Sylvia's Scenario

Merry Christmas!  We are in full Christmas-mode around here now.  Last night, I made gingerbread men and I think I finally found a recipe that I really like.  I've mentioned before that I like my cookies soft moreso than crunchy and this recipe makes a very soft and chewing, not-too-strong gingerbread and I love them.  Don't they look cute?  The grandkids will love them.  I left some  plain in case the kids are in a decorating mood next time they come over.  Either way, even the plain ones are delicious.  I also made ahead some of my infamous  sugar cookie  dough in case the kids want to make cut-out Christmas cookies, too.  My kitchen is always prepared for any type of cooking/baking activity, you can be sure of that, especially this time of year.  Last night, Bruce made his fifth batch of almond roca  while I fiddled around with my new gingerbread recipe.   I've already made (more than one batch of) my usual Ch...

This is my most favorite chili recipe and it contains no tomatoes or beans, can you believe it?  Tomatoes and beans are high lectin foods so I've been avoiding them as part of my anti-inflammatory diet.  If the beans are pressure cooked, then the lectin content is reduced.  Unless you pressure cook your own beans, the only other kind they say are compliant are  Eden Organic Beans   which are sold at a store near my house but I don't mind avoiding them.  And they say you can eat tomatoes if you avoid all the seeds and skin so tomato paste and sauce is O.K. if you know that they process them that way such as the brand   Pomi .  So, there are lots of ways to avoid lectin by not being that restrictive in your diet but I've found that there are so many good recipes out there by avoiding high lectin foods altogether, like this chili recipe.  It's amazing you can love a chili with no tomatoes or beans, but trust me, you will.  I've ma...

Last night, we went down to Alki beach to see the Christmas ships.  The Christmas ships have been traveling around and stopping at local beaches all month.  We thought this was a good opportunity for us to experience them since Alki is our neighborhood beach.  The Christmas ships are a 60 year old Seattle tradition.  There is a choir on board who sing Christmas carols while they linger around the beach for about 20 minutes before moving to their next destination. At Alki beach, there were complimentary refreshments at the bathhouse which were quite nice. I enjoyed some hot chocolate  and Bruce enjoyed some muffins. Outside, there was a band playing and a nativity scene with Mary holding baby Jesus, shepherds and angels. We headed over to the bon fire which many of the beaches will have for the Christmas ships. It was not very cold on this evening.  I remember freezing next to the bon fire while watching t...