I hope you like this fragrant, spicy, indian style stew, I think it makes turkey just that little bit more interesting

Ingredients
3 tbsp extra virgin olive, ghee or grapeseed oil
2 boneless turkey breast, cut into four pieces, dusted with little millet flour, salt, and ground cinnamon
2 star anise
2.5cm/1in cinnamon stick
2-3 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed
4 cloves
1 blade mace
1 green chilli, slit open
20g/¾oz fresh ginger, peeled, sliced into matchsticks
2 medium onions, thinly sliced
8-10 fresh curry leaves
1 tsp ground turmeric
2 tsp ground coriander (black dot)
½ tsp ground black pepper (avoid but optional)
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
400ml/14fl oz almond or pecan milk with meal left in (it should use coconut milk)
10-12 cherry tomatoes

To serve
steamed basmati rice
vegetables of your choice
chopped celery leaves
fresh coriander leaf (cilantro)

Method
Heat one tablespoon of oil in a large pan over a low heat. When the oil is hot, add the breast pieces and fry gently, but do not colour. When the pieces are almost cooked through, remove from the pan and set aside until required. Heat the remaining two tablespoons of oil and add the cinnamon stick, cardamom pods, cloves and mace. Fry until the spices start to crackle, then add the chilli, ginger, onions and curry leaves. Fry the spices and onions for 4-5 minutes, or until onions are translucent. Add the turmeric, coriander, black pepper (if using) and cinnamon powder and continue to fry for 2-3 minutes. Add the milk and heat to a gentle simmer. Add the cooked turkey pieces and the tomatoes and simmer until the meat is completely cooked through. To serve, place a spoonful of basmati rice, seasonal vegetables onto each plate and then place a spoonful of the turkey stew alongside. Garnish with celery and coriander leaf if using.

I'm planning the garden, well the front garden anyway. Sadly the rear garden was excavated two weeks ago to make way for a driveway for my car. Parking here is along the lines of 'first in, best dressed' and occasionally like wacky races.

Having gone through the food lists for GT2 Gatherer and GT4 Explorer I've been trying to find either common superfoods, beneficials and a little patch of veggies we both like and could eat on BTD but are black dot for either one of us on GTD.

My master list at the moment includes kale (lovely stuff but will slow down my weight loss), broccoli (same again ....), carrots (hmmmm there's a theme here ...), kohlrabi, courgettes, celariac, spring greens (collards to some of you), shallots, spinach, celery and a variety of fresh herbs.

Finding space to grow everything I want to is going to be a challenge, my last home having had a massive garden, a vegetable plot and a large polytunnel . I do miss it.

It'll be good to save on a few food miles, eat fresh home grown food and to know it isn't coated with nasty chemicals. And my better half will smile at all the money we've saved, he does love a bargain!

The fruit bushes are in pots at the rear of the house, on our 'patio' (a rather icky bit of concrete) and are doing well despite frequent frosts. Although, I think the tayberry has bitten the dust :-(.

The gooseberries won't fruit this year, hopefully next, but we should get a small crop of raspberries, blackcurrants and redcurrants. I'll have to root through the recipebase and the forum threads for a suitable Gatherer/Explorer crumble topping.

I'm off outside now to put down some of that lovely lining fabric to keep the weeds away, cover most of it with gravel and set down the lines for himself to build the raised beds for planting. I'm making the most of the sunshine.

Have a great day.

Having measured most of my 'better half' today, we have more or less typed him as an Explorer. He does fit the profile perfectly despite his misgivings

He's gutted at the loss of his favourite red meats and in particular is resisting giving up ham and pork. Those of us on BTD or GTD know the evils of pork very well and avoid it willingly.

I think a softly, softly approach is required, to gradually reduce wheat, potatoes, pork and ham to the point of being removed from the diet is going to take some time. And probably involve a lot of resistance along the way lol.

But if it takes six months or a year, each day will be a step closer to better health.

