Busy Bee mean a blank Blog

Hi guys so I admit I forgot to post last week.

It just I've been so busy. House moving has turned into hell on earth with Lawyers, Mortgage advisers and general craziness.

Honestly having dyslexia and dealing with loads of forms and trying to retain lots of information in your head and doing figures and other stuff all at the same time, is sometimes physically painful. I spent most of the time feeling sick. I know it will be all worth it in the end just need the end to come soon. (I know first world problems)

But I do think that Banks and Lawyers really need to make their processes more Dyslexia and other learning difficulty friendly. Also a bit better Customer service so they don't make you feel stupid if you get stuff wrong but hey ho you can't have everything.

Coupled with that Husband is away, in Manchester, for work so I'm at my mums to get help with the little man. Yes could do it on my own, but considering I'd have to drop him round every morning at 7am then pick him up every evening at 6.30pm it seem far more sensible to stay.

That also means I get a home cooked meal every-night, which after a hard day at work is utter perfection. And as it's my mums cooking it fab as everyone know their mum's cooking taste better than anyone else.

The one downside is that my mum is the guardian of her kitchen so it  means I haven't been able to cook.

So my cooking blog this week consists of no cooking.

Although I did have my first Christmas Sandwich and Mince Pie of the festive season. They were so yum and now feel I'm starting to get into the spirit of the season.

And I've nearly completed my Christmas Shopping so another positives.

So that about it really not the most exciting blog in the work but  as I am back at home this weekend, I   promise to cook something Simple yet Christmassy for you guys.

So apologies again for being a bit crap.

Is it ever too late for Kebabs?

Hello and welcome.

Well true to my word I've been cooking up a storm in my house trying to stay healthy and happy and hopefully loose all that weight I put on during the baptism. Although must of that was medicinal, stress eating, it was either start shouting or cram my cake-hole with cake lol.

I started off by just doing a simple salmon, literally buying Salmon from the supermarket and cooking it in the oven. I just added a little flair by cooking a whole red chili on the top. Made it nice and spice but added hardly anything to the calorie count.

My other health discovery of the week, I made butternut squash, Sweet potato and chili soup - so all those ingredients chopped cooked in Stock then blended. Really for soup the weights and measure come down to how thick or thin you want it and how much you want. I'm sure other cooks wouldn't be pleased but I approach soup with throw it all in and hope for the best method. I find simmering for 20 minutes always make the veg tender and as you've cooked in stock it straight to the blender.


But any who, instead of having a slice of lovely hot, buttered crusty bread to dip into it (sorry excuse me when I wipe up my drool as I love bread) I used raw carrot Batons.

"Raw Carrot batons?" I hear you cry in slight dismay but honestly it works. You get a lovely crunch from the carrot and the hot and the cold really add a little something.


Look if I wasn't being healthy it would be bready bread goodness. But if you want a healthy alternative to loose a few extra pounds I would highly recommend it.

Okay time to come clean I have tried this week and have been really good. I'll come on to my fab Kebab recipe later. I must admit I had a tiny slip up but honestly it was all for a good cause. On Friday it was the Macmillan Coffee Morning. Macmillan are a great organisation that offer help and support for people and their families dealing with cancer. My cousin had a Macmillan nurse when she was battling (and unfortunately lost) with Cancer. That was back in the early 2000 they were great then and they still do great work now.

So once a year they get people to have coffee mornings, like a big bake sale with lots of people doing it up and down the country. So I gave in as some guy at work put on a fab spread.

I only had one bit of cake but bought two (gave the second bit away) and I took part in the raffle so did a small little bit to help. But small little bits add up and they raised nearly £800 which is about $1000. So all the people at work little bits added up to that and our total will add up to much more with everyone else.  Meaning they can carry on doing such great work and helping a lot of people.

Also technically charity cake doesn't have any calories. As I'm sure the universe sort it self out, as you're doing something good it won't punish you by adding that cake to your hips.

So after that mini treat I was back on it.

Over the weekend I made some lummy yummy kebabs. I know the summer is over and we have hurtled straight into Autumn and on the downward track to winter's cold embrace.

But hey I'm dyslexic and we have a problem with being organised and getting things done in the right order so your getting summer dishes in the Autumn and I might do a spring salad in the winter lol.

