#CookBlogShare 2017 Week 7 - The Food of Love

Hello and welcome to week 7 of #CookBlogShare.

Last week the linky was hosted by Eb at Easy Peasy Foodie. For me last week was a wipe out hence me being quieter than usual. The dreaded cold bug returned and returned with a vengeance. Thankfully I am back on the mend and raring to go.

As today is the day of love, Valentine's day, my round-up is all about the food of love. Valentine's and romance was felt in many posts that were shared last week so I had plenty to choose from. As always the hard part was narrowing it down to just four recipes. The four recipes that I have chosen are a delicious selection of sweet treats that will keep you wanting more.

Here are my favourite four recipes from week 6 of #CookBlogShare...

Valentine's Cupcakes with Aldi

I love Valentine's day. As much as I believe in showing our loved ones how much we love them all year round, I do love an excuse for a bit more romance.

This year Aldi have got everything that you need to show your special person how much you love them. Whether you are looking for flowers, chocolates, champagne, a teddy, they have it.

But, if you have a loved one who loves cake then these little cupcakes of love will certainly steal their heart. Homemade gifts are not only made with love but are a great way to save money. If your budget is tight this Valentine's day then these cupcakes will come to the rescue!

This is what I did...

Save Money this Valentines Day

Valentines Day is a time to show the people that mean the most to us just how much we truly love them. But we do not need to spend a fortune to show how much we love that special person. You could make a cake, cook a romantic meal or just take time out together.

When Aldi asked me if I would like to write a Valentines post for them I had ideas of making an easy romantic meal or a dessert full of love. But when I saw the fantastic Valentines day offers that they had and I just had to share them. This Valentines day you do not need to spend a lot of money and Aldi will certainly help you show how much you love and appreciate that special person without breaking the bank.

Before I go on to some beautiful floral offer that they have got I thought that I would share a few of Aldi's romantic recipes that they have got on their website.

1 - Lamb Steak with Mint Butter

2 - Specially Selected Wagyu Burgers

3 - Selected Wine Cases

4 - Raspberry Cranachan

5 - Pork Fillet with Apple Butter

6 - Ballycastle and Dark Chocolate Mousse

Any of these meal ideas would make a deliciously romantic meal. My favourite has to be the puddings and of course the pink bubbly!

If you are not planning a romantic meal but want to shower your loved one with flowers then Aldi certainly have some amazing offers! At this time of year the price of flowers goes up due to the demand. But Aldi have kept their prices down and they have a bouquet to suit all tastes and all budgets. These are my top 6 Aldi Valentines bouquets...

1 - This bouquet consists of a whopping 100 red rose! Yes that is not a typing error, it does say one hundred red roses. This enormous bouquet is priced at just £25 which is a great bargain!

2 - If 100 red roses are a few too many then you could always settle on this lovely bunch of 12 red roses for just £3!

3 - Aldi have created this luxury rose bouquet for £20. You have the traditional red roses paired with the beautiful Gypsophila.

4 - To say I love you with a single red rose certainly will suit all budgets at just £2.50 and it even comes complete with this love heart vase.

5 - This stunning bouquet of premium Naomi red roses will cost you just £25.

6 - If you want to steer away from tradition these beautiful tulip bouquets will be perfect for just £5. I have got to admit I love seeing tulips around the house.

I hope that this post has given you a few ideas for Valentines day this year. However you can make Valentines day last all year by telling your loved one how much you love them daily and often do romantic gestures. It does not have to be on just this one day of the year and with Aldi's low prices you can afford to do it more often.

Have a lovely Valentines x

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.

9th February - 15th February 2015 - One Picture Everyday For One Year

This week has flown by in a daze of puppy preparations and bringing the puppy home. It feels like we have gone from having twins to triplets and I am loving it! Opie has settled in well with us and she really is the perfect addition to the family.

Here is our week in pictures...

Monday 9th February 2015

Monday was a manic day, it felt like I didn't stop all day, hence the shortage of photographs taken! To finish the day I completely emptied my ironing basket. It took me a whopping 2 hours to do but it feels good knowing that if I keep on top of it (note I said if!) it shouldn't take me as long next time!

Tuesday 10th February 2015

On Tuesday I christened my new range and baked this delicious Trail Mix Tray Bake. I will be posting my recipe next week.

Wednesday 11th February 2015

On Wednesday Taylor wanted Shaun the Sheep on over and over again! He has suddenly become Shaun the Sheep mad.

Thursday 12th February 2015

Thursday was all about this little lady! On Thursday we bought Opie home from the rspca kennels and she settled straight in. You can read more about Opie in my Word of the Week post.

Friday 13th February 2015

We certainly have got an inquisitive puppy! She loved sitting and watching me blog on Friday.

Saturday 14th February 2015

As it was Valentine's the hubby and I treated ourselves to an M&S meal and had a date night in. The hubby also got me a tub of my favourite ice cream and prosecco! I said goodbye to the diet for the day!

Sunday 15th February 2015

This weeks Silent Sunday.

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
Running In Lavender - My Captured Moment

What Does Valentines Mean To You?

February is when when love is in the air.

Valentines Day is coming but what does it mean to you?

Is it time that you spend with the special person in your life?

Is it when you share the love with your family?

Is it a day that you dread?

For me, Valentines Day is not only a day to be thankful for my hubby, as I am thankful for him everyday, but it is a time when I reflect on all of my loved ones. Loved ones who are here and loved ones who we have lost. It is a time for me to remember the people who have shown me love and with their love I have become the person that I am today.

I thought that I would take this opportunity to tell you about the special people in my life.

The Hubby

Without a doubt the hubby is top of the list. He is my rock, my best friend, my lover, he makes me complete, he is my everything! My hubby restored my faith in true love. From the day we met we have been inseparable and I feel lost without him. I know that no matter what my husband will always be there for me.

