Ch-ch-ch-changes

Something I have been thinking a lot about lately is the direction of meg-made. 

Where do I want meg-made to be going? 

Who reads my blog and what do you care about? 

What do I care about? 

What do I like reading about other blogs?

What am I passionate writing about?

meg-made it to Le Cordon Bleu London (Part Un)

I am going to have to split this post about Le Cordon Bleu into two parts, I usually don't go into much emotional details on my blog, but felt like something almost transcendent happened to me at Le Cordon Bleu and I felt like maybe you would indulge me in going a little deeper just this once! Maybe make yourself a cuppa, we're going to be here a while!!

I had quite an emotional day being in the spiritual home of cooking. It just felt purely good to be there. I had a bit of a random D&M the other day with a friend about it, but this is the first time in my life that I have wanted to learn. 

In school I just kind of just plodded along, almost as if I was on someone else's path. I got through my work, never really doing outstandingly well, but well enough. I got through high school and wanted to be a Dentist. So went to Uni and had such a horrible first year in science that I then started a Business Degree. I then added a Commerce degree too, because at least I would be employable with both. But what does that have to do with me. Not much. Or so I learned over the coming years. I persisted as an accountant for 4 years, in HR for 2, but never found the right fit for me. Some days were better than others but I always knew in my heart of hearts it just wasn't wasn't the job for me, was never where I was meant to be.

And then I became a mum. And whilst it isn't really job, it certainly is me finding what I love, and what I strive to be better at each day. It can be the hardest day with Maddie, I can be wanting to tear my hair out by the time my husband comes home, but then she runs and gives me a big hug around my legs while I'm cooking dinner and all is forgotten. No matter what time of the day/night it has been, whenever that little girl wakes up and wants/needs me, I can't help but smile. And now that she actually calls for me, I find myself skipping a little to get to her room faster. I guess you could say that I am one of those women that find mothering a very natural passion. When I was pregnant I just wanted to have my baby in my arms so I could take care of her, because I knew she would teach me how to. It has been an entirely life changing and esteem building experience and the first time in my life that I have had some confidence in what I am doing. 

And then I arrived at Bloomsbury Square, Le Cordon Bleu headquarters in London.

I was such a mixed bag of emotions - more nervous than I'd been in a long time, and just SO excited! After registering and signing in we were taken into the demonstration kitchen/dining room for orientation where we met our Fish & Shellfish Chef for the day, Chef Eric.

As soon as we went into our kitchen I felt immediately calm. It was a very strange feeling but I just couldn't take the smile off my face, it felt so natural being in there. Perhaps I was a chef in my past life or something I don't know, but it just felt familiar almost!

When we were being taught various techniques and then went back to our stations to have a go I just loved putting what we'd just learnt to practice. My favourite moment was when we had all four burners going at once (making a white wine sauce, cooking clams, making a parsley/breadcrumb topping and reducing a citrus sauce) while prepping the scallops, squid and mussels, all the one time. On every CV in the past I've put my number one skill as being multitasking and time management. And FINALLY I've found where that is actually really bloody useful!! Ha!

This experience had such a profoundly positive impact on me that I have reevaluated my lifelong aspirations to include becoming a student again, a LCB student. I found myself so inspired and envious of all the chefs and student chefs, it just seemed to be a room filled with likeminded individuals who all have a passion for food. I know you don't have to become a trained Chef to enjoy food, but for me to achieve the dreams my Husband and  I have set for ourselves, this wholeheartedly makes my part possible. So for now (and probably a long while) I am still a home cook with a passion for food, but one day, I'll trade in my apron for White's. And I am giddy at the very thought of it.

Part two of my Le Cordon Bleu posts will actually talk about some food, so I'll get that post to you soon! I took some videos of Chef Eric at work, but apparently due to confidentiality reasons, we are not permitted to show any of the LCB Chef's at work, so I won't be publishing as many photos/tutorials as I was planning on, but don't worry, some french seafood recipes will be finding their way onto my blog soon, I am now the proud owner of the Le Cordon Bleu Cuisine Basics cookbook!! One step at a time! 

Psst!! If you are looking for a little more meg-made, I'd LOVE for you to follow along!

  

Being thankful with Pumpkin Ice-cream

Just because I'm Australian, it doesn't mean I can't partake in a day about being thankful (and a day dedicated to having me some pumpkin!!).

I have so much to be thankful for I don't know where to start. 