So I made Spicy Lemon Lamb Kebabs.

Really easy to make even though they take a bit of Prep.

So you take the Lamb, Lemon (I prefer fresh but I'm sure juice would work as well) and some chili powder.

Place the lamb into the bowl

Squeeze over the lemon. I do this through my hand to I don't have to pick out the pips :)

Then add as much or a little chili powder as you want.

And stir in. Then you need to let it marinate preferable overnight (at least 8 hours) as you want the flavor to take.

This recipe unlike the normal lamb with mint kebabs, which I find can sometimes be an overpowering taste this is more sublet. Sort of adding more of a zing that an fanfare.

So after the meat is prepared all you need then is some lovely veg - what ever you like. I went simple with Tomatoes, Mushroom and peppers. But you can have courgette (Zucchini) Red Onion to name a few, really what ever takes your fancy.

then all you need to do is alternate between meat and the veg to get the perfect balance of tastiness.

Now you can either cook these under the grill or on a Bar-Be-Que. Although as I said earlier I've sort of missed the BBQ boat. So I put them into the oven for 20 min at 180 degrees turning them half way through.

Also if you have any veg left over you can always throw that in too cook too.

Then serve how ever you want on there own, with rice, put them in a pitta bread..........

So hopefully all my goodness will pay off and a can loose a few pounds before I head off to Scotland for a few days in the middle of October for the little ones 2nd Birthday.

And be thing for my second Amsterdam trip in November.  Definitely will need to loose weight before then as I will be putting on a few pound over the two day period as everything is all so nice to eat and there will be a few drinkies.

That hopefully will slake my Wanderlust for a while. As I went part the airport the other day and saw this.

So made me really, really, really, really (I could go on) want to go away.

I do know this is a very first world problem with all the places and stuff I've done this year I know I am very lucky compared to most. Just need to turn on the news to see that.

But that still doesn't stop me wanted more fun and adventure. I think as long as when I am whining about my next trip to WDW or somewhere exotic I remember how lucky and privileged I am to be able to do that. It won't be that bad. I would say I should give up the whining but think that is asking the impossible, just ask my other half lol (I'm not that bad really).

Oh and my Disney holiday fund is now up to a whooping 2.5% only 97.5% to go lol

Faux Fun

So I had big plans for cooking and was going to teach the hubby how to make Bread and we were going to paint the front of the house be busy productive members of society...

The little man had other plans. He was a bit ill and when I say a bit ill if you've ever seen the "Exocist" you'll know what I mean.

Wasn't so bad when we were at home lots of cleaning up lots of hugs as you always worry so much when they are not well,. but his temperature was fine so obviously something just upset his stomach.

Or major error came when we thought he was doing better and took him out to the local hardware store "B&Q" to look at getting supplies for the house painting, and was subsequently very ill down one of the isles and all over his dad. To be fair the staff were wonderful and really helpful and didn't get upset even when I showed them the mess.

Just think that great for a store as there are times when you are a bit mortified but they handled it like it wasn't any trouble at all and I did even offer to do the mopping myself but they said to take care of the little one and they would take care of it.

So as for cooking, this week to make thing easier I stuck with quick simple dishes in between handing out a shed load of TLC.

I made a Faux Carbonara .

cooked up some leeks and Mangetout while frying some bacon..

After the leeks and Mangetout were cooked I thew them into the frying pan too for a couple of minutes.

Before mixing them all with some pasta and low fat fromage frais for very quick very easy and if you've cut the fat of the bacon low in fat healthy scrummy meal.

I even made another Lasange (See previous week's post for recipe) but instead of pasta sheets on top I used potatoes which gave it an added kick.

Don't worry the little one did get better and even managed to have some fun on the swings.

I am  a big kid at heart and the swing are one of my absolute favorite things to do and I am  so glad my son is like me and loves them.  I know when he upgrades to the big kid swings we'll be on them together from morning to night  :) 

As he was doing so well went out for a lovely brunch  at The Fancy Goat. I had a Bucks Fizz (mimosa) to celebrate his recovery

And enjoyed a wonderful Tortilla De Patatas.

Oh and when the waitress said the pan was hot I should have paid more attention as I burnt a finger on it ouchie, ouch.. Although being so yummy made up for the pain.

