Silent Sunday

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Meal Planning Monday

What a beautiful weekend; meals alfresco, lots of family fun and glorious sunshine!
It always goes a little too quickly though and here we are on Monday again, planning for the working week ahead... and it's July!

 

This weeks menu

Eating at Buddies with the extended family
Toad in the hole with mashed potatoes and vegetables
Enchiladas
Cod in cheese and parsley sauce with jacket potatoes and vegetables
Spaghetti bolognese with garlic bread


I'm on a countdown until my holiday and also my brothers wedding in September so I'll be making extra effort to cut out junk, eat lots of fruit and veg and to exercise more frequently so I can shift a few pounds. 50 minutes of Zumba followed by a 20 min boxing/toning session is on the agenda this morning, Wednesday and Friday - I feel tired just writing about it!
 

 

What's on your menu this week?

I'm linking this over with At Home With Mrs M.

Meal Planning Monday

 

This weeks menu...

Peppered steak and cheese baguettes with home made wedges and salad
Quorn fajitas
Bacon carbonara with garlic flatbread
Macaroni cheese (with sun dried tomatoes)
Sausages and mash with veg and onion gravy

Perhaps a little cheese mad but I've longed for a steak baguette and macaroni for some time!

We have a child-free weekend ahead so we will pick something up that we fancy nearer the time, although I think my sister may be cooking for us all as my brother will be visiting from Liverpool!

 

 

What's on your menu this week?

I'm linking this over with At Home With Mrs M.

Meal Planning Monday

I'm very much looking forward to summer; BBQ's, salad and pasta on the patio. However, with the return of the snow (where does it keep coming from?!) it's back to the slow cooker and filling, comfort foods. Something to warm me up in the evenings!

 Meals for this week...

Lasagne with garlic ciabatta
Slow cooked Chinese style beef with rice/cous cous
Sweet and sour chicken with noodles
Homemade fish fingers, mash and veg
Slow cooked sausage casserole with jacket potatoes
Salmon and smoked haddock fish pie

Sunday we are heading to Drayton Manor to celebrate the Mr turning 31 so we will probably eat out there or on the way home.

 

What's on your menu this week?

I'm linking this over with At Home With Mrs M.

Meal Planning Monday

We had a fantastic delivery of fresh fish at the end of last week from Fish is the Dish. They are trying to highlight the benefits of eating just two portions of fish a week and we hoping by doing so we will be boosting our immune system and brain power too!

 I've already cooked the mussels we received at the weekend and the recipe will be on the blog later this week.

 

This weeks planner...
Fish pie (with cod, haddock and salmon)
Spaghetti bolognese
Salmon fishcakes and salad
Sausage casserole with jacket potatoes and veg

Friday to Sunday we are child free as the Mini Mes will be with their dad so we will pick up what we wish to eat nearer the time... I'm thinking steak with wedges and roast gammon are likely to be on the menu.
 

What's on your menu this week?

I'm linking this over with At Home With Mrs M.

What I'd really like for Mother's Day

The cards, flowers, cute little teddy bears that say I love you Mum and chocolates are all very much appreciated but the things that I would really like this Mother's Day don't cost a penny... it really is the little things that count!

A meal time without moaning. If it's pizza on the menu it's a big thumbs up, but the Mini Mes don't often appreciate the fact that they need veg and they will often look at me as if I've presented them with a plate filled with maggot infested manure. I don't expect them to tell me I'm the next Nigella but please, be grateful!

 

I'm not really fussed about a lay in but being able to wake up when my body is ready to rather than when it is forced to would be lovely. Too frequently I receive a shout from one of the Mini Mes; "Mum, can I play on the X-Box?/Mum, she won't get out of my room!/Mum can the dog come upstairs?" and I get up drag myself out of bed like an extra character from the Walking Dead to sort things out.

 

Bowls and cups to be put next to the sink rather than spread across every kitchen surface possible would be super. I feel like a mad plate spinner dashing frantically around collecting them all ready to clean each day and it usually results in little drips, crumbs and stains needing to be cleaned from each work top. Please try to make my life a tiny bit easier.

