Vegetable Goulash

This is another of MrsMittens favourite recipes, I haven't tried it yet but it sounds delicious, she assures me it is good and quick and easy to make. I think this is definitely one to try soon.

Vegetable Goulash

Crisp orange shortbread

This is a really nice recipe and really easy to use I found it on BBC Good Food website. I would recommend giving it a try if you like shortbread. It is equally good without the orange, just add a small amount of vanilla extract. I needed a little water to get it to bind, but be careful you don't want it wet.

Mrs Mittens banana oat cakes

These are wonderful, this recipe was sent to me by MrsMittens, it is quick and easy and tastes delicious. Also great for someone not so skilled in the kitchen.

Update on quit days

So far so good, I am managing not to smoke and not finding the cravings overwhelming which is good. The time I think about smoking most is if I talk about it to someone, or at the times I'd definitely usually have one, such as when I get into the car: I immediately want a cigarette but am managing to tell myself "I don't need one it, is just habit and I am stronger than I think" and it soon passes and I am fine.

A day in the life with CFS. (Part 1)

This is the first post of an occasional series about the realities of day-to-day life with CFS.

Today I'm going to tell you about how I maintain enough energy to get through the day. Or as it's also called, pacing.

Normally I sleep well, but one child woke with growing pains and my husband snores like claps of thunder, so I've had better nights! I don't zoom out of bed, that uses energy that I need for later in the day, I try and spend 15 minutes, or longer if I can, building the enthusiasm to say goodbye to the duvet.

Downstairs with my two kids for first breakfast, (yes, we are related to Hobbits!) Once I've made their toast I chill on the sofa for as long as I can while they eat and catch up on Cbeebies. Then we're off upstairs for showers and dressing. While they shower I rest, then I give the bathroom a wipe around while they get their togs on. I tend to have only a short shower as it exhausts me.

Gluten-free vegan Banana Loaf

This a recipe sent to me by MrsMittens that she enjoys as a treat, it is easy to make and tastes great. Just be careful not to eat it all at once.

Friday the 8th July, Quit day.

Today I am starting on my thousandth attempt at stopping smoking, with help I have received from Roger and the relaxation and hypnosis tracks he pointed me towards, I have renewed enthusiasm and belief that I can do it.

Okay realistically I have absolutely no will power hehehehe, but I can only try, I have to get the defeatist attitude out of my head when and if I have a slip, one cig, doesn’t have to mean another 5 years of smoking, hiccups happen to the strongest of people.

Vegan sugar cookies

These are great as an occasional treat and my friends and family that have tried them love them. I adapted the recipe from one I found online so that it was gluten free, and I use butter in the recipe as I tolerate it and am not Vegan, but if you do not eat it a good dairy free margarine does just as good a job. You can add what ever flavours you want, maybe dusting with cinnamon sugar or icing, if you're feeling especially energetic you could colour your icing.

We tried making our own 'Jammy Dodgers' out of this recipe, they tasted great but were very fragile and did not firm up, so be careful if like me, you have a habit of coming up with crazy ideas, hehehe!