Late Nights and Early Mornings

Posted on October 10, 2012 by Lose Weight and Gain Health

I had such a fun night last night.  Two of my very dear neighbours and I shared supper and Prossecco and stuff.  Girly stuff.  And it was fabulous.  I have not seen Sarah or Marion enough lately so it was wonderful to catch up.  We had dinner at Sarah’s.

She completely spoilt us with great food such as this raspberry and limoncello semi-freddo.  Ooooh yummy.

and too much fizz and such wonderful company I didn’t manage to totter down the hill again until 1am!

I was up again a few hours later and somehow sitting on the 6:20 am train!  My breakfast photo was taken in the nearly dark!

A skinny latte and a bircher muesli from Pret.

Lunch was grabbed from Konditor and Cook.

A very tasty chicken Jambalaya which was tasty but too much white carb from all that rice.  I feel bleurgh and podgy from too many carbs recently.

Supper was a sandwich eaten in the office so more stodge.  I didn’t get home until 9pm and I am very tired.  Quelle surpris ! 🙂 .  It was worth it though.  I wonder if I can go back again tomorrow.  It’s just up the hill, and over the road ………

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Busyness

Posted on October 8, 2012 by Lose Weight and Gain Health

Busy day today.  2 scrambled eggs on a slice of buttered wholemeal bread with oats in it for breakfast.

Busy morning and afternoon working.  I didn’t have time to make lunch until 3:30 so I made a smoothie.  MMMMMMMMMMM.  It was good!  Almond milk, 1 tbsp Udo’s oil, 1 tbsp chia seeds, 2 tbsp Tahini and 2 bananas.

I had more time to make dinner.  Bown Basmati rice, leftover chicken, cooked with shallots and mushrooms and then a sauce made with chicken stock plus some barely wilted spinach.  Delicious.

That’s all folks today 🙂

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Dealing, Walking and Working

Posted on October 7, 2012 by Lose Weight and Gain Health

I made 2 school girl camera errors yesterday.  In the morning I left my camera at home and so missed the chance to snap Harvey playing for his school football team beating a local school 7-4.  Then my battery ran out of juice 😦 . So I missed some stunning photo opportunities but I did manage a few at least.  We had a day out beside the sea.

Harvey and I met Michelle at The Black Douglas and had a lovely table upstairs looking out at the sea.

I had lentils with eggs and chorizo which was ok.

This was naughty but perfect – lemon polenta cake.  Unfortunately, I ate really badly after this.  Really badly.

Today was another day and I made a fantastic smoothie to start the day with.

I found the recipe on Gena’s Choosing Raw blog which I regularly check out.

Raw Apple Pie Smoothie

Ingredients (serves 1-2)
2 apples or 1 apple and 1 pear, quartered with core cut out
1 frozen banana
1/4 cup cashews
3 tbsp hemp protein
2 pitted dates
1 1/2 cups almond milk
2 tsp apple pie spice
A couple of ice cubes (optional)

Blitz all the ingredients together in a blender until smooth.  I blitzed for ages so it was really smooth.

This was delicious.  I used 1 apple and 1 pear as I had a very ripe pear to use up.  It was thick, smooth and completely delicious.  Definitely one to try and very Autumnal.

I was working today as we are so busy.  I started at 8am so I could have a little break at 10am to do a walk.  It was such a glorious day.  Warm and sunny.

To make it even better I had the lovely company of Vegetable Grower Up The Road.  I haven’t seen much of my friends lately so it was really good to catch up with one of them.

After a few hours work I was treated to a lovely roast chicken lunch.  James and Harvey cooked roast chicken, roast potatoes, a lovely gravy made with giblets, a huge pile of vegetables and a little redcurrant jelly with port on the side.  Delicious.  Thank you chaps.  It seemed rather strange having a Sunday lunch without a glass of wine!

After an afternoon’s work I made a quince crumble.  I picked these up yesterday at Perfect Partners in Cranbrook.  Quince look like large yellow pears.

