Cake - I'm So Predictable!

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

Believe me, I am so thankful not to be a diabetic and am pretty sure I am living on borrowed time in that respect.

 

I know what it is like to give up sugar, I have done it both in the convent and out and I was a prize Pratt to let myself become addicted again.

 

(I too love bread with butter, especially butter with no added salt. I could go for that instead of cake any day).

 

My own homebaked bread with lashings of butter....yum!

 

I, too, prefer unsalted butter. And, there are few things better on earth than freshly baked bread with butter. Margarine is of the devil, IMO, and I'd rather eat plain bread than even the best bread with margarine. I do understand that there will always be differences in taste. But that doesn't mean I won't <_< anyone who "Can't Believe It's Not Butter."

 

As much as I love cake, in the end, the smell of fresh-baked bread is much more enticing. That is why bakeries have diffusers that send the smell of fresh-baked bread onto the sidewalk, rather than cake. (However, even if the smell of bread is what lures me in, I still go straight to the pastries. :whistle: )

 

In one way, I am very lucky. My diabetes was caught very early, and it appears that if I continue to lose weight and watch what I eat, my diabetes will become less serious, and more importantly I won't have permanently damaged my liver (FYI--my liver condition is separate from my diabetes). Perhaps even as soon as 6 months to a year, I may be able to loosen my restrictions. Part of the reason I keep my restrictions so strict now is because I still have very little self-control when it comes to portion size. Also, because I was diagnosed with diabetes/fatty liver disease only 18 months ago, I feel the way I suspect many alcoholics feel in the early stages of sobriety. Ideally, even though an alcoholic never drinks again, over time, many sober alcoholics seem to find it easier than it was at first to be around other people who drink, etc, even if they don't drink themselves. I'm hoping this happens with me. Although living alone sucks sometimes, as far as my diet is concerned, it is a blessing.

 

Side note: Speaking of alcohol, I do get down on my knees sometimes and thank God that I was "blessed" that I apparently lack the enzyme that turns alcohol into sugar in the body. Yes, it means it would be very dangerous for me to drink, because I would be far more prone to alcohol poisoning. But, it also has meant that alcohol has never made me feel good, relaxed, high, etc. If I drink even a little alcohol, I go immediately to nauseous and feeling crummy all over, so I have never been tempted at all to drink. I also was blessed in my formative years with parents and friends who rarely drank, so I had no peer pressure to drink. It has taken no self-control whatsoever for me not to drink, and I have thanked God for that less often than He deserves, since there are so many other areas in which my self-control is definitely lacking (to understate my situation). If I could get fatty liver disease without drinking alcohol at all, I shudder when I think how much sooner (and more seriously) I would have gotten the disease if I drank alcohol even in small/normal amounts.

 

My parents were both diagnosed with diabetes when they were roughly the age I am now. They each did what I did, which was to control their diets IMMEDIATELY and seriously. As a result, both my parents were free from major side effects of diabetes until they were in their 80's. I am hoping that if (for once) I do the right thing from the beginning, I will be as lucky. I moan and feel sorry for myself, and I crave cake (and fresh bread with unsalted butter!), but it could be MUCH worse! 

 

Sorry for my downer posts. I hope I haven't made any of you feel guilty for enjoying cake (and freshly baked bread with butter!). Enjoy every bite--and have another piece for me! I'm sure that you have other things in your life that you have to give up or have less of than you want--whether it's food or something else--everyone has SOMETHING.

[brandelynmarie]

Olives, cheese, fresh bread & sweet butter... :drool:




Oh & :cake:!

But I have discovered my love of clotted cream & strawberry jam on scones..swoon worthy!

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

But I have discovered my love of clotted cream & strawberry jam on scones..swoon worthy!

 

Scones with clotted cream is one of my favorite things in the world.

 

It's very difficult to find clotted cream in the U.S., but it is possible.

 

Some people think whipped cream is a satisfactory substitute for clotted cream. Not even close.

[brandelynmarie]

I have found it in jars....very small, expensive jars...but I've been told it's nothing like the real deal. We have a tiny tea parlor about 25 minutes from where I am & they serve their scones this way too....I do put the clotted cream down first, then the jam...oh! Butter cake with clotted cream & jam! :hehe:

[maximillion]

I live in Devon and there are lashings of clotted cream even in the corner shop!!!!

 

 

Do you want me to send you some?

There are many places here that will supply it vacuum packed for distance posting.

I'll ask what they recommend for sending it to the USA.

 

I in fact don't love clotted cream. It's nice, but I prefer whipped, or Creme Fraiche.

 

A homemade scone with my own homemade jam and Creme Fraiche, yes, now that is to die for.

[brandelynmarie]

:bounce:

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

I live in Devon and there are lashings of clotted cream even in the corner shop!!!!

