The Autism Journey begins but I prepared Snacks

So after the revelation on my last post I've had some time to digest and I in a really good place.

My son is beautiful and will always be a shining light in my life and all I know is we'll be taking a different route to his amazing-ness that the path trod by neurotypical children (yes I learnt a new word ooh fancy),

Learning and help that is the way I going to get this autism thing down, and that is what has been happening, which in turn is making me so positive.

Just need to give a big shout out to my Nursery and Kent County Council and they have been so so so so so helpful.

We're already had a meeting with the areas Education person (can't remember her full title) that the problem with having Dyslexia and Dyspraxia we sometimes find it hard taking new information in and with getting a autism diagnosis there is a lot to take in - lucky I have my darling Hubby about to help where I forget.

so we had a really positive meeting about his education needs, we've with mega help from His Nursery applied for SCARF (Sever and Complex Accessibility Resource Funding)

Oh yes now learning a whole new vocabulary as everything is an anagram, think I'm going to need to write my own dictionary on it.

Also talked about starting the application process for EHC (Education, Health and Care) plan - if you want to find out more about it the .GOV.UK website has some great info: although if you're outside the UK reading this I'm sure a quick google search will help ☺☺

Then we had a meeting with a Speech and Language Therapist and they going to start him on PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) really looking forward to that, as my son is non verbal. I am hoping it becomes a way for us to communicate better with each other. Although just a hug between us can say a thousand words.

I have also been proactive I have joined a parents group and attended two course in a local special school resource centre - Strategies for Kids with Speech and Language Difficulties and Starting the Autism Journey.

Both have been so informative and just being able to meet other parents and know I am not the only one going through this and finding out about why he does thing and getting a small glimps into how they think and process things is truly amazing and so helpful.

It's true what they say Knowledge is Power and it this case it the Power to feel positive, to Feel no so helpless and to feel that you will definitely be able to do this.

This is the power I so needed right now, so now turning into Dyslexic cooking Mum - Autism armchair specialist!

My new found positivity is spilling over into other things I've started training again as I am going to run the Hackney Half marathon this April.

Although I still have other things going on in my life that are not so positive (won't bore you with my work related stuff nightmares) at least my personal part of my life is looking a lot better.

I've also gone back to trying to eat health and decided to make Potato Cakes. Now I know I did this before but I have rehashed the recipe a bit - to add some Super Speed food - yes I am back on Slimming world but also some other ingredients to make them a bit more filling.

I took: 

2 potatoes

1 bag of Sprouts

4 rashes of reduced fat bacon - or normal bacon with all the fat cut off before cooking

2 tbs of Quark

Boil up the potatoes and the sprouts.

Mash together.

While the potatoes and sprout are cooking get your 4 rashers of bacon

And cut into pieces

Add the cooked bacon and the quark to the mashed up sprouts and potateos

Then once the mixture is all combined roll into balls

Place on a baking tray then cook in a 200 degree oven for 25 minutes.

Now you can either eat these fresh straight from the oven or let them cool and use them as a fab snack for picnics or anywhere really.

All I know is there healthy and tasty.

Just so glad I got to find time to do a bit of cooking and share it with you all.

As with everything going on it nice to share my passion for cooking.

Spicy Vegetable Bites

So I haven't done a cooking blog in a while which isn't great if you're supposed to be writing a cooking blog...

My excuse is life got in the way big time.

But calmer now but I'm off to Amsterdam tomorrow for weekend of fun (see the previous Amsterdam trip post and you'll see what I mean lol)

Any who I decided to make a quick, easy low fat and relatively cheap snack. That can be use for parties or in my case so I don't reach for something unhealthy.

You take some frozen veg and leave in a bowl to defrost (used just over half the pack) 

So when the veg is nice and defrosted take some dry rice and cook as per instructions. This can just be plain rice but this add a bit more flavour. 

Then get two potatoes and a sweet potato.

Peel

And dice. 

Then boil for about 20 minutes.

Once they're all nice and soft mash. 

Put mash into a mixing bowl.. Alright I know this is a pan but there was an unfortunate accident with my bowl so I had to make do. 

Then add in a chopped red onion

Add the defrosted veg 

The give it a good old stir 

Get about 4 tbsp of fat free yougurt and mix it with 2 tbsp of curry power

I like it hot but mild curry powder can be used instead of you don't like it too spicy. 

Add that mixture to the pot and stir in. 

Make sure it is mixed well together

Then add the cooked rice and a raw beaten egg (the egg can be left out if needed) 

Mix again till it is all combined 

Then make the mixture into balls and places them on a greased baking tray. 

Pop in a 220 oven for 40 minutes and volí a tasty health snack

Serve with a bit of tzatziki to balance out the heat.

Now they are super delicious and fun to make. 

So I hope a few of you give it a go. 

Right I'm off to back for Amsterdam so excited.

Also of course they be a blog, but do check out my Twitter account @dyslexiccooking or my YouTube channel for not only the Vlog this recipe 

https://youtu.be/XZV6jkZL5Rw but mini Vlog from throughout my trip. 

Spitfires and fire spitting cocktails

So for a brief spell it got hot, very hot over here in Good old England.. As usual I was the height of classiness and sat by my out door pool - well my son's paddling pool.

But hey I'm poor, but I've got imagination so you might see my very untanned legs in 2 inches of water - but in my head my feet are hanging off the side of my yacht in the Med lol

With the sun coming out in force, thank goodness for fruit ciders - this really refreshing Old Mout Cider very fruity and delicious.. The only down side it takes just like juice so you could end up drinking a bit more than initially planned - I only had two bottles so I was okay.  