We spend a lot of our lives working towards future goals that we seem to let the present fly by and quickly become the past. I have a bit of the opposite problem and relate far too much with this old Cup of Jo article about worrying. Some nights I just peep into Maddie's room to hear her heavy breathing, climb back into bed next to a snoring bear of husband and burst into tears. I feel so incredibly lucky that I am terrified. But with the worry comes thanks. Every day I am thankful for the amount of love I have in my life,  and even though I miss so many of them being all around the world, I am thankful that I have so many special people to miss. I am thankful that I said yes to the nervous Senior who asked me to dance 14  years ago, and thankful for the life that we have forged for ourselves ever since. And words just can't describe how thankful I feel for my healthy and happy little girl who every day melts my forever swelling heart.

I need to stop there before I go on all night long and dissolve into a puddle of emotion! The other part of Thanksgiving that I love is the overuse of Pumpkin!! I have always loved pumpkin soup, roast pumpkin and pumpkin scones. A bowl of comforting pumpkin soup was always my request when I wasn't feeling well, it just seemed to have healing powers for me. 

I was introduced to the concept of canned pumpkin by my friends in Oxford and it still confuses me a little! I have had some and its great and all, but I guess what I don't understand is why you wouldn't just use the real thing?! I guess I think of pumpkin too traditionally, so can't conceive of a world where you'd make an entire pot of soup from canned/sweetened/spiced pumpkin. 

We had a very pumpkin-filled meal tonight. It was kind of by accident, kind of on purpose! I wanted to make pumpkin ice-cream and pumpkin risotto, so cooked up two big butternut pumpkins. 

The risotto was creamy and delicious and not dissimilar to my SuperPumpkin Soup from yesteryear! 

And onto dessert...

Once the pumpkin was cooked and had cooled, I added in cinnamon, ginger and mixed spice. I then mixed it together well with regular vanilla ice-cream and put it back in the freezer to reset. 

Then I got to work on the meringues! I made mini-pavlova's I guess you could say, but then added in the traditional pumpkin spices too, to really compliment the pumpkin ice-cream. 

It could be said that these were "indescribable" but yet "the goodness of a ice-cream with the greatness of pavlova and the amazingness of a pumpkin waffle". Thanks husband. 

Wishing a very Happy Thanksgiving to all of my American family and friends. And happy and thankful thoughts to all of my non-American family and friends, may the pumpkin be with you all. 

Non-Food Cuddles

I'm not sure if you know this about me already, but I LOVE food. I love thinking about it, photographing it, writing about it, Pinning it, preparing it, cooking it, smelling it, and of course eating it. 

If you've known me a little while, you may also know that I am an emotional eater. I eat especially when I am anxious, and don't get me started on how I recover from a migraine! 

The trouble is, when a foodie and an emotional eater are combined in one package, the results are often lots of jiggly bits. Many years ago when I was in the throes of a 5 year chronic sickness phase I met a great dietician who was unable to cure me of my pain, but did help me identify some unhealthy associations I had with food. I hadn't really noticed how much I used food to soothe me, calm me down, and all other kinds of negative emotional attachments I reacted to with food. Food can be such a positive experience though. It can be sociable, rewarding if you cook something impressive, and just downright delicious. As someone who spends a lot of positive time with food, I have noticed that in doing the Fast Diet (my original post here) I still was hanging on to some of my negative attachments, and so needed to turn back to some old techniques, and my most effective was the Non-Food Cuddles. 

Much like the little character Jules in "Hug Time", one of my favourite book of Madeleines', you have to come up with a list of hugs! But these are a list of things that you can do instead of reaching for food when you are bored/upset/stressed/anxious/angry/etc then you may stop some bad habits and in turn, be a fair bit healthier, in many ways. 

The list I had when I was 19 was VERY different to the list I made this week, but, the important thing is finding actual things you would choose instead of food, or it won't work. So here are my Non-Food Cuddles, and most of them are very affordable, so its not like you need to go and buy yourself a  pair of earrings instead of having a donut!! Mmmm donuts...

1. Literary Cuddle

I often find that when I have a bit of time free in the afternoons while my baby girl is sleeping is when I like to create something spectacular to eat for myself. It is very indulgent but I feel like having that un-interrupted time to myself is such a luxury and so reward such time with food. Instead though, my non-food solution is a Literary Cuddle. When I have quiet free time, I should embrace reading a book for half an hour. The settling down for some quiet personal time would be such a departure from my day that I might just find it relaxes me far more than does beating eggs! 

