Degustabox May 2023 review : BBQ and Garden Party

 

Temperatures have been rising over the last couple of weeks and the sun has been putting in an appearance on a fairly regular basis, so there's no doubt about it - summer is definitely on the way ! That ties in perfectly with the theme of the latest Degustabox : BBQ and Garden Party. Quick, get the parasol out and pass the sun cream !

 

The first item that we plucked out of the box was Maggi Malaysian Chilli Sauce (RRP £2.15). Made from fresh Malaysian chillies, the sauce adds a real kick to your food but also an undercurrent of sweetness which helps to tone down the spiciness. Great for adding to a dish of noodles or a chicken stir fry to give it a twist of Asian flavour.

Rubicon Sparkling Passion Fruit (RRP £1) is a refreshing, fruity drink perfect for quenching your thirst in the summer sunshine. The intense flavour blends notes of freshness and tartness and brings in a tropical, exotic flavour that gives you the idea that you're lying on a hammock strung between two palm trees on a faraway island without moving from your back garden.

Rubicon Sparkling Rose Lemonade (RRP £1) is another tongue-tingling flavour that combines zesty lemon with sweet floral rose extract. For me, it is reminiscent of our travels to Morocco and once again, allows you to mentally escape your real life surroundings for a mental trip somewhere exotic.

Mentos Fanta Orange Flavour (RRP £1.50) offer four packs of chewy dragees to give your jaw a workout. We love Mentos and regularly buy their mixed fruit version, but we really enjoyed the Fanta variety too. The zesty orange flavour is delicious and we love the soft and chewy texture of the sweets. Right from the first bite through the slightly firm outside coating, we were hooked. These are a great sweet choice for the summer as they avoid chocolate and won't melt in the heat - perfect if you're travelling.

 

Hellmann's BBQ Sauce (RRP £2) is a rich and smoky condiment that can be used on the side of the plate, as a dip for chips or vegetable sticks or even as a marinade for meat that is about to go on the barbecue. It's perfect with chicken, steak, burgers, sausages or just squeezed over rice or mashed potatoes to add a real smoky kick. We've tried it drizzled over cheese on toast before putting it under the grill which we loved too. It's definitely become a summer essential in our house.

Highball Cocktails Italian Spritz (RRP £1.99) brings all the flavours of the well-known Aperol Spritz minus the alcohol content. Italian bitters and luscious orange flavours deliver the same bitter-sweet flavours of the original with sophistication and style but minus the hangover. Great for drivers or anyone else who wants to sip on something grown-up without any alcohol in it. Available on highballcocktails.com, amazon, Not On The High Street, Yumbles and independent shops.

Slooow Stone Oven White Baguette (RRP £1.60) is this month's Product of the Month and is an organic wheat baguette that is partially baked, waiting to be finished off in your own oven before serving. The ingredients are 100% natural and the most important one is time, as the bread is given 24 hours to rise and become the best and tastiest bread possible. The crispy crust and soft inside are delicious, whether served with a savoury or a sweet filling. Available at Tesco and Co-op.

Flava It ! Marinade Seasonings (RRP 2 x £1.10) have been loved and trusted for over 25 years, but this was my first introduction to them. We got Classic Piri Piri and Smoky BBQ which were both great for adding a rich, deep flavour to meat and vegetables. As the pack explains, there is no fuss as you just have to sprinkle over the seasoning then cook the ingredients. Other flavours available are Garlic & Herb, Garden Mint and Chinese Style so you can add lots of new flavours to your weekday meals with no effort.

Clif Bar Minis (RRP 3 x £1.19) are delicious mini versions of the famous snack bar. We got three varieties - Crunchy Peanut Butter, White Chocolate Macadamia Nut and Chocolate Chip - which were all delicious but I have to admit that my personal favourite is the White Chocolate and Macadamia Nut one. Each bar contains 4g of plant protein, so Pierre loves them even more for this reason. Available at Tesco, sports retailers and on amazon.

