Meal Planning Monday

I have been off work for three weeks for the Easter holidays, but I am back to work today, with only four weeks to go until half term and so much to cram in. I have had a fantastic break, the last week I have spent pottering in the garden getting everything ready for the summer. These are just some of the plants I have to put in. I've already put in broad beans and lettuce plants as well as a few perennials I bought and the seeds I planted a month or so ago. I love this time of year.

I also went to see my parents for a couple of days last week. My Mum and I went out for lunch to Lyveden New Bield a local National Trust Property where she volunteers. The Sandwich we had was so good that I thought it worth photographing. It's a smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwich but I love what the chef Mel did with it, making a kind of club sandwich.

Lastly I wanted to share the gorgeous sundae glasses I brought back from New York. I bought them in a cook shop called Fish's Eddy and I love the shape of them. They are also not all that wide so perfect for small portions of ice cream.

This week it's back to reality with a bump. There has been a tube strike called for Tuesday and Wednesday so I am decamping to my sisters. Given that I've pretty much been away for three weeks already, I'm feeling rather sorry for poor Smudge who, although my neighbour is feeding her, has been left on her own and I would really rather spend time at home. I'm going to a talk tonight at the V&A and to Pilates on Thursday. I'm also rather hoping that going back to work will get my body clock right as I'm still jet lagged and finding really hard to get to sleep. Fingers crossed!

Monday

Smoked Mackerel Pasta Salad

Out before a talk

Tuesday

Sorrel and Goat's Cheese Quiche with Salad

Whatever I can find!

Wednesday

Lunch at School

Salmon and Broccoli Rice Bake with Salad

Thursday

Asparagus and Ham Wrap with Crisps

Cheesy Panade with Salad

Friday

Miso Rice and Broccoli Salad with Prawns

Lamb Chops with Mash and Veg

Saturday

Tomato Tarte Tatin with Salad

Corn and Sausage Bake with Veg

Sunday
Ham, Asparagus and Goat's Cheese Salad

Meal Planning Monday

Last week went mostly to plan I think, it was a busy week but the food was all eaten and I finally had the mackerel which was superb.

I had a lovely day in the garden yesterday; I dug over the flower bed, planted out the potatoes and put some tomato, chilli and aubergine seeds into pots as well as sorting out the front of my flat a bit. It was lovely to be outside soaking up the sunshine.

This week is a clear out the fridge week. On Sunday I am off to France for a week with a group of 11 and 12 year olds and then to New York for a week, so I don't want anything lying around. I am also out every night, pilates twice, the theatre, the cinema and a leaving do, plus finishing things off at work before the holidays! So meals are easy and quick to prepare.

 

Monday

Roasted Cauliflower and Red Pepper Farro Salad

Bacon and Goats Cheese Rosti with Salad

Tuesday

Cream of Cauliflower Soup with Bread

Out before the theatre

Wednesday

New Potato and Grilled Trout Salad

Steak and Cream Cheese Sandwich (Philadelphia Book)

Thursday

Tandoori Fish Wrap with Crisps

Roast in the Hole

Friday

Cherry Tomato Pasta

Salsa Verde Chicken with Rice

Saturday

Indian Mackerel Pitta

Palatschinken

Meal Planning Monday

It's the last week at school this week before half term! So there will be no plan next week as I'm wondering about the country seeing people. Last week's plan was mostly eaten, things were moved around a bit as I went to see The Great Gatsby on Friday rather than Thursday. The only thing that's moved to this week is the Asian style burger.

I didn't think much of The Great Gatsby, I'm not sure that trying to put hip hop and 1920s music together works and I think Baz Luhrman rather missed the point of the book. Also doesn't Leo look old?!

I also got out in the garden over the weekend. Saturday was spent at Hyde Hall RHS garden, where I could have bought up half the shop, the gardens were lovely though, it was nice to see all the spring plants out and even though it's that funny time of year between spring and summer, there was still a lot to see. Sunday I spent in the garden planting tomatoes, courgettes, cucumbers, squashes, beans, peppers and chillis as well as some of the flower tubs.

So this is what my garden looks like now! Much more cheerful now there are a few things in bloom and the veg have gone in. I'm waiting for some sweetcorn plants to arrive and thinking about what to put in some of the smaller tubs. I have also added a bit of fruit to my repertoire, and I got 2 blueberry plants and blackberry to add to the loganberry bush, plum, cherry and pear trees. The plum tree even has little tiny fruit on it! So I'm hopeful for lots of fruit this summer.

This weeks menu plan majors on quick and easy, using a lot of stuff already made from the freezer. I'm doing zumba most nights, my Mum's coming to stay on Tuesday before she goes to Chelsea and I am gutted that I can't go with her, and then I'm going to the theatre on Friday and Wimpole Hall on Saturday. How on earth I fit in housework and gardening I'm not sure yet, it'll all just have to wait till the weekend after!

Monday
Veggie Chilli with Doritos
Trout Burger with Salad

Tuesday
Miso Prawn Skewers and Rice Salad
Ham, Pea and Mint Pasties with Salad

Wednesday
Spaghetti Salad with Sausages, Tomato, Olives and Basil Vinaigrette
Asian Style Burger

Thursday
Sweet Chilli Chicken Wrap with Crisps (WW Magazine Clipping)
Spiced Salmon with Coriander Mash

Friday
Mushroom Pasta Salad
Out at the theatre

Saturday
Out at Wimpole Hall
Veggie Sausages with Cauliflower Mash

I'm linking up with other meal planners at Mrs M's Blog, head over there to check out more.

The Garden

There hasn't been much cooking happening at my house recently or at least nothing new. I started my new job and that's been taking up a lot of my time and I am also finishing off my college course. Also at this time of year I am mostly to be found in the garden, especially with the beautiful weather we've been having recently. Although if someone can send some rain it would be much appreciated! I thought I would show you what the veg bits of my garden look like at the moment so you can see where all my free time has been going.

This is the herb garden bit outside my back door. I have garden mint, oregano, variegated sage, thyme, normal sage, chives, garlic chives, black peppermint, curly parsley, flat leaf parsley, garlic chives, Greek basil and just out of shot some dill.



This is the loganberry plant that comes over from my neighbour, she has also just given me some seedlings to plant my side so I will hopefully have even more next year. It has so many berries on it this year.



These are the potato plants. I have two different sorts of potatoes on the go, one I know is pink fir apple, the other I'm not sure about but the plants are huge and flowering, I grow them in tarpaulin sacks. They are earlies so they should be ready soon!



This is the larger of the two collections of pots! Here were have four different types of tomatoes, plum, round, cherry and yellow cherry, peppers, rosemary and tarragon, aubergines, rainbow chard, sorrel, rocket, watercress and stir fry mix leaf as well as some sweet peas at the back.



Next is the courgette/squash bed. I have two long green courgette plants and one round yellow one, which doesn't look too happy at the moment. The two squashes on the end are spaghetti squash.



Next is the mixed veg bed. This has broad beans, french beans, onions, spring onions, fennel, pak choi, carrots and two sorts of lettuce.



Lastly come the strawberries, again two different sorts, there are also pepper plants, spinach and tomatillo not yet through.