Word of the Week 27th February 2015

This word which sums up this week has to be...

ACCOMPLISHED

This word sums our week perfectly for many reasons.

My hubby has accomplished a lot in the garden. He worked solidly all weekend and has changed the vegetable plot so much. It is looking fantastic and I am so proud of the work he has done. I don't always tell him this, but I am. You can see all of his hard work in my How Does Your Garden Grow post.

I am feeling accomplished as I have lost another 1 lb this week which brings me to the 21 lb, 1 and a half stone mark! I am feeling so much better in myself since loosing the weight. I am now going to fitness classes twice a week and that in itself is an accomplishment for the person who always hated exercise. I now look forward to my classes and want to improve my fitness even more.

I have also moved the twins bedroom around and made an open area in the middle for them to play in. This has meant that they now have to space to get their toys out and they now see their room as more than a place to simply sleep in.

We have managed to teach Opie how to sit and she is (touch wood) just about house trained and she is still only 10 weeks old! She has accomplished so much during the two weeks that we have had her.

What word would sum up your week?

As always I am sharing my Word of the Week with The Reading Residence.

How Does Your Garden Grow - Week 8

I haven't posted a How Does Your Garden Grow post for a few weeks simply because not much has been happening in the garden due to the season. However last week we saw a lot of change in the vegetable patch.

The hubby and my dad were busy all weekend trimming the large conifer that separates the vegetable patch from the main garden, an area was built for some new sheds and a stunning conifer chipping path going through the patches was created.

When I look back at the pictures below of how our vegetable patch looked just last year I am amazed by how much it has altered. It is all thanks to the hard work and passion of my hubby.

Here is how our garden has grown...

March 2014

April 2014

Our vegetable patch now...

 

The main part of the garden has also seen some changes. The hubby has placed an edge along the conifer border using leftover conifer chippings as a mulch and at last we are seeing the signs of spring with new life returning.

The latest addition to our household, 10 week old Opie, is also loving being able to get out in the garden!

As always I am sharing how our garden has grown with the lovely Annie at Mammasaurus

Leftover Roast Beef Pasta - Family Favourites

If you are a regular reader you will know that I love creating new meals with leftovers. Last week I bought a large piece of beef just so that we would have plenty of leftovers for extra meals.

For this weeks Family Favourites I thought that I would share a delicious leftover pasta dish. If you do not have any left overs it can also be made with streak strips.

This is what I did..

Leftover Roast Beef Pasta

Ingredients - serves 4 - 5

400g leftover roast beef, cut into strips
1 red onion, chopped
1 sweet red pepper, chopped
1 sweet orange pepper, chopped
6 medium mushrooms, chopped
1 stalk of celery, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 400g tin of chopped tomatoes
Cayenne pepper
1 beef stock cube
1/2 tsp oregano

Method

1 - Heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan and gently fry the onion, red pepper, orange pepper, mushroom, celery and garlic together until starting to soften

2 - Add the strips of cooked leftover roast beef and cook for a further 10 minutes

3 - Pour over the chopped tomatoes and bring to the boil

4 - Sprinkle over as much or as little cayenne pepper as you wish, I normally add about 1/4 tsp and find that it hot enough for the family

5 - Add the oregano and the beef stock cube and simmer for 5 minutes and serve on a bed of pasta

This is not only a tasty meal but is quick to make. Serve with just pasta or add some garlic bread to make it go even further.

I am sharing this weeks Family Favourites recipe with A Mummy Too - Recipe of the Week and Supergolden Bakes - Cook, Blog, Share

The Twins Turn Three

I still cannot believe that our babies are now three.

They have grown so much over the last three years and have come on so far.

When I look at them it is hard to believe that they were the small, tiny babies that they were in neonatal intensive care. The first couple of weeks were filled with worry and desperation of being apart from them. Thankfully they were not there for long and were soon home where they belong, with us, their family.

The first year of their life was a sleep deprived haze of endless feeding, burping, nappy changes and pumping milk. I remember finishing one round and maybe having an hour before starting all over again. The nights were exhausting. After they had been fed, I'd sit and pump milk for their next feed, often falling asleep mid pump.

