Thursday 10 October 2024

Celebrate World Porridge Day with these comforting recipes!

As the crisp autumn mornings roll in what better way to kick start your day than with a warming bowl of porridge? And with World Porridge Day today it's the perfect excuse to get creative with this classic breakfast dish. Not only is porridge a delicious and versatile staple in the UK but World Porridge Day also supports a fantastic cause, raising awareness for Mary’s Meals, a charity that provides daily meals to children in the world’s poorest communities.

To celebrate this special day here are three porridge recipes that are easy to whip up and absolutely delicious!

A bowl of porridge

Classic Creamy Porridge
You can’t celebrate World Porridge Day without starting with the classic! This is simple, creamy, and oh-so-satisfying. Perfect for those who appreciate the basics done right.

Ingredients:
1 cup of porridge oats.
2 cups of milk (or a mixture of milk and water for a lighter option).
A pinch of salt.
1 tablespoon of honey or golden syrup.
Optional: a dash of cream or extra milk for serving.

Instructions:
In a medium saucepan, add the oats and milk over medium heat. Stir gently to avoid lumps.
Bring to a simmer, and cook for 5-8 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent sticking.
Add a pinch of salt and stir until the porridge is thick and creamy.
Serve in a bowl, drizzle with honey or golden syrup, and add a splash of cream or milk for extra indulgence.

The beauty of this classic recipe is that it’s a blank canvas! Feel free to add fresh berries, bananas or a sprinkle of brown sugar to make it your own.

Apple & Cinnamon Porridge
If there’s one combination that screams autumn it’s apples and cinnamon. This recipe is an absolute winner on a chilly morning, providing a touch of sweetness with a comforting, warming spice.

Ingredients:
1 cup of porridge oats.
2 cups of milk (or a plant-based alternative like almond milk).
1 apple, peeled, cored and diced.
1 teaspoon of cinnamon.
1 tablespoon of brown sugar or maple syrup.
A handful of sultanas or raisins.
A sprinkle of chopped walnuts (optional)
.
Instructions:
In a saucepan combine the oats and milk, and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
Add the diced apple, cinnamon, and sultanas, stirring occasionally. Cook for about 8-10 minutes until the oats are soft and creamy, and the apple pieces are tender.
Stir in the brown sugar or maple syrup, then remove from heat.
Serve with a sprinkle of chopped walnuts or a drizzle of extra syrup if you’re feeling fancy!

This version is like a hug in a bowl, with the sweetness of the apple blending perfectly with the earthy cinnamon. It’s guaranteed to make you feel warm and fuzzy inside.

Nutty Chocolate & Banana Porridge
Who says porridge has to be boring? For those who want to make any day feel like a celebration, try this rich and indulgent version. It’s like having dessert for breakfast but without the guilt!

Ingredients:
1 cup of porridge oats.
2 cups of milk or milk alternative.
1 tablespoon of cocoa powder.
1 ripe banana, mashed.
1 tablespoon of peanut butter or almond butter.
A handful of chopped nuts (almonds, hazelnuts or peanuts).
A drizzle of honey or maple syrup.

Instructions:
Start by combining the oats, milk, and cocoa powder in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir well to dissolve the cocoa.
Add the mashed banana and cook for about 5-8 minutes until the porridge is thick and creamy.
Swirl in the peanut or almond butter and stir until it’s well combined.
Pour into a bowl and top with chopped nuts, a few slices of fresh banana, and a drizzle of honey or syrup.

This recipe takes your morning porridge to a whole new level, offering a deliciously rich and nutty flavour. It’s a great choice if you’re craving something indulgent but still want the health benefits of a hearty breakfast.

How do you like your porridge?

Wednesday 9 October 2024

The best British TV shows to binge!

As the darker nights arrive there’s nothing better than curling up with a cup of tea and getting lost in a TV show. From gripping mysteries to witty comedies the UK has produced some of the best binge worthy series. Here’s a list of shows that will keep you entertained as the weather turns colder!

TV remote

Sherlock - Crime/Drama

Perfect for: Fans of clever mysteries and intellectual thrillers.
Why Binge: Few shows capture the mind like Sherlock. This modern adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous detective tales sees Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as Dr Watson, solving intricate cases in 21st-century London. The show is full of twists, psychological tension and brilliant performances. With only a few seasons, it’s ideal for a binge watch marathon.

