Footprint Fun
Recently I've been having fun at my local pottery cafe making gifts and keepsakes featuring the bubs' tiny footprints. From coffee cups to Christmas baubles, nothing has escaped the stamp of little feet and I'm in danger of ending up with an entire crockery set!
New Mummy Beauty Rule Number 1:
Don't let your sister con you into believing she is capable of carrying out beauty treatments.
You may be poor and feeling less than your best in the beauty stakes but believe me, even if your sister has done a beauty therapy course (many moons ago), cutting corners when it comes to personal maintenance, never works!
The problem started the other day... I was moaning to my sister about how I needed to get my eyebrows waxed and, very kindly, she offered to do them for me.
So far so good, eyebrows done and she did a god job but whilst scrutinising my rather haggard face, she 'kindly' pointed out that I seemed to be growing little moustache - talk about helping me feel good about myself - and should she wax that off too.
"Why not?" I said. "In for a penny in for a pound and it would be nice to feel a little more up together."
HOWEVER... she neglected to use the facial hair waxing strips and now I have a bright red, spotty top lip instead!
Some people might argue that I should have known better, after all this isn't the first time the sis has inflicted her 'beauty' treatments on me.
Whilst training at college, she asked me to come in for a facial as she needed some volunteers to be assessed on. Fancying a relaxing treatment I agreed to be her guinea pig only to discover on arrival that she didn't need to give anyone a facial at all but a bikini wax instead.
The pain was bad enough but this paled into insignificance compared to the humiliation of having her handiwork inspected by the course tutor.
Moral of the story... perhaps I should eat less cake and use the substantial amount of money I would save to fork out for some proper beauty treatments!
On my baby wish list this month...
Bubs is getting bigger; weaning is on the horizon and the weather is getting colder. So, I know it's a bit early for Father Christmas to visit, but if he could come a couple of months early, these are the things I'd like this month:
A foot muff
A jumperoo
Some new baby sleeping bags
A High chair
Winter clothes
However, being a skint realist, I think I had better hit the nearly new sales to see if I can pick up any of these bits and bobs for a bargain.
The NCT and Baby and Children's Market often run nearly new sales in your local area, but get there on time so you don't miss any of the good stuff!
A foot muff
A jumperoo
Some new baby sleeping bags
A High chair
Winter clothes
However, being a skint realist, I think I had better hit the nearly new sales to see if I can pick up any of these bits and bobs for a bargain.
The NCT and Baby and Children's Market often run nearly new sales in your local area, but get there on time so you don't miss any of the good stuff!
Afternoon Tea Scones
Talking of afternoon tea (see previous post) and inspired by the beautiful recipes I've been salivating over on the Anecdotes and Applecores blog, made me think of this recipe, which has to be the easiest and cheapest scone recipe ever. It makes delicious scones which I often add different bits and bobs to.
3oz butter
1/4 pint of milk
Why not try adding some chopped almonds or pistachios along with some chopped glace cherries or how about the grated zest of one orange and try serving with orange curd and clotted cream instead of jam.
Rub the butter and four together to create a fine breadcrumb like mixture
Stir in any additional ingredients such as your dried fruit
Mix in the milk and combine until a ball of dough forms
Gently kneed for one to two minutes
Roll out until the dough is about 1inch thick then use a biscuit cutter to cut out your rounds
Place your rounds on a lined baking tray, brush with a little milk and then bake in the oven for 12 - 15 minutes until golden on top
Ingredients:
8oz flour3oz butter
1/4 pint of milk
Why not try adding some chopped almonds or pistachios along with some chopped glace cherries or how about the grated zest of one orange and try serving with orange curd and clotted cream instead of jam.
Method:
Preheat your oven to gas mark 7Rub the butter and four together to create a fine breadcrumb like mixture
Stir in any additional ingredients such as your dried fruit
Mix in the milk and combine until a ball of dough forms
Gently kneed for one to two minutes
Roll out until the dough is about 1inch thick then use a biscuit cutter to cut out your rounds
Place your rounds on a lined baking tray, brush with a little milk and then bake in the oven for 12 - 15 minutes until golden on top
More Tea Vicar?
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| Yes, I did make it myself! Very proud of my achievements. |
Of course, a glass or two of bubbly to wet the baby's head and a slice of cake doesn't go amiss either. In fact, the best post-ceremony receptions we have been to have incorporated afternoon tea and I'm a girl with a sweet tooth, so that keeps me happy.
