The LBDDiaries.com Blog

I’m going to take a break away from the trauma of living without a microwave and chat about something GOOD!

I just recently read about a spa that served cucumber water.  This isn’t the first time I’d heard about cucumber water.  And I add cucumber when juicing carrots.  Who knew cucumber was so delish??

Since I’m always looking for a way to help me drink enough water, last night I decided to try some.  I didn’t check online for a recipe – just guessed.  I took an 8 cup measuring cup, filled it with water, cut up half a large cucumber*, let it soak awhile – probably an hour – then tried it.  WOW it was refreshing! 

Since then, I’ve check online for recipes and discovered people add lemons, lime, or mint, even a dab of alfafa honey (way less strong in flavor than clover) to make it an even more delicious drink.  I like it straight (at least right now) but when I make it again, I’ll add some mint and lemon.  I’ve given you a recipe below.

The main thing to remember along this journey is that water is life.  Our bodies have to have water to function correctly.  Oftentimes when we think we are hungry, we are actually dehydrated.  The symptoms are the same.  Try downing a cup or two of water before reaching for food the next time you think you’re hungry between meals.

Another trick is to drink a big glass of water at least half hour before a meal.  You’ll eat less.  Of course you have to convince yourself you really want to do this because it’s not easy for some people.  Some of us rebel.  How do you think we gained this weight? 

I’ve also read that when you’re working to lose weight, you need to drink your weight in ounces.  Eight glasses a day is fine for maintenance.  It’s really not that much if you break it down in cups.  Drink a cup every half-hour, starting in the morning.  Eight 8-ounce glasses amount to about two quarts of water.  BUT if you’re overweight, you should drink another eight ounces (or 1 cup) for every 25 pounds of excess weight you carry.

And listen – if you won’t drink water because it is healthy, helps you eat less, is good for your body’s functions, drink it ’cause it will help make your skin beautiful!  Water is the best beauty treatment.  Water will work wonders for your looks.  It flushes out impurities in your skin, leaving you with a clear, glowing complexion.  It also makes your skin look younger.  Skin plumps up very nicely when the skin cells are hydrated.  No, I didn’t say that, someone else did.  Someone who knows!

CUCUMBER WATER RECIPE

If making for a party, you need to prepare this the day before in order for the cucumber to fully release its juice.

Ingredients:

• 1 cucumber, sliced and unpeeled (plus 6 cucumber slices for decoration)
• 1 1/2 to 2 liters of water
• 3 mint sprigs (plus mint sprigs for decoration)
• Half a lemon, sliced and unpeeled
• Ice cubes

In a pitcher, mix the water, cucumber, the 3 mint sprigs, and lemon. Let it rest in the fridge for 24 hours. If you end up preparing the water at the last minute, cut the first cucumber in three or four pieces. Then, squeeze the cucumber pieces to release all the juice (please wash your hands first, smile).

Before serving, remove the cucumber slices from the water. Stir, add ice cubes,  6 fresh cucumber slices, and the som mint sprigs. Enjoy! Oh, a thought: make up some cucumber water to use in the ice cube trays; that way the ice cubes won’t dilute your drink!

2 liter = 0.52 gallon = 2.11 quart = 4.22 pint = 8.44 cup = 67.5 ounces

 
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*Be sure to clean the cucumber first.  Either soak it in some warm water & vinegar to remove the wax coating or scrub w/rough sponge.  Leave peel on when slicing for drink.

Here’s a link to a posting on my site that shows a neat gadget for infusing water:  http://lbddiaries.com/blog/?p=1486

I have to tell you, it’s been tough living without a microwave. I don’t think I realized how many times I used it for convenience – to thaw frozen something (which I’ve now learned probably means I destroyed all nutrients while doing so) -

I’ve used it primarily to “steam” frozen broccoli (which I’ve now learned probably means I destroyed all nutrients while doing so) -

I’ve used it to reheat cooked food (which I’ve now learned probably means I destroyed all nutrients while doing so) -

I’ve used it to lightly soften hard butter (which I’ve now learned probably means I destroyed all nutrients while doing so) -

…and I’ve wasted more coffee gently reheating it in my lovely vintage Cuisine pot (post later on vintage cookware) – because I forget its there even though it does taste better being reheated this way.

I’m torn in two – I want to eat more healthily but doing without a microwave means having to THINK in advance. And seriously – who has time to think? No no, I didn’t mean it that way. I have just realized something about myself. I’m spoiled rotten. I am so used to last minute thinking like, “Oh, the broccoli is frozen? No problem, zap it in the mikeywave for 11 minutes.”  Zap being the focal point since I learned that it probably means I destroyed all nutrients while doing so (do you see a theme going on here?).

If I do without a microwave it means I have to thaw food in advance or learn to put it in a ziplock bag that doesn’t leak and sit it in cool, not warm, water to hurry up the thawing. It means taking the time to heat water to boiling and cooking frozen broccoli that way (or *horrors* digging out the steamer and using it). MAN – that’s WORK! It means I have to dirty extra pans to reheat liquids and food items. It means planning things in advance – and who wants to do that? Who doesn’t like bieng able to just toss it in the microwave?

