Our weekly meal plan! 1st - 7th June. #MealPlanningMonday

Last weeks meal plan went well. We ate just about everything but after having a chip shop lunch on Wednesday we didn't fancy much to eat that evening so we just had cereal. We also had a Chinese takeaway on Saturday evening which was amazing but after having 3 takeaways in just over a week that is enough for now. We're just getting lazy and indulging a little too much. It was too hot to cook the roast dinner yesterday but I did cook the chicken and we had it with salad and new potatoes.

This week is going to be a week of eating what we have in the cupboards and the freezer. I haven't got a food shop delivery coming because I didn't see the point when we have plenty in already. I will be nipping up to the farm shop to get some fruit and veg as it's fully open again. Hooray!

This week on the menu we have:

Monday - Tomato risotto.

Tuesday - A picnic tea. Sausage rolls, sandwiches, crisps and cakes.  

Wednesday - Sticky sausage and crushed new potato salad.

Thursday - Hot dogs in buns with corn on the cob.

Friday - Home made fish & chips with mushy peas.

Saturday - Turkey sloppy joes.

Sunday - Cottage pie.

What are you eating this week?

She's been working hard. #MySundaySnapshot

This time last year my Becky my teen was working hard, half way through taking her GCSE's and this year she's working hard doing her college work. She has about 4 weeks left to complete her coursework for the Health & Social care course she's doing and hand it in then her first year of college is done. At the moment she is well ahead of where she needs to be thanks to working over half term. She really enjoys the work and finds it so interesting so to her it doesn't feel like work which is of course a good thing.

Week 22 of #Project366 - A photo every day for a year!

Another week of lock down has gone and it seems from next week things will be trying to get back to normal with some kids going back to school then more shops and businesses opening. I feel quite glad my girls are older and are not returning to school and college before September.

Hasn't the weather been glorious! In my head I would love to spend all day out in the garden sunning myself but I find it far too hot even in the shade of the parasol. I feel like a cave troll hiding inside. It has been fab to dry the washing though.

Now for a photo every day!

144/366 - 23rd May

Becky made a lasagne for us all for tea. She mostly made it from scratch and did a fantastic job! I will never buy a ready made one again when she likes to make them.

145/366 - 24th May

Ellie is back into drawing. She has such a talent for being able to copy a picture she see's and putting it on to paper.

146/366 - 25th May

Stu got around to painting the hallway and up the stairs. It looks so good now. We've started to put some pictures up too and it feels more like home.

147/366 - 26th May

Finally I have strawberries or tomatoes which are growing. These were the 2nd lot of seeds I've planted. I was just about ready to give up on them when they appeared. I say strawberries or tomatoes because I can't remember what seeds were planted where. lol

148/366 - 27th May

We had a treat for lunch. A takeaway from the chippy. I had spam fritter, chips and baked beans. It was amazing!

149/366 - 28th May

Sheeps. hehehe The kids both used to call more than one sheep, sheeps and we've stuck with it. We stopped for a drink when we were on a bike ride and picked a lovely spot.

150/366 - 29th May
Becky really loves colouring in and at least it's something different from playing Fortnite or on her tablet.

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This week my Word of the Week is: Treats! #WotW

This week my Word of the Week is:

This past week has probably been the most uneventful week we've had since lock down began, I wouldn't say boring but nothing much has gone on. Ellie hasn't been doing school work with it being half term. She's been playing far too much Roblox and just playing. Becky has actually been doing some of her college coursework. She's ahead of where she needs to be and now she has just over 4 weeks of the term left.

I actually thought I had nothing to write about until I was sorting out my photos for my Project 365 post, a photo for everyday and it reminded me of the treats we have had this past week.

Last Friday we had a takeaway, the first one in such a long time. It was amazing. We got pizza and a tray of kebab meat to share. I forgot how delicious our takeaway's coleslaw is. It's home made and tastes nothing like I've been able to recreate. Of course we over ordered but it just meant there was enough for lunch on Saturday. Hooray!

The weather has been lovely. Too hot for me to spend much time outside but it has made me realise all the summer clothes I have are old, tatty and look very worn. I rarely buy myself new clothes so it felt like such a treat. I had a little shopping spree on ebay and got myself a few bargains. Everything should be arriving today. I got a few tops, some sandals (new one's for £6), some sunglasses to replace the one's which one of the kids broke, I never did find out who and some denim shorts. I told Becky I'd bought denim shorts and in her head she thought short, short one's. No I bought knee length one's. lol

Next door was eating chips outside midweek and we could smell them and it got us fancying chips too. We asked where she got them from and it turns out the chip shop near us is open on a lunchtime but you have to order online and then pick it up. We made an order with a few minutes to spare before they closed it for the afternoon. Stu got fish & chips, the kids sausage and chips and me a spam fritter and chips. It was so good. We don't usually eat that much at lunchtime so we were stuffed for the rest of the day which meant cereal for tea which the kids loved.

I had the treat yesterday of sorting my laptop out after Ellie had been on it. I let her go on my laptop to search for Roblox things. Just to save her switching her computer on. What she was actually searching for was Roblox cheats. They didn't work, obviously and I ended up with a ton of nasties on my laptop. Her thought was that she would test them on mine before putting them on her computer. I was fuming. It took me numerous scans and 2 hours to make sure everything was gone. I made her sit here with me watching all the scans to show her that this is why you don't download things when you don't really know what they are. Grr! Kids! I'll be glad next week when she's back to doing school work next week. lol

Some idea's for your next barbecue! #NationalBBQWeek

Usually UK households will have an average of 6 barbecues for friends and family over the summer meaning as a nation we will stick 700 million burgers and 626 million hot dogs on the barbecue smothered in 326 million bottles of ketchup! 

With lock down happening and not being able to see family and friends I imagine some get together's will be postponed but there's no stopping you having a BBQ just for the people in your household. This week is the perfect week to have one with it being warm out and National BBQ Week.

We do love a BBQ here! We never seem to plan them though, they just seem to happen when we decide it's too warm to be in the kitchen and it's not too windy outside.

According to a survey recently taken six out of ten of us claim they are stuck in an inspiration rut, cooking the same burgers, salads and sides repeatedly. I know I am. I always do burgers, hot dogs and corn on the cob and maybe some kebabs if I'm feeling adventurous.

Here's some idea's for your next BBQ!

Pineapple & pork skewers.

Kids will love these pork, pineapple and green pepper skewers, marinated for added flavour and cooked on the barbecue. Serve with rice or in pitta bread.

Perfect potato salad.

This family favourite is so easy to make and is perfect for teaching even 5 year olds how to chop, snip and mix.

Lentil and carrot hot dogs.

Make your own quick and tasty carrot hot dog with pureed veggies and lentils to give them a delicious taste and fine ‘veggie dog’-like texture. They’re fast, easy and full of goodness. Vegan and easily gluten free. 

Mango & prawn skewers.

Pork & apple burgers.

A tasty burger recipe perfect for a barbecue or under the grill. They are so simple to make and are something a little bit different. If I can make them anyone can!

Chilli-lime barbecued sweetcorn.

Barbecued corn on the cob is great on its own, but even better with chilli butter and a squeeze of lime on top.

What is your favourite recipe to cook on a BBQ?