2.  Conversational Cuddle

I'm not a very chatty person. Unless I know you well, then you would know I can gabber on all day. I am quite shy by nature and am far better at conversing via the written word rather than spoken. But, when I do call a friend/family member and have a chat, I just love it and feel so much better afterwards (most of the time!!). So again, if I have free time I have been finding that picking up my phone/signing into Skype is a great way to feel connected to the world and take my mind off whatever it was that I was trying to cover with food. 

3. Floral Cuddle

I am very lucky, my husband buys me/the house flowers a lot. We have a little florist stall down on the High Street which sells extremely affordable blooms and so we don't mind spending £3 on a bunch of beautiful roses every other week. I was walking past said florist the other day (which is right next to Starbucks I may add) and I had the thought, would you rather spend £3 on a Starbucks coffee that last half an hour and is quite likely terrible for you; or, would you rather spend £3 on a bunch of flowers that brightens you and your house for about a week?!? I chose flowers. You don't have to have someone buy them for you, why not cheer yourself up a little when you are out next instead of spending money on bakery food/coffees/donuts.

4. Exercise Cuddle

Exercise gives you endorphins. You, not me. I feel tired and sore most of the time! But, lately, I have been choosing to go for a walk, or run up and down our stairs, or do a 7 Minute Workout and then I feel better about myself for the rest of the day. If I do this earlier on in the day it also means for the rest of the day I don't want to un-do my good work from the morning, so make better choices all day as a consequence. 

5. Bubble Cuddle

Not the drinking kind (unfortunately, although they give other sorts of cuddles too) but the bathing kind. You are never EVER too old for bubble baths. I could spend hours soaking in the tub, aside from the wrinkly fingers and curious baby wondering why she can't get in too! I know bath's aren't for everyone, but they make me happy. I have finished my all time favourite bubble bath now (hint hint Santa...) but this Laduree bubble bath is not too sweet but yet very bubbly! Until I have a replacement though, it's Burts Baby Bees for mama!! 

6. Stretch Cuddle

It is so simple and you can do it anywhere but it feels so good. For someone with hyper mobility (most of my joints have an unusually large range of motion) I am extremely un-flexible! I can't sit on the floor with my legs out straight without it pulling my hamstrings. So stretching is a bit important for me, but I never remember to do it. But being on my list means I do it a lot more than before!! And the funny thing is that it hurts but its a good hurt. If I commit myself to a ten minute stretching session I feel more relaxed and feel like I have connected with my body and so are more in tune for the rest of the day. 

7. Dance Cuddle

VERY embarrassing so for me, it's blinds closed, lights off, earphones in and GO FOR IT! 

8. Beauty Cuddle

I don't really have a beauty regime. After spending a few hours at a makeup counter in Bloomingdales and having the Estee Lauder continually threaten to "slap you down girl" I do now take off my makeup each night, apply an eye cream, and then moisturise in the morning! But the one beauty routine I do adore is painting my nails. As soon as I became a mum, it felt like I could have everything crumbling around me but if I had my nails nicely painted, then I would at least feel a little bit like I had my sh*t together. I loved getting my nails done in NewYork ($10 manicures, yes please) but can't afford the £30 ones here in London, so do it myself at home. 

9. Pinterest Cuddle

Warning: Do not ambly browse Pinterest if you are trying to avoid food. It will find you. Instead, you need to use the categories to narrow the field to something enjoyable to look through. I have a few favourite boards that I add to when I'm avoiding food... Theres: Bub Love,  Tickles my funny bone, House to Home, and Where are we going I don't quite know.

10. Creative Cuddle

I think this one is quite a meg-specific cuddle because I know not everyone feels buzzed about spray painting an old iron doorstop!! But I sure do. I get an infinite amount of enjoyment out of creative things and love making something and seeing the finished product being put to use. I have a bucket list of a gazillion things that I want to make/create/recondition and so I keep this list nearby and let the creative juices flow through me instead of Mimosa juices!! Perhaps art gives me the endorphins that exercise should! 

And of course, the cuddles that don't need to be on a list...

So there you have it, my personal 10 Non-Food Cuddles. Being on the Fast Diet has really just brought to my attention how much of my time is spent participating in food, and made me want to make sure that these behaviours are the positive ones from here on out. 

Have you heard of coming up with a list like this and if not, what would you include on yours?? 

