Babysteps towards all of BlackCat's chocolate (when she isn't looking!)

[carrotsandcelery]

Dd's hair is very very long and very very thick - normally this is a blessing but today... bleurgh, bleurgh!

The chemist assured me that the lotions are not as vile as they used to be. It didn't smell horrid or anything and actually, her hair looks fantastic now

I still have the heebie jeebies though. Poor kid.

I will wash bedclothes - it needs done anyway, and all of ours as we get treated too. What a faff!

Anyway tonight's meal:

Quorn Goulash with Dumplings - would probably work well in a Slow Cooker
Ingredients - Goulash

1 bag of Quorn
2oz butter
2 onions chopped
4 large carrots sliced
3 tbsp Paprika
1 1/2 tbsp Plain Flour
1 pt veggie stock
3 tbsp wine
Seasoning

Ingredients - Dumplings

2 oz butter
6 oz Self Raising Flour
2 tsp Dried Basil
Seasoning
Water or milk if needed

Method - Goulash

Preheat oven to 150 C. Fry Quorn in butter until coated. Transfer to a casserole dish. Fry onions and carrots in the same pan until soft. Add paprika and flour and cook for 2 mins. Gradually stir in the stock, wine and seasoning. Bring to the boil and boil for 1 min until smooth. Pour over Quorn. Put in oven for 30 mins or more.

Mix with soured cream to serve. Serve with rice.

Method - Dumplings

Rub butter into flour. Add basil and seasoning. Add water/milk if needed. Knead then roll into dumplings. Arrange dumplings around the top of the goulash and cook in oven for last 30 mins it cooks for.

is in the slow cooker although without the dumplings today.

I have unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher, cleaned the toaster and the pile of crumbs around it, and cleaned the worktops.

I don't think I can avoid my hot spots, room rescue and 15 min declutter much longer can I?

nope.not with us lot armed with oioking sticks
ive had the misfortune to deal with "lodgers".dd2 has them every fricking term
they only went back wed last week and she had one i her hair at yesterdays check.grrrrr
if its a hopeful 1 off id say hedrin all round.60oc wash bedding/towels/etc
if,like us its more often we just wet comb.every 3 days(thats a nit life clycle from egg to adult) wet hair add conditioner and brush,brush,brush.dispatch blighters down plug hole with hot water rinsing comb between brushes.my ds hads the thickest hair and hes broken4 nit combs(its very long too.wears it tied in a low ponytail and i made a bandana and embroidered the school logo on it) metal ones tear his haire out and hurt him to much.i read in a thread on her nitty gritty combs are the best.must invest in one.
all mine wear hair up dd2 often has plaits(which are supposed make it harder fdor them to snaffle their way in),dd3 a bun.i think some kids are more attractive to nits than others.i hope you are not as unfortunate as mine are.if its any concellation i check them every 2-3 nights so its just the odd one,not full infestation.the bane of my existance.....when i was very depressed earlier in the year i couldnt get it togerher and was a week between checks.waaaaaah.NEVER do that!
random fact babies are called nymphs
in other news did the shelf.am planning to do another then clean the kitchen windows before pop back befroe school run

that should have been poking sticks

Yum carrots that's tonights tea sorted then. We have a freezer full of quorn as dh went a bit mad when it was on offer.

I have to confess I have done very little today as Thursday is my help out at school day, but I may feel inspired to get off my backside when I catch up with the rest of the thread. :o

Yesterday we asked the ds's (who are 3 (nearly 4) and 6) if they wanted to move into the bigger bedroom so they could move more of their toys in there (part of our declutter downstairs strategy). They were really excited about it. This morning I was woken up at 6.00am by lots of huffing and puffing and ds1 shouting instructions to ds2 like.
"you stand at that end and push it"
"Keep going"
"This way!"
When I heard ds2 complain "I can't it's too heavy" I though I'd better drag myself out of bed and check what was going on. I suspected they were trying to take their duvets downstairs again. I opened the door to find them on the landing with ds2's mattress. Apparently they were "moving into the other room". They were quite put out when I told them they'd have to wait until we'd emptied it before they could move their stuff in :o

at the miniDlamis!

