Pot-roast chicken with root vegetables and barley ... brings childhood memories

A roast dinner with hardly any washing up, what could be better. This dish features chicken, a firm family favourite, and which even in these days of rising costs is still reasonably priced. Read on for more details ...

Ingredients
Serves four
1.5-1.8kg/3lb 5oz - 4lb chicken (free-range or organic, if possible)
olive oil, for roasting
½ swede (rutabaga), peeled and chopped
3 carrots, cut into chunks
2 onions, chopped
100g/3½oz pearl barley
2 chicken stock cubes
500ml/18fl oz hot water
2 garlic cloves, flattened
1 tsp dried thyme
1 head spring greens, shredded
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method
1. Preheat the oven to 240C/220C Fan/Gas 9, or as high as it will go.
2. Put the chicken into a large casserole dish, drizzle with oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 15 minutes to brown the chicken, then remove from the oven and reduce the temperature to 220C/200C Fan/Gas 7.
3. Transfer the chicken to a plate, then put all the ingredients except the spring greens into the casserole. Lay the chicken on top and cover with the lid.
4. Set the casserole over a high heat for 3-4 minutes, until you hear the liquid in the bottom of the dish start to boil. Transfer to the oven and cook for 40 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through completely.
5. Carefully remove the chicken from the pan with a pair of forks or tongs and set aside to rest for 15-20 minutes.
6. Meanwhile, stir the spring greens into the vegetables and pearl barley, cover with a lid and leave to stand while the chicken rests.
7. Carve the chicken and serve with the vegetables.

Each serving provides
447 kcal, 57g protein, 17g carbohydrate (of which 13g sugars), 14.5g fat (of which 3.5g saturates), 10g fibre and 2.5g salt.

Recipe Tips
i) Take the chicken out of the fridge half an hour before you plan to cook it and pat it dry with kitchen paper.
ii) If you don’t have a large enough lidded casserole to hold the chicken, you can use a roasting tin and cover it tightly with foil.

iii) cabbage, kale or spinach could be used if you cannot find any spring greens

Pearl Barley
Is barley with all the bran removed, giving the round, shiny grains a pearlescent white colour. It can be used in soups and stews as a thickener, or to add texture rather than flavour. Growing up I can remember my dear mother used to include it in quite a few meals, especially her tasty stews! Pearl barley is widely used in Japan and countries with cool climates.

Recipe from an original idea here

For readers who may prefer a vegetarian dish, have a look at 'Greengrocers Veggie Hotpot' here

~ with Christmas getting near, I couldn't resist these ~

You will find a variety of articles and recipe ideas 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

DIABETES NEWS : 'Type 1 diabetes breakthrough as new T-cell study may lead to improved treatment'

"For decades, when we couldn’t figure out the cause of an illness like cancer or diabetes we’d say it was probably due to an infection – bacterial or viral. This has been dramatically shown to be true in type 1 diabetes.

Research by Cardiff University ­scientists have found that proteins from bacteria can trigger the immune system to attack insulin-producing cells, leading to the development of type 1 diabetes.

The new research shows that killer T-cells – a type of white blood cell that’s involved in tackling bacterial infections – can cause type 1 diabetes when activated by bacteria.

How? Proteins from bacteria known to infect us can generate killer T-cells that can literally kill insulin-producing cells.

This research is led by Cardiff University’s Professor Andrew Sewell who first showed that killer T-cells cause type 1 diabetes by killing insulin-producing cells.

Prof Sewell explains: “Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that usually affects children and young adults, where the cells that produce insulin [in the pancreas] are attacked by the patient’s own immune system. This leads to a lack of insulin, meaning that people living with type 1 diabetes need to inject insulin multiple times a day to control their blood sugar levels.”

Prof Sewell adds: “There is currently no cure for type 1 diabetes and patients require lifelong treatment. People living with type 1 diabetes may also develop medical complications later in life, so there is an urgent need to understand the underlying causes of the condition to help us find better treatments.”

So what sets off these T-cells on a killing spree? In laboratory ­experiments, researchers ­introduced bacterial proteins into cells from healthy donors and monitored the reaction of killer T-cells from these donors. They found that strong ­interaction with the bacterial proteins triggered killer T-cells to attack cells that make insulin.

Prof Sewell explains: “Killer T-cells are able to target and attack body cells that produce a specific protein.

“We found that after encountering proteins from some infectious bacteria, killer T-cells could mistakenly also kill cells producing the insulin protein.

“We found activated T-cells with this same ‘cross-reactivity’ in the blood of patients with type 1 diabetes, suggesting that what we saw in ­laboratory experiments could have triggered the disease.”

