Thursday 16 October 2008

I'm A Little TeaPot



"I'm a little teapot,
Short and stout!
Here is my handle,
Here is my spout!
When I get all steamed up
Watch me shout,
Tip me over
and pour me out!"
~author unknown


I used to love singing that song when I was a little girl and placing my arms just so . . . one as the handle and one as the spout. Little did I know that one day I would distinctly resemble that teapot that I was singing about.

Yes, friends . . . I'm a little stout teapot . . .



It wasn't always so. Right on up until after I had my fifth child I was slim, although I did have to struggle with it from time to time. My youngest son will be 20 in December and I'm ashamed to say that he has no recollection of me ever being slim, although I was up until he was about a year old. At that time, two things happened. One, I quit smoking. Two, I had my tubes tied. Now, I don't know if the two things happening in conjunction with each other have anything to do with it or not, but that is when the weight started to pile on, and pile on it has. I am twice the woman I used to be, and that's no lie!

When my Bruce was small, he used to say to me . . . "Mummy, you're not fat. You're just fluffy," and that used to make me feel good. It's ok being fluffy . . . but when you look in the mirror, it's a big reminder that umm . . . it's kinda not so good, you're not really fluffy you are . . .
f-a-t.



I've tried slimming too many times over the last 18 years or so to count. There is not a diet out there that I haven't tried and each one with a modicum of success. The problem is, for every ten pounds I have lost on a diet I have ended up gaining back fifteen. So, truthfully, every diet I have ever gone on has only made me fatter . . .

It's not easy slimming . . . not when you are married to stickman who can eat whatever he wants and never gain an ounce . . . not when you love food and spend your breakfast thinking about lunch and your lunch thinking about dinner . . . not when you cook for a living and everything you do at work revolves around that very thing and you are quite good at it!



I've been trying various recipes this past week, of the slimming kind and I would so love to share them with you, but my oh my . . . to be perfectly honest, they have all tasted like crapola and what's more . . . have looked like crapola. I think that when you take all the fat out of food . . . the flavour must go with it . . . It's quite disheartening.

My partner in Young Women's has lost over five stone since March. I am in awe of her. She never told a soul about it, but all of a sudden she started looking thinner. How has she done it? She told me she only eats a bowl of cereal and maybe a piece of toast for breakfast. Because she is a snacky type of person she then eats about 4 or 5 snacky types of things during the day . . . no lunch and then she has what everyone else has for supper, except on a smaller plate and in smaller amounts. I wonder do I have the willpower to do that . . . I know that I hate being the size I am now, and I cringe every time I look in the mirror. It's not pretty . . . it's not healthy . . . and it's more than a little annoying . . . I don't really like being a teapot. I would just love my son and my Todd, for that matter, to see me thinner . . .



So anyways, I am slimming, and hope to have some success with it, even if it's only to get back to the weight I was two summers ago when I had been doing the Food Doctor Diet. Yes, I did lose two stone on that and I would be happy with that, except now instead of losing two stone (that's 28 pounds to you North Americans) I now have to lose three . . . sigh . . .

3rd World Bread Day hosted by 1x umruehren bitte aka kochtopf

Did you know that today is the World Day of Bread? Well, it is!

Bread is one of the staple foods of the world, and one of the oldest, dating back to ancient times. As a foodstuff of great historical and contemporary importance, in many cultures in the West and Near and Middle East bread has a significance beyond mere nutrition. The word bread is now commonly used around the world in English speaking countries as a synonymfor money (as also is the case with the word dough.) The cultural importance of 'bread' goes beyond slang, however, to serve as a metaphor for basic necessities and living conditions in general. A 'bread-winner' is a household's main economic contributor and has little to do with actual bread-provision, for example. This also goes along with the phrase "putting bread on the table." A remarkable or revolutionary innovation is often referred to as "the greatest thing since sliced bread."

In honor of the World Day of Bread, Kochtopf of This Page is holding their 3rd World Bread Day roundup! This is the second day I have been participating and I hope it won't be the last! To be included all one has to do is blog about bread on this day. Either buy or bake some bread and then post it on your page, hopefully with a delicious looking picture of it and then let Kochtopf know by the end of today. The full details can be found on their page.

Now, as you all know . . . I am not the greatest bread baker around. I make great doorstops, which are neither tasty nor great to look at. My breadmaker makes great bread. My ex husband makes great bread. Almost everyone I know makes great bread. I, sadly . . . do not. I do make wonderful biscuits, scones and teabreads though and that is what I am going to share with you today. I got this lovely recipe for these delicious scones from my good friend Joy several years back and I have to say that they have become a favourite in this house and also at work. I think you're going to love them too! Thanks Joy!



*Cheese and Chive Scones*
Makes 12

Easy to bake and very, very versatile. I have made these with cheddar cheese and I have made these with stilton. They're always delicious, no matter what.