Quick food update, I know right, most of my post lately have been drink, drink and more drink!! I using the excuse it for the blog and probably not facing up to my problems lol.

In all seriousness I found this fab, brilliant, amazing and lots of other words that describe it's epic-ness, the Med Bar Restaurant down Berwick Street in London Soho.

It has a full restaurant and then this great open window area where you can pick up a fab takeaway lunch. 

The food is great and such good value I got the Chicken and Halloumi Salad - there is so much, I was totally satisfied and stuff after wolfing it all down. For all that food the only a £5 brilliant.

When I wasn't working and eating lovely lunches I took a visit to Imperial War Museum Duxford it is a working airfield with hangers upon hangers full of plans from the start of aviation up to today (They even have a hanger full of tanks).

They were flying my favourite plane, the iconic Spitfire, the sound of it is amazing.

Every time I hear one I am full of emotion, as I think about the  brave men and Women (who had to deliver them between airfield at great risk) who at really wieghed against them odds, got into this little bits of metal and took off to protect all that they hold dear..

Winston Churchill put it best - "Never was so much owed by so many to so few" - oh getting teary when I write this. So a moment of silence for their Amazing sacrifice. 

The Museum itself is such an amazing space, albeit a very big space there is quite a walk between the hangers and on a hot day it was very hard work but so worth it.

You can even walk through a concord, it was  a bit small. It was also one of the few planes you could go on which was a shame but I understand why they don't want people all over the planes lots of expensive kit about.

It good also for the little ones as there is lots of space to run about in and there is an amazing play area for them to explore.

The food offering is also very good, they had lovely treats - my Husband has a healthy lunch of a cookie and a scone.

I opted for a sandwich instead and it was huge, it would fill up an elephant but I struggled through (lol) and good value at only £5.

So a fun day out for every one, ending, like with all great attraction, with a exit through the gift shop.

 I picked up a great ration cook book that I am going to try a few recipes from (although have no idea where to get powdered egg from). I also saw this great poster I wanted to get it and pin it on my wardrobe but it was a bit too big - if only they had it in postcard size.

So after a hard day looking at planes I decided to treat my self to a Pimms.

Now if your unsure of how to make Pimms on my You Tube Channel (Please subscribe) I have put up a video of how I like to make it - Pimms Vlog

(Disclaimer:  I know others make it differently and add cucumber, but I don't want cucumber in my drink so I didn't add it.  Well I'm sorry if you wanted it in there, next time you pop over I'll add it in for you, happy? yes, thank you)

So the drinking was slight exasperated this week, as I  went out two nights - two night and you with a toddler I hear through gasps and exclamations.

I went out with work to a great cocktail bar in Soho call The Escapologist  they do have a happy hour but we got a great offer through Time out for 4 cocktails for £16 total and utter bargain especially for London.

The bar has an interesting history, it use to be an old Mason meeting house and they have kept the decor very mystic and spook but added a couple of modern twist which make it a fun place to visit.  

I started off the night with a classic Long Island Ice tea, very nice and they even made it with diet coke for me which was nice as I find normal cola far to sweet.

It was served in a lovely mason jar.

One of the group had a fun coffee style Martini not 100% sure what the drink was called as I was told but my memory is like a sieve.

The cocktail highlight of the night was definitely the Flaming Zombie - great cocktail and brilliant presentation and worked so well with the slightly Gothic interior. 

So for The Escapologist - I would definitely give it two thumbs up. The atmosphere was great, the decor was fun and interesting, the drinks were amazing and the service was superb. If you in an around SOHO at anytime go there.

I then went out again the next night - what, what, WHAT!!!

I know right, this was a last minute thing as my crazy friend from Amsterdam was over for a couple of days so we grab a quick (4) drink. 

As the hubby wasn't working, meaning  the little one was covered, I venture out for another night in a row.. Gosh it like I'm in my twenties again - although more weighed down with life and responsibilities - yay adulthood. 

This time I went to Black and Blues on Mortimer Street .

So for our first drink, I decided to pair, good friends I haven't seen in a while with an glass of fizz which always works well lol.

After the Fizz we moved on to cocktails as they have a great happy hour of cocktails at £5 each.

My first cocktail was Bubble Trouble -I  am a sucker for a layered cocktail. (My Friend had a Lychill Out) it was a mix of Vodka, Melon, Lychee, Mango and Fizz.

We also thought it was prudent to get some food.

They do amazing food platters we got the Hummus one. 

and a cheese one - (Also we got a portion of chips each but shhh I was trying to pretend I was sophisticated)

For my second cocktail I had a Black and Blue punch (Friend had a Classic Champange Cocktail).

It was a mix of Vodka, Pomegranate Liquor, Lychee and Lime and Fizz, very refreshing

My last cocktail was a Frozen Lava - Fruit Vodka mixed with Forest fruits, creme de mure, hazelnut liquor, cranberry juice and cream.

OMG it was fan-bleeding-tastic.

It tasted exactly like Raspberry ripple ice cream in a glass - so creamy and nommy

And I also think it kinda looks like the planet Jupiter.

To end off the night had some more fizz, but I also found out the flower they had on the table were called, Flaming Katys - Right that is now my favourite flower going to definitely get some for my garden.

Although I do kill every plant I've ever owned so I don't know how long they'll last lol                                              

Last thing as I missed it on the in the Cinema, I got Zootropolis, didn't get much Buzz in the UK so didn't really know what to expect.

Verdict - very good and is worth a watch and another watch, as it's got a lot of in jokes which can be missed on the first viewing.