Tuesday, 29 November 2016
What`s for dinner Clarey?: Chewbacca in at the deep end....
What`s for dinner Clarey?: Chewbacca in at the deep end....: Chewbacca in at the deep end. I love to eat. I love to cook and therefore I owe it to my joints to exercise! Last nig...
Tuesday, 15 November 2016
Chewbacca in at the deep end.
I love to eat. I love to cook and therefore I owe it to my joints to exercise! Last night everyone had eaten in my house and they were revising, dressing up as donkeys, watching horror films and listening to Shostakovich ( cats included)! So I thought I might pop along to Aquafit just for fun!
As I left the house I could see my breath in the air, all the cars were getting iced up like a row of Magnums and my spirit wanted to be wearing snugly socks on the sofa quaffing Shabernet Cauvignon ( you only pronounce it like that when you've drunk quite a lot of it to be fair!)
But my Mind and body were drawing me on to the glamorous pebble dashed heights of Kendal leisure centre.
I couldn't find my miracle swimsuit, that frankly must be made out of Freddy Mercurys old spandex, it's so sucky inny , if such a word exists. No I only managed to find my granny unsupportive , please don't let there be a handsome lifeguard one.
As I adjusted the straps to my horror I discovered my armpits were a tad Mediterranean looking and my legs had seemed to have a covering of Winter fur that was just plain embarrassing. To add insult to furry injury I was early and had to endure the 5 second waddle to sit on the side whilst some men from Atlantis types finished off their triathlon training! The spectator gallery was rammed with yummy Mummys ( no doubt plucked and waxed) who all seemed to be smiling sympathetically at this hairy little Hobbit Surrounded by those day glo giant wot sits otherwise known as woggles.
Once in the pool I swam to the deepest part and joined in with all the exercises keen not to flash off my hairy bits , as Megan the beautiful instructor kept encouraging us to do coffee grind armography whilst "it's raining men" boomed out in the background.
I was like Chewbacca in at the deep end but no one really cared and I had such a laugh riding on one of those woggles. What anyone else thinks of me is none of my business and today at Slimming World the scales registered a loss, so that's fantastic.
When I got home I had a bath and stole Mattys razor, he's not bothered,he loves his hairy Clarey as long as I feed him.
So Han Solo and I shared this soup on the sofa by the fire...yum!
Roasted pepper and pumpkin soup
1 pumpkin ( this one was 10p in the reduced bin!) chunked
1 red, green and yellow pepper
1 bulb garlic
1 tin reduced fat coconut milk
Salt
Moroccan spice mix
Chilli flakes
Water
Roast the pumpkin, peppers, garlic in a splash of oil, or garlic fry light until they are soft and smell a amazing, scoop out minus seeds into a pan, the garlic should just pop out of its skin like a purée. Add seasoning coconut milk, and liquidise, return to the pan and add water until it's the thickness you want, add chilli to taste and I add a splash of maple syrup as it brings out the pumpkin taste.
Serve with toasted brown pittas and a nice hairy man!
I love to eat. I love to cook and therefore I owe it to my joints to exercise! Last night everyone had eaten in my house and they were revising, dressing up as donkeys, watching horror films and listening to Shostakovich ( cats included)! So I thought I might pop along to Aquafit just for fun!
As I left the house I could see my breath in the air, all the cars were getting iced up like a row of Magnums and my spirit wanted to be wearing snugly socks on the sofa quaffing Shabernet Cauvignon ( you only pronounce it like that when you've drunk quite a lot of it to be fair!)
But my Mind and body were drawing me on to the glamorous pebble dashed heights of Kendal leisure centre.
I couldn't find my miracle swimsuit, that frankly must be made out of Freddy Mercurys old spandex, it's so sucky inny , if such a word exists. No I only managed to find my granny unsupportive , please don't let there be a handsome lifeguard one.
As I adjusted the straps to my horror I discovered my armpits were a tad Mediterranean looking and my legs had seemed to have a covering of Winter fur that was just plain embarrassing. To add insult to furry injury I was early and had to endure the 5 second waddle to sit on the side whilst some men from Atlantis types finished off their triathlon training! The spectator gallery was rammed with yummy Mummys ( no doubt plucked and waxed) who all seemed to be smiling sympathetically at this hairy little Hobbit Surrounded by those day glo giant wot sits otherwise known as woggles.
