Back to work, extra long day, left for work at 7am, returned at 9pm and this has not helped the throat AT ALL. Is sore and once again rather raspy.
Plus sides are always present and husband #1 is earning brownie points cooking in the kitchen. Up I went to change, with the house smelling all citrussy, down I came to a glass of wine. Five minutes later I was served up a grilled halloumi, walnut and orange salad on a bed of watercress. What a lovely, unexpected surprise - I'd forgotten how salty yet creamy halloumi was. It's going to be a weekend of cheesy treats - I had a tub of cottage cheese for lunch, tomorrow night is of course pizza and Saturday's tea will be a full cheese fiesta (minus half the Stilton which was a snack last night!) snaffled whilst putting up the Christmas Tree.
Sunday is going to become a day of tradition, not sure quite what, but letters to Santa will be involved and perhaps a slow cooked (overnight) shoulder of lamb for lunch.
And so to the main course, not yet completed but it's been in the oven and it contains garlic. Can't be bad. I'm banned from the kitchen, so can't even get a sneak preview. What a pain.
Well, needless to say I'm well looked after on a night where the temperature in the McSignia dropped to -1 on the way home.
Hark, I hear the oven timer.....will update on the rest of my treats another day!
Thursday 29 November 2012
Wednesday 28 November 2012
A Long Week of Croak
Well there may perhaps be an end to the croak in sight and I'll be happy, I have to admit. There is something a little bit depressing about waking up late in the morning with no one else here - it's not quite so satisfying as coming downstairs to the chaos of two nutcases running round, play fighting on the floor whilst your youngest is causing havoc in the kitchen. Oh well, I've had a rest, see what happens with the voice tomorrow.
It's also been a little disturbing to have got out of the food routine that keeps us afloat and stops us putting on a stone per week. Well, okay, it hasn't been a great routine since October but it is there in skeleton form and has indeed prevented a stone per week being gained, if not a few pounds. But having been off work, I've not had weetabix for breakfast (eek!) and then haven't been making lunches. The joy of coming down on a (mid-) morning, dreaming of lovely deliciousness - a box of noodles, cheese on toast with HP sauce, a toasted sandwich, a big pile of pasta with sauce, scrambled eggs on toast with ketchup or boiled eggs. The list goes on. But the disappointment was huge when I realised that being such a good shopper on a week by week basis, I now no longer have a pantry full of luxurious snacks just waiting for a day off. Lunches are planned, and if to be made at all, need making for two. Hmph. So, I had three slices of lemon curd on toast (I had no breakfast). It was a choice between that or porridge.
For tea it was vegetable pasta bake, consisting of broccoli, cauliflower and carrots steamed till blendable then mixed into a sauteed leek, garlic and onion blend with a tub or two of ricotta cheese and a little liquid chicken stock for good luck. I make it to stuff cannelloni with for the girls, but as there was mix left over I mixed with part cooked pasta, topped with tomato sauce and baked with a little Parmesan on top (indeed exactly like the cannelloni, but with penne instead!). It's nice. My eldest nieces like it too, which pleases me. Today, reheated from the freezer, it was a bit of a mash up so I put on lots of black pepper, more Parmesan and a little extra virgin olive oil. Nice. But disappointingly small.
Looking forward to the weekend now, I can see nice things ahead. Husband #1 is cooking for me tomorrow, as I will be late home from work (voice permitting!). Friday, of course there will be a pizza - not sure what kind yet, it may be a retry of the pesto version but I need to think of something to go with that as the usual mozza and tomatoes weren't quite right. But then I may go with mushroom, a treat for husband #1, perhaps. But is it too cold for solely mushrooms? Maybe a ham and mushroom? He doesn't like me messing with his mushrooms, but maybe this once?
Saturday will be cheese. Celery salad, devised by Barefoot and executed by husband #1 to accompany and of course some bread, which I think will be homemade. I'll be making pizza for those monsters anyway so a little more kneading won't hurt. We're putting up the Christmas Tree on Saturday, so it will be a lovely night with decadent food and hopefully episode 1 of NCIS season 9. Yipeeeeeeeeeeee!
There will also, of course, be chocolate.
