Bananas, Banana Bread

Sorry, sorry, sorry!

Gosh I've been saying that a lot latly with regards to the blog.

It's just trying to juggle a job, a mad, but super fun 3 year old (he went three the other week crazy hey) so time just got away from me a bit.

But I'm off to Disney world in 3 days so I plan to get loads of blogging material might even write a few when I'm over there on my Blogger app. (Although will sort out the photo when I'm back as the app, well I can't work out on the app, how to get the pics right)

Any who before all the Disney madness I thought I add a cooking blog, blog lol.

A few weeks back at my inlaws I made them a lovely Banana loaf with the help of my glamours assistant my husband.

So what you will need is 

3 Bananas

140g Flour

140g Butter

140g sugar

1 tsp Baking Powder 

2 eggs 

First weigh out the sugar

and the Butter 

And cream them together

Then weight the flower 

And whisk two eggs

Fold in the flower and the eggs

Then add a 1tps of Baking Powder

Then take your 3 bananas

Chop them 

Then smush (my technical term for the below) lol  them together a much as you can

Then fold this into the mixture 

After that your mixture should be ready for the oven

Then spoon it into a loaf team 

and cook in a 180 degree oven for around 50 minutes.

And Enjoy it with some fizz.

Right so hope you make enjoy it and love it!!

Also keep an eye out in the coming week for all my Disney posts so excited!!!

A pox on my house - (but hey cocktails)

Firstly the good news look at what my Son did a Nursery the first thing he's made so proud as he following in him mum's foot steps today it chocolate rice krispy cakes tomorrow Cake boss lol..

Well that is before he got sick, so it was my birthday in the past week I turned 36 whoop whoop actually don't mind getting older my 30's so far have been fantastic and far less stressful and unsure like my 20's were. Also because I'm embarrassed me, especially my dyslexia and dyspraxia. I find I am finally comfortable in my own skin. 

So I had a big party plan with loads of treats and fun things I was going to cook and share with my chums but the morning of the start of the festivities my son awoke with the Chicken Pox (right on my birthday, a gift I really didn't want). The poor lad was not well and I needed to cancel on everyone, two days of plans right out the window and all my cooking idea too.

Slightly worried though as the presents I did get (and please remember that most of my friends gift didn't arrive as they were bring them to the party) I still managed to amass a load of drink - Think I have an unfair reputation and yes I know my blogs are full of drinking and yes I'm going to be talking about drinking below. That's not the point and I think this characterization is wholly unfounded :P 

So on my birthday it was just My husband as me and the little one spent most of the day in bed the only highlight was Hotel Chocolat and Champagne 

Oh and I did get a cake a super cute Pug cake so cute from Asda - but between twopeople  a 16 person cake is just too much lol.

There were some highlights I manged to get back to the Artesain Bar at the Langham Hotel in London and have another one of their cocktails that's 2 now out of a list of around 20 and oh yes I will do the whole list but they are a bit pricey so will have to spread them out.

This time I had their utterly fabulous "How Not To Be Seen" it was Tots Amaz (Sorry was somewhere posh so it just came out) lol  - it was made of Martell Cordon Bleu, Caju, Sauvignon Blanc, Agave.

Goes down very well and was just as nice as the last cocktail I had there "Suspended in Time" but it was less dramatic, think next time I need one of their more showy cocktails.


Oh and I was taken by a colleague at work to Wahaca as it was only a few of us didn't want to spend it taking loads of food picks but I did take a photo of the Passion Fruit Mojito we had.

That is one smooth and refreshing cocktail, it tastes just like a fab fruit punch which I can see being dangerous as they go down far to easily but as I was only on lunch I only had one. (But will go back when I can and have more than one lol).

The other good thing this week in between trying to get a 2 and a half year old not to scratch his poxs - Which is just so much fun and who said parenting was glamorous.

The sun has finally arrived in the UK it is hot and sunny and wonderful and great and fantastic (oh you can tell I so over the cold can't you :) )

so I managed to eat outside and look my food dishes even came with a hidden Mickey.

Oh and you have to have cocktails in the sun it a rule (That I've just made up) Well I did have to use all the champagne I was gifted so, some Buck's Fizz (Mamosa) went down really well with a mini BBQ.

We just had a few nibbles some steak, plain for Hubby and then some chilli seasoned stake hot sauce and spicy seasoning for me.

so nice to eat alfresco and I really do think food is improved by your surrounding so eating some nice steak and corn in the sun taste far better than if you where eating it inside in the cold and with it raining outside.

