38 years young....

Yesterday morning I turned 38, ~clinging on to those 30's now~ I was woken to the sound of my gorgeous little daughter singing happy birthday, and jumping on my bed, handing me my birthday cards.I had a lovely day, didn't do any thing special, as husband is taking me up to London on Wednesday for a lovely lunch, and then on to see Wicked,  am really looking foward to that!



Blossom lights



Funky chilli lights

Presents recieved~ Red cherry blossom lights, and perfume bought by me (as husband is crap at buying me presents (usually a kitchen gadget)  Nigella~ kitchen book and chocolates from mum, red chilli pepper lights, from nan.These all look so fab in my kitchen, which is starting to resemble a grotto!  Also gratefully recieved,  a decent red wine from elder brother, and  Hugh Fearnley- Whittinstall book River cottage everyday book from younger brother, I feel truly honoured as neither usually remember, let alone buy me pressies!

Named sieve

My eldest son got me zilch, as claims he has no money as he is jobless, well that's his excuse ( he never saves, spends as soon as its in his hand) younger gave me his gifts on Sunday afternoon, as was going back to his dads, and wouldn't be seeing me on my actual birthday.As we say goodbye he opened the  boot of car, and hands me a sieve, yes a sieve, with price tag attached. He must have spent 2 hrs in TK Max on Saturday looking for a mum appropiate present, when I asked why he bought me it, he said 'well your old one hasn't got a handle has it?'  To which I replied 'yes but it still functions!'  he then said 'well I did get you something else, but its in my drawer in our room,' I asked 'why?' and he said 'beacuse I stood on it, and broke it, have a look when you get home'.

Once I got home,  I recovered a  beautiful glass blue flower with a broken stem, from sons drawer, it's not something I would have chosen myself, but it is nonetheless lovely, so he did put some thought into it after all! The stem was far too long anyway, but the main part was still intact so I have popped it in a pot next to my cactus, in front of my window so I can look at it when im washing up.







Blue flower

So after a nice lunch with mum and brothers, the biggest suprise ever, doorbell rings, my Christmas tree turned up! YAY! I was so pleased, as I always put my tree up in time for my birthday, so mum and I set it all up, and little one helped decorate it whilst listening to Carols.

I am really pleased with the tree, as have always had a real one, and was dubious about ordering a fake one online, as they never look like they do in the the pictures, but it actually looks better in real life, its hard to tell its a fake, it has a very natural shape, so hurrah, No needles and limp tree this year! It is rather large though, takes over my lounge, that's ok, I will move to a bigger house to accomadate it!

Had a scrummy lunch of melty cheese and bacon ciabattas and homemade chunky coleslaw,and as no one else was going to make me a cake, I made a pavlova, always a fave.

Pav

Finished the day with a few glasses of wine supplied by friends K and P;) with hubby, in candlelight, adoring my tree.

Friday night Curry feast!

I LOVE CURRY!!

As you can tell, I am mad about the stuff, I crave it all the time, I can't go a week without having one, hence my expanding waistline....

 I was very virtuous back in  May, in preperation for my wedding. I planned my wedding over two years, but bought a dress that was 4 sizes too small for me , determined not to be a fat bride!  but never lost an ounce in those two years, because of my love of food, and aversion to excersise.With only 8 weeks to go, my dress was no where near to fitting , I needed to lose at least 2 stone, so enthusiasically embarked upon a liqiuid only diet, it was just 3 shakes a day, amounting to a mere 400 calories a day, starvation level bascically... with litres of water, well I did it, I lost 2 stone in 5 weeks, it was painful... very painful, but I still carried on baking for my children, and cooking lovely home cooked meals, I just used to take in the smell...,

 However, I still gained sooo much pleasure from baking, during those long weeks ,I just love doing it, and my children  love eating it, they  go to the cake tin when they return home from school, what surpise awaits in there today? There were 3 different cakes on Tuesday to choose from, my eldest son said " you have too much time on your hands"!  bloody cheek! I could spend my very little spare time catching up with my oil painting, but I am addicted to baking! If there is no cake in the house which is a rarity these days, they soon complain,  NO CAKE!! , what have you been doing all day   I'm not mad keen on the sweet stuff myself, i'm more of a savoury gal, cheese, and bread is a major downfall, and spicy stuff, and wine! good job too or I would be twice the size...although I am partial to chocolate brownies, and chocolate in any form in small doses;)

All in all ,I have been  a very busy bee in the kitchen this week, I made my first batch of vegetable soup, great to have in freezer, when you want a quick and easy meal.  Always making Fruitcake, hubby's fave, banana cake( because I always have bananas that are going off, and can't throw food away)they are staples in this house , delicious chocolate brownies, they went down a treat! Recipe from fellow blogger:) Big batch of  Chutney yesterday,  and all these curries, which have taken about three days in all, as I make a base gravy, one day, which I use in all my curries ( they do this in restaurants), it's what gives it its really authentic taste, I will blog this recipe another day, or if requested, then marinating of  meats, then pre cooking stages, gives the meat more flavour, then final day today of cooking it all last stages, with Pilau rice and  Onion bajhees. My house is going to smell nice for days...

What has been even more wonderful about cooking all of this stuff, is that I have had peace and quiet to do so, as my little daughter started nursery at the school she will be going to, full time next September, so I have 5 mornings a week (9-12) FREE!!, it is bliss I can tell you! Even though its a little sad she 's growing up so fast...

Anyway, the reason i'm blogging this, is that it's going to be my last feast of curry for a while, as I am endeavouring yet again to get in shape, in time for Xmas, as have gained all the weight I lost back in May.

I must try and walk more too, it's about the only form of excersise I can bear, aside from swimming which I love! I am very lazy!

Anyway hope these pics get you drooling! I am going to  really enjoy this tonight, knowing that I cooked it all myself, followed by a  few glasses of white wine, nice  music, and chat, with my lovely hubby. Perfect start to the weekend :)                                           


                                     


Beef Madras



Tandoori Chicken and Onion Bajhees




Bombay Aloo

 

                                





Pilau Rice

Chicken Korma



Have a lovely weekend all! Thanks for looking at my blog!