Schools and Healthy eating

Ok so its really bugging me know with schools and their teachings of healthy eating and what they serve up at lunch time.

While on one hand I think that school dinners are far much better and tastier than when I was at school, they still aren't exactly the most healthiest of healthiest of meals for instance they still get chocolate cake for pudding.
But my problem is they serve up these meals yet in the classroom teachers discuss healthy living and how they shouldn't eat too much food and you shouldn't eat fatty food and shouldn't eat this and you shouldn't eat that because your get fat and that leads to obesity... While yes this is true don't brain wash my kid and then serve chocolate cake!!

But above all that's not my biggest moan of schools and their dinners v's healthy living. My biggest thing is that they concentrate in obesity and how kids today are fat and need to eat properly (again this is to a certain extent true) but no one is teaching them the other end of the scale and how not eating and being underweight is also just as unhealthy. Both my 2 oldest children now (middle mouselings when she was 8 and now the oldest mouseling aged 12) have gone from eating healthy meals to not wanting to eat anything in fear of becoming fat!! Twice now I have had to sit down and explain exercise also plays a part in staying healthy and some foods that nay be classed are high in fat are also ok due to the vitamins they contain and with food its all about moderation. I think its important that every angle is looked at when talking about this subject because eating disorders aren't nice and not giving children the facts especially those becoming teenagers and having hormones floating around is more dangerous than having obese kids!!! 

Easiest Fish pie ever

So another recipe - well it has been a while since I've blogged ;)

I have always thought fish pie was so hard to make yet this simple recipe and method will be getting you chewing up that Omega 3 ;)

First pick what fish you want, yup I have tried this recipe with mixed fish, salmon, monkfish and haddock (unsmoked and smoked) and each time its been scrummy!!

Once you've picked your fish (you will need a small piece for every person you are catering for - me and my 2 smallest Mouselings will only eat fish so I use 3 small portions for is and I often get a serving for lunch) cut it up into pieces and spread into your pan.

Then you will need to peel and quarter them enough potatoes (I do 6 medium sized for a dish for 4). Add them to a pan of boiling water and then drain when soft right through. Return to the saucepan add a splash of milk, enough to cover the bottom of the pan ( if intolerant to milk then add your alternative) and two tablespoon of Marge (again if intolerant use your alternative - I use vitalite as its dairy free) and then mash. If you don't own a masher go old school and use a fork.  Mash until fluffy and then leave to one side.

Now for the tricky bit the sauce, however you get this and then you have got the base to most creamy sauces without the cream for us with intolerance lol

15g Marge (I use stork again the brick version NOT the spread as the spread is not lactose free whereas the block is)

1/2 milk (again use your alternative)

And some chopped parsley

2 tablespoons of chopped parsley

Melt the Marge in a saucepan when melted add the parsley. Stir the flour in to make a wet paste. Slowly add the milk and stir constantly to make a creamy sauce (if it thickens too much don't worry add more milk). When the sauce is ready pour over the fish.

Add you mash on top and smooth it out across the pan over the fish and sauce.  To make it look nice and gain those lovely crispy bits your mum used to do with that Shepard's pie get a fork and make lines vertically across then do the same horizontally so making a square pattern.

Cook in a pre heated oven of 200° until the mash potatoe is  golden on top.  Before serving and because its always good to check just dip your knife into one side and check if the fish has cooked. Mine always seems to be cooked as it is steamed from the sauce while under the potatoes keeping it melt in your mouth.

Enjoy and if you have any questions feel free to ask.

Disclaimer: I am not a Chef I do not cook for a living I'm just a mum of 3 with good easy recipes on a strict low budget that I want to show are easy, you can cook healthy and you can cook good food even when your like me and can't eat anything ;)

Lasagne mouse style

So today I woke up craving lasagne, now for me this gives me a few issues with this:

1)I'm lactose intolerant so means no cheese or milk
2)I'm gluten and wheat intolerant which rules out pasta
3)I can't eat onion
4)I can't eat garlic
5) you get the picture

So does this rule out lasagne for me? Hell no I adapt and am grateful for the ever growing free from ranges in supermarkets - however I do still read labels as I've found wheat and gluten free may not be lactose free or it has something else I can't eat!

