Friday dim sum

I love Fridays.  The end of the week, no work for two days, and an evening to have a bit of a blow out and celebration.

This Friday, my celebration was the visit of the lovely Zanna, long time friend and bridesmaid to be, who was coming up for a general visit and do some wedding planning.   We needed a good catch up and the perfect location was some pre-dinner drinks at the Roundhay Fox.  We supped some white wine and then when the time was right, dispatched Joe to go home and rustle up some M&S dim sum and prawns with broccoli and cashew nuts.  What a star.

It was rather lovely to arrive back at the house to find dim sum steaming, broccoli stir frying, more wine in the cooler and candles lit.  Dinner was also exactly what we needed, even if Joe did try to melt my face with some very spicy chilli!

M&S dim sum - a not too shabby alternative to making your own (and much less hassle)

Prawns with broccoli and cashews (and super spicy chilli!)

Tuesday Night Late Night Treats

I had my last day of the year working in Manchester on Tuesday, so its not very surprising that I was a little late back!  Joe and I had arranged to meet Hunter Pig for some pre-Christmas drinks and gift swapping - Joe received some very fancy Saville Row socks and some hilarious books, while Hunter Pig was the first recipient of a special gift, which can't be revealed until after Christmas!

I joined the boys sometime after 8 in the Wrens Hotel, which has been given a rather nice make over.  It's no longer a pub that I think I'm likely to be killed for food in, and is now a cosy little pub with rooms.  Well worth a visit if you're in the New Briggate area.

Anyway, we made it home sometime after 9 and I decided on spicy fried rice with cashews - and not a meat product in sight (much to Joe's surprise about half way through dinner!).  It was very nice, although a little late to be scoffing rice, veg and chilli - woops!

Spicy fried rice - and the picture looks rancid!

Tuesday Back to Reality (Jo Girl)

So unfortunately my celebrations of my debating triumph (promise that is the last mention!) were short lived - I was back in Manchester today which meant an early start!  I can definitely tell that Winter is coming fast - gutted - I was hoping the snow would hold off at least until after Christmas!  It was cold and damp in Manchester (although I was not battered by hailstones, unlike yesterday!).  We could also see snow falling on the moors from our court which is definitely a sign that the Indian Summer is over!

Anyways, late nights as always mean quick dinners and tonight was no exception!  A hastily put together prawn and cashew stir fry, with Japanese soba noodles and organic veg.  I love stir fries because they are so healthy and you can put in so many flavours: cashews and prawns are definitely a winner for me!  Heated with a little chilli and ginger, it was yummy!

The stir fry

And again - a close up!