Sunday 26 November 2023

What's Cooking At The Madhouse ? menu plan week 47


Tomorrow, after work, the roofers should be fixing our roof. Hopefully everything will start to dry out then as we have a small amount of mould appearing in Juliette's room. After sorting out Pierre's room and the passage, it seems to be going round and round the house without ever getting fixed. Hopefully this will be the end of it. *Fingers crossed* Apart from that, I'm still in the midst of filling in school reports and going to class meetings. Once that's all done in a couple of weeks, I can't start looking forward to Christmas. We might be putting up our Christmas tree this afternoon actually. It's a week earlier than normal by why not ?! Here's this week's menu plan.

Monday

lunch- Provençal chicken with rice and ratatouille

dinner - battered fish with chips and peas

Tuesday

lunch- breaded chicken with mash & beans

dinner- meatballs with pasta

Wednesday

lunch- pork in tomato sauce with rice

dinner- leftover meatballs with chickpeas and couscous

Thursday

lunch- school canteen for me, Pierre can use up leftovers 

dinner- fishfingers with rice and veg

Friday

lunch- pasta bolognese

dinner - chicken fajitas

Saturday

lunch- after a long week, I think we deserve a Deliveroo !

dinner- cottage pie

Sunday

lunch- roast dinner

dinner- leftovers

***Click on my Menu Plans tag to see all my other weekly menu plan blogposts.***

Monday 20 November 2023

What's Cooking At The Madhouse ? menu plan week 46


I'm still rushing around trying to sort out the roof at the moment. The original roofers don't work with individual customers any more, just big council blocks, and another company eventually got back to me to say they couldn't do it. I think (fingers crossed) I've managed to find someone to do it today, but the only bad news is, we have to wait a week for them to come out. Unfortunately it's still pouring hard at the moment 90% of the time. Typical !  I'm just heading into the busy end-of-term time at school too. We got the parent-teacher evenings out of the way last week. Next week is the first of the class meetings looking at exam results, prospects and advice for pupils and parents. Before then, I have to do my last exams and fill in the school reports. Always a busy time. All of that explains why I'm so late getting this week's menu plan out ! Here's what's on the cards this week.

Monday

lunch- chicken in cream with rice, peas and carrots

dinner - battered fish and spicy potato wedges

Tuesday

lunch- Sophie's coming back home for a doctor's appointment so I'll catch up with her for lunch somewhere

dinner- BBQ ribs, rice and coleslaw

Wednesday

lunch- paprika pork, mixed beans and rice

dinner- chicken fajitas

Thursday

lunch- school canteen for me, Pierre can use up leftovers 

dinner- chicken burgers, pasta and sweetcorn

Friday

lunch- leftover chicken burgers in leftover tortilla wraps with guacamole, tomatoes and rice

dinner - pork filet mignon with roast potatoes and carrots, covered in gravy

Saturday

lunch- after a long week, I think we deserve a Deliveroo !

dinner- chilli con carne and rice

Sunday

lunch-  chicken in tomato & veg sauce with pasta

dinner- leftovers

***Click on my Menu Plans tag to see all my other weekly menu plan blogposts.***

Sunday 12 November 2023

What's Cooking At The Madhouse ? menu plan week 45


This week went absolutely fine, until the end of the week. Just as I was coming out of work on Friday afternoon, the kids sent me a message to say that there was water coming in through the roof in Sophie's loft conversion in several places, then going through her floor and coming out through the light in Pierre's room below. They set up a load of buckets to catch the water but the floor was soaked. The insurance office is shut until Tuesday as it's a bank holiday weekend (which I forgot about until I went there on Saturday morning !) so I'll have to wait a while. I'm not sure if this is an add-on to the insurance claim for the roof from the past storm (still waiting for the reply from the expert to allow the claim/work to go through to replace some missing tiles since March !) or if it's a new one from this latest storm. On top of all that, Sophie has just had a blood test and discovered she has diabetes so she's in hospital for a few days while they get her insulin levels sorted out. Talk about a nightmare weekend ! Next week is a busy one with two parent-teacher evenings, which I could do without, but I'm sure we'll make it through somehow ! Here's this week's menu plan.

