual 3D movies goes away, the glasses take something away from the experience for me if I'm not sitting dead center of the screen.

Getting ready for hibernation

I'm going to try to keep actively doing things this winter, and my first step towards that is to set up a sewing area in the basement.  I've already got a rug to keep my tootsies from sitting on bare concrete. 

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70251740/

Confession:  It's still out in my car ;)

Thanksgiving Menu

Last year worked out so well, we'll be doing it again. Mom's making the turkey, stuffing, and gravy. I'll make the rest of the sides. 

Of course I will still have to make a veg that Broccoli Boy likes too! The only thing on this entire list that I know he'll eat is the mashed potatoes.

Squashes

I'm thinking about playing off of this recipe to make something out of the butternut squash, leeks, hazlenuts, and cream I've already got. http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Butternut-Squash-Gratin-with-Goat-Cheese-and-Hazelnuts-240412

Else, I'll go the sage pesto route in this recipe http://food52.com/recipes/7374-caramelized-butternut-squash-wedges-with-a-sage-hazelnut-pesto

Next, a kabocha (Japanese pumpkin) squash recipe. I've only made the La Fuji Mama recipe, it was OK, but the soy braised one sounds lovely:

http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Soy-Braised-Kabocha-Squash

http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Kabocha-Squash-with-Ginger-Chao-Nan-Gua

http://www.lafujimama.com/2011/11/simmered-kabocha-squash/

 Cranberries

My whole berry cranberry sauce went over well last year, it featured peppercorns like some of these recipes do - I'm thinking of a possible variation with green cardamom.

http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Cranberry-Ginger-Chutney

http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Cranberry-Sauce-1000077254

http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Cranberries-with-Port

http://www.marthastewart.com/312619/cranberry-sauce-with-cognac?backto=true

 Brussels sprouts

Mom hates Brussels sprouts... unless they're roasted. Maybe I'll add some bacon this year...hmmm. I've got a nice thick center cut applewood smoked bacon in the fridge right now.  http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Brussels-Sprouts-and-Bacon 
I am also thinking about trying out a new way to make them and see if Mom likes these too.  http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-smoky-lemony-sauted-shredded-brussels-sprouts-recipes-from-the-kitchn-196909

 Roots and Tubers

I'm shooting for a maple glazed parsnip dish. Using these two links for inspiration http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/nigella-lawson/maple-roast-parsnips-recipe/index.html

http://www.marthastewart.com/315214/maple-glazed-parsnips-and-carrots

I'll go traditionally simple on the mashed potatoes and baked sweet potatoes. Then there’s the yearly mashed Turnip Of Doom (some may call it a rutabaga, neep, or swede instead). 

sssSSS BOOM!

Gardens outside are dying, so I'm contenting myself with gardening in Minecraft ;)

Blame Canada

21 degrees F this morning.  I was going to pull the last of the late-season tomatoes off the vines tonight, but they may have frozen overnight.

Pada śnieg.

It's snowing...at least a little bit.  Flurries all morning, people forgot how to drive according to people I know who drove in to work.  Hail to the mighty diesel engine that hauls my sleeping ass to work every morning.