I'm off now to figure out what our common food list is and work out what we can or can't eat together ;-)

Enjoy your day.

Hi everyone,

Well today was the funeral of Richard, my friends partner of many years. I have to say it was one of the most joyous occasions I've ever been involved in.

I arrived at the crematorium on what was a wet day. I waited with the family until it was time to go in, chatting, and seeing lots of friends and I hadn't seen in years, and in some cases decades. Everyone was dressed casually, in bright colours and looking relaxed.

The room was packed, we sat listening to the Rolling Stones as the cardboard coffin containing our dear friend was wheeled by four of his pals. Each of them wearing lumberjack shirts. To explain, Richard's lumberjack shirt was rarely off his back and he was frequently seen cycling about town in said shirt, a woolly hat and ripped jeans, saying hello to everyone he passed and smiling broadly.

Their daughter, a beautiful girl with a maturity far beyond her years, acted as MC for the event. Welcoming us all to the funeral, thanking us for coming to say goodbye to her Dad and for the phenemonal amount of support everyone had shown either by sending cards, phoning, visits, taking round food etc.

She talked about how many lives Richard had touched, and that was evident, the place was absolutely packed, many people had to stand and the aisles were full to bursting.

He loved to travel, to see new places and often disappeared for a week on a coach trip. His final trip, only a few days before he died, had been to the south of England. He had found a charity shop. Richard was a collector of everything and LOVED a bargain of any kind. Inside the little shop, filled with clutter and bric a brac, he found a pair of jeans for £1. He didn't need them, but what a bargain they were? 'Can I try them on?' he said. The two elderly ladies who ran the shop showed him to a shower curtain, behind which, he could change.

Richard had removed his jeans, and was starting to put on the £1 jeans when his leg gave way, instinctively he grabbed the shower curtain, pulling down the curtain, the rail and landing in a heap on the floor. Trousers round his ankles and Y front underpants on display for all the world to see. He leapt up, threw out his arms and showbiz style yelled 'TA DA', the poor ladies had collapsed in giggles and blushes while he grinned and then dressed himself.

It didn't matter where he went the world, there was always an adventure or a funny story to tell.

Various people stood up and offered their own tale of Richard and I ached with laughing at all the funny stories I heard. Each one covering a different aspect of his complex and rather unique character. There were tears, but mostly we laughed, we giggled and we counted ourselves lucky for having had him in our life. He was described as the meanest man in town and yet the most generous man in town, he'd give you the last £1 in his pocket if you needed it, but he'd haggle over a price just to get a bargain.

At the end, to the Rolling Stones 'The last time...', we lined up to write messages on the coffin, mine simply said 'See you at the bar!' As I know that wherever he is now, he'll have a pint of beer in his hand and a huge smile on his face. His daughter and partner put signs on the coffin, things like 'half price', 'whoops', 'buy one get one free' (he hated to pay full price for anthing!). Someone put coins for the bus fare, and many laid beermats on top with messages written on them.

Afterwards I went back and photographed the coffin and messages, I'll print them out later and make a montage of some kind to give to his partner and daughter as a keepsake.

The party returned to his local pub, where two kinds of beer, a light ale called Captain Fantastic and a dark ale called Ricardo were served along with a buffet. The beer was flowing freely, and every table was filled with people telling stories about how they met Richard, what adventures they had been on with him, jokes and laughter just filled the room.

The pub itself was covered in photos of Richard, from family, others from friends, some from the pubs he frequented but in every single one, you can see his smile beaming out at you and his eyes twinkling with mischief. I've brought two back with me, which the family asked me to post with this blog, I'm hoping I can figure out how to add them as I think they illustrate firstly what a good looking man he was, but also they show this funny, quirky and amazing man who never lost touch with his inner child, was child like but never childish and could always find the fun and joy in each day.

When I told my son that Richard had died, he asked if he had gone to heaven. I explained that everyone has different beliefs. I said I think he'll be in heaven. My son asked 'Is he with God and the angels?' I said 'yes'. My son then smiled and said 'Won't God laugh now?' And I bet he is laughing because I couldn't imagine anyone spending time with Richard and not laughing out loud.