Monday

lunch- sausages with potato smileys and sweetcorn

dinner - Pierre will be at football training so I'll knock up some baked potatoes with beans, bacon and onions

Tuesday

lunch- quick jambalaya

dinner- pasta bolognese using a jar of sauce for an instant dinner after work

Wednesday

lunch- crispy sesame beef & rice


Thursday

lunch- school canteen for me, Pierre can use up leftovers 

dinnerMary Berry's 15 minute pasta sounds like a quick dinner when I get home from work late

Friday

lunchchicken parmesan with rice and sweetcorn


Saturday

lunch- after a long week, I think we deserve a Deliveroo !

dinner- chicken fricassée with rice

Sunday

lunch-  Monterey chicken with couscous & salad

dinner- leftovers or cheese on toast

***Click on my Menu Plans tag to see all my other weekly menu plan blogposts.***

Sunday 5 November 2023

What's Cooking At The Madhouse ? menu plan week 44

I'm back ! We've just been enjoying a visit to Hastings to see my parents and sister so I haven't been menu planning for a while. It was lovely to catch up with everyone, despite the crappy weather. Then my dad came back with us for a few days to do some much needed painting and decorating around the house. It all looks so much better now. He's left and it's time to start getting ready to go back to work on Monday. Time to get back into routine ! I've bought back lots of lovely seasoning sachets to try out over the coming weeks.

Monday

lunch- I'm thinking there should be leftovers from yesterday's roast gammon

dinner - steak, rice and peas

Tuesday


dinner- chilli con carne with rice

Wednesday

lunch- I'm thinking there will be leftovers


Thursday

lunch- school canteen for me, Pierre can use up leftovers 

dinner- meatballs with pasta

Friday

lunchNadiya's Smoky Meatball Stew  (with the other half of the meatballs) with couscous

dinner - Mary Berry's quick and simple sausage supper with potatoes should fill Pierre up nicely after football training

Saturday

lunch- leftovers, I think

dinner- another football session requiring a big dinner so The Real Greek Kokkinisto Warming Beef & Tomato Stew with rice sounds perfect

Sunday

lunchchicken supreme with rice and sweetcorn


***Click on my Menu Plans tag to see all my other weekly menu plan blogposts.***

Tuesday 31 October 2023

Book review : It Began With A Ghost Story - Jean Harrod

 

When I was recently approached to review Jean Harrod's latest novel, I was intrigued. I've already read and reviewed the books in her Diplomatic Crime Series, Deadly Diplomacy, Deadly Deceit and Missing In Shanghai (click through to read those reviews) but her latest novel moves into the ghostly thriller genre.


The inspiration for the novel is a legend from the North York Moors. It tells the tale of Kitty Garthwaite, a young servant girl who, having discovered she was pregnant, was abandoned by her lover, Willie Dixon, and ended up dead in the nearby river at Hutton-le-Hole. The next day he was discovered dead in the same stretch of water and over the next twenty years, sixteen more men lost their lives in the same stretch of river. Kitty's ghost was blamed for the deaths, assuming she was taking revenge on the local men for their indiscretions.


In It Began With A Ghost Story, we follow the tale of Grace Winter, a young doctor whose mother has recently died. After her death, Grace inherited a house on the North York Moors that she knew nothing about, so she decides to go and visit to try to unearth this secret part of her mother's life. She takes her two best friends, Samantha and Evie, along with her. Both of the girls seem to have their own problems. Samantha seems to be hitting the drink a bit heavily and Evie is very fragile, having been left by her husband after several years of trying unsuccessfully to start a family.


Grace loves the house and explores its contents, trying to uncover her mother's secrets, but the girls are concerned when they encounter spooky visions. When a young man is found dead in the river, the girls become the focus of the police investigation, especially when Evie is discovered in the area. Do they really have anything to do with the murder or is there a ghostly killer in the area?