The little one got some tasty scramble egg very rich and creamy.

Another highlight of the week was another trip to Thomas Cookie Co to get some more of there fab cookies can see them become a staple in my life (but shh don't tell the diet)...

Right this weekend I am having no excuse (well a sick infant isn't really an excuse it a all encompassing situation) I will be making bread and will post it up step by step...

And as it's a Bank Holiday over here I've also got a few other interesting things planned so will be a far more exciting post, well they can't all be mad weekend in Amsterdam (even though I wish they were lol) :)

Sadness, happiness and Cinnabon

Going to start off my Blog this week with a recipe as I might get a bit maudlin later on as I went to a funeral so if you're just looking for tasty recipe I made Char-grilled vegetable with Turkey on a bed of rocket.

so simple just char-grill any vegetables you want. I had Courgette, Tomatoes, Onions and Mushrooms. Stir Fry some Turkey with a bit of 5 spice then layer the rocket Veg and Turkey you can add a bit of Soy sauce if you like.

But it super health and super yummy. 

I also got to visit Oxford Street last week in between meetings. I got to go to one of my Favorite places the Disney Store and found Wandering Oaken Trading Post - unfortunately they weren't having a big summer blow out :)

I did how ever pick up two lovely Mickey one just a standard plush toy and the over a baby comforter for my friends little 4 month old. The staff were also extra lovely I did tell a manager how nice everyone was. As normally people only complain in stores. I think if I get bad service I'll complain I must on the flip side mention when I get outstanding service. 

Then when I went to get to the Tube at Bond Street Station, I found a Cinnabon concession stand. I don't think you understand how excited I was. I love these little fellows and consider it a major treat when I visit the USA.

My Favorite Cinnabon store is the one on Universal Studio Orlando City Walk. Every time I visit Universal Studio I have to pop in there for a sticky Bun. So now I have a place in England to go. Also as I'm not up Oxford Street very often it will still remain a treat food. As I could eat my body weight in these if given the chance. 

I got myself a Mini Chocolate one and very please to say it was a nice as the one in Orlando. Although did get some disparaging looks while scoffing it down on the Tube.

We also after the meeting have cake at work. As I had the Cinnabon I did not partake but they did look lovely and thought they deserved a picture :) 

Right Fun part over now for the sad part of my week. I had to attend a funeral don't want to go into too much detail as it's not fair for me to share others grief. Just to say it was for two people one of the had a good long life the other one didn't.

The thing that struck me was just how sad it was. I know funerals are sad but why. As death is the only thing in life that we can guarantee will happen. We've had thousands and thousands of years of the great circle of life you would think by now we would cope with it better.

I was crying along with the rest of the attendees so I just as bad as everyone else. I assume we're mostly sad about not see the person again or wrestling with our own mortality.

I personally am not scared of dying: although would like another 50-60+ years before it comes along. I just wish there was a way of it being less or a traumatic experience and we could deal with it better as a society. 

 I also was so upset for my friends as they were effect by two losses and when I saw how upset they where my heart broke. Empathy plays a big part in these processes.

I think I just want a change so it  takes away peoples pain. I would hate to cause my friends and family so much distress when I pass away.

Well that's Life I suppose and change nature of it, as the next day I went to visit my friends 4 month old that I bought the Mickey's  for. He was so cute and I got lots of cuddles even though my little was very upset with his mummy having hugs with anyone but him.

So a weeks of ups and downs and lots of thinking about life. I know I'm lucky alright there's thing I want to change like having more money and a better job, don't we all. But I am amazingly blessed and I just need to remember that more as we all need to enjoy life while we can ;)

So far so good

Well my New Years resolutions got off to a flying start.

I've managed to lose 5.5lb (2kg) in my first week of dieting with Slimming World.

I'm so happy but it's not all been plain sailing, as the the below comparison picture shows.

My Husband and I, thanks to my Parents got to go for a nice meal out at a local Kent Pub - "The Farmhouse" in West Malling toddler free. which you all know meant I could eat without a screaming fit.

 I had a seafood linguine to be good. The other half had a burger followed by their sticky toffee pudding and I had nothing. He also left a bit of it, it took every inch of willpower not to finish it but I managed lol.

With trying to eat healthy I've been cooking up a storm.

This week I've made Turkey Chili.

