I have just about completed my gluten-free, dairy-free, red meat-free, fun-free cleanse. I have to confess I took a night off in the middle, just when I was starting to feel energised. It has been said that if you do anything for three days it breaks a habit. That point was about when the anger and headaches dissipated and the feel-good set in. I was no longer hungry due to the ant sized portions provided, so I messed with it by drinking wine and eating cheese. I felt no guilt, just jumped back on the wagon, and I can say that the Dietlicious program is a winner for me.
Whenever I am doing some sort of cleanse I find it really therapeutic to go through recipe books and get inspired to make new dishes for myself, my partner and our son. Drooling over the pictures of food I am missing out on sadistically helps ease the suffering. If I can't eat it then I can at least bloody well cook it. In our kitchen I came across an old folder that I made for my Mum when I was younger. I have collected all of her hand-written recipes, some her friends passed on to her, as well as ones I have put aside over the years to cook someday when I was Domestic Goddess in my grown up kitchen. I am confident in that I will never be wired to be that image of domestic bliss I had in my head, however, I am now on a mission to attempt each and every one of the dishes each week to expand my very limited culinary repertoire. Except the Pumpkin, Apple and Scallop Soup. Oh, and the Soupe Aux Broutes (Spring Cabbage Soup). I don't have the origins of most recipes so apologies ahead of time for plagiarism. Country Women's Association eat your heart out.