Bara Brith...worth the wait!!

So who's watching the Great British Bake Off then?  Isn't it fab!!!  I'm rooting for Becca to win - partly because she makes me laugh, partly because a few people have said they see a similarity to me but mainly cos she makes the kind of food I want to eat and with minimal faff!!  (can't stand faff!!!)

So I decided I wanted to make her Bara Brith as it looked yummy!!  The plan was to make this last week in the afternoon that was then spoilt by the accident.  Next I decided to make it on Tuesday afternoon this week but this was then spoiled by the insurance company phoning to discuss my car situation (a write off very very annoyingly) which kind of spoilt my baking buzz!!!  So then I decided I was making it Wednesday morning come hell or high water - and there was some - an unexpected visit from the little man's preschool keyworker, a very sore and stiff arm and shoulder and this.....


Yep that is flour all over the floor!! *sigh* but needs must!!!

And this is what I ended up with!!! :)  It's blooming gorgeous - best thing she's ever tasted said my friend (who knows her food!!!) 

It really was worth the effort and wait!! 

Unlike my sourdough which was a disaster.....not sure I'm cut out for sourdough at all!!! 

Meal Plan Monday - ish!

I'm late again I know!!!  But at least I'm here which is one up on last week but I have a good excuse!  Last Monday I was full up with cold so left meal planning till the evening and then got distracted setting up a brand new spanking spreadsheet listing all my usual recipes and adding new ones I want to try - mainly from my ridiculously organised folder of cut out recipes from magazines, pinterest and Paul Hollywood's baking book (anal me?!?!).  I really want to get my food groove back on and work my way through new recipes and new techniques and hopefully tell you lovely lot about my adventures.


So that was all very exciting and organised and we went off shopping on Tuesday morning with a plan in hand and then BOOM - literally!  Someone bumped into the back of my car and all plans went out the window!! Thankfully me and the little man are both ok - well I'm suffering but with lots of aches and pains but thankfully nothing major but it threw my week off totally.

In amongst the chaos I did manage to do a bit of cooking

Jack Monroes Soda Bread - I've been wanting to make soda bread for ages but as I'm dairy free I've been put off but had a go at this with soya milk and a bit of lemon and it worked quite well but did have an odd aftertaste.  Think I will try again with oat milk or coconut milk next time.  

Me and little man made some cheese scones - or 'teese' scones as he would say.  Was adorable as we were rolling them out he went and got his play dough cutters to make different shapes! And this morning when we were doing play dough he went and put the cut out shapes on the oven to cook!! <3

And then on Sunday I quickly made this - Chocolate Cobbler.  Which was slightly overcooked as the sauce wasn't really there but the little man still managed two portions of it!!  I did significantly cut down the amount of sugar in it (probably by half) and I was not worse for it :) 

So onto this week and I've made the following plan:

Monday - Mince Beef and Onion Pie
Tuesday - One Pot Chicken Pasta
Wednesday - Gammon, J Potatoes and Veg/Beans
Thursday - Pea and Ham Soup & Bread
Friday - Chilli Dogs and Chips
Saturday - Calzones
Sunday - Roast Chicken - if I can remember to take the damn thing out of the freezer!!!

Meal Planning Monday

Just a short post from me today - as the little man is at preschool and I want to make the most of my very precious hours alone!!

So last week we had...

Monday - Satay Chicken Pittas, Chips and BBQ Beans - a bit of a mish mash of leftovers and a panic as there weren't enough pittas to go around!!

Tuesday - Sausage and Mash as the husband was off work sick and I didn't want to waste meatloaf as he had no appetite

Wednesday - Chicken One Pot (I forgot to get the beef out of the freezer for the casserole!)

Thursday - Chilli and Rice

Friday - Takeaway Kebabs (I KNOW!!!)

Saturday - Fish, Chips and Mushy Peas

Sunday - Sausage and Mash again - this could be a favourite!! lol!

So onto this week and I have the following planned (it's getting close to the end of the month so it's a case of using up what I have and making meals with as little expenditure as possible):

Monday - Healthy Ham Egg and Chips - as I have some ham and tomatoes that need eating and loads of eggs

Tuesday - Fish in Breadcrumbs, Wedges and Veg

Wednesday - Beef Casserole

Thursday - Roast Chicken

Friday - Mac and Cheese

Saturday - Chilli and Rice

Sunday - out

Have a good week everyone :)

Wardrobe clear out

Another thing I'm working on at the moment is a serious clear out of my wardrobe. And me being me I'm doing it in a very methodical way!! Each weekend I sort through a section and then eBay what I've decided to get rid of.  This may sound ever so anal but actually it's turning into being a fab way of sorting things out.  For example this weekend I've been looking at jumpers, cardis and jackets. Now I was convinced I didn't have many of these but look.....

Quite a pile eh?!!! 