All you need is:

Turkey Mince

1, Courgette

1, Bell Pepper

Mushrooms

Red Kidney Beans

500g chopped Ttomatoes

Chili Powder (I had hot but you can have mild)

1 vegetable Oxo Cube

Brown the mince add all the veg, kidney beans, Oxo cube and tomatoes and simmer for 20 minutes.

To top it off I added home made chips (Fries) and added Salad.

I've been a busy bee in the Kitchen and with a young child it is difficult as we have a low oven so if I'm doing a lot of cooking I have to put the baby gate up so he keeps away from the hot oven. He obviously doesn't like it and stands at the gate and makes his feeling known lol.

So I spend a lot of my cooking time running over to him and giving reassuring hugs that I'm only cooking and haven't abandon him in favor of a Kitchen appliances. 

I used the basis of the Slimming World Quiche recipe and made.

Roasted Aubergine (Egg plant) & Courgette (Zucchini) Salmon Quiche

I roasted 1 bell pepper with 1 Aubergine and 1 Courgette at the same time cooked for 20 Minutes the Salmon. 

While this was cooking I took 4 eggs and 300g of fat free cottage cheese and mixed added a bit of Salt and pepper for seasoning and mixed together. 

Then when the salmon and the veg were done I lined a bottom of a dish with the roasted Aubergine poured over half the egg mixture then added the courgettes, peppers and the flaked Salmon before Pouring over the last of the mixture.

I then put this back in the over for another 20 minutes at 200 degrees.

What your left with is pastry free delicious quiche. 

To add to my busy cooking schedule last week I also had to attend a two day course to get my re-registration of my Prince2 (Project Management) Practitioner exam. The course was very intense and with the little one demanding most of my attention when I got home it was a bit tricky to do the home work. So fingers crossed I passed (I won't find out for a few weeks).

The upside is the training facility was in an Awesome location. Right next to Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. As the weather was nice (Chilly but nice) I did a bit of sightseeing in my lunch.

I do love London even though I've seen these sight loads of times before I still love it when I near them.

On Sunday I was up early but due to one thing an another getting the little one up and fed. I decided I wanted something slightly more interesting for breakfast so I made Syn free Spicy Potato cakes.

All you need is a potato a grater and some Quark (a soft low fat cheese).

The process is so easy I made a little video:

So as I said a great week so far on the Diet front still need to get my other resolution off the ground but I am feeling healthy and fairly happy. Must be all the vitamins from all the fruit I've been snacking on.

So wish me luck with this weeks endeavors.

Think I'm just glad to be cooking again as it was a bit weird having a cooking blog with no cooking lol...

My Christmas Day

Yay Christmas 2014 in the DCM household was a low key affair this year well apart from my fab crimbo accessories.

With a little one you think we'd be up earlier but the pudding slept past 7am and by the time I managed to get husband unit out of bed we did presents at 8am.

As the little one only 14 months we decided not to go too mad with gifts as I'm sure over the coming years the demands on Santa will increase. 

Christmas morning in our house all ways consist of Bacon Sandwiches. Mmm Bacon making the house smell delicious.. 

Then on with a The Christmas Tv while we enjoyed the bacon and slowly got dressed. Think there's nothing nicer than having a quiet Christmas morning as the day can be stressful enough without starting it in a panic. 

Then it was off to my folks for Christmas Dinner they're only 10 minutes away so it was a short jaunt. I drove there so the Husband unit would drive back. Don't feel too sorry for him he's not a big drinker and with us just getting over cold I wouldn't be having a lot.

Now it is true what they say nothing beats your mother's cooking. My mum always pulls out all the stops for Christmas a proper Turkey Dinner. The starter was Prawn Cocktail which is a bit 1970 chic. But hey I like them and if someone else is making it I'm in no position to comment. 

We have a serve yourself system at dinner at my mum's which I think is great so you can just have what you want rather than being rude and leaving stuff on the plate you don't like. For me it's peas I like them in stuff like a cottage pie but have a thing about the on their own (yes I know I'm weird). 

So dinner with all the trimmings was amazing.

Followed by Christmas pudding and custard.

As you can see I'm a traditionalist when it  comes to Christmas eats. 

But that's just once a year ( well we are having Christmas two tomorrow when my brother and Nephew go over to my mums). So that's okay... 

