Time to start the precautionary-winter-lard-up.

[WestHamRon]

I must admit, over the last couple of years, i put a few pounds on over the Winter months. This is more down to bacon dumplings and stew and dumplings and many more heavy wnter meals....i do hae a soft spot for dumplimgs and they would draw me many miles...

Any dumplings, or Cook's particularly ?

[retropants]

can you all please stop listing all these delicious foods? I have just managed to lose a few lbs by not eating chocolate (my favourite) and all these comfort food ideas are killing me

[Ricard with an H]

I'm doing a soup tonight with dumplings, it'll be what vegetables I have though just designed to support the dumplings. Or, a fresh baguette (Just out of the oven) covered in roasted sesame and poppy seed.

I'm still making a mess of sourdough and rye.

[retropants]

Ok, (fake) chicken and leek risotto with cream and butter for me then!

[PLUMPUDDING]

You are very cruel it is my no eating day on the 5:2 diet.

[Ricard with an H]

You realise there are things you can eat that take more energy to eat and digest than they produce in calories though they are rich in nutrients. Cabbage and plums are first that come to mind.

Kale soup then ?

[retropants]

it's not fair! I love dumplings but I am gluten free. the GF ones I have made are quite, erm, 'heavy' shall we say!

[Ricard with an H]

What a shame, are you GF by choice or because of celiacs.

Nice pants by the way, restrainers ? Are they ?

[retropants]

if I eat too many dumpling, then yes

I have gluten intolerance. it won't kill me, but it makes me very uncomfortable and poorly.

[Diane]

I had four chunks of dark chocolate by my side a second ago....they've gone now

[Ricard with an H]

Dark chocolate.

Very good for you apparently, lowers your blood-pressure if you have high blood-pressure though presumably if you have normal blood-pressure you'll end up with low blood pressure which can be just as bad.

[Ricard with an H]

I have gluten intolerance.

Does this mean any gluten you eat makes you poorly or if you eat high gluten stuff ? You can't even have a beer then if it's any gluten.

Reading the packets on these new flours I'm using says many people tollerate them though more-so if the bread is made via the sourdough method. Something to do with wild yeasts doing a bit of pre-digesting.

[retropants]

i don't eat any gluten Richard, if I can help it, and I don't drink beer anyway! If i consume some unwittingly, it's not the end of the world. (gluten, not beer !!)

[Ricard with an H]

i don't eat any gluten Richard,

I could live without beer but no bread or dumplings would change my diet drastically. I only eat meat to be sociable though a quality bit of steak between two slices of quality bread is an occasional treat.

I make a lot of soup during autumn to spring and bread or dumpies are a staple. Also curries, I love to make flat-breads to eat with curries rather than rice.

Back on the subject of the "Precautionary-winter-lard-up" I have work trousers from size 32 waist to 36 waist. Add 2" because they are work pants and it gives you an idea of my waist size and the seasonal changes.

[Motherwoman]

You want to try no alcohol.... Not by choice, any trace makes me ill. It's a right pain when I want to eat out and no, the alcohol is not entirely removed when you cook with it...guaranteed! Lots of talking to God down the big white telephone.
MW