They are incredibly hard and difficult to peel and core but I persevered.  After being peeled and cored and chopped in to 6-8 pieces,  I placed 4 large quince in an oven proof dish with 35g brown sugar sprinkled on top.  I barely covered the quince with water and then put them in the oven on 160°  C for 2 hours.  They came out orange, looking more like peaches.

I drained the juice which I cooled and gave Harvey to drink later which he enjoyed.  I then put on a crumble topping and baked it for half an hour, serving it with custard.  Naughty but nice.

I enjoyed my quince crumble.  I haven’t had one since around this time last year when Kath made me one.  Missing you very much my dear – could do with you being here at the moment.

Here’s hoping next week is better then last week, for all of us.

 

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Thank Goodness That’s Over!

Posted on October 5, 2012 by Lose Weight and Gain Health

What a tough week and what a rubbish day!  I guess I am lucky that I don’t often think this way but tonight I do.

Another week, another hotel room.  My favourite hotel was fully booked so I tried the Hampton Hilton in Birmingham instead.  Apparently it’s s little bit Hilton and a little bit more relaxed.  Well, not up to scratch I am afraid.  One of the windows in my room didn’t have a curtain yet we were in a brightly lit area so I struggled to stay asleep.  Plus, noise travelled and the hotel was on Broad Street which, as anyone who knows Birmingham knows, is full of Gentlemen’s clubs and nightclubs. i.e. lots of late night noise.  A very bad nights sleep indeed.  GRRRRRRR.

I liked these in the shower though.  When you need glasses, it is hard distinguishing the shampoo from the soap!  But these were good.

After 3 hectic days away, I was thrilled to be home and happy about working from home today.  BUT, my laptop decided to fail so I had to go to London, late and flustered to get it fixed.  I had a quick smoothie first.

The advantage of being in London was Borough Market on a Friday.  It was buzzing and vibrant and fun.  I had a Heavenly Haloumi burger which was delicious.  It was served with humous and spicy salsa and onion chutney in a seeded bun.  Very tasty.

I also stopped by this lovely stall for the first time.  I bought some Thyme honey with the honeycomb in it.  Raw honey is so much nicer than the pasteurised rubbish the Supermarkets sell.

Plus I had a cup of this and it was lovely.  Anyone know if these reputed health benefits are true?

I had plans for a homemade dinner but after a day in london I opted for something much simpler.

I had half a can of mixed beans, mixed with a heaped tablespoon of Cream Cheese and 1 level tbsp of the Chipotle sauce which I heated together in a saucepan.  I served them with lettuce, tomatoes and cucumber.

I did add some Cheddar after I took the pictures.

This was a simple and tasty dinner.  I have eaten really badly lately, with too much booze and way too many cakes, puddings and lattes.  I have really struggled and the weight is going on, not off.  Things have to change so I was pleased with supper tonight.  Tomorrow I MUST do more exercise.

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Sunday Sunday

Posted on September 30, 2012 by Lose Weight and Gain Health

I love lazy Sundays.  I had a few chores to do today, some time set aside for relaxing and I also made plenty of time for cooking or preparing healthy food.  Such as slicing up this juicy and sweet orange.

I had these perfectly ripe figs to use.

I added the orange and figs to natural yogurt with pistachios and a drizzle of honey.  Delicious.

I read quite a few food and healthy living blogs.  One I always enjoy, particularly for the photography is Scandi Foodie.  Scandi Foodie is written by Maria, a Finnish lady living in Sydney.  Her pictures are heavily influenced by her Scandinavian roots.  I love the brightness and simplicity of them.  A while ago she posted a recipe for Haloumi with Vegetable Medley.  I have had that sitting on my ‘Recipes To Try’ page for ages.  Today was the day to try it.  I had a little helper so we worked in tandem 🙂

Haloumi and Vegetables

Ingredients (Serves 2-4)

  • 200g Haloumi, cut in to slices
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp mustard seeds
  • 1 medium sized aubergine, diced
  • 1 red pepper, diced
  • 10 mushrooms, diced
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 10 red olives, pitted and diced
  • 1 tbsp sherry vinegar
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 sprigs fresh mint, chopped
  • parsley, chopped

Method

  • Heat the oil in a large pan and add the oil.
  • Add the mustard seeds and then the vegetables.

