How To Get Into British Heaven

Step one: Put the kettle on.

Step two: Use good, loose, English Breakfast tea. Loose tea tastes better. Always. 

Step three: Use a teapot. I've got lots, including a nice big Brown Betty (bam-ba-lam), but most often I use this little cheapo I got from a Chinese wholesaler. Using a pot keeps the volatile oils from escaping, which means flavour. Another thrift store pot, just for fun: 

Step four: Milk. Unlike with coffee, you can't use any old non-dairy milk. I find the most universally agreeable to be oat milk (my current fav) and Alpro Simply Mild. I sometimes keep the latter in the house for guests.

Step five: Brew now or brew later, 4pm or 4am, to anyone and everyone who crosses your threshold. 

P.S. A biscuit doesn't hurt. These are Doves Farm, but plain Hobnobs happen to be vegan too. Peter Kay approved for dunking. 

P.P.S. Ok, so, I *may* not have had time for my originally planned 'regional dish' for Vegan Mofo, but this is important stuff too, guys.

Herbs for Weaning

I'm hoping to dry up the girls over the next few weeks, so I've made myself a simple weaning tea; equal parts dried sage, peppermint and lemon balm, brewed strong and taken 3 times a day. We are weaning as gently as possible, so engorgement hasn't been much of an issue. Still, I'm trading in my fennel, nettle, raspberry leaf and blessed thistle for now. Some other widely recommended herbs for weaning, that aren't too obscure, are spearmint, parsley, thyme and sorrel.

Sounds delicious, right? Will incorporate into my cooking as well. Apparently peppermint tea has quite a weak effect, and sage can be quite strong - but I much prefer that taste of peppermint. One of my favourite baby care brands, Earth Mama Angel Baby, make a No More Milk Tea if DIY isn't your thing.

 

Eats and Sleeps

Peppermint tea. Finally ok to have, as I'm trying to wean. It can reduce milk supply, so should be avoided by new moms.

 

Chickpea "tuna salad" on seaweed sourdough, with sprouts and avocado. I think the little miss is coming out of her picky phase a bit, fingers crossed.

 

 

Co-sleeping is the best. Co-sleeping is the worst.

 

Breakfast.



A snack while me and my man both worked at the kitchen table, me on coursework, him on work-work. Too. Much. Technology.



Part of my grand weaning plan: hot, frothy (soy) milk. She loves it! And I think she enjoys having it from a mug like a grown-up. She calls it tea.



Her "tea".

 

And another boobless nap. Just gotta keep going. Getting her down for a nap used to be one of my easiest tasks.