 

Hippeas Chickpea Puff Snacks (RRP £1) are a product that we have enjoyed multiple times in previous Degustaboxes. These ones offer Salt & Vinegar Vibes which have a delicious tangy flavour. The light, crunchy texture is very tasty and reminds me of Cheesy Wotsits. Hippeas are totally vegan, gluten-free, high in fibre, preservative free and each 22g bag contains less than 92 calories.  

Olly's Salted Original Pretzel Thins (RRP £1.20) are another delicious snack option. They are oven-baked, light and crispy and each pack provides 120 calories so they are lower in fat and calories than both crisps and popcorn. They are also vegan friendly so everyone can enjoy them. Available at Waitrose, ASDA, Ocado, amazon and Olly's Shop.

Jordans Raisin & Almond Crunchy Oat Granola (RRP £3.60) is a delicious breakfast option that is just as good at snack time, either in a bowl with milk or baked into chewy squares. Other Degustaboxers got Tropical Fruits Crunchy Oat Granola or Simply Granola. The combination of crunchy granola clusters and sweet, soft, juicy fruit is guaranteed to provide a delicious bowlful every time.

 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 :

http://bit.ly/DBhomepage - website

http://bit.ly/DBUKfacebook - Facebook

http://bit.ly/DBUKTwitter - twitter

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.

What's Cooking At The Madhouse ? menu plan week 21

Monday is another bank holiday so it's a chilled-out week again, but this is the last one until the autumn. There's only just over a month of school left though so the holidays will soon be upon us - can't wait ! 

Monday

lunch- sausages, rice and ratatouille

dinner - filet mignon (pork) with cream/mushrooms and pasta

Tuesday

lunch- canteen for me, fridge grazing for the kids

dinner- Monterey chicken with rice and coleslaw

Wednesday

lunch- leftovers or baked potatoes (cheese, bacon, onion, mushrooms, beans)

dinner- Honey garlic chicken (or probably pork) with noodles

Thursday

lunch -  lunch with friends for me, fridge grazing for the kids

dinner- chicken lazone with rice

Friday

lunch-  canteen for me, fridge grazing for the kids

dinner - pasta carbonara

Saturday

lunch- chicken burgers & chips

dinner- meatballs & pasta

Sunday

lunch- roast dinner

dinner- leftovers or cheese on toast

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

What's Cooking At The Madhouse ? menu plan week 20

Last week was basically a holiday as I only had work on Monday and Tuesday so it was great to have some time to chill out and work on sorting out the house and patio. Along with Juliette, we bought some bulbs and seeds and planted them all, emptying out the dead and empty plant pots and cutting back loads of weeds. It's not finished but it looks a lot better. We're looking forward to eating some homegrown tomatoes, salad, peas and beans later in the year and making the most of some brightly coloured flowers ... if the pigeons stop coming down and eating the seeds out of the pots ! We also put a lot of picture frames back up in the passage, which looks much better than the bare walls that have been there since we repainted it all. It's all babysteps but it's starting to get things back under control. In terms of food, I want to start trying out some new recipes again so I need to dig back into my recipe books over the coming weeks. Here's what we're eating this week.

Monday

lunch- canteen for me, fridge diving for those at home

dinner - chicken fajitas

Tuesday

lunch- canteen for me, fridge grazing for the kids

dinner- chicken burgers with chips and coleslaw

Wednesday

lunch- pasta carbonara

dinner- pork chops, rice and veggie croquettes

Thursday

lunch -  lunch with friends for me, fridge grazing for the kids

dinner- American BBQ chicken with pasta & sweetcorn

Friday

lunch-  canteen for me, fridge grazing for the kids

dinner - beef & onion pie, baby potatoes & carrots

Saturday

lunch- Deliveroo probably, if the kids get their way

dinner- cheese & ham omelettes with salad

Sunday

lunch- roast dinner

dinner- homemade pizzas

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

Book review : The Brink - Jamie Fewery

The Brink is being promoted as an addictive love story told in reverse. It kicks of with the main characters, Dan and Anya Moorcroft, heading into a legal discussion to sort out their divorce. Surrounded by lawyers and paperwork, they start out on a painful journey through couples' mediation, looking at the high and low points of their marriage in order to find an itinerary towards the future.