It's an enjoyable read with just the right degree of spookiness. You can read it as a sceptic, assuming that all the other-worldliness can be explained away or you can accept, with a tingle down your spine, that Kitty really did continue to haunt the area. Either way, the ending will probably come as a complete shock. I was pleased to see that this book is the first in a new Grace Winter series. I look forward to finding out more about this character in the upcoming novels as I'm sure she has a lot more to give.


star rating : 4.5/5

RRP : £8.99

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ York Authors Coffee Shop Ltd; First Edition (15 Aug. 2023)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 329 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1739671201
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1739671204

Disclosure : I received a review copy of the book in order to share my honest opinion.

Tuesday 24 October 2023

Degustabox October 2023 review : Movie Night

 

When this month's Degustabox arrived, I glanced at the theme of the box and it seemed like a perfect match for the weather to me. With temperatures dropping and drizzly rain and wind replacing the seemingly never-ending summer sun of the past few months, Movie Night seemed like the perfect way of spending an evening or a Sunday afternoon, snuggled under a blanket on the settee. Bring on the snacks ! We have the choice of sweet or savoury in the box.

 

My top pick for movie snacks is this bag of Aero Caramel Melts (RRP £1.75). I love the smooth, bubbly texture of Aero bars and these buttons have a caramel flavour that makes them seem extra delicate and luxurious. They come in a "love to share" bag but I'm happy to hide these away and scoff them all by myself ! Available at major supermarket chains.

If you fancy a savoury snack, you might prefer Chipoys Fire Red Hot (RRP £1.99). This is a popular brand of American snacks made in Mexico with rolled tortilla chips. As the flavour name suggests, these are totally hot, spicy and intense. The kids liked them but I thought they were just too fiery ! Available across independent and convenience stores as well as on Amazon.


Love Raw Peanut Butter Cups (RRP £1.89) are a vegan version of the popular snack made of peanut butter wrapped in milk-free chocolate. As with all products from the brand, they are free from palm oil and artificial ingredients. They are also gluten-free. Juliette gobbled them up and declared them delicious. Available at Tesco, Waitrose, Ocado, Amazon, Loveraw.com and selected independents.

 

Caleño Tropical Non-alcoholic Pre-mixed Cocktails (RRP 2 x £2.50) are the perfect drink for a glitzy night out minus the hangover or a more special option for the non-drinking driver of the group. We got the sharp and fruity Passion Fruit Martini and the sweet and tropical Pineapple Pina Colada, both of which were deemed delicious. Available on calenodrinks.com and Amazon.

Kellogg's cereals (RRP 4 x 70p) in individual packs always seem extra special to me, probably because they remind me of the variety packs that I used to love when I was a kid. In the Degustabox, we got four different varieties, Special K, Rice Krispies, Coco Pops and Crunchy Nut Cornflakes, which are my favourites. Other size packs are available at all major supermarkets.



Knorr Quick Soups (RRP 2 x 75p) are ready in minutes and are perfect as a quick lunch or snack. The kids like them as an after-school snack to tide them over until dinner. They're also great for warming you up on a cold day. We got Tomato and Cream of Vegetable with Croutons, while other subscribers got Chicken or Chicken Noodle. Available at ASDA.


Frutrip Fruit Purée Squeeze (RRP £7.50) is a product from Jeju Island, South Korea. It provides two flavours : hallabong ginger (hallabong is a citrus fruit native to Jeju Island) and green tangerine lemon. This nifty product can be consumed in a variety of ways, as a dessert, a dressing, an ice sorbet, a cocktail base or a topping. It is a pure product with no added water or artificial flavours. Available on UK Amazon.


Knorr Hairy Bikers' Spicy Stock Pots (RRP £1.90) are a quick and convenient way of adding a deep, rich flavour to chillis and casseroles. Perfect for adding a kick of heat to beat the chilli over autumn and winter. Available at Ocado, Waitrose and Tesco.

 

Peppadew Sweet Piquanté Peppers (RRP £3.25) combine a sweet and tangy crunch with a mild heat. Each pepper is de-cored by hand and can be munched straight from the jar or chopped and added to salads, pasta or pizzas. They're great for adding a bit of zing to plain meals. Available in major supermarket chains.