It's also been a little disturbing to have got out of the food routine that keeps us afloat and stops us putting on a stone per week. Well, okay, it hasn't been a great routine since October but it is there in skeleton form and has indeed prevented a stone per week being gained, if not a few pounds. But having been off work, I've not had weetabix for breakfast (eek!) and then haven't been making lunches. The joy of coming down on a (mid-) morning, dreaming of lovely deliciousness - a box of noodles, cheese on toast with HP sauce, a toasted sandwich, a big pile of pasta with sauce, scrambled eggs on toast with ketchup or boiled eggs. The list goes on. But the disappointment was huge when I realised that being such a good shopper on a week by week basis, I now no longer have a pantry full of luxurious snacks just waiting for a day off. Lunches are planned, and if to be made at all, need making for two. Hmph. So, I had three slices of lemon curd on toast (I had no breakfast). It was a choice between that or porridge.
For tea it was vegetable pasta bake, consisting of broccoli, cauliflower and carrots steamed till blendable then mixed into a sauteed leek, garlic and onion blend with a tub or two of ricotta cheese and a little liquid chicken stock for good luck. I make it to stuff cannelloni with for the girls, but as there was mix left over I mixed with part cooked pasta, topped with tomato sauce and baked with a little Parmesan on top (indeed exactly like the cannelloni, but with penne instead!). It's nice. My eldest nieces like it too, which pleases me. Today, reheated from the freezer, it was a bit of a mash up so I put on lots of black pepper, more Parmesan and a little extra virgin olive oil. Nice. But disappointingly small.
Looking forward to the weekend now, I can see nice things ahead. Husband #1 is cooking for me tomorrow, as I will be late home from work (voice permitting!). Friday, of course there will be a pizza - not sure what kind yet, it may be a retry of the pesto version but I need to think of something to go with that as the usual mozza and tomatoes weren't quite right. But then I may go with mushroom, a treat for husband #1, perhaps. But is it too cold for solely mushrooms? Maybe a ham and mushroom? He doesn't like me messing with his mushrooms, but maybe this once?
Saturday will be cheese. Celery salad, devised by Barefoot and executed by husband #1 to accompany and of course some bread, which I think will be homemade. I'll be making pizza for those monsters anyway so a little more kneading won't hurt. We're putting up the Christmas Tree on Saturday, so it will be a lovely night with decadent food and hopefully episode 1 of NCIS season 9. Yipeeeeeeeeeeee!
There will also, of course, be chocolate.
Courgette fritters with pistou - just felt like a picture!
Tuesday 27 November 2012
Only a short update today, have spent the day in silence - well the afternoon - having slept in nicely until almost 11am. Just my luck to be woken up by the window cleaner wanting the key to the back gate. Typical.
So it's been dull. No excitement in anyway, shape or form. I haven't taken advantage of time off to catch up on work, do extra cleaning, reading or similar. I did however watch Doctors. Love it and miss it. The promise of watching Doctors is the only thing that tempts me to have another baby (thus maternity leave, thus more Doctors). But no, that's not going to happen - I may just sky plus it. Wonder if husband #1 would take it up on a Friday night? Well, if not, roll on husband #2.
For tea we had dahl, raita and nan bread - my own lovely recipes (apart from the nan bread). It was a nice change, but the last portion and so at some point over Christmas I'm going to have to be making some more because it really is a great recipe: lentils, ginger, turmeric all cooked until almost ready. Then, cumin seeds, mustard seeds, ground coriander and ground cumin fried in hot oil with chilli and garlic until the garlic is golden when it is ready to add carefully to the lentil mix. I add spinach just at the end too, along with some chopped coriander. Even the raita was good, though it could have been better had husband #1 not given all of my cucumber to the giddies! They get all the best veg in this house.
So it's been dull. No excitement in anyway, shape or form. I haven't taken advantage of time off to catch up on work, do extra cleaning, reading or similar. I did however watch Doctors. Love it and miss it. The promise of watching Doctors is the only thing that tempts me to have another baby (thus maternity leave, thus more Doctors). But no, that's not going to happen - I may just sky plus it. Wonder if husband #1 would take it up on a Friday night? Well, if not, roll on husband #2.
For tea we had dahl, raita and nan bread - my own lovely recipes (apart from the nan bread). It was a nice change, but the last portion and so at some point over Christmas I'm going to have to be making some more because it really is a great recipe: lentils, ginger, turmeric all cooked until almost ready. Then, cumin seeds, mustard seeds, ground coriander and ground cumin fried in hot oil with chilli and garlic until the garlic is golden when it is ready to add carefully to the lentil mix. I add spinach just at the end too, along with some chopped coriander. Even the raita was good, though it could have been better had husband #1 not given all of my cucumber to the giddies! They get all the best veg in this house.
