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!!!

Reveiw- Earth Friendly Baby

I love aromatherapy and essential oils, so when I came across the Earth Friendly Baby product range which I was lucky enough to test out,  I was excited to try them for Freddie too.

First up we tried the uplifting and juicy Happy Mandarin Bubble Bath. With simple packaging which is easy to open, perfect for a FTM and slippery eel bath hands!

The bubble bath lathers up quickly and doesn't take a lot to make lots of pillowy bubbles, which amaze Freddie, keeping him busy whilst I can get on with washing his grubby neck. The Aloe Vera extract keeps skin soft whilst the mandarin scent is so fruity and awakening, so I tend to use it for a morning bath or spruce up as it makes him nice and alert...not what I want for bedtime!

The second product and my favourite is the Calming Lavender Shampoo and Body Wash. I adore lavender as it is so relaxing and comforting, perfect for bubas bedtime wind down for restful sleep. The fragrance isn't overpowering either,  subtle and calming. Freddie has quite unpredictable skin but I have found that as I don't need to use a large amount of wash it doesn't dry his skin or scalp so he stays nice and baby soft and also the wash will be really long lasting.

It's so helpful too that the product is combined hair and body wash as it's one less bottle at bath time to battle with and also saves a bit of space on the changing unit or swimming baby.

The last product that I got to try was the Soothing Chamomile Body Lotion. The lotion smells so delicate and melts gently into baby's skin, ideal for a massage cream at bedtime. It leaves Freddie's skin supple and moisturised but not greasy, I have used this product every day and his skin doesn't get irritated either. 

All the products in the range are not tasted in animals and contain organic, natural extracts. There are no artificial colours or fragrances and no nasties such as SLS and parabens and all are dermatological tested for bubas delicate skin.

Lovely products that make bath time scent-sational and even mummies can use them...the lavender shampoo and body wash is a definate sleep tonic!



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Disclaimer: My opinion is completely honest and based on my own experience. This is a personal blog. The opinions expressed here represent my own. All information provided on this site is for informational purposes only. 

SPD

At 24 weeks pregnant, I was about to make my 7th nightly toilet trip when I felt like I had been kicked in my groin. I'm a nurse and had been on shift that day so presumed it was the 12hours on my feet, and so didn't think overly too much of it.

How things escalated!

The pain gradually got worse, when I saw my midwife at 28 weeks and advised I was waking up every morning feeling like I had been kicked in the tuppy (ha ha TMI but oh so accurate!) and getting up in the night was becoming increasingly difficult, that she advised I had SPD, or symphasis pubis dysfunction and gave a brief low down that the body produces a hormone called Relaxin which softens ligaments etc in the body in preparation for birth for a bit extra stretch. In SPD the hormone is over produced and things become too supple, forming gaps within the pelvis. In some cases these gaps are considerably larger and mom to be is in agony, birth can also be an issue.

I felt that this point that I could manage with basic painkillers as I was due to finish work in a month and so I would be fine. I spoke to the physios at work (who were luckily my colleagues) and they sorted me out with a support belt or tubigrip worn over my bump.

This provided light relief for about a week.    

I purchased a specialist SPD support sling which went over and around my bump and my painkillers were increased by my doctor. At this point I was struggling to mobilise quickly at work, hoovering was hell and bedtime was a ritual of being propped up by a barrage of pillows around my hips.

By the time I left work at 32 weeks I was starting to feel exhausted with the effort from not being able to walk properly, the 12 hours shifts were crippling me and really looking back I was useless as a nurse because I just could not give 100% into my role. I couldn't run to save anyone if there was a crash. I should have gone before but insisted to my manager that I was doing myself a favour struggling on and keeping as mobile as I could. I truly believed this but in hindsight  I should have left a lot Earlier.

I had been off work a week when after a particularly bad night, being pushed by my husband to help me get out of bed to the toilet and hauling myself by the headboard to roll from left or right, i found myself stuck on the sofa in compete agony. I couldn't move and was paralysed with pain. 

I rang the doctors and was prescribed morphine, hubby picked it up that night and taking my first dose I was petrified.

