October 2010- now they're chomping, next they'll be stomping

[HarrietJones]

Eek it's going so fast!

Well my night out has been cancelled so it's not an urgent rush round the shops but we are going to have z look for some summery clothes anyway.

All this talk of gardens is getting me wanting to be one of those Mums off of the adverts who waltz around their nice houses with home grown veggies and very well behaved rosy cheeked children. The reality is much much different, I am what the grown up plants threaten their baby plants with when they won't eat their miracle grow. Seriously I once killed an office full of plants and two Of them were cactus's.

As for food, I need quick easy and stuff that I can give the boy. It sounds sad but I've been pondering lentils this week. I keep going past the bags int supermarket and wondering what I could make out of them. I feel like Neil off of The young ones.

Cheesy lentil wedges:

serves 2 adults and one baby generously

225g red lentils rinsed in cold water and drained
450ml water
oil or unsalted butter for frying
1 large onion finely chopped
100g grated cheese
1tsp dried mixed herbs
1 beaten egg
25g breadcrumbs
black pepper to taste

Put lentils in the pan of wtaer bring to boil, cover and simmer for 10-15 mins until soft and all liquid absorbed. Skim off any froth as you go.

Heat oil or butter in frying pan and fry onions til soft.

Preheat oven to 190 C/GM5 and lightly grease a 23cm cake tin.
Drain lentils and add to mixing bowl with onion and all the ingredients. Mix well. Press into prepared tin with back of spoon.
Oven bake for 30 mins. Allow to cool slightly and cut into wedges. Serve warm or cold good for picnic/out and about.

I have a lentil quiche recipe too if you're interested?

HJ re breakfast ideas-

fruit plate with american style pancakes
Homemade saltless bread? I have a couple of dead quick recipes if you're interested.
scrambled eggs if your DD is ok with them
scrambled tofu (have recipe if you'd like it)
Savoury muffins
muffins in general
omlette
breakfast bars courtesy of Nigella Express if you'd like the recipe
savoury pancakes with cheese (the softer the cheese the lower the salt

Loving the recipes! I might do the lentil one tmw!!!

For those who feed pesto - homemade or jar bought? Jar ones do contain salt but can't imagine it's loads!

Today I bought cherries, tuna, full fat cheese spread, full fat Greek yog which I will mix in fruit purée! All part of my try harder efforts!

Also bought Ella's nice rice which is lentils, rice and dried carrot/Tom but not sure what sauce to use!

Dh makes our pesto. Sundried Tom one is particularly popular.

Re breakfast we tried a cereally bar thing a while ago but she didn't like it. Pancakes go down well so will get dh to pre make us some or he can make them when he's around in the morning. We often have those or croissants at the weekend. Dd3 likes strawberries in croissant. Eggs have been s bit hit or miss. She likes fried egg(v well cooked) & has eaten scrambled but not every time.

We had a nice regular meal for a while. Lentil Wellington. Soften onions, soaked lentils, rosemary, wrapped in pastry. No idea of quantities etc though. Can't you tell I don't cook

Homemade is dead easy. If ygou have a mini blender just add basil, parmesan, pine nuts, pepper, garlic and olive oil until you get the taste you like. I tend to do the dry ingredients first then add the olive oil until I get the right consistency. Its really good with mixed roasted veg (aubergine, tomato, pepper, potato, courgette etc) you add it after they've roasted then drizzle on balsamic glaze (a squeezy bottle of thick balsamic by merchant gourmet). Its the same as the warm veg salad in Pizza Express but better .

That would be homemade pesto (I was not exactly clear) .

Ah ok! Tonight I gave him shop bought! Will give homemade a go!!

How long does it keep for?

If you cover the top with olive oil and keep in it a sealed jar, it'll keep for a week I would say as the oil will preserve it.

Got our ENT referral for DD today. It was scheduled for 25 Aug but I rang up and said I didn't want her in pain waiting for the next 6 weeks and they found an appointment for this morning. Very pleased but trying not to get my hopes up that they will actually do anything worthwhile today.

Hope the apppointment was helpful mocking, glad they could move it forwards

hj that lentil wellington sounds yummy!

Hope the apppointment was helpful mocking, glad they could move it forwards

hj that lentil wellington sounds yummy!

Hello all. Liking the recipes. Silver if you want a fast, easy recipe particularly for hot days, mash up avocado andbanana - job done!

Ds had his last day at crèche this week an they had a graduation peformance, followed by a presenttion with them in robe and caps. So cute. Can't believe three and a half years has passed since he started. Nursery finishes next week - my baby is growing up!!!! The actual baby is doing well although she's had a cold which seems to have affected her ability to go to sleep at night.... Oh no, two of them doing it .

Dd3 has lots of new tricks today.

We had a cleaner start work today . DD decided to prove to the cleaner how little she lets her mummy do by crying whenever I left her for a second and screaming blue murder when I dared to clean apricot off her.

She's recently started to loathe having her face and hands cleaned, real screaming, leg kickin, face pulling stuff. I don't think its sore for her as her skin is fine and we're using cheeky wipes and she's fine with them being used on any other body part....

I've started the childcare ball really rolling as I finally have 90% confirmation of what I will be doing and where I will be working when I go back to work. I shall by at High Wycombe again. I went onto Childcare.co.uk, posted my details and I've already been contacted by 4 childminders and one nanny. My favourite CM who works on the doorstep of my work can only fit DD in 3 days a week, but I found one 4 miles away who can do full time and seems really nice. I shall have to brave the 2.5 hour drive down there soon to check her out. How is everyone else doing? Are you back at work yet Trib?

Floozie the caps and capes sound very cute :)
My ds has his last week at playgroup next week and starts school nursery in september :( He will be going afternoons 5 days a week, im going to really miss him but means sophie and I can do stuff together that he is too old for :)

at a cleaner. I'm thinking of getting the house blitzed but think I'll wait til September when I have wages & kids are back at school!

I'm so pleased I've done it. I'm just trying not to spend that amount per week to account for it.

mock Yeah I'm back at work, to sat if hasn't gone well would be an understament. I've give back still breastfeeding ds and was planning to express at work. They haven't got any facilities at all, I've been placed in random places and have had people walk in on me. Ice ended up in the bathrooms with my hand pump a few times. I've spoken to them about it so hopefully we can get it sorted. I'be decided I'm going to attempt a bit of mix feeding for a bit. It's been so stressful and I can't go to work dreading the inevitable pumping session. I don't think I can get away with not expressing at work, but maybe I can minimize the potential stress of it all. I came home early today after talking with my boss, suffice it to say she looked ready to kill.

Stupid phone, the above is meant to say I've gone back, sorry folks.

Sorry to hear that tribble.hoping your boss didn't want to kill you? have you gone back to the old place?

I'm meeting my new boss on Monday, taking dd3 too which should be interesting. I need to discuss hours/days & expressing.
I've never worked anywhere it's easy to express and it bugs me when people say 'but it's the law' as I have never worked anywhere with a space. Dh said as a boss he never had anyone approach him about it in 10 years and majority of people that worked for him were women.

No I meant she looked ready to kill random office bod who decided that a particular room was a good idea .

thought you had a really bad start back