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More convenience food tonight, this time in the form of a Spice Tailor curry kit (Fiery Goan). We bought several ST kits when we were up in Yorkshire in the Spring. I have been nuturing them carefully but the time has come to deploy. I used a bag of meat from our home freezer that was obscurely labelled “Frying Steak” and added a pack of ready sliced mushrooms. The very non-keto rice (“instant pilau”) came courtesy of one of those dinky microwaveable tubs of ready-cooked rice that we find in Spanish supermarkets. We don’t have a microwave but I find that they can be stir fried very successfully. I added ginger, garlic, flaked almonds and crispy onions and heated it all up in coconut oil. It was all very scrummy and made a pleasant change from the Spanish diet of grilled protein and chips. White rice may not be keto, or even low-carb but the resistant starch effect lowers the GI very effectively, I believe (not entirely understanding the RS thing but trying to learn and it offers a reasonable excuse for dropping from the low-carb wagon once in a while. The RS thing also applies to the Patatas Bravas that we had this week. Read up on it. If you comprehend the details, please come back and tell me all about it…) I now have a ST Butter Chicken kit and a Daal kit remaining for later use. I plan to use them judiciously. I can’t find them in France and suspect that they won’t be found in either Spain or Portugal either. Not sure we have any plans to be in the UK any time soon for obtaining further supplies and prices via Amazon are pretty scary. At least we have the Holi Diwali to look forward to. #wp #gastrovanners #gastrovanner #ketovanning #convenience #food #curry #spicetailor #holidiwali

Madame Escargot 16th November 2019 16th November 2019

Convenience food tonight and decidedly non-keto. We picked this packet up in the farm shop by the Moho Aire in Lamagdalaine, France. Naughty, but I am expecting nice. I shall be adding cheese, not Parmesan but an aged Spanish sheep cheese with truffle. Lardons or Chorizo may also be shovelled in… We cycled out to get the Vino Blanco and some bits for a side salad. #wp #gastrovanners #gastrovanner #food #convenience #carbs

Madame Escargot 15th November 2019 15th November 2019

Dusty was a bit difficult last night. The frustration seems to be getting to him a little. Luckily the weather is better today so we are trying to give him as much outside time as possible. He seems to be content enough on the end of a line but when indoors with the van shut up he is scrabbling to be out. Leaving him tied out in the evening isn’t an option as he would be defenceless if the marauding tom came around. Last night we had to resort to leaving the blinds open. We also gave him some catnip before bedtime. He is a bit of a junkie and usually crashes out after his excess. We actually passed quite a peaceful night but have only a minute quantity of catnip remaining. I wonder where it can be bought in Spain? We may need to rig up a privacy curtain across the cab. On the positive side, things are quieter and calmer without Chloé and Dusty clashing. He is a more relaxed cat overall. I still wish that she would come home though. #wp #cats #Dusty

Madame Escargot 15th November 2019 15th November 2019

A spin on the Diet Doctor’s Asian Cabbage tonight. I used the leg meat from yesterday’s cooked chicken in place of the usual minced beef and substituted leeks for the unobtainable spring onions. Also, swapped sherry vinegar in for white wine vinegar. A useful van dish as it takes only one pan (but does require a holding dish for the cabbage). We kicked off with keto apero – jalapeño-stuffed olives, truffled mature sheep cheese, chorizo and salted roasted almonds, washed.diwn by Tio Pepe. I could almost warm to Spain … but our sights are now turning to Portugal. No sign of Chloé and Dusty is beginning to be fretful and intolerant of his confinement. The weather has taken a nosedive too. Sagres seems more appealing with each passing day. Looking forward to some very non-keto curry! #wp #gastrovanners #gastrovanner #ketovanning #keto #lowcarb #dietdoctor #holidiwali

Madame Escargot 14th November 2019 14th November 2019

Crème Fraîche, apple purée and cultivated blackberries. #wp #gastrovanners #gastrovanner #pudding

Madame Escargot 13th November 2019 13th November 2019

Not a bad tipple at 4€20. Would buy again. #wp #gastrovanners #gastrovanner #methodtradicional

Madame Escargot 13th November 2019 13th November 2019