Simply Cook Jerk Chicken (RRP £2.50) is from a range of products designed as a great way of getting out of a cooking rut and injecting some excitement into mealtimes. 140+ chef created recipes in the range only need half an hour or less to provide dinner on the table. You'll need to add 4-6 fresh ingredients but all the magic comes in the little pack. Other subscribers received Nasi Goreng or Cajun Jambalaya kits. I love this way of adding some excitement to dinner without extra hassle or inconvenience.

 

Tilda Sticky Rice (RRP £1.54) is this month's Product of the Month and it's ideal for use in sushi or poke bowls. With its subtle flavour and sticky texture, it's ready for use in just 90 seconds in the microwave. It is gluten free and suitable for vegetarians and vegans. The girls will love this for using with their sushi kit. Available in major supermarket chains.


Very Lazy Teriyaki Paste (RRP £2) is part of the range of cooking pastes designed to give you "Maximum Flavour, Minimum Fuss" in the kitchen. The sweet and savoury paste is perfect added to chicken, beef or pork to create a richly flavoured dish in minutes. It's not a product that I would have bought but having tried it, it's great to keep in the fridge for when you need a meal after a long day at work. Available in Sainsbury's, ASDA and Morrisons.

According to the leaflet in the box, I should have had a gift pack of Love Corn Sea Salt Flavour but it wasn't in the box. I actually thought the kids had gobbled it up without telling me, but they've promised me that they didn't ! We've had this product range before though and love the taste and texture of the crunchy corn kernels.

A subscription to Degustabox costs £12.99 per month including delivery, with each box having a value of much more than that, but the great news is, I have a discount coupon code for you which means you'll get the first box for just £9.99 - enter code PKUFE at the checkout. 


for more information :

Also now on Instagram @DegustaboxUK

Disclosure : We received the box in order to write an honest review. As a Degustabox blogger, I receive all of the products that go into the monthly boxes, but subscribers may not get exactly the same selection.

Sunday 15 October 2023

What's Cooking At The Madhouse ? menu plan week 41

Into the final week of school before the holidays. This week is busy on the after-school appointments - we have a trip to the dentist for Pierre tomorrow to discuss his getting braces, then the day after is his parent-teacher evening. I have two hours in a meeting instead of class tomorrow morning to discuss how to talk to the kids about the killing of a teacher on Friday by extremists. On Friday I have a day of sophrology (relaxation exercises) instead of lessons too so it's a fairly quiet final week before the holidays. 

Monday

lunch- I'm eating at the school canteen, Pierre can pick through the fridge

dinner - pork in tomato sauce with pasta

Tuesday

lunch- beefburgers, rice and ratatouille

dinner- baked potatoes with bacon, cheese, onions, mushrooms and beans

Wednesday

lunch-  battered fish and hash browns

dinner- Chinese chicken with rice and veg

Thursday

lunch- school canteen for me, Pierre can use up leftovers 

dinner- spaghetti bolognese

Friday

lunch- baked ham, mash and green beans

dinner - pizza

Saturday

lunch- maybe kebabs, if the kids want fast food

dinner- leftovers

Sunday

lunch-  steak, mash and grilled tomatoes

dinner- pasta carbonara

***Click on my Menu Plans tag to see all my other weekly menu plan blogposts.***

Sunday 8 October 2023

What's Cooking At The Madhouse ? menu plan week 40

This first term at school is zipping by. I can't believe we're looking forward to the holidays in a couple of weeks. This week, I finally went to watch Pierre playing football and I was impressed - he's pretty good ! He's got a bit of a girlie fan club following him around at the stadium too, which was quite funny to watch. Into another week of work. Here's what's on the menu plan for this week (although I haven't been shopping yet so there might be some substitutions).