I'm going to miss him, but having heard so many new stories about him, I'll be smiling and laughing through the tears. He'd have been immensely and justifiably proud of his partner and daughter today, they showed great strength, humour and love.

I hope that when I have to go to a funeral again, that it's as suited to the person and their beliefs as today's was to Richard. It was informal, relaxed, achingly funny and captured the enigma that he was.

Thanks to everyone on the forums for their kind words, support and friendship this week. It's meant a great deal to me, but also to his family who were astounded at the good wishes which came from all over the world and asked me to share my views on today with you all.

I love salmon and it's something I can still enjoy on my Gatherer plan. I thought I'd share a recipe I made a while ago, a combination from a few cookbooks and other ideas which, I think, gives the salmon a real zing.

Ingredients:

15 cloves of garlic (20 if you can stand it)
small bunch coriander (cilantro) leaves
1 knob fresh root ginger, grated
4-5 lime leaves, roughly chopped
2 tbsp lime juice (or lemon would do)
1 tbsp grated lime zest (again, lemon would do)
1 tbsp red chilli powder (use more or less if you prefer)
1/2 tbsp Garam masala (watch out for avoids, I make mine without coriander)
1/2 tbsp Salt
50ml extra virgin olive oil or grapeseed oil
100g quark or ricotta (in place of yogurt)
400g Salmon, cut into 1.5 inch cubes
2 tbsp Butter or Ghee
salad, to serve

Make a fine paste of the garlic, coriander, ginger, lime leaves, lime juice, zest, chilli powder, garam masala and salt. Transfer the dry mixture to a non-corrosive bowl and add the oil and quark/ricotta/yogurt. Gently stir in the salmon cubes and marinate for 1 hour.

Spread the marinated salmon out in a baking dish. Top with butter and cook for 10-15 minutes at 200 degrees C, Gas 6. Baste the fish during cooking to keep moist. Serve with a seasonal salad.

I like the freshness of the lemon, the garlic flavour, and the way the quark takes away any bitterness from the spices and brings the dish together.

Enjoy

It's been a funny week. I have finally got rid of my migraine headaches, after two weeks of wanting to hack my head off . The cause, apparently, being my contraceptive pill of choice. Hmmmm no one mentioned migraines when I started taking it. But more disconcertingly, they were equally quiet about the side effects I'd experience once I stopped taking the pill.

My GP, a kindly, old fashioned looking chap called Steven, smiled as he told me that I would be convinced I was pregnant due to 'progestogen' withdrawal?

All week I'd been experiencing nausea similar to morning sickness but which lasted 24/7, had breast pain, flutters, back pain and spotting. All because the pill convinces the body it's pregnant and it takes up to six months to decide that it's not. Now that I've had a test, I'm willing to accept that it's just symptoms and not the real thing, but having had two prior pregnancies I was absolutely certain that I was expecting...

Cooking had been, for the first time ever, a chore. I couldn't bear the smell of food, threw up every time I even got a whiff of eggs (something I usually eat every day). I'd whip up a delicious, nutritious stir fry with turkey, onions, mushrooms, spices, herbs, peppers, spinach or whatever else caught my eye. Only to find that after a few mouthfuls, I either needed to be sick, or just couldn't eat any more due to the nausea. This really isn't a great place to be for a Gatherer, our thrify genes need food at regular intervals, the right food of course, and all I could think was 'I'll be storing fat and losing muscle' .... Not good.

My brother commented that I must have a 'weak stomach'. I told him I could hurl across the room, it takes a strong stomach to do that

I was curious to find out how many other women had been through this, having been told it was a 'rare' side effect. So I went online and searched.

I found dozens upon dozens of forums all buzzing with conversations of literally thousands of women all suffering similar symptoms, some of whom had suffered miscarriages after becoming pregnant straight after stopping this particular pill, but had then thankfully gone full term on a subsequent pregnancy.

