I love having friends over for food – I take a lot of pleasure in planning and preparing a meal, and serving it to my friends. I am a confident cook, so rarely worry about potential kitchen disasters: I just prepare as much as possible in advance so that I can spend most of my […]
Eating in
Week 7 2017 – fondue at Edith’s House, Crouch End (review)
The area of North London I live in is pretty much perfect for life as a mother: full of baby-friendly cafes, restaurants and parks. When I don’t have anything particular planned and it is a dry day, I pack Ioan up in his pram and head out to Muswell Hill or Crouch End for a […]
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 3 2017 – preparing for weaning
We started weaning a few weeks ago on the advice of a paediatrician, and Ioan has taken to solids like only the son of a greedy mum could. There hasn’t been a single item he hasn’t liked, but so far he has loved courgette, spinach and parsnip. I can barely scoop up the next spoonful […]
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 1 2017 – looking ahead to the new year
Well today is 1 January 2017, and it’s my second New Year in adult life that I have been sober (the first was last year when I was pregnant; this year breastfeeding is to blame). I barely remembered that today is Sunday – with Andrew off work for the Christmas break, I have lost track […]
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) […]