Monday 26 November 2012
Having a bit of a blog overload at the minute. Or am I a blog over loader? I think that's it. But I still have a sore throat, neck and ears (did I mention that?) and after a day of overworking that in my throat which still is attempting to work, I may have decided to take the day off tomorrow and see the doctor about my significant pain. But, like this morning (when I rang in sick but turned up anyway), I may change my mind.
So I'm sat here with a bit of time on my hands, watching Barefoot midweek with online Christmas shopping just waving at me. I did get quite a bit done last night too. All the nieces and nephews are catered for - and two arrived this evening, though one has the 24th of December as a delivery date. Risky. Am I admitting to much to say they all have slightly different versions of the same thing? Of course not! They won't read Working Mum Cooks - aged from 7 to 19, I think I'm a little too uncool for that, but I shouldn't even give them that little clue.
Food hasn't set my world on fire today - weetabix, sachet of soup and two slices of 50-50 followed by pain inducing spag bol, usually a great favourite. So I'm having a think about Boxing day to cheer myself up - one of the highlights of my entertaining year. Having a gluten free sister doesn't make things easy and I realised last week that the lovely Bullfighters Beef isn't gluten free, thanks to the beurre manié. Nor is salmon en croûte. Okay, I knew that one. So what can I make?
Having recently made a delicious lamb tagine - my own recipe, including lamb neck fillet, tinned tomatoes, stock, ras-el-hanout, apricots, dates, carrots, onions and courgettes, I'm wondering about that. But the ras-el-hanout spice mix I have is spicy and there are lots of kids coming and I like them to try...Mushroom stroganoff usually works well and that goes well with Dad's best basmati rice. I will never learn how to make it in that way, but it is the best ever plain boiled rice - absolutely no sarcasm there. Could I make the chicken and chorizo in cider? Not sure if chorizo contains gluten, but I bet it does. Chicken in cider - would have to replace the whole bird for a lot of thighs, but will there be enough bone to thicken up the sauce, I wonder?
Once upon a time I made a lovely buffet each year, but I was single, childfree and relatively rich. I spent the early hours of the 27th of December washing up by hand, drinking Christmas Baileys from Nanna's glass whilst listening to the latest Christmas CD. Those were the days! No time for that malarkey so I want one dish that I can slow cook, one I can do on the hob and a third for the oven. Aforementioned rice goes in the microwave, new potatoes go in the oven to roast or the hob if there's room and then there'll be bread - defintely not homemade, though. As for pudding, my thoughts so far have also been far away from the gluten-free zone: jam roly poly and tarte tatin (husband #1's speciality). Of course I know a lovely hazelnut meringue recipe but am always wary of nuts with the kids around. Plus it's time consuming and requires refrigerator space once made. Iles flottantes are good, but not easy to make for twenty-two greedy, potentially drunken, baying relatives. Last year I made an odd thing - it was a frugal, but promising lemon mousse to which I added white chocolate on the off-chance and then called Panna Cotta. Whilst the EU failed to sue me on misrepresentation, I was lucky as it did go down well and diners even had to be rationed - people were fraudulently coming to take portions that they had no intention of eating to pass onto those who had already had some - a sin on Boxing Day when all get served once before seconds are allowed!
So what do I have? Mushroom Stroganoff, rice and Lemon and White Chocolate Faux Panna Cotta. That's not a full table yet, bear with me.
So I'm sat here with a bit of time on my hands, watching Barefoot midweek with online Christmas shopping just waving at me. I did get quite a bit done last night too. All the nieces and nephews are catered for - and two arrived this evening, though one has the 24th of December as a delivery date. Risky. Am I admitting to much to say they all have slightly different versions of the same thing? Of course not! They won't read Working Mum Cooks - aged from 7 to 19, I think I'm a little too uncool for that, but I shouldn't even give them that little clue.
Food hasn't set my world on fire today - weetabix, sachet of soup and two slices of 50-50 followed by pain inducing spag bol, usually a great favourite. So I'm having a think about Boxing day to cheer myself up - one of the highlights of my entertaining year. Having a gluten free sister doesn't make things easy and I realised last week that the lovely Bullfighters Beef isn't gluten free, thanks to the beurre manié. Nor is salmon en croûte. Okay, I knew that one. So what can I make?
