Worth the wait...

I can't begin to tell you how excited I was on Thursday morning - I woke up, full of anticipation and got myself dressed before racing downstairs to check my phone....Text message: 'Hi, this is to remind you we'll be delivering your order today between 15:40 and 19:40...' Crushing disappointment followed - delivery between 15:40 and 19:40??? You mean I would have to wait at least 10.5 hours???? (Yes, I was up at 5am and yes, I was technically on holiday but that's not the point).

Somehow I managed to make it through the day and, as if reading my mind, the delivery drivers turned up at 15:40 - in the back of the truck was the most gorgeous, shiny, beautiful brand new cooker...and it was heading into my kitchen!

Now I realise that to most, this wouldn't be worth the level of build-up and excitement (let alone the 5am wake up call - certainly Mr Ellie wasn't too fussed on that bit) but then clearly most people haven't had to deal with my old cooker, with its broken handles, no working ignition switch meaning I had to take my life into my hands every time I needed to light the oven, sized so that no normal baking tray would fit and with a variable attitude towards 'cooking' (two settings - cremated or raw).  Plus, it had about 20 years of grease and muck build up that even the most determined Mr Muscle failed to defeat.

So you can see why the arrival of my brand new cooker caused such a level of excitement!

I managed to wait until Friday before embarking on the inaugral cooking marathon, but then I cooked my little heart out and now the freezer is full of lamb curry and curried meatballs (both recipes courtesy of Anjum Anand's Indian Food Made Easy), goulash soup (thanks Hairy Bikers!), bolognese (Mr Ellie's own recipe) and there are jars of strawberry jam and rhubarb chutney on the shelf ready and waiting for the Weardale Show in August. Mr Ellie is very happy at the prospect of so many tasty delights for dinner this week.

Sadly that means I won't need to cook on an evening, which means no more excuses for leaving the ironing...Still ironing means I get to watch Food Network and the joys of Amazing Wedding Cakes and Ultimate Sweets - bring on the cakey goodies!

Miss Ellie xxx