Sunday 27 June 2021

What's Cooking At The Madhouse ? menu plan week 27


Into the final ten days at school but only for me - the Madhouse kids are all off already ! I've got exam invigilation on Monday and Tuesday, then lots of meetings preparing the next school year. I had my second covid jab today, along with Sophie, so hopefully I'll be feeling ok. We didn't stick to much of the plan last week as it was too hot to cook, so we had lots of quick things like bacon sandwiches and hot dogs. As I write this, it's torrential rain outside and thunder is booming in the distance so who knows what the weather will be like this week ! Here's the plan anyway...

Monday

lunch- I'll be at work, the kids can go fridge grazing (there should be leftover chipolatas, with mash or rice)

dinner - breaded chicken for the kids, steak for me (and Juliette - she can choose as she likes both) with pasta (or spinach filled potato croquettes for me and Sophie ... and maybe Juliette)

Tuesday

lunch- I'll be at work again - the kids can use up leftover pasta or go fridge/freezer diving

dinner- creamy chicken (or maybe chopped up leftover chipolatas, if there are any left) and leeks with rice

Wednesday

lunch- chicken fajitas with rice, guacamole, sweetcorn, peppers, ...

dinner- creamy potato bake with chicken burgers

Thursday

lunch - Cajun dirty rice but I think I'll leave out the bacon - I don't think mince and bacon go together, do they ?!


Friday

lunch- The kids are home alone again - they can go fridge/freezer diving

dinner Diet coke chicken with rice (& loads of veg in the chicken dish) - I've been wanting to try this for so long !

Saturday

lunch- There will probably still be leftovers to use up - if not, there's always McDonald's !

dinner- patatas bravas with a fried egg 



dinner- bacon sandwiches

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

Katykicker

Friday 25 June 2021

Book review : Pressure Chamber - Nir Hezroni


I love crime fiction and I've been reading it for years, delighting in the complex tales of cruel, sadistic serial killers, family dramas based on deep, dark secrets, uncovering hidden, unsuspected motives and quests for justice for past wrongs, not to mention the unflinching investigators out to set the world to rights and unmask the villains. I have to admit, during the lockdown, I started to wonder if I had read my fill of detective novels and crime fiction. There are, after all, only so many ways to kill people, even on paper,  and the plots started getting too samey, with too many details reminding me of things from other books that I'd read in the past. Had I covered all bases ? Could nothing surprise me any more ? Well, I'm relieved to say, reading Pressure Chamber was just what the doctor ordered. It includes a whole series of shocking, seemingly unrelated crimes and an intriguing investigator with an interesting backstory to boot. Perfect !

The key character in the book is Daphne Dagan, a young female investigator from the Israeli police forensics department who is investigating the case. While this sounds exotic, it should be noted that the author, Nir Hezroni, was born in Jerusalem and now lives with his family near Tel-Aviv. The novel is, in fact, translated from Hebrew.

Daphne is called on to investigate the crime scene of a hit and run that left a medical student dead. When a second medical student is targetted and kidnapped, there are clear links between the two incidents. A few weeks later, four babies are kidnapped from different maternity wards in Tel Aviv and the kidnapper is dubbed 'The Babysitter'. Daphne links these new crimes to the hit and run incidents.

But that's not all she has on her plate. After a busy day at work, she needs the night-time to rest and recover, but sadly, she is prone to a recurring nightmare in which she is the victim of a horrific murder. She starts looking into ways to uncover the past trauma that is coming back to haunt her in her sleep.

It's as intriguing and original as it sounds and some of it is very creepy. If you're looking for one of those books that will keep you up until stupid o' clock, reading "just one more chapter" before you turn out the light, this comes highly recommended!

star rating : 4.5/5

RRP: £8.99

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Legend Press (1 Jun. 2021)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 412 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1789559030
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1789559033




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

Sunday 20 June 2021

What's Cooking At The Madhouse ? menu plan week 26


Things have been so busy lately, I'm glad we're heading into the last few weeks at school. Juliette had her first Covid jab yesterday and is feeling a bit under the weather. Pierre couldn't get his (he's a few weeks under the required age) so we'll have to rebook his next month after his birthday. That means we won't have time to do both jabs and the required 2 week wait then head over to the UK before the end of the holidays - grrrr. Fingers crossed, it'll be for the October half term. We'll all be fully vaccinated by then so, hopefully, nothing can go wrong. (Fingers crossed !) It's weird to be heading into the summer with absolutely nothing planned - oh well, I'm sure we'll come up with a plan. Plus I have loads to sort out around the house to keep me busy ! Right, what's on the menu for next week ?