Having recently made a delicious lamb tagine - my own recipe, including lamb neck fillet, tinned tomatoes, stock, ras-el-hanout, apricots, dates, carrots, onions and courgettes, I'm wondering about that. But the ras-el-hanout spice mix I have is spicy and there are lots of kids coming and I like them to try...Mushroom stroganoff usually works well and that goes well with Dad's best basmati rice. I will never learn how to make it in that way, but it is the best ever plain boiled rice - absolutely no sarcasm there. Could I make the chicken and chorizo in cider? Not sure if chorizo contains gluten, but I bet it does. Chicken in cider - would have to replace the whole bird for a lot of thighs, but will there be enough bone to thicken up the sauce, I wonder?
Once upon a time I made a lovely buffet each year, but I was single, childfree and relatively rich. I spent the early hours of the 27th of December washing up by hand, drinking Christmas Baileys from Nanna's glass whilst listening to the latest Christmas CD. Those were the days! No time for that malarkey so I want one dish that I can slow cook, one I can do on the hob and a third for the oven. Aforementioned rice goes in the microwave, new potatoes go in the oven to roast or the hob if there's room and then there'll be bread - defintely not homemade, though. As for pudding, my thoughts so far have also been far away from the gluten-free zone: jam roly poly and tarte tatin (husband #1's speciality). Of course I know a lovely hazelnut meringue recipe but am always wary of nuts with the kids around. Plus it's time consuming and requires refrigerator space once made. Iles flottantes are good, but not easy to make for twenty-two greedy, potentially drunken, baying relatives. Last year I made an odd thing - it was a frugal, but promising lemon mousse to which I added white chocolate on the off-chance and then called Panna Cotta. Whilst the EU failed to sue me on misrepresentation, I was lucky as it did go down well and diners even had to be rationed - people were fraudulently coming to take portions that they had no intention of eating to pass onto those who had already had some - a sin on Boxing Day when all get served once before seconds are allowed!
So what do I have? Mushroom Stroganoff, rice and Lemon and White Chocolate Faux Panna Cotta. That's not a full table yet, bear with me.
(Iles Flottantes, just to share a picture!)
Sunday 25 November 2012
The sore throat rasps on to see another day and all I want to do is sit and eat badness - it's going to be hard not to succumb. There's Dairy Milk in the kitchen and I haven't even attacked it yet; am very proud.
Jacket potatoes are in the oven, will be smothering them with butter and salt before the tuna, sweetcorn and mayonnaise gets applied. Sunday's are tough to mess up once I get to this stage as the tea is already on and I cannot bring myself to waste an already heated meal.
What would be good? Perhaps a nice, salty and spicy Chinese with loads of fluffy rice and noodles (has to be both or I'd be disappointed). To start, I might want hot and spicy soup, salt and pepper squid or some delicious pork and prawn dumplings with sweet chili sauce. Of course there has to be vegetables - even with a take away I'm a stickler. So perhaps some seaweed and/or fried broccoli. Maybe mixed vegetables? I'd take a good spoon of each. But maybe I'd prefer an Indian? What I get depends on where husband #1 would be willing to drive to. The best version would include chicken mangalore (love the whole red chillies) or goan king prawn - though there is a beautiful, low fat lamb and cauliflower dish too. Of course, tarka dahl is vital (veg), alongside a garlic nan and pilau rice. Maybe a mixed seafood starter (for 2, so I guess I'd share) or some samosas, bhajis or pakoras. Meat or vegetable? Don't care as long as there's spice. The cheaper version provides free poppadoms with chutneys - an advantage in anyone's eyes? There is an oddly pink korma (but rather tasty) and a lovely chicken rogan josh (thigh meat, really tender and juicy) - clearly still needs dahl, nan and rice.
How sad am I feeling now? My jacket potato, no matter how crispy the skin or how much salt and butter I add, will be sadly lacking in excitement and comfort. Who said it was good to dream?
http://facebook.com/recipe.mccookingseasy
https://twitter.com/WorkingMumCooks
Jacket potatoes are in the oven, will be smothering them with butter and salt before the tuna, sweetcorn and mayonnaise gets applied. Sunday's are tough to mess up once I get to this stage as the tea is already on and I cannot bring myself to waste an already heated meal.
