Mud Cakes and Wine

Well, we have made it into mid-December we are pretty much ready for Christmas and will be cracking open the Christmas treats we have been buying. This meal plan will take us to boxing day. Wishing everyone a Happy Christmas  Friday - Fish, Chips and Peas Saturday - Spag Bol Sunday - Dominoes as it is our youngest 6th birthday Monday - Ravioli, homemade tomato sauce, salad and garlic bread Tuesday - Chicken Kiev, mash, peas and bacon Wednesday - smoked mackerel, beetroot and potatoes with salad and a horseradish sauce. Pesto Pasta for the boys. Thursday - A sausage casserole with jackets Friday Christmas Eve - Curry. Plus I cook the Gammon in Cola Saturday Christmas Day - Roast Turkey, Roast Potatoes and Parsnips, carrots, sprouts, broccoli, red cabbage, stuffing, pigs in blankets all with cranberry and lots of gravy.  Sunday Boxing Day - Leftovers with brought in baguettes and pickles.

  Oh my December is truly flying by at the moment. How did we get into the last week of school? Needed some quick and easy meals or ones that could sit in the oven this week as way to much to get my head around. Friday - Hot dogs in rolls with caramelised red onions Saturday - Fajitas Sunday - Out for a family treat so not sure maybe McDonalds on the way home. Monday - Salmon with Chinese style noodles.  Tuesday - Take out as its my birthday. Wednesday - Stuffed croissants. I will make a very thick cheese sauce with ham in for us i will add mushrooms and put that in bake in the oven croissants and bake. Serve with salad. Thursday - Toad in the hole with greens.

  The Christmas tree has been chosen and is being delivered this week and the outdoor lights we will put up in the next couple of days. Trying to get into the festive spirit. Friday - Lasagna for us all and this will be a shop brought one. Saturday - Gammon, Egg and Chips Sunday - Youngest has a party so a ready meal for us in the evening. A Tesco meal deal. The boys will have tomato pasta. Monday - Mushroom Risotto with Garlic Bread. Cheese risotto for the boys. Tuesday - Sausage and tomato Pasta bake Wednesday - Chinese Style Chicken and Noodles. Thursday - Fishcakes and greens 

November seems to be flying by rather quickly and Christmas is fast approaching and I have not got my head around anything. Friday - Make your own pizzas for the boys. We will have Pinch of Nom Cheeseburger Pizza Saturday - Chicken burgers with a range of toppings  Sunday - MIL is over for lunch so we are having a slow roast shoulder of pork with roast potatoes, carrots, broccoli Monday - Chicken Supreme with mash and greens. We have not had this before but sounds simple and tasty BBC Good Food Chicken Supreme Tuesday - Thai Fried Prawns and Pineapple Rice.  BBC Good Food Thai fried prawn pineapple rice Wednesday - Meatballs Thursday - Calzones we have not had in a long time. The boys will have ham and tomato and cheese we will have goats cheese and mushrooms BBC Good Food Mushroom, goats cheese calzone

Another week has flown by, I am finally feeling better from covid, though I am sure the children have brought home another cold. I have had a look through some books for this weeks meals as it all got a little bit the same. These are meals we love but not had in a while.  Friday - Fish, Chips and Peas for us all. Saturday - Spag Bol for us all. Sunday - French Style Chicken BBC Good food French style chicken peas bacon Monday -  Chicken Jambalaya via Pinch of Nom but we will not add the sausages. The boys will have this but less spicy Tuesday - Stuffed Peppers with couscous, pesto and cheese. The boys will have pesto pasta. This is from Gino D'Acampo  Wednesday -  Sausage and Egg Muffins. Thanks to Pinch of Nom. The eldest will have bacon as he does not like sausage. Thursday - Med Style Tuna Pasta bake Pinch of Nom

The sun is shining and the house is still, after half term we had a week of isolation due to our eldest, Mr MC&W and myself having covid. Today, everyone is back to school and work. My sense of taste is still lacking as is my sense of smell but I am feeling better each day which is good. Friday - Pizza and Salad Saturday - Scampi, Chips and Peas. Fish Fingers for the boys. Sunday - Cola Ham with roast potatoes, carrots and broccoli Monday - Salmon and Noodles. The boys will have salmon and mash BBC Good Food /chilli salmon teriyaki noodles Tuesday - Gnocchi, Broccoli, Mushrooms and Bacon Wednesday - Paneer Korma BBC Good Food Paneer korma Thursday - Chicken Kiev, New Potatoes and green vegetables

