A Trip Away Keeps The Slimming At Bay

Goodness me how I've grown since last week! And I only wish it was as a person, rather than in person. Had a delightful weekend in York with Husband#1 - and yes, I missed the gals hugely, but as we've had different holidays, we won't get any sleep ins this week so a couple of nights and days with no routine was needed. Sleep? Have some. Want to eat? Do it. Don't want to eat? Who cares. Even the T.V. watching was kept to a minimum as we read whenever we liked. What a treat getting to the end of a whole paragraph's worth of sentences without being interrupted. And who better than to read than Adrian Mole? Deep, meaningful and at times, hilarious. I do believe Husband#1 must have known Sue Townsend when younger, as surely she couldn't have used anyone else as her muse? Even if he was only three when it was written (or similar).

So it started on Saturday when we found our way, without desperate phone calls, to the Blue Rooms - which are at the centre of York and lovely. A new little, Korean restaurant, called Obishi, has opened up just next door so we went in - how cute. It is like a bedsit, with about 16 seats on various tables and a kitchen at the back. The food was a treat as well. We've never eaten Korean before, but I'd go again. Just the right amount of spice and the octopus that Husband#1 had was absolutely beautiful. I could have had more, but as was pointed out, we were eating out again that evening and had fancied tasting something in the market...

So on we walked into town and one new dress later, we had German wurst - mine hot and smoky - in the market. I was good, though and used the bread only as a holder. For tea we went to The Whippet Inn. We were a little early and - shock! - had to sit in the bar for a drink! It's been a while. The starters were delicious. Squid and scallops, perfectly cooked, both dishes. I was disappointed with my vegetarian pie for the main course as it was a little dry - as if kept warm for a little too long. The pastry just crumbled when I tried to get it on the fork, which was a shame as well. It did taste good, though. Husband#1 was in heaven with his haloumi and aubergine platter - which looked like a piece of Jackson Pollack artwork, I have to say. We decided to be good and had a layer of Milk Tray for pudding back in the apartment.

The next day we lunched at Loch Fynes, which was lovely - with a view of the river Foss and a beautifully fruity glass of white wine which reminded me of summer. For tea we went to the Blue Bicycle and what a treat. Scallops for both of us as starters, mine with an Indian twist. Excellent. And then, steak for Husband#1 and cod with beef cheeks for me followed by a lovely assiette of puddings to share. One thing: why on earth do people insist on spoiling food with rhubarb?

So, four restaurants, one street food experience and two fried breakfasts later, here I am, fatter than ever and buckling the legs of the chair as I type.

Good to be home, however, Biggie and Little Biggie keeping us on our toes as ever. Back to cooking this week, though nothing too testing. Friday will bring a trip to the fish market in Leeds so looking forward to whatever that leads to!

Food, Food, Food - is that unimaginative?

So, it would seem that tonight is the start of a culinary ten days which will see me put on about ten pounds or something ridiculous. I really must control myself after this.

Last weekend was a treat with shoulder of pork cooked in a low oven for 22 hours and then served with coleslaw, BBQ sauce and balsamic onions for Sunday lunch. Pudding was a rice pudding cake, which was nice enough, though heavy. I'd have preferred the rice pudding mix before it was set - now that was good!

The next day there was pork a plenty and so I made extra BBQ sauce and we had cold roast sandwiches for lunch - wow what a treat that was (especially as there was a little coleslaw left as well!). Tuesday saw the pulled pork wrap with BBQ sauce...but that was where it ended. It will happen again, though. I don't make many roasts, but that was lovely and surprisingly un-greasy when cold.

Monday was garlic mushrooms on ciabatta, to which I have now added a poached egg, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, sea salt and a sprinkling of Parmesan. It was a dream to see Biggie polishing it off in minutes, though I have to say her ciabatta was on a separate dish as she doesn't like soggy bread! Little Biggie (as she will henceforth be known) was a little unwell and doesn't like mushrooms, so I made her the equally sophisticated tomatoes on toast with extra virgin olive oil, a smear of garlic and a sprinkling of Parmesan. Went down a treat. We can have vegetarian nights after all!

Tuesday was another treat - it's been a surprisingly good week - with a leek and haddock risotto. Again, Biggie had it downed in seconds. I am very proud of her ability to eat and enjoy.