But it did get easier.

Blocks of sleep got longer which helped no end.

The first year was hard but so rewarding.

The next two years have been less exhausting but have come with different challenges. There is no better feeling than having them both with me, one on either side, stroking my arms as they do and hearing "I love you mummy".

Over the years I have had endless comments, mainly from strangers, saying...

"you must have your hands full"

"rather you than me"

"double trouble"

I even got once during my pregnancy "that's unlucky!"

But to this I say

"No! I am the lucky one for having two beautiful babies!"

Isabella and Taylor I am so proud to be your mummy, thank you for bless me with your presence x

I am sharing with Snowing Indoors and You Baby Me Mummy Point and Shoot. I am also sharing with Mami2Five Multiple Madness and Super Busy Mum Mad Mid Week Blog Hop.

Spiced Apple Pudding - Gluten Free

Last weekend I was asked to make a pudding for Sunday dinner. I received requests for cake, Eve Pudding and apple pie. This is how my Spiced Apple Pudding came along. I decided to combine all of the above to create a pudding to please everyone.

When creating a recipe I love to have a rummage though the cupboards to see what needs using up. This time I found a jar of cranberry mincemeat left from Christmas. Apple and mincemeat goes hand in hand. The flavours combine together perfectly. Topped with a spiced sponge this makes a delicious pudding.

This is what I did...

Spiced Apple Pudding

Ingredients

For the fruit base:

1kg Bramley Apples, peeled and chopped
1 410g jar of cranberry mincemeat
1 tbsp caster sugar

For the spiced sponge:

100g gluten free self raising flour or regular

1/16 tsp xanthan gum (only if using gluten free flour)
100g baking spread
100g caster sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp mixed spice

Method

Heat the oven to 180c

1 - Place the chopped apples and the the caster sugar in a pan and heat over a medium heat for 10 minutes or until the apple is just starting to break down

2 - While the apple is cooking make the sponge batter by placing the flour, sugar, spread, eggs and mixed spice in a bowl and mix until you have a smooth mixture

3 - Once the apples are cooked remove from the heat, add the mincemeat and mix together

4 - Using either individual glass ramekins or an oven proof bowl spoon in the apples and mincemeat so that it reaches a third of the way up the bowl or ramekin

5 - Top with the sponge mixture up to the second third of the bowl, you will need to save a third of the bowl or ramekin free to allow the sponge to rise

6 - Bake in the centre of the pre heated oven for 25 - 30 minutes or until the sponge is thoroughly baked

7 - Remove from the oven and leave for 10 minutes before serving as the fruit base will be extremely hot!

This pudding is delicious as it is or why not add a scoop of ice cream or custard! 

There are so many possibilities with this pudding. If you do not like mincemeat or do not have any simply add some dried mixed fruit with some cinnamon and nutmeg.

Enjoy x

I am sharing my Spiced Apple Pudding with Honest Mum - Tasty Tuesdays

Weekly Meal Plan - Week Commencing 23rd February 2015

Last weeks meal plan did not exactly go to plan!

It was not a success at all! I think that it was due to a mixed week of sleep deprivation, birthday plans and emergency vet trips.

Anyway, on to this week's plan. This week we will be having a favourite leftover meal, some new flavours and a good old roast.

Here is this weeks Weekly Meal Plan...

Week Commencing 23rd February 2015

Leftover Beef Curry

Over the weekend I bought a huge 2.3kg piece of beef for our Sunday dinner as I knew that we would have a leftover meal on Monday. I have enough meat left over for both a meal and for sandwiches. I asked the hubby if there was anything in particular that he wanted with the leftovers and he requested a good old leftover curry. I literally add all the leftovers, meat, vegetables and stock to make a roast dinner curry.

Spaghetti Bolognese

This is a meal which I love and have not had in such a long time.

Jerusalem Artichoke Hash

This is a completely new meal for us all. I regularly order an organic vegetables box and this weeks came with Jerusalem artichokes. If I am honest I did not have any idea what to do with them or how to cook them, luckily there was a recipe enclosed in the box.

