She Says: Get Well Soon Soup and HMCS
Thank you for the well wishes. You are so kind. Are you this nice in real life? Anyway, I am feeling much better. I would say about 77% back to my old self, which for me, is not well enough to run, but well enough to bake. I know I will be able to run the 5k next week, but it just stinks being sick, ya know? I’ve heard that teachers get sick and I think I am feeling that. Along with teaching, I’ve been traveling every weekend and staying up too late. I need to remember to rest.
Cranberries + Walnuts
I was feeling up for a little baking. I used more of the dried cranberries I received from Oh! Nuts and some of their walnuts as well to make a healthy and delicious Cranberry Walnut Quick Bread. I liked these walnuts because they were fresh. You know sometimes when you buy walnuts and they are funny smelling and dry? These were not like that. They were almost still soft, like right from the shell. The only thing I would advise is that my loaf only too about 45 minutes at 350*. Also, I didn’t use buttermilk or orange zest and I used dried cranberries, not fresh. The highlight was definitely the toasted walnuts … or the plump cranberries. 
See the toasted walnuts?
Soup + Spinach Nuggests
I wanted chicken soup to make me feel better, but being a quasitarian, I had to find another option. I think Mark faced a similar dilemma during Meatless Month. My solution was to use some vegetable broth and stick everything in it that I thought might contribute to curing me and boosting my immunity in the future. My combination was veggie broth + diced tomatoes (no salt added) + spinach + kidney beans + carrots. I also had some Veggie Patch Spinach Nuggets, which contain maltodextrin (see below). These lil nuggets were fantastic. Very crispy on the outside and nice and mushy on the inside.
HMCS
The other day an actual non-relative reader emailed me and Mark to ask us a question about High Maltose Corn Syrup. Specifically, said reader found high maltose corn syrup on the ingredient list of a (free) Fiber One Bar and wanted to know if this was the same as high fructose corn syrup, which the bar also contains. I didn’t know a thing about maltose, but appreciate being asked a question and set out to do some investigation.
Here is a list of what I learned and two of the links where I found my information.
Maltose, also known as malt sugar, is made of two glucose molecules.
Maltose is not as sweet as fructose.
Our bodies have the maltase enzyme that break down maltose into its two glucose molecules, which are bodies digest.
High Maltose Corn Syrup a processed product; a corn syrup rich in maltose (like HFCS is rich in fructose)
High Maltose Corn Syrup is like the more common label ingredient “maltodextrin,” but maltodextrin can be made from starches other than corn.
High Maltose Corn Syrup often found in baked goods and beer to sweeten and improve the shelf life of these products.
Bottom line: It’s a processed corn syrup product, so take that information and proceed as you wish.
Center for Science in the Public Interest
Tags: beans, carrots, cranberries, HFCS, quick bread, soup, spinach, spinach nuggets, tomatoes, walnuts
September 21st, 2008 at 9:00 pm
I promise that all of my comments are 100% genuine!! I don’t B.S. ANYTHING. Glad you’re feeling better!!
Oooh, that cranberry-nut bread and soup look amazing! Yum.
Interesting information on HMCS.
September 21st, 2008 at 9:05 pm
I like to think I’m nice in real life.
I’m glad your feeling better. Thanks for the info on HMCS, I had never heard of it before now. Its always great to be well informed.
September 21st, 2008 at 9:38 pm
I’m definitely this nice in real life, unless we hang out for long periods of time several days in a row. Then my enthusiasm wanes because I get annoyed with myself.
What about you – are you this funny in real life?
I’m willing to bet you are, friend!
September 21st, 2008 at 9:40 pm
i checked the website for the recipe (i totally want to make that bread!) and your pic looks much better than the one on eatingwell.com
i have never thought about hmcs– thanks so much for the info!
have a great night!
September 21st, 2008 at 9:41 pm
yay thanks for looking into my question! it sounds to me like another ingredient to watch out for and avoid.
September 21st, 2008 at 9:46 pm
I’m glad you’re feeling better! That totally stinks. I think my sister got sick a LOT when she first started teaching and then she sort of built up the immunity to it! The bread looks amazing. Thanks for the recipe. I hope you’re 100% tomorrow!!
September 21st, 2008 at 10:01 pm
VG and Meghann: I am sure you are that nice. I didn’t doubt it. I think I am more upbeat in real life as a result of the blog.
Erin: I was laughing so hard when you added the “unless” portion to your “I’m nice” because that is definitely me. Too much time with someone is NOT good. After I get past my initial shyness with new people I am funnier, but generally I’m just a giant dork.
Gina: Thanks! Make it. Make it.
Rachel: No prob.
Erica: I’ve heard I will build up an immunity.
September 21st, 2008 at 10:26 pm
Cranberries are in the air today, I think.
So sorry I forgot your post in my Blogger Secret Ingredient post! It’s updated now
September 21st, 2008 at 11:06 pm
I read this post while eating some ice cream, so I looked at the label…sugar, corn syrup (not HFCS, just corn syrup) AND maltodextrin. Hmm.
I have to make that bread. YUM!
September 21st, 2008 at 11:10 pm
And Gina’s right…your bread does look at lot better that EatingWell’s.
September 21st, 2008 at 11:40 pm
Im not nice in real life.
But I lie online.
get it!?
ahem.
Glad you are feeling better and producing wonderful things with cranberries.
Kelly Turner
http://www.groundedfitness.com
September 22nd, 2008 at 5:33 am
that nut bread looks amazing. and i can totally imagine why you get sick — kids are SUCH germ magnets. sometimes i don’t know why i’m not sick ALL the time. in the end though, we will both have such highly trained immune systems that nothing will ever touch us! i hope, anyway.
ps: amy’s makes a faux chicken soup that is very chicken-soup like and vegetarian.
September 22nd, 2008 at 7:35 am
oops
was coming here to say YEP YEP WE ARE and then just saw grounded’s comment.
so methinks not.
huh.
September 22nd, 2008 at 7:44 am
that bread looks amazing, and so glad you are feeling better!!
September 22nd, 2008 at 7:46 am
Maltodextrin is a form of carbohydrate and i think people (me included) often think it is bad for you but like you said and from whatI have learned our body can metabolize it… where as with the HFCS it is more about how it functions in our body… our body metabolizes HFCS but the mechanism behind it is what causes it to increase lipid metabolism
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:13 am
i definitely rely on your blog to educate me about these things far too much. i’m much too lazy to do any research myself! your bread looks so good, and i’m not even an avid fan of cranberries. but they really do look plump and adorable.
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:34 am
Thanks Christie, I know you are much more knowledgable than me on this subject!
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:35 am
Lovin that bread!! and i’m with erin
haha. Hope you’re continuing to feel better today!
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:37 am
Glad you are feeling better! I think I am a nice person, most of the time
September 22nd, 2008 at 10:12 am
Glad your feeling better…I hate getting sick, but soup always is so good then. The bread looks delicious!
Mind if I add you to my blog list…it finally dawned on me (as someone asked me this) that I should actually ask peopel first haha!
September 22nd, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Love all the label dissection. If I have asked you this before I apologize, but have you ever read “What to Eat” by Marion Nestle? Her books are facinating.
September 22nd, 2008 at 6:22 pm
I try to be nice in real life
Glad to hear your feeling better!
Great cranberry-walnut bread! I love it when you can literally see and taste the chunks inside the bread. It makes everything that much better.
Very interesting info on the HMCS. I’ve seen maltodextrose in SO many products and bought them without questioning what it was. Thanks for opening my eyes a little bit wider.
Hope you’re feeling 100% better soon!