Baking Nut (peanut that is!)

Yesterday I got a rare chance to do a spot of baking!

A work friend of my Mum's is getting married this Saturday and her colleagues wanted to give her a little party on her last day at work as a single girl!  They decided that they would all bring in something they had baked and have a little surprise tea party for her!  Apparently everyone made a valiant effort!  Even the one guy, Peter, who impressed everyone with his Cornflake Cakes and Mexican Wedding Cookies!

Mum asked me to make something if I had time so I took the opportunity to knock up a batch of Peanut Butter Crinkles (with an added kiss!)  These are super yummy and take about 20 minutes to make and bake so even I had time to make some!!!

I thought I'd share the recipe so you can try them for yourself!

(makes 20-25 cookies)

6 tbsp peanut butter

4oz butter

1/2 tsp vanilla essence

2oz caster sugar

2oz soft brown sugar

6oz plain flour

1 tsp baking powder

Preheat oven to 180 deg C/gas 4.

Place butter, peanut butter, sugars and vanilla in a bowl and cream together.  Add flour and baking powder and mix to form a firm dough.

Roll heaped teaspoon of dough into balls with floured hands.  Place on lined baking sheet and flatten slightly with a fork.  

Bake 14-15 mins to deep golden brown and allow to cool on sheet for 2-3 mins.  Press a chocolate kiss or giant chocolate button into center of hot cookies and transfer to cooling rack to cool properly.

 And there was even enough for a treat for James for looking after Sophie while I cooked!

He loved them (and he doesn't even like peanut butter!)

I didn't have any though, still being very good on Weight Watchers!!

Lots of Love

Kelly 

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Happy Birthday..........

David is 30!!

 My parner in crime! Work wouldn't be any fun without you (even if we do get in trouble for enjoying ourselves too much!)
And Sophie loves her Uncle D!

Have the best day ever!

Lots of Love
Kelly
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Surf's Up!

I haven't ever made a secret of my MAC obsession, I must own thousands of pounds worth of this yummy make up brand! 

Here is a small selection of my collection used on my wedding day!

I feel about MAC as some people do about shoes and bags, My MAC has never let me down!  My clothes might not always look how I want them to but I can look however I want with the stroke of a brush!  

 

On a recent shopping trip with Sophie and Mum I decided to stop by the MAC concession in House Of Fraser 'just to see if they had anything new'.  I haven't bought any new MAC since I found out I was pregnant and, after spending lots of money on clothes for Sophie, decided I might treat myself!

And I did!  

Surf Baby lipstick in Hibiscus, Lipglass in Strange Potion, Suntints Lip Balm in Pink Tinge and Silksheen Bronzer Stick in Tan-Tint

Perfect for the summer!!!

Do you have a fave cosmetic or brand?

Lots of Love

Kelly

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Grubs Up!

I know I posted about Sophie's food already but, as I spent the best part of Sunday cooking, I thought I'd share the fruits of my labour with you!

I already have a good stash of vegetable purees and had been giving the odd jar but haven't been impressed they just don't smell like actual food!

So I chopped, steamed, poached, whisked and blended my way through a mountain of ingredients and ta daa!!

 Tomato sauce (courtesy of my Aunt)

Cheese sauce

Chicken with leeks, sweet potatoes and carrots

Braised beef and sweet potatoes

Beef casserole and fish in a cheese and vegetable sauce!!

Now I just have to get James to stop eating it!!!

Lots of Love

Kelly

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A Little Taster.......

 Just as I am changing my own eating habits, Sophie is having a change as well!  My baby is ready for more than just milk.  I had been thinking about weaning for a while and as Sophie's bottles got bigger and bigger and she began to demand feeding more often I began to worry as I had no idea what I was supposed to do!

I was lucky enough to get some great information from Victoria Plum about baby led weaning but wasn't sure Sophie would make it to 6 months on milk alone!  The health visitors promote the 'no food till 6 months' policy so I have become part of an underground baby feeding gang of renegade mums!

Well nearly!  At 18 weeks Sophie had her first few spoonfuls of baby rice, she loved it so much I had to make her more!  After a few days I consulted Anabelle Karmel made her some baby purees to try some different tastes.

So far she likes everything except parsnip.  Her favourite food, though, Is anything Daddy is eating!  Yesterday I found them sitting on the floor sharing a banana!

I'll be spending the weekend cooking!

Lots of Love

Kelly

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Time To Make A Change....

Yes folks It's that time, the time that comes in all new Mums lives.  It's time I really have to think about shifting some of the extra weight I'm carrying around with me!

I'd love to call it baby weight but its not, Its me!  I lost the 2 and a half stones I put on with Sophie within the first 4 weeks but, more and more, meeting up with friends involved lunches out, cake (or both) and lots of lattes!

I have always struggled with my weight, dieting, starving, binging, loosing weight, putting it on I'm actually bored of it!  

I was following one such stupid diet (begins with an A) and had lived off cottage cheese and cucumber the week before we discovered I was pregnant!   I was so disappointed that my weight meant I was classed as a high risk pregnancy and felt so guilty when I developed gestational diabetes that I swore I would deal with my weight once and for all after our baby was born. (injecting yourself with insulin and stabbing your fingers 5 times a day is a horrible experience!)

So here I am, Sophie is nearly 20 weeks old, I am healed and she is more often than not sleeping through so I feel human again.  Well enough to fulfill my promise to myself (and my family!) with a little help from an old friend!

 

I was going to go it alone following the old point system but then decided it would be a good Idea to have a fresh start, new plan, new me, forget the past and just go for it! 

Thursday saw me join Weight Watchers Online so I'm 4 days in and getting my head round the new point values and exploring the site!

My friend, Mummy of twins and cake eating partner in crime Liz has started the plan today too!

I hope you don't mind if  I share my journey with updates now and again?

Dieting tips appreciated!!!!

Lots of Love

Kelly

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Have a lovely weekend......

From Sophie and her bear buddies!!!

Lots of Love

xxxx