My Parents

My parents are always there for us all if we ever need them. My mum is not just my mum but my friend too. I have always been a daddy's girl and that hasn't changed throughout the years. I love that they only live a few minutes down the road from us and would hate to be any further from them. With my parents I am also including my mother in law. I am so thankful that I have not got a stereotypical mother in law. She has become a second mum to me and friend.

My Grandparents

Sadly, my grandparents are no longer with us and have left a huge gap in my life. I could always depend on my grandparents and was extremely close to them. I miss them everyday and keep them close to my heart.

The Children

I am so thankful for the blessing of our children. Joseph, who is growing way too quickly, changed my life the day I discovered I was expecting him. He made me change the way I was living and settle down. He will never know what he did for me and how thankful I am to him. The twins amazed me daily. They have made our family complete. Life is manic with them but I would not have it any other way!

For me, Valentines Day is thinking about all of the people that I love because ultimately it is the love and relationships from these people that has made me the person I am today.

Who will you be thinking about this Valentines Day?

Who are your special people?

Disclosure: This post is in collaboration with TheCircle.

Valentines Day and A Poorly Child

Well, our Valentines Day has, so far, not gone to plan!

We had a romantic meal planned last night but unfortunately my mum suddenly fell ill so as soon as we got to the restaurant we left and came back home.

However, I soon realised, that what was important was that we were together.

We planned a romantic meal for tonight at home. Hubby is cooking me dinner! He also gave me my Valentines gifts last night and has definitely spoilt me again this year!

I got a bottle of Whitley Neill gin, which is a gin that we haven't had before, and a beautiful box of Hanley's chocolates!

The box is full of delicious treats!

There are 6 individual, different flavoured bars as well as 3 bags of chocolates and a box of small individual chocolate treats! This is a chocolate company that I have never heard of, how has this happened? Their chocolates are divine! They are so delicious and such a treat! I opened the bag of raisins coated Belgium chocolate to try one and nearly ate the whole bag!!

If you are ever looking to buy some special chocolates take a look at them, they are now a firm favourite!

In the end we had a lovely evening at home together.

Then the night time began and not in a good way!

Taylor was up at 1.30am. He was not happy at all and kept sobbing. We gave him some magic medicine, good old Calpol, which normally does the trick. But this time it didn't. I managed to get him back to sleep and back in his cot. At 2.45am we were woken by an awful noise over the monitor. Hubby dashed into their room and called me as Taylor was being sick.

The bizarre thing is, before he woke us up I was actually dreaming that one of them had been sick and I was cleaning a cot! Is this a mother instinct or a coincidence?

Poor little Isabella woke up too and was upset as she didn't know what was going on.

I got Taylor settled and kept him in with us as we had to strip his bed. From then on we were up with him just about every half hour as he just kept on being sick. It has been such a long night.

I am so pleased that hubby had taken today off as it is Valentines Day.

Poor little Taylor isn't able to keep anything down, not even water. I have managed to get him to sleep and he is laid on the sofa next to me sleeping while Isabella and hubby have gone to the shops to buy some steak for our romantic meal tonight.

I am just hoping and praying that the bug does not do the rounds. I don't think it is looking good, but I could be wrong.

Our Valentines Day will still be special as we will be together and after all that is what is is all about!

Happy Valentines Day x



My Valentines Treats x

Valentines Day Suet Pudding

With my oven being broken I had to think of another way to bake my hubby a Valentines treat!

My hubby loves suet pudding and thankfully this is a pudding which is steamed.

I normally steam them in the oven but after steaming my Christmas pudding in a pan of boiling water I thought I'd bake hubby's treat the same way!

This is what I did...

 

Valentines Day Suet Pudding

 

Ingredients

 

150g self raising flour

75g vegetable suet

75g caster sugar

1 1/2tsp mixed spice

100g mixed fruit with candied peel

1 egg

 

Method

 

1 - Mix together the self raising flour, caster sugar, vegetable suet, mixed spice and dried fruit

 

2 - Add the egg and add a little full fat milk if the mixture is too dry

 

3 - Grease a large pudding bowl with butter and add the pudding mixture

 

4 - Cover with greaseproof paper and foil, fold them together in a fan style to allow room for expansion during steaming, tie with string to secure

5 - Place the covered pudding bowl in a large pan and pour in water until it reaches half way up the pudding bowl, cover and put on a high heat until boiling then reduce down and simmer

6 - Leave to simmer for 2 hours

7 - After 2 hours remove from the pan and tip the pudding onto a plate

8 - Once cooled a little sprinkle with icing sugar and decorate with a red icing heart, I used strawberry jam to secure the icing heart

This pudding is delicious served warm with custard!
A true winter treat that warms you up while it is cold outside.
Enjoy x

  

Valentines eCard - Review

This Valentines day I have sent the hubby an e-card as a little something extra!

When I saw that Greetings Games were trialing their new greeting e-cards which combine a personalised fun game with a card.

I have sent the hubby a personalised Bubble Shooter game. When he completes a level he will get a little personalised message from me and when he has completed the two levels he gets the full Valentines message!

I thought that this was an original way to send someone a greeting.

Greeting Games do a variety of greeting games for birthday wishes, get well soon, thank you message and just for fun!

Today this service is free of charge at Greeting Games

After today you will need to subscribe to their services.

So why not take advantage of their unique way of sending a greeting to someone special!

The only negative point that we have come across is that when you send your greeting game the email does not tell the recipient who it is from. Hubby did have to ask me if it I had sent him something as he didn't want to open the link in case it was a scam. So if you send a greetings game let the person know that something will be coming their way!

Valentines Bubble Shoot

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. I was asked to try the service which I thought sounded fun. All opinions and views are my own and 100% honest.