Also with the left over steak in the evening I fried it with some mushroom and parsley to add to a salad.

I should have taken a picture of the salad but got distracted and then I was over half way through when I remembered and it look a mess. (bad food blogger, bad).

So hopefully next week the cursed Poxs should be lifted from our house (Sorry it's Shakespeare celebration over her in the UK so I'm challenging the Bard). And after all the trauma lately with one thing and other back to my old self (and maybe even a slight tan self if the weather holds).

Running far-away and a takeaway

Hello my foodie friends, how the devil are you doing?


So I've done something a bit Crazy I've signed up for the Wine and Dine Disney Half Marathon.. What no.. that's mental, I hear you cry... Definitely I don't know what came over me I think I got confused by the word wine and went on from there.

Lol but in all seriousness I am very excited about it and means that I will definitely be out at Disney World in November for some Sun, Run and now a big run 13.1 miles. As as the run will take in a couple of the theme parks before they open it will give me a unique perspective of the parks I've never seen before.

 I am feeling good and so positive that I'm doing something that will not only encompass one of my Favorite things,Disney, it will also benefit me in so many other ways,

So in prep I've been doing the Park Run, An amazing 5k run that is free to all and get you out and get you fit. I did the first 5k in 40 Minutes 30 seconds and the next one in 38 minutes 34 seconds so getting better. 

Although bit of a political rant one totally misguided council want people to start paying to use their public park to run. So I don't do this often but if you read this could you please sign the petition  to keep it free.Thanks! 

So been a bit of a mad week my Mother in Law has been staying with us to help look after the little one when I'm at work, normally my mum does it but while she's recovering, MIL came to the rescue as have you seen the cost of child care (eep).

It also enable me to have a night out as my boss was leaving, was fun but got a bit mess, which was great as we all had a big meeting the next day. But I got up got myself together and did my work while quietly dying. Darn you aging as in my 20's would have even made and impact (although that was probably a bad thing lol).

The downside is this did necessitate me needing a burger on the train home after the meeting, mmm greasy bad stuff is the best hangover cure bar non.. (I know I profess the benefit of Avocado on toast, which is great for a hangover) but sometimes only a burger or chips will do. 

As the MIL been down and I've had to work we have had a couple of take aways, As my Hubby was away I finally got to try my local Thai place Thai Moom, As Hubby is allergic to nuts we normally avoid that sort of food. 

But I managed to get some Pad Thai in with dumplings and chicken Satay. It was really nice but don't know if it was extra yummy as it was forbidden fruit. I always remember Eddie Murphy Cracker Sketch lol (It a bit rude) and the fact dinner came with Cracker make it funnier (Well to me) 

Also as it's my birthday soon I was drawn to the cake aisle in Asda and came across this, I am not sure what the Cat is angry about but now that's the sort of cake I want on my birthday to reflect the disappointment that is always come with getting another year old lol - Actually the older I get the more fun I seem to have so bring it on!!  

The crazy thing about moving is I spend a load of time in Ikea, then followed by arguments as swearing lots when trying to assemble flat pack furniture.

But what the best thing about Ikea - The meatballs I hear you all cry- If you don't like the meatball there is something slightly wrong with you lol :) 

So I bought all the ingredient and tried to make my own

It went pretty well (chips from the local chippy (UK name for Fish & Chip Shops)) I found the key is to make the gravy with double cream then thin it out if needed with a bit of milk. I was just like being in the store only less chaotic and I didn't walk away with an assortment of cushions.

Last bit of the week as it has been pretty slow, working, commuting, running and have a guest doesn't leave a lot of time for anything else.

We did however manage a cheeky trip to Bluewater, they had a  Leeds Castle display, I know I've blogged about Leeds Castle before, it's amazing and if your are ever in Kent (It not in Leeds I know confusing) you have to give it a visit.

The even had some prop chain mail which the other half had to try on. Actually it fit him perfectly. Which looked good but now he has some crazy idea about wanting to buy a set. We were only lucky they didn't sell them in the store you have to go to the castle to get them (Hopefully his desire to own a set will wear off in the coming weeks before we go back). 

As it was a nice day out we stopped in Giraffe for some lunch. I managed to get in one of my favorite drinks their Melon Margarita... oohhh so fresh... ooohhh so tasty... oooh I want another one right now.

The food is pretty good there too, Hubby had their Duck Salad.