The couple have two young children and many of the mediator's questions lead to both of them opening up about specific key moments throughout their marriage, leading to poignant and emotion-filled personal stories. There are the light-hearted and happy looks back at their first dates, worrying times that problems came up with the kids and circumstances that threw their happily-made life plans off track. For example, just as the young couple were excitedly planning a new life in the exciting city of New York, Dan's friend/boss/landlord unexpectedly died in an accident and left his house and music shop to Dan, making the trip Stateside an impossibility as they struggled to get everything under control. The trip to America was what had prompted Dan to propose to Anya, to make it possible for him to accompany her without a job set up, but even as their life was thrown off course, they seemed able to create a new happy life journey together.

Obviously, if divorce is on the cards, it wasn't all happy times though and both of the spouses strayed from the nest, embarking on affairs that stoked up a whole host of negative emotions that it was hard to work through. The couple want to stay friends though and are trying to work things out fairly, until Anya suddenly announces out of the blue that she plans on taking the kids back to Ireland, so that she can be closer to her dying dad, and things suddenly get more complicated.

Working through the old stories of times past leads to some emotional rekindling of long lost feelings, but is that really enough to give their marriage one last chance or is it too little too late? Working through to the end of the mediation is the only way that they will find out.

Prepare for an emotional trip as you watch this couple retell the story of their life together, looking at the bad times and the good. It's impossible to tell how things will turn out until the very end and even then, we have no idea if they have made the right decision or not.

star rating : 4.5/5

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Legend Press (4 May 2023)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1915643872
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1915643872

RRP : £8.99

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

Book review : Cuckoo In The Nest - Fran Hill

 

Just one look at the colours swirling around on the front cover of the book was enough to take me back to my 1970's childhood. I'm actually about a decade younger than the central character, a 14-year-old girl going through her troubled teens, but even so, I could recognise the meals, the music and the family pastimes from my own childhood. The seventies was a long time ago but it is a great book for bringing up old memories of what now seems like such a simple lifetime.

Things are not quite so simple for Jackie Chadwick though, the lead character. Since her mother died of cancer several years before, her father has gone off the rails. He's lost his job as a fireman and fallen into a hopeless life as an alcoholic, leaving Jackie to keep the family going by providing food however she can and avoiding her father's belligerent attacks. A broken wrist leads her to reveal details of her unsatisfactory home life which makes Social Services step in and whisk her away to a foster family, the Walls.

Uncle Nick, a supply teacher, and Bridget (who Jackie can't manage to call Auntie Bridget), along with their daughter Amanda, also fourteen like Jackie, make up her new family, along with the dog, a dalmatian called Spotless. While things seem pretty perfect for a while, cracks start appearing in the surface of the family unit, but Jackie, supported by her social workers, seems ready to accept that life and families (or foster families) don't need to be 100% perfect for everything to turn out ok.

Despite some of the darker moments in the story, it's ultimately a positive, uplifting book, showing how life can get better and people can find their happy ending however much of a bad start in life they were dealt. The book is based on author Fran Hill's own experiences of being fostered in the 1970's, which is probably why it seems so historically and personally precise and believable. For me, it was an enjoyable step back in time.

star rating : 4.5/5

RRP : £8.99

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Legend Press (26 April 2023)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1915643910
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1915643919

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

What's Cooking At The Madhouse ? menu plan week 19

Last week was fairly chilled out as Monday was a bank holiday. This week is the same again - Monday is a bank holiday again and on Tuesday, I'm on a training day so add in my Wednesday day off and it's a pretty calm week this week too ! I love the month of May as it's stuffed with bank holidays and bonus days off then once that's all over, we're into the final weeks of the summer term. I can almost smell the sun cream already ! But let's not get ahead of ourselves ! Here's what we'll be eating this week.

