{"id":101185,"date":"2020-11-13T15:34:57","date_gmt":"2020-11-13T15:34:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stories.qvcuk.com\/?p=101185"},"modified":"2020-11-13T15:39:50","modified_gmt":"2020-11-13T15:39:50","slug":"six-weeks-and-counting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stories.qvcuk.com\/presenters\/julia-roberts\/six-weeks-and-counting\/","title":{"rendered":"Six weeks and counting\u2026"},"content":{"rendered":"
It\u2019s hard to believe that Christmas is six weeks today! I usually don\u2019t give much thought to Christmas until after my son Dan\u2019s birthday on 27th November, but this year I\u2019m much more organised (for both) and have already started my Christmas shopping \u2013 a lot of it thanks to QVC offers, to be honest. More on that later, when I tell you about my latest Today’s Special Value purchase, but I thought I\u2019d start with a recipe today as I promised I would, and sometimes I run myself a bit short of time on a Friday morning.<\/p>\n
Having been gifted some allotment-grown butternut squash by Dan\u2019s girlfriend, Katie\u2019s parents, I made a risotto and it was even more tasty than usual \u2013 here\u2019s the recipe:<\/p>\n
Butternut squash, sage and pine-nut risotto<\/strong> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n I haven\u2019t done a huge amount of cooking this week as I\u2019ve been working every day except Tuesday, but I did do Tomato and Olive Pasta Penne and Cauliflower and Broccoli Cheese \u2013 both easy, no-recipe-required meals. I like to cook with fresh ingredients, but of course they are not suitable for the Reverse Advent Calendar, which is now starting to fill up nicely.<\/p>\n\n Thanks for your suggestions of some Christmas goodies in your comments on last week\u2019s blog \u2013 mince pies, chocolate biscuits and sage & onion stuffing now bought and ready to add as the month progresses. Thanks again if you\u2019ve also been inspired to do a box for your local food bank this year.<\/p>\n As well as being at QVC on Monday, I also had my next appointment with my physiotherapist, (brutal) Brittany, as she is based in Chiswick, where our studios are located. She checked on my progress and in her words was \u2018very impressed\u2019 \u2013 a massive accolade coming from her. She has changed some of my exercises to make them more challenging and given me a few new ones to work on before I see her in early December \u2013 apparently, if it isn\u2019t \u2018hurting\u2019 it isn\u2019t working!!! I\u2019m probably halfway there in terms of my rehab and retraining of muscles that have been misused for years, but at least I\u2019m moving in the right direction.<\/p>\n I also had my first Facetime call with my mum this week, using her part-time carer, Suzanne\u2019s iPad. I\u2019ve been trying to think of a way for Mum to be able to \u2018see\u2019 me and in particular my sister who lives in Scotland, but wasn\u2019t sure whether Mum would be keen on trying to get to grips with the technology. She loved being able to see me and Chris, the garden and Wilfie while we were chatting, so we are going to do it more regularly once I\u2019ve organised an iPad for her.<\/p>\n Speaking of Wilfie, he\u2019s a very clean cat, always licking himself, which I guess is why his coat is so glossy. But climbing into the laundry basket might be a step too far even for him!!!<\/p>\n\n So to my QVC purchases: in the past week I\u2019ve ordered three Molton Brown<\/a> items, the Yankee Candle<\/a> Today’s Special Value in Snow in Love (do let me know what you think of it if you ordered on my recommendation), yesterday\u2019s Hotel Chocolat Today’s Special Value and today I\u2019ve pre-ordered the L\u2019Occitane Today’s Special Value<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/a>\n I\u2019ve gone for the Aromatic option, but it also comes in \u2018Warm\u2019 featuring almond, and in \u2018Fresh\u2019 featuring verbena. It is a 6 piece gift-boxed collection, which also comes with a separate tin for the bar of soap. Check out the website for more details<\/a> but I think it\u2019s an excellent offer at under \u00a350.<\/p>\n<\/a>\n
\nServes 4<\/p>\n\n
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