Devilishly Deliciously Deceitful

I'm a Mummy in a hurry these days. There is, quite simply, never enough time and I feel myself hurtling from one job to another in between looking after Bubs. The prospect of then entertaining fills me with dread, for I have realised that I am no longer the competent cook I once thought I was.

Some of my latest triumphs have included a roast dinner without roast potatoes (I forgot to cook them), a cremated Christmas turkey and a cake that didn't rise because I had forgotten to shut the oven door. In fact things have gotten so bad that when I last invited my in-laws over for Sunday lunch, they offered to take us out instead! They were clearly wiser than to rely on me to provide them with something edible and I was more than grateful to let someone else do the cooking.

The problem is that I'm always trying to hurry things and this is a recipe (pardon the pun) for disaster. A good meal takes time, attention, careful planning... well that's what I thought until I was sent a selection of Devilishly Delicious desserts to try.

The marvellous people at Devilishly Delicious (www.devilishlydelicious.co.uk) have come up with a superb range of restaurant quality desserts which give people, like me, the confidence to whip up a delicious and professional looking dessert in minutes (and by minutes, I mean minutes!). You simply heat up the dessert mixture until boiling, pour into moulds, ramekins or other suitable dessert dishes, chill for an hour and hey presto!

The other beaty about this range of desserts is that they are also incredibly versatile. If you have a couple of extra minutes (and by a couple of extra minutes, I mean a couple of extra minutes) you can 'pimp' your dessert by adding a shot of liquor, some toasted nuts, freshly whipped cream etc etc. So it's almost like not cheating at all...

And therein lies my devilish deceit. At the last dinner party I threw, although the meal itself was rather mediocre, 'my' little chocolate espresso pots with a shot of Tia Maria, and toasted hazelnuts was a complete success. I didn't let on I'd had a helping hand, although I rather guess I might have been rumbled now.

There are four desserts in the range: Sicilian Lemon Pot, Pot au Chocolate, Creme Brulee and Panna Cotta and not only are they genuinely really tasty (I've tried them all!), they are gluten free, free from artificial flavourings and colourings and they're suitable for vegetarians. There is also a range of fruit coulis available too - so that saves on the mess in the kitchen.

So if you too are pushed for time but looking for that wow factor when hosting a dinner party, I wouldn't fail to recommend Devilishly Delicious Desserts which are available at selected Waitrose stores, Lakeland, Ocado online, Booths, Dobbies Garden Centres and various other independent retailers.

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My Top 5 Free Money Saving Apps

I love a few treats and it's even better if you can get them at a discount. These days there seems to be an app to help you save money for all kinds of things and these are a few of my favourites:

App gratis
App Gratis is for anyone that loves getting the latest and best apps for free. Just download the App Gratis app to find out which app is being given away free for the day.








Groupon

Great for bargain getaways both in the UK and abroad plus huge savings on a range of different goods available locally to you.






O2 Moments
Fancy some free prosecco and dough sticks at Prezzo or a free packet of Percy Pigs at M&S? Well if you are on the O2 network, download their priority moments app and enjoy the rewards of being a loyal customer.






Top Cash Back
Use the Top Cash Back app to click through to the store you wish to buy from and start earning cash back on your purchases. Receive payment either in Amazon vouchers or in cold hard cash straight into your bank account. Works well but can take time to accumulate funds and get paid, so requires you to be quite disciplined about using the app when shopping online.

Skyscanner
Want to find the cheapest flights available to your destination? Use this site to input the relevant information and then let the computer do all the hard work. Saves time and money, what could be better?!

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Quick, Easy and Delicious Easter Biscuits

250g salted butter
100g caster sugar
250g plain flour
125g rice flour

Makes about 30 biscuits

1. Cream together the sugar and butter until light and fluffy
2. Sift in the flour bit by bit and mix until the mixture starts to come together
3. With lightly floured hands bring the mixture together and very lightly kneed until smooth
4. Roll out on a lightly floured surface until about 5mm thick and cut out
5. Place on a greased or lined baking tray and cook in the oven on gas mark 3 for about 15 minutes
6. When removed from the oven, dust with caster sugar
7. Leave to cool in the tray for 10 minutes before placing on a wire rack to cool

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My Top 5 Free Fitness Apps

Well I've been trying hard to get out there and shape up. Obviously there are the visual body benefits of a healthy lifestyle but I also love the revitalising and energising feeling that exercise gives you too.

Sadly these days, I don't have quite the same amount of spare time (or cash) that I once had and consequently the gym and I are now virtual strangers.

Luckily though, for every time poor, cash strapped, slightly wobbly mum, there's a fitness app to help you tone up at home.

Here are my favourite free fitness apps:

                                                       Map My Run and Run Keeper

These are two of my favourite companions for any run/walk/cycle etc that I do. They help you keep track of distance covered and pace. I set mine to give me five minute updates so I know if I'm not quite up to scratch. They are easy to use and keep a log of all of the activities that you've done.

 Workouts
This is great if you have limited time but still want to feel like you've accomplished something. The easy to use menu bar at the top of the main screen allows you to select what area of your body you'd like to focus on, the time you have to do the workout as well as the intensity. Once selected, the app will find you a selection of workouts that match your criteria. Clear pictures and instructions of the exercises are given as you complete the workout. I particularly like the fact that most of these workouts don't rely on any additional equipment.

Nike Training Centre
This is similar to Workouts but some of the activities require additional equipment. The exercises are clearly explained and you certainly feel like you've done a good workout when you've finished.