  It has been so long since I have written up the weekly meal plan. But I really missed doing it and am thrilled to be back. Today is a cold, grey and wet day needing some comfort food for the next couple of days. Friday - Scampi, Chips and Peas. Fish fingers for the boys. Saturday - Lasanga for us all. M&S do a really nice family one. With salad and garlic bread. Sunday - Cola Gammon with roast potatoes, carrots, broccoli  Monday - Chicken and Spinach Alfredo. Without the spinach for the boys. I have found this recipe but going to see if I can make it a little simpler and easier to prepare. BBC Good Food Chicken spinach bacon alfredo pasta bake Tuesday - Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon I am going to try the boys on this. BBC Good Food Slow cooker beef bourguignon Wednesday - Dominoes as it is our middle little boys 10th birthday Thursday - Aubergine and halloumi bake I will add some peppers and serve with couscous. Tomato soup and baguettes for the boys. BBC Good Food Auberg...

  Another week and August is passing rather fast. A few meals we have not had in a while as food was getting a little bit all the same. Friday - Fish, Chips and Peas for us all Saturday - Box meal from Tesco for a rest from cooking. Mac and Cheese for the boys. Sunday - BBQ with homemade burgers Monday - Pinch of Nom Thai Spiced Fish and Noodles. Less spice for the boys. Tuesday - Pinch of Nom Med Chicken and Orzo. Chinese Chicken Curry for the boys Wednesday - Pinch of Nom Quorn Fajita Pie. Wraps for the boys. Thursday - Beef Ragu cooked in the slow cooker with pasta BBC Good food Beef ragout

  I am writing this with the wind and rain lashing against the window with a cup of tea and the Olympics highlights on the TV. You would think it was mid-October not the middle of summer. This week Mr MC&W has off work but it is a manic month for his job so we can not make any real plans but we will have a few treat meals. Friday - Scampi or Fish Fingers and Chips and peas Saturday - Lasagna as a ready meal for us all Sunday - Fajitas cooked on the BBQ Monday - Cook Beef Stroganoff with pasta. Tortellini for the boys. Tuesday  - Pizza and Salad Wednesday - Fish and Chips on the beach Thursday - Cook honey and ginger chicken with rice. Chicken Curry for the boys.

  I have not written a meal plan for weeks, I started my own business and it has all been a little bit manic. I am not working long hours but trying to get everything done has proved interesting. My meal planning has still happened but has been very last minute which is not helpful. So I am trying to get better at it. Also, this weather has not helped bright and too hot one day and thunderstorms the next. Friday - Posh Fish Fingers and Chips Saturday - Spag Bol Sunday - Roast Chicken Monday - Easy Singapore Noodles -  this looks great and is a new meal. BBC Good Food Singapore noodles Tuesday - Spiced Salmon Traybake. Salmon, roast pots and peas for the boys. BBC Good Food Spiced salmon traybaked sag aloo Wednesday - Sausage Pasta Bake. This is a little extra work but looks and sounds lovely. Be a good one for the boys to help with. BBC goodfood Sausage pasta bake Thursday - Spicy Chicken Fillets, Mash and Peas. Easy food my favourite

  What a change in in the weather in such a short time. It has already effected my work which is a shame some catching up this week to be done. Friday - Spag Bol Saturday - Scampi and Chips Sunday - BBQ it may be indoors Monday - Thai Prawn and Rice BBC Good food Thai fried prawn pineapple rice Tuesday - Gnocchi from madhouse its with Broccoli and Mushrooms with a creamy cheesy sauce. Wednesday - Pizza sweet chilli for us and the boys will have what ever toppings they fancy Taste au Cheats sweet chilli chicken pineapple pizza Thursday -  Greek Traybake for us meatballs for the boy as will use minced beef. BBC good food Greek lamb tray bake                                      

