Sunday, 17 November 2024

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


After last week's hectic schedule, I'm happy to have a quieter week this week. I still have Pierre's parent-teacher evening on Monday and a trip to the bank on Tuesday but that's it. I think we might get the Christmas tree set up next weekend. I know it's early but we'll be visiting family over Christmas so it won't get appreciated otherwise. We did several Too Good To Go bags last week so the fridge is packed with random things to use up. Here's the plan for the coming week.

Monday

lunch- school lunch

dinner - Nadiya's smoky meatball stew with couscous

Tuesday

lunch- leftover meatball stew

dinner- fish, rice and carrots

Wednesday

lunch- leftovers

dinner- Pork, leek and rice stir-fry (minus the kale !)

Thursday

lunch- school lunch

dinner-  chicken gyros with rice

Friday

lunch- school lunch

dinner sausage stew with mash

Saturday

lunch-  pasta carbonara

dinner- something created from too good to go (seems to be the new norm)

Sunday

lunch- roast dinner

dinner - soup

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

Sunday, 10 November 2024

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


Menu-planning at the Madhouse has got confusing lately. During the week, it's just me and Pierre. At the weekend, but often from Thursday night onwards, Sophie comes home for the weekend. On Friday, Juliette comes home for the weekend, accompanied by her boyfriend, but he works so only eats at home for about half of the meals. Shopping has become a logistical nightmare as I never know how many people I am buying for ! Menu plans still come in useful as a rough guide but we tend to veer off plan more frequently when someone requests something specific or we don't have enough ingredients for the number of people present. As an added complication, this week we have a bank holiday on Monday and parent-teacher evenings on Tuesday and Thursday. Here's what's on this week's menu plan.

Monday

lunch-  smoky bbq pork with pasta and sweetcorn

dinner - meatloaf with mash and carrots

Tuesday

lunch- breaded fish with rice and veg

dinner- fresh pasta (ravioli filled with ham)

Wednesday

lunch- leftovers

dinner- gnocchi with creamy chicken

Thursday

lunch- school lunch

dinner- chicken cordon bleu with rice and ratatouille

Friday

lunch- school lunch

dinner - chicken burgers with pasta

Saturday

lunch-  chicken fajitas

dinner- pasta carbonara

Sunday

lunch- spaghetti bolognese

dinner - bacon sandwiches

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

Sunday, 3 November 2024

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


We had a lovely autumn half term and now we're getting ready to go back to school. Having put the clocks back, it's going to be pitch black when my alarm goes off at 6.15 tomorrow morning, which I'm not looking forward to. Only a month and a half until the Christmas holidays though so I can't complain. During these holidays, we had a lovely trip back to see the family then came back in time for Pierre to celebrate Halloween with his friends. He dressed up as a blood-soaked zombie and they came home with loads of sweets so he was very happy. I've already started Christmas shopping but I'm not feeling at all festive yet though. I'm sure it won't be long until they turn on all the Christmas lights in the streets and that always brings on the festive cheer. Here's what's on this week's menu plan.

Monday

lunch- school lunch 

dinner - chilli con carne and rice

Tuesday

lunch- chicken cordon bleus, baked potatoes and beans

dinner- bacon and tomato pasta

Wednesday

lunch- fridge-diving for me - time to use up the leftovers

dinner- chicken burgers and chips

Thursday

lunch- school lunch

dinner- the remaining chicken burgers with spicy couscous

Friday

lunch- school lunch

dinner - pork curry with rice

Saturday

lunch-  Deliveroo or McDonald's (kids' choice)

dinner- chicken pita with salad

Sunday

lunch- sweet & sour chicken and rice

dinner - bacon sandwiches

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

Wednesday, 16 October 2024

Degustabox October 2024 review


This week the postie dropped off this month's Degustabox. Temperatures have been dropping lately so I was hoping for some winter warmers and decadent sweet treats to eat while tucked up under a blanket on the settee. Did it deliver? Read on and find out !
 