Having checked with Family Planning I and was told the information leaflet on my pill was so out of date, and that the manufacturer had no plans to update it, so GPs like mine were literally handing out incorrect information and not warning women of the true symptoms and/or dangers of this particular pill. I find that rather worrying, dont you?

I hadn't planned to have any more children, don't get me wrong, I'd be delighted to have another child and my son would like siblings , but right now, I'm wondering what damage has been done to my reproductive system and what I can do to repair it?

My other half has been fantastic throughout, tolerating me being sick after and sometimes during every meal, dashing off without warning as the nausea got the better of me and I had to make an 'urgent call on the porcelain phone' in his parlance.

In many ways I'm lucky, I wasn't trying for a child, in fact I'd been very careful to avoid a pregnancy. But how soul destroying for a woman trying for a baby to miss a period, have all those symptoms and then be told that her body is playing tricks on her?

This week will consist of as many diamond foods as I can muster (and keep down!), NO black dots and absolutely NO avoids while I try and get my rebelling system back in order.

Have a great week everyone, I know I will

I had a call a couple of hours ago from a close friend of many years. Her partner of 25 years died a day or two ago aged 62. I could tell from her voice that she was just about holding things together but that keeping busy for her was a way of coping.
She was organising a funeral the like of which I'll probably never see again.

Her other half loved his beer, liked a pint or two each day, never drinking to excess but just enjoyed the banter, atmosphere and social side of having a 'pint' with the lads after work.

His passing was sudden, unexpected, although he had been ill and was actually having tests when it happened.

The funeral, complete with eco friendly cardboard coffin (what a great idea!), will have all us bringing a beermat from our favourite tipple to be placed on the coffin prior to the cremation. We've been encouraged to bring brightly coloured felt tip pens to write a last message to our much loved friend and see him on his way. His bike, he loved to cycle around the area, will be wheeled in after the coffin. After the funeral it will be left in a layby for someone to take and use on their own adventures, hopefully having as much fun as it's previous owner.

Music includes the Rolling Stones and many of his favourites, mostly rock, always lively and definitely eclectic.

It's not really hit home yet, and I can't begin to imagine how my friend is feeling right now, thankfully their daughter was at home from uni and being a very capable young woman has been a tower of strength just like her Dad.

I'm sure life will seem very strange in the short term as we all get used to his absense. But for me, this rather unusual funeral offers a chance to celebrate the life and character of a unique, quirky, often surprising, always generous, intelligent, witty, intuitive and amusing man who was the love of my friends life. He helped many people in his path through life and was incredibly modest about his positive impact on others.

My 7 year old son adored his childlike sense of wonder, humour, his willingness to try new things, visit new places and take joy in each day. That's the man I'd intend to remember and keep in my heart.

Loraine

My natural instinct is to get out there and hunt, to grab life by the throat and get whatever I've set my sights on. Whilst being a painfully shy and quiet child, as an adult I was always described as being assertive, go getting, ambitious etc.

So when my Genotype diet book arrived in early January, I expected 100% to be a hunter, albeit a curvy one! After all I'm a type O, what else could I be? Or so I thought....

Once I'd completed my measurements, many, many times, I had to accept that actually I was Gatherer. It's true, I am good at prolonged and concentrated brain work, I'm a great problem solver, I like new things (and get bored easily!), I am kinda sweet natured and I'm definitely exercise challenged .

I had admit that I do tend to look slightly padded even when I was only 6 1/2 stone. Although I've always had a very small waist compared to my hip measurement, I hadn't really thought about that as being a good or a bad thing and most people described them as 'child bearing hips', much to my annoyance as a shy teen.