Monday

lunch- I'm eating at the school canteen, Pierre can pick through the fridge

dinner - bolognese stuffed chicken breasts with rice

Tuesday

lunch- beefburgers, mash and beans

dinner- baked potatoes with bacon, cheese, onions, mushrooms and cherry tomatoes

Wednesday

lunch- smoked sausages with lentils 

dinner- pasta bolognese

Thursday

lunch- school canteen for me, Pierre can use up leftovers 

dinner- chicken chow mein with noodles

Friday

lunch- spicy chicken, rice and salad in wraps

dinner - late night at work so probably Deliveroo

Saturday

lunch- steak & onion pie, mash and veg

dinner- pizza

Sunday

lunch-  pork filet mignon with roast potatoes, peas and carrots

dinner- pasta carbonara

***Click on my Menu Plans tag to see all my other weekly menu plan blogposts.***

Sunday 1 October 2023

What's Cooking At The Madhouse ? menu plan week 39

The new recipes from Taste of Home were a big hit and also quick and simple to prepare, which made me happy ! The pepperoni baguette pizzas were the best thing I've ever cooked apparently, and the beef and bacon gnocchi and nachos pie were happily gobbled up too. Not really a big surprise there ! I'm going back to look for more recipes to try this week. I'm also going to work through some of the seasoning sachets in my kitchen cupboard. Juliette has been home for another long weekend, so some things didn't get made as she didn't fancy them. This week is a calm week, with just a late night at work on Friday for the ceremony to give out the exam certificates. Here's what is on the menu this week.

Monday

lunch- I'm eating with friends, Pierre can pick through the fridge

dinner - sausage pasta

Tuesday

lunch- Italian chicken risotto

dinner-  pork casserole, boiled potatoes and veg

Wednesday

lunch- chicken cordon bleu with rice and green beans


Thursday

lunch- school canteen for me, Pierre can use up leftovers 

dinner-  butter chicken (with added potatoes) and rice

Friday

lunch- pasta carbonara

dinner - Kokkinisto warming beef and tomato stew with mash

Saturday

lunch- smokehouse bbq chicken wraps

dinner- Caribbean chicken and rice

Sunday

lunch- chicken, roast potatoes, carrots & gravy

dinner- pepperoni baguette pizzas

***Click on my Menu Plans tag to see all my other weekly menu plan blogposts.***

Wednesday 27 September 2023

Degustabox September 2023 review

 

This month saw us heading back to school after the long summer break, and, despite the manically intense heatwave lasting way longer than was pleasant, it seems as though the weather has finally turned decidedly autumnal over the last week or so. I even walked past a load of conkers on the ground on my way to work yesterday. That convinced me. Even Mother Nature seems to think that the summer is over now ! When the postman dropped off the latest Degustabox, I was keen to see if it would reflect the changing seasons. Would it be full of ingredients for casseroles, curries and other winter warmers ? Let's take a look at what was in the box.

 

First of all, I plucked out this can of 6 o' Clock London Dry Gin & Tonic (RRP £3). I'd never thought of having a ready-made gin and tonic out of a can, but why not? It's practical, saves time and avoids forking out on a big bottle of gin, so it's ideal for those who don't drink regularly. It is made using London Dry Gin and natural premium tonic water. Taste-wise, it is spot on. Available at Co-op stores and on Ocado.

Chipoys Chilli & Lime (RRP £1.99) are a popular American snack, made from rolled Mexican-produced tortilla chips with intense, authentic flavour and real crunch. I'd never seen these before but they remind me very much of the crisps and snacks that you can buy from American exporters in discovery packs. The kids loved the strong flavour and gobbled them up in minutes. Available on Amazon and in independent stores.


Mission XL Wraps (RRP £2) are big 30cm wraps that are perfect for those with a big appetite. We love eating fajitas and chicken and salad wraps here at the Madhouse, but sometimes, by the time you've added everything you want in them (meat, guacamole, tomatoes, sweetcorn, cucumber, sour cream, salsa, cheese, ...), it can be hard to roll them up and eat them without half of the filling falling out all over you. These bigger sized wraps avoid the mess and they taste lovely too, with a nice soft texture and pleasant taste. They can be enjoyed hot or cold. The kids love them when they want a snack for creating an instant "pizza" by spreading them with tomato puree and sprinkling them with cheese and ham before sticking them under the grill or in the microwave for a couple of minutes. Available in ASDA.