My Fitness Pal
This app allows you to keep track of the amount of food you are eating and the amount of exercise you are doing. The app is good for keeping you focused on reaching specific goals and thinking twice before reaching for that extra piece of cake.

What fitness apps do you use?

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Hair Heaven

You might remember a couple of posts ago that I was on a mission to rediscover myself. Well phase one is complete and, thanks to my wonderful hairdresser at  Flhair in Romsey , my hair is looking lovely again.

It's amazing what a difference a good hair cut and colour can make to your mood and sense of confidence and with the added luxury of a couple of hours to yourself, a good natter, some magazines and a cup of tea I almost feel like new.

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Motherhood

Another funny video I like by fiat. They've also done one called Fatherhood too, but I still think this one is the best.

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Super Supermarket Shopping

The closest I get to being 'trollied' these days is running the supermarket gauntlet on a Saturday trying to do the weekly shop and it's certainly no fun.

So these days you are much more likely to find me cruising the aisles from the comfort of the sofa with a nice cup of tea.

I wouldn't say it saves me much time really, but it is a far more civilised way to shop; no queueing at the tills or frantic dashing around the aisles getting sour looks from other shoppers as your baby wails unmercilessly. Best of all though, it does save money.

It is far easier to budget when shopping online. You can easily take items out of your trolley or substitute them for cheaper alternatives and now, with the help of a great little website called mysupermarket.co.uk you can enter your shopping list onto the site and they'll compare which shop it's cheapest to buy your groceries from this week. Once you've shopped you're transferred to your selected supermarket's website where you can finish your order. Simple!

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"Pregnant and I Know It" OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO (Parody of "Sexy and I Kno...

This is so true. I couldn't stop eating when I was pregnant. Come to think about it...I still can't stop eating!!!

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Captain Sensible Is From Mars, I Am From Venus

Having spent almost the past year safely and comfortably cocooned in my new mummy bubble, it has finally dawned on me that I’ve let myself go a bit: I’m a little baggier around the middle; my boobs now resemble deflated balloons, the kind that, if you leave them lying around for a while, go all wrinkly and soft; my eyebrows are more hedgerows, my clothes mismatched and accessorised with snot and my hair… well the less said the better really.

But what really spurred me on to take action was the response I got from Captain Sensible when I asked him if he thought I’d lost weight.

With uncharacteristic foolhardiness or stupidity (I’m not sure which), Captain Sensible did not answer with the expected and safe answer of ‘Of course,’ or ‘you don’t need to lose weight.’ Oh no, he decided to stick, not just his head, but his whole body in the oven by responding with: “Well you have had a baby.”

In other words: “No. You’re still looking a little tubby!”

We’re still not speaking…

Anyway, it got me thinking; time for an overhaul, a self -designed mummy makeover and here’s my list of 5 things (Let’s keep it achievable) I’m going to do: (I’ll let you know how I get on!)

   1.     Tone up  - So far so good, although I think I might have broken   my wrist last night doing some rather vigorous squat thrusts!

   2.     Learn to skate board – My nephew got a skateboard for his birthday and it was loads of fun. It’s not odd for a thirty something woman to be out and about boarding is it?!?

   3.     Write more – Pursue the things I love to do, I’ve been putting it off for long enough.

   4.     Get a TOWIE - esque makeover: fake tan, fake nails, fake eyelashes, the works!

   5.     Divorce my husband for not lying to me – Well maybe that one’s a bit extreme, he’s pretty awesome most of the time.

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A Poor Excuse

Forgive me followers for I have sinned; it’s been several months since my last confession – I mean post!

“What,” I hear you ask “has happened? Where have you been?”

Well, it all seemed to be going so well: my baby, fed, slept and pooed which left me with ample time for coffee mornings, writing my blog and, occasionally, whipping the hoover around.

Then it happened.

Almost overnight, my baby grew up into a big baby who needed three, three course meals a day (apparently) and then started moving. Where once I could place her on her little mat, safe in the knowledge that she wouldn’t go anywhere whilst I ate my cake; now I have to have eyes in the back of my head and follow her around like a shadow in case she sticks her little fingers in the plug sockets! On the plus side, it has upped my exercise quotient, so I guess it’s not all bad.

But it’s the feeding that gets me. Now I know I had a few issues in the early days with breast feeding, mainly squirting it in the right direction but I had just about got it mastered when I discovered that it was about time to wean the little guzzler onto solid foods. Excellent I thought, how much easier life will be…

Well I’m obviously doing it all wrong, as preparing meals for my little Gordon Ramsey now takes up a large proportion of my day, and woe betide you if you serve her up something she doesn’t like.

You see, there is this pressure to prepare beautiful home cooked meals full of nutritious fresh fruits and vegetables so that you can keep up with the other Mums who have all read the Annabel Karmel baby books and have been busy cooking up gastronomic feasts for their little bundles of joy. I have visions of these domestic goddesses, replete in their 1950s housewife uniform and perfectly coiffed hair, serving up delicious, healthy meals to their families while my poor offspring is subjected to whatever baby jar is on special offer at the local supermarket.

To be honest, I’m sure there’s not all that much difference between a jar and what I cook anyway – except the time and the mess- but still I persevere. And so it’s started, I’m doing what I always swore I wouldn’t, I’m trying to keep up with the Joneses and racking a small mortgage on exotic foodstuffs in the process!

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