  Last week was a little crazy with lots going on family-wise. This week I am working one day and then I have lots to do with secondary school transition. This is big as our eldest has ASD and type 1. Lots needed to be discussed. Friday - Ready meal box. The boys all had fish and Chips at school so sandwiches for them. Saturday - Fajitas for us all. Sunday - MIL house for a BBQ Monday - Egg Florintee Pizza normal Pizza for the boys. They can put them together themselves BBC Good Food Eggs florentine pizza Tuesday - Sticky Sausages in rolls - these will be with honey and mustard. Wednesday - Chicken Alfredo - we have never had this before but sounds quick and easy and tasty.  BBC Good Food Chicken alfredo Thursday - Paella from Ainsley Harroitts. I do cheat a little, I use a pouch of cooked rice so it is a quick meal to make. Eat your books.com simply smokin paella

This week has flown past and the meal plan is a little late. But here we are... Friday - Steak, chips, peas, mushrooms and peppercorn sauce for us. Ham egg and waffles for the boys. Saturday - Fish and chips for us all Sunday - Slow roast pork shoulder Monday - Caesar Salad for us and tortellini for the boys. Tuesday - Spiced Salmon for us, I am going to do a different spiced topping. Tuna fishcakes for the boys. Delicious Magazine Dukkah salmon, fennel, courgette, herb, couscous Wednesday - Filled croissants and Salad for us all Delicious magazine Hot cheesy brunch croissants Thursday - Simple easy pasta with garlic bread for us all. Slightly simpler for the boys. BBC good food Pasta, mozzarella, mint, fresh tomato sauce

What a long week, my second covid astra zeneca vaccine which was fine and I felt ok which was brilliant. Our eldest had the most amazing time at PGL but the long days were tough on us all. We will be having a slow weekend so he can recover and rest. Friday - Fish, Chips and Peas for us all Saturday - Mr MC&W is playing golf in the pm so a quick meal of chicken burger, pineapple and cheese with sweet chilli dressing. The boys will have plan chicken burgers. Sunday - Toad in the hole Monday - A new Tuna Pasta bake I found for us all Delicious magazine /crunchy melty tuna and broccoli pasta-bake Tuesday - I found this pineapple and chicken meal it sounds amazing. Will have it with couscous and roasted veg. The boys will have chicken and tomato pasta. Delicious magazine Fiery pineapple chicken Wednesday - Risotto for us all. Four cheese for the boys and Mushroom for us. Thursday - Pork, Hummus, and Roasted Tomatoes. The recipe says lamb but I thought pork would work with the flavours, ...

We have an intersting week for meals as it is not really normal service. Satutday I have my second covid vaccination so I have done ready meals as I am not sure how I will feel.  Then Monday to Wednesday our eldest is going to PGL which means each day dropping home at 8 at school and collecting at 6 he will only have a packed lunch and snacks so we need quick and easy meals to have for us when we get him home. Friday - Pizza for us all. Saturday - Chicken burgers for the boys and a charlie Bighmas Curry for us. Sunday - Mac and Cheese for the boys and a charlie bighmas lasagna for us. Monday - Tortelini bake. I can pre make the tomato sauce and then pop it all in the oven with some garlic bread. Tuesday - Jacket Potato and Chilli which I can do in the slow cooker Wednesday - Slow cooker chicken curry with popadoms and naan bread Taming twins Slow cooker chicken curry Thursday - I found this mushroom tryabke and sounded really interesting, we will do it on tortilla wraps and the boy...

  It has been a while since I last posted a meal plan, not sure what has been going on but I just lost my meal planning mojo. But we are back.... Friday - Scampi and Chips the boys are having Quiche and Salad. Saturday - Meatballs and Spaghetti Sunday - Roast Chicken and all the trimmings Monday - Fish Finger Tortilla wraps with chips Tuesday - Speedy Sauage Stragnoff Speedy sausage stroganoff tagliatelle Wednesday - Creamy Tarragon Chicken  Creamy tarragon chicken potato bake Thursday - Stir Fry Quorn and Hoisin Stir fried beef hoisin sauce