Once in the pool I swam to the deepest part and joined in with all the exercises keen not to flash off my hairy bits , as Megan the beautiful instructor kept encouraging us to do coffee grind armography whilst "it's raining men" boomed out in the background.
I was like Chewbacca in at the deep end but no one really cared and I had such a laugh riding on one of those woggles. What anyone else thinks of me is none of my business and today at Slimming World the scales registered a loss, so that's fantastic.
When I got home I had a bath and stole Mattys razor, he's not bothered,he loves his hairy Clarey as long as I feed him.
So Han Solo and I shared this soup on the sofa by the fire...yum!
Roasted pepper and pumpkin soup
1 pumpkin ( this one was 10p in the reduced bin!) chunked
1 red, green and yellow pepper
1 bulb garlic
1 tin reduced fat coconut milk
Salt
Moroccan spice mix
Chilli flakes
Water
Roast the pumpkin, peppers, garlic in a splash of oil, or garlic fry light until they are soft and smell a amazing, scoop out minus seeds into a pan, the garlic should just pop out of its skin like a purée. Add seasoning coconut milk, and liquidise, return to the pan and add water until it's the thickness you want, add chilli to taste and I add a splash of maple syrup as it brings out the pumpkin taste.
Serve with toasted brown pittas and a nice hairy man!
Little gems for little Jem
Nearly 16 years ago I became a Mum. The first time I got twins. Before they arrived I hadn't even picked up a real live baby let alone deliver two seven pound babes and then take them home and attempt to care for them!
The first few months was a blur of feeding, bathing and a washing line of a million babygrows flapping in the wind. It was love at first sight and they took up all my time and love. So many happynappy days followed and having won the fertility lottery with a boy and girl I never thought I might venture to have another baby. Let's face it I was stretched to my limits, living in the lakes with no back up and a four year old wrecking team to deal with. When they were born the midwife who was very wise said the love you find you have for your children is not like a pie that you cut in two , they get a whole pie of love each.
So when I rang my Mum with some "special news" and she said "for Gods sake don't tell me you're pregnant!" I didn't bite her head off because I knew I was still her baby who she was worried about . I also knew there'd be another piefull of love for the next baby.
From the moment Jemima arrived on the way to my brother's wedding she has been a joy to know and the pie of Love she serves up is nothing short of dreamy. She really is a little Jem! Funnily enough she is our foodie one. She likes chicken livers, mackerel pate, sherry and rib eye steaks! She dreams about pork fillet in cream sauce and tonight requested spicy pork little gem parcels for dinner.
The child's a diamond - how could I say no...
Spicy pork little gem parcels for little Jem
500g pork mince (5%fat)
2 red chillies
1 bunch coriander
Juice of 2 limes
Fish sauce
Soya sauce
Fry light
4 cloves garlic crushed
1 tbs crunchy peanut butter
1 bunch spring onions sliced
Little gem lettuce leaves
Fry the pork in fry light adding garlic and minced chilli until browned and cooked through then add the finely sliced onions, lime juice , splash of soya sauce and fish sauce. Stir in the peanut butter and chopped coriander. The mixture is quite dry but delicious. Spoon into little gem lettuce leaves and eat with some hungry offspring and a cold beer for Mummy!
Nearly 16 years ago I became a Mum. The first time I got twins. Before they arrived I hadn't even picked up a real live baby let alone deliver two seven pound babes and then take them home and attempt to care for them!
The first few months was a blur of feeding, bathing and a washing line of a million babygrows flapping in the wind. It was love at first sight and they took up all my time and love. So many happynappy days followed and having won the fertility lottery with a boy and girl I never thought I might venture to have another baby. Let's face it I was stretched to my limits, living in the lakes with no back up and a four year old wrecking team to deal with. When they were born the midwife who was very wise said the love you find you have for your children is not like a pie that you cut in two , they get a whole pie of love each.
