Get Your Kids to Eat Anything - Book Review

Get Your Kids to Eat Anything - Book Review (AD)

When Emily Leary asked for fellow bloggers to review her book Get Your Kids to Eat Anything, I applied straight away.

10 Tips on Baby Led Weaning For Absolute Beginners

10 Tips on Baby Led Weaning For Absolute Beginners

I'm not an expert, I'm just a grandmother trying to do the best I can when looking after my grandson. His parents wanted to do baby led weaning (BLW) with Bear, but ended up doing a mixture of BLW and traditional weaning (purees) this time they were determined to go the whole way. When Bee's mummy went back to work he was nine months old. He was already a long way down the BLW route and I had to learn quickly what to do.

Get Creative at Easter with the Disney Store

Get Creative at Easter with the Disney Store

The Disney Store sent* us a surprise box for Easter. Bear and I were so excited! What would it contain? Chocolate eggs maybe? Or something different? Bear loved opening the box, and in between oohs and ahhs and cuddles asking "What's this?" "What's it for?" and the usual "Why?".

Easter means different things to different people. For some it's a religious time, all about the original meaning of the holiday. Going to church and celebrating the miracle of Easter.
For others, like us, it is about eggs (of course), family having time together and getting creative.

In the UK it also often marks the change from winter weather to warmer sunnier spring weather (I live in hope with all fingers crossed). Daffodils and baby animals feature heavily, especially rabbits and chicks! A new beginning.

So what did we get in the box?

Whats in the box?

Is It Bad Parenting To Serve Junk Food?

Is It Bad Parenting To Serve Junk Food?

I never asked this question when my children were little. We just fed them. We fed them junk food and nutritious, healthy, homemade food. They both had healthy appetites and ate whatever we served, well almost. I say almost because we both worked full time it was easier to cook what the children liked. They liked homemade food, cooked from scratch and they liked junk food too. 

We rarely had fast food, like McDonalds, as neither Mr P or I actually liked them. They were kept as a treat for the children. They had school dinners (I'm sure they had the notorious turkey twizzlers) and on Fridays we would have a takeaway curry and the children would have pizzas, or fish fingers, or burgers. Whatever their favourite was at the time. We had a chocolate drawer.

A Dozen Fun facts About Bread

A Dozen Fun facts About Bread

It's day 11 of #Blogtober17 and the theme today is Kitchens. I did look for facts about kitchens but they were very dull so I thought I'd give you some fun facts about bread instead.

The Cheese Tag

The Cheese Tag

The lovely (and slightly crazy but in a warm, and very funny sort of way) Mrs Helicopter has tagged me in The Cheese Tag. Jess is a turophile. I love cheese so couldn't say no.
Jess asked me some questions, I put the answers here and then tag some other cheese lovers to answer them on their blog. Easy Peasy.

So here goes;

Slimming World Weigh-In #24 - A New Beginning

Slimming World Weigh In #24 - A New Beginning 

I knew I had been off plan for a month but when I looked back I have actually been off Slimming World for over two months! Wow, I really didn't think it was that long. I wrote a post about losing two stone but not losing four dress sizes. Looking back I can see how fed up I was. I was losing weight but not actually seeing a difference, even though photos told a different story.

Summer Afternoon Tea at The Celtic Manor

Summer Afternoon Tea at The Celtic Manor

I love afternoon tea so was really pleased to be invited* to The Celtic Manor for Summer Afternoon Tea with Jo from First Time Valley Mam and Julie from Picking Up Toys.
We were taken into the beautiful Olive Tree Garden Room and once seated offered a glass of Prosecco. How could I refuse? Jo had kindly given me a lift and Julie was also driving, so whilst Jorge, our waiter, opened a fresh bottle at the table and poured me a glass they looked on wistfully.

Number 10, Cardiff Pre-Theatre Supper - A Review

Number 10, Cardiff Pre-Theatre Supper - A Review

We were invited* to review the Pre-Theatre Supper menu at No.10 Cardiff. No.10 Cardiff is a luxury boutique hotel on Cathedral Road and backs onto Sophia Gardens. We were going to The Cardiff Open Air Theatre Festival to see The Vicar Of Dibley and this is the ideal location.

No.10, Cardiff is very close to the City Centre and literally a minutes walk from the venue and so our meal was relaxed without the usual clock watching.

The restaurant has a set evening menu throughout the year and service starts at 5pm so is convenient for events at other venues throughout Cardiff City Centre.

An Open Letter to Major Supermarkets - Why Is Your Fruit So Awful?

An Open Letter to Major Supermarkets - Why Is Your Fruit So Awful?

Dear Major Supermarkets,

I am fed up trying to buy fruit that is edible. The government tells me I need five portions of fruit or vegetables a day. For me this would be easy. For my grandson, this would be easy. We both love fruit and veg. If only I could buy some. Why is your fruit so awful?

