Tinsel and tantrums...

Today is the day I will put up the decs!

That was my waking thought this morning. Now, I'm sat in the loft looking through boxes of old crap and my hoarding pile and I just CBA. 

The dogs will eat the tree..the cats (x3) will be playing assasins with each other amongst the baubles (if there are any that's aren't broken up here) and then I remeber how much I love it in January when the living room looks bare and Christmas free...

That's the christmas spirit right there!!

Great british good festival

Yesterday we had a family trek to the lovely Ragley hall grounds for the Great British Food Festival. About an hours drive from us, neither of us had heard about the festival or the hall before!

We expected the festival to be inside the hall but it was all situated in the beautiful grounds and it was massive!

So many different suppliers..from cakes and sweet treats..

To pastries and garlic..

Lovely sausage rolls.. (Smile!!)

We got to sample to many lovley things, our favourite was a delicious pizza from Dough It Yourself who make up baking mixes for biscuits, cakes and pizzas bases so you can make you own artisan food in no time, at home.

So easy and quick to make your own tasty pizza base and add your own toppings!

There were some speciality meat stalls, selling mallards, wild boar, zebra and ostrich to name but a few..

We brought a wild boar pie and a lovley game pie from  Peter Gott at Sillfield Farm stall. Neither had an overpowering taste, I thought they may be too "gamey" but they had a pleasant meaty favour, packed with meat and lovely pie jelly.

Throughout the day there were some popular "Man vs..." Meat, heat and cake! We were at the back of the crowd for the extremely popular man vs heat with several courses of chillis, even sick buckets and paramedics on-site in case someone was poorly! As you can see it was definitely one for the spectators!

We sampled lots of food and ale throughout the day. I had smoked brisket bean and coleslaw on a brioche bun. The brisket was very tender, smoky beans added a lovely flavour and the sweet brioche complimented it very well. 

Hubby had a hot dog which had sausage from the estate on, this was also very scrummy and not too overpowering spices, just lovely pork.

We both sampled some of the lovely sweet treats from Narna's Chocolates myself having a gooey chocolate brownie and Rich had a peanut butter fudge cake.. Both were heavenly, rich and a real treat..we could have saved some for later however we ate them regardless!! We should have really brought more!

The stalls were near a fishing pool so we sat there to enjoy a lovely pint of ale from one of the pop-up bars. 

It was an excellent day out and we found out that there is also a christmas festival that we may visit too!

Post baby night out..

Last night was my SILs birthday party, and my first night out since having the Fredster.

I don't really go out much anyway but this time my going out nerves were teamed with baby worry nerves! So stressed I decided to clean the house to take my mind off it for a bit. The jitters were only solved by the hubby bringing me a bottle of IPA!

Piglet was alseep before I went out and had a boys night in with his daddy, whilst I attempted to walk in my Irregular Choice shoes (swapping for flats on the way down, and going shoeless in the resturant)

It wasn't a late one for me, I do not deal well with hangovers, usually horizontal and vomiting all day with a headache like a wardrobe has fell on it. Im always jealous of the people who have hangovers and need a greasy fry up to rectify it, honestly I can imagine how good the salty, greasy goodness is, soaking up all of the evidence if the night before.

I did discover a new fave cocktail though..amaretto sour, literally like citrus marzipan in a glass. Slipped down like a dream!

Anyway. I'm now wide awake, Freddie is wrestling around, awake in his Moses and everytime I look at him he is laughing at me! Little bugger.

Sourdough

Currently I'm having a (basic) baking phase.

I have cracked out cakes, cupcakes, shortbread and scones...now it's time for bread.

Crispy, moreish, comforting bread smothered with thick butter is what I'm craving. So, i'm

going to have a go a sourdough.

Sourdough is made with the use of"wild" yeast incorporated into the dough with a sourdough starter, a basic mix of equal parts of water and flour that you leave to ferment over about 5 days, whilst keeping it warm and feeding it(with more flour and water)Like a pet! The wild yeast is present in your kictchen and the original four you use for the starter, the fermentation and feeding brings it to life.

So, today is day one of my sourdough starter. Here he is, meet Ned. 

(Ned the bread)

He is currently warm and cosy on top of the fridge...ready for a feed Tomo!

Catch up!

It's been a while..here's a little summary of my week..

We had a spur of the moment trip to Llandudno on Freddie's 10 weeker, it was a lovely sunny day and nothing beats the smell of sea air with a crisp pint and piping hot, salty fish and chips!!

Freddie had his injections and RotaVirius vaccine which has knocked him about a little but he is starting to settle slightly today.