Broadchurch - Crime/Drama

Perfect for: Lovers of emotionally charged crime dramas.
Why Binge: This show combines a haunting atmosphere with a heart wrenching mystery. Set in a quiet seaside town, the series follows detectives Alec Hardy (David Tennant) and Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman) as they investigate the murder of a young boy. The picturesque coastal setting contrasts the dark themes of loss, guilt and community secrets. The emotional depth will keep you glued to your screen.

The Crown - Historical Drama

Perfect for: History buffs and royal watchers.
Why Binge: The Crown gives a fascinating and dramatic look inside the life of Queen Elizabeth II, exploring her reign from the early years of her marriage to the modern day. With stunning performances, lavish costumes and a rich sense of history, this show is a visual feast that captures the intricacies of the British monarchy.

Peaky Blinders - Crime/Drama

Perfect for: Fans of gritty, stylish period dramas.
Why Binge: Set in post WWI Birmingham, Peaky Blinders follows the Shelby family, a gang that rises through the criminal underworld. Cillian Murphy’s performance as the charismatic and ruthless Tommy Shelby is electric and the show’s sharp dialogue, stylish visuals, and thrilling plotlines make it a binge worthy favourite. Its moody, atmospheric tone makes it perfect for long, dark evenings.

Fleabag - Comedy/Drama

Perfect for: Those who love sharp wit and emotional depth.
Why Binge: Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Fleabag is a masterclass in modern dark comedy. The show follows a young woman (known only as Fleabag) navigating life, relationships, and grief in London, breaking the fourth wall to hilarious and heart breaking effect. It’s short and snappy, making it perfect for a one-weekend binge, but its emotional impact will linger long after the final credits roll.

Downton Abbey - Historical Drama

Perfect for: Period drama lovers.
Why Binge: If you're a fan of grand estates, opulent costumes, and sharp social commentary, Downton Abbey is a must watch. Following the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants, the show is filled with drama, romance and historical events that shape their world. It’s a comforting series, with a rich cast of characters that make every episode engaging.

Doctor Who - Sci-Fi/Adventure

Perfect for: Fans of time traveling adventures and quirky heroes.
Why Binge: Doctor Who is a beloved British institution. With the Doctor, an enigmatic Time Lord at the helm, the show explores space and time in the most imaginative ways. The beauty of Doctor Who is its endless variety. Each episode brings new worlds, monsters and stories to explore. With its optimistic tone and adventurous spirit, it’s a fun way to escape the gloom of the colder evenings.

Line of Duty - Crime/Thriller

Perfect for: Anyone who loves intricate police procedurals.
Why Binge: This highly addictive police drama focuses on an anti-corruption unit investigating the murky world of police misconduct. Each season presents a new case, with twists, turns and shocking revelations that will keep you hooked. The complex characters and intense interrogations make Line of Duty a gripping watch.

Have you enjoyed any of these? Which other British shows do you recommend?

Tuesday 8 October 2024

Her 2nd year at college.

I always write a blog post each year about how my girls are getting on with the new school/college year. There's only Ellie in education now and she has not long started her 2nd year at college doing electrical engineering.

My Youngest

To say we were dreading her return to college would be an understatement. A lot happened over the summer that I still can't write about as it's a police matter. Up until a few days before Ellie went back to college a lot of things were still up in the air. We went to collect her bus pass on the Monday and ended up having a chat with one of the safeguarding staff members who said a lot had changed in the week where we hadn't spoken and Ellie would be safe in college as things had been put in place to ensure that! I was so relieved knowing Ellie would be safe at college and of course at home, now it was the inbetween bit which started to worry me. Ellie gets a bus to college and so far I have been taking and picking her up. It's 5 hours out of my day with the trips there and back but I really don't mind, her safety comes first. I did write about my first week taking the bus in one of my Word of the Week posts.

Like I said Ellie has gone into her 2nd year at college so the routine and the way the college works isn't new to her. At the end of the last college year the plan was to take all of the students from two Level 1 classes and put them in one class doing the Level 2 course but of course things never go to plan and Ellie ended up in a class with a few people from last year, some school leavers and some older students. It is a right mix and a good mix. She gets on with everyone in her class and really likes it. 

