Mud Cakes and Wine

We have a busy week at school this week, I am helping out one day and we have two meetings so I need to be organised. The Boston baked beans from last week were a huge success and we will be having them again

Friday - School Disco night which means we are going up and down to school all night. I will have Quorn burgers with the boys and Mr MC&W will be having fish and chips

Saturday - Steak and Chips as a treat for us and the boys will have pasta

Sunday - Sticky Chinese Chicken

Sticky chinese chicken traybake

Monday - Gnocchi, mushrooms and broccoli I have this meal from Jo Pratts Madhouse Cookbook as it is quick and easy and very tasty

Tuesday - Spicy Salmon Tray bake for Mr MC&W and I. The boys will have tomato soup.

Spiced salmon traybaked sag-aloo

Wednesday - Meatballs with spaghetti

Thursday - Pizza and salad

For ages we have had a large area of border with no plants, it had become a play area for the children. I have been wanting to plant it up but was so worried about getting it wrong. We have saved some money and have slowly started to buy some plants.





I have been looking at lots of plants, every one I have brought is loved by pollinators or butterfly's or both which is very important to me, we want the garden to be alive with nature. I feel we can all do a small bit in our gardens to encourage wildlife and if we all do this we could all make such a difference. I just wish the labelling was a little better some are brilliant but this could be greatly improved to help us learning and wanting to help.
What have I been thinking about when looking for plants? I stated looking at shrubs but looked at the size they are going to grow to, I have brought shrubs but smaller versions. I also looked at flowering times so trying to get some interest throughout out the year.
We have a mix of perenni…

We survived the birthday weekend and all the food was a massive success so I gave myself a big high five. The weather has been so cold that it is hard to be thinking about more summery meals at the moment.

Friday - Pizza for the boys. We are having smoked mackerel salad with beetroot, roasted new potatoes  and salad leaves with a horseradish dressing. I love this meal its just comfort food.

Saturday - Beef burgers and chips. These burgers are from our local farm shop and are amazing.

Sunday - French Style Chicken this is another comfort meal it is so easy but full of taste, served with roasted mini potatoes.

Fench style chicken with peas and bacon

Monday - Pasta with peas and bacon this is an Ainsley Harriet Meal and it is simple and easy. It will also use up the creme fraishe from yesterday

Tuesday - One of the other lovely meal planning bloggers had the fish in a Mediterranean sauce we have not had this in ages so will have with rice and roasted medd veg. The boys will have fish with mash…

We have a busy weekend with a party for the eldest with his friends on Saturday followed by a family meal on the Sunday. It is going to be rather busy and hectic. I will be looking forward to Monday and to get the house back to normal again.

Friday - Chicken Kiev with roasted vegetables and new potatoes

Saturday - Spag Bol in the slow cooker

Sunday - Fish, Chips and peas as the request of the eldest

Monday - Creamy Courgette Lasagna, I am going to try the boys with this and get them to help me make it.

Creamy courgette lasagne

Tuesday - Stuffed peppers with basil pesto and taleggio cheese this is from Gino Healthy Italian and is lovely. The boys will have tortellini with salad.

Wednesday - Tuna Pasta Bake for us all

Thursday - Slow cooker butter chicken for us all

Slow cooker butter chicken

The children are back at school but I have not managed to catch up at all. Can not believe we are about to hit May where has this year gone to? 

Friday - Fish, Chips and Peas via the freezer

Saturday - Quorn chicken burgers and salad

Sunday- Sausage Casserole with jackets

Monday - Prawn Paella this is a very simple and quick paella not your traditional version

Tuesday - Lee, Mushroom and Goats cheese strudel (I do tend to make this as a tart) the boys will have tuna tarts

Leek mushroom and goats cheese strudels

Wednesday - Child Friendly Thai Noodles we have this with lots more veg and Thai curry paste

Child-friendly thai chicken noodles

Thursday - it is our eldest birthday and he would like pizza so pizza for us all

We have a lot of work to do and I am excited and scared about how to move the garden forward. My main problem is I get nervous that it will fail and then I do not do anything and the garden remains looking unfinished. So I need a plan and I need to put it into action.

1. GYO we have sewn some seeds straight into the planters some Beetroot, Onions and Carrots. No sign of anything coming up yet and I am a little worried I have planted them too deep. Though looking today we have some beetroot have appeared which is great to see.






2. For mothers day I was given the chance to buy plants when I see ones I like. I have finally got a compact Buddleja Buzz in magenta and I can not wait for it to flower.




3. Flower seeds lots have germinated and the mini growhouse is already filling up with sweet peas, Echinacea Pallida from the Sarah Raven collection and Rudbeckia Gloriosa Daisies from Mr Fothergills . I have also stared some chillis and sweetcorn.





4. Violas are still giving us lots of colour and wi…