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.

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.