On the first day back Ellie met a couple of new people. Another girl to join Ellie and the only other girl doing the course. Ellie was a bit wary of her at first as in her words "she looked like a bit of a mean girl" but it turns out she's lovely and Ellie took her under her wing showing her where the loo's and canteen were. The other new friend is a 60 year old man. He retired years ago after running a business and has now become bored so wanted a new challenge and electrical engineering is it. I laughed and said the bigger challenge is going back to education and putting up with a ton of teenagers. hehehe

Ellie is really happy with her tutor and teachers this year, as much as she loved the lady who taught them this year she prefers the male teachers. Personally I think they go easier on the girls and that's why she likes them so much but whatever they're doing they're getting good results from Ellie.

My youngest daughter

One thing Ellie hated last year was the English GCSE lessons, she had to resit them as she didn't pass them in school and didn't pass over the summer so she's doing the lessons again. She has a different teacher this time around, a smaller class and with people that she knows and gets on with so I think it could be 3rd time lucky.

The social side of college is going well, she is keeping away from the "friends" that she had last year which were not good for her and has a good bunch of people to hang out with now. There's a few who know some of what went on during the summer so they are really looking out for her making sure she is never alone.

The safeguarding staff have been amazing, keeping me informed about things, taking Ellie off to a little room for her own safety when things were going on in the vicinity of the college and being there offering Ellie someone to chat to if she needs it. I cannot thank them enough, they have been so fantastic.

A lot of the work that Ellie is doing on her course is the same as what she did last year but goes into more detail and in the practical lessons she has to figure things out for herself with less input from the teachers. She has found out that the end of year assessment is the same as last years but the students have to do everything themselves without any instructions. They have to make a board with an electrical circuit with plugs, switches, trunking and things like that. I have no idea what I am talking about, thankfully Ellie does.

I know Ellie is going to smash this year at college, she already seems more settled than she did last year and happier.

How are your kids getting on at school and college?

Monday 7 October 2024

Our weekly meal plan! 7th - 13th October #MealPlanningMonday

Our weekly meal plan

Last weeks meal plan went well but I did swap a couple of days around. Tuesday was a rainy day and it felt more of a day for a meal cooked in the slow cooker than pork spring rolls. Even Ellie who isn't usually a fan of casserole/stew type meals wolfed it down as the pork was so good. After sorting the freezer out I found a ton of food which I had forgotten about which would be perfect for a picky tea so on Saturday night we had Corn Dogs, onion rings, chicken dippers, spring rolls and mini sausage rolls and pizzas. It was a fun meal and we all enjoyed it. The sausage casserole yesterday was so good and there's leftovers for lunch today and some has been put in the freezer too.

I don't have much on again this week and I am loving taking things at my own pace without any appointments or real commitments at the moment. I am going to have a go at making some recipes using tinned pumpkin puree starting with pumpkin pie this week! 

On the menu this week we have:

Monday - Gousto meal - Chinese-Style Veggie Fried Rice And Fried Egg. We didn't have this Saturday so it's been bumped to today. Stu is going to be cooking it.
Tuesday - Gousto meal - Roast Chicken Dinner With Yorkshire Puddings And Roasties. I think I am going to add some roast parsnips too, I do love them!
Wednesday - Gousto meal - Sesame Pork & Mushroom Udon Noodle Stir-Fry. We've had this before and we love it.
Thursday - Gousto meal - Simple Sticky Sausage, Apple & Root Veg Bake.
Friday - Pizza. Just frozen one's.
Saturday - A homemade Chinese takeaway with Chicken balls with sweet and sour sauce in, chicken chow mein, spring rolls, prawn toast, salt & pepper fries and egg fried rice.
Sunday - A fry up! Sausages, bacon, eggs, hash browns, mushrooms, black pudding, tomatoes, baked beans and toast.

What are you eating this week?

Sunday 6 October 2024

Week 40 of #Project365 29th Sept - 5th Oct. A photo every day for a year!

Happy Sunday! I hope you are having a nice relaxed day. We have nothing planned for today apart from the usual housework and being a bit lazy this afternoon. I should have finished watching the new episodes of Heartstopper by now so we're going to watch some more Harry Potter.

I have had a good week, just pottering around the house. It has been nice. What hasn't been nice is the buses. I don't know what is with them but for the last couple of weeks they have been so late for no real reason. Ellie has been late getting to college, not late enough to get into trouble but later than she usually gets there which means I am getting home later and Stu has been getting in late from work which none of us are happy about but that's life. Over the next couple of weeks at least the buses have a reason to be late as Hull Fair is on. I am not planning on going but the girls are talking about going. I did my time taking them to fairs when they were younger, I hate the noise and all of the people. 