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| Don't get stuck behind the BBQ! |
However, even if you decide to cater for your christening or naming ceremony yourself, it can still be expensive and for someone who loves all the entertaining fripperies, I do often run the risk of racking up even bigger bills by getting carried away with the need to buy cake stands, table decorations, coloured glasses, bunting etc etc.
So here are a few tips to help keep the costs down:
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| Well it was Jubilee year! |
- Buy in bulk - if you can, visit a wholesaler to buy ingredients/wine/soft drinks etc for your party
- Substitute beautiful fresh flower arrangements with beautiful pot plants that will look lovely on tables but can be planted in the garden once your party is over
- Beg, borrow and steal (ok maybe not the last one but you know what I mean)
- Take people up on their offers of help
- Keep your refreshments simple - it's all about being together after all.
Slummy Mummy
I'm not sure who coined the phrase 'yummy mummy' but I have a feeling it was designed to make the mere mortals amongst us feel hopelessly inadequate. 'Slummy mummy' or perhaps 'scummy mummy' might be more appropriate and they certainly apply to me on a more than regular basis these days. I mean I'm not just talking about the odd assortment of clothes I now finding myself wearing; a random combination of what I can dig out of the wardrobe that fits, but I also find I'm often wearing a little eau de vomit along with a dodgy hairdo and a slightly frazzled look.
However, I shouldn't feel disheartened, I only need to look back a few months to realise that this is actually an improvement. A week after the baby arrived a friend dropped by at about midday to be greeted at the door by me, still in my dressing gown and sporting the rather attractive, hospital issue thrombosis socks, oh the embarrassment!
Mind you, even that wasn't as embarrassing as the time I went to my local New Mother and Baby group only to leak breast milk all over my top and then almost squirt the woman sitting next to me when trying to feed bubs - no one ever mentioned to me the range you could get on the old babushkas. So ladies, take heed, don't sit too close to others when you breast feed and always remember to use some good quality breast pads (I'd recommend either the Lansinoh or Tommy Tippee ones, don't buy the cheap ones, it's not worth it) and always pack a spare top for yourself when out and about. Motherhood, glamorous? Rubbish! But I wouldn't change it for the world.
However, I shouldn't feel disheartened, I only need to look back a few months to realise that this is actually an improvement. A week after the baby arrived a friend dropped by at about midday to be greeted at the door by me, still in my dressing gown and sporting the rather attractive, hospital issue thrombosis socks, oh the embarrassment!
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| On holiday a year apart... before... |
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| ...and after! (Ooh look clashing colours, a dodgy do, straining buttons and mummy tummy making an appearance from under the tshirt ha ha!) |
Mind you, even that wasn't as embarrassing as the time I went to my local New Mother and Baby group only to leak breast milk all over my top and then almost squirt the woman sitting next to me when trying to feed bubs - no one ever mentioned to me the range you could get on the old babushkas. So ladies, take heed, don't sit too close to others when you breast feed and always remember to use some good quality breast pads (I'd recommend either the Lansinoh or Tommy Tippee ones, don't buy the cheap ones, it's not worth it) and always pack a spare top for yourself when out and about. Motherhood, glamorous? Rubbish! But I wouldn't change it for the world.
The Happy Mummy: Some 'practical' advice...
The Happy Mummy: Some 'practical' advice...: 5 things to do before baby is born: 1. Go away, by yourselves, for the weekend. You might not really have the money for it as you are bu...
The Happy Mummy: Roasted Vegatables and Goats' Cheese Crostini
The Happy Mummy: Roasted Vegatables and Goats' Cheese Crostini: Amongst the many things that I avoided eating during pregnancy, the thing I hankered after most was a nice bit of goats' cheese. So imagine ...
Roasted Vegatables and Goats' Cheese Crostini
Amongst the many things that I avoided eating during pregnancy, the thing I hankered after most was a nice bit of goats' cheese. So imagine my delight when I stumbled upon the following goats' cheese recipe in Woman and Home magazine (how middle aged am I?!), featuring Tesco Everyday Value ingredients; cheap, quick and delicious!