done:

• drink tea
• clear up breakfast mess
• make lunch
• get out for a walk with DD2
• make tea
• drink more tea
• decide what exactly I'm going to do about going back to work - done, but might change!

still to do

• eat tea early as DD2 & I need to pick DD1 up from pre-school at 5
• 2min hotspot - post pile
• 15min declutter - dining room (still have piles of xmas stuff on the table)
• empty all bins & collect all recycling ready for the bin collection tomorrow

I've got about 30mins before DD2 wakes up, so I'd better get on with the hotspot & declutter!

Dlamis At least they were keen to help with the process.

bessie that omega list is not appealing - euw! Ds has to take double dose of Omega 3 oils but just takes the capsules from Tesco. The smell of them is enough to make me wretch.

zoo thanks for the info. I will comb her hair through again at the weekend etc. It takes forever It sounds like we are lucky to go nearly 11 years without any visitors.

On the Ta Dah! front I have:

Decluttered the kitchen generally for 15 mins. Hot spotted the side board and shutter cupboards (still more to do in each), hoovered kitchen, hall and bedroom, chatted to a friend on the phone, helped dd with homework and packed her tea as she is out late tonight.

The house looks a LOT better just for that little burst of industry.

I still have the bedding and cuddly toys to tackle. Bleurgh, bleurgh, bleurgh...

The good news is that ds is clear of little visitors. Thank goodness for that. The kitchen now stinks of tea tree oil conditioner though.

I bribed him to sit for a check with the promise of tv so now he is glued to it. I can't decide whether to let him watch while I do some ironing or if I should get him to do some homework.

to be honest sometimes to get dd3 to co operate(4yo)i have resorted to check hair front dvd then rinsing out conditoner in the kitchen sink(not sure i would now its so shiny though
dlamisfab story baby flyers in the making?
ive cleaned the kitchen windows and wiped the kitchen surfaces.am now going to clear out a kitchen cupboard.t tonight is simply pasta with lots green veg and cheese.fruit jam tarts and custard.
i must copy down todays recipes at some point.carotsis the quorn chilled or frozen?

p.s carrotspleased ds didnt have it too!

zoo the quorn is frozen. The packet says it is fine to cook it from frozen and I often think it is less dry if it is cooked from frozen.

The goulash is lovely if you can let it cook in the oven or slow cooker for a long time.

ive only ever used quorn mince(frozen) for a shepherds pie.i found it a bit tasteless and ds found it a bit too high fibre but id like to give it another crack

Some people don't react well to it zoo - I have heard of a few people who have an "unfortunate" reaction to it. Luckily we are all fine with it.

It does need to be cooked with something that will give it flavour or it can be bland.

It is definitely not everyone's cup of tea though.

carrots can you help me?toffee whirl posted that shed made carrot and coconut muffins.i awkwardly asked could i have the recipe and she said shed Pm d me.how do i find it?im such a dunce

Go up to the very top of your page and there should be a red dot right at the top. Click on "inbox" and you will see the recipe.

If you are on a phone it is probably easier to get through your email. You get an email if someone pms you and you can access it that way.

Let us know if it is good.

(Not a dunce - if you don't know you don't know. You are only a dunce if you have been told 20 times and still don't know )

thanks honey...found it
i will definately be sharing if its a good one!
im still not convinced as i have a head like a colander(sieve holes are for amateurs,now a colander.......)

I realised I should have said the goulash recipe is meant to be for pork so if you eat meat it would be easily adapted. Chicken would probably work well too as that is what the quorn pieces imitate.

Glad you found it zoo.

I have hit the wall.

I have hung the load of washing I had done and put in all dd's bedding. I will have to hunt out her spare set as I doubt they will be dry in time for her to go to bed tonight.

I have also folded and put away what came off the dryer.

There is a small pile of ironing which I should do before too soon but somehow I can't face it.

I feel really, really sleepy.

