Sorry for the late post – I just got home!
Crisp was fabulous, as usual! I have an ongoing conversation with the chef about his soups – they are simply marvelous. The only drawback – heavy cream is one of the top ingredients, which is probably exactly why they taste so darn good!! After a little discussion, I found out he uses 3 quarts of cream for every 4 gallons of water, and by my math that’s about a 1:5 ratio, which isn’t bad for a cup of soup.
This was the second time I had the prosciutto split pea soup and it didn’t let me down. His beet soup was amazing last time, and my friend got the carrot-ginger today – OH my gosh was it perfectly delicious. I didn’t want a whole bowl so I just asked for a “on the side” dressing container full – and sure enough, he brought a whole bowl! I ate about 3/4 of it and every bite was scrumptious…
I also got a salad, tossed in 1 tsp of homemade honey mustard (they take you seriously here when you say “only a little dressing”), with carrots, cucs, mushrooms, red peppers, spinach and raisins. It was topped with a small piece of grilled sole with a little piece of toast on the side. I ate every bite – yum!
I’m guessing lunch was around 550 kcal.
And I had a blast with my friend Susan!!! She’s so much fun to be around (hi Susan!) and we could talk for hours and hours 🙂
Questions
I’m sure you all are as aware as I am that there are LOTS of new (good!) questions and I’m having trouble keeping up. I’m wrapping my brain around more efficient ways to organize them so we don’t have so much repetition. I liked one readers suggestion for an improved FAQ page, but I feel like they would need to be grouped by topic and then new questions would be lost in the mix. I could also do “answer>s to your questions” posts and have a questions category so you could browse all at once AND use the search box at the top right, but I wonder how many people would bother to do that before asking a question? Plus, many of them pertain to the post they’re asked with, so I hate to separate them.
I do have one request – if your question might easily be answer>ed by a quick Google Search or a visit to Wikipedia, please do so! If you’re still in the dark, feel free to ask away 🙂
Any bright ideas?
Thanks to everyone for all of your enthusiam!
April says
Just wanted to say hi and love your blog! I am a member of CK and although I don’t blog there, I love to read everyone’s story and yours was one of my favorites! Thanks for all of your hard work (I don’t know how you do it all)!
Ally says
Just wondering where you get the ground flax seeds? I actually just bought some and then read your post about them needing to be ground to make them digestible. Any suggestions?
Beth says
I like the idea of the expanded FAQ, and maybe you could also suggest that people tone down some of the generic questions that don’t necessarily have to do with your posts for the day. Well, maybe tone down isn’t a nice word, but hopefully you know what I mean. I am sure it is time consuming to answer questions about your favorite brand of rice cake when your topic of the day is salad and soup!
You could also be like Cristin @ Eat Like Me and just answer select questions…
As a blog reader I agree that the questions are sort of overwhelming to read through, though I do enjoy seeing others’ comments and questions about the specific meal you’ve posted. Just a thought, not trying to be a hater 🙂
Natalie says
I know the last thing you need is another question, but I am very frustrated (not at you) with my lack of pancake making abilities. I have followed your recipe and always find my pancake won’t flip and looks more like egg with oats. Any ideas (i use the yellow version of egg beaters)
Jill says
Kath how do you find all these new products, such as the think organic. Do you spend hours at the grocery? Since your in bed already…….have a good day at school!
Karen Downing says
Enthusiasm is very kind…I think it’s more like an obsession! Kath, you are great. I really appreciate your dedication, authenticity and ability to relate.
Kath says
Hi April!,
Ally,
At the grocery store, in the flour/baking aisle.
Beth,
Thanks for the feedback! I’m still thinking about it…
Natalie,
Mix the eggs and oats the night before you make it. Don’t forget the baking powder. Set to medium heat – NO HIGHER and do not flip until you can shake the pan and the pancake doesn’t stick.
Jill,
I LOVE grocery stores and new food products. Basically I just read about them online, in magazines, through Hungry Girl or other bloggers and go check them out myself. Not in bed yet – it’s only 5:30 🙂
K
Natalie says
Thanks for the fast response, I’m determined to get it right. They look so good.