What would be good? Perhaps a nice, salty and spicy Chinese with loads of fluffy rice and noodles (has to be both or I'd be disappointed). To start, I might want hot and spicy soup, salt and pepper squid or some delicious pork and prawn dumplings with sweet chili sauce. Of course there has to be vegetables - even with a take away I'm a stickler. So perhaps some seaweed and/or fried broccoli. Maybe mixed vegetables? I'd take a good spoon of each. But maybe I'd prefer an Indian? What I get depends on where husband #1 would be willing to drive to. The best version would include chicken mangalore (love the whole red chillies) or goan king prawn - though there is a beautiful, low fat lamb and cauliflower dish too. Of course, tarka dahl is vital (veg), alongside a garlic nan and pilau rice. Maybe a mixed seafood starter (for 2, so I guess I'd share) or some samosas, bhajis or pakoras. Meat or vegetable? Don't care as long as there's spice. The cheaper version provides free poppadoms with chutneys - an advantage in anyone's eyes? There is an oddly pink korma (but rather tasty) and a lovely chicken rogan josh (thigh meat, really tender and juicy) - clearly still needs dahl, nan and rice.
How sad am I feeling now? My jacket potato, no matter how crispy the skin or how much salt and butter I add, will be sadly lacking in excitement and comfort. Who said it was good to dream?
http://facebook.com/recipe.mccookingseasy
https://twitter.com/WorkingMumCooks
Saturday 24 November 2012
What an odd week. Have had a horrible sore throat and my voice just about went completely yesterday. Is up and down today, but I hope it comes back as I hate not being able to speak.
Last night's pizza was absolutely beautiful (if I say so myself) - salami, jalapeno and green pepper. But what really made it good were the 5 crushed cloves of garlic I mixed in with the tomato puree. Wow - I really pity those who hate garlic.
After a small head injury last night, resulting in two hourly checks of a little monster, we had a nice sleep in and then porridge with syrup. At 10am!!! What a luxury - usually I only allow one special breakfast a weekend, but I'm thinking that this time of year is so stressful at work and so dismal outside that perhaps a trip to the shop tomorrow morning and a little Cinnamon French toast wouldn't be bad, would it?!
And so to tonight...
Fairground Octopus (by Sir Rick, adapted by me), prawn and spring onion fritters (as before - Sir Rick, yours were a bit runny last week, I found!) with asparagus (roasted), artichokes (from Sainos!!! Don't really fit in but had to buy them to encourage stock) and chips. Oh, and not to forget the garlic mayo that husband #1 is about to make.
Am so looking forward to an evening of warm deliciousness dipped in garlic mayo. And with a nice red wine too. In the words of a heroine, how bad can that be?
Last night's pizza was absolutely beautiful (if I say so myself) - salami, jalapeno and green pepper. But what really made it good were the 5 crushed cloves of garlic I mixed in with the tomato puree. Wow - I really pity those who hate garlic.
After a small head injury last night, resulting in two hourly checks of a little monster, we had a nice sleep in and then porridge with syrup. At 10am!!! What a luxury - usually I only allow one special breakfast a weekend, but I'm thinking that this time of year is so stressful at work and so dismal outside that perhaps a trip to the shop tomorrow morning and a little Cinnamon French toast wouldn't be bad, would it?!
And so to tonight...
Fairground Octopus (by Sir Rick, adapted by me), prawn and spring onion fritters (as before - Sir Rick, yours were a bit runny last week, I found!) with asparagus (roasted), artichokes (from Sainos!!! Don't really fit in but had to buy them to encourage stock) and chips. Oh, and not to forget the garlic mayo that husband #1 is about to make.
Am so looking forward to an evening of warm deliciousness dipped in garlic mayo. And with a nice red wine too. In the words of a heroine, how bad can that be?
Wednesday 21 November 2012
Sore throat aside, the week hasn't gone well in terms of food. Husband #1 and I have eaten as planned but have supplemented this with a diabetic load of crisps, sweets and now, ice cream.
