Group direction

[Jute]

I've been away for a bit with holiday things and family emergencies, and it gave me some time to think.

Are people interested in doing the monthly challenge? Or shall we discontinue it for some other thing?

I'd like to try to do something that people are interested in participating in.

Please post here any suggestions and I'll do some brainstorming as well.

[Lee]

I think a monthly challenge sounds like fun for the winter months, now that the holidays are past us all--how about something for Valentine's Day? Or the Superbowl?
I am new to the group and trying to get more involved, so a challenge would be good.
Is anyone lactose intolerant? How about a challenge for that?

[Bob]

Welcome to the group. So nice to have you! I like you idea. How about Valentine's Day?

[Lee]

Hi Bob, I don't know what we could do for Valentine's--maybe something not so fattening? The holidays, all of them, just seem to come loaded with sugar and sweets, which I know I don't need to eat much of before I notice a difference in my waistline. :(

[Bob]

I agree. My wife was recently diagnosed with diabetes so no sugar for us. A romantic dinner sounds nice.

[Jute]

Welcome and thanks very much for the feedback. How about something healthier? Whatever your definition of that may be? There are a lot of savory items that are baked as well.

[Leslie]

Hi, I'm new to this group, and love to cook (and eat). I like the idea of a challenge for something delicious but low calorie/high nutrition. A romantic valentine's dinner sounds great! Last year I made molten chocolate cakes out of beets. The bowl containing the beet purée fell, and the beet stuff all over my walls gave our valentine's day a decidedly horror-like feel!

[Lee]

Hi Leslie, Sounds like your beet pureé might have been better for Halloween :)

[Jute]

One of the books on our bookshelf Red Velvet And Chocolate Heartache may be one you want to checkout since it has recipes for all kinds of yummy deserts made with healthy ingredients.

[Seawood]

Jute wrote: "One of the books on our bookshelf Red Velvet And Chocolate Heartache may be one you want to checkout since it has recipes for all kinds of yummy deserts made with healthy ingredients."

lol. It is my very favourite cake book. Most of the recipes are rice flour/ground almonds (the remainder are spelt), so the majority are gluten-free. Vegetables are used in place of oil or butter, so they're low-ish fat (you still get some from the almonds of course). They are NOT sugar-free, dairy-free, egg-free or vegan, if those are concerns for you.

I wouldn't say they're massively low-cal but definitely better than the equivalent "normal" cake. Often the icing can add a big wedge of calories so keep an eye on that. I quite often substitute the mascarpone-based icings for a light soft cheese, mostly because I don't want the extra trip to the shop!

[Leslie]

That cookbook sounds like just my kind of thing! Thanks - I'll be sure to find a copy. Even the title makes it sound quite interesting. Thanks.

[Leslie]

Does this group discuss the cookbook of the month, or post comments about recipes?
I'm working to borrow a copy of this cookbook. I actually got to visit this restaurant last summer - it was a fantastic lunch stop while touring MIT with my kids. If others will be cooking from it, I'd be happy to participate in a discussion of its recipes.

[Jute]

Leslie wrote: "Does this group discuss the cookbook of the month, or post comments about recipes?
I'm working to borrow a copy of this cookbook. I actually got to visit this restaurant last summer - it was a fan..."

I would love to discuss the book of the month and I can put a topic up for it.