The SPD quickly got a lot worse and I was so depressed. I barely went out because pain was so severe, I got more and more down until I went out on my crutches only to return home in excruciating pain and crying my eyes out. 

There was no way out. Pain killers were only offering light relief and now I was lying in bed or on the sofa all day, having everything to hand so I didn't have to really move. The pain had developed into what I called "the ripping pain" where I had lightning like strikes in my hips and pelvis where I simply couldn't move and was immediately crippled. My consultant decided I was to be induced on my due date and to give birth on my side or knees and no stirrups to be used, if possible no epidural for fear of permanent damage. All I wanted was a cesarean, I was petrified.

However, literally as soon as my waters broke, I stood up and felt that I had some light relief? I kidded myself it was the euphoria of meeting my baby soon and thought no more of it.

I had a very quick and successful natural labour, giving birth half on my side and back. On my knees was too painful and I couldn't walk around to ease things along.

Afer Freddie was born I was sent for my shower. Along with Freddie being born, I will never, ever forget the moment I walked back Into the room and climbed on my hospital bed. I was crying my eyes out, no pain. No pain after months of nothing but painkillers and feeling like a hypochondriac. It was amazing.

The worst part above all, something I will never ever forget and never forgive myself for is that when Freddie was three days old he suffered neonatal withdrawal syndrome (NWS) from the morphine I had taken. It was the hardest thing I have been through, feeling totally helpless and to blame.

If I have it again i will not take any morphine. NWS is common in hard drug users, which makes me think if Freddie suffered so much with me on such a low dose...what must those babies go through? 

Luckily I had some amazing friends and family who helped me no end.

I have been told to wait 2 years before my next child to allow my pelvis to realign and I can do very minimal core excercises. Luckily my SPD went at birth and didn't continue so I may not have it at all next time.

If anyone out there has SPD, then use the physio, the belts and minimal pain relief but try and steer away from the opioid pain killers (cocodamol and morphine) and just rest. You will feel lazy, bored, depressed and have cabin fever but it isn't worth it, even in constant pain. 

Has anyone got any other tips for SPD?

Back to Weight Watchers

Today is the day I get back to Weight Watchers to shift my baby weight! Starting off right with N-ice cream for breakfast dreamed up by the amazing Slice of slim

Which is just frozen banana blended with blueberries for 0 propoints! It's so creamy it's hard to believe but trust me it's true!

Before I had Freddie I managed to loose almost 7 stone with the Weight watchers mobile app.

I love my food and hate excercise so my weight was also going to be an issue! 

Then one day when I was on placement as a student nurse, sat gorging myself crap, I just decided enough was enough and downloaded the app.

I quite enjoyed pointing all my meals and was very regimental with it and I was weighed once a week. Don't get me wrong I had bad weeks, sometimes gaining for no reason but I always got back on the wagon.

With the plan you get 49 points over the week to have when you need to splurge or dip into, perfect for eating out etc. I used to use mine for a Saturday and have it as my cheat day, eating whatever I fancied. I loved Cheat day! Still losing weight every week made me determined. 

Here is a little before and after...

Yikes!

Roast lamb for dinner and I can't wait. Here's to a skinny week! 

X

The wonder weeks

The past few days I have noticed Freddie seemed a bit more naggy than usual, needy, clingy and wanting more formula.

I presumed it was the heat/change in weather but accordingly he might be approaching 'The Wonder Week- Week 5'.

According to The Wonder Weeks, The Wonder Weeks are stages in the baby's development that can be noted by changes in behaviour or physical activity, growth spurts in and out the body.

Week Five is classified by changes in metabolism, sensations and being more alert. It may last the whole week, or a few days within that week. 

There are several more wonder weeks along the way, up until around 20 months of age where there may be a blip in baby's behaviour and mood, being more difficult to soothe or comfort at that time.

Kind of a relief to know what's to come/what's wrong. Lots of extra cuddles, milk and playtime for Freddie!

Recipie - Steak and Kidney pie

Nothing better on a grey, miserable Saturday than a deep, rich and comforting Steak and Kidney Pie..

What you will need..