  • Gently cook the vegetables for about 10 minutes until beginning to soften.
  • Add the sherry vinegar and seasoning.  Mix well.
  • Set aside to cool slightly while you cook the haloumi.
  • Heat 1 tbsp oil and fry the haloumi on both sides until browned.
  • Serve the vegetables piled on top of the cheese and garnished with the mint and parsley.

I served mine with lettuce and home grown tomatoes.

Scandi Foodie made dainty and pretty vegetable stacks.  However, I piled the veggies on.

I was glad I did too because they were delicious.  The sherry vinegar and herbs really lifted the flavours from good to fabulous.  I really enjoyed this and Harvey had seconds of the vegetables they were so good.

For ladies who lunch, this is a perfect dish to serve and it would also make a good starter.

When I was peckish this afternoon I snacked on some nuts and dates.

I lubricated the brain cells so I was ready to prepare supper.

Supper was delicious but I didn’t manage many photos.  It came from another blog called Mel’s Kitchen Cafe which I have never cooked anything from before but I will look at it again.  I made the Chicken Corn Chowder and it was delicious.  Look it up and give it a go.

I can’t believe the weekend is over so quickly!

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Boys Keep Swingin’

Posted on September 29, 2012 by Lose Weight and Gain Health

It seems like ages since I had a Saturday at home.  I’d had an early night last night so I was wide awake by 6am and decided to get up and start the day.  After a lovely potter about, doing chores and sorting things out, Harvey and I decided to have porridge for breakfast.  Porridge is a great way to conceal some extra nutrition.

Instead of sugar I mashed a banana in the bottom of the bowl.

I made the porridge with (per person) 1/2 a cup of oats, 1/2 a cup of water, 3/4 cup of almond milk, 1/2 tbsp chia seeds and 1/2 tbsp Udo’s oil.  I also stirred in some blueberries and raspberries.

Served with 1 tsp almond butter for protein.  Delicious.

Inspired by last weeks Cake & Bake show I was in the mood for baking.  I bought this flour there and tried out the Soda Bread recipe on the back of the packet.  It was really easy and quick to make.

Doves Farm Soda Bread

Ingredients

  • 500g Wholemeal flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp Bicarbonate of Soda
  • 2 tsp Cream of Tartar
  • 450 ml milk
  • 3 tbsp Wholemeal flour

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 180° C
  2. Mix together the flour, salt, bicarbonate of soda and cream of tartar
  3. Add just enough milk to mix to a soft and slightly sticky dough (I used it all)
  4. Shape the dough in to a ball, dusting with extra flour if required
  5. Place the dough on an oiled baking tray and bake in the oven for 35/40 minutes

I used all the milk and I probably shouldn’t have as it became too sticky to shape.  So I plonked it on the baking tray and bunged it in the oven anyway.

Well, it worked a treat.  The bread that came out had a wonderful texture and flavour.  It was dense, moist and tasty with a good crust.  Just how I like it.

So we ate it for lunch.  I had mine with some stilton, ham, humous, olives and left over roasted veg and chick peas.

We were meeting up with lots of Harvey’s friends this afternoon at Bedgebury.  Harvey was very sad when Lawrie left to go to New York earlier this year and he was really excited about seeing him today.  Having got the baking bug we decided to make some biscuits to take.  I had a little helper for these!

We used another recipe from the back of the flour packet.  Just 3 ingredients!

Heritage Wholemeal Shortbread

Ingredients

  • 100 g butter at room temperature
  • 50 g Caster sugar
  • 150g Wholemeal flour

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 180° C
  2. Cream the sugar and butter together until light and fluffy
  3. Add the flour and mix – it will form a thick dough
  4. Roll out the dough on a floured surface until 3mm thick
  5. Cut in to shapes and place on a lightly oiled baking tray or a foil covered baking tray
  6. Bake for 10 minutes.