Swings and roundabouts

I've had writers block this week. Writers block. Bakers block. Bloggers block. I have been busy with lots of little projects, too many projects, and none of which are finished, which makes me feel very restless! There has been more migraines and sickness over the past week and yet more happy moments and good company that I am so grateful for. On balance its been such a great week, but yet, I still feel whelmed. 

And what do I do when I'm feeling whelmed, I go and squeeze my little koala bear (Baby M of course) and instantly feel light as a feather. She's had the ability of cheering people up since she was a newborn. If you are crying in her company, she'll start laughing until you smile back at her. All the crabby bus folk can't help but crack a smile when she breaks into spontaneous "peek-a-boo" games with them. She just makes people happy. And so when she's sleeping, that's when I pour through the hundreds upon hundreds of photos that I've taken of her that week. And even through the lens of a camera, she has the ability to make me feel infintiely happier.

Last weekend we took her to the swings for the very first time.

She was somewhat nervous to start with, as was mummy! But here are just a few sweet photos of our little one getting her swing-legs!

I hope to push through the bloggers block quickly and if not, well, I have hundreds upon hundreds of photos I can be adding each week!!!

Migraine-fighting cocktail

I am lucky. Really lucky. I met the boy I was going to marry when I was 15 and we've been together ever since. We have a beautiful and healthy little girl together. She has all four grandparents who skype with her every Sunday. We have five gorgeous nieces and nephews, and two on the way (one due TODAY!). I know how lucky I am. But, if I could be selfish and picky and change just one thing, I would cure myself of migraines. They are awful.   And make caring for my little family very difficult.

And no. They are not bad headaches.

The kind of migraines I have been getting since I was 9 are the kind that knock me off my feet for a day or two at a time. It starts with an aura (if you want to see what I see, this video is really similar, but warning, if you have sensitivities, its bloody awful!) and so then I have 10% vision for an hour or so. Next is the tingling sensation/numbness, which starts in one finger and spreads to one entire side of my upper body. I lose feeling in an arm, one eye, one side of my nose and even half of my mouth and lips go numb. I used to whack my arm on a brick wall just to stimulate feeling in it again, but, the bruises were hardly worth it! I often get nausea a little then too. And THEN comes the headache. They're the type that means if you move your head away from the "level" position, the giant brick inside your head will slip forward and damage your skull.

Perception vs Reality, has never been my forte.

I wanted to write about migraines. I don't know why though.

Maybe someone reading will have a magical cure that I haven't tried and I can get rid of them once and for all.

Maybe there are other mama's out there breastfeeding and unable to medicate against them that wants to wallow in self pity with me for a moment.

Or maybe I just wanted someone to whimper to for a little, because my 10 month old can cry louder and for longer and sometimes I need to be heard too!!

I am drinking gallons of this Migraine Cocktail in the hopes that it will help me out, because getting 2-3 migraines a week is just getting really hard to handle. The ginger is a natural anti-inflammatory, which should help constrict the blood vessels around the brain. Blueberries are number one in the world of antioxidants and help neutralise free-radicals. Fresh basil reduces tension and fatigue. Heck, it's worth a try right?!

Mix fresh ginger root (minced), muddled fresh basil leaves, fresh blueberries and hot water together. Leave to steep for half an hour and sip throughout the day.

And when all else fails, even in the worst of it, a little cuddle from this sweet little girl always, always make me feel better. I know I have so much to be thankful for, but thanks for letting me have a little bit of a whinge too!

Liebster me!

Have you heard of the Liebster Award, nope, I hadn't either! Until Alice over at The Cup and Saucer kindly nominated me to take part! Its not so much as an award as it is a chain-letter for blogs, but I feel like one of the popular kids on the playground for being chosen to take part, and love knowing that there is someone out there reading my blog!

The rules of the Liebster Awards are the following:

1. Write 11 things about yourself that someone might want to know....

2. Answer the 11 things that the nominator has set for you...

3. Choose 3-5 bloggers to nominate who have less than 200 followers....

4. Designate a new set of 11 questions for these bloggers of your choosing....

5. And that's all....

I know it wasn't all that long ago that I did the Five Things post, and you may be wondering how much more would you want to know about me, but, I'll keep it brief and will try not to ramble on about milk this time!

1. I think my baby might become a foodie. She's showing some preliminary signs with her meal selections, but rather than worry, I am proud of her when she won't eat something that tastes questionable!

2. Byron Bay is my favourite place in the world. It is where I am most home.

3. I learnt everything I know about the USA from Friends and Sex and the City! Oklahoma, the sooner state!

4. Until very recently I never owned a red piece of clothing. Until I realised pink and red CAN go together, now there's no limits on dressing each morning!

