Mud Cakes and Wine

We have finally reached the end of January which has seemed the longest month ever. Comfort food really seems like is is need at the moment with these cold and grey days. Last weeks meal plan was a huge success especially the tuna pasta bake. Friday - Fish, chips and peas for us all Saturday - Burgers with wedges for Mr MC&W I have two left in the freezer that need eating up. I only have two boys tonight as the middle one is on a sleep over so they will make their won tortilla pizzas Sunday - Chicken and Red Wine casserole I do this with roast potatoes not the dumplings Chicken red wine casserole Monday - Mango Salmon from pinch of nom. The boys will have salmon with mash and peas. Tuesday - Paprika Pork for us all Paprika pork Wednesday - Quesadilla from pinch of nom with salad, the boys will have ham and cheese ones. Thursday - Cauliflower, egg and potato curry. The boys will have curry noodles. This curry has amazing reviews and a friend told me she has had ...

We are creeping towards  the end of January, it seems to have lasted forever. Last weeks meals were a huge success, the Pinch of Nom ones what a wonderful book so many ideas. Also introduced me to onion granules which mean i can get some extra flavour into the boys food but not the onions bits the hate. We are still being careful with what we eat but a few more treat meals are coming back onto the plan. Friday - Bean burgers for us I have brought these in the boys will have a chicken style quorn burger. Lunch sandwich from our farm shop. Saturday - Diet Cola chicken from pinch of non with noodles. Toasted cheese sandwiches as a treat for the boys. Diet coke or pepsi max chicken Sunday - Spag Bol. Lunch Pasta Salad Monday - something like a crispy chicken from the freezer section with new potatoes, veggies. A easy stick in the oven meal for us all. Lunch I got some cauliflower rice so will be doing that as a salad of some kind. Tuesday - Double bean and roast pepper ch...

We are still being thoughtful with our food, all meals are around 500 calories and being very careful about portion control. We have lost all our Christmas weight and doing more exercise. For Christmas I got the book a pinch of nom after seeing lots of bloggers using it and I love it. Friday - Cheeseburger Pizza Pinch of Nom for us all. Saturday - Paprika and Mushroom Pork for us all minus the mushrooms for the boys. Lunch Falafel salad.  Marys paprika pork pot Sunday - Fajitas for us all. Lunch some kind of thai noodle salad. Monday - Smoked Salmon and Broccoli Quiche for us all pinch of nom with salad and new potatoes. Lunch is a tuna and bean salad. Tuesday - Cajun Dirty Rice for us all again pinch of nom. Lunch is pasta salad using the pesto from Thursday. Wednesday - Loaded naans with salad for us all. Lunch is a avocado, chickpea and cauliflower salad. Loaded naans Thursday - Red Pesto Gnocchi for us all. Speedy Mediterranean Gnocchi

Last year I pruned our standard rose for the first time, this is one of those jobs that strikes fear in most of us non gardeners. One you tube video later I had the basics and off I went and had a go. Pruning standard rose post This year I needed to tackle our  apple tree. This apple tree was given to us by the owner of the company Mr MC&W worked for when we had our first baby. It is a small apple tree, it started in a pot, then we stuck it in the ground and pretty much left it for 8 years. Every year we commented on the fact it looks a mess and needs sorting. This year I took a deep breath and decided it was time to have a go at pruning. Thanks to the amazing twitter gardening gang I got a huge amount of advice and there are two courses I want to go on. The main advice was dead, diseased and crossing over. But what came over loud and clear was have a go do not be scared. So I grabbed my best and sharpest secateurs, a small saw and went to look at my apple tree. As you...

The weather is grey and dull and miserable, so comfort food is needed this week. Last weeks meals were a huge success, the bean burritos I made up but ended up tasty and full of black beans and veggies. The Moroccan meatballs were brilliant and used less meat as so any veggies. This is something we did already but I am trying to cut down more of the meat we eat.  Friday - Fish, Chips and Peas Saturday - Is a odd day, the eldest has a party and Mr MC&W is playing golf. So ready meal for us thanks to Charlie Bighmas and the other boys will have pizza and salad Sunday - Sausages in a big Yorkshire pudding with carrots, spinach and gravy Monday - Leek, Mushroom and goats cheese strudel the boys will have tuna slices Leek, mushroom and goats cheese strudels Tuesday - Mexican pulled chicken. The boys will have this but less spicy, Mexican pulled chicken and beans Wednesday - Spicy Salmon tray bake. Salmon and mash and peas for the boys. Spiced ...

So the first meal plan of the New Year and we need to be healthy, we have enjoyed Christmas but now we need to lose those extra pounds and to be honest feel a little better again. I am going to try and put more of our lunches into the meal plans. Can not say this will happen every week but I keep forgetting and this would help me. Friday - Harissa Salmon with zesty couscous for Mr MC&W and I. The boys will have baked quesadilla and salad. Lunch is Broccoli and feta pasta salad. Harissa salmon zesty couscous Saturday - Chinese chicken curry with rice for us and noodles for the boys. Lunch is Feta, beetroot salad with beans. Chinese chicken curry Sunday - Use of of roast beef we had on new years day as a slow cooked stroganoff for us all. Couoscous and feta salad. Monday - Bean Burritos with salad. I am kind of making this up from various recipes I have seen but it will be veggie. Boys will have omelette's and jackets. Lunch is Roasted Cauliflower with tahini and h...