So when I rang my Mum with some "special news" and she said "for Gods sake don't tell me you're pregnant!" I didn't bite her head off because I knew I was still her baby who she was worried about . I also knew there'd be another piefull of love for the next baby.
From the moment Jemima arrived on the way to my brother's wedding she has been a joy to know and the pie of Love she serves up is nothing short of dreamy. She really is a little Jem! Funnily enough she is our foodie one. She likes chicken livers, mackerel pate, sherry and rib eye steaks! She dreams about pork fillet in cream sauce and tonight requested spicy pork little gem parcels for dinner.
The child's a diamond - how could I say no...
Spicy pork little gem parcels for little Jem
500g pork mince (5%fat)
2 red chillies
1 bunch coriander
Juice of 2 limes
Fish sauce
Soya sauce
Fry light
4 cloves garlic crushed
1 tbs crunchy peanut butter
1 bunch spring onions sliced
Little gem lettuce leaves
Fry the pork in fry light adding garlic and minced chilli until browned and cooked through then add the finely sliced onions, lime juice , splash of soya sauce and fish sauce. Stir in the peanut butter and chopped coriander. The mixture is quite dry but delicious. Spoon into little gem lettuce leaves and eat with some hungry offspring and a cold beer for Mummy!
Friday, 11 November 2016
What`s for dinner Clarey?: Fudge C...
What`s for dinner Clarey?: Fudge C...: Fudge Clare When I was little Friday was sweetie day. I hated school, (which is amusing consi...
Fudge Clare
When I was little Friday was sweetie day. I hated school, (which is amusing considering I`ve been a teacher for 23 years!) My week was punctuated by Coronation Street on a Monday and a Wednesday, Top of the pops on Thursday and hallelujah a finger of fudge on a Friday! Happiness rests on such little things.
Nowadays little has changed, but I do love school now because my colleagues and the children are golden! I still punctuate my week with TV ,University challenge and The Apprentice and on Fridays I still have some fudge although slightly posher than a Cadburys.
Before I had my own children I always used to give other peoples kids fudge , so much so that a little girl Jasmine in Cornwall I knew used to call me "Fudge Clare", a title I am proud to still hold today!!!
Chocolate and pistachio Friday Fudge
2 big bars of plain choc (Bourneville is my fave)
1tbs salted butter
1 large tin of condensed milk
250g chopped salted pistachios
twist of seasalt
This recipe is deliciously easy! Melt the butter,chocolate and condensed milk over a low heat until smooth this will take 5-10 mins. stir in the nuts and pour into a baking tin, refrigerate until set, cut into small pieces and enjoy with glass of Prosecco . To all my Slimming World pals all I can say in my defence is it is Friday!! xxx
When I was little Friday was sweetie day. I hated school, (which is amusing considering I`ve been a teacher for 23 years!) My week was punctuated by Coronation Street on a Monday and a Wednesday, Top of the pops on Thursday and hallelujah a finger of fudge on a Friday! Happiness rests on such little things.
Nowadays little has changed, but I do love school now because my colleagues and the children are golden! I still punctuate my week with TV ,University challenge and The Apprentice and on Fridays I still have some fudge although slightly posher than a Cadburys.
Before I had my own children I always used to give other peoples kids fudge , so much so that a little girl Jasmine in Cornwall I knew used to call me "Fudge Clare", a title I am proud to still hold today!!!
Chocolate and pistachio Friday Fudge
2 big bars of plain choc (Bourneville is my fave)
1tbs salted butter
1 large tin of condensed milk
250g chopped salted pistachios
twist of seasalt
This recipe is deliciously easy! Melt the butter,chocolate and condensed milk over a low heat until smooth this will take 5-10 mins. stir in the nuts and pour into a baking tin, refrigerate until set, cut into small pieces and enjoy with glass of Prosecco . To all my Slimming World pals all I can say in my defence is it is Friday!! xxx
Wednesday, 9 November 2016
What`s for dinner Clarey?: A recipe for Love...I see no distinction between...
What`s for dinner Clarey?: A recipe for Love...