Monday

lunch- chicken burgers, rice and beans

dinner - cottage pie

Tuesday

lunch- canteen for me, fridge grazing for the kids

dinner- chicken fajitas

Wednesday

lunch- pasta carbonara

dinner- pork casserole, mash & veg

Thursday

lunch -  lunch with friends for me, fridge grazing for the kids

dinner- sausages, baked potatoes and beans

Friday

lunch-  canteen for me, fridge grazing for the kids

dinner - steak in ale pie, roast potatoes & carrots

Saturday

lunch- Deliveroo probably, if the kids get their way

dinner- pasta bolognese

Sunday

lunch- roast dinner

dinner- big chicken vol-au-vents with rice and salad

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

What's Cooking At The Madhouse ? menu plan week 18

Last week, we had a lovely time catching up with my parents and sister in Hastings so it was even better having a bonus bank holiday today to keep the holiday vibe going a little longer. I can't believe we're into May now. The summer is just around the corner - I'm looking forward to the warmer weather and the big long holiday, plus I've just booked a fortnight in Spain/Portugal which is exciting, but I'm hoping my hayfever doesn't kick off this year. In terms of food, I filled the fridge when I went shopping on Saturday so here's what's on the cards this week.

Monday

lunch- steak, rice and grilled tomatoes

dinner - chicken stir fry with noodles and loads of veg (baby corn, mange tout, carrots, mushrooms, onions, peppers, tenderstem broccoli ...)

Tuesday

lunch- canteen for me, fridge grazing for the kids

dinner- cottage pie

Wednesday

lunch- leftovers

dinner- Mexican pork chops with baked potatoes & veg

Thursday

lunch -  lunch with friends for me, fridge grazing for the kids

dinner- filet mignon with roast potatoes & veg

Friday

lunch-  canteen for me, fridge grazing for the kids

dinner - pasta bolognese

Saturday

lunch- sausages, mash & baked beans

dinner- Deliveroo

Sunday

lunch- roast chicken, roast potatoes, veg & gravy

dinner- pasta carbonara

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

Degustabox April 2023 review : All Around The World

I don't know if it's due to the Easter holiday putting a spring in my step or if the seasons have truly shifted from winter to spring, but as I glance out of my window, I can see sunshine, a blue sky dotted with fluffy clouds, birds chirping away in the hedges and splashes of colour in the garden from the bluebells and daffodils putting in an appearance. Bring it on, I say ! I'm ready to start spending more time outside and putting aside my thick winter jumpers in favour of some lighter and brighter floaty tops and blouses. Even my foodie choices are changing, moving away from casseroles and winter warmers towards salads, sandwiches and lighter options. When the postie dropped off this month's Degustabox, I was pleased to see that the contents fit in nicely with this warmer weather plan. Here's what was hiding in the All Around The World box.

Chupa Chups Mini Bag (RRP £1.86) offers the favourite flavours of this well-known and well-loved brand - if you're wondering, that's Cola, Strawberry, Orange and Apple - in half-sized lollipops. Just enough for a reasonable sized sweet treat (or, if the Madhouse kids are anything to go by, they'll just eat two lollipops one after the other to double up the flavours !) They contain vitamin C and use natural flavourings. They also use paper sticks which are better for the environment than the plastic sticks. Very tasty. Available at ASDA, Home Bargains, WHSmiths and on Ocado.

 

Double Dutch Cranberry & Ginger Tonic Water (RRP 90p) is a tangy, complex and spicy mixer that is perfect for accompanying dark spirits. (Other subscribers got Double Dutch Ginger Beer.) It can also be used to add a kick of heat to orange juice or non-alcoholic cocktail options. Available at Waitrose, Tesco, Ocado and Amazon.

Punchy Cucumber, Yuzu & Rosemary (RRP £1.60) is one of a range of low calorie, all-natural soft drinks, blended with decadent ingredients and bursting with flavour. (Other subscribers received Blood Orange, Bitters & Cardamom or Peach, Ginger & Chai.) It makes a nice change to the usual soft drink flavours and offers a real taste of summer. It is lightly sparkling and very refreshing. As an added bonus, each can contains 50% of your vitamin D requirements. Available at WHSmiths, Planet Organic, Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason, Clean Kitchen, Ole & Steen, Ocado, Amazon and online at Punchydrinks.com.

