Birthdays and X-Rays...

Hey there. So the title is a little misleading as there was only one birthday and one x-ray.

It was my middle bugs 10th birthday yesterday. DOUBLE DIGITS! That makes two of them now.

It was a pretty quiet one, we couldn't do too much as I had a doctors apt right bang in the middle of the day! He was thrilled with his gifts though and his big sister took him and the biggest bug out for a meal in the evening.

That mound he is blowing out candles on is a mountain of flapjacks covered in chocolate. It is what he asked for lol!

I also had some cake decorating to complete yesterday. Nothing too fancy but it is cute.

The doctor yesterday had a look at my neck, I have always had pretty bad pain across the shoulders and down the neck but lately it has been getting unbearable. She thought that the vertebrae may be collapsing or I have completely lost the curve(cervical kyphosis).

I went for an x-ray this morning and it was really interesting to see the neck and head on the screen. MY head and neck. I have had hundreds of x-rays on my legs, especially my knees and they are pretty boring, I have x-rays on my back and pelvis which were a little interesting, but the head and neck really was interesting. It was quiet in the hospital so the radiographer spent a little time talking to me about the different bones and functions. She confirmed that I had a very straight neck but obviously she couldn't tell me any more than that. I will have to wait to see the reumatologist in just over a week(thankfully I already had an apt).

Once I had finished there I took a stroll into town to enjoy a brew in a very colourful tearoom that I am coming to love(no camera so no pics). It is run by a lovely couple who are as colourful as the shop.

We then headed to the 'restaurant' the kid wanted to go to, I tried talking him out of it but he insisted.

 It was vile! 

If you live near a Peechy Keens and you are tempted to go in DONT!!! It was the most revolting food I have ever tasted in my life. I thought I would be sick. I was telling people who were wavering whether to eat there or not to run away!

These were the only things that tasted OK! I told middle child that he is never again allowed to pick somewhere to eat because he clearly lacks functioning taste buds!

Now we are finally home, the children are playing in there rooms and I am enjoying a cuppa and about to read a magazine that will restore my faith in good food.

Ahhhhh bliss...

Happy Thursday xx

Taffy Pie...

As we head into the second half of the month of February my mind can't help wandering to, what is in this house, the start of Spring.

For us Spring begins on the 1st March. St. Davids day.

We enjoy celebrating the day. Wales has so many traditions that are wonderful to be a part of.

Being English integrating was difficult for a while, but after 17yrs I think I am now OK. 3 Welsh boys and a Welsh husband all help ;)

On this day I like to cook food that is either traditionally welsh or that reminds me of Wales. Sometimes food that incorporates welsh ingredients will do(which I try to do in most of my cooking)

Several years ago I created a pie for my husband. He LOVES pies and he loves chicken so I thought I would welsh up a chicken pie(I have made this pie and replaced the chicken and oregano for lamb and mint and it is just as delicious!)

I have called this pie Taffy pie as 

1. It contains leek (hehe!)

 2. It was created in Wales

 3. My taff loves pie...

This a pic of individual pies, the recipe is for a large pie. You can make either.

Pastry.

Either buy ready to roll short crust pastry, or here is my recipe.

Half fat to flour. I use around 1lb plain flour which is 8 oz butter/lard/marg. You will need 2tsp warm water for every oz of flour so roughly around 32 tsp water which you will add gradually so don't worry about measuring it first just get a cup of warm water.

Put flour and butter in a bowl and rub the ingredients between your fingers until it is well mixed and resembles breadcrumbs(you can just put in food mixer and then add water gradually until you have a firm dough). Add a few tsp of the water and using a dinner knife fold the water in(this was the way my Nan taught me. I don't know why we used a knife but we did and it works lol.) Continue to add water and fold until you have a firm dough(dont worry if you add a little too much water just add a little more flour).

Once ready grease a pie dish of approx 8in and wrap pastry in cling film, place in the fridge until needed.

Filling.

1lb diced chicken
2 Large carrots
1 large leek
1 large sweet potato
Salt and Pepper (to taste)
Oregano
3 cloves garlic

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Fill a large pan/pot with water and add to it the chicken, turn on full heat.

Chop the carrots, leek and sweet potato into small/medium chunks and add to the water with the salt, pepper and oregano. Crush the garlic into the pot, stir and bring to the boil. Once boiled turn down to simmer place lid on top and leave until chicken is cooked completely through and the veg is soft enough to your palate.

Drain the veg but make sure you drain into another pan or bowl as you will use the stock to make a gravy of your choice...how you make your gravy is up to you and your diet but as long as you make just enough for your pie and use the stock it will be fine.

Preheat oven to gas mark 6/200c

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Roll out the pastry and line the pie dish(you might to blind bake the pastry. I never do, why? Because it always messes up!) you will need the remaining pastry for the lid of the pie.

Pour the veg onto the pastry then add enough gravy to cover. Roll out a lid for the pie, make 2 1 inch long cuts in the lid to let out steam and place in the oven. You can glaze the pastry with egg before baking, this will give it a lovely golden colour.

Bake until a lovely golden brown.

Happy Sunday x