Sunday 5 May 2013

I'm back - better than ever!?

It has been four months since my last post as things in my personal life went a  bit haywire.

 If you read my last one, I was planning for my husbands 30th birthday, full of the joy of Christmas and had just finished celebrating my sons 1st birthday. The day before New Year, my husband decided he didn't want to be a part of our family anymore and left and it's been a bit of an uphill battle ever since.

I am blessed to be surrounded by lovely, genuine friends as I have found it incredibly hard to pick myself back up - I might come across as cold to those who know my husband, but this is a desperate self-defence mechanism to stop myself breaking down. It still hurts - a lot - but I need to move on, if not for me then for my fabulous children!

So, as you can probably tell - this blog is going to be more personal than before, less stats and facts based and more a way for me to express myself as well as allowing me to waffle on about baking and the like!

I never did make a birthday cake for my husband. In fact, I didn't bake for weeks or try anything new - just got by! However, a few weeks ago, the 'creative' part of me decided enough was enough and I needed to get back into it. And I have branched out!!

I now try to make soup on a weekend too as this gives me lunch for the week and saves me spending lots of money in the work canteen. So far, I have managed Beef Ghoulash, Mushroom and, my favourite Mulligatawny. On the stove as I write is the beginnings of Cocky Leeky - we'll see how that goes. It's interesting though as I have never been that into soup before but I find making my own, makes the difference and, provided it doesn't have half a ton of cream, it's even quite healthy!

I have also started focussing on making some bread to go with my soup. I am not very confident in this area - AT ALL - but I have tried a few things - the oddest of which was some Gorgonzola, Walnut and Pear rolls (a la Paul Hollywood)... I love Paul but I think the pear was a step too far! Yesterday, I made baguettes - and when I pulled them out the oven they were sooooo good - crunchy and fluffy, oh soooo good! Today, less so - in fact a little bit chewy really [sad face!]

As to sweet stuff - as I don't have the children this weekend (we're doing every other weekend), I am going to try and make a couple of bits... Florentines for work and a nice, bog standard Swiss Roll for me and the kids. I bought myself a new tin for the swiss roll - it can't just be me who loves browsing the kitchen aisle in Asda! - but discovered yesterday it doesn't fit in my oven properly.. I will have to cobble something together with a loaf tin and some strategic balancing!

Right - I think I've gone on enough to be honest! So to sign off:

"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end."
Seneca

2 comments:

  1. You are brave, and strong, I am in awe. Glad to see you baking and writing again!

    Kx

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  2. The sky is always darkest before the dawn.
    Also do carrot cake.
    xxx

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