1 aubergine cut into chunks
1 courgette cut into chunks
1 tbsp olive oil
1tbsp of thyme leaves (I used chopped rosemary leaves instead as I didn't have thyme and it was just as tasty)
1tbsp capers (optional)
250g of cherry tomatoes
8 slices of garlic bread
150g goats' cheese sliced into 8
2tbsp of onion chutney
Balsamic vinegar
Crumbled walnuts (optional)
Roasted Vegetables and Goats' Cheese Crostini
(Serves 4)Ingredients
1 red onion cut into chunks1 aubergine cut into chunks
1 courgette cut into chunks
1 tbsp olive oil
1tbsp of thyme leaves (I used chopped rosemary leaves instead as I didn't have thyme and it was just as tasty)
1tbsp capers (optional)
250g of cherry tomatoes
8 slices of garlic bread
150g goats' cheese sliced into 8
2tbsp of onion chutney
Balsamic vinegar
Crumbled walnuts (optional)
Method
1. Preheat the oven to gas mark 7
2. Place all the vegetables, except for the tomatoes, into a large roasting tin and toss with oil and thyme. Season well and place in the oven for 10 minutes.
3. After 10 minutes add the capers and tomatoes and cook for a further 10 minutes
4. Nestle the garlic bread slices amongst the vegetables and bake for 5 minutes
5. Top the garlic bread slices with the goats' cheese and grill until the cheese is soft and bubbling
6. Serve the garlic bread and goats' cheese on a bed of your roasted vegetables
7. Finish off by topping your goats' cheese with the onion chutney, a scattering of crumbled walnuts and a drizzle of balasamic vinegar
This recipe was delicious and really only took minutes to prepare; perfect when you don't have much time on your hands, which I certainly don't have these days. Perhaps not great for helping to eliminate the baby pouch, but hey who cares when dinner tastes this good!
Some 'practical' advice...
5 things to do before baby is born:
1. Go away, by yourselves, for the weekend.
You might not really have the money for it as you are busy saving for all the 'must have' paraphernalia you need for baby, but you really won't have the money, or the time for this once baby arrives.
2. Enjoy being able go for a drink at the pub, out for dinner or to the cinema on a whim, you won't be able to do this so easily soon!
3. Begin stocking up on the essentials: nappies, wipes, nappy rash cream as you approach D Day, it will help spread the cost after baby arrives. You'll be amazed at how quickly you get through stuff and how much extra cash you're spending on your weekly shop.
4. Series link anything that looks good on your TV planner. You'll be grateful for this during the early stages of labour and for all of those times when you are feeding your baby - especially late at night.
5. Make the most of people doing everything for you and put your feet up. All too soon you'll be doing everything, the word 'multi tasking' doesn't even cover what you'll be expected to do.
5 things that you'll swear will never happen to you (but will) once baby is born:
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| Sensible haircut? Check. Practical footwear? Check. Ridiculous sized parasol? Check. Overstuffed change bag? Check. I could go on... |
1. You'll get a sensible haircut.
2. Practical will be the new fashionable. You might even wear a bum bag. (Did I really put that in print? I admit, it may have happened once or twice, well I do only have two hands!)
3. Dads will begin to perfect the art of embarrassing Dad Dancing. (I have video evidence of this, but Captain Sensible has forbidden me to publish it! He'll have to stay in my good books.)
4. You'll talk about your child's poo, vomit etc etc A LOT, to anyone. In fact you'll become one of those annoying people that talk about your baby, all the time, to anyone.
5. You'll try to colour coordinate your outfit with the baby's at least once!
What the fuzz!!?
Well not quite the expression I used this morning when I realised I had locked my keys in the car along with the dog, but not too far off. Luckily the baby was still strapped to me or it could have been a real disaster.
Fortuitously, seeing as none of my nearest or dearest would answer their phones to come and rescue me, a policeman happened to be passing, so I flagged him down and rather shamefacedly alerted him to my plight.
The first plan of action was to get the spare set of car keys from the house but of course this proved rather difficult as my house keys were also locked in the boot of the car and Captain Sensible has ensured that the house is like Fort Knox. Even Mr Policeman couldn't find a way in as apparently we have a "decent" front door lock which doesn't make it very easy to: "kick the door down." Now that really wouldn't have gone down too well with the other half.
Eventually with the aid of a: local camper; his wire coat hanger; a rather burly police officer and a metal pole we managed to get the rear window down and I was able to extract my keys.
A rather mortifying start to the day indeed to be witnessed by the rather nice Mr Policeman and passing motorists, especially given that all of this took place with me rocking early morning, Jeremy Kyle chic: no makeup, wet hair and white socks and slippers (I'd just taken off my wellies and they were in the boot - of course I don't wear socks and slippers out in public normally!)
Still, on the bright side, the dog was fine and Olive got to sit in a police car and have her mug shot taken with Mr Policeman. Women drivers eh?
