Its an ugly thing to admit but I have to own up to a bad case of discrimination… against the humble butternut squash!
Many a time I have ignored it during a trip down the supermarket isles, always choosing something less bulbus and more attractive. But behind the yucky biege skin and ugly bell shape lies a yummy sweet sunshine treat I am very glad I found.
Some of you may have noticed I really can’t spell. Ever since I can remember I have had a bit of a problem with spelling, I loved to write stories at school but was always marked down for the bad spelling, and before the birth of icklebabe, pretty much all I had to write was the ocational cheque!
But now with all this blogging and tweeting my embarrising problem is becoming all too noticable, What about spell check I here you ask? well, I do have spell check in many forms on my computer but it gets very confused when the word I am trying to spell is so far off it has no idea what I’m on about!
As you may know the White Family have all had the most wonderful holiday but before I got chance to fully empty the suitcases (still haven’t quite got around to completing that job!) the sky turned dark and so did the White family mood….
It all started with milly, she woke up the day after we got back uncharacteristically grumpy and cried all day, she cried when I picked her up, she cried when I put her down, she cried when I feed her, she even wailed when she got in the bath dispite an especially fantastic show put on by Mr Duck and his 3 brothers! I rang Granny j for some much needed advise and she just said she was probably missing her (my mum and the Milsta are very close) and that maybe she had after holiday blues. Was this possible? Could a 7 month old baby really be on a post holiday downer. I wasn’t convinced but on with life we got.
I am still in my pyjamas, there is a pile of holiday washing to be done and my shoes are still full of sand but I couldn’t wait to write!
Me , Big Jay, baby Milly, Elli, Jack and granny J all packed up our ancient land rover and heeded off to Devon for a lovely British holiday.
Like many people I haven’t spent a holiday in England since I was a child, Always discarding old blighty in favour of more exotic climbs but this year with Milly still so small we decided to go with the current trend and book in the Uk.
I have to admit I wasn’t expecting to be blown away, but even if it rained every day we would be getting away and the kids would get to be by the sea.
This week has been bitter sweet…
My daughter came home after being bullied at school and I did’nt know what to do.
I can’t tell you the feeling you get as a mum when your child is bullied, shes nearly 13 but your protection instinct kicks in and you just want to fight something! I wrote a strong letter to the head of year and promised Ellie that no matter what we’d make it stop.
But I still felt really helpless and agitated so I did the only other thing I know to do… I set about making her favourite food. My mum always did this for me when I was upset and I have passed on the comfort food tradition to my children, there is nothing that can’t be made better with a good meal and a hug!
Eloise loves curry so we had Beef rogan josh, jerra chicken, Bombay potatoes and home made coconut naans.
Although not a cure for bullying, It definitely tasted good and lifted the mood. Eloise went to school the next day determined to sort the nasty situation out. And by home time she was feeling much stronger.
Since then it has seemed to calm down, and I am a very proud mum. Although I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, this episode has given me a real insight into how strong my little girl is and how much she has grown. I know (one day) I can let her out into the world and trust she’s strong enough to handle what life throws at her.
For those with a love of curry and a need of comfort I have left the recipe below, but if your making it for someone else, don’t forget the hug. Its an essential ingredient!
Love Helenx
Eloise’s Comfort Curry Banquet
Jeera chicken
Cook’s notes- I found this recipe on www.mydish.co.uk but I have changed it slightly to my taste. ( I hope you don’t mind Sujata)
1 tsp turmeric powder,
4 tbls cooking oil,
half a large pot of yogurt,
1 tsp of dried coriander,
4 large chicken breast (each sliched into fillets)
2 large onions,
3tsp cumin seeds,
2 x2inch sticks of cinamon,
good couple of grinds of black pepper,
3 cloves,
2 green chillis,
2 tsp of ginger-crushed,
3 cloves of garlic-crushed,
1 tsp garam masala powder,
salt to taste,
Method-
1. chop the onions into really small pieces
2. cut the green chillies into half
3. pour oil in a large non-stick pan and warm
4. add the cumin seeds, Cinnamon and cloves and let it splutter (crackle)
5 add the chopped onions and let it cook until the onions are dark brown [not just transparent]
6. now add the chicken pieces and increase the heat and stir fry until the chicken turns brown
7. add the crushed garlic, ginger and chilli and stir fry for a couple more mins
8. add salt, turmeric, coriander powder.
