JGE 105 – Supper Showdown – Kakavia +++

Good Day,

My 4th of July meals were a celebration of foods from all over the place and the world.

This morning’s blood sugar count showed a net zero change from my last posting 2 days ago. And the early morning FSB recorded at 100 mg/dL. It actually increased by 2 points as compared to yesterday.

Lunch – Poutine, Cuban, and Yuca Fries and a beer at Cigar City BrewPub.

Supper last night was my, throw in the pot, Kakavia.

Another Greek name is Psarosoupa, but I found it easier to pronounce Kakavia. Another name/version might be a Bouillabaisse; also Cioppino; bottom line – a Seafood Stew.

My guide recipe was from the site Kalofagas | Greek Food & Beyond.

My ingredients included: Onion, Garlic, Celery, Carrot, Potatoes, Spanish Olive Oil, Jamaican All-Spice, Black Peppercorns, Salt with Fennel and Garlic, Star Anise, Bay Leaves, Saffron, Dry White Wine, Chicken Stock, Tomatoes, Cilantro, and Lemons. The seafood ingredients included: Cobia, Cod, Shrimp, Mussels, and Clams.

And my dessert was a slice of Whole Foods’ Apple Pie with a slice of Irish Cheddar Cheese

And my approximate carbohydrate tally for lunch and supper-

Poutine ≈ 53.0 grams
Cuban ≈ 56.0 grams
Yucca Fries ≈ 58.0 grams
Beer ≈ 38.0 grams
Kakavia ≈ 10.0 grams
Slice of White Whole Wheat Flax Bread ≈ 14.8 grams
Apple Pie ≈ 47.0 grams
Irish Cheddar Cheese ≈ 1.0 grams

My unscientific and approximate total ≈ 277.8 grams

This morning’s results –

FSB – 100 ↑ up 98 (Normal range 100 – 125 mg/dL)
A1c – 5.35 ≈ 5.35 (Normal range 5.7 – 6.4 %)
eAG – 106.8 ↓ down 106.8 (Normal range 117 – 137 mg/dL)

Tune in tomorrow to Jim’s Gotta Eat to see the comparison of the results...and the set up a new Supper Showdown.

Food for thought – Try not to eat too late in the evening. Manage the amount of food that I eat. Do not over eat because my eyes see good food.

Yesterday I began my new exercise routine on a new Jim’s Trek Part V.

I am trying to control my diabetes with exercise and food. I have eliminated all diabetes medication. I am keeping my weight stable, and Jim's gotta eat.

Enjoy.

Jim

JGE 54 – Take Out Plus From Whole Foods Increases FBS By 6 Points

Good Day,

6 oz. container of Lobster Chowder and small container of Fried Rice and Bar-B-Que Pork for lunch; small container of Asian Noodles and Spicy Chicken Salad and an Egg Salad Spinach Wrap from Whole Foods and some Corn Nuts… And two scoops of Chocolate Fudge Ice-Cream when I got home in the early evening. Definitely a mish-mash menu of food.

My early morning blood sugar count increased 6 points. My FBS is 112 mg/dL.

Oh and by the way the only liquid I had all day was glasses of water.

My calculated A1c is at 5.37 (no change) and the eAG at 107.5 (up 0.1). Gotta work to bring those down again. At January 1 they registered at 5.24 and 103.8, respectively.

Haven’t got anything planned for supper tonight. The way that I am feeling right now, maybe a hunger strike. Have you ever had one of those days?

Tune in tomorrow to Jim’s Gotta Eat to see the comparison of the results...and the set up a new Supper Showdown.

Food for thought - I am trying to control my diabetes with exercise and food.  I have eliminated all diabetes medication.  I am keeping my weight stable, and Jim's gotta eat. Enjoy.

Jim

JGE 33 - Korean Shrimp Kimchi and Green Onion Pancake

Good Day,

I decided that I wanted something completely different. Hell I'll try any food that's different. Whether I'll like it or not... the adventure is in the trying.

Did I ever mention that I love food?  And this time I wanted to create meal fast.  (Yes I know that the English purists will insist on "quickly".)

For something new, I decided that I wanted to try cooking something with Green Onion Pancakes.  I had seen packages of them time and time again at my favorite Asian grocery store, MD Oriental Market on Flower Avenue in Tampa.

I had no clue as what to do with them and a quick Internet search offered me many ways to make them from scratch.  But the ones at the Market were pre-made and frozen.  Step number one, I bought a package.  Instructions for preparation appeared to be very simple...and without the mess.

But how in the hell do I use Green Onion Pancakes in a meal? Another Internet search and I found a number of Korean versions of shrimp and green onion pancakes.  I settled on a Korean Shrimp Kimchi and Green Onion Pie trial.

Apart from the Green Onion Pancakes I had some Shrimp,

Baby Bok Choy,

and Garlic.  Even thought the recipe did not call for Baby Bok Choy or Garlic, I couldn't see what I would lose out if I included them.

At Whole Foods I was able to pick up a jar of Wildbrine Korean Kimchi.  

 

I know that at MD Oriental Market there are rows of various types of Kimchi. 

And so with a fry pan set on the stove top I began the browning, in peanut oil, of the Green Onion Pancakes. 

I turned the oven on to warm so as while I cooked the pancakes I could keep them warm.

With a second fry pan, I threw the shrimp and garlic into some peanut oil, stir-fried and then removed the shrimp to a warm plate.  Next I pitched in the chopped up Baby Bok Choy and about half the jar of Kimchi.

I kept the heat on low and attempted to reduce the liquid by about half...  Oh and just a note for a second time, I'll probably use a bit of chicken and/or vegetable broth to cut down the somewhat strong vinegary taste of the Kimchi.

 

And to plate - Two Green Onion Pancakes topped with a couple spoonfuls of the Shrimp, Kimchi and Baby Bok Choy mixture. 

This supper was a completely different treat. Would I try it again? Hell yes...

All I can say is Jim's Gotta Eat.

Any comments, thoughts, ideas, question please email me at Jim's Gotta Eat.

Enjoy,

Jim

JGE 26 – Snow Crab and Shrimp Boil

Good Day,

Publix had Snow Crab Legs on special…and I, well you know me, I just got a craving for a crab boil. Oh did I tell you that I do a lot of the grocery shopping at Publix.

Oh yeah, Publix was ranked by The Daily Meal  as the 4th best supermarket chain in the country, based on national survey data this January 2015. (Number 1 was Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods number 2, and Costco 3.) Nice to know that I can, if I had to, walk to both Publix and Whole Foods.

My ingredients – Snow Crab Legs, Shrimp, Corn, Onion, Red Bliss Potatoes, Chicken Andouille Sausage, Old Bay Seasoning, Beer, Butter.

With everything in place; I think the phrase is “Ingrédients mis en place”, I began the boil. Water, Beer and a fair amount, about 1/3 of a cup of Old Bay Seasoning. Once the brew was boiling I added the Chicken Andouille Sausage, the Red Bliss Potatoes, the chopped Onion, and the Corn. I turned the burner down to about medium and let everything cook for about 15 +/- minutes until the potatoes were done to my liking. Of course, I had to taste.

Next I put in the Snow Crab legs and the frozen Shrimp. I turned the stove burner down to low, covered the pot, and melted the Butter in the microwave.

Damn was supper good.

Oh yeah. I had a Chocolate Cream Cheese Brownie for dessert. And my blood sugar count this morning dropped by 8 points to 96.

You know that Jim’s gotta eat…and I did.

Oh tonight, I think I am gonna try and make Bubble and Squeak.

Enjoy,

Jim