Last weekend was the annual 'parents' tea and I think it went well. Started with prawn and spring onion fritters, from (sir) Rick Stein's Spanish book, accompanied by lots of saucission, gherkins, giant capers and asparagus. They were nice and will be had again. The main course was a confit duck tart, which I'm delighted to say was a treat, topped with lovely potatoes and a just set shallotty and garlicky egg mix. With that I made roasted shallots (Ina style!) and cavalo nero, working mum style with caramelised garlic. Yummy!
For pudding, another newby - jam roly poly, steamed in my very own home-fashioned steamer but served with Sainos TTD custard - when I looked at the price of the eggs I had to buy, it seemed silly not to take the cheaper option, and though I do love homemade custard, the homemade Jam Roly Poly didn't lose out!
So to Sunday morning and queue cinnamon French toast followed by all you can eat Chinese buffet. Oh dear!
So it's nearly the weekend again and I have to say I'm still getting more Nigellaesque in size (sorry Nigella, I think I'm doing you a disservice there, I think you are almost workingmumesque in size at this stage. What to eat on Friday and Saturday? Pizza Friday, but after two weeks of chicken, caramelised onion and pepper I think something else needs a turn. Maybe it's time for salami and jalapeno? It's too cold for vegetarian options, even a full cheese. For Saturday I'm looking for a lamb curry recipe, something dry and unsaucy to go with raita and nan bread. I may then of course do a cauliflower curry in a sauce to accompany. Yummy.......
https://twitter.com/WorkingMumCooks
http://facebook.com/recipe.mccookingseasy
Last weekend was the annual 'parents' tea and I think it went well. Started with prawn and spring onion fritters, from (sir) Rick Stein's Spanish book, accompanied by lots of saucission, gherkins, giant capers and asparagus. They were nice and will be had again. The main course was a confit duck tart, which I'm delighted to say was a treat, topped with lovely potatoes and a just set shallotty and garlicky egg mix. With that I made roasted shallots (Ina style!) and cavalo nero, working mum style with caramelised garlic. Yummy!
For pudding, another newby - jam roly poly, steamed in my very own home-fashioned steamer but served with Sainos TTD custard - when I looked at the price of the eggs I had to buy, it seemed silly not to take the cheaper option, and though I do love homemade custard, the homemade Jam Roly Poly didn't lose out!
So to Sunday morning and queue cinnamon French toast followed by all you can eat Chinese buffet. Oh dear!
So it's nearly the weekend again and I have to say I'm still getting more Nigellaesque in size (sorry Nigella, I think I'm doing you a disservice there, I think you are almost workingmumesque in size at this stage. What to eat on Friday and Saturday? Pizza Friday, but after two weeks of chicken, caramelised onion and pepper I think something else needs a turn. Maybe it's time for salami and jalapeno? It's too cold for vegetarian options, even a full cheese. For Saturday I'm looking for a lamb curry recipe, something dry and unsaucy to go with raita and nan bread. I may then of course do a cauliflower curry in a sauce to accompany. Yummy.......
https://twitter.com/WorkingMumCooks
http://facebook.com/recipe.mccookingseasy
Sunday 11 November 2012
Last night had a beautiful tea by (Sir) Rick Stein of Padstow and me. Pot Roast Chicken with Chorizo and Leeks in Cider. Nice and easy to do, stuck it in the oven and it just did itself really, though my sausages were pretend chorizo 'style' by Sainos and I found I needed to add more paprika - really needed smoked but was horrified to find I'd run out and not noticed. I do wonder why (Sir) Rick doesn't mention the carrots in the title? They were lovely. It made loads and today I've frozen another two portions AND there was enough of the mash I made with it to freeze those as well, so two lovely teas there for the up-an-coming horrible half-term ahead.
So today it was porridge and syrup, Costco pizza and hotdog for linch, with toast for those still hungry (yes, well, we only bought 3 portions) then jackets and beans for tea.
About to go to bed with Dairy Milk and wine. I deserve a treat or two and will be perfect hereonafter until Christmas.
So today it was porridge and syrup, Costco pizza and hotdog for linch, with toast for those still hungry (yes, well, we only bought 3 portions) then jackets and beans for tea.
About to go to bed with Dairy Milk and wine. I deserve a treat or two and will be perfect hereonafter until Christmas.
