OK, so we’re pretty much in the second week of December and I am already feeling myself winding down. Probably because I’ve got Thursday to Monday off as holiday…but then I still have to come back to work and continue until Christmas. But the Christmas atmosphere is so infectious. Everyone seems to be winding down. What’s it like where you work? Where I worked previously there was a huge amount of stress and panic to meet year end. It was non-stop. Even emails over Christmas and panicked phone calls. I hated it. I guess it’s just different businesses. Before I worked in supply chain which depends a lot on fulfilment of the last orders and getting the books nice and topped off before the next year.
But I digress…Though I’m winding down at work I’m winding up (does that work?) for Christmas. The plan has evolved from it’s original state. It was just going to be Ben and me with Ben’s mum coming over to spend the day and have lunch. Now Ben’s dad is over too (Ben’s parents are separated). I’m over the moon that we can have Ben’s dad over. I’m just now getting nervous about making lunch. Three people to feed doesn’t sound so bad…now four sounds scary. And Ben’s dad hates salad and vegetables. This changes things. I need to have a think about our Christmas menu…
Now on with the important stuff: WIAW(thank you Jenn).
Here’s what I ate yesterday and some added meals at the end that I enjoyed at the weekend.
Breakfast: are you surprised? I can’t be separated. Pancakes come and go but oats are for life. Fact.
This lasts me until pretty much dead on midday, when it becomes socially acceptable to begin lunch. I’m one of those people who can’t eat before 12, no matter how much I’m gnawing at my own hand. I don’t tend to have a snack between breakfast and lunch. I have a black coffee when I get to work and then maybe a peppermint tea before lunch.
Lunch: Two days in the working week I have home-made chilli that I make on Sunday. It’s nothing terribly exciting. Mixed beans, onion, chopped tomatoes, bell pepper, zucchini and mushrooms.
Sometimes I add some Philadelphia into it to make it creamy but I didn’t both this week as I ran out. Bad times. I had two normal Baby Bells and an apple after this. I like the goat’s cheese Baby Bells usually but again I’d run out. *Sob* Therefore a sub par lunch. But it was filling nonetheless.
Then I tend to have a snack maybe an hour later. This week I had my graze box:
I nibbled consumed all the olives. They were lovely and garlicky. Probably not ideal for work but food over friends, people. Haha I am so totally joking…Sort of. And then a bit later I had a banana and an apple.
This tides me nicely over until dinner. I arrive home at about 6.30-7pm depending on traffic (bare in mind I leave at 5pm!!! I hate my commute!! And breathe…).
Dinner: last night I whipped up a new meal heavily incorporating my favourite ingredient of the month (coconut). Tropical Nutty Baked Chicken; I used THIS recipe from Julie. But I didn’t have any lime so used lemon juice instead. I didn’t marinate for as long as I should have as I was hungry (hungry Anna = whole new personality and no friend to anyone).
I loved this recipe! The flavours were incredible and it was such a simple meal. If I was more organised I could have done a lot of prep beforehand (like pre-marinating the chicken and have it sat in the fridge waiting). I had this with steamed green beans and a lot of cauliflower mashed with mozzarella. Beasty portion.
At the weekend I’ve still been loving my lunch of sweet potato, butternut squash and coconut soup (with chickpeas).
I can’t get enough.
And I tried a new recipe Sunday night. I based it on THIS recipe.
Chicken, Soy Sauce and Plum Bake (serves 2)
- 2 chicken breasts, seasoned
- 4 plums, stoned and quartered
- Garlic, diced
- 1 tsp. lazy ginger
- 2 tbs. soy sauce
- 1 tsp. fresh coriander, chopped
– Preheat oven 180C. Bake chicken in a little oil in a roasting tray for 10 mins.
– Take out tray and add garlic and ginger, then roast for another 10 mins.
– Take out tray again and add plums and soy sauce, roast for a final 10 mins.
– Serve with a sprinkling of coriander.
I served this will beans (again) and cauliflower mozzarella mash with added spinach. Heavenly.
And a quick update with the living room wall (after Ben’s accident with the wall and red wine). Ben spent mot of the weekend painting, bless him.
He first washed the wall (again) and then used two freebie magnolia samples to paint over the wine marks. Alfie was a big help.
Not.