5. I cheat and use poach pods whenever I'm poaching eggs....just could never get the swirl to work!

6. Another egg fact, I can crack an egg with one hand, and am probably a little too proud of this!

7. I woke up during heart surgery a few years back! I think the surgeon was as surprised to see me as I was to see him! 

8. I never finish a cup of tea. I leave the tea to brew until it's luke-warm by which time the desire for a cuppa has worn off, and I'll always leave just a little in the bottom.

9. I can't eat chocolate. Easter has evolved into a whole lot more than just a chocolate bunny to feast on.... there's fudge making, fudge tasting, fudge watching and fudge eating....

10. I think there is nothing more adorable than hearing little kiddies with foreign accents!

11. I am really sick of hearing people saying "literally" all the time! I feel like they literally do not know what the word means and only ever use it to add dramatic tension to a sentence. Did you literally die when you saw that handbag, literally....

Home. Byron Bay, sunset 29/06/2009 (the afternoon Pete wanted to propose, not a bad sunset!)

Okay, so here are the answers to the questions Alice has asked...

1. What did you want to be when you grew up? A dentist! It wasn't until completing a year of Science at University that I discovered it wasn't for me! I ended up as an accountant...hmmm....perhaps I should have kept looking around!

2. What is your signature dish? Oh my goodness, this changes monthly! But, the most consistent dish that I make is pesto fish! (Apologies for the shameless plug, but I did do the recipe recently!!)

3.What is your biggest regret? Probably not a terribly life-altering decision, but I really wish I hadn't chosen brown for my bridesmaids! They still looked incredibly beautiful, but I wish I had of gone with something more "me" and taken the mockery for putting them in mushroom pink....gasp!

4. Who is your favourite fictional character? Anne of Green Gables. Because she's wonderful. And because the actress who plays Anne is called Megan too! Oh and Mary Poppins. Because, well, she's practically perfect in every way. Duh.

5. Who are your dream dinner party guests? Prince William and Kate, Princess Mary and Fred (Australian/Danish kronprissen), My husband and daughter, and well I would really love to gather all of our friends and family from all over the world together again... second wedding Pete???

6. Which would you rather do, skydive or bungee jump? Oh gosh, neither, I could never.I think my heart would just stop beating if I were to step off a bridge!

7. If you could only eat fruit or vegetables for the rest of your life which would you choose? Easy, vegetables. I have far too many conditions around what constitutes perfect fruit, but am far more relaxed with veggies!

8. Where is at the top of your to-visit list? Corfu in Greece, we're going there next month. And then the list reads: Vienna, Prague, Salzburg, South of Spain, The Caribbean, Oslo, and so on and so on....

9. Which do you prefer, being too hot or too cold? Usually I enjoy the cold, but its definitely getting old now and time for London to see some sunshine!

10. Do you believe in fate? I believe in fairies and angels.

11. What is your favourite treat? Couldn't possibly choose just one sorry - Sticky Date pudding, cupcakes, melting moments, hot chips with ketchup, salt and pepper calamari, freshly cooked bread with lashings of butter, hot chips ON freshly cooked bread with lashings of butter, Jersey Caramels....Oh I'm hungry!

Okay, so now it is my turn to pass the award along to a few other bloggers! Amanda, Jas, Bella and Rachel, I would love to nominate you for a Liebster Award! Liebster in German means "Dearest", so I have decided to tailor my questions towards things that are dear to you.

1. What is your favourite meal of the day to eat out?

2. What was your favourite book as a child?

3. Cheese plate or cake?

4. If you could learn another language, which would it be?

5. Where do you most want to travel to and why?

6. Which Downton Abbey sister are you most like? (OR.... which gentleman I suppose...)

7. What is your favourite flavour of fudge?

8. What was the inspiration behind the name of your blog?

9. Spots or stripes?

10. What is your favourite recipe book and favourite recipe within?

11. The Bachelor....Yes or No?

Thanks so much for the Liebster nomination Alice, I enjoyed getting to know a bit about you and look forward to learning a little more about each of you lovely bloggers who I've tagged now too! Or, if you just want to join in and you haven't been tagged, hop on in! 

I hope you all have a lovely Easter weekend. My husband and I have some pretty serious conversations ahead of us about what flavours of fudge we're making!!

My thoughts exactly!

I came across this quote which perfectly summarises how I feel about the world!

One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well. ~ Virginia Woolf

Agreed.