Fortuitously, seeing as none of my nearest or dearest would answer their phones to come and rescue me, a policeman happened to be passing, so I flagged him down and rather shamefacedly alerted him to my plight.
The first plan of action was to get the spare set of car keys from the house but of course this proved rather difficult as my house keys were also locked in the boot of the car and Captain Sensible has ensured that the house is like Fort Knox. Even Mr Policeman couldn't find a way in as apparently we have a "decent" front door lock which doesn't make it very easy to: "kick the door down." Now that really wouldn't have gone down too well with the other half.
Eventually with the aid of a: local camper; his wire coat hanger; a rather burly police officer and a metal pole we managed to get the rear window down and I was able to extract my keys.
A rather mortifying start to the day indeed to be witnessed by the rather nice Mr Policeman and passing motorists, especially given that all of this took place with me rocking early morning, Jeremy Kyle chic: no makeup, wet hair and white socks and slippers (I'd just taken off my wellies and they were in the boot - of course I don't wear socks and slippers out in public normally!)
Still, on the bright side, the dog was fine and Olive got to sit in a police car and have her mug shot taken with Mr Policeman. Women drivers eh?
Where are the instructions?
We've been lucky enough to have some very generous friends who have given and lent us stuff along the way, so at least this foray into the unknown realms of baby equipment hasn't meant complete bankruptcy - almost, but not quite!
Of the things I have been given, some of the baby books friends recommended were invaluable, others left me in tears and were soon relegated to the bin.
Unfortunately, unlike furniture from IKEA, babies don't come with instructions, so a good book or two can be really useful and there are two in particular that I really liked. The first book, 'The Rough Guide To Pregnancy and Birth' by Kaz Cooke, kept me company throughout my pregnancy and was a humorous and fairly informative guide of what to expect week by week. It gave you details about what should be happening to you and baby and what you might start thinking about in terms of getting organised, as well as including amusing diary entries from the author herself.
The second and probably even more useful book for me has been 'Your Baby Week By Week: The ultimate guide to caring for your new baby, by Dr Caroline Fertleman (great name!) and Simon Cave. I liked this book because it doesn't make any judgements or tell you what you should do. It tells you what you might expect and what you might want to start thinking about trying. This kind of approach has been great for me, as although I want to get into some sort of routine, I also want it
to be flexible enough so that I can still go out and about.
Any other recommendations for good books or baby equipment, please let me know.
Unfortunately, unlike furniture from IKEA, babies don't come with instructions, so a good book or two can be really useful and there are two in particular that I really liked. The first book, 'The Rough Guide To Pregnancy and Birth' by Kaz Cooke, kept me company throughout my pregnancy and was a humorous and fairly informative guide of what to expect week by week. It gave you details about what should be happening to you and baby and what you might start thinking about in terms of getting organised, as well as including amusing diary entries from the author herself.
The second and probably even more useful book for me has been 'Your Baby Week By Week: The ultimate guide to caring for your new baby, by Dr Caroline Fertleman (great name!) and Simon Cave. I liked this book because it doesn't make any judgements or tell you what you should do. It tells you what you might expect and what you might want to start thinking about trying. This kind of approach has been great for me, as although I want to get into some sort of routine, I also want it
to be flexible enough so that I can still go out and about.
Any other recommendations for good books or baby equipment, please let me know.
Apple, Fig and Almond Cake
Apple, Fig and Almond Cake
This is my own take on a traditional apple cake recipe. I've included brown sugar and figs and a little extra ground almond. Cake might not be the best thing if you are on a diet but I'm still breast feeding so apparently you are allowed a few extra calories a day!
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| And here's one I made earlier! |
Ingredients
100g figs
400g apples
225g light brown sugar
225g butter
200g self raising flour
50g ground almonds
3 large eggs
Method
1. Preheat your oven to gas mark 4
2. Grease and line a 10" loaf tin
3. Peel, core and chop up your apples, chop them quite finely so that your cake is easy to slice
4. Chop your figs
5. Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy
6. Beat in the eggs one at a time, adding a little flour to stop the mixture curdling
7. Fold in the flour and ground almonds until the mixture is of a soft drooping consistency. Use a little milk if you feel your mixture is too stiff
8. Fold in the apples and figs and then place your mixture into your prepared cake tin
9. Cook for about 50 minutes. Use tin foil to cover if your cake looks like it is going too brown and check that it is cooked by inserting a skewer which should come out clean
A Cunning Plan!