600g diced braising steak/ beef skirt

200g diced lambs kidneys

(The above ratios can be altered if you like a more defined kidney taste)

2 diced medium onions 

2 tablespoons of plain flour

1 pint of beef stock (or half stock half Ale of your choice)

Salt and pepper to taste

1 pack of ready to roll puff pastry

What you do..

1. Brown the beef in a little vegetable oil, then add the kidney and onion and untill the kidney takes on a little colour and the onions are translucent

2. Sprinkle over your flour and mix well through the meat and onion, this will thicken your sauce for the end result. Make sure all pieces are coated

3. Add your stock and leave to cook on a low heat in a sauce pan or oven top casserole dish. This could take anywhere from one and a half to two and a half hours depending on the beef, I start to check how tender it is after an hour and go from there.

4. Transfer the mix to a pie dish and leave to cool. Meanwhile cut to size your pastry lid and pop on the pie, you can do an egg wash glaze if you like for a nice finish.

5. Pop on the oven on 220 degrees and cook untill the pastry is golden and puffy.

Enjoy and have seconds!

What do babies dream about?

As I look at my almost 5 week old little boy, jolting and whimpering in his sleep, I wonder what do babies dream of?

Is it a bIg juicy burp after ounces of milk?

Is it a big snuggle from mommy and daddy, all snug up in bed?

Maybe a nice dry nappy after endless pees and poos?

What if they have baby nightmares? Having to wait that extra few minutes for a bottle? Cold milk straight from the fridge? Being taken out of a nice warm bath, exposed into crisp bathroom air.

With the smiles my little Piglet has on his face, I know he dreams about a nice warm boccy ready to guzzle and have dribbling down his chin x

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Reveiw - Go ahead bars

Recently I was sent three varieties of Go Ahead cereal bars from Bzz agents to review.

The first bar was the Chocolate Orange Thins which have only 72 calories per thin (perfect for a chocolate crazed new mom) and are jam packed with juicy sultanas, so I could kid myself I was having a decent fruit intake.

Looking after a 4 week old baby leaves me little time to grab a proper meal, let alone sit and indulge in snack naughtiness so it seemed perfectly fitting to have mine as elevenses for as chocolate sugar hit with a cup of coffee whilst Freddie was napping for once! The biscuit layer is lovely and crunchy, however, for those who like to dunk.. WARNING very unstable after the first dunk so get in it your mouth quick to avoid coffee drowned sultanas.

I expected the thins to be cardboard dotted with sultanas but they were so moreish and just enough chocolate coating to make it feel like it was a real treat. They certainly don't taste like they are only 72 calories...thankfully. I love orange chocolate too and it really was just like chowing down on a Terry's Chocolate orange but without the guilt or calorie fest!

Perfect to grab when in a rush or on the go, which is just what I need these days.. 

Rating - 5/5

The next thin was Stawberry and sultana yogurt break. This time 73 calories, but unfortunately nowhere near as nice in the taste ranks. It was the same biscuit like layer with sultana and strawberry filling but with a strawberry yogurt coating, which found it quite sickly, kind if like a strawberry biscuit milkshake with sultanas for good measure, not the best when eaten as a breakfast on the go whilst doing a baby milk shop.

It still had the rich taste factor for low calories but the strawberry was very over powering. I think kids on the way to school would benefit more from these as a sweet but not so naughty treat for breakfast on the go.

Rating -2/5

The last thin was the classical flavour of the Apple Crispy Slices, tiny hints of cinnamon and apple pie flavours. 

These saw me through a night feed when I was starving and zombiefied and went down very well! Again, perfect guilt free calorie content of 57cals per slice but bursting with flavour. These have a lovely biscuit/cracker type texture as there is no coating and left me feeling like I had a proper biscuit munch for my midnight snack. 

These are a perfect all rounder for breakfast, on the go or even plonked I front of the tele with a brew, just a simple tasty treat.

Rating - 4/5

Overall, these healthy snacks are great for when you would want a biscuit/ chocolate bar and well priced for a weekly lunchbox treat, especially with the money off coupons provided by Bzzagents to tempt my friends and family!

Disclaimer: I am a BzzAgent and received free products in exchange for a review. Each opinion is my own and is not influenced in any way by any party but myself.