Slimming World Weigh In #23 with 7 day meal plan

Slimming World Weigh In #23 with 7 day meal plan

So I am back on the plan except, there's always an except, that on Friday I had a little celebration with some neighbours. It involved lots of Prosecco.
Food wise I have been good, no sneaky choices or uncounted Syns. It's been tough but I am so determined to get to my target weight. With the weather being warm salads appear more and pea shoots are back in the shops which add another flavour.

Slimming World Weigh In #22 - with 7 day meal plan

Slimming World Weigh In #22

To be honest when I started Slimming World I though I would lose a pound a week. That would make me reach my target after 42 weeks, on 24th October. At my last post, week 21 I had lost 22.5 pounds, well on schedule even after my couple of weeks naughtiness. 

To encourage me to stay on plan I am now going to include my target date in each post. I'm hoping it will drive me to work harder to get there sooner. Well that's my theory.  I am back on plan and without further pre-amble, how did I do?

8 Reasons Why You Should Be Meal Planning

8 Reasons Why You Should Be Meal Planning 

I only started meal planning when my husband had a hip operation. He was our chef and did all the shopping so I had no idea what to buy or cook. I was very stressed about it all as I do not drive so couldn't just pop out for something I needed for a recipe. I needed to know exactly what to buy and what to cook. It was the best thing I have done. No more wasted food, no more stress over what to eat.

Slimming World Weigh In #18

Slimming World Weigh In #18

I have been very busy this week, lots of walking and running after my grandson so I should have lost weight. Except (there's always an except isn't there?) I have had a sneaky biscuit, chocolate coin and lots of wine. I even had butter on my bacon sandwich. I say sneaky because I haven't counted the Syns. I've just thought "oh one won't hurt" or "I deserve a treat". This, I know, must stop or I will be back to eating as I used to, and that means putting on weight.

The Perfect Slimming World Baked Potato With Spring Onion and Cheese - Recipe

The Perfect Slimming World Baked Potato With Spring Onion and Cheese - Recipe

To make the perfect Slimming World Baked Potato is not difficult. Just buy large potatoes, floury not waxy potatoes, and bake. What could be easier? To make it fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside you need to add a little more. Although it is possible to cook potatoes in the microwave I find they shrink and go rubbery if over cooked just a little. For the best baked potato cook it in the oven.

Slimming World Weigh In #17

Slimming World Weigh In #17

This is the second week of doing all the cooking and meal planning as Mr P is recuperating. After my big loss last week (3.5lbs) I have high hopes for this week. Well I would if I hadn't been a little bit naughty. It was my wedding anniversary and as we couldn't go out we had a takeaway delivered. Before I started Slimming World I would have a Chicken Biryani but this time I chose Tandoori Chicken. I was very good and scraped off the sauce and had it with the salad the restaurant provided. I think I may be one of the few people that have actually eaten all the takeaway salad! Naughtily they added a few popadoms for free, and I couldn't resist so ate a quarter of one.

I also had a chocolate biscuit, a couple of chocolate coins (I found them in the cupboard and I have no resistance once I've already broken the rules) and a packet of Pom Bear crisps. All of these are totally OK if the Syns are counted, but I didn't count I just ate.

Slimming World Weigh In #16

Slimming World Weigh In #16

It's been an unusual week as this is the first week where I have done all the cooking and shopping. I have also made all the decisions on what we eat. Because my husband is recovering I have been doing everything. I have been shopping which means walking more and on top of all the household chores I have been tending the garden. I mowed the lawn today, the first time in years. In fact Mr P had to tell me how to use the lawn mower as I had never used this one. I have cut down on the gin's too as he isn't drinking at all so I don't enjoy drinking alone. This has cut my Syns so I could use them on something else. 

I have had a couple of meals that were not Syn free. Bear visited on Saturday and we had chip shop fish and chips. I just had the fish with mushy peas. I did remove the batter though! I also had a Scotch egg from the deli counter at Waitrose. I ate it before I checked the Syns and it was a scary 16 Syns. Oops! I must check first.

Slimming World Garlic Chicken with Spicy Cumin Vegetables Recipe

Slimming World Garlic Chicken with Spicy Cumin Vegetables 

Before I started Slimming World I loved to cook recipes from Madhur Jaffrey's cookery book from her 1980s TV series. The recipes involve lots of spices and oil to fry them in. I thought I'd try adapting one of my favourite recipes, Spicy Cumin Vegetables and have Garlic Chicken to go with it. This is not a quick meal but it is easy. The chicken needs to be marinated for at least 6 hours so can be prepared the day before.

Slimming World Weigh In #15

Slimming World Weigh In #15

It's been a bit topsy-turvy this week. My husband had a hip replacement on Wednesday and he does all the shopping and cooking, so I was thrown in to prepare my own meals. What with looking after a toddler and visiting until late in the evening I went slightly off plan. Not too bad but then there was Easter. I stupidly bought myself a white chocolate sheep from Lidl. I just love white chocolate and it was my treat for all the hard work I was doing. 

Slimming World Weigh In #14

Slimming World Weigh In #14

I have been good with drinking water but exercise has taken a back seat (or couch potato to be honest). I am full of good intentions but just haven't got my head around it. Like all things it has to come from inside, and it will, I just don't know when.