Monday

lunch- chicken burgers in buns (with tomatoes, gherkins, cheese, mayo, relish, ... whatever anyone wants !) with curly fries

dinner - breaded chicken for the kids, steak for me (and Juliette - she can choose as she likes both) with rice and veg

Tuesday

lunch- The kids can sort themselves out - I'm having lunch with a friend for the first time in 18 months ! We used to have lunch together once a week so it'll be great to finally catch up  :)

dinner- I have an after school meeting (the final one - phew !) so something quick when I finally get home - spaghetti bolognese will do

Wednesday

lunch- fajitas

dinner- twice baked potatoes stuffed with bacon, cheese, onions, mushrooms ... or with tuna mayo maybe? I'll let the kids decide !

Thursday

lunch - BBQ-style spicy pork chops with rice & veg

dinner- chicken with noodles and veg (kinda chow mein style)

Friday

lunch- School is closed getting ready for exams so it's a lazy day - woohoo ! I might offer to grab a takeaway for the kids, either in the kebab/fried chicken shop or in the chip shop. We'll see !

dinner - homemade quiche, boiled potatoes and salad

Saturday

lunch- There may well be leftovers from yesterday's takeaway. If not, pasta carbonara.

dinner- Worst case scenario is pizza, but I'm hoping there will be interesting nibbly bits at the supermarket - they've had lots of Italian, Chinese and Greek starters/dishes to try out lately

Sunday 

lunch- roast chicken, roast potatoes & veg with gravy

dinner- leftovers or toast

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

Katykicker

Monday 14 June 2021

What's Cooking At The Madhouse ? menu plan week 25


Planning "hot weather food" worked well and it's stayed really sunny so we'll go for the same again. This week will be extra busy with the in-laws' coming to visit on Wednesday and end-of-term meetings for two classes after school on Thursday. I need simple recipes this week ! At the weekend, we headed out to a pizza restaurant in town - the first time in so long ! We went a bit later (around 1.30pm rather than the usual 12.00 when all French people go to eat) and it was actually really quiet, so I'm guessing everyone headed to the beach. Here's this week's plan.

Monday

lunch- spicy prawns in cream with rice (Pierre can have a beefburger instead of prawns and Sophie's eating with her friends)

dinner - big mixed salad (with bacon, mushrooms, tomatoes, cheese, etc)

Tuesday

lunch- I'll be at the canteen so the kids can sort themselves out

dinner- sausage casserole with mash

Wednesday

lunch- lunch with the in laws (I think we'll head to our usual Chinese restaurant as everything's open again)

dinner- spaghetti bolognese, if we're hungry

Thursday

lunch - spicy chicken with rice and salads (I filled up the fridge with salads so we have the choice of beetroot salad, céleri remoulade, coleslaw, couscous, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, ...)

dinner- I'll be late home so the kids can sort something out - we have KFC-style crispy nuggets, probably with the same salads as lunch - there are some spicy curly fries in the freezer, if the kids get their act together though !

Friday

lunch- I'll be at the canteen so the kids can sort themselves out

dinner - chilli con carne and rice

Saturday

lunch- chicken (with hidden veg !) and pasta 

dinner- bacon sandwiches

Sunday 

lunch- marinated pork, rice and veg

dinner- leftovers or toast

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

Katykicker

May 2021 Degustabox review : Outdoor and BBQ


With the weather suddenly getting beautifully hot and summery a few weeks ago, it was the perfect time for this month's Outdoor and BBQ-themed Degustabox to arrive. So what would be hiding away inside this month's selection ?!


It took a while to set up this photo of the contents because the kids kept going oooh and trying to grab things ! I have to admit, it does look like a really great box this month with loads of new products and flavours to try out from brands that we already know and love.