So ingredients:

The best free from wheat and gluten free lasagne sheets I have found so far are in fact tescos, these also I found do me at least 2 big lasagne's, I normally make two 1 with normal pasta for Mr Mouse and the mouselings as the leftovers of mine become my lunch the following day and Mr mouse gets their leftovers for his lunch (no wasting in our house) bit more importantly it helps spread the cost.

Then the rest is simple

Lean mince meat (lean is always better as less fat)

Tinned tomatoes - I normally get the chopped up version

Mixed herbs (depending on what you can eat - this helps add some flavouring you would miss from the onions and things)

Because I use beef mince I always sprinkle a pinch of rosemary again for flavour ;)

Now for the sauce:

Lactofree are amazing and have a fantastic lactofree range however for those with dairy allergies this brand wouldn't be suitable as it is still dairy but has enzymes to break the lactose away.

But for my sauce I use their lactose free hard cheese as its great to cook with, you can get mild or mature and either is nice. I use a while block and you will need to grate it.

I also use their lactofree milk (I prefer the red version, but there is blue or green it doesn't matter which) I use 1 pint.

And some baking vegetable Marge - I use stork (NOT the spreadable version as this has lactose in but the block version) I use it to make cakes as well or Asda do a great best for baking version too. You will need 75g or there abouts

And then last not least I use a wheat and gluten free plain flour (this is made up of rice flour and other types of flour) from Tesco (you have to look for this as its often had to find) I use about 4 tablespoons

Method

I put the mince and sprinkle the herbs and rosemary (just a pinch of both) in a saucepan and cook until the mince is brown. I then add the tomatoes and cook until it starts to bubble (boil)

I pour the mince into the dishes and leave to cool.

When the mince has cooled I turn the oven on 200°c and get it warming up.

While the oven is warming I add about 75g of the blocked Marge and melt it.

When its melted I add 4 tablespoons of flour and mix until it's a mushy dough. I slowly (and this is important) add the milk while whisking at all times do this until the mixture is of a creamy consistency, if it thickens too much just add more milk.
Once the sauce is creamy add the cheese leaving a big handful behind. Keep whisking!!
Once the cheese has melted into the sauce take it off the heat.

Now place the pasta sheets over the mince (I use normal pasta on one dish and the other I use the free from pasta - again this is to help spread the cost as free from food is expensive) so that the mince layer is covered (You can add another layer of mince and then another layer of pasta if you wish but we find one layer is enough)

Then add the sauce covering the pasta.

Sprinkle the left over cheese on the top and then pop into the oven.

I'm not good at cooking times as I can just tell when its cooked and I just seems to have a good radar so I couldn't tell you how long for. However if you can smell it and the cheese on top has bubbled and browned its ready :)

All that's left to do is serve and enjoy.  My measurements are based on a family of 5 plus 2 extra portions as leftovers so please if there is only 2/3 of you,you may want to halve the quantities stated ;)

For Mem ( Hope this gives you a "normal" family meal to get you started. Much Love xxx

Free From the food stuff

So the last few years I have been battling with my intolerance to lactose, the sugars in milk. Now if you read the labels on the things you buy you would realise EVERYTHING has some form of milk in.  After getting used to living on alternatives my intolerances got worse I became wheat and Gluten intolerant too :( suddenly food was my enemy once again, a battle I once thought I had won. My Doctor added to that by putting me on what's called a FODMAP Diet (google it - its harsh) meaning not only could I not have the good every day foods I was now limited to what fruit and vegetables I could eat and I still had to balance what I could eat because my stomach just couldn't handle it. Knowing I had once managed to combat my bad relationship with food ( the baddest was looking at food and thinking I'm not eating because i get sick and skipping every meal), i decided it was time to think positive. I spent a day crying at what I could no longer eat and then picked myself up and decided to look at what I CAN eat.  Its so important to keep positive, if you don't depression and despair will follow (I have been there and it is a dark place), its also important to eat the right foods, the saying "you are what you eat" isn't far from the truth and I have also learnt not eating the right food and the things my body can't tolerate also leads me into "the dark place" quite quickly!!