And so to Wednesday, when there was a blip and a near-miss with a takeaway. I'd planned a favourite; roasted mackerel with crushed new potatoes and broccoli, but I just couldn't see it on Wednesday. Neither could Husband#1. So we decided to try it later. I made Biggie hers (which again, she sat and ate without question) and then we had ours after the girls had gone to bed. I'm glad we did - I'd forgotten how good roasted smoked mackerel is. Not much beats it, in my book.

Tonight does see the takeaway, but Biggie had anchovies and mussels mixed with tomato puree and pasta. Ate every bit. What a girl. Little Biggie had tea at nursery so she sat at the table devouring dates and apricots instead. Those girls are fabulous!

And so to the weekend ahead: Friday night is of course the night of the pizza, but Saturday we're eating at the Whippet Inn in York and on Sunday, the Blue Bicycle. Lunches are yet to be decided, but I'm willing to bet there won't be M&S sandwiches!

Emotional Freedom Therapy

It's bad news, I'm afraid; biggie has not been chosen to participate in the cookery club. Grandad Kenny Camel texted me from picking her up to get her a treat as she was 'devastated.' So, feeling devastated myself, I bought her a new game.  Family games are the new thing, but between the Moshi Monster Memory Pair Game and the Doc McStuffings Memory Pair Game, there's little variety. Sometimes we play the Hello Kitty Guess Who Game, but I can't do it so everyone fights over who plays with Husband#1. I'll report back on the new game later...

Anyway, to add insult to my second-hand injury, at bedtime, my very manipulative five year old told me there was a letter in her school bag about the cooking club, and maybe she'd got a place...I knew this to be a fib as I'd discussed the letter and her knowing she was out with GKC. What could a Working Mum Who Cooks do? I had to go downstairs, get the letter to pretend to check it. Then, I had to 'break' the bad news to her, whilst she looked sad, as if hearing it for the first time. This broke my heart, even though I now know my little Madame is indeed a Manipulator and Attention-seeker in-chief.

Thus, I have no emotional freedom...but, my new EFT technique to stop overeating is working. No snacks since The Night of the Chocolate Mushroom binge. We'll see how long that lasts. Friday tomorrow, and that has to be a treat filled night. Saturday is, well, Saturday. This week, even Sunday will be bad as all the parents are over for lunch. I'm making pulled pork with BBQ sauce and (bought) coleslaw (your friends don't have more fun if you make coleslaw yourself - Ina Garten). Then, for pudding, we'll have a rice pudding cake from the Andy Bates Brazilian Street Food show. Never made slow roasted pork. Hope it's good!

They Say a Couple of Pounds Per Week is Good....

...for weight loss, but how does that work for weight gain? I can't help but LOVE food.

Admittedly, I eat for stress relief, like last night. I arrived home from work and immediately stuffed a raw mushroom in my mouth to relieve the pangs for something more delicious. And another. And, as Husband#1 and daughters arrived home, I had yet another hanging out of my large-enough mouth.

Husband#1 forced me to enjoy the frozen and reheated mushroom risotto, it's too early in the week for a take-away, he said. It was fine - made all the more fine with a few fresh mushrooms (well, slightly less than intended) and - wait for it - a POACHED EGG on top. What a treat they were to find in the back of the fridge and still in date! Drizzled with a little extra virgin olive oil and sprinkled with Parmesan and sea salt, actually it also required a glass of white wine.

It's been a long time since I blogged, and I've missed it. I'm trying a new form of non-invasive acupuncture (can't remember the name of it for the life of me) to get rid of the jelly, as I'm a little weary of the morning consisting of hilarity caused by:

A) the jelly
B) the jelly being squeezed into support tights (my morning would start 5 minutes earlier did I not have to do this crazy dance)
C) everyone singing 'If I could turn back time' as I pull on the above offensive items and until I cover them with a dress

In fact, my likeness to a rather cherubic Cher in this outfit led to my main birthday gift being a sailor hat, which I also often have to wear on a morning as I dress.

I will not be the jelly joke
I will not be the jelly joke
I will not be the jelly joke

Anyway, before I researched ways to loose the jelly, I ate two Kinder Bueno, a Cadbury's Caramel and two regular Dairy Milks...well, someone has to and I'm determined it won't be my gals!

One last thing - huge pride when Biggie (5 and a half!) came home tonight and BEGGED to be allowed to join the cookery class at school. Gotta love her!