 

Like everyone I do need the odd loo break and I'd love to undo my trousers and sit down before "Mum, where are you?" or a tap on the door with a small voice asking what I'm doing. A wee in peace = heaven!

 

A bed time without a battle. Jamster is a bit of a nightmare when it comes to teeth brushing. He will chew his brush and chatter and then he will have a list of requests while he gets in to bed. An evening without "can you pass my drink/get my bear/adjust my duvet/open my door a bit more" would be amazing! Hugs, kisses and sleep please.

What do you want this Mother's Day?

Meal Planning Monday

I'm rather glad to see the back of last week; one broken mobile, one broken laptop and two poorly children with flu and tonsillitis. March has arrived and I'm hoping that means warmer weather and the end of illness.

This weeks meals were all chosen by the Mini Mes. As they were poorly last week and barely ate I thought it would be nice to let them pick and choose what they fancied. I think they did a good job with some nice variety!

This weeks planner...
Pasta bake with chorizo and bacon
Lamb stew and dumplings (slow cooked)
Sausage casserole (slow cooked) with jacket potatoes
Pizza, chicken wings and garlic bread
Curry, poppadoms and naan bread

At the weekend I think we will probably head out for a meal, possibly Red Hot buffet, and then have a roast on the Sunday as I've not had one in a while.
 

What's on your menu this week?

I'm linking this over with At Home With Mrs M.

Meal Planning Monday

The year seems to be flying by so quickly doesn't it, it feels like only yesterday I was planning last weeks meals! I can't believe it is nearly March - where does the time go?!

This weeks planner...
Carbonara and garlic ciabatta
A meal out at Red Hot
Meatball bolognese
Steak, wedges, onion rings, peas and peppercorn sauce

We are child free Friday evening until Sunday and away in Liverpool helping family move so we will eat out while there I imagine. I quite enjoy a night, or a few, a week without cooking although the calories tend to add up quite fast. I'll be giving Josie Gibson's 30 second slim workout a go this week 4/5 times to help with the ongoing weight loss! Interval training is apparently the quickest way to shift the pounds so fingers crossed.

What's on your menu this week?

I'm linking this over with At Home With Mrs M.

Slow Cooker Sausage Casserole

I've had the slow cooker out a lot more recently as it's just so easy to use and convenient around work and school. I like to look for alternative ways of using certain ingredients too so we don't get stuck with the same meals every week - this sausage casserole has a bit of a kick and goes lovely with mash or jacket potatoes in particular.

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil

1 onion, finely chopped

1 red pepper, chopped

1 tbsp garlic puree/2 cloves

8 thick sausages (we used Lincolnshire)

1 tbsp paprika

1 tbsp ground cumin

1 tbsp dried thyme

1 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes

1 x 400g tin baked beans

1 chicken stock cube diluted in 80ml hot water
A few slices of chorizo

• Heat the oil in a pan and add the onions, cooking for a few minutes until browned.
• Add the sausages and brown for around 5 minutes.
• Add the garlic, pepper, paprika, cumin and thyme and cook for 1 minute. 
• Empty the pan into the slow cooker.
• Add the rest of the ingredients to the slow cooker and stir well.
• Cook on low for 5 hours or high for 2 hours.
• Scoff!

Meal Planning Monday

It would appear that spring has arrived with the daffodils blooming along the pathway and sunshine glaring through the windows warming up the lounge this morning. With this comes fresh salad and pasta, my favourites, for lunch and hopefully some weight loss in the process.

We have quite a few celebrations this week and we will therefore be eating out tonight and Wednesday so that's another 2 evenings I won't need to cook.... yes!

This weeks planner...
Eating out for my dad's birthday
Sweet and sour chicken with noodles
Eating out for my brother leaving (Italian)
Chicken and ham pie with veg
Pizza and garlic bread


Saturday Jamster is going to a party which involves eating out too so I'm not sure what the rest of us will have that evening, possibly jacket potatoes. Sunday we will probably be out for the day but I still plan on doing a roast in the evening.

What's on your menu this week?

I'm linking this over with At Home With Mrs M.

