I’ve been hearing this a lot lately

It doesn’t help that K is living out in the sticks at the moment so it takes an hour to drive there.  Even if I left home at 6 o’clock it would’ve been dark and late travelling crappy roads.  At least they’re in the process of moving closer.

Anyways, I got there and he’s gorgeous.  I posted a photo on twitpic the other day.  If I could only get the hang of doing photos on here I’d post one.  If anyone wants to see him, look on twitpic or I can email. 

Title comes from me lifting J from sitting on my knee to him standin on my knees.  The pain in my bad arm was excruciating.  Good job K’s chap has the same problem and there were painkillers available.

2. David Tennant

3. Khaldoon Al Mubarak

4. Jose Mourinho

Would post photos but I think I’ve broken the bit that does them

Turkey Stew

400g diced turkey thigh – you can use more or less according to taste

1 onion, chopped

1 jar supermarket cheap curry sauce, eg Morrisons @ 12p

1 bag frozen stew/winter mix vegetables (weighs about 1kg – carrots, swede, onion, etc)

1 tin chopped tomatoes in juice

Chicken stock – ½ to 1 pint

Method

1. Brown turkey in pan.  Transfer to slow cooker.

2. Soften the onion if you feel like it.  Add to slow cooker.

3. Put frozen veg in pan and add boiling water.  Bring back to boil then strain.  Add to slow cooker.

4. Add rest of ingredients to the slow cooker.  Use stock according to your own preference.

5. Give it a stir.  Put lid on and leave to cook. 

If I make this the day before, I start at 11pm-ish and leave to cook overnight.

If making in the morning, it gets to cook whilst I’m out at work.

Cheap, cheerful and filling.  Makes at least 4 portions.  Freezeable.

Can’t remember off hand how many WW points but it wasn’t many.

100g (3½oz) self raising flour

50g (1¾ oz) icing sugar

½ vanilla pod

75g (2¾oz) self raising white flour

75g (2¾oz) cornflour

1. Preheat oven to Gas 4/180°C/fan oven 160°C.  Line 2 baking trays with non-stick baking parchment.

2. Beat the margarine and sugar together until pale and fluffy.

3. Scoop out the vanilla seeds and beat into the mixture.  Add the flout and cornflour and mix to form a stiff dough.

4. Divide into 16 small balls and arrange on the baking trays.  Press them down with a fork.

5. Bake until just golden 12-15mins.  Cool on the baking trays for 10 mins, then transfer to a wire rack and allow to cool completely.

I didn’t have any vanilla pods in so used some essence.

Almond essence is rather divine.

So is mixed spice.

Ginger is next on the list but I need more sugar and cornflour before I try that.

WW 1½ points, total 25.  Again, I make mine into point-sized portions.

I found when pressing down with a fork the dough wanted to stick to it so didn’t really bother.  I went for the rustic appprach.

Freezeable.

Delicious warm.

75g (2¾oz) self raising flour

50g (1¾ oz) polyunsaturated margarine

50g (1¾ oz) caster sugar

1egg, beaten

Finely grated zest of 1 lemon

1tbsp fresh lemon juice

Topping

1 tbsp lemon curd

1 tbsp boiling water

1. Preheat oven to Gas 5/190°C/fan oven 170°C.  Line a 9 hole bun tin with paper cases.

2. Sift the flour into a bowl.  In a separate mixing bowl beat the margarine and sugar together until pale and fluffy.  Add the beaten egg, lemon zest and juice with 1 tbsp of the flour and mix well.

3. Add the remaining flour to the mixture and fold in with a metal spoon.  Divide the mixture into the paper cases and bake for 15 mins, until the sponges are springy to the touch.

4. While the cakes are still warm, mix the lemon curd with the boiling water and brush this over the surface of the cakes.  Allow to cool before serving.

WW 2 points.  16 total recipe.

I have a 12 bun tin so used that and made 12 – less points per cake.

Freezeable.

I used all the juice from the lemon, plus some of the flesh.

Also, I used golden granulated sugar with no ill effects.

Delicious warm.

75g (2¾oz) plain white flour

75g (2¾oz) Demerara sugar

75g (2¾oz) porridge oats

½ tsp ground nutmeg

75g (2¾oz) polyunsaturated margarine

1 tbsp honey

1. Preheat oven to Gas 4/180°C/fan oven 160°C.  Line 2 baking trays with non-stick baking parchment.

2. Mix together the flour, sugar, oats and nutmeg.

3. Melt the margarine in a small saucepan with the honey and then pour it over the dry ingredients.  Mix well and place 16 spoonfuls of the mixture, set wellapart, onto the prepared baking trays.

4. Bake for 15 minutes until the biscuits hve spread out and are golden brown.  Allow them to cool on the baking trays for 5 minutes and then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

WW 1½  points each. 24 for total recipe.  I make 24 smaller biscuits.

Even nicer if you skip the nutmeg and add ginger to taste.

Keep for 1 week in airtight container.

Freezeable.  I make a double batch at a time.

Delicious warm

When I went back to work before the holidays it snowed.  I needed a new tyre on my car and didn’t want to drive with a tyre that didn’t have enough tread.  My colleague T picked me up and brought me home again.

With last week’s snow I still hadn’t  got my new tyre so it was T to the rescue again.  This time I had to walk down the hill as T couldn’t get up as the road was so bad.  At least we got sent home from work early each day so I could trudge back up the hill in daylight.  Was quite enjoyable really.

