Em's diary

[Maintainer]

corrrr look at that dinner Em! A girl after my own heart!

Thank you for the info re sharing for two weeks. (Just imagine though if you didn't finish the book in that time - I think I'd feel pressured!!)

 

[Emmma]

I imagine if I had a book I'd already read I'd be happy to lend it out as many times as necessary for the lendee to finish it. Will keep you posted if i get any good ones.

Dinner yesterday was a little odd. Bought a turkey thigh joint thinking the meat might have a little more flavour not realising it was still on the bone. My 'butchery' skills leave a little to be desired, was a nightmare trying to get all the bits of fat off so heated the prawns through in the luc lac pan in case it was too chewy. Turkey was edible, but ate the prawns anyway for good measure!

 

[Emmma]

Jo, sent you a pm re books.

Well, a manic day today, of course nothing got done last week so it was all (not so neatly) stacked up for me this morning! Hopefully will be able to catch up tomorrow...

B: half cinnamon galette
L: quarter chicken quiche
S: rest of galette
D: 2 chicken breasts dry fried, vanilla chesecake

 

[m-mouse]

Your butchery skills sound like mine! I remember the year I decided I was going to bone and stuff and roll my own turkey!! It was hard work and to say it didn't look quite as neat as the picture in the magazine I was using is a little bit of an understatement

How did you find going back to work yesterday? I didn't want to get up luckily I am working at home for two days now, although it is very noisy due to the racket the builders are making.

 

[Emmma]

Managed ok, though I'd set an alarm on monday for half way between getting up for work time and sleeping till i naturally wake up time, so it was less of a wrench than it might have been. fortunately i was so busy all day that the day flew by without me noticing, and now here we are on wednesday!

lucky you working from home, i could manage a couple of days of that! and i don't think i'll be attempting any turkey deboning again any time soon!

 

[m-mouse]

I kind of prefer being in the office as the days go quicker as it is more sociable but I agreed 2 days working from home some time ago and when it comes down to it I enjoy the lie in I get and it is handy for being able to do things like pop the washing on and receive parcels and keep an eye on builders!

 

[Emmma]

B: half cinnamon galette
L: quarter chicken quiche, 1/4 yogurt cake
S: rest of galette
D: 250g beef mince in rosemary mint meatballs, bowl sweetened greek yogurt

 

[m-mouse]

Mmmm if I made the yoghurt cake I could have that and my muffins..........

 

[Emmma]

Indeed, or even that plus your vanilla sponge... cake-tastic!

 

[Emmma]

Might give your sponge cake a go this weekend mouse, don't think i can get away with it during the week, if i took something like that into work for my breakfast everyone would want to know why i hadn't brought cake in for everybody, best to stick to my surreptitious galettes during the week.

B: 3/4 cinnamon galette
L: quarter chicken quiche, 4 rosemary mint meatballs
S: rest of galette
D: just under half a roast chicken with half a butternut squash & mum's bbq sauce
S: bowl sweetened greek yoghurt

 

[Emmma]

Went to appy feet after work to have a fish foot spa - definitey one of the oddest things i've experienced in some time. might be tempted to go back for another go though...

B: half cinnamon galette
L: 200g ish mince (meatballs) with garlic quark dip
S: rest of galette
D: 300g turkey & 100g prawns in luc lac marinade
S: bowl of greek yoghurt with hlf a toffee muller on top (thanks atropos for this suggestion - yum!)

 

[Emmma]

more diy-ing today, got quite a bit done though, and thank god it was pv day - was ready for a substantial dinner!

Was really looking forward to celeriac chips tonight, but both supermarkets i went to were sold out, so i improvised and made them from butternut squash instead, cooked with garlic - perhaps not quite the same league, but still really nice. oh shared the same dinner for once which was nice too

B: half cinnamon galette, bowl greek yoghurt with vanilla muller
L: leek & butternut squash soup with added chicken
S: rest of galette
D: 2 chicken breasts dry fried with butternut squash chips, green beans and mum's bbq sauce
S: 1/4 yoghurt cake

 

[m-mouse]

Swede is also not bad in an emergency although again not in the same league as celeriac.

 

[dukandebut]

I'm going to be trying your celeriac chips this week, Em. I thought I'd toss them in a little paprika and they'd go down well with steaks with a mushroom sauce.

Good luck with your continued DIYing. You are very inspirational!

 

[Emmma]

ooh, i like the sound of a little paprika, i've only done them with curry powder so far, but that would work too. i shall follow your lead if the supermarkets get celeriac back in stock!

 

[Emmma]

no diy today, felt pretty lethargic today all day to be honest - think i'm just getting really ready for my holidays. we did get our first quote for plastering today though, which was a little over what i was expecting, but good to know where we're starting.

can't believe we're doing 5 days this week, and am really not looking forward to this meal out tomorrow - i'm sure it will be beautiful food, but i'd rather come home and not have to bend any rules...

B: missed it
L: 1 chicken breast cut up and dry fried in a touch of chinese 5 spice, half cinnamon galette
D: quarter seafood quiche (prawns, crab & tuna), frozen toffee muller
S: sweetened greek yoghurt

 

[m-mouse]

Hi Em, are you ok hon?

 

[Emmma]

Hi all, so sorry i've been awol for a couple of days - it's not because i've gone off the rails, just been really manically busy.

Monday night's meal was successfully navigated with my atkins hat, and i have to say it was delicious, but i'll leave it at that!

Tuesday went to mum's for a planning meeting about our shopping trip on saturday, which is my promised reward for doing so well on dukan. She's giving me a huge budget, it's so generous of her - i thought i was just getting an outfit for my brother's wedding in august, but we'll be shopping for all sorts, and i'm really excited about it. Have realised i have no idea how to shop now, as it was previously such an ordeal i tried to avoid it as much as possible, only buying things that were really essential. Anyway.... drumroll please.... i shall be shopping for size 10s!!! My auntie brought round a size 10 dress and jacket she'd picked up in alexon and it fit (will post a pic later on), so was really surprised at that but dead chuffed. The three of us will be starting in bravissimo for a new bra (have shrunken boobs again!) and a bikini for my holiday and we'll take it from there.

foodwise have been fine so far this week, i won't bore you with the details but it's largely been cinnamon galettes, chicken, seafood quiche and yoghurt cake! Will post today's later on.

Looking at all the activity it's going to take me all day to catch up on here, but i'll do my best to get round all the new posts as soon as i can.

 

[jaqys]

Brilliant news, you'll really enjoy the shopping (if not too overwhelmed ).

 

[m-mouse]

Fantastic Em - enjoy you're shopping. Didn't really think you had gone off the rails but was worried you weren't ok!