Plant based?

The world and his wife seem to have decided that my diet and my body are public concern, which is not at all motivating to me to feel positive or pay attention to other people's viewpoints. 

However. I did make a delicious Indian inspired dinner today, of sweet potato and chickpea curry with rice and homemade flatbread. And it was all vegan. I've started looking at veganism as an option for me, as an animal lover; it makes a lot of sense and it's not too radically different anyway. 

It might not have been the most photogenic dish I've ever made but it was tasty!

I also made granola bars today, because I have a ridiculously early start in the morning. I wanted a grab and go type thing, because there's no way I'll be ready to eat at the time I have to leave. 

I made chocolate-peanut butter and a date and vanilla batch and they are TASTY. Very happy how they turned out. 

But again, awfully brown to photograph! Maybe I'll take an arty photo on the train with my hot chocolate (that I inevitably treat myself to because ugh so early - I have to have soy milk anyway because I'm lactose intolerant so that's not a change) and then Instagram it like a cool kid!

Harira

Yesterday's roast duck Sunday lunch was nice but not amazing. Today's Moroccan inspired Harira soup was awesome! Leftover duck put into the slow cooker with onion, celery, fresh ginger, chickpeas, lentil and stock plus a combination of turmeric, harissa, garlic and cinnamon... Yummy. 

However, today I also went and got myself weighed and it's having an enormous impact on how I feel. I wasn't at all prepared for the number to be what it was. I don't know where I'm going to come back from this. I was supposed to be having a consultation for weight loss surgery today and I cancelled it, because I decided I couldn't really afford it and because I thought we could probably do it "by ourselves". Now I wish I hadn't, because I don't know how to cope without help. It's difficult. 

Look, I'm back!

Whilst it might have been like a million years since I posted - last in August 2014! - I still have the password! So here I am.

I haven't weight myself in a year or more and don't care to. My body has changed a lot in that time. But my husband and I have decided to get back into cooking more real meals and enjoying new food, so we're back. Weight change might be an extra bonus.

This week's menu includes new recipes, part of my 2016 resolution to cook at least one new dish per month. Fingers crossed, we've got leftover duck Harira (a Moroccan inspired soup), a slow-cooked pork and red cabbage casserole and kangaroo meatball tagine.

Hooray!