I see no distinction between...: A recipe for Love... I see no distinction between food and medicine. What you put in your body has the power to give you strength to make ...
I see no distinction between...: A recipe for Love... I see no distinction between food and medicine. What you put in your body has the power to give you strength to make ...
A recipe for Love...
I see no distinction between food and medicine. What you put in your body has the power to give you strength to make you healthy and fill you with energy and happiness. A bowl of homemade soup brimming with vitamins and restorative properties is certainly preferable to a pot noodle and a paracetamol! The difference is not just scientific and nutritional, if your meal has been prepared with love and consideration I think it tastes better and does you good.
My three favourite things in life are food, laughter and Love. My three favourite people in my life are my children, feeding them , caring for and loving them is my life's work.
The other night on our way home from the fireworks they were in high spirits and someone swore in the back. I'm no angel but thought I should admonish them for any rude words and asked them to show a bit more grace and manners especially in front of my youngest.
The conversation then turned to dinner, feeling guilty for speaking harshly to them I said they could have anything they wanted.
Twin 1 pipes up "COCKaleekie soup!" Followed by Twin 2 with COQ au vin!" Seeing my annoyance I felt sure the baby of the trio wouldn't and quite frankly couldn't come up with a rude dessert!
"spotted DICK!" She giggled.
Scratch food being the best medicine, it most definitely is Laughter! We laughed all the way home...
Cock a leekie soup
1 cooked chicken carcass
4 medium leeks washed and sliced
4 celery sticks sliced
2 onions sliced
1 small bunch of fresh thyme
Sea salt, black pepper
Sherry
Brown sugar
4 fat cloves of garlic crushed
Strip the chicken off the bones you'll need approx 250g for later, put everything else into a heavy based pan and add about 2 litres of water, simmer for an hour. Remove the bones, add a slug of sherry and a tbs of sugar and the cooked chicken to the pan and heat through. Serve in warmed bowls with a sprinkling of chopped flat leaf parsley, salt and pepper and some warm brown bread and butter.
Enough love in a bowl to silence the cheekiest child and a great way to ward of colds. Chicken soup is known as Jewish penicillin for good reason, it actually can help to reduce temperatures. So I was right, food is medicine- Hooray eat up!
I see no distinction between food and medicine. What you put in your body has the power to give you strength to make you healthy and fill you with energy and happiness. A bowl of homemade soup brimming with vitamins and restorative properties is certainly preferable to a pot noodle and a paracetamol! The difference is not just scientific and nutritional, if your meal has been prepared with love and consideration I think it tastes better and does you good.
My three favourite things in life are food, laughter and Love. My three favourite people in my life are my children, feeding them , caring for and loving them is my life's work.
The other night on our way home from the fireworks they were in high spirits and someone swore in the back. I'm no angel but thought I should admonish them for any rude words and asked them to show a bit more grace and manners especially in front of my youngest.
The conversation then turned to dinner, feeling guilty for speaking harshly to them I said they could have anything they wanted.
Twin 1 pipes up "COCKaleekie soup!" Followed by Twin 2 with COQ au vin!" Seeing my annoyance I felt sure the baby of the trio wouldn't and quite frankly couldn't come up with a rude dessert!
"spotted DICK!" She giggled.
Scratch food being the best medicine, it most definitely is Laughter! We laughed all the way home...
Cock a leekie soup
1 cooked chicken carcass
4 medium leeks washed and sliced
4 celery sticks sliced
2 onions sliced
1 small bunch of fresh thyme
Sea salt, black pepper
Sherry
Brown sugar
4 fat cloves of garlic crushed
Strip the chicken off the bones you'll need approx 250g for later, put everything else into a heavy based pan and add about 2 litres of water, simmer for an hour. Remove the bones, add a slug of sherry and a tbs of sugar and the cooked chicken to the pan and heat through. Serve in warmed bowls with a sprinkling of chopped flat leaf parsley, salt and pepper and some warm brown bread and butter.
Enough love in a bowl to silence the cheekiest child and a great way to ward of colds. Chicken soup is known as Jewish penicillin for good reason, it actually can help to reduce temperatures. So I was right, food is medicine- Hooray eat up!
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