Goulash was yum btw, although ds hasn't touched it yet.

i dont eat chicken/turkey( i get squeamish as they look too much like dead animals with out skin....i dont regularly eat meat(but i have history aneamia and feel i have to sometimes,though it sits heavily).if i had to kill and cook meat i wouldnt touch it with a ten foot bargepole.yes i know im a hypercrite
im tired too.i didnt sleep very well last 2 nights,am hoping its not the start a downward turn...
i will eat tea shortly and wash up then see can find strength to just wipe the fridge shelves.may well be on here for a while tonight when the kids are in bed indulging in some company and hoping not going to bed when the kids do will mean i dont wake after a couple of hours and lay awake for hours...4am on here its virtually dead!

zoo maybe try some calmomile tea and quiet time before bed - I can't sleep if I am too busy in the evenings.

bessie have you decided what to do about going back to work yet? I can't believe you are having to think about it already.

I am clock watching as i have to go out in less than an hour and pick up a few children and drop them various places. I am terrified I get engrossed in something and forget the time.

Poor itchy wee carrots. I agree with nitty gritty and loads of conditioner recommendations. My DN had them loads at school - she had the most gloriously thick and lush, clean hair (almost as shiny as our sinks). Nits loved her.

Enjoying recipes - goulash sounds fab especially in slow cooker. I need to use my slow cooker more.

Even though nothing major has happened, I have had an utterly shoite day. Mr Egg is still ill and is worrying and annoying me in equal measure. Weetabix bowl has been left on the side all day (would fit in the DW, which is waiting to go on). Greasy pan from fried nonsense left 'in soak' all day.

Went into town and have lost my DS's school bag. Retraced my steps and tried to call places it may be - this caused me trouble. Very unhelpful, IF I could get through. Will try again tomorrow. At least I don't need to find somewhere to store bag (my plan for today). Feel like I have two kids at the moment and am tired. Going to order a takeaway and have wine.

Whites are in dryer. I will treat myself to especially ironed pjs and fresh bed linen. Roll on bedtime for ds.

eggthe pjs and linen is the height of luxury...i must consider ironing my pjs.i do kids,mine just end up being rummages up from the bottom ironing pile and wearily thrown on.i think i will add that to my control journal for tomorrow.wash if nec and iron my pjs
carotsi didnt get the fridge wiped ive run out of steam for today.have put in the journal as a to do tomorrow.i have washed up and shined sink(thats the main thing)just done stories and bestime.they all very tired tonight and have all gone up together.dd1 at dads so peaceful on the western front now.ive never tried chamomile tea.maybe i should get some and give it a go.i hate warm milk with a passion

carrots I think I've decided what I'm going to do about going back , the person I need to speak to at work is on holiday, so can't get anything agreed, but there should be no prob. My mat leave ends in April, but I have A/L to use up, so I won't be back in the office (3 days a week) until May. I probably didn't need to get it sorted quite yet, but I am a planner!

I had my tea with DD2 earlier, and DH has gone out, so i am contemplating just going straight to bed!

liveinazoo for the ultimate night in I recommend a nice bath and shaving your legs. The combination of all three makes me feel like I am really spoiling myself. (mad I know). I feel miles better now.

Oh I straighten my hair too. Ridiculous but feel luverly.

Evening everyone,

Sounds as though everyone has had a very productive day. The only things left to do first thing tomorrow morning are dust the coffee table and side table and I think I'm ready for the inspection lady. Although after all this we'll probably be out when she comes! Oh and DS is having his friends round here tomorrow afternoon so all my hard work will be undone :)

carrots hope your uninvited guests leave soon. I remember having nits when I was little, don't remember them being that itchy but do remember the smell of the lotion and my brother and sister STILL tease me about them now, some 30 years on! GRRRRRRR

Anyway, night night, I'm going to have an early one I think and try and get DS's birth sampler a bit closer to being finished, some 2 1/2 years after first started!

just thought id nip in and see if anyones about...i --need- could do with my body weight in chocolate tonight im sooo tired
may sidle off to bed shortly if noones about(what a light weight)