9.continue stirring and finally reduce the heat onto med and add the yogurt.
10. cover the pan and let it cook for at least 30-40 min until the chicken is cooked.
Best Ever Bombay potatoes
Ingredients
3 tbsp sunflower oil
1 tsp mustard seeds
½ tsp ground cumin
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp garam masala
1 tsp chili powder
5cm/2in piece fresh ginger, grated
1kg/2lb 3oz potatoes, peeled, and cut into smallish cubes
350ml/12fl oz vegetable stock
4 tomatoes, roughly chopped
1 bunch coriander, roughly chopped
Method
1. Heat a wok until hot and add the oil.
2. Add all the spices and the ginger and stir-fry for one minute until fragrant.
3. Add the potatoes and stir to coat in the spices.
4. Add the stock and bring to a gentle simmer. Simmer for 10-15 minutes until the potatoes are tender.
5. Stir in the tomatoes and coriander.
6. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper and serve.
Beef Rogan Josh
500g diced beef,
1/4 to 1/2 a jar of rogan josh paste ,Depending on taste, (I use Pataks)
2 onions,
2 tins of tomatoes,
100ml water,
fresh coriander,
2 tablespoons of vegetable oil,
Method-
In a good sized pan start frying the onions gently, once soft add curry paste and beef for a few mins.
once beef is sealed add the toms and water and cook for about an hour, I keep the lid on for the first 45 mins and then remove so the sauce has time to thicken. You can cook this dish slowly for as long as you like, the longer you leave it the nicer it becomes!
and finally …
Coconut naan Bread
Cook’s notes- I got this from Tanya Ramsey’s Book, its better than Gordans! (Sorry Gordan!, but I’m pretty sure you don’t care what I think!)
1lb of plain flour,
2sp baking powder,
1 tsp of salt,
125ml of milk,
125 natural yogurt,
1 egg,
1oz dessicated coconut,
1oz ground almonds,
1 tsp of sugar,
5 tbsp of water
Method-
Pre heat the oven at 220oc 425of gm7.
Sieve the flour abd baking powder togher in a large mixing bowl. Add salt.
In a second bowl beat together milk and yogurt and egg.
In a third bowl mix together the coconut, almonds, sugar and water to form a paste.
Make a well in the flour mixture and add the milk mixture. Using a wooden spoon, carefully mix together the flour and liquid until they make dough.
Turn the dough out onto a floured board and knead for around 4 mins.
Divide into 4 or five balls.
Take one dough ball and flatten in between your hands. In the center place a good teaspoon of the coconut paste and fold the dough over then roll the whole thing flat until it resembles the size of a large Naan.
repeat with all the balls of dough.
Then cook on a lightly oiled tray for about 8 -10 mins.
Milly is now five months old (where did the time go) and I when a charity bag came through the door the other day I thought I’d take the oportunity to have a little clear out. But as I went through each little new born baby grow and dainty little sock I realised I was’nt ready to give them up yet. They are only things I know, and I really don’t think we will be needing them again (milly is my third) but she has been such a little ray of sunshine and every piece has little memories in them…
I did stilll manage to fill the charity bag…. mostly with my maternity clothes….. I have to say I am not so emotionally attacted to my giant kangeroo pouch jeans and matching parachote tops, I know some girls look stunning when they are pregnant but at just five foot three I felt almost as wide as I was high! constantly wobbling around like a weeble! (I am showing my age, for those who don’t remember they were little egg shaped people , really popualar in the 80′s. I had the tree house that they lived in too, loved it… but I digress! )
The whole process got me thinking about all the stuff we all buy when having a baby. And how much of it we actually need, so I have put together a little list, firstly of things I could’nt live without and then things I found useless, here goes…
- Good stuff….