I made my first mushroom and truffle rissotto with a tomato chicken roast and I will post that up later.

Very satisfying, we had left overs on the way to the beach!

I got Freddie his first pair of converse..he is just like his mommy now! Jumping on the bandwagon a bit as everybody is wearing cons these days, keeping them pristine white on the ends when ten years ago you brought a pair and immediately worked on making your hi tops look bashed and well worn by treading on the ends.

I still have my bloody migraine looming but I'm hoping it's going to settle soon...draining the life outta me.

So yep, nice little catch up..food festival this weekend so lots of blogs coming x

Wide awake!

wide awake since 3.30 am.

Lingering migraine from today starting to hype back up, feel violently sick, SPD pain is weirdly back all on my left hip side and Freddie is reflexing and hitting the side of his Moses every 5 mins or so.

Add into the mix a cat who keeps scratching at the bedroom door to come in, then to go back out again (yes YOU Rosie Jones..only forgiven as it's your 6th birthday today!)

I think I may as well get up and nap with the dogs!

Catching some Zzzzz!

Last night was another milestone after tooth-ville last week...

Freddie slept through! 7pm-6am. Guzzled a boccy and went straight back off.

At first I did think I had hallucinated, but nope really happened! I don't even remeber even before he was born the last time that I had a nights sleep with no disturbances, not even a wee break! Amazing.

Sadly, I didn't go back to sleep and spent the time cleaning the kitchen sink (yes, really)

Let's see how little piglet does tonight!

P.s look at his cute new bottoms nanny got for him! I'm a sucker for stars & stripes...(Rosie photo bomb miaowing)

Foodie days

I have been lucky enough to try some gorgeous products from Truffle Hunter which I will be trying out over the next few weeks. Truffle Hunter is based in the Cotswolds and have their fragrant, mystical black gold shipped over from Italy. They have a wide range of products from butters to preserved truffles making it easy to incorporate them in home cooking, a must for any foodie or home cook wanting to explore tastes. Truffles are highly prized and give an extra pizazz to special meals but I want to show you that they can be used in every day eats aswell!

First up is Cod and home made French fries with black truffle salt

Ingredients and pro points

Cut potatoes into French fries and spray with fry light, Cook at 200 degrees for 20mins or so,turning once, ensuring they are golden and crispy

Meanwhile dip cod fillet in the flour (made into a simple thick batter with water and seasoned with the truffle salt) fry on a medium heat on both sides till golden and crispy

Serve, sprinkle with black truffle salt  and whatever sauces you love!

The truffle scent isn't overpowering but brings a lovely perfume the the cod and an extra dimension of salty flavour to the french fries. There's nothing more everyday and samey as chips but they truffle really takes it up a level for you to feel like you are having a special meal. Gorgeous. 

For dessert I decided on a goats cheesecake, with truffle honey roasted walnuts and figs.

Ingredients and pro points

Beat together the cheese and yogurt and leave to chill in fridge

Cut pastry into a disc and cook for 15mins at 180degrees untill golden. Leave to cool,

Once cool layer on the cheesecake mix on top of the pastry. Drizzle over some warmed truffle honey.

Toast the walnuts in a dry frying pan and add some truffle honey and leave to bubble. Serve next to the cheese cake.

Whack on your fig and enjoy!

I had a baked goats cheese cake a few years back as a starter, but I just had to try it with the truffle honey and it worked so, so well. Goats cheese has an affinity with beetroot but also I feel with truffles especially with the honey sweetness. 

I will be doing lots more truffle recipes so keep posted!

Recipie- Beetroot crisps

So moreish and 0 propoints values! Satisfy a salty crisp craving!

1-2 medium beetroot

Salt to taste

Frylight

Thinly slice the beetroot, a mandolin would be great but watch those fingers!

Season to taste and spray with fry light.

Pop in oven at 200 degrees and Cook till crisp..keep an eye as thinner ones can catch very quicky so start checking after about 7 minutes x

Wicked Wednesdays

But first...let us take a sicky!

First tooth!

There it was.

A little white pearl winking at me from the mouth of my 8w +2 day old bubba, whilst he screamed.

I wasn't prepared for this, not least for another three months or so. I tried to kid myself for a while but once I felt it, I knew.

His first gnasher. Top right molar.

How can he change so quickly when I still can't believe he is even here!!

Calpol and Bonjela at the ready. 

Date night menue

So Saturday night, hubby cooked up a storm in the kitchen for our first date night since Freddie arrived.

To start..

Baked Camembert for dippy melty oozy goodness along with..

Roasted tomato, goats cheese and basil with garlic ciabatta

Followed by..