 

 

Do you want me to send you some?

There are many places here that will supply it vacuum packed for distance posting.

I'll ask what they recommend for sending it to the USA.

 

I in fact don't love clotted cream. It's nice, but I prefer whipped, or Creme Fraiche.

 

A homemade scone with my own homemade jam and Creme Fraiche, yes, now that is to die for.

 

I'm lucky. I have a store that is very close by that sells jars of clotted cream. I'm sure that it isn't as good as fresh clotted cream, but it's still wonderful. (BTW--The clotted cream was manufactured in Devon, so I'm assuming it's as authentic as humanly possible for a package product.)

 

I'd take you up on your offer, if only to try another brand of clotted cream. However, for dietary reasons, clotted cream is a no-no for me, so it's just as well that it is very expensive and the jars are small.

 

However, there may be others who will want to take you up on your offer.

 

What I REALLY want is to LIVE in England. I have to sell my house soon and to make a decision about where to live. My heart is in England--my English grandmother had a lot of influence on me. Unfortunately, I got sick and it meant that my "retirement" came early and I can't afford to live in England. However, I still have over 400,000 United Award miles that would easily cover a free round-trip to England, First Class. (Not that I need to have a 5-star experience, but it would be a lot easier on my body.) Right now, I'm not well enough to make the trip. But, those miles expire in May 2015, and I already have at least two friends from Phatmass who live in England whom I very much want to visit. Now I have three. :proud:

[PhuturePriest]

I'm a cake fan.

 

 

How about you?

 

 

Best cakes evah?

 

Best wedding/vows/ celebration cake?

 

Best traditional/regional cake?

 

Cake is okay. Bakeries always majorly OD on frosting, though. I want cake, not twelve inches of frosting with a side of cake.

[maximillion]

I noticed that things got out of hand re the frosting scenario in the last couple of years, and like with many other things, we Brits are well on our way to copying the USA in this respect.

 

Too much frosting is gross.

[brandelynmarie]

Not if it's a french buttercream :evil:

[maximillion]

No, can't agree. Too much is just plain too much, even for French buttercream.

[brandelynmarie]

:hehe:

[TheresaThoma]

The other night I'm pretty sure I managed to find the perfect balance between cake and frosting. I think it helped that the cake was really moist so you didn't need the frosting to provide moisture.

 

Speaking of bread and jam. My housemate broke out the huckleberry jam this evening. to go on the bread I had made. YUM! The taste of huckleberries (like blueberries but more complex) takes me back to vacations in Yellowstone..... Simply wonderful

[ChristinaTherese]

However, I still have over 400,000 United Award miles that would easily cover a free round-trip to England, First Class. (Not that I need to have a 5-star experience, but it would be a lot easier on my body.) Right now, I'm not well enough to make the trip. But, those miles expire in May 2015, and I already have at least two friends from Phatmass who live in England whom I very much want to visit. Now I have three. :proud:

If you can have a trans-Atlantic flight be first class without costing exorbitant amounts to you, do it. The service is way better, and more comfortable seating is a definite plus when you're in the air for that long. (I got a free upgrade when I flew back from Spain a couple of years ago. What probably impressed me the most is that they served real food, not the dinky stuff they serve to normal people where a healthy 20-year-old probably needs at least two of those "meals" to get decent nutrition, it came in multiple courses, and they remembered my allergy to nuts after I told them once and didn't even ask after that if I wanted salad because it had nuts.) So, yeah, first class is pretty great. Do it if you wouldn't incur unreasonable bills for it.

 

[Luigi]

I'm currently savoring a package of Hostess orange cupcakes.

 

They may not be as good as some of the specialty cakes mentioned here, but they fit the bill quite nicely at the moment.

Edited March 3, 2014 by Luigi

[brandelynmarie]

I think they count ;)

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

I ate ice cream today to celebrate Fat Tuesday!

 

And, over the weekend, I ate some cake. (Please don't tell my doctor.)

 

However, the REALLY good news was that the frosting on the cupcake tasted MUCH too sweet. I didn't like it. I'm THRILLED!!! It's taken more than 18 months but my tastebuds are FINALLY starting to respond to eating less sugar!

 

Unfortunately however, the cake itself and the ice cream didn't taste too sweet. Oh well. Still, even a little progress counts as progress. 

 

For me, the "Lenten Fast" means being very faithful about following the very low carb, very low fat diet I'm supposed to follow for my blood sugar and my diabetes. I can't "fast" in the usual sense, because I need to eat regularly for my blood sugar. But, ultimately, for me, my "ideal diet" is as strict as a Lenten fast. Plus, it applies all year, not just in Lent!

 

Please eat some extra cake for me! (Well, not on Ash Wednesday, but whenever it's allowed.) It makes me happy to see other people happy!