I'm not saying every day is easy because well its not and there are times you will end up eating the wrong thing (and you will know you will pay the price later) just don't give up hope, its just time to learn to cook again. Starting from fresh lists are so very important.

I must admit I have been lucky to have not one but two parents who can cook as well as older siblings and grandparents, all that where willing to teach me as I was growing up so I already had the advantage of cooking skills and plenty of recipes.

However you can't be Delia smith every day, especially in this house with 3 mouselings growing up fast and having a better social life than I ever did, not every recipe is quick enough!! This means I tend to bake " simple" and its time to share the ups downs and recipes (it may even get me blogging more, I mean look I've blogged more than last year already lol)

For now I just can't stress enough don't give up hope and stay positive food allergies are often very misunderstood and people don't realise how it effects your every day way of living, also the best thing is you do have start eating healthier and your trouser waistline certainly benefits ;)

Another year gone...

So the last time I blogged was this time last year,maybe my new resolution should be to blog more lol

Truth is this year has escaped me and gone super fast, we have had the greatest wedding, Squishes from gorgeous babies, news of babies to be, laugh,laughter and tears, more hospital and a move, basic stuff for us really.

My new resolution was going to be try and send even less time in hospital with my beautiful family but then realised its a tradition to break your resolutions so I'm changing it to do more exercise or have a show room house with 3 children in it.. Yeah never going to happen so perfect.

Fact is despite the huge up and downs we have had this year we got through it. We are lucky to have such amazing and supportive family and friends so nothing really scares us anymore we just deal with it. Although we have struggles at the moment I'm happy where we are because quite simply we are together!!!

I just want to wish everyone a wonderful new year and hope no matter how your year turns out you have great people around you to make you smile and laugh.  Always Remember the good, learn from the bad and stay strong. Cheers to another year of memories I shall never forget in my life's journey!

Peace and Love xxx

First post of the year..

Hoping everyone has had a good start to 2014. We have managed to stay away from a&e so I'm taking that as a fantastic start lol

Feeling a little sad tonight as my big brother and family flies home back to Australia Sunday morning :( it will be quiet without him. Glad I have been able to hug them for real instead of virtually and create some great memories for us to share.

We celebrated our first day of the year bowling. I haven't done this since I was a teenager. I feel old in thinking this was a place to find a guy/on a date. We used to bowl and then share a pool table... When kids were sociable eh? LOL was so much fun I forgot 1)how rubbish I am at bowling 2)how much fun it is and 3) how competitive my family can be ;) But laughter has certainly been the best start of 2014 no matter what it may have to come.

Now its time to think about back to work and school. Also hoping now I've rested my back I can start getting back into some proper exercise!! I may go insane if I can't!!!

Goodbye 2013...Welcome 2014

So today is the last day of 2013.

My instant reaction is thank f*** for that as to be honest there have been many lows!!!