Prawn, cod and scallop linguine in a white wine sauce..

My addition was a chocolate mousse 

Baby Joules

Freddie needs this:

Bank holiday blues...?

Nothing beats a bank holiday weekend..3 lie ins (not for me as it's baby o'clock) family time and sunshine...

Not today...pouring of rain, soggy and miserable. Or is it?

I love days like these (more so if I haven't got plans!) as it feels so wintery and time to snuggle back down under the duvet.

Freddie is currently alseep in his Moses, hubby is making bottles downstairs and I'm here in bed like a whale swathed in the duck feather duvet. I love being snug, especially when you can hear the rain and even more so when I can smell the slow cooker is on, so no need to mess about for tea later. (It's a lovely joint of brisket on the bone, btw)

Endless cups if tea, biscuits and possibly a home made cake are required to make this the ultimate bed day. Food channels on telly and frequent naps are also in order in between baby chats and feeds.

Time for a nap now I think!

Recipie- Braised ox cheeks in red wine

Although not readily available, Ox cheek can be ordered from your butcher and they are so worth it, literally melt in the mouth and full of flavour. Also a great cheap cut like brisket, perfect for slow cooking.

What you need

4 ox cheeks

Small(it large and drink the rest) bottle of red wine (any you like to drink)

2 medium onions

Thyme and sage tied in a bunch to be fished out later

1.5 pints Beef stock

Seasoned plain flour to coat the beef

What you do

1) cut the onion to a medium dice and fry until translucent

2) cut the ox cheek into generous bite sized chunks, and dust with the seasoned flour

3) add to a casserole dish, sear off the meat, add stock and cook on a low heat for 2-3 hours or until the cheek is tender and the gravy is thick and bubbling

4) serve with creamy mash, spicy wedges, crispy roasters...whatever you fancy!

GIVEAWAY...

For 6 months or so us mummies can provide our babies with all the nutrition they need via bottle or breast...but what happens after that?

I can't wait to wean my little one, but whole I want to do the whole make-your-own meal trick, I worry about weaning and being on the go. How?!

Weaning. Those 7 little letters can send tomato stained chills up any moms spine. Messy kids. Messy house. Stressed mom. 

How easy it is to keep milk contained in a nice easy to hold bottle or boob. Apart from the odd splatter of baby sick, mess is kept to minimum allowing a portable food source for our pink, squidgy, eating machines.

Luckily I have teamed up with Brother Max to give away a fabulous and convenient weaning kit. Featuring easy use weaning pots, 3 catch and fold bibs and an amazing leak proof weaning bowl set.

The whole kit provides easy feeding whether at home or on the go, with minimal fuss to help keep a hungry baba satisfied. 

The weaning pots are dishwasher, steraliser, microwave and freezer safe, allowing for easy cleaning and effective food preparation and storage with a natty write and wipe pen! Perfectly portion sized and able to fit in changing bags or handbags alike.

The pots join together making pouring in purées a breeze, leaving it up to you to serve straight from the pot or freeze and serve later with the pop out base.

The catch and fold bibs include a material bib suitable for catching any milk dribbles but they also clip on to the handy crumb catcher, for any rogue food morsels that may escape our mucky angels mouths!

The material bibs are machine washable and can be tumble dried, the BpA free Crumb Catcher can be folded up so crumbs can easily be discarded when on the go. 

The final part of this terrific trio is the fantastic weaning bowl set, made for at home or in the go feeding.

This non leak set, perfect for on the go alfresco lunches (cramming a meal in on a shopping trip!) means no more messy drips in the changing bags and a fabulous food divider for separate tastes or courses.

The comfortable wrap around handle helps with easy feeding for mommy or the older toddler and heat sensitive spoons prevent little burnt mouths.

The whole kit is in brightly coloured BpA free plastics meaning no more boring meals times that is fun and easy to use for busy mummies at home or on the go!

Now all you have to worry about is endless meal ideas to tantalise those little taste buds!

Make it easy on your self to win all of the above here- 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy weaning!

Freddie the model!

Today we travelled down to Stokeinteignhead (near Torquay) for Freddie to be snapped as a model for the Gro Company catalogue and some of their new designs. 

I was strangely nervous...even though I wasn't the one being snapped. It wasn't even until later when my husband said it was a good job we didn't have any poo-namis in there that I realised things went far easier than they could have!!!

Luckily the staff from the Gro company and the photographer were so patient and welcoming that we all felt at ease..Freddie particularly liked one of the product stylists!

He looked so a angelic bless him and even after a long drive down there, he was so well behaved, smiling and yawning at (almost) all the right times and even managed a kip in the prop crib! Apart from some wriggly tootsies it was very successful!