Nestlé Carnation Condensed Milk (RRP £2.39) is made with just two ingredients : fresh whole milk and natural sugar. It can be used in a whole host of sweet recipes, including fudge, cupcakes, cheesecake bites, Millionaire's Shortbread, truffles, chocolate chip cookies (check out the Carnation website for more ideas), or you could follow my mum's example and just dollop a spoonful in a cup of tea ! It makes the most decadent sweet treats that you could wish for. Available in all major supermarket chains.

Chewits Fruity Jewels (RRP £1.30) are a new type of sweets from the popular chewy sweets manufacturer that we love. They are supposed to be low in sugar and high in taste but 4 sweets provides 77 calories, with 100g providing 306 calories, so you might want to watch how many you eat. They do taste lovely though and we love the fruity flavours. Available at Tesco, Morrisons, The Range and Aldi.


Knorr White Wine Stock Pots (RRP £1.90) are a great hack for adding a deep, rich flavour to your meals if you don't have a bottle of wine in your kitchen cupboard. Each pot is enriched with half a glass of full-bodied white wine, so they are perfect for perking up risottos, creamy chicken casseroles and stews. They're very handy to have in the cupboard if you don't regularly buy wine. Available in major supermarkets.


Márdel Alfajor de Dulce de Leche (RRP 2 x £1.50) are a sweet treat that are an iconic product of Argentina, now available worldwide. They are made of two soft cookies filled with Márdel dulce de leche (milk caramel) and covered with either a white or dark chocolate coating. They are very tasty and the kids loved the fact that these are described as a breakfast option, as well as a snack or a dessert. Available in international Latin shops.

 

Barilla Pesto Genovese (RRP £3.35) is this month's Product of the Month. It is made with 100% Italian fresh basil leaves from sustainable agriculture and Parmigiano Reggiano PDO. To best preserve the aroma, colour and original taste, all the ingredients are mixed cold and put in the jar in less than three hours. All you need to do is dollop some on freshly cooked pasta and stir it through for a tasty, creamy dinner that is as quick as it is simple to prepare. It's more expensive than supermarket own brands but the difference is in the flavour and the richness of the sauce. Available on Ocado, Amazon, Co-op and Morrisons (selected stores).

Brioche Pasquier Pancakes (RRP £2.20) are great as an indulgent snack, breakfast, brunch or lunch option. They can be eaten cold but we love them gently heated in the microwave. They can be topped with jam, cream, chocolate spread, marshmallow fluff or maple syrup and fresh fruit, if you fancy going American. They are wrapped up in packets of two which makes them ideal as a snack on the go or breakfast on the way to school when you are running late ! Available at Morrisons and Co-op.

 

Proper Corn Smoky & Sweet Paprika Popcorn (RRP £1.90) is one of a new range of savoury Propercorn flavours (other Degustaboxers got Tangy Chilli or Cracked Black Pepper flavours). The bold flavour comes from natural seasoning and we found it very satisfying. The butterfly popcorn is naturally high in fibre and, as a wholegrain, a source of magnesium and zinc. That all makes it a pretty healthy snack option. Available at Waitrose, Ocado and Sainsbury's.

Three Robins Little Smoothie (RRP £1.89) are a new range of smoothies, made with oat milk, real fruit and hidden veg in a handy resealable pouch. They are low in sugar and fortified with extra vitamins and minerals, so they are perfect as a healthy dessert or snack on the go. They are available in two flavours, Super Berry or Truly Tropical. Available to order on the Three Robins website.


SlooOW Rustic Multigrain Baguette (RRP £1.60) is an organic and 100% natural bread, rolled in grains, seeds and kernels. Baked to a traditional recipe and prepared with sourdough, it is perfect for a sandwich, with soup or alongside a BBQ. We smothered ours in garlic butter and grilled it to create a delicious, chewy garlic bread. Yum ! Available at Tesco and Hello Fresh.


Leaving the hardest to spell for last, Tarczynski Kabanos Extreme Piri-Piri (RRP £2.30) is a Polish dry sausage that is great as a savoury snack. As a high-protein option, I kindly passed this over to Pierre and he loved the spicy flavour. He wants to look out for these again, maybe in a slightly milder flavour option. Available in the world food aisle of most major supermarkets.

