LONG TIME NO BLOG!

It's such a long time since I posted anything here but life just got in the way.

First it was all the fruit and veg in the garden and I started jam making etc.
 

Then we had our holidays.
Then we had Messy Church to organise.

Then we had another holiday and came back with our granddaughter, who stayed for 6 months whilst she attended Bradford college.
And then our daughter decided she was getting married.....with a couple of months notice.

Then we took the granddaughter back and had a few days in France.

And so on............till  3 weeks ago when Mum was taken ill.  I spent 5 days at the hospital and then they arranged for her to go home to Springfield, where she died later in the day.  So then there was/is all the stuff that comes after a death. 

So here's to a new start.......we need to lose a bit of weight and so we, hubby and I, are going to have a go at the 5:2 diet.  The science seems to make sense, with the 2 fast days triggering the body's repair mechanisms, which results in weight loss and improved health.  I've tried cutting down generally....I always get up from meal still a bit hungry....that's deliberate........but I still don't lose weight.  SO........... let's hope that this will work. 

Today we weigh ourselves and set a target weight loss.  We're also going to measure our waists...apparently your waist should only be half your height and mine's a bit too big!  Of course, I'm the shape my Mum was at this age but that's no help is it?  She didn't lose weight till she was really, really old.....80 +....... so I need to do something now.

So, weight 64kgs
      waist   39 inches.............and I'm only 4ft 111/2 inches so something has to go!

Tomorrow is our first fast day....500 calories for me, 600 for hubby .... homemade soup and no bread at lunchtime and if we skip breakfast we'll be almost there.... if we can not snack this evening and have no alcohol then the fast will actually have started after this evening's meal so it shouldn't be so bad.

Easy Biscuits

Easy Biscuits

Ingredients

8oz flour, self raising is best (gluten free if necessary)

+ pinch of salt (it brings out the flavours)

5oz butter or margarine (soya margarine if it's for vegans)

beaten egg or milk to mix (soya milk, rice milk if for vegans)

4oz sugar, castor or granulated

Sifted icing sugar and halved glace cherries to decorate or glace icing and chocolate sprinkles or hundreds and thousands.

Method

Rub the butter or margarine into the dry ingredients.

Mix to a stiff dough with the milk/egg.

Wrap in cling film and leave in the fridge for 1/2 an hour or so. (this is not essential but it helps!)

Knead on a floured board and roll out to about 1/2 inch thickness and cut circles with a pastry cutter. Place on a buttered baking tray and prick with a fork.

Bake gas 4/ 350F/ 180C for 12 minutes or so until they are pale golden and leave for 10 minutes as the biscuits are fragile when very hot.

Put onto a baking tray and sift icing sugar on the biscuits whilst they are still warm. Pop on a half glace cherry whilst still warm.

or

use glace icing to decorate, with or without sprinkles on top.

This is a nice easy recipe to use with children.

A great site for really delicious recipes and good ideas visit:

http://www.bakerella.com/mix-things-up/

RECIPES EASY RISOTTO

It occurs to me that anyone finding this blog will expect recipes so here we go.

 EASY RISOTTO

This is an easy, cheap recipe, suitable for vegans.

1   Heat a couple of tablespoons of oil in a biggish pan (the best oil you can afford, olive oil if possible) and add a couple of handfuls of rice per person.  Let the rice get brown but avoid it burning.  (It's not a disaster if it does burn a bit.)

2  Add a chopped onion and stir so it gets brown.

3  Now add a can of tomatoes, any sort.  It may spit! so be careful.  Add dried thyme or mixed herbs.

4  Add enough boiling water just to cover the rice.

5  Lid on, heat down, simmer to absorb the liquid.

6  Check after 10 minutes.  If the liquid is all absorbed add a little more.  Lid on.  Simmer a little longer.

7   Keep checking and adding more liquid as necessary until the rice is cooked.  The finished dish should not be too dry.

VARIATIONS

Loads of variations are possible.  Here are some:

use cider or white wine as some or all of the liquid

add chopped peppers, finely chopped celery at stage 3 or diced courgette,

add chopped mushrooms or cooked sweet corn at stage 6 

serve with grated cheese on top   

You will think of many more.