Mud Cakes and Wine

So I am writing this meal plan with the rain beating down on the garden and not feeling that summery. Last weeks meal plan went well, the Thai chicken changed to a made up harissa with some honey and coconut milk and think I have fond a new meal as it was lovely.

Friday - I found this spicy pork Schnitzel in a Mary Berry cookbook and going to serve it with a potato and green bean salad with a lemon and garlic mayonnaise. I get all our meat from our village farm shop and the butcher will beat the schnitzel out for me which is very useful.

Saturday - Peri Peri chicken served with chips, salad, coleslaw and I hope some homegrown corn. The boys will have quorn buttermilk bites with mash and peas.

Sunday - Meatballs with tomato sauce and spaghetti

Monday - Chicken, Mozzarella and pesto parcels with salad. I do this with puff pastry and make the boys a tuna slice with salad

Chicken mozzarella pesto filo parcels

Tuesday - Salmon with beetroot and lentils. The boys will have cheesy pasta and veggie…

We yet again have been fighting OBs type 1 and Mr MC&W was away due work for 3 days last week as well. The last thing I could get my brain around was what to eat for the next week. So I am hoping things get a little better this week.

Friday - Scampi and Chips for Mr MC&W and I. The boys will have fish and chips and peas.

Saturday - Jackets, beans and Cheese for the boys. Mr MC&W and I are having a Charlie Bighams curry.

Sunday - A family birthday so a family BBQ

Monday - Pesto and Mozzarella Mushrooms. The boys will have tomato soup.

Crunchy pesto and mozzarella baked mushrooms

Tuesday - Paella this is based on an Ainsley Harrriott's Smokin Paella dish which is simple but tasty

Wednesday - Child Friendly Thai style noodles and adding more curry paste for the adults

Child friendly thai chicken noodles

Thursday - Gnocchi with broccoli and mushrooms this is from Jo Pratts Madhouse Cookbook and the boys have broccoli and peas. It is such a quick and easy meal but really tasty and y…

It has been a very busy month and to be honest I have taken my eye off the ball when it comes to the veggies. I have been busy with family life, kids  finishing school, teachers gifts, endless school presentations and meetings to attend. Mr MC&W job has been very busy. Lastly there is the rest of the garden, the hanging baskets and the new border along with three chickens and the front garden makeover.

So there are all the excuses about why my veggies have been a bit of a failure.

Beetroot have been totally eaten by voles I have had to pick and throw them away along with the carrots, I did not properly thin so are growing too close together.



The courgettes I again planted too close and they are going rather odd shapes and again have been thrown, but we do have more coming up so hoping fpr something better soon.



The Swiss chard is growing well, thought its only the stems we can eat as the leaves are not good, I will report on the taste. The problem is it is rather shading the fennel, s…

Well what a week we had, on Friday we arrived at Woburn Center parcs for a little start of the summer holidays break and it was our wedding anniversary. Then on Saturday Mr MC&W, OB and ZAP all got the worst sick bug, so our weekend turned into me nursing the three of them and OB has type 1 diabetes which on every other occasion he has had something like this we have ended up in hospital. With the help of our consultant we kept him out of hospital and we are all nearly recovered. 

Now we have a heatwave and no one wants to eat anything. This week are meals that we all like and that are easy as I need easy meals at the moment.

Friday - Smoked mackerel salad we could not have this last week so I have put it on for this week. Boys are having fish, beans and peas

Saturday - Easy and everyone loves Spag Bol

Sunday - This is one of my favourite meals French Style Chicken

French style chicken with peas and bacon

Monday - Quorn Burgers with choice of toppings

Tuesday - Taco Tuesday 

Wednesday - O…

We have planted our new border full of plants for pollinators and insects it slowly has become alive over the last month. I suddenly had a thought when the rain stopped and the sun came out we have no water in the garden.

So I needed a plan, I want a wildlife pond but I am not sure where to put this for the best so I did some research and came up with the following.

I brought a glazed plant saucer from the garden centre and a packet of plant topper stones.




I brought the saucer as it is not too deep and it is glazed so the water will not seep out. I wanted not too deep as I have seen too many insects and bees drown in our children's water table. The stones where a good size to allow insects to take water and hopefully not drown.

I found a spot in the middle of the flower bed which is not in full sun.





So far what has been lovely is the birds are using it and I hope in time others will.

It was under £10 to make and should add that extra important feature when supporting wildlife.

We are edging closer to the summer holidays. We only have 4 days left as a few inset days being taken.

The children are exhausted and not in good moods so its going to be a challenging one for us all.

We did not have the pulled chicken as we had a dominoes instead. The stuffed mushroom and the halloumi burger last week were lovely but the potato and cheese tart was not good.

Meal plan Friday 5th July 2019
Friday - Family favourite Fish and Chips and Peas

Saturday - BBQ

Sunday-  The boys are being treated to a McDonald's and we are having a tesco finest dine in for £10

Monday - Beetroot and Smoked mackerel salad the boys have decided they adore mackerel so they will have a salad minus the beetroot. I have made up my own ideas for this and must write it up.

Tuesday- Chinese style chicken,I have changed this a little to cook on the hob and use microwave rice which makes this a simple one pot meal

Sticky chinese chicken traybake

Wednesday - Pasta, Mozzarella, mint with fresh tomatoes

Pasta with …