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, 13 October 2024

What's Cooking At The Madhouse ? menu plan week 42


Into the final week before the holidays. I can't believe how quickly it's come around ! On Monday, Pierre has his little ceremony at his old school to receive his exam certificate so we're both invited to that. Nothing else major on the cards. We went and picked up some Too Good To Go bags last night from a baker's, a coffee shop and a supermarket, so we're overrun now with baguettes, pains au chocolat and cooking chorizo ! The girls are home for the weekend so they can take some back with them when they go back to their student flat. Here's what's on this week's menu plan.

Monday

lunch- school lunch 

dinner - chorizo and bean stew

Tuesday

lunch- fish, rice and ratatouille

dinner- beef bourguignon with potatoes  (time to break out the slow cooker !)

Wednesday

lunch- fridge-diving for me - time to use up the leftovers

dinner- sausages, mash and beans

Thursday

lunch- school lunch

dinner- pasta with chilli mince sauce

Friday

lunch- school lunch

dinner - cheese and ham pies with mash and green beans

Saturday

lunch-  pork chops, pasta, peas and carrots


Sunday

lunch- pasta carbonara

dinner - chicken burgers, couscous and tomato sauce

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

Wednesday, 9 October 2024

BerryWorld partners with CoppaFeel! to raise awareness of breast cancer

I wanted to share the news of this fun and informative charity campaign. I love the fact that it focuses on the younger generation as, as a parent of two kids in this age group, I know it's not one of the things I've focused on when talking to my daughters. This should make it easier to get the message out there !

********************************************


BerryWorld have partnered with CoppaFeel! for Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) this October to launch a limited-edition BOOBERRIES™ blueberry pack, where 10p per pack goes to support CoppaFeel! CoppaFeel! is the UK’s only youth focused breast cancer awareness charity, and they’re on a mission to get every 18-24 year old checking their chest. 

 1 in 7 women in the UK develop breast cancer during their lifetime. In the UK there are around 56,400 women and 390 men diagnosed with breast cancer each year.

 If breast cancer is diagnosed early, it can be treated successfully. That is why we want to tell you about breast cancer, and encourage you to check your chest every month. 

 BerryWorld Group’s Marketing and Communications Director, Charlotte Knowles first came across CoppaFeel! back in Summer 2023; initial enquiries quickly turned into exciting concept conversations and in 2024, a partnership was signed ready for BCAM. 


 The bold, winter marketing campaign has been brought to life in-house through the creation of a limited-edition BOOBERRIES™ pack; the packaging is 100% recyclable using FSC accredited paper and had been successfully trialled over the summer. 

 Exclusively available at Ocado Retail, the delicious BOOBERRIES™ limited-edition blueberry packs will be stocked throughout October and November. 

 BerryWorld and Ocado will donate a total of 10p per pack to support CoppaFeel!’s mission to ensure all breast cancers in young people are diagnosed early and accurately. A broader digital, print and out-of-home advertising campaign encouraging shoppers to “Check Out Your BOOBERRIES™” will also help bring the message to life over the next two months. Whilst the BerryWorld and Ocado Retail teams will be hosting internal ‘Brek & Check’ sessions to introduce the partnership to employees and educate their teams on the importance of self-checking, all whilst enjoying a healthy, blueberry-themed breakfast. 



 Charlotte Knowles, Marketing & Communications Director at BerryWorld said: "We're thrilled to team up with CoppaFeel! this October. BerryWorld BOOBERRIES™ and CoppaFeel!'s mission go hand in hand. This bold and bright campaign with Ocado Retail has given us the opportunity to use our brand for good, raising awareness of self-checking and breast cancer more widely. Together with CoppaFeel! we’re bursting with berry goodness®, all whilst bringing a splash of colour and British humour to UK shoppers." 

 Amber Hodge, Head of Partnerships at CoppaFeel! continued: "We're so grateful to be supported by BerryWorld this Breast Cancer Awareness Month, with their delicious BOOBERRIES™! Not only does BerryWorld's campaign raise vital awareness of our chest checking message, but the funds raised from each blueberry pack mean that we can reach even more young people to educate, encourage and empower them to check their chest monthly - which we know can save lives." 

