INSTA WEAN TEAM - Avocado

On Friday 10th April I was invite to take part in the Avocado #Instaweanteam challenge.

Avocado is a 'new' food for me, something I usually only have to hold my prawn cocktails, but once again, being a mummy has opened my eyes to something new.

Austin loves avocado, but I'd only spread it on toast or put it in a cream sandwich, time to freshen things up..

I went a little over the top with my prep, I wanted to create a full meal out of avocado, which lead me to:
Coconut chicken with avocado sauce, with a side of avocado fries:

recipe & method

coconut chicken 
1 packet of chicken breast strips
1 bowl of plain flour (enough to coat the chicken)
1 egg beaten in a bowl
1 bowl of desiccated coconut (enough to coat the chicken)
2 tbsp of coconut oil

• Dip the chicken in the flour, shake off the excess, dip into the egg, then dip into the coconut.
• Repeat for all chicken strips.
• Gently fry the chicken in the coconut oil, turning frequently until all sides are slightly browned.
• Place on a baking tray and cook for 20-25 mins 200 degrees until completely cooked, drizzle excess coconut oil on top for extra crunch.

avocado sauce
2 garlic cloves
handful of fresh basil leaves
1 tbsp of olive oil
1 avocado
juice of 1 lemon
1 tbsp cold water

• Blend all together in a food processor, serve immediately
  

avocado fries
1 avocado, cut into fingers
1 bowl of plain flour, enough to cover the avocado
1 egg beaten in a bowl
1 bowl of panko breadcrumbs, enough to cover the avocado
1 tbsp of unsalted butter

• one at a time, dip avocado finger into the flour, shake off excess
• dip in the egg, then the breadcrumbs
• repeat for all avocado fingers
• gently fry in butter until golden on all sides, turning frequently
• bake for 10 - 15 mins 200 degrees until evenly cooked, turning half way through

Enjoy! 

Salmon Fishcakes

Recipe - Salmon fishcakes   

Using left overs -  no waste!

1 portion of salmon
1 and half potatoes, mashed
1 tbsp of plain flour
1 egg beaten
1 bowl of breadcrumbs (I used Paxs golden breadcrumbs)
1 tbsp unsalted butter

Flake the salmon and mix with the mashed potatoes, add a little of the egg.
Flour your hands and form into rounds.
(I made 4 rounds)

Dip each round in the egg, then the breadcrumbs, repeat for all rounds.

Gently fry in the unsalted butter until golden, flip and fry the other side until golden.

I will reheat the next day for 15 - 20 mins 200degrees until warmed through.

Options:
Perfect dish to hide veggies in!
Add 1 tsp of herbs and a splash of lemon juice.

Silence is golden

Silence is golden, or is it?

So hubby is away on a (long!) stag weekend in Prague, I’m trying not to look at the pictures that are appearing on Instagram and Facebook, they’re not bad, if that’s what you’re thinking! I just want him to tell me about it (if he wants to) when he gets here, without me saying “yeah I saw that...”

I have major night out envy; luckily my dolls came to the rescue and suggested tapas and drinks. Perfect.

I now love tapas, being the picky eater that I once was, I remember the first time I went for tapas, with my narrow mind, thinking it was just olives and paella (which I also thought I didn’t like!) so I thought I wouldn’t enjoy it. How wrong was I!? It is delicious and the perfect way to try new foods, lots of little portions to share, so much fun! Before Austin was born we went for every family birthday, whenever we had a free night... the staff started to recognise us! I have missed going there.

Last night the sangria was flowing, the conversation was ridiculous with much laughter, until the waitress tried to take my food away when I hadn’t finished! I almost bit her hand off telling her no. ‘Joey doesn’t share food’ springs to mind!

To the next venue for more drinks, we had to get a taxi, someone (not me!) had ridiculous shoes on, which meant we couldn’t walk the 10 minute journey...

It was such a wonderful night, almost like we were abroad, sipping prosecco and gossiping about anything and everything.

Like all good things, the night came to an end.

I quickly logged into Facebook when I got in, and even more exciting news, the sneak peak pictures of Austin’s cake smash photo shoot had gone live! They are gorgeous, just absolutely perfect. I cannot wait for the full set of pictures and to start filling my house with them.