Now for a photo every day!

Harry Potter
Rain and my eldest
A snail and shopping bags
An organ and me

273/365 - 29th September
Weren't the cast of Harry Potter so young when they started in the films! I always seem to forget that they were practically babies in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone!

274/365 - 30th September
Rain, rain and more rain on Monday, it was nice to have a cosy day at home though especially since a Monday always feels like a bonus Sunday with Stu, Becky and Ellie all home.

275/365 - 1st October
Becky stayed home on her day off and had no plans at all which doesn't happen often. It was nice to spend some time with her even if she was on her laptop most of the time.

276/365 - 2nd October
All the rain has brought out the snails. There were loads in my garden on Wednesday but at least the sun came out. It turned into quite a nice afternoon.

277/365 - 3rd October
I had my food shop delivered from Iceland on Thursday and was pleasantly surprised to see that it came in carrier bags. I thought all the supermarkets had stopped them. It was so nice just to carry them into the kitchen instead of having to pack all the shopping into my own bags out of the delivery boxes.

278/365 - 4th October
My dad's £6 bargain! The organ that he got from our local auction the stool was included too. He did buy it to resell as it was so cheap but now he's learning to play it so I think he's planning on keeping it. 

279/365 - 5th October
Me and my pj's for the day, my Hedwig one's. Out of all the pj's that I have I think these are my favourite.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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Saturday 5 October 2024

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

This week my Word of the Week is:

Pottering
I have had one of those weeks where I haven't really done much but at the same time I have ticked a lot of things off my to do list. I've been pottering around the house at my own pace, with music playing, candles burning and a lot of the time in my comfy, fleecy pj's.

We had a couple of rainy days at the start of the week which meant I wasn't going anywhere so I stayed in and pottering about giving the house a good clean. I have really enjoyed spending time in the kitchen making a few hearty meals for us. The slow cooker has been out which makes me so happy, anything I put in there always comes out tasting amazing. I've made soup and Thursday night we had crispy pork spring roll wraps which were surprisingly easy to make apart from having to mix it with my hands, that was just a gross feeling. Since the kitchen has been decorated I am enjoying spending time in there. I even found myself sat on the kitchen bench, scrolling through TikTok, listening to the rain beat against the window, while drinking a cup of tea. It was just one of those nice moments.

Ellie and I have been Harry Pottering, watching the movies. She will never admit she is a Harry Potter fan because I am and it would not be cool to love the same thing as your old mam but she does love Harry Potter. hehehe We are going to watch the rest of them after we've finishing watching the new season of Heartstopper! Ellie went straight in with the new episodes while I started watching it again from the beginning to remind myself of what has happened in it.

I finally got around to defrosting the freezer, I had been putting if off all week but forced myself to do it when I did a food shop with Iceland. I only ordered a few essentials like fruit, bread, milk, hash browns, chips and some pizzas. I am doing well with my no spend month so far. I resisted the cakes and snacky food. I had to get pizzas though, they might seem like a treat but they're an easy meal for the end of the week and are a bargain from Iceland at only £1 each. We got some of the new one's, Thin Crust Chip Shop Chicken Curry and Thin Crust Hot Dog which are something a bit different than the usual pepperoni or meat feast.

Over the last few weeks I have found myself pottering around more on Instagram. I am actually enjoying it for the first time in years. I unfollowed a lot of people who haven't posted in years, companies which I only followed for blog things or competitions and now I am seeing more of people that I like sharing snippets of their lives. I've not got into doing stories or reels yet, it's just boring photos from me but Insta is making me happy at the moment.

Yesterday we went to see my dad, he was just pottering about not really doing much. We love our Friday visits. He was very proud to show off his new purchase, a full size organ! It has the double keyboard, foot pedals and even a stool with it. He has been teaching himself to play it over the week that he's had it. He got it from the local auction for £6!! He had planned on buying it and reselling it for a massive profit but now he's thinking about keeping it. I honestly never know what is going to be at my dad's when I get there. lol

How has your week been? I hope you have had a good one!