Who cares that it probably means we have destroyed all nutrients while doing so??  If I plug my ears and pretend I don’t know that, then it isn’t true, right?  RIGHT?  Hello?  Is anyone out there?

I have to tell you… it’s been tough.  Not because it is impossible.  No, I have all the pots and pans I need to re-learn how to cook and reheat the old fashioned way.  I’ve blowing it a couple of times because I reach for it automatically and hit that “ON” button before I realize what I’m doing. I have a little trouble trying to remember to think in advance so I’m not automatically turning to the microwave to fix things.  Does anyone else have this problem where modern convenience has shortcircuted your brain so you don’t have to think anymore?

And would anyone else miss the microwave if they didn’t have the convenience of  destroying all nutrients in their food?  I’m gonna miss old Mr. Hottie.

Partially based on this article about microwaves: Why did the Russians Ban an Appliance Found in 90% of American Homes?

Yes, it is true. In our ongoing effort to eat better and live healthier lives, we are running a test. It started Wednesday and I pretty much failed it right off the bat… but let me tell you my tale first.

This is apparently a new (old?) enemy to those who want to eat more healthy:

I know you don’t want to believe me, but here’s the article I read about it – and it is not the first time I’ve seen this information:  http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/05/18/microwave-hazards.aspx

So since I’ve read enough stuff that’s told me a microwave KILLS my food (not to mention brain cells if you stand in front of it… and possibly my phone since it crackles if I’m on it while standing in front of it) – where was I? Oh yeah, kills the nutrients in my food, I said to Alpha Hubby – “We could run a test for a week to see just how much we use the microwave!”  I know, I know – I must have been out of my mind!  Had a momentary blip of insanity.  I honestly thought we didn’t use it for much but reheating and not a lot of that.

I thought this was a brilliant idea as I took a slurp of my tea.  I frowned because it had gotten cold, went into the kitchen, popped open the microwave door… and caught myself.  Busted!  I may have to duct tape the door shut because it is such an automatic response!

I finally did OK slowly reheating coffee and tea in one of these:

Do you recognize that?  It’s a pot!  It goes on top of the stove on those things called electric elements.  I know!  Who knew you could do that??  And it tastes so much better – doesn’t get that old stale taste that comes from reheating coffee in a microwave. 

I have one of these, too:    It’s pretty handy for heating up water quickly – it’s an electric hot watter kettle.  But after it heats the water, if you leave it long enough, it gets cool and you have to turn it on and go through the process all over again.

Since I like my water hot ON DEMAND I finally broke down and dug out my stovetop tea kettle.  It doesn’t whistle like my old one – which kept up a moaning sound the entire time I kept it on the stove top which might explain why I banned it – but anyway, when I want hot water NOW, it’s right there for me, keeping my water hot all day long… as long as I don’t allow it to run dry.  It’s my new best friend!  Especially since I’ve also read that microwaving water can make it flat – can you believe??  Where do they learn this stuff?

I even did OK when it was time for the frozen broccoli ’cause I was looking forward to cooking it the old fashioned way – on the stove top in boiling water!  It only took 3 minutes (once the water boiled) whereas it took 11 minutes in the microwave, and if I choose to believe it, those 11 minutes destroy the entire purpose of eating broccoli in the first place – to be healthy.  No nutrients. Who knew I was wasting my time scarfing down broccoli like that?

So I was feeling pretty smug although it was pretty hard not to reach for the microwave.  Yep, I did great until this:

I had totally forgotten how we used to reheat meat, especially hamburgers.  I mean, sure, I can turn on the oven, wrap it in tin foil and stick it in there for awhile – but man that takes TOO long.  I broke down and slipped it into the microwave for a minute.  I felt so guilty.  I was blowing it right off the bat – the second day into our test of living without a microwave.  What sort of person was I?  I couldn’t even keep my word.

Smarty Pants said, “Why don’t you just toss it in the skillet and reheat it that way?”  *silence*  “Or not…”

Well DUH, I COULD have done that… if I’d thought of it. He thinks he’s so smart – I’d like to see him staying away from the microwave while being home all day. He gets to go to the office and forget all about it.

Learning to eat more healthy should not be so much trouble.  It shouldn’t be so hard!  It was tough enough getting off white sugar and all its products.   And hot yeasty white flour rolls.  Bye *sniff sniff* bye.  Eating as whole as possible has been very challenging because except in summer, no farmer’s markets; we have no whole food stores, altho the local Kroger tries to keep some organic things on hand… at a PREMIUM price – and there are no giant greenhouses sitting in my backyard so I can have fresh veggies anytime I want.  We will soon have our own cows but until then…

To those of you on this journey to eating more healthy, losing weight and all that jazz… good luck.  I’m leaving.  You’ll find me on the beach in Bali with my old best friend, Mr. Microwave.  He’s hot, ya know?  Even if he does ruin my food.