Sofregit Recipe

Summary: The base of Paella

My rating: 5.0 stars

My No-No Food List

I was asked recently by a friend to make a list of the foods I am supposed to avoid to alleviate symptoms and pain of my Arthritis, Fibromyalgia and post-Endometriosis and post-Menopausal issues, plus, whatever else ails me and my digestive system. I have avoided making this no-no list for years, as you will understand when you read it…

• Sugar
• Salt
• Corn Syrup
• Citrus
• Potatoes
• Tomatoes
• Peppers
• Chili Peppers
• Eggplant
• Mushrooms
• Beef
• Milk
• Cow Cheese
• Nuts
• Seeds
• Corn
• Coffee
• Chocolate
• Soy
• Wild Rice
• Wheat
• Alcohol

I am reeling at the thought of cutting any of these items from my diet. I have had a love/hate relationship with food that has spanned Anorexia to high Cholesterol. Chocolate is my go-to addiction as I have Peanut butter-in-a-casing-of-chocolate habit. I make an unbelievably good loaf of French bread that is an art form that deserves to be done well and often. I find great joy in mixing butter and sugar with Vanilla and flour and making a form of culinary art that has no redeeming qualities other than mouth joy, a wonderful aroma, and a craving for more. A comfort food junkie, I can’t imagine life without a Garlic, Onion, Pepper and Tomato mixture with cheese and pasta. Or Potatoes in any form…

Where should I begin on this list? Definitely not at the top…I haven’t had Wild Rice in years…so I guess continuing that trend won’t hurt. Soy? Not really a fan, so I can do this. Eggplant isn’t a favorite of mine, so I guess I can forgo eating it. Seeds? Okay. I’ll start with seeds. That shouldn’t be too difficult. I’ll even add Citrus to my no-more plan. Guilt is already assailing me, as I won’t miss any of these food choices. I have to give up more to begin. Mushrooms. Ooo…that hurts already. Okay, I can do without Mushrooms. I will continue to remove these items from my diet over a period of time to see if there is an improvement in my health and well-being. Meanwhile I will have an opportunity to evaluate my food choices and where I can find hidden forms of these items that I should avoid.

Tomato Hornworm Photos

How Do My Tomatoes Grow?

The Blight has hit my garden destroying most of the Tomato plants.

For the time, we have saved what has not appeared to be damaged.

It is an emotional loss as well.

When living in Maine, with such a short summer season, fresh ripe Tomatoes from the vine are planned on long before the ground has thawed in the spring.

How does my garden grow.

Orange banana Tomato growing

All tied up and ready to grow.

With the indulgence of rain this past month, the vegetable garden is lush and productive!
We tied up the two rows of 18 varieties of Tomato plants as the heavy branches were forming roots of their own.