And then painted the wall using a completely different colour for our brand new feature wall! Basically painting over the wall totally with magnolia wasn’t going to work as the red wine was so dark.
And finished! It really warms the room.
I went for a quick run yesterday morning…
In the absolute darkness that is 6am:
Terrible pic sorry, I just wanted to illustrate what my corner of the world looks like at the end of my run. And it was stupidly icy. Scary times.
I did plan to go today at lunch but I’ve been invited to the pub for lunch…ahh damn, what a shame… I’ll just have to run another time instead!
What are you eating today?
Pub or run, is there a contest??
What’s your favourite way to eat coconut?
Also, check out Laura’s blog for her exciting giveaway and her new amazing new website Uniquely Healthy she’s just set up. It looks great and I’m very pleased for her! She’s worked very hard and I wish her all the best.
Oh heavens, Anna!! The chicken, soy sauce & plum recipe sounds marvelous. You better believe I just saved it =)
Have a wonderful day hunnie.
p.s. love the wall color & your Christmas tree is adorable.
Thanks 🙂 It is definitely a good meal to try. And thanks – I can’t take credit as it was all Ben, the boy did good!
I LOVE peppermint tea. Bigelow’s mint medley is my favorite. The chili looks delicious! I need to make some.
Ooh never tried that peppermint tea, I’ll have to have a look!
I can’t believe that he doesn’t like vegetables!! That is going to be tough indeed. Kind of sounds like my brother though. Fill him up with meat and starches like mashed potatoes and bread, and he’ll be happy. And of course dessert as well…. You can do this! I’m sure your Christmas lunch will turn out great!
Peppermint tea really is so good- and it’s perfect for the season:) Your graze box is adorable, too! Happy WIAW Anna!
I love peppermint tea, it’s perfect for when you’re cold and fancy something that’s not coffee.
Thank you so much for the giveaway link, you are a star! I know what you mean about winding down, we have a christmas event at work tomorrow night and then next week our office is closed to the public so I’m doing short days and taking thurs / fri off. Good times!
It’s such a nice time of year as everyone is winding down as well so I don’t feel too bad hehe.
Eeep peppermint tea! So yummy, and I love how mint takes off the edge of hunger pangs. You wall is lovely! And hmm. Personally, I’d find it hard to choose between a nice run and the pub… sad I know 😀
Peppermint tea is my favourite herbal tea. It’s so refreshing! I was a bit sad I couldn’t run to be honest so I don’t think you’re sad at all!
I love the statement wall, it looks great! As does your plum chicken, and the coconut chicken, I’ve made something similar myself before!
Thanks! I was pleasantly surprised at how easy those recipes were and how tasty. Love it when that happens.
Love the colour of your nails 🙂
I would choose a run over the pub because I don’t like pubs really (they are OK, but I don’t drink, so spend a lot of time going “seriously, I am not thirsty, I’ll just have this water”)- but if it was a run or Starbucks then it would be hard to choose!
At work we usually have a bit of a wind down with the kids, as they are all so excited, but also things get frenzied as we have the Christmas plays and concerts to rehearse and get ready for , plus end of term assessments, planning for the next term etc, so it does get busy.
Well we were going to the pub for lunch which is a lot more exciting than just a drink. Which I agree isn’t nearly as fun! I’m not a huge drinker either so much prefer it when food is involved hehe 🙂
Oh wow yeah I can imagine Christmas is a bit crazy at school. But at least it’s a fun kind of crazy I suppose!
Love the new wall color!! What a fantastic solution 🙂
I’d like to take credit for it but really it was all Ben. He loves doing all those manly DIY things…I just let him get on hehe.
Oats are definitely for life! ha! Especially now it’s so cold! 🙂
Yeah I definitely appreciate my warm breakfast so much more now!
Your Christmas tree looks so pretty! 🙂
And I agree that oats are for life 😉
Thanks! Oh yes, oats are the best.
Hi! I’ve just found your blog and always squeal quietly when I find a UK blogger! Your blog is lovely too!
Enjoy your long weekend. I think this weekend is the perfect one to have off before the holidays! Everything is gearing up to Christmas week but not too crazy, like the 23/24 is likely to be!
Hello fellow UK blogger 🙂
Thanks, I’m so excited about this weekend!