In late September of 2013 our
eldest started university, a proud moment to say the least. Of course you’ll
say that I am bias, which if it had been anyone else I could understand and
possible agree, however we have been blessed with a beautiful daughter inside
and out, she’s kind and patient, she works extremely hard, both at school and
at her job, she has fun but remains sensible, not only all that but she is
REALLY smart, we’ve been blessed with a child who has it all. An enviable quality
for sure, she’s not of my blood though, she is my husband’s daughter with his
first wife and she has done an outstanding job at raising both the girls, I love
them both as I love my own. I have the same hopes and dreams for them as I
would have, had I given birth to them myself. I worry sometimes that I don’t
show the girls how much I truly love them. I feel like I have to try harder
because I am their ‘step-mum’ and I so really hate that label it’s synonymous
with, wicked or evil. The word step-mum makes me automatically think of the ‘evil
stepmother’ fat with loads of makeup and a wart on the end of my nose,
incapable of anything but jealousy and resentment. That couldn’t be further
from the truth though, those girls had my unconditional love before I had even
met them, how could they not? They are a part of their father and I love him
with my entire being, because they are part of him I don’t see it as being
possible that you can love one without the other. I wanted/needed to do
something for our eldest, something that I could put my stamp on and say you
know what this is me I did this for you because I love you and I wanted to show
you that I love you, but I am limited as to what I can do to help, something’s
really are mother and daughter things and I wouldn’t ever just assume that I
can do ALL mother daughter things with either of them. I would hate to do
something that was special between the girls and their mother, by accident of
course, and for it then to take away slightly from that special feeling that
they had with their Mum. So as far as quality time is concerned unless it has
been prior organised between my husband and their Mum, I try not to get overly
ambitious…. I have a tendency to get all flighty and lost in the moment. So
anyway, that leaves very little that I can do, that says I love you and I did
this just to let you know that I love you (a small token of my affection). I
had already told Glen that I was going to cook a whole bunch of meals that he
could take to work, it seemed logical therefore to make dinners that could be
frozen, so that Glen got some for work and I could give some to our eldest too.
To be honest it was a short lived project the initial idea was perfect, the
practicality however turned out to be quite different. The next few recipes are
all ones which I cooked portioned off and froze for later.
Fragrant
Chicken
2 chicken breasts
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2tbsp chopped parsley, tarragon, oregano
½ lemon zest and 2tbsp juice
Ground black pepper
Courgette and green beans to serve
- If there are any remove the sinews and the skin, off the breasts, place them between two bits of cling film and bash them with a rolling pin until they are about 5mm thick.
- Add the oil, herbs, zest and lemon juice and the black pepper to a Ziploc freezer bag, then add the chicken to the marinade leave for at least 30 minutes, longer is better if you have the time, turning them every now and again.
- When the chicken has been marinating for at least 30 minutes heat a George Foreman type grill or a griddle pan to cook the chicken breasts, press down (using a spatula if you are using a griddle pan) this will seal the breasts and sear a griddle pattern on them.
- Serve with courgettes and green beans.
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