12 ounces self rising flour
1 1/2 tsp of baking powder
2 ounces margarine (I always use butter. Margarine is not something I ever have in my home)
1 1/2 tsp dry mustard powder
1 TBS freshly grated Parmesan Cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh chives
5 ounces strong Cheddar cheese, grated
1 cup of milk to mix
pinch of salt
milk for brushing on top
one final ounces of cheddar grated to sprinkle on top before baking

Pre-heat the oven to 210-220*C/425*F. Lightly butter a baking tray and set aside.

Sift the flour, salt and baking powder together into a bowl. Add the butter and rub it into the flour mixture with your fingertips until it is fine crumbs. Stir in the mustard, cheese and chives. Mix well and then stir in the milk to make a fairly soft dough.

Roll or pat out on a lightly floured surface to about 1 1/4 inches thickness. Cut with a sharp round cutter, 2 1/2 to 3 inches in diameter. Do not twist the cutter. Just give it a sharp tap down and then lift it straight up. Twisting gives you lopsided scones. Place a few inches apart on the baking sheet. Brush the tops of each with some milk and then sprinkle with the last bit of cheddar.

Bake in the pre-heated oven for approximately 7 to 10 minutes until well risen and lightly browned. Enjoy!

24 comments:

  1. Ooo, I love scones, and savory ones are so wonderful! And you're definitely a bread baker - I know a lot of people who can make sourdough loaves but can't make a biscuit or scone to save their life. Good luck with the slimming, although I know that it can be difficult - my boyfriend eats anything, doesn't exercise, and is a stick too. No fair, huh?

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  2. Marie one day at a time. Don't be so hard on yourself. You have a beautiful heart and share it with all of us. I support you in your efforts and just know we love you and are grateful for your great talents. I love breads as well especially homemade and I think that's my enemy number one.

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  3. Come on now - - positive thinking equals positive results. Although it did feel as though I was reading about myself... I'm about to emark upon my own slimming journey if you're wanting some support. (I'm pretending not to notice the delicious scones!) xoA!

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  4. I've found slimming to be the most dificult thing to do for someone who enjoys food! I have recently decided to try slimming again and my first step was joining an online group called Craving Ellie in My Belly. We're cooking one healthy recipe out of her book every week. The website is: http://cravingellieinmybelly.wordpress.com/

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  5. Hi MY weight problem was not too bad for my age until I too stopped smoking five years ago and retired from an active job almost four years ago now we live the good life with all the time in world and too many coffees and biscuits later, I too have a weight problem.Am trying to cut protion size down this time. We shall see. Love Joan.

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  6. Teapot and Stickman...Oh, my goodness, you have me laughing, Marie--LOL! Such a sentive post, I hardly know where to start...Mostly I wish you luck, and if possible, fun, on your new diet. It's hard when we're not happy with how we look. It affects out life, our well-being...But eating should be joyful. Diets may be necessary, but there should always be enjoyment somehow, even while slimming. I'll be 36 the end of December. And the last couple of years I've noticed how my body has been changing, how the pounds are sitting differently on my body, and I can't say I like that too much...quite a bit of wobbly "cottage cheese"...thanks goodness for clothing to hide it--LOL! *SIGH* ..but let us know how you get one, and do share the great slimming recipes when you find them...We're cheering you on! LOVE YOU HEAPS--always no matter what! ((BIG HUGS))

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  7. i am in total agrement with your son you are not fat ur fluffy..!
    love and hugs
    fariah

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  8. If you love food Marie as I thinkwe all do whatever our likes are.I feel thers no need to cut anythign out.I believe successful weight loss is eating in moderation.Three meals a day and nothing else.Or snack type meals as your friend did many as often as you like but very small amounts.I find many snack type meals suit my metabolism better as I havn't a realy good stomackh for large meals and it always works for me the snacking.Large meals and cookies etc bloat me and they do pile weighton.Everyone who stops smoking does too,but the ones I have known have always gone back to there normal weight after a period of about two years.You are lovely anyway.We cannot have everything and your smile lights up anybody's day.Love you as you are like Todd does.I am not commenting bread as I love it it is my downfall.LOL!!Mind over matter lets say.Take Care God Bless Kath.

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  9. You are joined in your feelings about this by literally thousands of others. Including me. I want to be healthier and truth be told, I'd love to be thinner just to look better. Vanity, thy name is woman. There are days when I tell myself this is the way God made me. Other days I tell myself you are being a glutton which God says not to do. I battle within. blessings, marlene

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  10. The scones look wonderful and sometimes I think diets are over-rated. Moderation in all things is my motto, so you ate a cupcake, go take a walk or a bike ride. I could use some slimming myself :)

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  11. I love the teapot. Mom and I both collect them. We have some very old ones. Sorry I haven't written lately. We just got back from Atlanta and posted some pictures. Miss you and hopefully will get to meet you in the spring.