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| Caught red handed! |
Today I shall be trying to convince him otherwise. First on my list when bubs is asleep, is to make a lovely fig, apple and almond cake - my own take on a recipe I found online, I'll let you know how it goes! Well they do say a way to a man's heart is through his stomach.
Me Time
Ahh, baby asleep, jobs done, so a few minutes me time. Time to put my feet up for five and get blogging.
Captain Sensible is back at work after the school holidays so it is time to spend some money whilst he's not looking - well £1 on an ice cream! Finally the weather seems to have perked up and I can indulge in some well earned smugness as everyone else heads back to work and I can enjoy early morning strolls with my dog in the New Forest, without getting soaked, and leisurely afternoon jaunts to the ice cream parlour. Apparently it has been the wettest summer for 100 years, nicely timed to coincide with my maternity leave, so I think I'm quite justified in feeling particularly pleased about this late summer sunshine.
I've also been back on the case with the freebies and bargain deals - fear not hubby, I'm not spending all your money just yet. I've been into to town to pick up my final Bounty pack and a baby pack courtesy of Emma's diary. They do tend to be full of fairly useless stuff but some of the money off coupons are quite useful and the little pots of Sudo creme are good too as they take up less room in your change bag and I refill them from my big pot when they run out.
I've also been out blackberry picking again and managed to procure a bumper bag of cooking apples that a neighbour was selling for the princely sum of £1.25. I can feel a surfeit of blackberry and apple crumbles coming on!
At this time of year it's amazing what people are selling from their gardens and being out and about with the buggy means that I often stumble upon these little honesty stalls that last year I would have driven right past. Last week I picked up a yummy bag of tomatoes and a huge marrow for under a pound, far cheaper than the supermarket.
Luckily for me I also have my own fruit trees in the garden, so if anyone has any good recipes that involve pears, crab apples or figs, let me know.
Excuses Excuses
At what point do I have to stop blaming my failings on the very convenient 'baby brain' excuse and wake up to the fact I'm just highly disorganised?
Yesterday I waited in all afternoon for my Tesco delivery to arrive, only to discover I hadn't pressed the order button on my purchases the night before! So two hours, no food and a row with the hubby later I was feeling quite frustrated at my wasted afternoon.
Still, it is on its way today and should, at least, boast some food which is certainly an improvement on the first online order I made after having bubs which consisted of wine, chocolate and crisps. Healthy! Maybe I am getting somewhere after all.
Yesterday I waited in all afternoon for my Tesco delivery to arrive, only to discover I hadn't pressed the order button on my purchases the night before! So two hours, no food and a row with the hubby later I was feeling quite frustrated at my wasted afternoon.
Still, it is on its way today and should, at least, boast some food which is certainly an improvement on the first online order I made after having bubs which consisted of wine, chocolate and crisps. Healthy! Maybe I am getting somewhere after all.
Feeding Fashion...If only I'd known!
The best advice I have been given since having my baby is that a happy mum = a happy baby. So if something isn't working for you and your baby isn't doing exactly what all your well-meaning parents, friends, health visitors, baby books etc etc are telling you (do they ever?), don't worry about it and do what suits you and your family. Hardly rocket science I know, but it is amazing how easy it is to lose sight of this when things aren't going according to plan as I found out early on when I had trouble with feeding. I'm so glad someone came to the rescue with this simple piece of wisdom when I was a not so happy mummy!
In contrast, the advice I wish I'd been given before having baby is to choose your maternity wear carefully so that you can use it afterwards if you are choosing to breast feed.
Let's face it, unlike the celebs I was talking about yesterday, most of us are still a bit wobbly after the arrival of our little bundles of joy. Those little dresses that looked fabulous stretched across our bumps don't work at all for breast feeding, unless, of course, you are happy to hoik them over your knickers and bare more than anybody really wants to see!
And therein lies the next problem - with finances already feeling a little strapped, you don't really want to be spending lots of money on new clothes to breast feed in that hopefully you'll shrink out of eventually.
The items that served me best, both pre and post-pregnancy, were nursing tops - available at H&M, Mothercare and Dotty Ps and looser, floatier tops that, not only looked pretty but, were easy to pull up and didn't cling to the bits you wanted to hide. Primani has also been a must have, for some budget clothes to tide me over.
Websites such as: www.milkchic.co.uk, were also good for finding clothes to feed in that were good value and didn't look like something your Gran would wear!
In contrast, the advice I wish I'd been given before having baby is to choose your maternity wear carefully so that you can use it afterwards if you are choosing to breast feed.