Slow cooked Chinese style beef

This slow cooker recipe results in clear plates all round as it is packed with flavour without being over powering. The Mini Mes, Mr and I all love it and with plenty left over it is great to freeze or reheat at work. It can be combined with mash or rice for a filling comfort food or with stir fried veg or noodles for a lighter meal.

Ingredients (serves 6)

2 tbsp olive oil

1 onion, diced

2 cloves of garlic/1 tbsp garlic puree

2 tbsp ginger

1 tsp chilli powder

1.5kg braising beef, diced

3 tbsp plain flour

2 tbsp Chinese five-spice powder

1 tbsp sugar

3 tbsp dark soy sauce

500ml beef stock

• Fry the onion in half of the oil with the ginger, garlic and chilli until browned and transfer to the slow cooker.
• Place the beef in a bowl with the flour and give it a gentle shake to ensure all sides of the meat are covered lightly.
• Fry the meat in the remaining oil until browned and then add the Chinese five-spice, sugar, soy sauce and stock.
• Bring to the boil and then transfer to the slow cooker.
• Stir well and cook on high for 2-3 hours or auto for 5-6.
• Add more soy sauce or Chinese five-spice to taste.
• Scoff!

We enjoyed ours with Tilda's Roasted Pepper and Courgette brown basmati rice, a great way to sneak in extra veg! 

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The Morphy Richards slow cooker in brushed stainless steel has a capacity of 6.5 litres and is perfect if you want dinner ready in the evening when you are out or busy during the day. The large size makes it ideal for entertaining guests or to feed bigger families and the instruction booklet supplied also contains some recipes to get you started. The toughened glass lid is strong and the removable ceramic dish makes it really easy to clean - both are suitable for the dishwasher too which is a bonus! You can enjoy your meal without worrying about dried on stains as they come off quickly with very little effort.

There is an easy to use dial to the front with three cooking options available; low, medium or high to suit any meal that you wish to cook. I found it very easy simple to use and thought it was a great quality item.

Available from Littlewoods a buy now pay later catalogue, you can purchase one today and spread the cost too if you wish.

*We received the slow cooker for the purpose of the review. The recipe and opinions given are our own*

Meal Planning Monday

We stuck to the planner really well last week and the Chinese style braised beef and fish pie in particular were a huge success with the whole family - they will be making another appearance very soon!
The only day we didn't stick with was Wednesday, we were child free and opted for a naughty takeaway pizza instead, so the salmon souffle has moved on to this week instead.

This weeks planner...

Salmon souffle

Slow cooked sausage casserole
Lasagne and garlic bread
Jacket potatoes with a variety of toppings

Friday we are visiting friends in Stevenage and we will be having an Indian together and Saturday we are visiting my brother and his fiancee for a Chinese banquet before they move away to Liverpool to live.
I quite like the idea of a non-cooking weekend but I imagine the calorie intake will be severe - eek!

What's on your menu this week?

I'm linking this over with At Home With Mrs M.

Meal Planning Monday

I've decided to try a new dish every day this week combined with ones that we haven't eaten in rather a long while. I felt as though we had slipped into a cycle of repeating the same old meals each week and I was bored of that!

This weeks planner...

Slow cooked Chinese style braised beef with rice
Salmon souffle
Slow cooked sausage casserole
Slow cooked Moroccan lamb and cous cous
Haddock fish pie

As you can see the slow cooker will be put to good use this week on quite a few occasions but I'm hoping to squeeze in some more craft and outdoor play with the Mini Mes between the school run and dinner!

What's on your menu this week?

I'm linking this over with At Home With Mrs M.

Meal Planning Monday

With snow on the floor and more on the way this week, I fancied having some comfort food on the menu.

This weeks planner...

Fajitas (quick and easy before visiting family)
Lamb stew and dumplings
Lasagne and garlic bread
Kievs, jacket potato and veg

We are having a curry as a treat with my parents at the weekend and I think a full roast will be squeezed in too somewhere! I also plan to make soup in the slow cooker so the Mr has something to warm his tummy at work while it is so cold.

What's on your menu?

I'm linking this over with At Home With Mrs M.

Meal Planning Monday

We are completely back to normality this week with the return of school and work, unfortunately *sigh*. Although the routine is appreciated I'll miss the lazy mornings and trip out with the Mini Mes but we have had a lovely break - Bring on half term!

