"cshenk" > wrote in message
...
> sf wrote in rec.food.cooking:
>
>> On Sun, 10 Aug 2014 10:50:03 -0500, "cshenk" > wrote:
>>
>> >
>> > Hi, lookig for no salt or low salt items for a friend. He has heart
>> > issues and needs to reduce sodium as much as possible and does not
>> > have the ability to stand over a stove for more than 5 minutes.
>> >
>> > How long it takes to cook without him tending it, not relevant.
>> > Standing time is.
>> >
>> > He's a confirmed foodie so this isn't a time to 'pop a can'.
>> > Recipes can be as complex as it needs to be but has to allow making
>> > parts in stages. Aim at meats and veggies as his primary desires
>> > when possible and thanks!
>> >
>> Can he use a stool to sit while prepping and stirring? Some of these
>> recipes call for added salt, so it's up to him to either leave it out
>> or use a salt substitute. I have to make accommodations when cooking,
>> but thankfully salt isn't a biggie at my house - so I don't have
>> specific recipes for that.
>
> In this case, using a stool for a bit is ok, but folks can expand that
> to where you sit for 45 mins by a a stove and stir etc. That is beyond
> him right now.
>
> If prep time is to be done, needs to be in roughly 10 minute times (can
> be several and staged in the fridge) and a cook time on your feet no
> more than 10 mins.
>
>
>> I will assume he knows how to pay "fry" steak and/or has a grill pan,
>> so plain meat and steamed vegetables isn't what he needs to learn.
>
>
> Nope, in fact he can teach most of us. He is looking for adaption to
> lack of ability to stand and working in a 500mg a day sodium diet.
>
>> Does shellfish have too much sodium? I made a wonderful burger the
>> other day using the pork and shrimp (half/half) filling you'd use for
>> pot stickers. IMO, it's too rich to eat more than a 1/4 pound burger.
>
>
> Not sure I will check. Bless you for trying even if it's not the right
> mix!
>
>
>> I make chicken chili with white beans - show him how to roast and
>> prepare fresh chilies (they don't need to be Hatch to be delicious).
>
>
> Grin, he's a chef. Hwe doesnt need to learn how to roast chiles.
>
>> Show him how to prepare dry beans and batch them in 1-2 cup measures
>> for the freezer, so he won't need to buy canned ever again.
>
> I must have goofed the request someplace and sorry for that. This is
> not a canned food sort of person aka Julie.
>
>> Chicken and rice (brown the chicken, remove. Add rice, stir until
>> rice becomes translucent, add water or broth, I let the rice start
>> absorbing the water before I place the chicken back on top, cover and
>> let cook through)
>
>
> This leads to some fast cooking ideas. Using a rice cooker, he can
> load that then settle back for 20 mins to 2 hours. It's a bit too
> basic of a recipe for him but he's looking for ideas of where to cut
> standing time and this one sparks one he can work with a bit so thanks!
>
>> See what sounds interesting to him and get back to us, so we know what
>> direction to take. I've found that my cooking is vastly different
>> from what other people here make or even like, so I'm often out of
>> step with the collective taste of others on rfc.
>
> Ok and thanks!
>
> So far, he's doing a lot of steamed veggies with seasoned butters,
> olive oil seafoods, and chicken parts. His natural range is southern
> USA cookery.
>
> Carol

When I was at my worst, I would have to prep my food ahead of time. My
husband had to do all of the shopping as I wasn't even able to do that. I
was a vegetarian at the time. I sat on a bar stool, washing then prepping
the vegetables for the week. My dinner was often a big salad with cheese or
boiled eggs, beans, nuts and tons of veggies. I used lemon juice or salsa
sometimes but never dressing.

It did take me an insane amount of time to do food prep and make meals
because like your friend, I couldn't stand or even sit up for much at a
time. Even getting in and out of the kitchen was a struggle. So I just
would get in there and do as much as I could at a time until all of the prep
work for the week was done.

Angela was young enough then that she was fine with a plate of cut up raw
veggies and fruit with a piece of cheese for a meal.

When I did cook, I had to make things that cooked quickly, like a
quesadilla. Probably not an option for your friend as I think cheese is
high in sodium. Or most of it is anyway.

My sodium issue is that I've been told to eat more of it so I can't really
help your friend there. Sorry.