first meal

My first meal after five days of dry toast and boiled water. Nothing has ever tasted so nourishing, nor left me with such a hearty glow! 

Not a body beautiful detox, I was instead possessed by some bug or virus. It was all a bit too visceral and left me grumpily waif-like and hungry. Five days of not eating properly! 

Miso soup was a real breakthrough & kept me going: salty soup is recommended to replace lost salts in the body and I happened to have some individual paste sachets from the supermarket. I will keep some in store as medical emergency provision! PJ was my other saviour: dry toast really is the only comfortable thing to eat, and PJ looked after me, toasting seedy bread.

My sister had twin symptoms, simultaneously (discussed in too-graphic detail). We recovered at the same time and, whilst wondering what to brave for a meal, I heard she was having 'your mend-all chicken and barley stew'.  Of course!  A now-distant cousin of Nigella's 'praised chicken', the barley version is very gentle and homey. Barley, cubed potato and leek are simmered about, with a few chicken thighs for 50 minutes. My taste buds feel brand new and must be very sensitive, as the dish didn't need seasoning!

How the Gouda tasted

Is 265g Gouda cheese in 24 hours, too much? I just ate a whole block in two sittings and am not sure of the health benefits or drawbacks. Lots of calcium long term, weighed against a mucousy short term future. The taste benefits I can testify to, though. Yesterday I paired it with a sharp little British Braeburn apple and some shortbread: today, eyes glazed, I just ate it slice by slice. The warmer it got, the better it tasted.

Last night I was surprised to come across 'Kombu' in my local supermarket: a Japanese ingredient of dried kelp, with which 'Dashi', a kind of stock, is made. My younger sister lived in Japan and she told me about it when I visited her there. I didn't purchase any, but instead came away with some sweet miso, which I mixed with water and simmered, then dropped in noodles, then the following, thinly sliced: chestnut mushrooms, leek and sprouts. After just a few minutes I decanted it all into a large bowl, added soy sauce and chilli flakes and lowered my face into the magic. It wasn't udon, there was no tempura or dancing fish flakes... but it was pure Japan on my tastebuds. Oishii!

Skuzz

I had such a rubbish food day this morning that I spent the afternoon making up for it.

The milk was sour at breakfast time, so I decided on peanut butter on rice cakes. But I had eaten all the rice cakes. So I had some trusty ryvita with marmite which, after a bite, I surmised were quite nasty tasting and maybe a bit mouldy, so I ditched that too. I ended up with my head in a tub of cold roast chicken, like your favourite drooling mutt.

At cake time I was pleased with the birthday bakery I had done: one damp lemon and almond cake and one lemon drizzle cake. The latter wasn't as light as I hoped and the top could have been more tart... but it seemed to go down well with everyone. And after yoga I gave in to temptation and strolled the two minutes down the road to my local 'Miso'. Empty as my tum, except for a few couples, I had instant service. Whilst waiting for my food, I sat at the counter swinging my legs and reading the menu. It occured to me just how great it was to live so close to so much different food. I must have finally eaten enough Indian to warrant a break and then had to decide between Thai, mixed-Asian, fish and chips, chinese, non-vegetarian Indian, African (I think), Italian...

Back at home, slimy noodles and vegetables - with free prawn crackers - were the perfect choice. Noice.