But do i put the bp in the night before too? I was doing it on high heat that could be why-is that bad?
Kim says
Hi Kath! The blog seems to be growing. My ten cents is to just do what you can/makes sense for you/fitting everything in that you’re doing as a full time grad student/wife etc. I like the eatlikeme blog too. My favorite thing about your blog is the friendly open forum, breezy style, your answers and other readers who share info as well. I’d hate for it to lose that functionality. I think it’s a point well made about us looking up info on our own that is easily accessible so you are not inundated. Keep up the great work. People need to understand you are already going above and beyond/sounds like this is a labor of love for you. Keep up the great work. Cheers.
Kath says
Natalie,
No – the BP needs to go in at the last minute!! Good question. And yes, the high heat was probably burning them before they could even cook through!
K
Kelly says
Hi Kath! I try to make all of my snack roughly 100-200 calories but today I had big bowl (approx. 2 cups of puffed kamut mixed with FF yogurt) I was still hungry so I had an apple as well. Dinner is in 2 hours. Is it best to eat a little more for my snack like I did today to satisfy me or should I try and stick it out until dinner?
kelly says
Does oatbran taste just like oatmeal? it looks the same in your pictures
hk says
hey kellly–
Just thought i’d chime in. I used to love the puffed kamut and puffed wheat cereals, delish. But I quickly found that they weren’t doing much for me in terms of providing fuel as an afternoon snack. All of this talk about snacks has definitely led to some great snack ideas that are filling, healthy, and still totally within 100-200 calories (whihc is what you mentioned above, too). I would say totally listen to your body when it’s telling you its hungry, and then your body will tell you at dinner time that it may not be so starving for fuel, and then your dinner may be a little smaller…it totally balances out when your honest with your body and give it the fuel it needs to get through the day. I’m just sort of shaking out the whole snack deal, and I’ve realized how much better I feel throughout the course of the day when my snacks are really providing fuel…even when that does mean add a few more calories. I know that your question was directed towards Kath, but I thought I’d chime in because I can totally relate. 🙂
allycat33 says
Hi Kath and everyone,
Over the past year and a half I’ve lost about 30 pounds and I’m at my goal I set at the beginning. I’m really happy and feel great, but how do I stop obsessing about food and weighing myself? I keep feeling like I want to lose more b/c I’ve been in weight loss mode for so long, but I know I shouldn’t. I guess I’m asking how you maintain without being obsessive and how you decided 120 was your ideal weight? Thanks for any tips.
bev says
Kath, Just wanted to let you know you have inspired alot of us to try different vegetables and etc; especially my own husband. Your unique reciepes make it so tempting to try and we haven’t been disappointed yet. Have a great weekend.
grace says
That lunch looks so delicious. I have to go there. It looks like such a treat, but really seems pretty nutritous.
Maria says
The soup looks absolutely delicious. French-style split pea is probably my favourite soup out there.
This idea may seem far out there – but what about a KERF forums? Readers could post questions and engage there, and you could also chime in. I think it would eliminate a lot of repeat, and you could have categories and a search function. I’ve created forums before, and there’s lots of open-access software that makes them easy (and cost-free) to start up. One downfall is that it removes the immediate gratification people get from reading your answers – but, you have a busy life, so it’s totally understandable. 🙂
At any rate, your kindness and total enthusiasm responding is contagious about this blog and the people who post here. So, a big thank you!
Karen L. says
Hi Kath!
My thoughts re: your workload issue – I think you are putting too much pressure on yourself. You set a precedent early on in which you answered every single poster. I am sure we all realize with your growing (well deserved) popularity, it just isn’t practical or necessary for you to respond to every comment and question.