Word of the Week linky

Friday 4 October 2024

What I have loved this week! Week 40. #FridayFavourites

 Hello there and happy Friday! This week has felt like it's flown over but dragged at the same time. I am here today sharing some of the things that I have loved over the last week and of course linking up with Erika and Andrea.

What I have loved this week

Conspiracy theories on TikTok!
It is horrific the news that is coming out about the rapper P Diddy or whatever he is calling himself now but some of the gossip about the situation on TikTok is wild! I have heard that if people don't worship Beyonce they get killed, he had something to do with Michael Jackson's, Aaliyah's, Tupac's and Lisa Left Eye Lopez's deaths. Apparently Kanye West is dead and the guy we see now is an actor and 50 Cent has already sold a documentary to Netflix about P Diddy. It's all rumours and gossip and I bet only a tiny amount of it is true but I can see it all being big news over the next year.

Sunshine!

Sun in the sky

We have had a lot of rain over the last week, obviously not a lot compared to the US, it really isn't anything to complain about but it was relentless for a couple of days. There was no flooding or crazy winds, it was just rain but it felt like it was never going to end, until it did and then the sun came out on Wednesday and it was lovely and it was even brighter on Thursday! 

Harry Potter!
My youngest and I have been watching the Harry Potter movies over the last week, we have 3 more left to watch. I always seem to watch them at this time of year, they're cosy movies, perfect for a rainy day. I always forget how young the actors were in the first movie. They were just babies compared to the last movie. hehehe

Hearty food!
We have had some lovely meals over the past week. My favourite was the pork belly & winter veg pot roast! I cooked it in the slow cooker and it was basically just pork belly, carrots, parsnips and beef stock and we had it with roast potatoes.

My slow cooker

Another meal we really enjoyed was the hearty chicken & spelt soup. I have never made anything with spelt in before so it was totally new to me. It was simple to make with some onions, carrots and parsley softened in a pan then I added the chicken stock with some other ingredients, added the spelt and boiled it for about half an hour. When it was almost done I added the chicken that I had cooked in the air fryer. Just before I served it I warmed it up and added the spinach. There was more than 4 servings and I ended up putting some in the freezer for another day.

Not spending!
I am having a no spend month and so far it is going well. I have bought nothing that isn't essential like groceries and even then I was really mindful about what I bought. I walked past Starbucks a few times and was tempted but didn't go in, there has been no meals out and I have in fact saved us over £300 this month already by not paying the council tax bill as we were 3 months ahead with it and I didn't pay anything towards the gas and electric bill as we are so much in credit with them.

The Great British Bake Off!

The Great British Bake Off

Oh wow! I loved this weeks episode, there was so much drama. I won't spoil it for anyone but usually it's a calming show with just baking but there was much more this week. My girls and I found ourselves laughing out loud at the technical challenge, it was to make 12 mint cream biscuits and my girls said they could have done a better job when they were little. hehehe Some of the offerings were very sloppy.

Pyjamas!
I have loved coming home and putting my pj's straight on when I know that I am in for the day. My fleecy, winter one's. They are great for sitting about the house but not for sleeping in, I end up getting too hot and sweating. I am sure that I have more sets of pyjamas than actual outside clothes. lol 

What have you loved this week?

Friday Favorites

Thursday 3 October 2024

365 Days Of Gratitude. In September I was grateful for..

 I have seen many people on social media list something every day that they are grateful for and thought I would join in. I did this for the whole of last couple of years and it has really made me realise that even on the bad day's I have something to be grateful for. 

September was a good month. It was the month where we found a bit of normal after a crazy summer, the weather has really cooled down and it feel likes Autumn and we redecorated the kitchen which has seemed to take weeks when I think of the planning, all the painting and finishing touches.

Grateful

Day 246 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful for lunch out at the pub!

Day 247 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful that the nurses could finally get some blood from Ellie. It was just a blood test to check up on her. It took two nurses and 4 tries. Ellie was a star, shame about her veins which kept hiding.

Day 248 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful for a nice quiet day at home. We had a very lazy end to the summer holidays.

Day 249 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful that Ellie had a great first day back at college. She made a new friend, a 60 year old man who's doing her course. lol

Day 250 of #365DaysOfGratitude 
Today I am grateful for Starbucks. Had to be somewhere but I was early so I popped in for a nice drink.

Drink from Starbucks

Day 251 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful for some sunshine after a few rainy days!

