From great to Yucca
So...friday...I'm doing great...I'm watching carbs now for two weeks...and finally the scale is not yo-yoing up and down and I'm steadily losing my holiday weight and heading straight towards a new goal...I got into some tight jeans that are nice and comfy now and my dh and I head out to dinner with our friends...
We all decide on a Cuban restaurant (one couple is Cuban) The other is Cajun and his wife Korean! LOL Quite an ethic mix we all were...with my American Indian and Scottish hubby and my Sicilian and Hungarian butt...
So we're waiting on a single friend who always tags along and she's running late so we order appetizers...It's bite size pork thingies and three cool sauces/dips ranging from herbs to spicy to sweet and sour. (very nice)...I didn't eat any bread with this amazing oil and garlic juice dip...
Then they make me try a Mojita...OMIGOD...I was totally snoockered before Single friend shows up. So at this point I'm just praying not to fall off my chair. (I never had a Mojita...but wow...that was nice!) Can't do that too often!
I order Cuban roast pork and black bean soup and a side salad (organic greens with olives and pine nuts) with honey vinegar dressing...and someone trades me some of my pork for some yucca...And I'm thinking.....yucca??? It kinda looks like aloe...and aloe is very healthy! Cool...So I'm eating it and it's in that garlic oil stuff and it tastes just like potatoes! Yummy...
POTATOES!!! Oh no...It's white too and I just know when I get home I gotta look it up and see what the carbs were...I know potatoes have a good 30 carbs...So I'm eating them anyway thinking they can't be as bad as potatoes and I haven't had potatoes in so long..(my fav) and I eat and eat and eat...It takes us two hours to get thru the meal because that is how cubans eat...and so I'm eating slow and steady...(Much more than I normally eat) Yummy on the yucca!
I get home and look for yucca's nutritional facts! I faint...60 carbs per serving...OMG!!!! Its's the potato from HELL! It's double a potatoes carbs and it doesn't stick like a potato...I shoulda just ordered the saffron rice! LOL Pissed me off! Woke up with a headache from the Mojito, but maintained my weight at least! I spent the entire day saturday walking it off!
Next time someone offers you yucca...Think of yuck with DOUBLE C's for double the carbs! GAWD!
Anita
I know yucca is potato-like, but I wonder if it's as bad as white potatoes on the GI? I'm doing more of a South Beach approach lately, but I've had yucca and can't stand it because of the texture...it always reminds me of a wanna be potato! I don't know how you separate your carbs, but I wouldn't be surprised if even though the carb count is high, it doesn't really spike your response to it...they're not dense at all. Either way, at least you enjoyed it (and I, too, have come to love the mojito!).
218/135/143/130
Pre-op/Lowest/Current/Goal
Pre-op/Lowest/Current/Goal
I wondered too and I found that scientists are trying to make a better yucca since it grows so abundantly in poverty striken countries like Africa and could be a staple food if they can make it healthier! ::::Sigh::::
I also found out that not only is it low in protein and vitamins, they are an abundant source of starch. And.... the starch contains relatively high levels of amylose, which can be difficult to digest.
Oh well! Who knew? There ya have it! YUCCA!
I'll take the Mojito with sugar! One friend got a mango Mojito! Yum...but sweet. I was actually able to order a low sugar Mojito...
Anita
Tanny
on 2/9/08 10:38 pm
on 2/9/08 10:38 pm
ha ha ha... I thought you really meant you FELT YUCK-A !
I've never heard of it.
But, hey you DID get into those jeans & doing so well you deserve some yummy yucca !
I'm mad at myself...I've been doing good until last night when I broke down & had some light-caramel corn popcorn. This morning I can still feel a tightning & my chest hurts. I guess since the 5 day & getting back on track my pouch is very sensitive & I'm going to also start measuring my portions now. Wow after 5 years even ! No more YUCKA caramel corn.
SO I'm "YUCKA" ha ha...but, maybe in a good way knowing it's still working.
Just HAD to comment !
Have A Good Day !
I felt yucka in the morning! LOL And...::::carb bombs:::::phewwwwww!!!! Hate those carb bombs.
I have little to zero gas since cutting carbs down to good carbs only...and I do not want a bout of
"toot sweets" or should I saw sweet :::toots::: They hurt! LOL Sugar and starches give me those. But no...I feel fine, just wanted to warn my fella grads that about yucca just in case.
Me and popcorn used to be friends...especially carmel corn...But like you...yep...wowza that hurts. I can't handle popcorn at all...It will double me over in pain.
I just went to Trader Joes and got some carmel soy puffs made by Paul Newman! Haven't tried them yet. I tend to stay away from "good for you food" disguised as junk food...(Why I can't stand those powerbars and chocolate looking "healthy" protein candy bar things. I worked so hard to adjust to eating natural and organic foods and I'm afraid if I concentrate on eating stuff like that I will eventually trade them in for the real thing. Know what I mean?