I take comfort in Peter's words that I have 'terrific mental endurance', am highly motivated (er yes, up until I get bored ...), am fertile (I guess that's a good thing) and I should age well. For example my Hunter brother is younger than me, but looks a lot older, not that I tease him about this at all ..... well maybe just a little

I've started taking kelp, bladderwrack, quercetin, and a suitable multivitamin. Now I need to learn to plan ahead a bit more, think about meals well in advance, perhaps add a few snacks ready chopped/prepared to the fridge for those 'moments of weakness' when I'm hovering at the fridge door. Or when, like tomorrow, I'm out on calls, and find it hard to take compliant food with me. I've packed some oatcakes, sliced turkey, salad, peaches and lots of bottled water. Let's hope I remember to actually put them in the car before I leave the house?

Tonight as I eat stir fried turkey breast, cooked with onions, indian spices, spinach, salad, mushrooms and whatever else I can find, I'll smile contentedly, knowing that if I can summon my motivation, staying power and just 'stick with the plan' then I'll conquer my health demons, look great as I age gracefully, and feel better and better each day.

But as always, I know that if I stumble today, all is not lost, tomorrow is a fresh start and the good things I do eat are every bit as helpful as the things I avoid .

Thanks Dr D

I had a meeting today with some clients to discuss some work I'm doing with them. We talked about various aspects of the 'project' and I explained a few ideas I'd had and then realised that their eyes were slowly glazing over as I lapsed, unintentionally, into jargon.

I quickly swapped to 'non techie' speak, used a few anecdotes relevant to their industry sector and suddenly they were animated, interested and understood what I'd been waffling about.

It made me stop and think about perceptions. Just because I'm familiar with BTD and GTD (with lots to learn still lol), doesn't mean that I should use acronyms and abbreviations with other people when I'm chatting about that approach to food and health.

At home and work maybe I need to stop and think about my audience a bit more and hopefully tomorrow I'll see less 'glazed expressions' and more smiling and genuine interest?

I read a recipe on the forum a few weeks ago, and had been wondering what evoo was? I was stumped to think of an answer and just I thought, 'I might as well ask the daft question', thankfully someone beat me to it and the answer was Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Easy once you know it, but it had me beat for day or two and I was beginning to feel like the contestant on 'Who wants to be a millionaire' who can't answer the first question and is starting to sweat buckets at the thought of losing a lifeline or falling at the first hurdle .

My resolution this week?

Keep it simple .....

Hi, I am 40 years old, based in the UK, and live with my 7 year old son, one dog and one cat. I'm blood type O, Genotype 1 (Hunter) but I don't know if I'm a secretor or non-secretor as yet. Those of you who have read my posts will know that I miscalculated my genotype first time around and spent six months as a Gatherer (GT2) before realising that I might actually be a Hunter, apparently it's all in the fingers :-)

I'm fascinated by adventure and love to read a ripping yarn, Lord of the Rings being my absolute favourite. I like to walk, am an avid reader and love to paint, mostly watercolours. I enjoy sewing, probably the detail, preparation and planning involved in a challenging cross stitch or counted beadwork, I knit, and I really love to cook, as some of you will have seen from my posts on the forums.

I've been on the BTD 'seriously' for a couple of years now, having first tried it out after the birth of my son in 2000. I've now moved on to the Genotype Hunter plan which suits me well. I have had eczema from being 9ths old and this is finally settling down, due the absence of wheat and milk from my diet, thanks Dr D! Following the BTD helped me to recover from an arthritic problem, joint hyper mobility syndrome and has all but removed any symptoms of the endometriosis I've put up with for almost 30 years. These days I feel well, more energetic, and I have a far healthier relationship with food, having struggled in vain to keep my weight down in the past.

I'm on the forum most days and love to chat with other members and see this as an extension of those thoughts, a chance to share and take a more active part in the BTD/GDT community.

I work in ICT, which means either being on the road visiting clients, or sat (as I am now) at my laptop typing code or creating graphics. So exercise has been foreign to me, other than walking with our Labrador retriever, Poppy, who ensures I get to walk at least four miles a day.

Like many of you, I'm juggling running a business and a home and sometimes I do have to realise I'm not Super Woman

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