Kitchen Adventures once again

Sometimes I get on kicks for something special, lately it has been pork belly. It's like bacon on steroids! So far I can't get enough but once I do then I won't want it for a year or two. My daughter in law makes it Chinese style which tastes the best but is also the unhealthiest due to the rock sugar she uses. My mission has been to figure out how to cook it the healthiest yet still tasty. Sadly I fail many times before I finally perfect it but glory be to the dogs I've figured it out. It is a spendy experiment especially when I tend to burn a lot of things. Leave it at I'm a happy camper now that I can eat a hunk of pork belly that tastes delightful if I don't burn it.

Giving up processed foods has caused me more grief than I ever imagined. Three of the worst oils we can consume is soybean oil, palm oil and even canola oil. They are the cheapest dirtiest ingredients and are in everything, at least in the US. I've had to learn to make so many things homemade to avoid those oils or just give up that particular food item. My latest whole food I wanted was crackers so I learned how to make crispy a** crackers from just cheese. Very simple one ingredient and yet I managed to burn a couple batches before getting it right. I could buy cheese crisps in a bag for $4.00 for half an ounce (14 grams) or $128 a pound if they sold a bag that big. Now for $4 worth of real cheese I can get a couple ounces of crispy cheese crackers (or a taco shell) Again not all bags of crisps are just the one ingredient as those damn oils sneak into way too many things.

Sweet potatoes are high in carbs so this year I'm trying a casserole of butternut squash (I may mix some pumpkin in) with a crunchy pecan topping. I also learned to bake candied pecans with a real sugar alternative and HOT PEPPER - Big hit among friends and my tummy.

Last year before I went on my health journey I baked so many gifts which I will do no more, I probably increases the diabetic rate. This year I'm giving grocery gift cards to the low income or elders in my friends and family circle. To the grand kids it will be amazon gift cards. OH man is Amazon is my nemis. This home delivery and fingertip shopping has cost me a fortune. I can't seem to discipline myself and keep buying stuff that I convince myself I need, like spices (then I only use once). I'm broken, so what who cares! That's my motto = So What Who Cares!

As I write this I've come to realize that Alexa is making me barking mad playing nothing but holiday songs-One who lives in Florida does not appreciate "Oh Baby It's Cold Outside" I have to remember to tell her play some country music.