 Martha Springham, Produce Trading Manager for Ocado Retail said that: “We are delighted to have partnered with BerryWorld and CoppaFeel! to raise awareness of breast cancer among the youngest generations. The paper topped limited edition BOOBERRIES™ pack, available at Ocado Retail, not only supports CoppaFeel!’s mission with an on-pack donation but is also a kinder packaging solution to the planet, with a 100% recyclable punnet which maximises fruit quality and product protection, whilst maintaining a low carbon footprint.”


 Look out for BerryWorld’s special limited-edition paper topped pink packs on Ocado Retail: https://www.ocado.com/products/berryworld-blueberries-298699011 

 Meet the BerryWorld team who’ve ‘gone pink’ for BCAM at Fruit Attraction, Hall 9, Stand 9F04

 Find out more about the campaign at: https://www.berryworld.com/en-gb/news/booberries 

 To find out more about CoppaFeel! check out: CoppaFeel! | Check Your Chest | Breast Cancer Awareness Charity

Book review : Too Close For Comfort - Mike Martin

 

With the temperatures dropping outside, along with bone-chilling winds and constant drizzly rain leaving you feeling damp and dejected all day long, it was the perfect time to get my hands on the latest Sgt. Windflower mystery. Reading the stories of the permanently good-natured Mountie and his friends and family, it feels like the literary version of a soft blanket around the shoulders and a decadent mug of hot chocolate, topped with gooey marshmallows and cinnamon, to warm the cockles of your heart. His wife, Sheila, keeps busy looking after their home and providing Winston with delectable food, his fun-loving daughters Stella and Amelia Louise enjoy their new hobbies in their figure skating and dance classes, Dr Sanjay invites the family over for whisky tasting and an Indian feast, Eddie Tizzard is wrapped up in a bubble of domestic bliss with his wife Carrie and young children, ...


Despite the happy times and well-adjusted households, all is not well in Grand Bank though. A string of  unexplained fires have been damaging some of the local properties and the finger of suspicion points in an unexpected direction. Worse still, a dead body is discovered in one of the ruined houses. Windflower cannot resist digging into every nook and cranny and ends up making a surprising discovery : traces of gold, presumably linked to a major gold heist on the mainland. With major criminals suddenly thrown into the mix, things take a turn for the worse, especially when Windflower receives a message from beyond, warning him that his friend and colleague Eddie Tizzard may find himself in danger. If only Eddie would believe the warnings from his good-hearted friend.


As always, the novel offers the perfect balance of dangerous and exciting work business and a happy and carefree home life. Windflower knows how to maintain the perfect equilibrium, working hard to keep everyone happy at home ad beyond.


star rating : 4.5/5


RRP : $24.95 CAD


Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ottawa Press and Publishing Mystery (1 Oct. 2024) 

Language ‏ : ‎ English 

Paperback ‏ : ‎ 430 pages 

ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1990896227 

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1990896224 

Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.24 x 2.74 x 22.86 cm


Available on amazon


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

Sunday, 6 October 2024

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


Another week done and dusted. We've all settled into our routine now and are gaily counting down the weeks to the next holiday. Only a few weeks to go. It doesn't seem more rhan five minutes since we went back to school after the summer ! One of the biggest perks of being a teacher. Here's what we're planning to eat this week. I have lots of simple bookmarked recipes to try this week so it's a week of globecooking on the cards.

Monday

lunch- school lunch 

dinner - Tavuk sote (Turkish chicken sauté) with couscous

Tuesday

lunch- sausages, mash and beans


Wednesday

lunch- fridge-diving for me

dinner- Greek pastitsio (like lasagne)

Thursday

lunch- school lunch

dinner- crispy shredded chicken with noodles

Friday

lunch- school lunch

dinner chicken burgers, pasta and ratatouille

Saturday

lunch-  fish, rice and green beans

dinner- pasta carbonara

Sunday

lunch- roast chicken, roast potatoes, carrots, gravy

dinner - cheese on toast or soup

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

Sunday, 29 September 2024

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


Last week wasn't too bad weather wise in the end. It poured hard on Friday when I was on the way to work but we didn't get the full week of rain that they were predicting. It's got decidedly colder though and the heating has come on which is nice in the mornings. Pierre has just bought a new coat for the winter so it must be cooling down as I've been nagging him about it for months ! Last week was a busy week at work with the school cross country competition taking up my Wednesday morning off and a school open day after work on Friday. This week will seem calmer by comparison. Here's what we're eating this week. Pierre loved the steak so I think I'll defrost another pack of that.

