We are all jolly well going to smack the rat this month and grow a baby and we'll brook no argument. And probably eat some cake too.

Fear of chickpeas? Wow, what a shame. I love them and many of our favourite meals contain them. There's a tomato and chickpea salad in Jamie's dinners which is particularly yummy, I really recommend it.

Tamarind paste? Ooh, that's a good idea Solars. What's your recipe?

Just wanted to say that there's no need to blend the sauce in my recipe. Too much faff and makes no difference!

Well done Scrambled I also add a bit of tamarind paste in my chana masala. Sounds like your DH definitely deserves the Bartlet award!

I am definitely going to try that, smegs. DH has a fear of chickpeas (he was very ill after eating them - but not because of, I hasten to add - whilst in India as a teen, and has never gotten over it) but as I often eat on my own with his shifts I'll be able to slot it in no problem :o

I definitely vote that he should get an honorary bartlett award!

Yeeeeeeeesssss!!!

Chana Masala.

Bugger.

[[http://www.thewednesdaychef.com/the_wednesday_chef/2009/03/heather-carluccirodriguezs-chana-punjabi.html Chana Masala].

Hullo preggos! Blimey, you've chatted loads! Love all the recipes - Popcorn if you like spicy food I've got a great recipe for Chana masala (chick pea curry). DH declared it the best curry he's ever eaten, and considering his office gets takeout from Veeraswamy (!) I think that's quite good . Will attempt a link on my phone soon...

I do quite like Nigel Slater. Yes, he's wooden, but I prefer it to Jamie's gurning. Loathe Nigella! My real foodie crush is Simon Hopkinson - he's a great writer and cook. Ooh, and Allegra McEvedy, she's great.

Great to hear everyone's popping! DH and I have been diligent these past few days, despite his tummy bug. He's been a trooper, bless him. Can men be recipient's of the Bartlet award?!

Imps - preggo! And everyone else too . bean I think my egg popped from the left. Ruddy strong pains though so I expect a super-charged ovum this month .

Munkii, are you ok? Haven't heard from you for a while.

Oh my goodness Bean I don't know how your friend kept that secret for so long, I struggled with keeping the surprise birthday party I was organising for DH really hard, so many times I almost said something and had to bite my lip and it was such a relief on the day of the party! By the way I'm not being that calm with the testing, if I hadn't agreed with DH about waiting 'til the end of the week I would have tested by now but also I think I'm holding off because I don't feel in anyway pg even though I have no idea how I should be feeling If I had any symptoms I would be testing by now but I have a feeling it's a bfn, so i'd rather af came first. If af does come then this cycle on clomid has been very odd indeed I'm so sorry this is really not in the no brooking spirit!

Impressive eh? She already had a DS then found out this one was a DD via clandestine ploy - so you'd have thought she'd be bursting to tell.

Was quite a crazy pg. She gave birth so quickly DP had to deliver the baby as not time to get midwife in. Unlike pg1 - she laboured for THREE days then had venteuse...

Oh the crazy world of birth, babies and burps.

Completely! I'm terrible at keeping secrets too biscuits!
I'm in for a battle, I reckon DH will want to wait but I'll want neeeeeeed to know!

Oh my goodness, there's literally no way I could keep a secret like that from DH! I'd crack before we got to the car!!

Well done for not peaking in 20-week scan btw Biscuits. Don't be tempted... I had one friend who pretended to get dressed slowly after pg2 midterm scan and sent OH out then got a peak, AND kept the info under her belt throughout rest of pregnancy til birth.

The Wire goes well with wine or boobjuice though I know which I'd prefer Ninja - good call.

Hhhm - The Mentalist was knocking around on my list of 'better take a peak'; you have nudged. Along with 'Treme. Currently bumbling along with The Jury though not bowled over. Most exciting of all is new series of The Killing - end of the month methinks?

And there's always Abney & Teal...

That might have been me, biscuits. Though I dont like the show, per say, rather I like the mentalist himself because he is hubba hubba wolfwhistle hot

But I have never seen The Wire!

bean I'm glad I'm not the only one who has had mammoth sessions watching The Wire. Not that I was bf, more wine drinking at the time

20 week scan is not until Friday, but we're planning on holding out for a surprise.

Oooh oooh oooh!! Do I recall that there were one or two Mentalist fans on this thread? Did you know Season 4 starts on Thursday evening at 10pm? I am tres tres excited by this news. We are currently watching Season 3 with 5 episodes to go - the timing couldn't be better

Mahoosive - just picture aforementioned v large egglets settling nicely in that lovely woomble lining you've been working up over the last couple of weeks, kicking off their eggy shoes and lighting a cheroot, switching on a bit of Nigel Slater on the telly

Bless DS Biscuits. Nice to see the genes have been evenly spread though. Did you find out girl/boy for bump or are you holding out for a big fat surprise?

bean, you're 100% right - we're clearly laying mahoosive eggs that will be sperminated quickly and efficiently over the coming 7 days

Oooh yes, let me at 'em Bean!

Although actually my aim when throwing is awful, but I'll have many goes - one of them is bound to hit! DS and I were throwing a sock to each other this morning (playing football according to him ) and I did have to comment that while he could catch like his Daddy (ie quite well) but threw like his Mummy (ie in the opposite direction to where I was....)

Hi Popcorn - I think you are definitely popping a whopper of an egg and so are undoubtedly on a path to - and no brooking - a BFP.

My jugs hurt a bit too, and there's definitely something going on down below suggesting a right-hander egg, not the left. Apparently this is my strong side according to trad chinese medicine. So there we are then. You and I will be having twins.

Oh and I've been feeling mental this month (don't even ask DP how things have been) which can only mean lots of v useful if disconcerting hormones at work...

I am v confident of Biscuits' wisdom. And would like to set her on my GP practice. I'm sure she'd have a good aim and a bit of welly when it comes to throwing the rulebook at them, bump or no bump.

xxx

That would be because you're updiffed Popcorn

And you Imps

And you Solars

And the rest of you

My boobs hurt :(