bigfoodiemama

Right, here we go again ! Sunday, I had decided was going to be a family day out, to the Food and Wine Christmas Show. I was keen to go for a few reasons, 1. Food, 2. Wine, 3. Santa and 4. the chance to see my cousin the Pastry Chef of The Cake Stand ( not necessarily in that order).I donned the new underwear (again) under some warm clothing...just in case ! My plans were nearly thwarted by 2 inches of snow and the AA advising people not to travel unless absolutely necessary. I had a job convincing GASP of the "absolutely necessary" part of a Food and Wine Show, so I used language he would understand and said " this is my Leinster Final".....job done !Off we set with enough stuff in the car should we have to sleep in it overnight, but the M1 was clear keeping a smug smile on my face....until we hit Dublin ! The city was immersed in 3 inches of snow and the roads were a disaster but since we'd got that far , we ploughed ( literally) on to the RDS. Items 3. and 4.

OK the scene was set. So we hadn't managed to attend the wedding Saturday night,missing out on the opportunity for me to dress up to the nines in the new underwear to wow GASP, but I had a back up plan. Under duress,GASP had agreed to take today off for us to go Christmas shopping. We decided to shop local, so the plan was shopping in Drogheda, Smyths/TK Maxx/Heatons/Marks and Spencers etc. before a romantic lunch in the Eastern Sea Board and then on to Duffys Toyworld in the afternoon. While we were away, the Carpet Man was going to return the carpets to their previous glory so a good day all round. This is how it went...... I got dressed having donned the new underwear, we went shopping, we had lunch and then it was bed time !Calm down readers....it's not what you think. I had ( as they said in the old days) "caught a chill", which meant that as soon as we arrived in Smyths I had to go the loo, then again 10 minutes later, then again before we left. I then went to t

Genius find last week. I was rushing through the local Supervalu on the hunt for a quick salad to accompany the Aruna Chicken Rogan Josh I had prepared for The FA and the Blonde. Out of the corner of my beadie foodie eye I spotted Thai Red Curry kit. When I say kit, I mean a little pack containing a lime, lemongrass, Galangal ( looks like dried pooh !), Thai Shallots ( looked the smae as Irish shallots!)6 red chillies, a globe of garlic and a stump of ginger. Following the instructions in the pack, I deseeded the chillies and put them in the food processor with the lemongrasss, shallots, garlic, ginger and Galangal. I finely chopped them in the processor before adding the rind of the lime, juice of half the lime, 10 black peppercorns and half a teaspoon each of cumin and coriander seeds. I then slowly added 6 tablespoons of sunflower oli until it turned into a smooth fragrant Thai Red Curry paste. It is now stored in a Kilner jar in the fridge and I feel like a Thai Nigella Lawson. You

So, here I am sitting watching X Factor, when I am meant to be at the evening reception of my cousins wedding. OK so last night the five year old threw up ( in the toilet) but was well for the rest of the evening and this morning so it was all looking good. One of the seven dwarfs had kindly agreed to baby sit, GASP kindly slept in this morning so I could have the post Sauvignon Blanc lie in tomorrow. The new GOKtastic dress was hanging on the outside of the wardrobe, lace top hold ups purchased and most importantly, the new ( expensive) underwear wrapped in tissue paper(shows the expense level!) was laid out in the bed with love and admiration.I am one stone lighter than 6 weeks ago ! GASP kindly volunteered to go to mass this evening so that I had no rush to rise in the morning. The exfoliation was complete, the tan perfect, the nails about to go on and then at 5.50 eldest son puked on the sitting room carpet. Gratefully her puked the week before the carpet cleaner is booked to come

Roseanne is petite, pretty with long chesnut hair and I invited her into my marital bed !She shares the bed with my husband and I. GASP wasn't keen initially but can, definitely, now see the benefits. I am certainly feeling the benefits. No more tugging and pulling and squealing.....she takes it all without making a sound so I can sleep away while it is going on. The relief to me is immense and I am alot less tired.I never thought there would be anyone except GASP and I ,in our bed but needs must, so Roseanne has joined us. Roseanne is 35cm tall, cost less than a tenner and is a godsend. You see, youngest son has an addiction.....pulling, stroking and holding on to my hair. If he is on my hip he is holding a clump of hair like it's a safety handle. In the morning, when he wakes ( beside us in bed....yes I know !) he spends about half an hour wooling the head off me, causing me alot of discomfort and meaning I arise looking like a Troll. Today, I bought Roseanne. As I type, she

GASP is on the doghouse ! Interestingly enough I don't think he is aware of the fact, but needless to say my tone and expression will make it evident in the very near future . OK from the start. Thanks to Weight Watchers I have lost 12 pounds in weight and a dress size. I am truly thrilled with my progress and think I am fabulous ! ( I think this most of the time thank God so I am even more fabulous than usual) The person I most want to be fabulous for is, in fact ,GASP. We are invited to the evening of a wedding in a few weeks, my first posh night out in forever so I am really looking forward to glamming up my new figure. I have arranged the babysitter already and was going to wear an LBD I nicked off the Mad One. This evening I tried it on, in front of GASP only to find....to my delight....that it is too big. Normally I would have it taken in by the Seamstress but as it belongs to the Mad One, that would be a bit chancy. GASP in a moment of " oh my God no, she is going to wa