Let's face it, unlike the celebs I was talking about yesterday, most of us are still a bit wobbly after the arrival of our little bundles of joy. Those little dresses that looked fabulous stretched across our bumps don't work at all for breast feeding, unless, of course, you are happy to hoik them over your knickers and bare more than anybody really wants to see!
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| Perfect for showing off the bump, not so good for breast feeding! |
And therein lies the next problem - with finances already feeling a little strapped, you don't really want to be spending lots of money on new clothes to breast feed in that hopefully you'll shrink out of eventually.
The items that served me best, both pre and post-pregnancy, were nursing tops - available at H&M, Mothercare and Dotty Ps and looser, floatier tops that, not only looked pretty but, were easy to pull up and didn't cling to the bits you wanted to hide. Primani has also been a must have, for some budget clothes to tide me over.
Websites such as: www.milkchic.co.uk, were also good for finding clothes to feed in that were good value and didn't look like something your Gran would wear!
The Dilemma - more muffin or more muffin top?
To run or not to run? That is the question. It's peeing it down with rain outside, just the right sort of weather for a steamy cup of tea and a yummy slice of cake and yet... the dog needs exercising, she's going mad, and the last stubborn vestiges of baby weight need to be addressed, ooh the dilemma. But with articles like this one: Celebrity trainer Tracy Anderson reveals how she lost her baby weight... in just six weeks, courtesy of the Daily Mail, there seems to be more pressure on us to spring back into shape as quickly as possible. Perhaps I should have that cup of tea and slice of cake after all, while I think about what to do, and shove the paper in the bin!
Why not try Nigella's recipe for blackberry and apple muffins?
Simple Pleasures
Ten simple pleasures that make me smile...
1. Hearing my baby laugh
2. Walking the dog on a sunny day
3. Eating cake
4. Waking up before the alarm goes off and realising you still have an hour in bed
5. Clean bed sheets
6. Snow days
7. Finding money in your pocket when you do the washing
8. Spending time with family and friends
9. Laughing so much it hurts
10. Singing loudly to music in my car, when no one else can hear me
What simple pleasures make you smile?
1. Hearing my baby laugh
2. Walking the dog on a sunny day
3. Eating cake
4. Waking up before the alarm goes off and realising you still have an hour in bed
5. Clean bed sheets
7. Finding money in your pocket when you do the washing
8. Spending time with family and friends
9. Laughing so much it hurts
10. Singing loudly to music in my car, when no one else can hear me
What simple pleasures make you smile?
The best things in life are free - well almost!
Feeling the pinch at the supermarket? With food prices shooting up at the supermarket and now the added purchases of nappies, wipes, formula etc you may find that you're cutting back on some of life's little luxuries. Fear not though, it's Autumn (well almost) and help is just around the corner... or in the hedgerow.The blackberries are beautifully ripe at the moment, so get picking* your free fare and get baking. Why not take some inspiration from the bakers on the Great British Bake Off (did anyone see those tarts this week?) or how about a classic blackberry crumble, which you can bake for virtually nothing? Food for the stomach and food for the soul!
Blackberry, Apple and Almond Crumble
Topping
7oz plain flour1oz ground almonds
6oz butter
2oz caster sugar
Handful of toasted almond flakes to decorate
Filling
2lbs cooking apples6oz caster sugar
juice of two lemons
12oz blackberries
Method
1. Preheat your oven to gas mark 62. Peel, core and chop up your apples
3. Place apples, blackberries, sugar and lemon juice into a pan and heat until apples begin to soften
4. Place the filling into an oven proof dish
5. Rub together the flour, ground almonds, butter and caster sugar until you have formed small breadcrumb consistency
6. Place on top of the filling mixture and scatter with the toasted almond flakes
7. Cook in the oven for 30 minutes
For an even cheaper version, leave out the ground almonds and almond flakes!
*Never pick anything unless you know what you're picking!
The Mummy Fairy
Of course, in an ideal world, I wouldn't have to return to work until my daughter was at School and I could spend the next few years enjoying motherhood to the fullest. But with the pressures of modern living, there is no doubt that, financially, even these 9 months are going to be a struggle, just like they are for any other parent.
And just like any other first-time parent there are days when you don't know which way is up; the baby is crying (you don't know why, even though the books tell you you should be able to work it out), the house is a tip and there hasn't been enough time in the day to do any of the jobs you had planned to do. So I'll be sharing my stories and tips: the good, the bad and the ugly, in the hope that this blog might help some mummies achieve the following three wishes: to save time, save money and save their sanity!
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