It's so useful doing it this way as you can clearly see how many of each type of item you have and it's much easier to decide what you do and don't want to get rid of.  In my case - quite a lot!! Am so bored with most of my clothes so am having a serious cull.  I hope to use the proceeds from eBay to buy some classic pieces.  And its really nice not having that much stuff in my wardrobe - I can actually see what I have now.  So it's all good...apart from the ebaying - that's really dull!!!

Autumn appears to have arrived!!

Am sitting here at 8pm and it's dark!!  How did that happen?!  We were still in short sleeved tops and playing with the house after dinner only a few short days ago surely!?  And brrrr it's cold!!

Having said that I'm kinda looking forward to autumn (not winter - never winter!) - it's all cosy and I love the idea of snuggling up with my men, eating lots of stodgy comfort food and crafting in the evenings in front of the telly.  Sounds good doesn't it?

And also we have Christmas to look forward to!  As you can see from my previous post - I've made a start on my decorations for Chives Design much to some peoples disgust I imagine but we do like to be prepared don't we!!! hehe!

And I've been working on these this week too

Holly 

 These little chapess are Patricia the Penguin and Sofia the Snowoman - aren't they cute!!

 And for those of you not quite into Christmas yet (I'm talking to you mum and hubby!!) I'm also working on this lovely autumnal garland.  I really love the retro feel of this and with some funky buttons sewn on I think it's going to look fab.  

And yes for the eagle eyed amongst you - you will have noticed I've started reusing Instagram!!

Chives Designs - New Makes for Halloween and Christmas

Boris Bat

Claude Cat

Ghouly Ghost

Percy Pumpkin

Boo Garland 

Gingerbread House

Stocking

Christmas Tree

Collection of coordinating decorations 

Meal Plan er....Monday! And a big long catch up!!

Oh my dear - haven't I been slack in updating my blog. It's been a crappy few weeks with lack of sleep and various other things going on.  I was hoping to find my cooking mojo in September but I haven't so finding meal planning a bit of a struggle and my very lose plans are subject to change dependent on mood, weather and energy levels.

Although things have been a bit tough... and this has been a regular nightly occurrence once the little man had finally gone to sleep.... 

Things have been happening so here are a few pics to show what I've been up to....

I managed to get two big bags of tomatoes off the market for 30p each and there was nothing for it but to make chutney.  Love chutney!! 

Also managed to make a banana cake with some grungy bananas from the market and some more scones my summer time obsession!!

Cheese Scones and Banana Muffins from the BLW cookbook for the boy who's not overly keen on sandwiches for lunch.  And some left over BBQ beans from this recipe here with a jacket potato

I've hardly made any bread which I'm sad about - I really need a mixer so I can make it more often!  But it's sourdough September so I'm having another go at Cecil.  And he's in the fridge resting but between you and me I really don't think sourdough is for me!!  seems such a faff!

I decided that the little man and I should make gingerbread people after finding the recipe in my book.  I didn't however read the method properly only the ingredients and it turned out not to be the best recipe for a two year old - heat sugar and marg together till it boils!  Mix it all in a hot saucepan!  Then leave it to cool for 30 mins!!  Oh and I had no ginger.  And then when they were cooked they were too hard for the little man to eat!! hehe!!  #mummybakingfail!

The other pic is of this - Italian Drunken Noodles.  And Oh My wasn't it a lovely dinner!! That's another to try again.  I also made this - One Pot Chicken Pasta and that was another fave - even the little man ate a whole plate full and that rarely happens!!

The garden has produced some veg this year - we have lots of ickle pumpkins on the way!  And this is our carrot haul - although we really need to space them out next time.  I picked up a veg book at the car boot the other week so will have a read of that over the winter and make better plans next year.

A bit of a random but after a particularly stressful day I managed to pick up these flowers for £1.32 in tescos one evening.  The roses lasted well over a week and really brightened my kitchen.  I also bought this lovely milk jug and cup from the local jumble sale at the weekend for 50p. I think they are so cute and was a shame they didn't have the other cup but think this will be my new milk jug and sugar bowl.  

And on the craft front (more on another post) I've been thinking a lot about Christmas and had a bit of a splurge in the lovely fabric shop in Felixstowe and bought these lovely fabrics - the dino ones are for the little mans Christmas present and the others are for decorations for Chives Designs

I spent all one evening in front of the Great British Bake Off (are we all watching?!!?  Isn't it fab?  Although a little faffy for me in places) sorting out my wool.  My collection is going down! 

Have become slightly obsessed with crocheting hats!  Might put some up for sale in Chives Designs - watch this space! 

So onto this weeks mealplan (which is what you all came to see!!)

Monday - Satay Chicken Pittas
Tuesday - Meatloaf and BBQ Sauce
Wednesday - Beef Casserole
Thursday - Chicken One Pot Pasta
Friday - HM Pizza
Saturday - Fish, Mash and Veg
Sunday - Roast Chicken.