It is amazing that you can make cookies with only 3 ingredients.  They tasted a bit like digestives.  We stamped them with an “L” for Lawrie.  In the end we didn’t take them to the forest though because I was worried we wouldn’t have enough.  I knew 15 boys had been invited but I didn’t know how many younger brothers and sisters would have been coming along too so we left them behind.

Bedgebury was a brilliant choice of venue.  With its miles of walking and cycling tracks it is the perfect choice for a large group of boys.  We walked along the play trail.

As you walk through the forest, there are plenty of activities such as this amazing large swing which kept them amused for ages.

I think we had 11 ten year olds and about 6 younger ones.

This is such a lovely group of boys.    They all get on so well and they just go off together,  all chatting, laughing, running around and trying everything out, leaving plenty of time for us to have a chat as we strolled through this beautiful forest.

We were lucky with the weather and I think everyone had a good afternoon.  Well Harvey and I certainly did.

Thank you for organising it Simone, it was great.

Supper was easy.  I made a recipe for Fiesta Chili that I had seen on a blog I read regularly called Kath Eats.  Served simply with lettuce, sour cream and Cheddar.  I did add japalenos and hot pepper sauce to mine.  The chili was made with beef mince and had tomatoes, sweetcorn, green and red peppers and 3 types of beans in it.  Delicious.

It is the little details that maketh the meal.  Such as having the correct cocktail beforehand 🙂

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

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Food Glorious Food

Posted on September 28, 2012 by Lose Weight and Gain Health

I haven’t managed a blog for a couple of days as I was working in Birmingham.  I can’t blame excessively long working hours this time – a fun evening out with the team was responsible for no blogging time.

I didn’t eat sensibly in Birmingham and drank too much so this morning I was filled with resolve to do better.  Harvey wanted egg and bacon for breakfast – anything my little cherub’s heart desires….

I had to collect him from school in the morning as he has succumbed to the terrible cold I had last week and which James has this week.

So what he needed was lots of nutrition.

A smoothie, made with pineapple, orange, banana, soya yogurt, poppy seeds, maca and lucuma powder.

It was delicious.

Lunch was a quick and easy bowl of wholewheat pasta with tomato sauce.

For dinner I felt a little more adventurous.  A large tray of roasted vegetables, made with red peppers and courgettes,

new potatoes, cherry tomatoes and mushrooms.  Mixed with olive oil, salt and pepper, roasted for about 40 minutes at 180 ° C.

I also made a simple guacamole with lime juice and some salt and a roasted chick pea dish which was lovely.

I made one of Gena’s recipes for a Roasted Chickpea Salad. I didn’t have all the ingredients so I used garam marsalla, soy sauce, olive oil and Lee and Perrins.  I mixed the ingredients together, stirred in 1 can of chickpeas which I then baked in the oven for half an hour.

This was a great dinner.  It was a great days eating.  Have a good weekend 🙂

 

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Sweet Child Of Mine

Posted on September 25, 2012 by Lose Weight and Gain Health

Sometimes, as a Mummy, it can be the simplest things your children do that bring the most happiness.  My little boy, realising his Mummy was a bit sad about Lara not being at home, decided that what I needed was a cup of tea in bed this morning.  So he made us both a cup of tea and brought them upstairs where he then took up residence in the bed next to me to give me a big hug to make make me happy again.  Well it worked a treat.  I am rarely made a cup of tea and never one to have in bed in the morning so I loved it.  I didn’t have the heart to tell him that Mummy really likes breakfast tea in the morning, rather than green tea and that you never have green tea with milk!  But the thought was all there and I was very grateful to that sweet child of mine.

I had a fancy for some eggy bread (French toast) for breakfast.  Made with 1 slice of bread and 1 egg, served with 2 tbsp natural yogurt, raspberries, blueberries and 1 tsp chia seeds.

It was really good.

There was a break in the rain late morning so I popped outside and picked a large beetroot and several spring onions.

The beetroot was washed, I cut the leaves off, wrapped it in foil and baked it in the oven for about an hour.

I had some boiled potatoes left over from the other night so I chopped one up and added some chopped celery and spring onions.