Day 252 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful that the last of the things that Stu has ordered to decorate the kitchen has arrived! There have been parcels every day over the last week!

Day 253 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful that Stu made a start on decorating the kitchen. Walls are painted, most of the glossing is done and the new lights are fitted.

Day 254 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful that Becky had a great birthday! Her birthday doesn't stop here though, her and her girlfriend are off on their travels tomorrow for a few days!

My Eldest girls birthday

Day 255 of #365DaysOfGratitude 
Today I am grateful that Stu picked Ellie up from college! He got caught in the hailstones and thunder and lightning! By the time they got home it was dry and sunny again.

Day 256 of #365DaysOfGratitude 
Today I am grateful that the kitchen is well on the way to being finished. I am so over not being able to use it properly!

Day 257 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful for a nice meal out with family.

Me!

Day 258 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful that my dad helped clear our garage of all the cardboard boxes that we had collected.

Day 259 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful for a day at home after a busy week! It was nice to do nothing!

Day 260 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful I could read the spoilers for Hollyoaks before Becky got out of bed after her night shift. I promised that I would watch it with her, there was no rules about reading what happened. hehehe

Day 261 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful that the girls have started giving me ideas for what they want for Christmas but I have been buying things for Halloween. hehehe!

Halloween gonk

Day 262 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful for a hot water bottle on my achy back.

Day 263 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful that I got a food shop delivered. I didn't get around to doing the online food shop yesterday so did it this morning. I thought I would have to wait until tomorrow to get it delivered but there were slots for later on today! Hooray!

Day 264 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful for homemade jam! My dad was given some jars and had some going spare.

Day 265 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful for a nice day with my girls, we had lots of laughs!

Day 266 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful for a day of doing nothing. It's been lovely being lazy!

Day 267 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful that Stu did the cooking tonight.

Day 268 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful that I finally got to watch Hollyoaks before Becky! I may have given her a few spoilers. hehehe

Day 269 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful that Ellie did the right thing at college, speaking up and backing her friends up when something wasn't right. 

My youngest and I

Day 270 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful for a sneaky meal deal for lunch. Ellie was not impressed that I had one without her. hehehe

Day 271 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful for a fun day at my dad's.

Day 272 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful for a long lie in this morning! I needed it!

Day 273 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful for an afternoon of watching Harry Potter!

Day 274 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful for the central heating! It was nice to put it on and get all cosy!

What were you grateful for in September?

Wednesday 2 October 2024

Celebrate National Vegetarian Week: Delicious Recipes to Try!

Did you know that it is National Vegetarian Week? It is the perfect opportunity to explore the world of meat free dishes, explore new flavours, improve your health and make a positive impact on the planet. My family and I are not vegetarians but we do like to try and have one veggie meal a week. Over the last few years when we have been getting Gousto boxes we have actually found some of their veggie meals to be some of our favourites.

sliced vegetables on brown wooden chopping board

Whether you're a committed vegetarian or simply looking to reduce your meat consumption these vegetarian recipes are easy to make, suitable for the whole family and are packed with flavour. This week offers you the perfect excuse to embrace the benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle, even if it's just for a few days.

Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie
A classic British dish with a twist, made with lentils and topped with creamy mashed potatoes. Perfect for a cosy dinner.

This cheesy, creamy cauliflower bake is a perfect side or main dish. It’s comfort food at its finest, ideal for any meal.

Packed with flavor, this curry is an easy one-pot wonder that’s filling and nutritious. Serve with naan or rice.

A fresh and zesty soup that's light yet packed with flavour. Perfect for a healthy lunch or a light starter. We love the one from Gousto! 

Carrot and Coriander Soup

Bell peppers stuffed with a mix of rice, veggies and herbs and then baked until tender are a colourful and healthy main dish.

Layers of rich tomato sauce, roasted vegetables, and creamy béchamel, all baked to perfection. A crowd-pleaser for family dinners.

Packed with flavor, these veggie burgers made from kidney beans are great for a BBQ or quick dinner.

Another one of our favourite Gousto meals! Ready to get messy? For this American classic you'll sizzle meat-free mince with a smoky BBQ sauce and serve on plant-based brioche buns!

Meat-Free Mince Sloppy Joes

If you're looking for a fuss free, easy vegetarian recipe, then this slow cooker chickpea and butternut squash stew is ideal.

