Week 6 2017 – my (baby’s) body is a temple

With a freezer full of pureed meals for Ioan, in the last week I started trying him on blitzed versions of mine and Andrew’s food as well. Unfortunately this was met with limited success as Ioan had a nasty cold and sore throat (which he is just recovering from) so wouldn’t eat his solids and […]

Cookbook challenge – Anthony Bourdain: roast chicken with lemon and butter

Andrew and I love Anthony Bourdain. His TV shows are a perfect mix of travel and cooking, so that they appeal to us both, and although I don’t think he’s the kind of person I’d want to know (man, he’s scary), he is entertaining, witty, and writes a great book. His latest book is ‘Appetites: […]

Week 4 2017 – an anniversary in the Welsh sunshine

On 25 January, Andrew and I celebrate 21 years as a couple. I think I can safely say that the last 6 months has been the most exceptional of that time considering the arrival of little Ioan. It’s he who I blame for my poor organisation in planning our celebratory weekend away, which was supposed […]

Week 2 2017 – time to stop eating chocolate

Andrew returns to work tomorrow after our Christmas break, and I have taken this date to be my annual return to eating healthily. There was no point in trying to be good whilst Andrew was off, as considered all food to be fair game as he was still celebrating Christmas, and I have no willpower […]

Week 51 – Christmas menu

Next Sunday, I am hoping that little Ioan will be fast asleep after celebrating his first Christmas, and I will be nursing a Baileys and eating Ferrero Rochers whilst watching some nonsense on the telly. The turkey and Ocado shop has been ordered, the presents are wrapped, the tree is looking beautiful and the cake […]

Festive feasts

In the past I have made homemade food hampers for Christmas gifts, but it’s been a bit tough this year what with looking after my little baby – who prefers my attention to be on him rather than the stove. I have managed to make a couple of bits and pieces though (I cannot resist) […]

Alphabet Adventures – L is for Lebanese

Yes, we’re back, with another Alphabet Adventure!  It was hard enough for us to meet up when we were all just working, but adding kids into the equation for two of us means there is an additional layer of complexity when trying to find a suitable time to meet up. But we finally managed to […]

Week 50 – goodbye diet

Silly season has officially started as far as I am concerned (I write this, eating the chocolates out of Andrew’s advent calendar as he has foolishly fallen behind with opening the little doors). There’s no point in bothering to try and be virtuous at dinnertime when rich and delicious food and tasty booze abounds. It […]

Week 49 – Christmas is coming

Yes, it’s December, so I am officially allowed to say that Christmas is coming. What with being on maternity leave, I am quite prepared for the silly season: at least I have bought most of my presents (being in to receive Amazon Prime deliveries has its benefits!) and my Ocado and butcher’s order are in […]

Weeks 45 to 48 – bringing up baby

Where oh where does the time go? It’s like Ioan eats it with the same enthusiasm with which he eats his fingers (teething, wow, that’s not exactly a bundle of fun is it?!). Anyway, I have been planning my menus, but each time Sunday pops around I realise I don’t have time to write up […]