And considering my fantastic Christmas present 

Know I'll be cooking up some interesting flavours in the New Year. So if any of you out there have any good Tangine Recipes I would love for you to share them,

I'm now having a relaxing Boxing Day ( for my American readers this is a holiday we have the day after Christmas in the UK) in front of the telly with a sick little man. 

Piece of advice people don't get your kids MMR jab just before the holidays as he's having a mini measles session while the vaccination start work. Not too bad apart from the 1am sickness session :( but seems to be not too bad now.

So a quiet day in front of the box with some movies (mostly cartoons) and the odd treat to keep me going.

So I hope you all had a great Christmas Day and have a fun fuelled new year planned.... 

IKEA, Christmas and Curry

This Weekend we took a trip trip to Ikea (Lakeside). Have to say I love the store and as it's a bit out of a way out it becomes an event going there.

I think I love the fact that they see you the vision as well as the product. Sometimes seeing things in isolation doesn't really work I like see it in a context. I.E a lamp in a bedroom or a couch near a TV.

I also fell in love with this Kitchen as I plan to move earlier next year this will definitely be on my wish list when renovating the new place. Think of all the cooking I could do... Sighs longingly

Also walking around I came across these dogs - between you and me, I think the one on the end has had a bit too much, but hey it Saturday and he obviously likes to party :)

I don't care what anyone says it not a trip to Ikea without stopping for some Swedish Meatball. I love them and so does my other half. We even gave the little man some but he wasn't as impressed as we were, which is probably lucky as I dread to think of the salt and fat content.

I think it's the gravy I like the most, having a parent from the North East of England I am particular to Gravy and Chips and this is just Swedish gravy and chips.




I even to treat myself as I obviously didn't get enough calories from the meatballs, gravy and chip I had a slice of there Dime Bar Cake. Actually I say had a slice I had a bite and I didn't like it. It looked a lot nicer than it tasted which is a shame for my taste buds but not for my thighs.




We didn't leave empty handed we bought a light for the living room as our last lamp was destroyed by a head on crash with a train. Thomas the Tank engine walker that my son uses to be exact. But you'll be pleased to know there were no injured apart from the lamp, unfortunately we couldn't save it. (a moment of silence for the lamp)..

I couldn't leave with out some thing sweet so in the food hall I picked up some Godis Snogubbe and some Singoalla. At the time of writting this blog the Godis Snogubbe are no more as they were very delicious and we hadn't started on the Singoalla but I'm thinking they are like Jammie Dodgers...



On Sunday it was our local Village Christmas Market and light switch on. As it was only me and the little man and owing to the weather and the not great facilities for pram users we just had a quick look round.



He managed to get a nice Santa balloon and we hightailed it out of there before it became too busy. It is actually a very nice event they have the local school choirs and lots of local shops and local producers with their stalls. I think I would have stayed longer if I was with the other half or my parents. but even now I sometimes get nervous of being out with the little one on my own especially when there's a bit of a squeeze and not ready access to toilets if there is a changing emergency.




I got the free bus down to the town but I walked home which was a bit silly as it up hill all the way. but hey it will of least gone some way to burning off my Ikea meatballs.

Sunday late afternoon I decided to do some cooking. After pigging out on nommy stuff from Ikea I decided to make myself a Potato and Spinach curry.




Ingredients:

1 bag of New Potatoes (or 800g of other potatoes)
Onions (about two or a whole bag of chopped (why yes I am that lazy lol))
Two Tins of Chopped Tomatoes
300g of Spinach
1 Stock Cube
Curry Powder (as hot or a mild as you want)
Water

chop the potatoes and if needed the onions and add them with some of the spinach to a pan with a little bit of oil and a big dash of the curry powder (for the exact mesure I'll leave that up to you to have as little or as much as you want) cook them off for about 3 mins. then add the tomatoes and about 300ml of water.

Then you just simmer it all for 30 mins adding more spinach as you go. I like spinach so I sometimes add more from another bag just to make sure there's enough. About 5 mins from the end I add the stock cube and stir.

(You can if you want add chicken at the start throwing them in with the potatoes and onions if you want to add a bit more protein.)

Cook up some rice (My Fav is Brown) and Voila homemade, very healthy, curry for a cold winters night.