* Coconut Prawn Curry {Hairy Dieters}

Although I've always been on the voluptuous side of voluptuous, I have never really had a problem with my weight until I hit my fortieth birthday a couple of years back. All of a sudden it mattered. Oddly (or not) I have always struggled with my age... always... right back as far as the age of twenty four (many, many moons ago *sob*) when Neil bought me a bunch of flowers the day before my twenty fifth birthday because "You seem a bit bummed out about your birthday tomorrow".

Sweet.

He hasn't bought me flowers since. His excuses vary from "It's been so long, you'd wonder what I'd done wrong if I did"... to "The only flowers you'll be getting from me will be on your funeral wreath".

Wuuuuv. Twuu wuuuuv. 

I digress (what's new?)... in December last year I started up with Weight Watchers Online for about the fourth or fifth time and it lasted until Christmas Eve (ish), which is what I'd more or less expected - because I have the attention span of a rabid gnat when it comes to following any sort of plan... plus Christmas. Really. If you expected any different you seriously haven't been paying attention. I am offended. So... any weight that I lost before the Christmas period I gained back with big brass knobs on and a side of Christmas Pudding.

I've considered trying 5:2 again, Rosemary Conley, calorie counting... stapling my face shut. I've bought both of the Hairy Dieters Cook Books in a bid to inspire myself into Thindom and as yet, have only cooked the one recipe from them. This one. Coconut Prawn Curry. It's pretty scrumptious. So I thought I'd share it.

I have actually lost a couple of pounds this week, simply by walking the dog a bit further and a bit more often... I got up this morning to discover she'd placed a "Do Not Disturb" sign beside her bed and she's hidden her leash.

I'm tempted to shout "Walkies" just to see if she bites me.

* Slow Cooker Turkey and Chorizo Chilli

Over the Christmas holidays I went to my oldest BFF - Kerry's house, for dinner. It was just the two us (tres romantic) and we stuffed ourselves stoopid on her slow cooker beef chilli, cheesy nachos, all the trimmings and cheesecake. Kerry knows how to entertain when it comes to food. If she'd come to me she'd have had a bowl of chilli and rice placed in front of her, with a fork... and possibly some cheese. I may even have grated it in advance.

Her chilli was *to die for*, and though she has promised me the recipe - a bit like the cheesecake recipe of yore - she has yet to come up with the goodies (this is a not-so-subtle hint). The only thing she 'fessed up to was the use of chorizo sausage and a can of mixed beans.

After waiting very patiently - possibly a day, maybe two - for the recipe... I decided to create my own Slow Cooker Turkey and Chorizo Chilli recipe, that was inspired by Kerry's flavours but different enough that when I'm old and gray and wrinkly and she finally gives me the recipe for hers (laying it on super thick here)... that I can add it to Abbe's Cooking Antics. 

I've used chickpeas in this recipe, in place of beans and turkey instead of beef - partly because it felt right and partly because I could. It really is one of my best slow cooker recipes yet, right up there with the Moroccan Lamb Tagine and the Mexican Meatballs.

But you really should judge for yourselves... which is code for "Cook it, you'll love me".

You really will.

* Out To Lunch, Be Back Soon!

I read somewhere that it's a not a good idea to write a blog post saying "Sorry I haven't been around guys", or "I'll post more soon, honest" and "Have you missed me, I'm still here"...

... Ummmmm.... not so good at following rules like this... so here goes...

Some of you have been in touch - friends, family (not just my mum!), complete strangers... asking where I am, so here's your answer (I'll try not to bore your butt's numb)...

First - there was Christmas. I hate Christmas. I don't like spending my money on other people buying them stuff they won't use, and getting back stuff I put straight in the Charity Shop. Ungrateful? Yes. Do I care? Absolutely not. I don't mind the whole family get together thing at Christmas, that part is fun, but you can keep the rest. So, Christmas and the lead up to it kept me busy.. and antsy. Not a good idea to blog when you're feeling a bit "sod the world" - so I didn't.

Second (yes, I am writing a numbered list, you might want to put the kettle on)... we were decorating our bedroom over the Christmas period itself - not just a coat of paint on the walls, but we laid a new floor (ourselves, we are that good), ripped out skirting boards and replaced them with new and sat waiting patiently for new furniture to arrive. The house looked like a bomb had exploded and we'd tried to cover up the aftermath with bits of tinsel and a teeny tiny Christmas Tree. Cooking kind of went completely out the window, with big brass knobs on. I could have photographed all the ham sandwiches we ate and blogged them, but somehow I think you know how to make a ham sandwich.. also, see *First Reason*.

Third (and most important) - we have spent the past 8 months going through the process of becoming Foster Carers. On January 14th, with the the help of our fabulous social worker, Angela and the support of friends and family - we went before an independent panel of people, and were given the thumbs up. It's not been an easy journey, but it has certainly been worth it. Since *passing panel*, I've attended training, support group and induction and hopefully we have our first young person coming to stay for respite care, within the next couple of weeks! I'm never going to be able to share the details of our fostering experiences - it would be unethical and in some cases a possible danger to the child - so I don't imagine I will mention it again, other than in passing.

So, there you have it - my "Sorry I haven't been around guys" blog post. I will most certainly return to sharing my recipes, as soon as humanly possible - I have even started using an online meal planner in the hopes of organising myself into being able to have time to cook recipes, photograph them and share them with all of you.... yeah... I don't reckon that'll last any longer than you do - but it's worth a try!

See you soon, my lovelies!