Well I am glad we’ve almost finished this week. It has definitely been a strange one! What with it being Easter and having Monday off, and then having Tuesday off because of my little episode (thank you all for your kind words by the way), it’s just been a bit crazy.
After Tuesday I felt a bit battered and bruised with a HUGE head ache, but otherwise I was OK. On a random note, when I had an ECG in the ambulance to check my heart they stuck these coin-sized sticker things (the things they attach the wires to to read your heart…or something *pretends to sound like she knows what she’s talking about*) on various places on my body. When I got back from the hospital I kept finding the stickers. I had no idea they put so many on me! When I thought I got them all I then found them on my legs! Crazy. And painful to unstick.
I’m now terrified to get up in the morning (or the middle of the night for my various pee trips, sorry TMI) for fear I may faint again. I’m like an old lady getting up in the morning, bracing myself and taking my time.
I went into work on Wednesday because the doctors told me I couldn’t be alone for the next 24 hours in case I fainted again and Ben couldn’t be off work again. But in all honestly, I was fine. And it was rather fun telling people what happened. I know that hospitals are not funny places and God forbid anyone needs to go there, but thankfully my episode was just sheer bad luck of the location of our stairs and nothing serious. If I’d have fainted on the bed I’d have been fine!
Anyway, so I wanted to recap a bit more of Easter (before I was rudely interrupted by my delicate disposition). After looking after Ellie, my niece, on Saturday Ben and I were definitely up for a more relaxed day. Our families had agreed to have a bit more of a quiet Easter and most of us aren’t religious, so Ben and me decided to have a nice relaxed meal on Sunday.
After inspiration from Sara and her Bucket List of recipes I decided to do what I’ve been meaning to do for ages. Roast my first ever whole chicken. I decided to keep things relatively simple so just put some Nando’s mild sauce on and under the skin, pop an onion and some garlic inside it and season before popping in the oven for an hour and a half.
I bought a whole brand new baking tray for this culinary adventure only to find I could cook it in it’s foil container *sighs*. But I’ve got it for next time!
We kept the meal simple as we wanted to maximise the chicken experience (…or I couldn’t be bothered to do all the trimmings).
I had broad beans (the king of all vegetables in my humble opinion), roasted vegetables and mashed cauliflower cheese. Ben declined the cauliflower and had potato waffles instead. Honestly I can’t get this boy away from cheese but if it’s near cauliflower he’s like “helllll no”.
I’m not ashamed to admit that I went back for thirds seconds of the chicken. It was so good.
And I was inspired by another blogger (I know, seriously I have no independent ideas) for using the chicken carcass to make stock. Laura always talks about the pros of respecting the meat you eat by using as much of it as you can and the health benefits involved in bone broth that I was really chuffed to finally try it myself. I felt like a proper housewife with my stock simmering away in the pot. It’s now safely stowed away in the freezer ready to be used in soups or sauces. Yum.
Then mums also popped over on Sunday and we had a nice catch up and coffee with them both. I only wanted one Easter Egg this year because honestly we have so much chocolate in the house it’s ridiculous, so my mum got me this AMAZING egg.
A dark chocolate egg with TWENTY-FOUR mini bars. There are loads of flavours like chocolate and almond, chocolate and raisin, white chocolate… Oh I am loving this. I might have eaten the entire egg in one sitting while watching Downton Abbey in the evening with these two dashing chaps…
…and felt very sick. But I find it so hard with Easter eggs because you keep wanting to ‘tidy up’ an edge and then suddenly you’re just left with a few chunks…and well, you can’t leave them…
Monday started with a 6 mile run:
That mile 5 was TOUGH. I had spotted another runner a distance ahead of me at mile three and I gradually began to gain on him. But he was clearly running just that tiny bit slower than me because it took forever to get to him. Then around mile 4-5 it became a bit uncomfortable because I was right at his heels and I didn’t want to be like a weird runner stalker. So I had to pick up my pace to get past him and then maintain that pace to make sure he didn’t feel like a weird runner stalker to me. Hence my 7.14min/mile pace for mile 5!
And then the rest of Monday was a day of chilling. I might have hoovered to liven things up, but otherwise we just relaxed. I spent some really nice lazy time on the couch watching more Downton Abbey and reading magazines…
I know my Easter weekend might not sound very exciting, but honestly, it was perfect. I got to spend it with the people I love and enjoy good food. What else could I want?
How was your Easter?
What can’t you help but keep eating once you start?
Yey for cooking the chicken! I’m off to Sainsbos tonight to buy one for roasting too, and making into stock as well of course 😉 That egg with 24 bars sounds amazing!
Yes it’s definitely addictive, I want to roast another one now! So good!
Once I start eating chips with salsa and guac I cannot stop!! It’s bad! 😉
Hehe well it could be worse, at least you’re getting some good fats in there!
Wow that egg sounds fab! I love roasting up a chicken, you can get so many meals out of them.
Yeah it’s such a good way of cooking. You’re set up then for so many meals.
Ahh, so much to say!! First, I’m so sorry about your faint and fall! That must have given you a huge fright! I’m glad to hear you’re doing okay, and that things are more or less back to normal now.
Yayayay and cheers to roasting a chicken! Yours was a beauty, and it sure sounds like it made for a delicious meal. The mashed cauliflower and roasted vegetables look amazing, too!
And then there’s that egg you’ve been teasing me about…Oh my heavens, yum. I would have eaten the entire thing in one sitting as well. Couple it with Downton Abbey, and you have a perfect evening!
Happy weekend, Anna! <3
I definitely want to roast another chicken now. I’m hooked!
Yep Downton and chocolate = winning combo hehe.
I would totally be afraid getting up after that! Also, I’m not gonna lie, I’m chuckling pretty hard about you finding all the stickers on yourself.
Haha yeah Ben thought it was hysterical. But he did help in pointing out the ones on my leg as I didn’t even know they’d put them there but he’d seem them attach them to me haha.
Glad you’re feeling a bit better after your incident. I’ve collapsed a few times but never down the stairs! Just seen the picture of your poor wall!
Sounds like you needed an easy chilling week. I caught up Women’s Running this week too!
Oh no, sorry to hear you’ve had a few collapsing incidents. It isn’t nice. Yeah it was just rubbish luck of being near the stairs!
Your mom is one amazing person for getting you such delicious easter candy. I’ve only ever saw the bars, never the actual egg. So jealous!
Yeah she’s a superstar. The egg was heavenly, and sadly all gone! But I still have quite a few bars left thankfully.
I’m not surprised you had a headache! Bless you, hope that’s gone now?
That chicken looks perfect; you can see how moist (sorry) it it and the veg with it sounds lovely… and I’m glad it wasn’t just me that ate chocolate to feeling-sick point over Easter; that Hotel Chocolat slab I had was just so unbelievably tempting 🙂
I’m back to 100% now thankfully! Whew.
Haha I think Easter is that time when you are completely within your rights to feel sick due to chocolate overdose 🙂 Especially as you gave it up for ages!!
Hahah omg I HATE passing runners who are just a little slower than I am. It happened to me yesterday and was super awkward and then I had to run even faster than normal so she didnt feel bad. So annoying. I’m so glad you’re feeling better!! That chocolate egg looks soooo good! 🙂