Will be a lovely story to tell him when he is bigger and show him the photos.

Don't think I could do it full time though..me and hubby are bloody knackered!

As is this little boy I think... 

Noisy baba!

So we hit seven weeks yesterday...and last night Freddie found his scream and his temper!

He decided at 3am that winding was a no no and he was going to throw himself back and have a blood curdling scream until he had his boccy back! 

The little munchkin still managed to give me a smile fest when I set him back down!

Today he has been lay on our bed kicking his legs and squealing when laughing so I think our days are going to be more vocal from now on now that he knows he can be a little noise box!

Recipie- Apple and foraged blackberry crumble (ww friendly)

After my foraging haul I had plenty of blackberries so the only thing for it was Apple & Blackberry Crumble!

I made this a lighter version so it's perfect for Weight Watchers or any one who may be watching the calories.

What you will need for the filling:

400g apples 

200g blackberries 

25g brown sugar/sweetener to taste (the apples and berries I had were sweet so I didn't need this)

1/2 tsp cinnamon if liked

50ml water 

What you will need for the crumble topping:

60g plain flour

60g oats or granola

25g margarine 

25g brown sugar

What you do:

1)Peel and core the apples and wash blackberries (soak for an hour or so if foraged in warm water) sprinkle in cinnamon, mix it up & add to a pie dish 

2)if your fruit is a bit tart you can add some sweetner, brown sugar or honey at this point, but mine didn't need it.

3)add the water so there is a nice thick fruity sauce produced when cooking

4)add your dry crumble topping ingredients to a bowl and rub through margarine. It should have a sandy/breadcrumb like texture.

5)sprinkle over the fruit. Bake for 45 mins on 180 degrees, keep your eye on it if using oats as they can colour more quickly than just flour topping.

Serves 4.

Propoints for using brown sugar within pie and topping - 6 per portion

Propoints for using brown sugar In topping only - 5 per portion.

I served mine with Elmlea whipping cream for an extra 2pp.

My lovely home town

We went for a stroll along the river yesterday, it was a beautiful day and it made me realise how much of a lovley place I live in.

We used to practically live on the river bank and so I suppose we took it for granted, just thought of it as a bit of a pain because the dogs were bloody addicted to dive bombing into the water at every oppurtunity. Buggers.

We live on a new estate here now so don't really the scenic veiws of before, It just means that now I have to get up off my bum and walk* to see them!

*drive.

A good old forage!

I'm a tomboy so love to get muddy and messy if there is the opportunity ... prattling about with creepy crawlies and fauna of all sorts was the focal point of my childhood!

So for the last few autumns I have took my hand at foraging and making sloe gin and jams from hedgerow goods.

This year the sloes and blackberries have come in early, with a bumper crop of sloes near me, I had to get involved.

I love, love sloe gin, it's autumn and winter in a warming alcoholic scarf of a drink and mixes pefectly with some Prosecco for a sloe gin fizz!

Last year there was an abysmal crop of sloes and what were left had been ravaged by the birds so I just about made a batch of sloe gin and vodka, with a few jars of damson jam for good measure.

This year however, they are everywhere! I got a great haul today and need to go back Tomo to get some for freezer stock (great tip also, don't prick or slash the skins, pop the sloes in the freezer to do the same job on a mass scale) I even took Freddie for his first forage with mommy!

The blackberries have gone in an apple and blackberry crumble and will be freezing some more for smoothies and bramble jam!

At the bottom of our garden I have spied a some cob nuts that are just crying to be roasted with some honey! 

Happy foraging...get there before anyone else does!

Pottering by the river..

Living in Shropshire there are many scenic places to visit just a stones throw away.

Yesterday we trundled over to Bewdley. I spent so many Sundays there with my parents, so it was nice to take Freddie on a little afternoon out.

Even though it's the River Severn and not the sea, I always feel like I'm at the sea side when scoffing a tasty dinner from the chippy on the corner next to the bridge.

We pottered up the old streets, even thought it was busy it's still relaxing to be there. Lots of lovely old pubs with ales galore that I could have drank all afternoon! 

A visit to Bewdley isn't complete without a least drooling in the window of Teddy Grays sweet shop! (Too many sweets to be pointed on weight watchers for me!!) when I was little I always, always had the herbal candy, so amazing and crumbly. However, my mom would never let me take it into school as she thought because it was called herbal that they would think it was a drug HAHAHA really!!!

Finally we stopped off for a lovely, naughty tea (32pro points worth!) but so Delish!

Look at that batter!!!