Mummy Has Been Busy! - 97/366

JC has had me up since 5am with his teeth bothering him (back teeth, ouchy). The upside is that I've had time to cook the next three nights dinners (Beef Stew, Bolognese and Chicken & Tarragon Pie).

I've also put together some chocolate nests with JC (mostly me). Thanks to Laura from Yummy Mummy Flabby Tummy for giving me this idea!

Truly Scrumptious!

Master Chef - 75/366

He stopped for a snack mid bake. We were making truffles for his Grans for their Mothers Day gift. He can't be in the kitchen and not be eating though so I gave him a banana to keep him going. I just love this photo! Yes - that is icing sugar in his hair. He decided to pour it on his head rather than in the bowl!

Mum Tums at the Ready

Just Kidding! 

My Guru, Liska, has started off the New Year with a new found enthusiasm for losing the weight and feeling great. She has inspired me to make a start.

I am not on a diet.

I am not starting a regime.

 If I do I know I will fail and end up here but heavier next year.

Instead, I have joined my local gym which offers loads of classes and I am going to go to the ones that I really enjoy, when I have time and because I actually want to go.  I have also started eating for health. I have planned menus which are based around foods I enjoy. I am practically eating my way through the My Daddy Cooks book by Nick Coffer. I love this book and most of the recipes are healthy and wholesome dishes. It's a fab book, buy it if you are looking for inspiration.

I am not counting syns or points or cheques because as soon as I do I end up feeling deprived and starving which leads to me binging on junk.

I am however, cutting out chocolate. More from a health perspective than a weight perspective. It makes me feel like crap when I eat it. Why am I continually treating my body like a bin?

I will be trying to lose weight, eventually, but I know that before I can start to concentrate on weight loss I need to make eating well 80% of the time and moving my arse 80% of the time, my goal. If I can incorporate these two things into my life, then the weight loss will be a side effect - hopefully.

What I do know is I don't want is to be sitting here typing this next year, fatter and more miserable. I am sick of thinking about it.

Link up with Liska if you want some motivation and support or just have a read so you know your not alone in fighting the flab!

Fun Pod - 5/366

Choccie Biccie Cake

There wasn't much left of this batch
to photograph!

It was our annual family get-to-gether with the in-laws yesterday and I had been baking for the occasion. I baked some shortbread and chocolate biscuit cake, both of which went down well. I can't take the credit for the recipes as I am very much a recipe follower and not a recipe writer!

Both recipes are really easy but I thought I'd share the biscuit cake. Some would call this Tiffin Cake but I omit the raisins so it's more of a biscuit cake than a traditional Tiffin. I was given this recipe by my Step Dad but I believe is was originally his Mum's recipe, who is a very good baker indeed. It takes less than 5 mins to prepare and requires no actual cooking so is great for baking with the kids.

Here's what you need . . .

Ingredients
200g of unsalted butter, diced
250g (approx) crushed digestive biscuits
100g brown sugar (or muscavado)
3 tablespoons of Golden Syrup
2 tablespoons of cocoa powder
1 large bar of chocolate (I use Galaxy but just use whatever kind you prefer)
Optional: you can add dried fruit (100g) if you wish

Here's How . . .

• Crush the digestives by putting them in a sandwich bag and crushing them with your hands or rolling pin.
• Add the crushed biscuits, sugar, butter, Golden Syrup and cocoa powder to a large mixing bowl. 
• Using a spoon or I actually prefer my using my hands, mix all the ingredients together until the form together and the sugar and butter are creamed. You should be able to roll the mixture into a large ball. 
• Melt the bar of chocolate. You can do this in the microwave but I prefer to melt in on the hob by putting it in a glass bowl which I place on top of a pot of simmering water.
• Spoon your Tiffin mixture into a square baking tin (about 23cm) and flatten it down with a spoon.
• Pour over the melted chocolate and smooth over to cover the Tiffin. 
• Place the tin in fridge, preferably over night but for at least 4 hours to allow the mixture to set. 
• Using a sharp knife, cut into squares, as big or as little as you like!

Variations: Sometimes I use the Tiffin mixture and roll it into little truffle sized balls. I cover them in vermicelli and let them set in the fridge. These are to die for!

Enjoy :-) 

New Recipe Blog

I was planning on adding some recipes that I love to cook on this blog but I like to keep my thoughts compartmentalised! So if you are interested in meals to cook for the family and would like some inspiration then please follow my brand spanking new blog - Mealtimes with the McLeans

I will be adding family meal recipes as well as home baking recipes. I am no super chef! In fact, until a few years ago, I had never cooked anything that didn't come out of a jar! I found that the best way to learn was to share ideas and recipes with my friends and family. I now have a good repertoire of meals and my baking is really improving, if I do say so myself! The best thing is that I am really enjoying cooking and eating well.

There is a contact page on the recipe blog and I would love for you to contact me with any recipes that you love that I can try out and add on my blog. I will of course give you credit and a link back to your blog (if you have one).

Happy Cooking!