To bed, ready for the most epic lie in. This didn’t happen. Who wakes up at 7:15 when there is no baby waking you, me, that’s who!

The house is silent.

There is no baby babbling, playing, and being a mischief.

The house is silent.

There is no hubby.

I don’t like it; I don’t know what to do with myself.

Normally Richard and I go out together so he is normally here if Austin sleeps out.

I don’t remember what I used to do with myself before Austin was born, I probably slept, because I could and my body wasn’t conditioned to get up at ridiculous o’clock.

So far I have watched E! News, had a boiled water with lemon, had a bowl of cereal, now I’m flicking through the sky planner, counting down the hours until I get my baby back. I should probably do something more productive.

Well I’ve at least wrote this.

 

 

Dear Austin

So much has happened, my baby turned 1! I now have a 1 year, a perfect boy that I have shared a year with, and it has been an absolute pleasure.

It has been a very different and difficult at times, 12 months, but I have loved every second. Even the times when I saw 3 am a little more than I wanted to.

On 03/04/2014, I woke up, thinking it was just another day, I did the labour dance and went about my usual day, we watched ‘The Intern’ and laughed and laughed... real belly laughs.

The weather was nice, and we wanted to spruce the garden up (have I really just used the word ‘spruce’ !?) so we headed to B&Q after tea. We arrived and some pains started, I ignored them, thinking they were the Braxton hicks again, but they were getting stronger, especially when I was in the queue, the only thing to help was to rock back and forth, I might add that no one offered to let us go ahead of them!

On the drive home, I had a big show; the pains were still coming, so I rang the hospital, they asked me to come in for a check over, in all the excitement I hadn’t noticed if Austin was moving.

We got to the hospital at 10pm, the midwife confirmed all was fine, but did say I was in slow labour, she told me to go home, get myself comfortable because I was going to be in for a long night!

Things really stepped up a notch when we got back home, so I took her advice of a bath and took the time to shave my legs ready! I tried to have a paracetamol, more advice, it was cruched into jam on toast – this did not help.

Richard put TV on while I paced through my contractions, stomping through room to room, swaying, rocking, breathing... I ranged the hospital, they said it was still soon to go back in and asked me to wait until midnight and call back.

I didn’t make it to midnight, the same midwife answered the phone when I rang back, I didn’t even manage to say my name, but she knew, she told me to come in.

That car journey, to the hosptial, I watched the clock, knowing as the time passed what was coming. But also getting mad with myself because I knew much worse was coming, so I needed to toughen up!

Richard parked far away from the hospital, and since it was late, the main door was shut, far too much walking than I was capable of, but I managed it. I was unable to say my name to check in.

It was a long night, I was swinging from the roof on the ropes, demanding my back be massaged (poor Richard), pacing the room, asking to for the air and to go into the water – I got my wish, in I went.

I was in the pool for a long time, all I remember is the smell of cheese and onion crisps – Richard made his way through many packets...

It was time to push...

And push...

The head was out, I touched him, it was amazing, but terrifying, it was what I needed to get the rest of him out.

12:16 04/04/2014 – Austin was born.

The most amazing feeling, my son entered the world. I loved him, I knew I would love him, but I loved him a million times more than I thought I would. He was perfect, I just held him in arms, staring at him, feeling a million different emotions all in one go. I looked at husband and I felt so much more love for him, my family was complete.

Much more yukiness followed:

The delivery of the placenta - I needed the gas and air.

A few grazes - I needed stitches.

My baby needed feeding – I had no milk.

My baby needed feeding – he refused a bottle, I still had no milk.

I wanted to go home – I wasn’t allowed.

I finally discharged myself at 10 pm, much to the midwives disapproval, but I needed to go home. I needed to rest, but I was not going to get any rest. Not for the next 12 months...

It has been the most incredible, amazing year, watching him grow and learn. Seeing his first smile, hearing his first laugh, watching him roll for the first time, and scaring the bejeezus out of me when I saw him face down on the baby monitor! Watching him learn to crawl, learn to cruise, learn to walk, hearing him babbling. His sheer joy and excitement at everyday objects that we take for granted. He has opened my eyes to see the world again, through his eyes and I love him even more for that.

To my darling baby boy, I love you.

Happy first birthday xxx