Friday 9 November 2012
And it goes on. Today, no time for breakfast so grabbed a flap jack from the cupboard which I then left in the back of my car until 5.34pm when I returned home. I took no lunch (have wasted a pot of humous and 6 wraps this week - oopsie) nor any money, so that didn't happen either. A magnet for crashes in the last few weeks, I was late home for collecting a gal and so went to parents for cup T and in the hope of something tasty being available - unfortunately they were out of Twirls, but there was a taster slab of home-made Christmas cake just waiting.....the mother cut me a maternity-leave sized slice and it was good.
So the answer is yes. I'll have one for Christmas please.
Just waiting for Friday's pizza to come out of the oven - caramelised onion, chicken and green pepper - a favourite these days. Some wine (the bloody mary is gone, Come Dine With Me and some chocolate: as (Aunty) Ina Garten would say, "how bad can that be?"
http://www.facebook.com/recipe.mccookingseasy?ref=tn_tnmn
So the answer is yes. I'll have one for Christmas please.
Just waiting for Friday's pizza to come out of the oven - caramelised onion, chicken and green pepper - a favourite these days. Some wine (the bloody mary is gone, Come Dine With Me and some chocolate: as (Aunty) Ina Garten would say, "how bad can that be?"
http://www.facebook.com/recipe.mccookingseasy?ref=tn_tnmn
Thursday 8 November 2012
Out of the window have gone all of the good and healthy attitudes towards food this week. Interview today (failed miserably) has caused untold stresses on diet. Throughout the week the girls' Halloween chocolate has disappeared and last night there were 2 midweek glasses of wine (forbidden), a large bag of Doritos (Original, with Salsa) and a small packet of buttons.
Tonight there has been a small Cadbury's whole nut (not really tasted as it went down so quickly), a Babybel (it may have been out of date, wrong to give the kids) and there will soon be an Agrah curry, with lager, wine and perhaps a bag of Cadbury's Caramel Nibbles.
Then it is the weekend - two and a half days of decadence by default. BUT, I will get back into cooking. Possibly a chicken, green pepper and caramelised onion pizza tomorrow (though I may experiment and try a new topping!) and I really fancy something new on Saturday. Not sure what yet. All the parents are coming the Saturday after and I'm thinking of doing something from Rick Stein's Spanish book, which hasn't had much use yet. It's cold, dark and I fancy something slow cooked and meaty. There are options from Rick - will have to see.
Anyway, just to reinforce my philosophy on food: If you like it eat it, if you need comfort eat it - just try to like vegetables and low-fat goods at the same time....http://www.facebook.com/recipe.mccookingseasy?ref=tn_tnmn
Tonight there has been a small Cadbury's whole nut (not really tasted as it went down so quickly), a Babybel (it may have been out of date, wrong to give the kids) and there will soon be an Agrah curry, with lager, wine and perhaps a bag of Cadbury's Caramel Nibbles.
Then it is the weekend - two and a half days of decadence by default. BUT, I will get back into cooking. Possibly a chicken, green pepper and caramelised onion pizza tomorrow (though I may experiment and try a new topping!) and I really fancy something new on Saturday. Not sure what yet. All the parents are coming the Saturday after and I'm thinking of doing something from Rick Stein's Spanish book, which hasn't had much use yet. It's cold, dark and I fancy something slow cooked and meaty. There are options from Rick - will have to see.
Anyway, just to reinforce my philosophy on food: If you like it eat it, if you need comfort eat it - just try to like vegetables and low-fat goods at the same time....http://www.facebook.com/recipe.mccookingseasy?ref=tn_tnmn
Monday 5 November 2012
Ah ha. I have so much work this week that I have decided to sod the lot and I've taken to uber-blogging. Why not? What do I have to say on this fine (cold) and sunny (pitch black) Guy Fawkes Night regarding food, and what is my philosophy thereupon?
I mentioned weight loss in an earlier post. All is not lost and forgotten - weight loss is s slow process if it's to be done properly and I have lost 6 and a 1/4 pounds since September - not too bad? No, but how much better would that have been had I not spent last night and tonight snaffling The Gals Halloween chocolate treasures? Last night I got away with it and my post holiday weight was good, but I think I may have pushed it. Question: how much would you expect me to lose tonight after a small dairy milk, a 'fun' size flake (no fun to be had there, 1 bite and it was gone) and a packet of buttons. I may take the fizzy cola bottles next as they are more similar to a portion of fruit?
