Cupcakes. They come in all shapes and sizes and flavours and I love them all.
In fact, so far I don’t think I’ve come across a cupcake that I haven’t enjoyed. These vanilla cupcakes that I baked for church last week were a big hit. I kept them simple with a basic vanilla sponge and made a vanilla flavoured butter cream and topped them with strawberries. Since I made a couple of batches there were quite a lot to go around. We ended up sharing them with our neighbour whose little boy’s birthday the previous day, another neighbour and my family who were visiting for the afternoon. I love baking and sharing my food with others, it’s such a satisfying feeling seeing others enjoy my food.
This week there has been some lovely meals on my meal plan:
![IMG_2954[1]](https://drjemma.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/IMG_29541.jpg)
Last night we had my char siu pork stir fry for dinner that included a mix of red and green pepper, baby corn, French beans and spring onions. Alfie had his with basmati rice and we both really enjoy this dish – it’s so quick and easy to make.
We tend to have salmon at least once a week now plus the oiler fish is good for the baby. Normally I pan fry oven bake the salmon but fancied doing something different with it. I found this recipe for a salmon and filo pie and adapted it to make it my own with the addition of asparagus and courgettes. This was so good served with salad and baby potatoes.
Rather than my usual salad for lunch I decided to have a bit of a mixture of everything one day this week. I scrambled some free range eggs and added tomatoes, cucumber, avocado and prosciutto ham to my plate too.
Well I’ve definitely been flying the flag for British strawberries this week, total addiction going on over here. They are so perfectly sweet at the moment and are gorgeous to snack on.
So who has been watching the World Cup? Alfie absolutely loves it and I’ve been watching and enjoying it with him. On Thursday night Ghana were playing and since Alfie’s family are Ghanaian we are big supporters of the team in this house. They were playing a big match so I fancied cooking a football inspired meal of black bean tacos including all of the trimmings like salsa, cheese, jalapeños, avocado and paprika sweet potato chips. I even got non-alcoholic pear cider too. Sadly Ghana crashed out of the tournament, but these tacos sure made up for it.
This week my workouts have looked like this:
Monday – 30 minute walk
Tuesday – morning gym session (20 minutes gentle cardio and strength routine – bicep curls, shoulder presses, chest presses, squats against the wall and weighted bum raises)
Wednesday – 30 minute walk
Thursday – REST
Friday – morning gym session (20 minutes gentle cardio and strength routine – bicep curls, shoulder presses, chest presses, squats against the wall and weighted bum raises)
Saturday – prenatal yoga
Sunday – 30 minute walk and prenatal yoga
With my #1PercentMore challenge in full swing and trying to be accountable I think I did really well with achieving my goals for the week. Since my workouts were much shorter I was able to stretch them more over the week and didn’t feel pressured to fit them in. My legs have really been achy this week so the yoga at the weekend has been great to stretch out and relax.
Here’s me and the bump at 28 weeks, officially in third trimester territory…eek! I don’t want to go into too much detail about the bump in this post as my second trimester recap is all scheduled for next week. This week I had my 28 week appointment with my midwife where they took more blood. If you have never felt like a pin – cushion before and want to experience the pleasure then pregnancy is the way to go! Seriously, I’ve never had so much blood taken, but this time it was to check my iron levels. My glucose test results from the week before came back with a positive result too…phew! I was concerned that I may develop gestational diabetes as it’s prevalent on my dad’s side of the family, but so far so good! I also got weighed too and I’ve put on 13 lbs so far, not sure if that is good or bad, but my midwife and GP are happy with my pregnancy progress which is the main thing.
Summer Infant Slumber Buddies
In other news we discovered that our wedding photographers now do bump and baby photo shoots so I’m going to get all booked in to that as they did such a fantastic job for our big day. Love their work! We also picked up this cute night-light in the sale yesterday that projects stars on the ceiling and sings lullaby’s, so sweet!
I think I’m going to make baking a regular thing for church, perhaps not every week. I really enjoy baking, but since there’s only 2 of us pretty much everything ends up going to waste. At least this way I get to share my love of baking with the rest of the village. 🙂
Do you like to bake for other people? What’s the most delicious thing that you have eaten this week?
Just loving the strawberry season and your cupcakes look so pretty topped with them. Lovely bowl you served them in too.
I’m loving the strawberries too, especially with the tennis! 🙂
I keep experimenting with cupcakes – ours have to be gluten free, so it makes it a little more difficult. I think I have a failsafe base recipe now though, so just have to find enticing flavour combinations!
Have you tried using different gluten free flours?
wow the food looks just fantastic you cannot go wrong with cupcakes really can you !
28 weeks ! not to long now for you hun! 😀
Melissa x
I know time is going by so fast!
Amazing looking cakes Jemmy! I wish I had more people to bake fir, though it could be very dangerous! So exciting that you’re in the third trimester now, well done for keeping up with your brilliant workouts 🙂
Yeah maybe its a good thing that there is only the two of us most of the time, lol!
Yum!!! So many good meals.
Thanks Amberly!
All of that food looks delicious! And good for you for keeping an eye on your health while pregnant! I gained SOOO much weight with both of my pregnancies and I’m paying for it now! Lol
Awww bless you! I’m sure you are doing fine 🙂
Wow, those meals look yummy!
Thanks! 🙂
Those cupcakes look so pretty! I always either take my baking to work, or to Andy’s family, as the two of us could not eat it all!
I always have to plan my bakes so that there are enough people around to share them with 🙂
Everything looks so delicious!! <3
Thanks! 🙂
What an amazingly delicious post! I’m totally drooling now, lol
And congratulations on your pregnancy! God bless you and keep both you safe these last weeks 🙂
Thanks Joanna! 🙂
those all look delicious! that’s such a cute baby bump photo of you at 28 weeks! 🙂
Thank you lovely! 🙂
That’s salmon pie and the cupcake looks deliciously good x
They were so tasty! 🙂
Yay for achieving your goals this week, and seriously cuuuuuute bump!
Aww thanks Kristine!
Great round up here, your cupcakes are lovely! I always like seeing what other people are up to during the week. xx
http://healthjen.blogspot.co.uk
Same here, I love seeing what others are getting up to 🙂
Gosh, you’re so good to fit so much cooking and exercising in! I’m in awe. Those strawbs look delicious, I miss summer fruits! Good luck with your baby photos, they always turn out so beautifully 🙂
Strawberries are fab here at the moment. 🙂 Thanks Annabel, I hope they turn out great!
How lovely that you’re going to get some bump photos taken. My friend had some fantastic ones done with her husband when she was 39 weeks pregnant and they look great up on her wall at home.
I can’t wait, I hope they turn out as good as your friends. 🙂
The idea of baking for Church sounds so lovely! Oh my gosh it’s so close now! It’s been amazing reading all about your pregnancy and your cute baby finds throughout your journey!
<3
xoxo,
BerryBloomXO.com | Beauty & Lifestyle Blog
So very close! I’ve loved sharing my pregnancy journey on the blog, I’m so happy that you have been enjoying reading it. 🙂
Your pictures always make me so hungry!! Congrats on third trimester – your baby will be here before you know it!
The cupcake looks so good. And I love that you added the sliced strawberry on top!
So great that you’re continuing to eat healthy and stay fit while pregnant! You’ll be much happier you did so after birth! 🙂
xo, Hima
Hima Hearts
Welcome to your third trimester! How exciting!
Mmm those cupcakes look fab. Nice work in baking so many for your friends at church and neighbours. Also, sometimes the more simple cakes are the best. Vanilla is deeeelicious.
I thought you might approve Anna 😉 Yes the more simpler the cakes the better, yum!