The research provides the first evidence of how proteins from ­bacterial germs can trigger the type of killer T-cells seen in patients with type 1 diabetes.

The team hopes that knowing more about this process will allow new ways to diagnose, prevent, or even halt the development of type 1 diabetes.

Great research."

Words above from article seen here

The research, was published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation, read more here

All the best Jan

Clementine Glazed Salmon : Perfect For the Christmas and Holiday Season

Well, we are now in December and the countdown to Christmas or the holiday celebrations continue. Regular readers will know, I do enjoy salmon, so when I saw this recipe I definitely thought it one to share. It may give you an idea for a Christmas dinner main, or an easy meal for over the holiday season or perhaps an impressive New Year's Day lunch! Whenever you choose to enjoy this salmon recipe, I'm sure it won't disappoint! 

Ingredients

Serves Four

500g boneless salmon half side
2 garlic cloves, finely grated
2cm piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated
6 clementines, 4 zested and juiced, 2 thinly sliced
2 tbsp clear honey
½ tsp reduced-salt soy sauce
1 cinnamon stick or star anise
2 tsp olive oil
10g fresh coriander, leaves picked
5g fresh chives, snipped
2 spring onions (scallions), thinly sliced​

Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to gas 6, 200°C, fan 180°C. Lay the salmon, skin-side down, on a lined baking tray.
2. Put the garlic, ginger, clementine zest and juice in a saucepan with the honey, soy sauce and cinnamon stick. Bubble over a medium-high heat for 3-5 mins until thickened and syrupy.
3. Brush the salmon with the oil, arrange the sliced clementines on top, then pour over the clementine glaze. Bake for 12-15 mins until cooked through but still slightly pink in the centre.
4. Transfer to a platter; drizzle over the glaze from the tray. Scatter with the herbs and spring onions (scallions).

Each serving contains

Carbohydrate 17.9g Protein 24.4g Fat 16g Fibre 1.8g

Tip

Use this versatile clementine glaze for roast ham, pork or poultry, or pour over roasted carrots or other root vegetables.

From original idea seen here

Looking for alternative Vegetarian and Vegan Christmas / Holiday Season recipes have a look here and here please note not all shown in the link are low carb!

~ wishing you a happy day ~

Dear reader, you will find a variety of articles and recipe ideas within this blog, 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

Welcome December 2024

As we say goodbye to November it's time to say hello to December.

Yes, the twelfth and final month of the year is here!

Did you know?

1. December is a special month in the Northern Hemisphere, as it has the shortest daylight hours of the year. This is due to the tilt of the Earth’s axis, which causes the sun to follow its lowest arc across the sky. The exact date with the least amount of daylight is known as the winter solstice, usually falling on December 21 or 22, marking the official start of winter.

2. December is universally recognized as the prime month for home decoration around the globe. This tradition is largely linked with the holiday festivities of Christmas and Hanukkah, which involve decking homes with lights, ornaments, and themed décor. The sight of streets lit up with dazzling lights and houses adorned with festive decorations adds to the unique charm of December, making it a favourite time for many.

3. Common decorations on a Christmas tree each have their specific meanings. Candles – the light of the world, the Star at the top is a reminder of the first Christmas night and candy canes are to represent the shepherd’s cane.

4. The two zodiac signs associated with December are Sagittarius, which covers individuals born from November 22 to December 21, and Capricorn, for those born from December 22 to January 19. People born under Sagittarius are often described as adventurous and optimistic, while Capricorns are typically characterized as disciplined and responsible.

5. The flower associated with December is the Narcissus. This vibrant flower, often recognized for its trumpet-shaped centre, has a rich symbolic history. It is often associated with the Greek myth of Narcissus and is seen to symbolize self-esteem, vanity, and wealth. The Narcissus, with its bright colours and delicate petals, brings a touch of beauty to the wintry month of December.

6. December, holds the title of being the most popular month for engagements. Within December, Christmas Eve is considered the most favoured day for proposals. The holiday season’s festive spirit, family gatherings, and the ambiance of love and togetherness create the perfect setting for such romantic gestures.

7. The first text message sent was Merry Christmas in December 1992.

8. December is the ultimate pizza month in the US? During this festive period, Americans indulge in more pizza than any other time of the year!

~ and now to share a December recipe ~

Mince Pies, the low carb way

I'm told Father Christmas Loves Them!

see more details here

~ Wishing you a happy December 2024 ~

Dear reader, you will find a variety of articles, studies etc. plus recent news/views and recipe ideas within this blog, hopefully something for everyone to read and enjoy ... but please note, 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