Comfort Food

[cookiecate]

For the past few months as some of you know life has been particularly difficult for me. However, I have managed to stick to the Atkins plan. During the holidays I had my mother-in-law to stay she is 81 and very particular about her food. I had to cook roast potatoes, toast, fries, and sandwiches to her so I had plenty of temptation however, because I was eating well I wasn't tempted.

One particular meal has kept me going strong and I would like to share it with you.

I defrost some chicken breast and either leave them whole or cut them into bite size pieces. I then fry them in onion, butter and garlic. When they are cooked through I add frozen spinach, tinned tomatoes, mushrooms and when they are soft add a big dollop of cream cheese. This seems to keep me satisfied and tastes very rich and creamy. It can be cooked very quickly and it kept me sane when there were chocolates and cake around at Christmas.

I have also been making tuna bake and omlettes these food somehow are filling and warming which is just what I need just now. Spinach, cream cheese and eggs are my basics for most comfort foods.

[EverLosing]

Re: Comfort Food

Hey, Mrs. C!! I was wondering what got you through while your mother in law was there!!

Here's my favorite rich, delicious comfort food. Had it last night!! It's an incredibly yummy way to get veggie carbs in too!

I thaw and de-tail shrimp. I cook a spaghetti squash in the microwave. I make the creamy alfredo sauce recipe off Linda's site. OH, I LOVE IT!

Linda's Low Carb Menus & Recipes

It's a perfect Atkins meal! It's full of fat to keep you satiated. Protein is a given with the shrimp and the spaghetti squash serves as a low carb pasta. When you sit down and eat this meal the word DIET will never ever cross your mind! Please try it, Cookiecate! You'll love it!

[cookiecate]

Re: Comfort Food

Oh, that sounds sooo good. Only problem is that here in Northern England I don't think they have heard of spaghetti squash. I have tried all the supermarkets without success may be someone out there can advise me. I have eaten it in the States but not here. OH BOO

[EverLosing]

Re: Comfort Food

I'm not sure but I think it's called something else in the UK. We need Elizellen to chime in here. I can't remember what I read but I thought there was an old post where someone from the UK said it was called something else there. I'll do some research. You SHOULD have this meal!!

[EverLosing]

Re: Comfort Food

Okay, Mrs. C!! I found 2 links for ya.

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/food-cooking-chat/64669-cant-find-spaghetti-squash-uk.html

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/main-atkins-diet-forum/62413-i-found-spaghetti-squash-uk.html

[cookiecate]

Re: Comfort Food

I want this meal!!!!!!! I have googled and can find seeds to grow a spaghetti squash but I will look again to see if they call it something else.

[cookiecate]

Re: Comfort Food

Thanks for the link. Living in the North of England means I don't have a Waitrose Supermarket anywhere and the other place is in London. I have a cunning plan and that is to ask my son who loves vegetable markets and lives down South and maybe even my daughter who actually lives in London to help with the finding of the SQUASH. They sound like they keep well so I could buy a few and keep them. It took a long time for the butternut squash to appear in England. I might call up my supermarket manager and ask him/her if they would get some in I am sure they would sell really well.

[EverLosing]

Re: Comfort Food

Mrs. C, check out my last post I sent at 7 minutes after the hour. I sent you some links but I think you missed it as you were probably already in this thread replying when I posted. Spaghetti marrow? Check out the links! I thought they were pretty helpful! And somehow...some way, you shall have this meal! I'm sure!!

[not2late]

Re: Comfort Food

Thompson and Morgan seed company sells spaghetti squash seeds.

Squash : Hasta La Pasta F1 Hybrid (Seeds)

So if you have the room to grow it, try it out. The "male" flowers and the seeds are edible so that's an added treat with squashes and pumpkins.

[cookiecate]

Re: Comfort Food

I saw the seeds advertised when I was Googling for somewhere to buy the squash. I will certainly try and grow some they sound delicious and unusual even better if I can eat the seeds as well.

I tried some more comfort food yesterday as the weather is cold and my family are involved with funeral arrangements and are turning feisty. Fortunatlely I am having nothing to do with the arrangements as it is an exhusband but I am trying to support my son.

So yesterday I heated up a pan on the stove then I placed about eight chicken thighs in the pan and let them brown nicely. I then added a red onion, quite a bit of garlic and let the onion caramalise and soften.

I then added a tin of chopped tomatoes, a large amount of frozen spinach and some cauliflower florets. I added a dollop of butter and a large spoonful of wholegrain mustard and a few globs of hot pepper sauce a couple of spoonfulls of white wine vinegar and some sugar substitute.

As you will see the measurements are not complicated but to your own taste. I was cooking this without a recipe and just added what I fancied. It turned out to be really nice and I was quite proud of my one pot of comfort food.

I am still looking forward to trying the spaghetti squash and am already thinking of what I could do with it.

[cookiecate]

Re: Comfort Food

As I am disabled I have my groceries delivered it is a great way of not being tempted by anything looking or smelling good in the supermarket too.

Supplies were running low and I had the odds and ends of vegetables and a tin of corned beef. So I sauted red onion, garlic, red and green peppers in the pan until they were soft then I added half tin chopped tomatoes and a small teaspoon of hot chilli powder. I then added a few spring onions and the tin of corned beef. I added a lid and allowed everything to soften. It ended up to be a really good warming, satisfying meal.