Tuesday, 15 June 2010

#34 - Rievaulx Abbey

Well, today we decided to take advantage of Steve having a day off and go exploring one of our local ENgish Heritage sites, Rievaulx Abbey.

The weather was gorgeous too, so after stocking up on lunch from the bakery, we set off!


As you can see, it was glorious! Sadly, my camera decided to run out of battery half way round, despite Steve running to the car for more... :(

However, we did get a really lovely shot of Ru with me and Ru with Daddy!


So yes, definately a great day, and it's a pity we had to rush off home for Steve to go to band practice! x

Thursday, 3 June 2010

#1 - Chunky Sausage and Tomato Pasta

Well,

Am full of a streaming cold, as is Ru... Meh... At least I'm not the one leaving snot trails all over the floor and sofas, unlike my son! Bless him...

Anyway, felt in dire need of some stodgy comfort food that was quick and easy to make... and preferably spicy to help clear my nose! I have some aduki beans in my kitchen and wanted to use them to start on #2 (Do 10 recipes with ingredients in I haven't used before), but after finding out from Sarah Dixon that they need to be soaked for 24 hours before you can use them, I had to rethink my plan.

Upon deciding that I wanted sausages as comfort food (sausages are THE best comfort food, sausage and mash in cold weather, sausage sarnies when you're hungover, it's all good!), I did a quick search on the BBC Good Food website and found this Chunky Sausage and Tomato Pasta recipe.

However, as usual, I decided to change it up a bit...

I used frozen sausages, grilled them and then added them to the reduced white wine, instead of before reducing. I also added a shedload of Texan-style herbs mix from Asda to blow the snot out of me, plus some crushed dried chilli flakes.

However, at the end, it was delicious, VERY spicy, definately unsuitable for kids (what with all the spice and the wine in it), and for the first time today, I can actually breathe through BOTH my nostrils (even if the amount of chilli flakes are making me break out in hot sweats! :D )

Sadly though, I couldn't take a picture of my pasta because it disappeared all too quickly when Steve returned home from work! However, here is a picture of the empty bowl!




Now, will finish watching Gok's Fashion Fix on 4OD, and then take Ru out to play in the garden! (And maybe head to York to do #71 Buy a digital camera...)

Love,

Em, x

Wednesday, 2 June 2010

#31 - The Deep, Hull

Ru and Mumma watching the fish


So, #31 - Visit 5 museums or activity centres has begun!

Steve, Ru and I went to The Deep in Hull, a huge aquarium, and I'm so glad we did! It was such a fantastic day, and so amazing to think of how much work has gone into making such a beautiful environment for the fish and corals...



It was also fantastic to see Ru paying so much attention to the tanks as well, and he really loved it, which is ace considering it was an early 1st birthday present... It was also lovely for all of us to spend some time together... I do love my fella and my son!

Love,

Emma, x


#1 and #9 - Pop Biscuits!

Well, seeing as I'm being all enthusiastic about this 101 Things In 1001 days challenge, I figured I'd better get started!

And so today, I started #1 (Make 101 new recipes) and fully completed #9, making Pop Biscuits! Recipe was taken from Sarah Dixon's wonderful blog!

So, here's our Pop Biscuits cooking... (You'll have to excuse the messy oven!)



And here's the finished product, all golden and delicious!


And inside, all the yummy melted honey... I think I just has a biscuit-gasm...


So hurrah for new recipes and treats from childhood books!

Love,

Em, x

101 Things In 1001 Days!

Well, having been inspired by this lovely blog;  Home Baked: 101 things to do in 1001 days; I have decided to finally do the same thing!

1001 days will make it... Monday, 25 February 2013. (You too can find out the end date using this website!)

So, now for The Rules!

The Mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.



So, now to begin... And wondering how long it will take me to decide on all these, the time is now 10:51! I'll cross them out like this when I've completed them, and like this when they're in progress...

COOKING and FOOD

1. Make 101 new recipes (6/101)
2. Do 10 recipes with ingredients in I haven't used before (4/10)
3. Bake a Rainbow Cake!
4. Eat at a sushi restaurant
5. Make the perfect souffle
6. Perfect Creme Brulee
7. Go fruit picking and.... 
8. Make jam with the picked fruit
9. Inspired by Sarah Dixon's Blog, make Pop Biscuits (02.06.10)
10. Again inspired by Sarah, make a Gingerbread House!
11. Learn how to make pasta from scratch
12. Buy and complete at least 50% of the recipes in The Pioneer Woman Cooks (0%)


