Menu Deluxe

 Not long ago, I made myself what I thought was a wonderful stir fry complete with no MSG. It's an enemy of mine. And if you're like me, do not trust "no MSG added" on the bottle - it means there is MSG in it - but "natural". Natural or not, I can't eat it because it sends me into immediate shock and down I fall. In fact I am suddenly allergic to soy in any form. Four percent of adults have this. These days apparently more children are seeing food allergies. Why, is a mystery but they are dreadful experiences if you've ever suffered them. My new eating plan is two fold. It's not for everyone. First I do not eat until two in the afternoon which I am told is fasting. I don't eat because I am not hungry even though I do love my morning flavoured coffee with whipped cream and a teaspoon of honey. Second, eating is a different style now. While enjoying my morning coffee, I prepare my food "trough" for the day. My new food plan is mostly raw vegetables, home made mayo dip with a dash of sweet hot sauce, and an array of every vegetable I can find in the fridge. Today my long narrow tray holds, seaweed crackers, small cheese cubes, the dip forementioned, and all raw: strips of carrot, tiny tomatoes, cauliflower, broccoli, sweet onion, red pepper, celery, turnip, and grapes plus my own cooked meat that, today, is pork chop diced into cubes with the fat cut off - mostly. I call the long black plastic tray, my trough. It looks like a party tray and that feels luxurious. My trough sits out all day as I graze! The dessert is something odd. I have a tiny baker called a cake pop maker. Into it I put cake mix: small portions of any mix that looks interesting. One cake mix makes dozens and dozens of them. I keep mine in a pretty large glass container on the counter and take out some, top them with frosting or melted chocolate and dust them with chopped nuts or flaked coconut. My desserts are tiny but nice. No more do I shun cooking a "whole meal" or feeling too "full" to eat much and then, toss out some. Bon appetite!