RTM Day 24 (Week 4)
Firstly, congrats Ken, so happy to welcome you to the RTM club and very much looking forward to reading your RTM diary. Let us know how the first meal was.
Today I am feeling a little sorry for myself, woke up, feeling knackered, these long shifts are killing me atm. Left the house at 6 in the dark and rain, and on the drive when my brain kicked in I realised that after sneezing most of yesterday, I now had a nasty sore throat to boot and was feeling decidedly unwell. Alas with no sous chef to cover me and not enough chefs at work atm for the work we have on and all my tasting and other event commitments there was no way I could have a day off. Just going to have to keep plodding on until Sunday. At least Saturday I get a lie in
I have really noticed today that how I felt has affected how much I want to eat, and that nasty little chatterbox was out in full force yacking away in my ear most of the day. Luckily he was put firmly back in his box!!!!! Go willpower and wanting to do the adult thing. In retrospect, not wanting to taste was so much easier in abstinence, now becaue I am actually eating food, it feels much harder to resist. But am I loosing the new wardrobe and the fab new figure - HELL NO!!!
Usual black coffees to start the day and a cup of tea at around 9am with a bit of milk. Brekkie at 10 which was abfab!!! Half an apple baked off with skin on sprinkled with a bit of cinnamon and 15 ml of pure apple juice served nice and warm with a vanilla muller light, 10 raspberries and about 10 blueberries. Felt like a really lovely wintery treat on such a chilly wet morning. Did not start to feel any hunger pangs until after 1pm and thus far the day was going quite well so it was obviously real hunger and not stress related. Had my LL Thai soup pack at 2:30pm just before I headed off to the event. Stuck in London traffic in the rain, getting really delayed, having to detour because of damn road works and the stress started. Got there half an hour after we should have and had to rush to get outmess done for 5:30 pm. Managed to get that sorted. Then my boss was all fo a stress because this is another place we are tendering for for a full time contract, and livery halls are very specific!! Very full of history and how things need to be done. Imagine, dear reader, if you will how things work for state banquets. All very full of protocol and specifics. Because she was stressing she was being very pedantic and really started winding me up. I had taken some chicken to cook and my ratatouille with the intention of eating either shortly before or shortly after service. Because I was late in eating before wasn't an option. According to the schedule , dinner was to be served at 7:15 which would have meant a nice relatively early night - it was only 70 odd people. Got ourselves sorted, and ready to go and pah, 8 people were delayed and so we waited and waited and waited. Only started service 45 minutes after we were due to. Couldnt cook dinner whilst wating for service as they could have called to eat at any time. Had a jelly and 10 raspberries, to keep me going it was now nearly 8 and I hadnt had anything since the soup pack. The smells of the food tonight were amazing, a lot of my favourite things. Starter of Smoked trout with a new potato, creme fraiche and chive salad and black pepper tuilles. Confit duck leg ( which we do ourselves and is rich, gorgeous and about a days calories in a tiny bite) on savoy cabbage with boulangere potatoes and spiced cherry preserve. Pud was a plum and apple frangipane tart with rosepetal cream and warm plum and cinnamon compote. Cheese course was a goats cheese creme brulee with little crostiniFrangipane is another of my favourite things. I so wanted some of that duck, but made the grown up decision not to. The brulee also looked awesome and wanted that too. The more frustrated I got the more I noticed that I wanted to pick!!! I almost wanted to say "f**k it" It was also whilst we were waiting to serve with nothing to do. Finally finished and was waiting to leave, was really hungry now so had a small peach and a quarter of an apple. Granny Smith this time and so juicy and tasty. Thought it was better to have a little something before being stuck in traffic again.
Finally got home after a few more road diversions ( don't we all love thames damn water and the replacing of the victorian water mains!!) Was feeling even more grotty knowing I have another long day tomorrow and am still not going to get much sleep! My lovely, darling sister had got me flu pills, opened my bed for me and made the most divine dinner. A Cabbage and Ham hot pot. Just perfect for the weather, so filling and satisfying and really warming. Hit the perfect spot.
Basic recipe is as follows:
100g onion sliced
75g leek sliced
175g savoy cabbage sliced
320g lean gammon cooked and cubed
1 tin chopped tomato
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
2 cloves garlic
1tsp tomato puree
This was all slow cooked together and serves 2/3 - we have some nice left overs . And since this was made of left overs in the first place it really is very economy gastronomy round here. I really suggest you try this, it is the most gorgeous winter dish. Also works out at about 180-200 cal a portion.
Having a jelly quickly and a tub of weight watchers lemon cheesecake fat free yoghurt. Not sure if I will manage the shake. Hate the fact that I am having too many of my cals late at night. Didn't see a way around it though.
Thank you all so much for your kind comments btw, it means so much and it is so helpful to know I am keeping on track. Going to hop in the bath and try and get some of that positive attitude back for tomorrow.
Big kisses all
Jez
xx