HOUSE and GARDEN

13. Switch to eco-friendly dishwasher tablets
14. Grow 3 different veggies successfully (0/3)
15. Plant a tree
16. Start composting
17. Redecorate a piece of furniture
18. Recycle as much as glass, paper/cardboard and cans as possible
19. Sort the second bedroom to a decent state so guests can stay in it
20. Fill and display all photo frames


FILM, MUSIC and LITERATURE

21. Give money to street musicians I enjoy
22. Watch The Godfather
23. Find out the favourite books of five different people and read them (0/5)
24. Read all of Lewis Carroll's other works
25. Have my First Edition Alice verified as genuine
26. Read the full Lord Of The Rings series (0/8) and watch the films (0/3)
27. Watch 'Ah! My Goddess!' in its entirety
28. Watch the original Star Wars film without falling asleep or moaning, if only for Stephen's benefit!
29. Reread all the Harry Potter books (0/7)


TRAVEL

30. Go to America
31. Visit 5 museums or activity centres (1/5)
32. Go camping (13-16.07.10 for our honeymoon!)

33. Take Steve to the top of Pen-Y-Fan
34. Visit 5 National Trust /English Heritage sites (0/5)
35. Go to Slovakia
36. Visit Ireland
37. See the Lion King on stage in London
38. Go on a York Ghost Walk
39. Visit The Forbidden Corner with Steve and Ru


WORK

40. Organise a co-ed social with another school


FAMILY

41. Spend time with my kitties
42. Have a grown-up weekend away with Steve
43. On each of Ru's birthdays, write him a letter to be opened on his 18th birthday (0/3)
44. Kiss at the top of the London Eye
45. Take my dad out for dinner, just us
46. Take my mum out for dinner, just us
47. Have 20 child-free dates with Stephen (1/20)
  1. Melton's Too, York (late May) - most delicious roasted butternut squash EVER!
48. Get Tasha, Millie and Yuli up-to-date on their vaccinations
49. Get Millie and Yuli neutered
50. Spend time with my brother Josh every week, even if it's just a few moments (weeks missed: 0)
51. Celebrate ALL the Sabbats with either a meal or special trip etc.


SKILLS and CREATIVE

53. Learn how to milk a cow
54. Learn how to change a tyre
55. Learn how to put petrol and LPG in the car
56. Learn how to use basic Photoshop
57. Learn how to use my sewing machine
58. Make bunting for the wedding      Failed - my mum made it all for me
59. Make a quilt
60. Make a wooden mobile for Ru
61. Make all Yule, Christmas and Birthday cards
62. Complete 3 paintings
63. Complete Ru's handwritten and illustrated 'Alice In Wonderland'
64. Do something creative with all the jeans that don't fit me!
65. Make and use an apron
66. Buy and complete a doodle book
67. Make a dream catcher
68. Do something creative for each of the 100 Themes, either sketching, drawing, cooking, painting or scrapbooking, in any order (0/100)


MISCELLANEOUS

69. See either the Goo Goo Dolls or Garth Brooks live
70. Make a mini-first aid kit for the car
71. Buy a digital camera (03.06.10)
72. 'Unplug' for a whole weekend - no tv, no Wii, no PS3, no laptop
73. No Facebook for one month (0/30)
74. Go skinny dipping
75. Be part of a flash mob
76. Send 5 postcards on Post Crossing (0/5)
77. Develop the two rolls of film left in that box
78. Complete a Sudoku book, with all the puzzles correct
79. Get rid of one piece of old clothing every time I buy a new one 
80. Blog each completed item on the list
81. Scrapbook each completed item on the list




PERSONAL TASKS

82. Go veggie for a whole month - if only to prove I can do it
83. Take driving lessons and pass my driving test
84. Update my blog every week
85. Stop biting my nails
86. When I've stopped biting my nails, get a manicure
87. Open a savings account
88. Get a passport
89. Make those wooden blocks for Ru
90. Do Race For Life in memory of Stephen's mother
91. Get my fortune told
92. Get my 'Om Mani Padme Hum' tattoo
93. Get my mother goddess tattoo
94. Donate blood
95. Join the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Register
96. Donate eggs to infertile couples
97. Learn how to speak basic Slovakian
98. Learn to sleep without the night light (Yes, I KNOW I'm a big girl, but the dark still freaks the hell out of me!)
99. Tell Stephen and Ru 'I Love You' everyday
100. Kiss Stephen and Ru everyday
101. Remember how blessed I am


 And it's now 16:34... Writing and rehashing my list has taken me... well, about 5 and a half hours... it would have taken less, but Ru kept getting in my way! :D x