I got my new tyre at the weekend so at least I’m fully mobile again.

Still haven’t managed to get any wellies or snow boots though.

Gingercake

350g (12oz) SR flour

Pinch of salt

1 Tbs ground ginger (I use 2tbs cos I like to taste it)

75g (2 ¾ oz) polyunsaturated margarine (I used ‘Can’t believe it not butter light)

75g (2 ¾ oz) dark soft brown sugar

150g (5 ½ oz) carrots, grated

3 Tbs treacle

150ml (5 fl oz)

2 eggs, beaten

1. Preheat oven to Gas 3/160C/Fan oven 140C.  Line an 18x28cm (7x11inch) rectangular cake tin with non-stick baking parchment.

2. Sift the flour into a mixing bowl with the salt and ground ginger.  Rub in the margarine using your fingertips, until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.  Stir in the sugar and carrots.

3. Place the treacle in a small saucepan with the milk and warm gently, until the treacle has melted into the milk.  Add this to the dry ingredients along with the beaten eggs and mix well.

4. Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and bake for 50 minutes, until firm and springy to the touch.  Turn out the cake on to a wire rack to cool, and then cut into slices/pieces.

I tried a variation on Sunday and melted the ICBINB into the milk and treacle mix and it worked just fine.  Saves getting cake mix under your fingernails.

Another good tip is to try a couple of pieces whilst cake is still warm.  Very yummy.

The whole recipe is 38 ½ points and the cake can be frozen.

I’ve never measured the dish I use to bake with but find I can cut the cake into 40-ish pieces quite easily.

Details are for Jen at Suburban Mum.  I can’t seem to manage the link thing tonight and fed up trying now.

1. I still love work but it can leave me mentally knackered. I have a difficult case where I’ve been dealing with a chap for a while. I was about to close the case but he was readmitted to hospital after 5 weeks so it all begins again. Oh joy.

2. You may recall I had a small operation on my toe in January. At the follow-up appointment I pointed out that the problem was already coming back but I was told to live with it for a while. I went to see my GP a few weeks ago and got myself referred again and a different surgeon has now sorted me out. He’s lovely. I had the op last Tuesday and now I’m doing the resting up bit which is no fun at all. I can’t even potter in the house as I’m supposed to keep off my feet. Another dressing change tomorrow, this time at GP surgery. They wouldn’t do it at first so I had to get a lift to the local walk in centre. Booked in for hospital appointment next week to have stitches out. Had it done under a local anaesthetic as I really don’t like GA. The anaesthetic wouldn’t work at first so I’ve got lots of holes in my foot where they kept increasing the dose. The anaesthetist doc came in to give me sedation and put a cannula in my hand as they were all for knocking me out as I kept saying ‘yes’ when they asked if it hurt when they attempted the procedure.

3. For some reason I ended up having a pre-op before I saw the consultant. I went to Withington as it was the shortest wait (on a Friday). Had a shock as I’d put on a stone since January and my blood pressure was way too high. The nurse said she would refer me back to GP about this but I made my own appointment the following Monday. Two lots of blood tests later, I’m now on statins for cholesterol as they reckon it won’t come down enough by diet alone. I’m borderline with diabetes so have to have a glucose tolerance test the Tuesday morning next week. My blood pressure has been coming down so that’s a good sign. GP reckons it’s higher when she measured it last Thursday with a manual system than it was whilst I was in theatre on Tuesday. Really don’t want meds for this as well. Have to go monthly for a weigh in and BP check.

4. After leaving the GP on the Monday I went across the road and signed up for Weight Watchers. I’ve been before and lost just under 4 stone but ended up helping out and not getting weighed every week. Then I had to work late some weeks and a few other things got in the way of me going. I put on all I had lost plus the extra stone. I had to weigh myself at home this week as I can’t dive right now. Total after 4weeks is 15.5lbs so I’m doing something right.

5. I signed up for the gym at work with a friend. On a Thursday. Then got a cancellation slot for my op so haven’t actually been yet. I will though.

6. Mum had a stroke. I got her a pendant alarm from work in case of falls or illness but did she use it? No. Phoned my brother who works nights so he brought her to the hospital. My gym friend came to A&E with us and was very supportive. Top bloke. At first the docs thought it was a TIA but was later confirmed as CVA with frontal lobe infarct. Back home now following 2 weeks inside and doing great. Mostly back to normal with just some occasional word finding difficulties. I was going to get her to ask GP for a referral to the Memory Clinic before the stroke but feel the word finding problem would affect the outcome. She’s had a habit of repeating tales for a few years now.

7. Christmas. Have managed to buy none of my 4 presents so far. Had cut down to just Mum, nephew, TLP and Secret Santa. I have an agreement with everyone else not to buy presents for each other now. TLP doesn’t want anything and has everything he needs. Nephew likes computer game things. Had originally booked this week off work to hit the shops and markets in Manchester but can’t even get a proper trainer or shoe on yet so that’s out of the question.

8. My friend K had her baby at the end of last month. He was 3 weeks early and is absolutely gorgeous.

9. Had a really nice evening out with TLP and our friends to celebrate their engagement.

10. Football looking good. First cup semi for years coming up in the New Year.

There you go. I managed to write 10 things. A good number so I’ll end there.