Mission Mini Wraps (RRP 2 x £1.20), in both Original and Wheat & White, are perfect for kid-sized packed lunches or grown-up snacks. They can be filled with hot or cold fillings, with everything from ham or chicken and salad to taco filling. The soft wraps taste lovely whether hot or cold. We enjoyed ours with leftover chilli con carne and the kids finished them off with cream cheese and cucumber. Available in ASDA, Tesco and Sainsbury's.

 

Idahoan Cheddar Cheese Flavoured Perfect Mash (RRP £1.65) is a quick and simple accompaniment that can be knocked up in one minute so it's perfect when you have hungry bellies to fill in a rush ! Milk, butter and seasoning is already included so you just need to boil the kettle and add water. It has a lovely soft, smooth texture and the taste is lovely too. Available in ASDA, Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsburys, Waitrose, Coop, Spar, Ocado and Amazon.

Kellogg's Coco Pops Chocos (RRP £3.29) are a new addition to the Coco Pops range, offering the same chocolatey flavour in a new curved, crunchy shell shape. Delicious in a bowl with milk or just by the handful straight from the box, according to the Madhouse kids ! They can also be made into tasty fridge cakes, stirred into melted chocolate then chilled, if you want a simple "baking" project to make with the kids.

Maggi So Juicy Butter Chicken and Sweet Chilli Halloumi (RRP 2 x 99p) are simple sachets to keep in the cupboard for when you need dinner in a hurry and are lacking in inspiration ! Alongside the seasoning, you get a cooking bag to dump the ingredients in for a simple but tasty meal. With enough seasoning for four people, these are perfect for introducing new flavours to the dinner table with minimum stress.

 

Serious Pig Crunchy Snacking Cheese (RRP £1.60) is made from mature Italian Quattrocento cheese (very similar to parmesan) which is crumbled and baked in a special high temperature oven. The result is unique and offers a snack made from 100% cheese. We got the Truffle variety, while other subscribers got Caramelized Onion. I've never heard of these before but they are lovely. Made from just cheese, they are high in protein and carb-free, as well as keto and gluten-free. They have a crunchy, light, bubbly texture and aren't at all greasy, as I expected. They have a rich flavour of mature cheese and are very moreish. Available at Sainsbury's, on amazon and the Serious Pig website.

Yogi Tea Stomach Ease (RRP £2.75) is one of a range of organic and ayurvedic teas from Yogi Tea. Adding to the benefits of drinking the tea, each tea tag offers words of yogic wisdom and the yoga exercises explained on the pack offer another moment of mindfulness. The Stomach Ease variety contains cardamom, fennel and ginger and is described as spicy, sweet and easy on the stomach. 

Finally, this month's Product of the Month, Plantastic Protein Boost (RRP 2 x £1.15) are great as a quick lunch or after-school snack for the kids. Whether you opt for Satay Noodles with Sweet Red Pepper or Cajun Rice with Tomato & Pepper, just add boiling water and wait for 15 minutes. They're so tasty, you'll totally forget that they are a veggie option (which is pretty good going for Pierre !). I was actually surprised at how good these taste so they're well worth a try.  Available at Tesco.

 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 :

http://bit.ly/DBhomepage - website

http://bit.ly/DBUKfacebook - Facebook

http://bit.ly/DBUKTwitter - twitter

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.

Cheers ! ISH non-alcoholic drinks for nights out without the hangover ! (review)

Whatever your reasons - whether you're pregnant or breastfeeding, on medication, volunteered as the designated driver for the night or just trying to cut back on your alcohol intake - giving up alcohol is often a decision that is taken with a certain degree of frustration. You can of course opt for fruit juice or coke, but they can be pretty uninspiring when you're watching all your friends drinking exciting cocktails and delicious alcoholic drinks. Well, if you're in this situation, I have some exciting news for you ... Danish non-alcoholic drinks brand ISH have returned to the UK market with a whole line up of alcohol-free wines, spirits and pre-mixed cocktails. We received a selection to try out and have been putting them through their paces.