The first product that I grabbed from the box was Echo Falls RosĂ© Seltzer (RRP £1.80), which looks like a great product to drink, fresh from the fridge, as the sun goes down. I got Strawberry with a Touch of Pink Pepper, other Degustaboxers got Blueberry and Hibiscus and there is also a Raspberry, Lychee and Rose flavour. They all sound a little bit different and a little bit girlie, not to mention very tasty. The can that I had went down very well. The sweet, fruity taste of strawberry fills your mouth then the hint of pepper comes through, providing a refreshing, surprising flavour. Each can contains 69 calories, is 4.5% ABV and is available at Asda and independent stores.

Another product that screams out "summer is here !" is Hellmann's Fat Free Original Vinaigrette Salad Dressing (RRP £1.65). Its classic recipe combines herbs, garlic and red pepper that add some zing to your summer salads, whether just a few leaves of lettuce on the side of the plate or a full mixed salad as a main meal. One tablespoon of vinaigrette contains just 7 calories, which is great if you're watching your waistline. It is made with no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives and is suitable for vegans. It's perfect for the summer.

Bertolli Extra Virgin Olive Oil Spray (RRP £3) is another product that can be sprayed on your salad to give it some extra flavour, but that's not all. It can also be used in marinades or on pasta ... whatever you fancy ! For a light summery lunch, just spray some over sliced tomatoes on a slice of toast. Its fruity aroma adds a touch of decadence that really brings out the flavour. Made using only 100% extra virgin olive oil and no additives, the spray is propellant free, using only pure air to dispense evenly the right amount of oil needed. 


Graze Smoky Barbecue Crunch (RRP £1 for a 31g punnet or £2.99 for a 104g sharing bag) is a delicious snack, combining BBQ flavoured peas, crunchy corn chips and chilli corn. As well as tasting great and being packed with veg, it is high in fibre and suitable for vegans. Each punnet provides 139 calories. It's totally moreish and you won't stop until you've eaten the whole pack !


Another option from the same brand is Graze Cocoa Vanilla Protein Oat Bites (RRP £1 for a single 30g bite or £2.49 for a multipack of 4 x 30g). These bars contain 45% less sugar than the average cereal bar but they still taste great. They are made from whole rolled oats, are high in fibre and are a source of protein, as well as being suitable for vegans. I wasn't expecting to like these but they're actually not bad at all.


Hershey's Cookies 'n' Creme (RRP 89p) is bound to be a huge hit with anybody looking for a taste of the States (which includes all three of my kids !). The bar combines the classic flavours of a smooth white creme infused with crunchy cookie pieces. It's not bad and the kids were big fans but I have to admit, I prefer the creaminess of British chocolate !


Hippeas Chickpea Tortilla Snacks (RRP £1) is a new product from the brand, available in three flavours : Chilli Kicks (which was the one we got), Rockin' Ranch & Cheesy Nacho Vibes. They are vegan, gluten free and contain 7g of protein and 2g of fibre per single serve bag (40g). They taste great and are perfect for scooping up guacamole. I'll definitely give the other flavours a try as they sound really nice too.
 
 

Pip Organic Sparkling Lemon (RRP £1.50) is another soft drink option for the summer. It is a blend of organic not-from-concentrate juice and sparkling water with no added sugars or sweeteners. It comes in at under 75 calories and is lovely and refreshing. It even counts as one of your 5-a-day. Can't say fairer than that ! It's available from Abel & Cole, Amazon or Ocado.

Knorr Rosemary & Onion Seasoning (RRP £1.80) (other Degustaboxers got Tomato & Oregano) is a lovely herb mix for sprinkling over your food. Knorr say that it's ideal for a sweet potato, salad, roasted vegetables, vegetable stew, delicious sauce, tasty soup or any other exciting dish you want to try. As it's part of the Knorr Veggie Cook's Essentials range, the focus is on meat-free dishes, but it's also great sprinkled over roast chicken and roast potatoes, added to casseroles or flung over the meat on the barbecue. 

Nairn's Cheese & Smoky Chipotle Spicy Oatcakes (RRP £1.50) are a new addition to the range and they're a great way of adding some zingy flavour to your snacks. They're lovely topped with cheese, cheese spread, smoked ham or (our favourite snack for the summer) guacamole. Cheese & Chipotle is an exciting new flavour, but they still have all of the benefits that you expect from Nairn's Oatcakes. Packed with fibre to keep your gut healthy, full of vitamins and minerals and a great source of slow releasing energy - plus 125 years of Nairn's expertise! 

