Souper!

Having not cooked anything new for a while, tonight I decided to make my very first home made soup. The recipe was forwarded to me but one of my bestest friends and after sharing my Christmas cake with her the recipe was definitely a fair exchange.

I have always been a bit sceptical of soups as main courses as I am never convinced that a liquid could possibly leave me feeling content, but the ingredients in this particular recipe are so hearty and sweet that I was full after half a bowl.

The soup was complimented perfectly by a loaf of delicious home baked warm bread which was conveniently offered to me by my lovely neighbour at exactly the right time. I have never seen the children enjoy a bowl of vegetables more in their life and with the total cost of the entire meal at no more the £2 what more could you ask for!

I made one small addition to the recipe ... 2 tablespoons of crème fraiche added once served!

I hope you will all try this one, it's a winner!

(Serves 4)

1 onion chopped

1 garlic clove chopped

1.5lb butternut squash cubed

1lb sweet potato peeled and cubed

1 teaspoon fresh ginger grated

2 teaspoon ground coriander

1.5l vegetable stock

Salt and pepper to season

200 ml Crème fraiche

Put the onion, garlic, squash, sweet potato, ginger and coriander in a large saucepan.

Add the stock and bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 25 minutes until the vegetables are tender. Add olive oil, season with salt and pepper and blend or mash as preferred. Serve into bowl and add 2 tablespoons of crème fraiche. Serve with chunky slices of bread. Enjoy!

Winter Warmer

The first week in January heralds the start of millions of diets all around the world, some will succeed but most will fail. I am one of those millions and it is yet to be seen with my own efforts will be a success. I am well known for my vigour and will power when it comes to the big 'D' and since I have slipped up into a new stone bracket I am even more determined to start shedding the extra pounds.

Unfortunately my New Year's resolution not to make any more cakes until Easter has failed miserably on the 3rd of January. After being snowed in yet again, the Magimix was calling me and I rustled up a batch of cup cakes this morning that have been giving me the eye all day. I am however steadfast in my determination not to eat any and will be focusing all my energy on thinking thin!

After successfully making my first ever chicken stock I have put it to good use in a delicious chicken casserole that is bubbling away in the slow cooker as I type. Combined with parsnips, carrots, leeks and mushrooms it's a real winter warmer and considering M has been surfing in the North Sea all morning in -3 degrees I know it will be well received by at least him!

Happy New Year!

2010 has arrived at last! This Christmas has gone on longer than any other I can remember. Perhaps because I started preparing and cooking for it in November and as wonderful and indulgent as it has been I can't help feeling relieved that it is all over for another year.

Food wise it was a great success. Every cake, biscuit, pie, and other festive offering was gobbled up with delight and I received high praise for my efforts. The only thing that remains are a few slices of Girdlebuster in the freezer which will no doubt disappear before long.

Christmas and New Year's Eve dinners were a triumph and last night's meal was quite possibly the best meal I have ever prepared. Nigella's roast potatoes were a personal high and the pleasure of seeing my families satisfied faces was the best buzz of all.

I have started the year with something new and am presently making my first ever chicken stock from yesterday's carcass which is very exciting. What exactly I am going to do with the stock is yet to be decided but it smells delicious and has inspired me to continue pushing the limits of my abilities in the kitchen.

After adding at least half a stone onto my person over the last month I have however decided that my new lessons must be healthy ones. I think I reached my cake quota for the last decade in about 2004 and am going to try and pace myself for the teenies!

Here's to a healthy, hearty and most importantly happy 2010!

Goodbye to the Noughties by Dominique Godfrey

Let's wave to the noughties
As they say their goodbyes,
When Facebook was born
and Michael Jackson dies.

The rise and fall of Britney
Oh what a drama,
Climate change and botox
and don't forget Obama.

9/11 tragedy,
Big Brother, Doctor Who,
Everyone joined Twitter
and avoided catching swine flu.

The Oyster Card and You Tube
The Wag and the Chav
Carbon footprint, Cheryl Cole
and up to date sat nav.

Flat screens and Ugg Boots,
Sienna boho chic
Wind farms and bags for life
a world of Sky+ freaks.

SuBo and Tsunami,
The search for Madeleine McCann
Property boom, credit crunch
Google mania began.

Simon Cowell, Brangelina
Texting and O.M.G.
The smoking ban and global warming
Our promise to be carbon free.

London bombing, Northern Rock
Winehouse and size zero
Hybrid cars and pictures of Mars
Russell Brand became our hero.

Kate Moss and Katrina
The iPod and Iraq,
England wins the rugby
and Federer makes his mark.

The Beckhams and the Euro
Topshop, Playstation 3
Wikipedia, Ebay
and blogging all about me!

All of this and much much more
It really has been great,
We leave you now for a new decade
I really cannot wait!

Ocado

The absolute worst part of Christmas for me has to be trawling around the supermarket with a million other people all fighting over tubs of brandy butter and the best Brussels. This year I decided very early on that I would not be a part of that pandemonium and very cleverly ordered my shopping from Ocado in, wait for it ..... September!!

However difficult it was trying to predict exactly what I would need 3 months in advance, I did it in the comfort of my own home and even with the £10 delivery charge it was worth every penny. The price of the shop came to £254 which I think is about right for a Christmas shop and I am confident that I have ordered everything I need.

My relief at pre-ordering was confirmed even more so today when a trip to my local Budgens for a packet of butter turned into a 40 minute obstacle course and fight for the check out!

I am so looking forward to a nice polite delivery man bringing all of my shopping downstairs into my kitchen this evening in clearly marked bags for cupboard/frozen/chilled and being able to spend the rest of the evening relaxing instead of experiencing a near coronary!

PS. Above are some very snowy cup cakes I made this morning whilst still snowed it!

Snow

Louis's Christmas party at nursery was a great excuse to cook up another batch of mince pies which were very well received even by the children who are notoriously sceptical about the little pies.

As you know, the house was supposed to be filled with hungry relatives this weekend but due to the incredible snow fall they couldn't make it and so the five of us have been slowly devouring everything I made last week including my Christmas cake which if I say so myself is absolutely delicious.

I have already distributed seven pieces to various neighbours but it hasn't even been dented. I am a bit worried that I will end up eating most of it and delicious as it is this would not be good. I think I will have to offer a piece to everyone who comes to the door as a festive offering!

Matthew and I are off out tonight to what should of been our family Christmas meal, it will be lovely to enjoy somebody else's cooking for a change but sad not to be sharing it with those we love.

Oink Oink!

I literally haven't stopped this week. In anticipation of soon to be arriving relatives and the Christmas festivities my kitchen has been a conveyor belt of mince pies, cranberry and white chocolate cookies, girdlebuster pie, flapjacks, chocolate cup cakes and christmas cake most of which is tucked away safely in the deep freeze to avoid being eaten before the weekend!

My Christmas cake is finally complete and I am pretty chuffed with the result. After some deliberation on how to decorate it in the end I opted for a crisp white bow with a few adorning holly leaves. It is definitely my biggest achievement in the kitchen to date and i'm so excited about actually getting to taste it over the coming days. I hope that it will not disappoint.

It's hard to know when to stop baking and eating at this time of year, and so I have decided to continue indefinitely! Inspired by one of my favourite female icons, I leave you with an appropriate quote; 'Never eat more than you can lift' (Miss Piggy). Happy eating!!