Plus a little mayonnaise and some just cooked and chopped beetroot, still slightly warm.

I was hungry so I had quite a large plateful of food.  All good stuff though.

I had the potato and beetroot salad, sprouted pulses and humous with pesto

plus black olives, rocket, cherry tomatoes and raw baby mushrooms.

So I was rather pleased with how I had eaten today.  But then these came along.  Chocolates in the style of desserts.

I was given them for my birthday but managed to put them away.  Until today 😦

So having eaten chocolate, I didn’t need much for tea.  An egg mayonnaise sandwich would do!

Eaten still warm and with nothing added other than mayonnaise, salt and pepper.  Yummy.

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Lonesome Tonight

Posted on September 24, 2012 by Lose Weight and Gain Health

Are you lonesome tonight?  I am 😦 .  It will be a long time until I see this beautiful face again.

So today was rather bleak.  The grey sky, torrential rain and gusting winds did nothing to alleviate my mood either.  I was determined to eat really healthily though, to make myself feel better and finally shake off this terrible cold.  Porridge for breakfast, made with 1/2 a cup of oats, 1/2 a cup of water, and 1/2 cup plus some more almond milk.  Garnished with fresh raspberries and 1 tsp almond butter.

I made a simple lunch to share with Lara before she set off for her other home at Uni’.  I was going to use the one and only red pepper I managed to grow.

Look how tiny it is compared to a shop bought one!

But I was happy I had at least one pepper, even though I had planted lots of them, one is better than none right?  Well, yes it would have been, but when I picked it, the pepper was rotten so I did actually have none.

Never mind, I had home grown onions which I chopped up and fried with mushrooms, red pepper and purple sprouting broccoli.

I was going to add the veggies to the omelette but I made too many so just served them on the side.

With a rocket salad.

This was a 2 egg omelette with a very light grating of Cheddar.  The salad had some mixed sprouted lentils and pulses in it too.  Yummy.

Supper was very quick and easy to prepare.

Yup, pasta with a tomato based sauce and some smoked Cheddar grated on top, plus rocket and cucumber on the side.  Simple but effective.

I was pleased with how I ate today as it was healthy and diet friendly.  Apart from the food in these photos, I snacked on an orange and an apple in the afternoon so I am happy I ate well.  Just not happy without my girl here.  The girl’s sofa is way too big for just one girl 😦

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Theatre Land

Posted on September 23, 2012 by Lose Weight and Gain Health

We started the day healthily as we had a lot of sitting down and eating planned later on.  So despite the drizzle, Lara, Harvey and I took the dogs out for a longish walk first thing.  We even tackled the long hill to get a good workout in.

For breakfast I made a smoothie, with a small banana, raspberries, natural yogurt, chia seeds and 1 tbsp flax seed oil.

We planned to have a lovely lunch in London and then go to the theatre.  It was a special day out as it was Lara’s last day at home until Christmas.  We wanted lunch at the Wolseley but had left it too late to book a table and they were full so instead we went to Richoux which was also on Piccadily.  Lara had been taken there by my Dad so this was her recommendation.  It was delightfully old fashioned.

We wined on an NZ Sauvignon Blanc

and dined on an avocado and prawn cocktail.  A bit too much mayonnaise but it was good enough.

Followed by a fish pie with seasonal vegetables.

Given the choice, I would always choose to eat lunch out rather than dinner.  I am not a big fan of a huge evening meal and it always seems so decadent and such a treat to have lunch out.  Probably because I am usually so busy during the day so to relax and have a meal in the middle of the day instead of working or doing chores, is a real treat.  So I feel rather spoilt that this weekend I have had 2 lunches out!

We moved on to a patisserie on Haymarket for dessert and coffee.

I went for a strawberry gateaux with an Irish coffee and I enjoyed both very much.

We then walked through very heavy rain to the Cambridge Theatre.

Yes, having waited for ages for these tickets, we were off to see Matilda.  It was marvellous – I highly recommend it.

We are now back home, and I am supping on some red wine, trying hard but failing completely, to not be too miserable about tomorrow 😦

 

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