 

Fruit-tella Out In Space (RRP £1.50) are a new (to me, at least) fruity jelly sweet that offers moon, planet and rocket shapes in pineapple, strawberry and peach flavours. They are made with more fruit juice than other jelly sweets and also contain natural colouring and flavours. They taste very nice and we loved the soft, chewy texture. Available at Co-op.

Garofalo Rigatoni Pasta (RRP £2.50) is a large tubular pasta shape, with ridges that make it perfect for chunky sauces and baked pasta dishes. After being boiled for 13 minutes in salty water, it has the perfect al dente consistency. We loved this served with bolognese sauce and the slightly firm, rough texture works perfectly as a sauce magnet. Delizioso ! Available on Ocado, Amazon, Booths and local stockists.


Green Cola and Green Lemonade (RRP £1.19 each) are from a brand that I had never heard of before but they are very tasty. They are low or no sugar without aspartame, low calorie and offer a healthier take on fizzy drinks. They use natural, plant-based Stevia for sweetness and real fruit juice for a punchy, refreshing taste. Perfect straight from the fridge or served over ice. Available at Sainsbury's, Holland & Barrett, Ocado and Amazon. 

 

Jordans No Added Sugar Granola (RRP £3.60) is a tasty breakfast option. The crunchy clusters are made with no added sugar or artificial sweeteners, relying on lashings of fruit, including dates, apple, blueberries and cranberries for sweetness, flavour and zinginess. The Triple Nut option adds some great crunch and the delicious result is a bowl full of great, natural flavours and textures. Available at Waitrose.


Ryvita Crackerbread (RRP £1.59) are a light, crispy bread-alternative that can be spread with sweet or savoury toppings as a snack, breakfast or lunch option. I like them spread with cream cheese and cherry tomatoes or banana and peanut butter. I haven't eaten Ryvita crispbread for years but these crackerbread don't seem hugely different to the originals, as far as I can remember. Available in major supermarkets.

  

Simply Cook Goan Curry Recipe Kit (RRP £2.50) is a quick and simple product designed to help you get an interesting and flavour-packed meal on the table in twenty minutes. Inside the pack are three pods : masala paste (for the curry base), coconut paste (to add topnotes of garlic and coconut) and a spice blend (with mustard seeds and star anise to add depth of flavour). This kit works perfectly with prawns, cod, salmon or even chicken for a rich, exotic meal that tastes as if it should have been a lot more complicated to produce than it was using the kit. 

Wagamama House Dressing (RRP £2.50) gives you the chance to enjoy the signature house dressing of the iconic restaurant chain in your own home. Since first opening in 1992, Wagamama has delivered the flavours of Asia through simple, balanced food. The dressing, inspired by their katsu curry side salad, contains shallots, soy and garlic. It's guaranteed to bring some serious oomph to your salads. Available at Tesco, Sainsbury's, ASDA and Waitrose.

Mutti Tuscany Passata (RRP £2.70) is this month's Product of the Month. It is made using the highest quality Rossoro tomatoes from the Tuscany region, harvested at their peak ripeness and processed within 24 hours. The tomatoes bring a distinct fruity flavour to the passata and its smooth richness is ideal for incorporating into pasta sauces, pizza toppings, soups and casseroles. Its adds a lovely flavour but also a smooth consistency to whatever you are cooking. Available at Sainsbury's and Waitrose.

 A subscription to Degustabox costs £12.99 per month including delivery, with each box having a value of much more than that, but the great news is, I have a discount coupon code for you which means you'll get the first box for just £9.99 - enter code PKUFE at the checkout. 


for more information :

Also now on Instagram @DegustaboxUK

Disclosure : We received the box in order to write an honest review. As a Degustabox blogger, I receive all of the products that go into the monthly boxes, but subscribers may not get exactly the same selection.
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