The year started with a close friend deciding to end his life living an instant hole in mine and so many lives.. an empty chair will always be at the table.  Then after finally getting the job of my dreams I had to let it go after going through hell with my back....my boss who was a gentle giant and was there from the beginning with Laurens health issues and has supported my lil family in more ways he will have ever known passed away leaving behind a beautiful family who have showed their strength in such a sad and dark time , he would have been proud of them all.
With my back I got to the point I couldn't move, I couldn't get upstairs of my house and I wouldn't allow anyone to touch me. It got to the point where I couldn't even use the bathroom and so ended up in a&e and the very next day was in theatre having major surgery. As much as I'm still recovering, I am almost at least mended, although it still also hurts I had to give up my place in the London marathon because of it too...but hey dreams don't get cancelled just moved on a bit. After thinking that was it just a mere 2 weeks later after my emergency operation nothing prepared us to see our middle daughter Lauren suddenly become so ill, so quickly!! She spent 2 weeks in hospital and nothing prepared us at seeing her almost slip away from us I'm so thank full for her doctors and their quick reactions which got her well enough to come home. Although she still gets tired she is almost back to full health and even managed to get her next grading in her karate as well as get on her school girls football team. Then more tragedy hit when another wonderful angel finally slipped away after loosing her battle with cancer. Sam was a mere 32 years old and was a light that brighten every room. She will so sadly be missed. Then if that wasn't enough my oldest daughter Katelyn 1 week before Christmas broke 3 fingers after falling out of her friends wardrobe!! At least and after reading the above I'm sure you will understand when I say we can all laugh at that one!!

So you can see it would be pretty easy for me to right off 2013 completely however I don't want to as there have been ups too and they have been amazing!!

This year I got to take my oldest girls to their first proper concerts, I took Katelyn to the Capital summer time ball as well as Jessie J and I took Lauren to see Jessie J too, I got to see Robbie and Olly at Wembley with the hubby which was brilliant! We have had laughs along the way with fantastic friends and family, my best friend had a baby who is gorgeous and I'm about to be a god mother again, to top the good news another best friend got engaged to his dream girl (well she's my dream girl)!! We also had a fantastic holiday in Cyprus and got to live life and just appreciate living!! Seeing my big brother this year and being able to hug him his lovely wife and children have been wonderful and magical too...certainly made our Christmas :)

Not only that I am so proud of my 3 girls more than words  can ever say.

Despite the year we have had, katelyn joined the netball team despite not being sporty and has learnt there is a sport for her, she has worked hard at school and helped her grandparents out when they were dumped there after mummy and sister were in hospital, she supported Emily and hid her own worries and feelings to be strong for her. She did all of this while having to choose her secondary school, which meant choosing the school her closest friends didn't as well as going through the changes from a girl to a young lady...not an easy time in your life.

Lauren has managed despite being so ill keep up with her school work and even managed to up her grades a little. She never once complained at all with the needles poked in her or at the many blood test and other tests taken. She never once grumbled when she wasn't allowed to eat in hospital because she had to have a 'sleep'. She smiled the whole time and even helped staff at the hospital make banners for their charity!! She has focused and worked hard in everything she does and has done well in her karate gradings and football.

Emily took full time school hard and didn't settle very well however this year she seems to have just got it and works so hard that her teacher thinks she is amazing, and of course we do too. Emily was a hard child to deal with as she suffered major temper tantrums but this year she has managed to over come this. She has never grumbled at being away from mummy and daddy when they had to be at the hospital and has been quite grown up for a 6year old and coped with everything so maturely!!!

This year has really humbled me, I had it installed in me from those no longer in our lives that I was a bad mother but now I realise how could i be? They are what i got right!! I have a wonderful family and we are all so very close. I love them with all my heart and soul. My girls and hubby have been a rock to me, we have laughed and cried together and shared a mixture of emotions, but we have come out stronger together.

I'm also humbled at the people who are in my life, I have amazing family and amazing friends who have helped us as a family grow this year and helped support us through the bad and made us smile to make it good. For that I hold you all so dear to my heart and please  know I love you so much!!!

Now 2014 there are some hard times yet to come I know but I'm prepared to laugh through it with the amazing people I have around me and I'm quite looking forward to it. I wanted to have a new years resolution and I have many...just ones I won't stick too so I decided to just say

Happy New year to you all!!
May your wishes come true and your dreams are there to work for.
May the hard times be spent with a good friend by your side,
and may every day bring you at least one smile!!
Most all may your year be filled with love.

Peace and love to all

Xxxx