Anyway, for lunch I had roasted vegetables (see yesterday's work avoidance tactic) and butter beans because I opened the wrong tin and my discerning offspring will only eat borlotti beans with their sausages (sorry, girls!). The same will be had tomorrow and Husband #1 will join me this time. For tea we had garlic mushrooms on toast, which were okay, but I cooked them ahead on Friday when I made the pizza and I just wonder if fungus improves with age? Not sure. Maybe I'm just miffed there was no cream in there with them.
So back to work. I have a presentation to practise and think it may go better with a M&S chocolate eyeball challenging my lip movements? Let's see.....http://facebook.com/recipe.mccookingseasy
I mentioned weight loss in an earlier post. All is not lost and forgotten - weight loss is s slow process if it's to be done properly and I have lost 6 and a 1/4 pounds since September - not too bad? No, but how much better would that have been had I not spent last night and tonight snaffling The Gals Halloween chocolate treasures? Last night I got away with it and my post holiday weight was good, but I think I may have pushed it. Question: how much would you expect me to lose tonight after a small dairy milk, a 'fun' size flake (no fun to be had there, 1 bite and it was gone) and a packet of buttons. I may take the fizzy cola bottles next as they are more similar to a portion of fruit?
Anyway, for lunch I had roasted vegetables (see yesterday's work avoidance tactic) and butter beans because I opened the wrong tin and my discerning offspring will only eat borlotti beans with their sausages (sorry, girls!). The same will be had tomorrow and Husband #1 will join me this time. For tea we had garlic mushrooms on toast, which were okay, but I cooked them ahead on Friday when I made the pizza and I just wonder if fungus improves with age? Not sure. Maybe I'm just miffed there was no cream in there with them.
So back to work. I have a presentation to practise and think it may go better with a M&S chocolate eyeball challenging my lip movements? Let's see.....http://facebook.com/recipe.mccookingseasy
Sunday 4 November 2012
And so the holidays have ended again and, despite a week of working every night after the kids have gone to bed, I'm still working away this afternoon and having a mass panic. Or at least, I'm having a mass panic about working away and yet seem to be writing a blog post (thanks Niece #1), all the while cooking a tomato sauce to go with my girls' beans and sausages (none of that tinned rubbish for my girls*) and roasting vegetables to go on wraps this week.
I'm also sat next to a sandwich, which in theory will be delightful but....I sat the (frozen) ham on the buttered bread to defrost. It hasn't. I put some of the aforementioned roasted vegetables on the ham to rush it on. It hasn't. The bread is now a little 'self-toasted' after having sat out too long. Oh dear.
But to make me look a little better in culinary areas, I made a lovely Chateaubriand on Thursday (for 4) and was telling a chef about it last night and he was very impressed I'd even tried it - but for those of you who aren't adventurous chefs, it really wasn't that hard - really just a roast. I wiped it dry, smeared in olive oil, sea salt and black pepper and seared on all sides for literally a minute or less. Then it went in the oven at 190' for about 20 - 25 minutes. I covered it in fol and left to sit for 15 minutes and then served with chips and garlic mayo - was a beautiful piece of meat, I have to say. Followed it up with iles flottantes, one of my all time favourites.
So, thanks Niece #1, you made me lose 20 scarce minutes of work time, but I'll forgive you! Now off to eat my sandwich. Cross fingers that the ham has defrosted....
I'm also sat next to a sandwich, which in theory will be delightful but....I sat the (frozen) ham on the buttered bread to defrost. It hasn't. I put some of the aforementioned roasted vegetables on the ham to rush it on. It hasn't. The bread is now a little 'self-toasted' after having sat out too long. Oh dear.
But to make me look a little better in culinary areas, I made a lovely Chateaubriand on Thursday (for 4) and was telling a chef about it last night and he was very impressed I'd even tried it - but for those of you who aren't adventurous chefs, it really wasn't that hard - really just a roast. I wiped it dry, smeared in olive oil, sea salt and black pepper and seared on all sides for literally a minute or less. Then it went in the oven at 190' for about 20 - 25 minutes. I covered it in fol and left to sit for 15 minutes and then served with chips and garlic mayo - was a beautiful piece of meat, I have to say. Followed it up with iles flottantes, one of my all time favourites.
So, thanks Niece #1, you made me lose 20 scarce minutes of work time, but I'll forgive you! Now off to eat my sandwich. Cross fingers that the ham has defrosted....
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