Haslet Recipe

Variety is the spice of life and this comes down to sandwich fillings too, apparently. The Mr loves a nice mixture for his lunch so I decided to make haslet as an alternative to the chicken, egg, tuna mayo etc that he would normally have between two slices of bread. It was a real success and the Mini Mes have enjoyed eating this too!

Ingredients

Meal Planning Monday

The weather hasn't been great with both snow and rain this week so I thought it was better to be prepared, and save myself from venturing out into the cold, by ordering online. Especially as my Morrisons shop last week was so successful. I had a rummage through the freezer beforehand and as we have overflowing drawers quite a lot in already I thought it would be a good idea to use that rather than spending a small fortune on food when it wasn't necessary. 

The Mr would be proud of my frugal ways!

Here is the menu this week:

• We bought quite a lot of party food over the Christmas period for when family and friends visited and the plait is something that was popped in the freezer for another day. I must admit it looks rather delicious but I will be sticking with my New You Plan again this week (only 3 weeks to go!).

Meal Planning Monday

For a change I decided to order a food shop online this week and save the Mr the trip to our local supermarket. I can't recall using Morrisons' delivery service previously but I was really impressed. The receipt lists the expiry dates of the products in order and we didn't have any substitutes at all. 

It's very likely I will shop with them next week too.

Here is the menu this week:

• As it has been snowing I thought a big family feast was in order. I've got a large joint to cook which I will team with Yorkshire puddings, cauliflower cheese, roast potatoes and lots of seasonal vegetables. I;m making a pudding too, the recipe for which I will share soon.

Crispy Roast Potatoes

Crispy potatoes are an essential part of your roast dinner and these are simply delicious. They are often requested to accompany other meals too, as an alternative to chips or mash, and there are lots of flavour combinations you can try. Garlic with rosemary or thyme always seem popular here.

Ingredients

1.25kg potatoes. We use Maris Piper
1 heaped tbsp. plain flour
4 tbsp. Olive oil (approx)
1 clove of garlic, crushed/pureed (optional)
1 tsp. dried Rosemary or Thyme (optional)

Meal Planning Monday

Now that the festivities have come to an end and we return to some form of routine, the buffet dinners and sweet treats are being replaced with properly planned dinners. Much to everyone's disappointment!

Here's what's on the menu this week:

Monday's dish is a family favourite. It's a standard macaroni cheese with mustard, Cajun spices, paprika and a few other bits thrown in too, along with chicken pieces for protein. I usually make a very large dish so a few portions are frozen for another time or popped in the fridge and reheated at work by the Mr for his lunch.

Breakfast

If you have been following me on Instagram or reading my Project 365 posts you will already know that I ALWAYS take photos of what I'm about to eat. I'm a bit of a tease and I like to make people feel hungry and then drool at the site of my cookies and cakes! 

Yep, I'm one of those annoying people in posh restaurants that will sneak a pic before taking a mouthful. 

Last week was Farmhouse Breakfast Week which promotes the importance of a morning meal.

I got involved and shared a few images of what I've been eating to try to encourage others to have something too to start their day...

Sausages with tomato sauce on fresh brown bread.

Crunchy cereal with a splash of chilled milk

Hungry?

What have you had for breakfast?

The theme this week is Food.

Motivational and Meal Planning Monday

After a bit of a naughty week away, in terms of eating, I'm back on the weight loss wagon and kick starting today with a smoothie and Zumba! I actually feel quite sluggish and bloated from going off the rails for just 6 days so I'm looking forward to eating a little better and exercising again.

My motivation for the week...

This weeks menu...

Sweet and sour chicken with noodles
Roast chicken with stuffing and vegetables
Jacket potatoes with various toppings and salad
Toad in the hole with mash and carrots
Fish, new potatoes and vegetables

What is your motivation this week?
What's on your menu?


Have a great week!

Meal Planning Monday

This week Minxy has her school show and Jamster has a school trip so I've opted for quick pasta based dishes for those days. We are child free Wednesday so I'm going to have a lovely fresh salad and Friday we will probably be eating out as my brother is down for his stag do!

Saturday while the men are away my sister, mother and I will have a day of retail therapy and hopefully be looking for our outfits for the wedding too. This will probably involve a meal out but I'm going to try to stick with healthier options so the weight loss continues.

I lost 4lb this week!

 

This weeks menu

Fajitas
Pasta Bake
Carbonara
Chicken salad
Lasagne


My motivation for the week...