    Suzan

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  12. Dear Marie I love Tea pots!!! dear be happy if you like this is OK but dont suffer!!I love you so!!! and think you are really nice!!!and you look so happy!!!! xxGloria

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  13. Dear Maie,
    I completely understand what you are saying about dieting. I have fought my weight as long as I can remember. I have gone on serious diets since I was in high school.

    I have gotten my weight down at times and looked quite good but it only lasts as long as I am able to starve myself and then like you I gain it all back plus more. Like you, I want to loose weight again but I don't know if I have the energy or discipline any more.

    However, you are encouraging me to do so. I wish you luck... and I hope that I will get down to work doing the same. It is hard for me to exercise when I don't feel well a lot of the time...but then maybe I would feel better if I would get some pounds off.

    I am coming down with a cold today. I hope that I will not be blowing my nose and coughing all over the temple patrons tonight. I'm sure they would not be happy about that.

    Good luck with YM. I send love, Lura

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  14. To a beautiful and gracious lady,
    Thanks for sharing such a mouth watering recipe.

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  15. Marie, of course you can do this! I'm rooting for you.

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  16. You are a beautiful woman and spirit and don't think any different......I love reading all your posted thoughts and poems as well as your delicious recipes.....now...I am 71 and am trying to lose 30 or 40 pounds for my health mainly...I have lost 17 and must say it is because i am not eating bread, butter, and sweets.....I have lost 17 pounds.....if you could just think about perhaps losing a pound or two a week might be easier AND allow yourself a little treat now and then........good luck dear and your blog is my very favorite.......Nancy from Missour, USA

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  17. Oh Marie! You're such a dear woman. I hate to see you beating yourself up over your figure. I think a big part of your problem is the inability to excercise because of your feet. Could you do water aerobics? Is there a pool on the property? Maybe the foot doctor can recommend some kind of shoes that will make your feet better. You're such a beautiful woman, so generous with your time and love that a little extra "stones" shouldn't matter. We'll have you fixed up in no time!

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  18. well we may be thousands of miles away but he problems are still the same.ha ha.I am in my fifties, lost 28 lbs 4 years ago and have slowly gained it back over the last 2 years.I had no idea until I had to be weighed for GALLBLADDER surgery.Yikes.You look beautiful to me.Such a smile and your smile shows in your writing.I too shall now try to lose this extra baggage again.Good luck (to both of us) from canada.

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  19. Marie, you're lovely! It's just so hard. My Godson once asked me (on his birthday) if I ate cake every day, and I said (being a responsible adult) that, no I didn't, because if I did I would be too chubby. "What does chubby mean, Aunt Audrey?" "Big and round." "But Aunt Audrey, you're already big and round." I think I worked off about 500 calories just LAUGHING.
    The scones are beautiful, too!

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  20. Well Marie, from my many years of experience of being on diets, the key is...not to be on a diet. Yep, diets don't work. You and I are the same age, believe me I know how hard it is at our age to loose weight. It's not as easy as it was when we were younger, running after kids, being more active. When we were younger we wanted to loose weight to look good, now in addition to wanting to look good we also need to do it for our health. Making small changes in your eating habits is the start. Think about something that you can change and LIVE with for the rest of your life. Next week think of something else you can change and live with. Every week change something, go from regular milk to 2% milk, then go to skim milk. Do things gradually. We don't gain weight all at once and we don't loose it all at once. Activity helps alot. Going for walks, starting out slow and working your way up. Going on diets just sets people up for failure because they think if they go off the diet, they've messed up so why continue. I've struggled with weight my whole life Marie, If you need a partner, I'm with you! We can do it Marie, it'll take time and patience but we can do it. We can all do it together!

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  21. Marie: I know what you mean about slimming - everything tastes nasty! Fat is indeed what makes our food taste good, that is a scientific fact! As you can plainly see from my pictures, I need to be slimming myself. I can do it, I lost 12 lb earlier this year, but then I got off track. I think having my own house will be better, I can control the groceries. Those scones would go a treat with a nice hot bowl of soup! Much love, Raquel XO

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  22. Wonderful scones, indeed. Thx for your participation in WBD'08.

    And I wish you all the best for your slimming project.

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  23. Yeah, I married stickman too... he's always been lean. After he quit smoking 20 years ago, he did gain a few pounds, but not much. Still, it did hurt his health, and now he's lost it all and is back to his pre married weight... but me, I look big next to him. Good luck with your slimming... recipes look great. I've never made scones. But I do love to have one with my tea whenever they are available. Which is rarely.

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  24. I love scones very much, and your look amazingly delicious.

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