This weeks planner...

Toad in the hole
Lasagne
Lamb stew and dumplings
Pizza, salad and garlic bread
Salmon and gnocchi bake

At the weekend we will be heading out for some family fun but as I'm trying to lose some weight there will be no take-away or eating out on the agenda.

What's on your menu?

I'm linking this over with At Home With Mrs M.

Meal Planning Monday

The Christmas celebrations which saw us indulge in some delicious festive meals are now over and after this evening we will be back to some form of normality when it comes to eating as a family.
I'm aiming to lose 3 stone by September so January is a detox for the Mr and I who are both avoiding alcohol, chocolate and take-away to kick start 2013!

This weeks planner...

NYE Party buffet
Carbonara
Chicken Tikka Masala
Fish, jacket potato and veg

We are child free Friday-Sunday as the Mini Mes will be with their dad but I'm thinking of steak with veg, a roast dinner and lasagne will be on the agenda over the weekend.

What's on your menu?

I'm linking this over with At Home With Mrs M.

Meal Planning Monday

I had a great evening out Friday for my work Christmas party and I enjoyed parsnip soup followed by roast turkey and strawberry cheesecake. The portions were huge so I felt rather stuffed after several vodkas and wine too.
Well, it is Christmas!

Saturday we had our Mexican night which was a success (yay) and everyone complimented the food; fajitas, enchiladas, chilli and nachos plus several desserts too.

This weeks planner...

Pizza and garlic bread
Reviewing a restaurant so dinner out and for FREE!
Salmon and gnocchi bake
Lasagne
Kievs, mash and veg

I am still on Jenny Craig and pretty much will be until the new year now. I can't wait to start 2013 a few pounds lighter and to continue eating less and better. I'm leaving the weekend free as I have no idea as yet what we will be up to but the Mini Mes will be with their dad.

What's on your menu?

I'm linking this over with At Home With Mrs M.

Saturday Caption #Satcap

Having a look back at pictures from last Christmas I came across this scary picture of myself about to enjoy Christmas dinner...

Was the turkey really that huge?

Have you got a funny or witty caption for this photo? I would love to hear it!

You can link up your own picture or view more over with the marvelous Mammasaurus.

The frugal guide to eating out

There are a lot of ways in which you can save money when you treat yourself to a meal out.
By researching a little and being a little tech savvy you can save yourself money and probably discover some new, great places to eat too!

• Check for online discount codes. Try visiting Netvouchercodes.co.uk to see if the restaurant you’re headed to is offering any discounts or offers. You could be surprised at how such little effort before you head out to your meal can end up saving you a huge amount on your bill.

• Sign up for loyalty schemes. A lot of restaurants offer incentives for being a returning customer. Ask if they have a loyalty card. You’ll get a stamp when you visit and once you’ve collected a certain amount you’ll get a side or part of your meal for free. Some even will give you your meal for free once you complete your card.

• Bring your own wine. More and more restaurants now will let you bring your own bottle of alcohol. It means a quick stop off at the supermarket, but will mean that your bill will go down, as restaurants can charge over the odds for their own bottles. 

• Eat “off peak” when you can. Restaurants will normally provide a cheaper lunch time menu to encourage customers. It means a cheaper meal for you, and normally the same size as the normal evening meal. However, you’ll also be able to dine in a quieter environment as an added bonus.

• Don’t buy water. Water is free! Instead of asking for expensive bottled water request a jug of tap water with ice. It will taste pretty much the same, without having the huge price tag. And it’s less calories than the other drinks you might have too!

*This is a featured post*

Meal Planning Monday

In a slightly hungover state we completed the food shopping Sunday afternoon and decided what to eat while pushing the trolley around. Who said you need to have a list and be organised!

This weeks menu looks a little like this...

Fajitas
Toad in the hole
Salmon and gnocchi bake
Pizza
Lasagne

The weekend we will leave free as no doubt we will be out and about with the Mini Mes and we will also be putting up the Christmas tree!! I can't wait.

What's on your menu?

I'm linking this over with At Home With Mrs M.