The meal plan is a little late this week. I had my covid vaccine as I care for my eldest and it knocked me for six over the weekend. Though all is good now. Friday - Meatballs with spaghetti Saturday - Fish, Chips, and Peas for us all. My vaccine is today and I need easy food. Sunday - Pizza again just in case we need easy pop in the oven food. Monday - Pasta, Mushrooms, bacon and Pesto bbc good food Bacon mushroom pasta Tuesday - Slow Cooker Beef Carbonnade Delicious magazine Beef carbonnade Wednesday - Freezer fish with sauce, mash, and peas Thursday - Chicken (Quorn) mozzarella pesto parcels Bbc good food Chicken mozzarella pesto filo parcels

Last week's meal plan went well, the fruity curry traybake was a massive success. The fishcakes were nice but a right pain to make. This week we have some more new meals to try. Friday - Saugages with caramlised onions in rolls. Vegaterian hot dogs for the boys Saturday - Mama Jerks Caribean Chicken. This is a small local company that supplies our farm shop and can not wait to try it. Boys will  have Tortellini Sunday - Mothers Day -  we have the MIL coming over so its a cook meal that can just go in the oven. I am not really looking forward to it as I have not seen my mum in over a year and counting now. Monday - Cod, Lentil and beetroot trybake. The boys will have Cod baked with mash and broccoli Real food tesco Tray bakes Tuesday - Caramliased Onion Gnocchi. The boys will have mac and cheese Gnocchi Real food tesco Caramelised onion gnocchi gratin Real food tesco Gnocchi mac-and-cheese Wednesday - Full English Traybake Real food tesco Full english traybake Thursday - Chicke...

  I am so behind with the meal plan, the children are back at school and I am not sure whats happened. Friday - Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff for us the boys had that chicken Saturday - Chicken burgers and chips Sunday - Cola Gammon with roast potatoes, carrots, and broccoli. The boys love this and a treat before school Monday - Bacon and tomato pasta easy pasta as everyone will be tired Tuesday - Found this traybake and sounds lovely so will give it a go Delicious magazine fruity chicken curry traybake Wednesday - These fish cakes sound lovely if a little bit of a pain, I will be buying mash in as a cheat Delicious Melt in the middle-fishcakes Thursday - These looked interesting and will use up the bacon from Monday with salad Jusrol Croque monsieur parcels

Wow, we are nearly in March have you noticed the days are getting longer and the sunshine has been so welcome. The last week of homeschool has started. This week is simple and food I know we like. Friday - Ravioli with salad and garlic bread. Nuggets, mash, beans, and peas for the boys. Saturday - Homemade Pizza for the boys. Charlie Bighmas Thai Curry for us Sunday - Homemade Chicken Pie with carrots, greens for us all. Monday - Sausage and pasta bake Tuesday - Breaded Fish, new potatoes, and greens. The boys will have fish cakes and salad Wednesday - Thai Style chicken noodles Thursday - Mushroom risotto for Mr. MC&W and myself the boys have Cheesy Risotto

Half term was lovely and towards the end, we had sunshine and some warmish weather. The boys wanted to go outside and play, I managed a few hours in the garden and all felt well with the world. Though it's back to homeschool on Monday which I am not looking forward to. Friday - Fish, Chips, and Peas Saturday - Burgers for the boys and Mousaka from Tesco for us Sunday - Roast Chicken is the boys favourite and feel they deserve it. Monday - Mexican Style Peppers. Tortellini for the boys. BBC Good Food Mexican style stuffed peppers Tuesday - Ham and Mushroom bake BBC good food Creamy ham mushroom pasta bake Wednesday - Spiced Salmon traybake. The boys are having tuna cakes. BBC good food Spiced salmon traybaked sag aloo Thursday - Mushroom Stroganoff, the boys love the stroganoff sauce with pasta. BBC good food Mushroom stroganoff

  This is a public service blog, please learn form my mistake.   Remember to water your containers in the winter.  This is the first year I have encountered this situation. It has been very very cold for well over a week but it has also been very dry. We have had snow but no rain. I was so busy feeding the birds and looking out the window to comment on how cold it is, I had totally forgotten about my containers. With cold and no rain this is what I suddenly noticed. My forget me not plants have really suffered in fact pretty sure I have killed them along with the very low temperatures for several days My violas have not been that successful this year anyway, then forgetting to water them along with the cold weather seems to have very nearly finished them off. I have watered them along with our trees in containers two days in a row now and tomorrow the weather is due to get warmer and rain. I will keep you updated to see if they have survived.