Packed full of your 5 a day and easy to make this is a great veggie dish for a family dinner! 

What is your favourite vegetarian meal to make and eat?

Tuesday 1 October 2024

Having a no spend month!

August and the beginning of September is always the most expensive time of the year for us. It's Stu's and the girls birthdays in the space of 3 and a half weeks and years ago we used to have to buy all the back to school stuff. I could easily spend about £200 on uniform. I thought things would get better now both of my girls have finished school but we always seem to find other things to spend money on. This year it was redecorating the kitchen. Then of course there is the little splurges, I have been buying a drink from Starbucks most days when take and pick Ellie up from college and sometimes I want a snack too. It has to stop so for the whole of October I am going to be really strict with the spending.

a pile of coins

We need to save some money, Christmas is coming so I have decided to have a no spend month, it might even be 6 weeks. I know I will be spending money in November, that's when my birthday is. hehehe

I will be making no unnecessary purchases! This includes clothes, makeup, home decor, takeaway coffee, takeaway food and meals out.

Instead of buying drinks when I am out, like from Starbucks or little bottles of pop I have going to use a reusable bottle and I will just fill it with juice before I leave the house. I think the biggest challenge is going to come when my family decide that they want to eat out! It is so tempting but I must resist! 

Groceries are of course allowed but I am going to be mindful about what I am buying. I am going to really try to stick to the meal planning as we have had quite a few weeks over the last couple of months where it hasn't gone to plan. I also have a freezer full of food and thinking about Christmas it needs to be used up before then! There's leftovers, random packets of meat and plenty of ingredients to make meals. I am thinking about not getting our meals every week from Gousto, I know it helps me stick to the meal planning but the food in the freezer needs using up.

I already know I can save so much money on food shop! My family won't be happy when I don't buy the snacks but we don't need them, we have plenty of other crisps in the house, cakes and biscuits. We don't need fresh doughnuts every week or bought sandwiches that come with the grocery order, we can easily make them at home. When we decorated the kitchen I sorted the cupboards out and realised we have more things than I thought we did, I found Super noodles in the back of the cupboards which are still in date, a ton of cleaning products that I didn't know about and baking supplies. I can make my own cakes!

Of course we will pay the bills and any necessary expenses. They always come first but I do need to check where we are at with paying the Council Tax bill, I think we're a couple of months ahead and with the gas and electric I might skip that as we are more than few hundred pounds in credit and the next bill isn't due until December.

When it comes to the bathroom I have already told my family that I am not buying anymore shampoo, conditioner or body wash until everything in there is used. When a bottle gets to less than half full the girls will open a new one just to make it easier to get it out. I have said no more! They will empty the bottles before I buy new!

Have you ever done a no spend month? How did you get on?

Monday 30 September 2024

Our weekly meal plan! 30th Sept - 6th Oct #MealPlanningMonday

Our weekly meal plan

Last weeks meal plan went really well. We ate almost everything and on the day I had planned too. Life is so much easier when everyone is where they should be, at work and at college. 

We have 2 Gousto boxes over a week this time. The first was delivered yesterday and the 2nd one is coming on Saturday. I am looking forward to the meals from it. They are all meals that we love and have had before apart from the Hearty Chicken & Spelt Soup With Parsley Oil, that is a new one for us but it sounds perfect for the weather we have been having. If you want to try Gousto do feel free to use my invite linkI get £20 credit and you get 65% off your first box and 25% off all other boxes in your first two months.

I don't think we have anything exciting happening this week. I have no plans at all. I am loving this boring life, long may it last. On my to-do list this week is sort the freezer out and defrost it a little, cut the grass in the back garden, sort my wardrobe out, getting all of my jumpers out of the bottom of it and put some summer clothes in their place and some baking if I have time.

On the menu this week we have:

Monday - Gousto meal - Smoky BBQ Chicken With Crispy Potatoes And Pepper & Corn Salad
Tuesday - Gousto meal - Crispy Pork Spring Roll Wraps With Sweet Chilli Sauce.
Wednesday - Gousto meal - Hearty Chicken & Spelt Soup With Parsley Oil.
Thursday - Gousto meal - Oven-Baked Pork Belly & Winter Veg Pot Roast. I will be cooking this in the slow cooker.
Friday - Fish cakes, chips and baked beans. Nice and simple and we've not had fish cakes in ages.
Saturday - Gousto meal - Chinese-Style Veggie Fried Rice And Fried Egg.
Sunday - Sausage casserole, mash and veg. I know that I have about 4 bags of 20 sausages in the freezer to use up.