I like your idea of asking that everyone refrain from posting questions with answers that can easily be found elsewhere. Also, perhaps we can all take some responsibility for pointing new joiners to earlier discussion threads relevant to their situation, on your behalf. Finally, why not just answer selected questions in each discussion thread? We can handle it! No offense taken! I think you can easily do this while still maintaining the interactivity that contributes to your blog’s intimite tone, as you’ll continue two-way communication on a daily basis. (If anyone really desires your input, they can simply ask the question again at a later time.)
Kath and All: Let’s just agree to completely ignore any inappropriate comments. Bad karma!
Maria says
Karen – just wanted to say I think that’s a fantastic, sensible solution!
Paula says
Hey Kath! Lunch looks delish! Yum, yum! Have a GREAT night!
Also, you rock! 🙂
-Paula
Anonymous says
Hi Kath,
Do you put your measurements into CK? Do you mind sharing what you measurements are? The reason I ask is….I am a couple inches taller then you and weight the same as you, but you look a lot thinner then I do.
HAP says
Maybe you could set up a page with a question and answer policy that includes some guidelines. For example, you could direct people to first look at the FAQs for their answer. Also, you could state that if you do not answer a question it is because it has been answered before. Other readers often know the answers to some repeat questions and could offer answers or point to where the answer could be found if needed.
Also, I do not think it would detrimental to the blog to separate the questions out from their original posts (like Cristin at eatlike me does). This would also provide people an easier way to search old questions/answers.
Finally, I don’t think you should worry about not answering all the questions within hours of being asked. I think people are more critical of Cristin’s answering policies because she gets paid to blog. You do this for free and are extremely interactive with the readers. We appreciate it, but I think most readers would understand if you sometimes cannot give 100% of your attention to us.
Kath says
Thanks for all the suggestions! Sounds like I should expand the FAQ, but just for the really frequently asked questions and continue to just chime in on the comments when I can. I hope people don’t mind if I don’t write back. DO know that I read everything that comes through! I think I struggle with this because I WANT to respond to every comment!
Kelly,
I’m under the school of thought that if you’re hungry your body is telling you something – eat. (That is after you’ve ruled out other cues like appetite, thirst and boredom). Sounds to me like the kamut (which is puffed and light) and yogurt (which had no fat) was just a little light for what you needed. I think it’s always better to have a snack than to sit down to dinner starving.
Oatbran is a little different than oatmeal. It’s not as sweet and is grainier. I like it for different reasons. If you don’t want to commit to a box, see if a local health foods store has it in bulk and just buy 1/3 of a cup.
Allycat,
Two things helped me move from weight loss to maintenance 1) Put away the scale. Out of reach. Take it to a friends or your family’s if you must. 2) Read the books I recommend – Superfoods HealthStyle and Fit From Within. Both were incredibly inspirational for me to realize that health is ultimately the goal. Weight is just a number. I didn’t really decide that 120 was my ideal weight, and I may lose/gain from that number (frankly I don’t know if I have because I put away my scale but I have definitely toned up a lot since entering maintenance so I wouldn’t be surprised if I lost fat and gained muscle to stay the same weight). After I read those books I just decided I would focus on healthy eating and would let my body do what it wants to do.
Bev,
That’s what I like to hear!! Keep experimenting – there are so many delicious veggies out there!
Anon,
Do you mean my waist, hip, etc. measurements? No, I don’t keep track of those – mostly just how my clothes fit. But we’re all built so differently that trying to compare our height/weight is like comparing the weight and size of a squash to that of a carrot! (Mmmmmm….car-rots).
Kath
Sara says
Kelly,
I had the exact same issue today! I was doing my Stat HW (I feel ya Kath) and got hungry around 330…I went downstairs for an orange and ended up eating a HUGE bowl of cereal. Normally that would have been fine, but I already had plans with the bf for dinner (we made semi-homemade bread…it was from a box and you mix in one beer, but at least its a start) So then I was stuffed when it was time for dinner. So instead of the delicious pannini the bf had, I just had a salad and a small piece of bread. But I think Kath is right, it’s better to have a small snack and wait it out for dinner.
Kelly says
HK- thanks for the feedback on the Kamut and snacking. I appreciate your response. I’m experimenting with different snacks and how I respond.