Sausage, Beans and Mash

This was a meal  that we were looking forward to last week which didn't get made as we had a poorly puppy and I forgot to take the sausages out of the freezer. That is why will be having it this week.

Roast Chicken

As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago my family have asked that I do more roast/meat and veg meals. This week we will be having my salt and pepper roast chicken.

As normal I have not planned for either Saturday or Sunday.

Hope you have a great week x

I am sharing my Weekly Meal Plan with At Home With Mrs M - Meal Planning Monday

16th February - 22nd February 2015 - One Picture Everyday For One Year

Half term week has been a busy week of preparing for the twins birthday on the Friday and looking after Opie. The whole week was building up to the weekend beginning on Thursday as the hubby had a couple of days off work, which was lovely.

Here is our week in pictures...

Monday 16th February 2015

This picture is of Isabella reading to Woody. She was sat in their bedroom and I could hear her chattering away. When I asked her what a she was doing she told me that she was reading a bedtime story to Woody. Monday passed in a blur of jobs.

Tuesday 17th February 2015

On Tuesday the twins enjoyed some outdoor play in the garden while Joseph was out playing with his friends. It has been lovely to have some dry days so that we can be outside for a bit, however after all of the rain the garden has become so muddy! Wellies are certainly a necessity. Both twins came in a muddy mess!

Wednesday 18th February 2015

After an exhausting night with the twins due to their colds and the new puppy I managed only blocks of a couple of hours sleep. If it wasn't the twins it was the dog that needed to go out. I was shattered all day and almost fell asleep in the afternoon. However I did get a delivery of a stunning bouquet of flowers from the hubby to cheer me up! I also managed to push myself to attend my legs, bums and tums class followed by Latino blast session and I felt so much better for going. I never thought that I would say this, but I am loving my exercise classes!

Thursday 19th February 2015

Thursday was very much about this little lady. Ever since we have got her she has had terrible diarrhea. At first we thought that it was because of the move. The vet gave us some pro biotic powder to put on her food to settle her tummy. However after she had an even worse episode we decided that she needed to be seen sooner rather than later. So I got her an appointment and dashed her to the vets. This was such a nerve wrecking 45 minutes! The vet explained that she may have the life threatening Parvovirus. I will admit to crying when the vet explained how she may need putting down if she tested positive for the virus. Thankfully the test came back negative, little Opie, to my relief, has just had a tummy bug! So we came home with some antibiotics. I have become so attached to this little puppy over the last week. The thought of loosing her really did scare me! We spent the rest of the day as a family which was perfect.

Friday 20th February 2015

Friday was all about our not so little beautiful babies. On Friday the twins turned 3! I cannot believe that they are 3! After they had opened all of their presents and played it was time for me to decorate their birthday cake which had to be a Frozen cake!

We went out for a birthday lunch with their grandparents, which unfortunately ended with us walking out before our food arrived thanks to the poor service. We did, however, make up for that with a McDonald's! It was a lovely day spent with the people close to us.

Saturday 21st February 2015

Saturday was a busy day and not many pictures were taken. The hubby and my dad were out in the garden all day working so it was the children and I for the majority of the day. We had a lovely trip out to town to visit the market and other shops to pick up things that we needed. I was amazed by how well behave all three of the children were. Normally they moan if we are out too long, but they were great during our 2 hour shopping trip. In the afternoon we had a lovely visit from my sister, niece and mum. It is always lovely to see them. I am so pleased to say that Opie has picked up so much since starting her antibiotics. Her appetite has come back, she no longer has diarrhea and is bulking up. She is such a happier puppy. 

Sunday 22nd February 2015

This weeks Silent Sunday will be a picture to treasure. It is so hard to get a good picture of the twins both looking the same way and smiling. This picture is perfect, I love it so much. That is why I have selected it as my Silent Sunday this week.

As always I am sharing our week in pictures with...

The Boy and Me - Project 365

Make Do and Push - The Week That Was Captured