What are you eating this week?

Sunday 29 September 2024

Week 39 of #Project365 22nd - 28th September. A photo every day for a year!

Hello there and Happy Sunday! What do you have planned for today? We have no plans at all which I am very excited about. There's no DIY happening which makes a nice change and I am planning on doing as little as possible. I was looking out into the garden earlier and was thinking the grass needs cutting, that can be a job for Stu. hehehe

It has felt very much like Autumn here, even as I am writing this yesterday it looks lovely and sunny outside but it is still quite chilly and I am sat here in fleecy pj's which I love. I have been doing all the things to feel cosy and embracing Autumn, for the first time in forever I am not feeling sad that summer is over.

Now for a photo every day!

Kitchen cupboards and shut curtains
Gousto meal and cloudy sky
Coldplay ticket queue
Hot water bottle and flower

266/365 - 22nd September
Stage 2 of decorating the kitchen, painting the inside of the cupboards. They took longer to dry and are such a faff especially since we decided to put vinyl wrap on the shelves but they are looking great now. You can see the end result on my Instagram.

267/365 - 23rd September
I am loving shutting the curtains earlier on an evening when it starts to get dark. Usually coming on for 7pm. It won't be long before I am shutting them about 4pm. Eek!

268/365 - 24th September
One of our meals from during the week. The honey and soy beef stir fry from Gousto! We've had it before and it's a good one which we all love.

269/365 - 25th September
I am making the most of having washing out on the line even if I was keeping an eye on the black clouds. We've been forecast rain every day this week and I'd say only half of it has arrived. I feel quite lucky after seeing about the floods on the news.

270/365 - 26th September
I joined the queue for the pre-sale Coldplay tickets, hooray for living in a postcode area that had first pick. They sold out in about 20 minutes and I didn't get anywhere close or in the general sale on Friday. The next round of tickets which are released on the 22nd of November and I will try again.

271/365 - 27th September
I am loving coming in for the day and putting my pj's straight on and filling a hot water bottle.

272/365 - 28th September
The last flower in my garden.

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Saturday 28 September 2024

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

This week my Word of the Week is:

Autumn

It was the official start of Autumn on Sunday and since then it has really felt like it! It's got so much chillier here. I had my big coat on yesterday while I was out and for the first time in ages I wasn't sweating. The weather doesn't know what it's doing. I am sitting here looking out of the window at blue skies and sunshine, half and hour ago there was grey clouds and rain. I saw the news about all the floods earlier. They look terrible, I hope you are all staying safe. I don't think we have got half of the rain that we were forecast here, thankfully! It did chuck it down on Wednesday night but the rest has been that fine, misty drizzle. 

It's already getting darker on an evening, earlier than it did a couple of weeks ago and I am loving being able to shut the curtains and get cosy. I do like this time of year where there is still plenty of daylight, I know in a month or so I will be complaining about it being dark so early. hehehe As soon as I am in for the day I have been getting changed into my thick pj's and filling an hot water bottle, I am not ready to start putting the heating on yet. Blankets, hot water bottles and cosy pj's will keep us going for a little while yet. Poor Stu is feeling it though, he said it is freezing when he leaves for work on a morning.

Our summer wasn't the best so I am embracing Autumn and I am making the most of the season. I bought myself a new automatic air freshener with a pumpkin spice scent which smells amazing, I treated myself to an autumnal bouquet of flowers for the living room, a new mug that says "Stay Cosy" on it for all the hot chocolates that I am planning on drinking and I have been burning candles more.

The Great British Bake Off started on Tuesday which makes it really feel like Autumn and it has made me want to do some baking! For years I have been saying that I am going to make a pumpkin pie but it's one of those things that I have never got around to but earlier this week while I was doing the food shop I saw tinned pumpkin puree. I bought a couple of tins so that is on my Autumn to-do list! My family have never tried it before so are interested about it.

Now is the time when my mind turns to Christmas and I have started buying some presents. Not much but it's a start. My family keep asking what I want for my birthday in November and I don't have a clue, for the first time in a long time there is nothing that I really want or need. I will have to get my thinking cap on.

How has your week been? I hope you have had a good one!

Word of the Week linky