- Rainforest Jumperooo- easily the best thing I have ever bought, I got it for Milly about 6 weeks ago and she has been in it every day since, happily bouncing away for hours on end. It still makes me laugh to watch her little legs going, sooo cute!
- Lights and sounds activity spiral- Milly loves this and it has stoped many a tearful moment in the super market, she can study it for ages.
- Fisher Price Miracles and Milestones Cot Mobile- not the most stylish looking thing but Milly loves to watch it.
- mam soothers-vowed I was’nt gonna use em, but by about day three I bought some, milly only has them when shes tired and the crystal ones are very cute.
- Boots Microwave steriliser- cheap, easy and mess free.
- Giant Flower Play Mat- from french company la redoute, looks quite chic and not to out of place in the living room and the dangly cubes and flowers are detactable so you can take them out with you. Also really comfy, always shooing the dog away from it!
- My little Tees- ok, I know I made them but people are always commenting on them and they do make Milly look super cute
also my little clippies, Milly has lots of hair so they are very useful.
- The bad stuff….
- Timberland baby boots- Soooo cute to look at but milly pulls them off, same with socks, I don’t think I have one actual pair, although I have bought loads. I think they must be under the sofa, in sainsburys, on the moon, who knows!
- Play Nest- a kind of blow up ring nest thingy- Milly won’t sit in it for more than ten seconds.
- Hand Breast Pump- oh just so painful and slow, and I felt oddly like a milking cow.
- Bottle warmer- bulky and slow, just as easy to put the bottle in jug of warm water!
- mamas and papas baby bouncer- looks pretty but flimsy and uncomfortable. Got given a really old padded one that looks like a baby arm chair, ugly but Milly loves it.
So I hope this is useful, I will add more as I go, I am sure there will be lots of good and bad baby buys to come! If you have any of your own it would be great if you could add em, We could end up with a really helpful list:)
my little flower fairy
I had my lovely Milly 15 weeks ago now and I’m getting a bit frustrated that I’m still not back in my pre-preggers jeans yet, don’t get me wrong alot of the extra poundage has gone but im still, shall we say far from where i want to be.
I really want my little bum back and my flat (ish) tummy and I long not to have to wear long tee shirts to cover up my muffin tops. But where does this burning desire to bounce straight back into my skinnies come from? And why do I feel like such a failure if I can’t do it as soon as I’ve given birth?
Celebrities dont help, why is it they seem to have the super human ability to look amazingly skinny about two minutes after giving birth?
I decided to do a bit of investigateing to find out, was there some great holly grail secret to weight lose that us mere mortals are not privy too, or is it simply that they are better human beings?
Well I found some interesting “facts” on the internet, apharently Madonna had a scheduled “celebrity” c-section, ( one where you have a c-section and tummy tuck at the same time) They even schedule you to deliver 6 weeks before your due date so your baby is smaller and you don’t put on so much weight. This is just crazy!
But before I go down the road of slatting these Mum’s as vain selfish brats with more money than sense it started to make me think about the kind of society we live in where its concidered glamourous to rock out of the materinity ward looking like a pre-pubesent girl rather than a glowing, abeit slightly rounded new mum.
What is up with that ? Surely the act of making , nuturing and giving birth to a new life is amazing enough without having to look incrediable at the same time.
Other celebrities seem to sweat it out the hard way in a bid to lose there baby fat, Jamie Pressly ( she of My Name is Earl fame) spent a wooping three hours a day, every day in the gym just weeks after giving birth to her little son Dezi in May 2007. She went from 155 pounds to 125 in under eight weeks. After dropping the first 10 pounds, she went on an all-protein diet, eating four to six times a day. Her trainer said she did what might take other clients six months to achieve. Call me nieve but what about her kid?, where was he in all this frenzied weight loss programe? surely this is the time for bounding with your little bundle of joy, I think after a wooping 3 hour work out I would be incabable of moving let alone spending the rest of the day (and night) taking care of a tiny new born.
It all makes me look at my new body in a new light, yes I do still want to shift my extra baby pounds but I am not going to celebrity extremes to do it, Im just going to take lots of walks with little Milly and try to eat right and most importantl, give it time!
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