I had their rice dish it was really tasty it reminded me of the rice dishes I got in Malaysia so with that and the Melon Margarita it made me think of holidays, nice food, nice drink shame about the British weather lol.

A quick Christmas Message

This week at work has been full of sweets, chocolate and biscuits and the highlight of the week a guy at works wife made an AAAA-mazing chocolate cake it was so so so so yum. Actually jealous as I don't think I could make a cake that tasty.

it was all gone in about two hours.

I also got to see the new Star Wars - No spoilers! But I really enjoyed it and give ti 5 Stars. Our local cinema where doing some Star Wars Themed cocktail, I didn't managed to have one well I did go to the 10.30am showing and even that's a bit early for me.

So between that and getting the last minutes Christmas Stuff Done just a short post this week.

I'll give you an update next week of how the Dyslexic Cooking Christmas went.

All I can say is there will be far to much food, far too much drink and I know for the little one far to many presents.

although I will pause and remember how lucky I am at this time of year. I have an amazing family, I have a lovely home and I will have good friends, good food and fun over this special time. I know a lot of people won't have any of that.

Christmas, I do think is about family and it is the one time of year that we normally take a breath and enjoy all being together.

So spare a thought for those who have less and more importantly those who have nothing. Please remember to donate and help where you can.

And make sure you appreciate what you have. If your family start getting on your nerves or the turkey's a bit dry or the kids are being to loud with their toys or there's the same old crap on the telly. Look around and really take it in and think about the thousands of people who would be happy with just a fraction of what you have.

So I hope everyone who reads this has a great festive period and I will be back in touch before the New Year :)

North of the Boarder so Food is in Order :)

I'm back from Scotland and it was an amazing week.

It did start out with a bit of a long car journey of 8 hours - I know if you're reading this in America that nothing but in the UK we covered nearly the whole country.

But the little one was amazing through out the trip 

The foodie part of the trip started early we stopped at Westmorelands service station which is an independent service station serving local produce. It's so yum, much better than the chain stuff you get by the side of the road.

We got to Scotland around 9pm. So put the little one to bed and got ready for the next day.

We awoke to a bit of a chilly morning but raring to go. As we were staying at the in-law house right near Loch Lomond we decided to take a jaunt to the shore.

In the afternoon we went to visit with my husband nana, she was actually in fine form she'a nearly 90 and isn't very well

but she was laughing and joking and got a kick out of meeting the little lad. So We have 4 generations of one family having a nice afternoon tea.

Well I had Irn Bru which is a truly Scottish drink and it is really if a slightly acquired tasted

We Got back to the house and started to plan for the next day as the main reason for being up there it was our Son's 2nd birthday, we have reached the terrible twos lol..

We had a great day started in the morning with a room full of gifts as usual we all went (especially the Nana) over board

As at that age sometimes they prefer playing with the box rather than the toys.  

He did like all his gift but I think he liked the balloon best (thanks nana). 

His Nan also got him his amazing car cake. 

It was a lovely sponge filled with butter cream and jam 

Only had a couple of slices, the sponge was so light and fluffy and the filling was so rich.. I would tag the bakery but the Mother in Law arranged it all so I don't have the details which is a shame as I would highly recommend it.

So for his birthday we spent the morning in Pirate soft play on Loch Lomond shores.

Then we went to Lunch we stopped at The Queen of the Loch for a small lunch lol - the portion sizes were amazing I had a medium the other half had a large.

A fantastic, generous portions and very filling Carvary.

 To wash it down the MIL and I had a glass of fizz, well it was a celebration.

Then in the afternoon a return trip to the Loch 

To take him to the Sealife Centre it's not a very big aquarium but it is fun.

We saw Otters 

We saw Sharks 

We touched Star Fish 

And saw loads of weird and wonderful creatures.

So after all that fun when we got home we had one very happy but a tired little solider. Even though last year we were at Disney I think this was a fantastic birthday perfect for him he got to do all hid favourite things. Running about like a crazy at soft play then an afternoon of discovery. Hope my next birthday is a fun :)

With all the important things out of the way visiting great Nana and the birthday we wanted to get out into the countryside so the following morning we headed further north to explore.

We drove up to Glen Coe a stunning part of Scotland if you ever visit you need to add this to your list of places to stop off and have a look and just breath it in. with working in London being out in Nature is very good for your soul sometimes.