Monday

lunch- school lunch 

dinner - creamy pork with rice and green beans

Tuesday

lunch- beef tacos (to use up the leftover taco shells from last week)

dinner- tomatoey meatball & chickpea couscous

Wednesday

lunch- leftovers

dinner- battered fish, rice, carrots and peas

Thursday

lunch- school lunch

dinner- steak, baked potatoes and carrots

Friday

lunch- school lunch

dinner spicy chicken pasta

Saturday

lunch- the rest of the meatballs with pasta and tomato sauce

dinner- marry me chicken with mash

Sunday


dinner - leftovers or soup

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

Wednesday, 25 September 2024

Cookery book review : Potato Total - Stefan Ekengren


When you need a quick meal and the cupboards and fridge are pretty much bare, if you stumble across a bag of potatoes, things instantly start looking up. The choices are almost limitless - boiled, mashed, roast, made into chips or wedges, sautéed, baked, ... You could get a bit more adventurous and knock up a cottage pie, potato fritters, loaded potatoes, fish pie, ... The book does start with these very basic ideas, giving you instructions on making simple side dishes like mashed potatoes, boiled potatoes or chips. A quick flick through the pages may give you the initial impression that it is too simple and way below your level of cooking. Don't give up though, it's definitely worth a closer look. 

Chef Stefan Ekengren starts off with an in-depth look at his experience cooking potatoes, leading into a detailed run-through of the various varieties of potato that he likes the most and how they can best be used. It was interesting to read about how some potatoes are floury while others are waxy, but sadly the more in-depth look at some of the 5,000 varieties available ended up largely useless as he focuses on those available to him in Sweden. I'd never even heard of Folva, Snöball or Rättviks röd, let alone seen them on the shelves of the local supermarket.

His Nordic roots come into their own later in the book when he starts sharing recipes though. I'd never even heard of many of the family-friendly, fairly simple dishes that he explains but they really appeal to me. Lobscouse, which looks better than it sounds - a child-friendly mix of mashed potatoes and beef that I will be trying very soon. Löksälta, a very simple but delightful-sounding dish to share with the family. Pitepalt, or meat-filled dumplings. Pickled potatoes - gherkins, onions, even eggs, but potatoes? The idea had never even crossed my mind. Definitely all things that I would like to try.

Other dishes take us out of his Scandinavian homeland and further afield. Papas arragadas from the Canary Islands, potato focaccia from Puglia, Finnish potato casserole, tortilla vaga from Spain, ... So many things to try and you won't even need to use your passport !

Yet more dishes speak to my soul, leaving me wondering why I'd never thought of them. Pressed potatoes, a cheeky twist on roast potatoes that look and sound too good to ignore. Delicate potato roses that look magnificent but sound totally achievable. Salmon pudding, evocative of a delicate potato and fish sandwich that I'm sure the kids would love. 

Even as someone who has been eating and cooking with potatoes since my earliest years, the 90-odd recipes in this book had me looking at potatoes in new ways, excited and intrigued about trying this store-cupboard basic in original and totally unimagined ways. With the cost-of-living crisis still biting hard, it's fabulous to find a book of recipes that uses basically everything you already have in the fridge or the cupboards. On the front cover of the book, it says "Timeless Recipes for Every Home Cook". Whatever your level of cooking skills and whoever you are cooking for, I think that's perfectly true.


star rating : 4.5/5


Editor: by Stefan Ekengren 

Features: Full colour, hardcover, stitch bound, 192 pages

 Format: 18 × 24 cm, 7 x 9 ½ inches 

Price: € 35 (D) £ 30 $ 50 (US) 

ISBN: 978-3-96704-164-4 

@gestalten #gestaltenbooks


Also available on amazon here.


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

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