The meal plan went pretty much to plan other than Tuesday, we had dominoes as a treat. Also the smoked salmon dish was lovely but I managed to slice my thumb on the mandolin which was not plesant for anyone, luckily it’s fine just taking a little time to heal.  We have Chinese new year, Valentine's day and Pancake day all in one week which is fun. Friday - Chinese for Chinese New Year. We are having sweet and sour chicken from a bottle I will admit. Saturday - Pizza for the boys with salad and we are having a vegetable lasagna again a ready meal. Sunday - I have found these cheese nuggets and the boys love them so those with mash and salad. We are having steak, chops, mushrooms, peas and peppercorn sauce flowed by our bod6 weight in cheese. Monday - Mr MC&W is off work so we are going to have a Charlie Bigham meal as a treat. The boys have asked for fake Mcdonalds so nuggets and fries it is. I may try and sneak some veggies in hahaha. Tuesday - Panckaes I am trying these Dutch ...

The meal plan went well last week, we liked our katsu wraps and will be having them again. The weather is rather blah at the moment though there is a chance we may get some snow which is very rare for us. Friday - Pizza is brought in not homemade. As our eldest has his annual blood tests for his type 1 and he hates it. I need something quick and easy for dinner. Saturday - Slow cooker hoisin style chicken as hopefully, I can pull it apart like pulled chicken. served with rice. Sunday - Toad in the hole Monday - Prawn and pineapple Thai rice BBC Good Food Thai fried prawn pineapple rice Tuesday - Gammon, egg, and chips Wednesday - Vegan Bolognese BBC Good Food Vegan bolognese Thursday - Smoked salmon and celeriac Duplonise. This is real comfort food. BBC Good Food Smoked salmon celeriac dauphinoise

Last week went well, we did not have the paneer curry as we had leftover beef so had a beef curry instead.  The weather is still pretty miserable and I have gone off cooking so meals are pretty simple at the moment. Friday - Fish goujons, chips, and peas for us all Saturday - Lasagna I have brought this in so it can just get put in the oven. Sunday - Roast Chicken with roast potatoes, carrots, and greens Monday - Mushroom Risotto  Tuesday - Smoked Mackeral Salad. The boys will have Quiche and salad. Wednesday - Katsu Chicken Wraps with wedges. Thursday - Pasta with a tomato and bacon sauce.

  We have some sunshine which is just lovely and managed to get a little bit of time in the garden. The bulbs I planted in Autumn are coming through which is just lovely. We had a couple of new meals last week one was a tofu rice dish which was lovely and definitely going to have it again.  Friday - Pizza and salad ala freezer Saturday - Peri Peri Chicken with chips, salad and coleslaw Sunday - Roast Beef we have not had a roast in ages thought this would be nice. Dessert will be this Olive magazine Bourbon biscuit brownies Monday - Chilli Salmon Noodles I found this one and it sounded really nice. The boys do not like spice so will have tuna fishcakes. BBBC good food Chilli salmon teriyaki noodles Tuesday - Chicken Kiev, new potatoes and greens Wednesday - Paneer Curry with rice and popadoms. This is the basic idea but no cardamon for us as I hate it. BBC good food Paneer korma Thursday - Gnocchi in a tomato sauce with pepperoni and served with salad and garlic bread.

  Another week of homeschool has finished and we are still staying at home. This weather is not really helping our mood at the moment as here it is wet and miserable. I am counting the days till spring, but the days are getting longer which is nice to see. We have a week of more comfort food. We have a couple of ready meals this weekend as I am shattered and just did not want to think about food or cook. We do have a couple of new meals to try and not had Tofu for a long time so will be interesting to see how we like it. Friday - Charlie Bighmas ready meal curry. The boys are trying some cheese nuggets as sounds right up our street with salad and chips. Saturday - Spag Bol Sunday - Charlie Bigham Chicken in white wine. The boys are having mini roast dinner. Monday - Tuna Pasta bake for us all, a family favorite Tuesday - Chicken Arrabbiatab Bbc good food Baked chicken arrabiatta Wednesday - Veggie Rice Bowl Realfood Tesco Veggie rice bowl Thursday - Sausage and Fennel Casserole wit...