After the "Coe" we drove up to Fort William 

where we stopped for Lunch at  a love restuarant called Cobbs it had a lovely working fire place as even though it was very Sunny (which is a bit strange for Scotland - honestly if you visit pack a mac) there was a chill in the air.

I ordered Haggis Lasange well I was in Scotland.

I actually like Haggis and tend not to really think what in it but it proper traditional food which I think is all was great in the country of origin.


The little one even enjoyed a few fork fulls - must be the Scottish blood coming out lol.

On the way back to the car even though it was cold we stopped for Ice-Cream at a lovely little store called Henry's,  I had "Fruit Salad", They had loads of weird and wonderful flavours, mine was so sweet but so yummy.

after we had been replenished by the stop - also have a cheeky Vodka and coke bought for me. I think it was more a way to make sure I could drive as the roads were very twisty and I kept offering.

We took a trip up to the Glenfinnan Viaduct  it the train bridge that they used in the Harry Potter movies - Especially the "Chamber of Secrets".

I could just imagine the Hogwart's Express thundering by taking the kids back to School. Probably a very popular sight on the 1st September.

Also if you look behind you from the viaduct is a beautiful Loch - Loch Shiel. With the sun dancing on the water and the tree all changing colour to their autumn hews it was a magical place to be.

So quiet so peaceful well until my Son wanted to find the biggest rocks he could pick up and throw them into the loch and looking very pleased with himself when he did :).

As it was a bit of a trip back when we got in we feed the little man and decided to grab a take away for the rest of us a lovely Kebab and chips - might not seem a great food choice but after a long day getting something a bit naught but filling and with the little one in bed accompanying it with a beer help to wind-down

The next morning after the little one's poor Nana had to climb over the garden fence retirive his ball, ah the joys of children. Not only did make her immaculate house like a bomb site with the toys everywhere, his favouite thing to do would be to tip up the ball pit, he make the poor woman clime into brambles as well. I of course was in a supervisory  position and was taken the photo for H&S reasons lol

My husband and I while the little one played with his nan took a walk out to get some Fritters.

You get these from most Fish and Chip shops in Scotland and a must try if you go to Scotland looking for Food.

They are huge slices of potato deep fried in batter, okay not the healthiest but put on some salt and vinegar leave for a few minutes to let it soak in and honestly you are in for a really nice treat.

To work of that treat we took to the pool at the local hotel Cameron House we go there every time we visit as that where we had our Wedding Rececption after being married in Lush (which is also on the Shores of Loch Lomond) it such a nice hotel and if you want a great place to stay with fantastic Loch views and very comfy beds and beautiful decor it the place to be.

The pool and spa is wonderful too and I've been informed they have a great Golf course but as that not my thing can't really give an opinion.

We had fun though and the little one was a bit of a daredevil and insisted on going on the slide at least 10 times (with his daddy of course).

The next day our final day (Sad Face) we took a trip down to the Loch Lomond Farmers Market - As you know from previous post I am a sucker for a farmers market as I love fresh local produce and I also like process stuff to, who am I kidding I just like food ;).

It wasn't a massive market but in a great location and did have a couple of interesting stalls.

I got some lovely Scones from Erincroft Bakery 4 fruit and 2 chocolate and banana.

Some stuffed peppers

and even a Aberdeen Angus beef burger which was scrummy

On the way home we took a detour to the loch to get another bit of Loch Lomond greatness it was such a beautiful day and the loch was almost glass still

The little one and my other half enjoyed throwing rocks again into the stillness and laughing at every splash.

We dropped the stuff off and head out to go and see an Highland Cow.

I love these cows, they are so big and fluffy and their hair is exactly like mine when I get up in the morning.

The little one as they are a bit big and imposing was a bit unsure to start up with but soon warmed to their cute faces.

When we got back i dived into one of the scones i bought it was Banana and Chocolate - 30 seconds in the microwave and it was utterly delicious so need to get the recipe and make them with a bit of butter smeared on top you are in for a delectable dining experience.

The last thing on my Culinary trip which is a must for Scotland is a Scots Pie

Just a mince pie from the looks but with the pasty being a bit crunch around the pie but softer on top it a really luscious tasty again back to good traditional food but if it cold and you've been out in the element it a perfect thing to get your strength back up.

So all in all a great trip, it was so nice to get away and have some family time and was nice for the little one to spend time with his Scottish Nana. With all the open space and outdoor things to do with him can tell it going to be a firm favourite for him over the coming years and next time I go I want to make it all the way up to Loch Ness and see if I can find a monster.