I also bought some sf hershey's chocolate syrup though! LOL Gonna try that on some cottage cheese with fresh mint or something...for when I do get that hard to handle chocolate attack...(My creamy white choc and peppermint hersheys....:::Sigh::::) It's the closest thing I gotta get more creative so I don't slip back into a carb coma! LOL
Hugs...
Anita
OMG, you made me laugh!!!!!!!!!! I've never heard of it (I'm not very adventerous with food), but I promise to never try it!!!!! For me the problem would be birthday cake, LOL! Anyway, I have to indulge occasionally and like you, I just get up and work it off!!!! So, I think you handled that VERY well!! Congrats!!!!
~*~Tracy B~*~
328/160 *** 5'9"
start/current
Thanks...Tracy! Yeah you and a few others have me motivated to really start a good exercise routine...I spent a hour looking for my Pre-Op Kick boxing DVD's...I couldn't do them because of my knee problems ...but I know I can now...Gotta find those DVDS! Been doing stretching at least and yoga type new age meditation type stuff. I've got sore muscles so I know I'm doing something right! Can't wait to swim though! Or at least a brisk walk! Brrrrrr! Too cold lately.
Hugs,
Anita
Hi Anita,
I love Yucca in garlic and olive oil. My parents were born in Puerto Rico so I grew up eating Puerto Rican food and hating it because I wanted to eat what my American friends were eating. Puerto Rican food and Cuban food are very similar.
Now that I am married and my mom and dad moved back to P.R. I miss all that great cooking. This dish is one I hated as a child but now I can't wait to eat. It is very high in carbs but you can have in moderation.
My husband of Ukrainian decent loves this dish as well, so here is the recipe... As fyi, Yucca can be found in most supermarkets in the frozen section usually a Goya product.
If your lucky you can find it in a farmers market. Fortunately, I can find it a couple of towns away in a spanish supermarket.
Warning, the texture is very different from a potato so it can get some getting use too.
| 1 1/2 | lbs yucca root, halved & in chunks |
| 1 | teaspoon salt |
| 1 | lime, juice of |
| 6 | garlic cloves, mashed |
| 1 | teaspoon salt |
| 1/3 | cup fresh lemon juice |
| 1/2 | cup olive oil |
| 1 | onion, chopped fine |
- Place yucca in saucepan; until yucca is just covered, add salt and lime juice and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat, cover and simmer until tender--about 30 minutes.
- Drain and keep warm.
- Mash garlic cloves into salt with mortar and pestle (or use food processor).
- Add garlic, lemon juice, and onions to olive oil in a separate pan, heat until bubbling, then pour over yucca.
- Toss yucca & sauce "lightly" cooking to saute over medium heat; till barely brown but not CRISP!
- Serve.
Hi Dolly,
That is exactly how it was made! Exactly! I admit I really loved it! But until they start selling the healthy version chemists are trying to create...I doubt I'll go looking for it special! I didn't really notice the texture being weird...I mean, no, it was not a potato texture...more of a raw potato but tastes like a cooked one ...right? Something like that?
They are all starch though...my downfall. (I have to stay away, as much as I wouldn't mind trying to make it and eat it! ) I think if I ever do find it again, I'll only take a little...but that garlic oil sauce was soooooo good. Thanks so much for the recipe...You know, I wonder if it would be good on turnips? They are kind of similar but they are seriously healthy and also aid in weight loss! Hummm??? Might just try it like a the yucca...
Thanks for the sauce recipe!
Anita
Hi Anita,
That is a great idea, turnips in garlic sauce. Sounds good to me. You are right the texture is a little different than a potato but not icky or anything. Just different. Oh, I checked on the carb content and I know what you mean. Seriously, high in carbs. I think I read 38 carbs for 1/2 of cup. Oh, my I almost feel off my chair. Yucca are good but nothing is that good. Well, except for a cupcake or something.
Hey if you like cuban food, here is a great recipe for you with low carbs...it is called "ropa vieja" which translates to "old clothes". It is one of my favorites. If you ever have time give it a try it really is so delicious.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 2 pounds beef flank steak
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 small onion, sliced
- 1 green bell pepper, seeded and sliced into strips
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
DIRECTIONS
- Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the flank steak on each side, about 4 minutes per side.
- Transfer beef to a slow cooker. Pour in the beef broth and tomato sauce, then add the onion, bell pepper, garlic, tomato paste, cumin, cilantro, olive oil and vinegar. Stir until well blended. Cover, and cook on High for 4 hours, or on Low for p to 10 hours. When ready to serve, shred meat and serve with tortillas or rice.
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