I've been using a Fitbug for the past few weeks which I've found has really encouraged me to walk more.

 I'm quite competitive, even with myself, so I like to try to do more steps than the day previous!

 

 

What's on your menu this week?

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

Meal Planning Monday

Today the Mini Mes head back to school for the final term of the academic year and the countdown to the summer holiday begins - woohoo!!

 

Along with our summer bucket list the preparations have begun for what will hopefully be the best summer holiday ever. I'm booking tickets, arranging days out and stocking up the arts and crafts for a fun packed family time. I've also set myself a goal of 1 stone to lose by 23rd July, end of term, so I'll be enjoying a lot more salad and healthier options in the meantime.

This weeks menu...

Sweet and sour Quorn with noodles

Beef cannelloni with garlic ciabatta and salad

Lamb moussaka

Jacket potatoes with tuna/beans

Brinner

We have a child-free weekend ahead and the Mr has a school reunion Saturday night so I'll probably cook some pasta for then and have roast gammon Sunday with lots of veg - or a BBQ if the weather remains beautiful.

 

 

What's on your menu this week?

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

Meal Planning Monday

 Meals for this week...

Chicken wrapped in bacon and smothered in BBQ sauce with chips and peas
Slow cooked Chinese style beef with rice
Toad in the hole
Carbonara

Midweek we are child free and off to the cinema, I love Orange Wednesdays, so we will probably eat out. Friday I'll let the Mini Mes decide (so that will more than likely be pizza) and at the weekend we will be packing to go on holiday so anything left in the fridge will be eaten.
 

 We made some delicious caramel brownies earlier this week too which are great for Easter.
We will do a bit more baking later this week too.

 

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.

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

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

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

We had to do a bit of juggling and rescheduling last week so we didn't stick to the plan very well but this week everything should run a little smoother... hopefully!

This weeks menu...

Spaghetti meatballs
Toad in the hole
Eating out
Slow cooked lamb and stew and dumplings
Work Christmas party (roast dinner and disco)
Mexican night (Fajitas, Enchiladas, nachos etc)

I've already picked up our Sombreros and all the food and drink ready for the weekend and I am very much looking forward to hosting the evening. It was meant to be last week but the Mr had his work party so it was put forward to this weekend instead last minute! I'm back on Jenny Craig, with a months supply this time so I should definitely lose a few more pounds for Christmas. 8lb down already on their plan! 

What's on your menu?

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

Meal Planning Monday

December has arrived and the countdown to Christmas has officially begun! As the weather gets even colder there will be a lot more slow cooked meals in this household and I'm really looking forward to more roast dinners and warm desserts too.

This weeks menu...

Slow cooked lamb and stew and dumplings
Jacket potatoes and slow cooked chilli
Slow cooked meatball bolognese
Roast chicken
Mexican night (Fajitas, Enchiladas, nachos etc)

We are away in Blackpool at the weekend reviewing some of the attractions there so we will be eating out Saturday and will pick up something on the way home Sunday.

What's on your menu?

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

Meal Planning Monday

We have a lovely delivery due this morning to cook up three meals using Heinz new sauces (hot hot HOT!) and the rest of the meals are planned by the Mr this week. I think I'll throw some slow cooked recipes back in for next week though as I really enjoyed those, especially the lamb stew with dumplings!

We had a fantastic Greek night at the weekend. I made Baklava for the first time and it was fab. You can view the pictures over on Instagram if you fancy a peek (username theminimesandme).

This weeks planner...

Bacon carbonara

Spicy Stir Fry 

Fiery Chilli con carne

Mexican soup

Fish, wedges and carrots

As I recently won a £50 Pizza Express voucher in a Twitter party we will be heading there on Saturday for a family meal out and Sunday we will probably have roast lamb.

What's on your menu this week?

Slow Cooker - Spaghetti Bolognese

The weather has cooled so it's time to fill up on warm, winter foods. This spaghetti bolognese is rich in flavour and a family favourite.





Ingredients

800g beef steak mince
6 bacon rashers
2 onions
6 closed cup mushrooms
2 cloves of garlic
1 tbsp mixed herbs
800g chopped tomatoes
2 tbsp tomato puree








Method

Slice the onions and cut the bacon up into small pieces and then fry them until lightly browned (on the hob for 2-3 minutes). Then add them to the slow cooker.
Brown the mince on the hob and then add to the slow cooker.
Add the rest of the ingredients and stir thoroughly.
Cook on high for 3 hours or auto for 6 hours.
Serve with spaghetti.

Scoff!