 

Brioche Pasquier Brioche Rolls (RRP £1.50) are great as part of a decadent continental breakfast, alongside croissants and pain au chocolat, but they are much more versatile than that. While they are lovely topped with sweet things like jam or Nutella, they can also be filled with savoury options such as ham and cheese. Kids love their slightly sweet flavour and the soft fluffiness of the brioche. They are baked using quality ingredients, including their original levain, with no added preservatives.

Rowntree's Dessert Pastilles (RRP £1.29) are a fabulous new twist on the classic Fruit Pastilles that we all love. Inspired by delicious fruity desserts, they come in four fantastic flavours: Cherry Bakewell, Blueberry Pie, Apple Crumble and Mango Sorbet. Just like regular pastilles, they are irresistibly chewy and packed with tasty flavours. They are also vegan friendly for even more people to enjoy!


Not Too Naughty Caramelised Mini Cookies (RRP 50p per single, £10 for 25) are the perfect product for anyone who wants to enjoy a sweet treat without a guilty conscience ! They contain 30% less sugar and come in at 88 calories per pack, as well as being high in fibre. They also have no artificial colours, sweeteners or preservatives in them. They're lovely as something to munch on in front of the telly !

Another snack option from the same company Nibnibs is Telstar Heavenly Cookies (RRP 50p per single, £10 for 25). Just like the Not Too Naughty mini cookies, they have reduced sugar content, are high in fibre and, as the tagline says, offer "all the taste, less of the naughty". In the same blue-coloured packaging as the previous product are the Caramelised Cookies.


But they also have a brown pack of Chocolate Mini Cookie Stars, which are just as tasty.


The final product in this month's box was Whitworth's Protein By Nature Mexican Spicy Grains (RRP £2). This range of beans, pulses and grains is a great alternative when you're fed up of the usual rice, pasta and potatoes. It's vegan-friendly, contains 20g of protein and is ready after being heated in the microwave for 2 minutes. This can be eaten as a side dish or there is a recipe suggesting using it in fajitas - that sounds good to me ! I love the sound of the other dishes in the range too - Indian Lentil Dhal, Brazilian Smoky Beans and Moroccan Grains. I'll definitely keep an eye out for them. They're available in Tesco, Morrisons and Ocado.

This was a fantastic box for us and I love the fact that it's given me some new product ranges to try out when we next go shopping. We're winding down at school now and this has really made me start looking forward to a lazy summer holiday !

 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 6 June 2021

What's Cooking At The Madhouse ? menu plan week 23


The weather has been really hot lately, so I'm thinking of planning some more summery food. I bet as soon as I do, it will start raining and get cold again. Oh well, we'll give it a go ! Juliette is now on holiday, Sophie will be as soon as her last assignment is sent in tomorrow and Pierre only has a couple of weeks to go. I'll still be there until the end of the first week of July - I wonder if I can convince the kids to start cooking instead of me ?!

Monday

lunch- chicken goujons in breadcrumbs with rice and veg

dinner - spaghetti bolognese (a quick option as I'll be home late from a meeting ... unless the kids have something up their sleeves !)

Tuesday

lunch- I'll be at the school canteen so the kids can fend for themselves

dinner- grilled ham with homemade coleslaw & baked potatoes

Wednesday

lunch- tuna & cherry tomato potato salad (or beefburger & boiled potatoes, for those who don't like tuna)

dinner- oven-baked BBQ chicken with rice & coleslaw

Thursday

lunch - chicken or pork in a creamy mushroom sauce with pasta

dinner- big mixed salad (with plenty of topping options : boiled eggs, cheese, bacon, goat's cheese, mushrooms, ...)

Friday

lunch- I'll be at the canteen so the kids can sort themselves out

dinner - chicken & Boursin in puff pastry with rice & salad

Saturday

lunch- maybe a takeaway (or maybe there will be leftovers to use up)

dinner- cheese on toast/sandwiches/guacamole/tortilla chips/nibbly things in front of the telly

Sunday 

lunch- sausage & leek mash pie (without the kale - nobody likes it, even me !)

dinner- leftovers (or spaghetti carbonara if everyone's hungry)

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

Katykicker

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...