 

First up, Non-alcoholic Mojito. The can says : "Non-alcoholic cocktail with ISH Caribbean spiced spirit, mint and lime. It's like a fresh Caribbean breeze for your mouth." Both Pierre and Sophie love mojitos - Pierre the non-alcoholic version and Sophie the regular alcoholic one - since discovering them on our holiday to the Dominican Republic last year, so they were both excited to try this one out. The Caribbean spiced spirit adds a subtle note of rum flavour which they both loved and Sophie even checked the can because she was sure it couldn't be alcohol-free ! This can be enjoyed straight from the can after chilling it in the fridge, or you can go the whole hog and serve it in a glass with fresh lime and mint. Totally del-ISH -ous !

Next we tried Non-alcoholic Spritz. ISH say : "Balanced bitterness and fresh citrus is what makes a good Italian Spritz. This is also what you can expect from our non-alcoholic Spritz. French gentian root and quassia bark add bitterness while Italian mandarins, orange and lemon provide the tangy freshness." I have tried an alcoholic version of Spritz in a bar and this alcohol-free version certainly offers the same flavours, with zesty fruity flavours backed up with a pleasant bitterness. This can be enjoyed straight from the can or served in a glass with a slice of orange.

De-alcoholized Sparkling Rosé from Château del ISH offers a "pale salmon colour [that] hints at the plum, strawberry, and raspberry flavours derived from our blend of Merlot and Pinot Noir grapes. Moderate acidity and medium flavour intensity give you that classic rosé experience." It has a soft pink colour and a light prickly carbonation that really help you get the feeling you are drinking regular wine. It's perfect if you want to enjoy a glass on a girlie night out with friends without feeling left out.

GinISH & tonic really does deliver the taste of a regular G&T. "To create ISH G&T, our non-alcoholic Gin & Tonic, we source our botanicals such as sun-dried juniper berries from Southern Europe and coriander seeds mainly from Provence, France. They come together with a fresh citrus symphony consisting of lemon, lime, mandarin and bitter orange." It is a complex flavour that can be further enhanced by serving it dressed up in a glass with fresh rosemary, cracked black pepper and dried juniper berries. Or just go for the simple option and serve it straight from the fridge in a can, even spiking it with a dash of full strength gin, for a lower-alcohol cocktail option.

Non-alcoholic Lime Daiquiri Premixed Cocktail is an attempt to "to honour the original Daiquiri, a timeless classic cocktail that dates back to 1898 in the eponymous mining town of Daiquiri on the south-eastern tip of Cuba. The taste of dark Rum is balanced with the sour limes, mainly sourced from Mexico and raw sugar. Simple, delicious and alcohol-free." Once again, I had the impression that I was drinking a regular Daiquiri cocktail, with the sharpness of the limes mellowed by the sugar providing a delicious and satisfying drink. I'd definitely drink this again. According to ISH, the Daiquiri is typically a short drink, so each can contains two servings, perfect for sharing with a friend.

Finally, Alcohol-removed Light Sparkling Blanc de Blancs from Château del ISH is a refreshing, tasty drink that can be enjoyed with a meal or on its own. ISH say : "With a honey-forward nose and notes of citrus, green apple, pear, and peach, our [...] blend of Pinot Blanc and Silvaner grapes delivers an initial sweetness that transforms on the palate to a wonderful, refreshing acidity." It offers the same flavours and slight acidity of normal wine and is very pleasant.

I was very impressed with all of the drinks, especially as they have managed to encapsulate the distinct flavours of the original cocktails and wines. You really don't feel like you are giving anything up by opting for the alcohol-free versions, so I would definitely keep some of these in the cupboard for times you want a drink without the headaches or alcohol content.

for more information : https://ishspirits.com/

Disclosure : I received the products in order to share my honest opinion.

What's Cooking At The Madhouse ? menu plan week 16

We made it to the holidays - woohoo ! I'm looking forward to a couple of weeks of chilling out and also catching up with the endless jobs that need doing around the house - putting away all of the books and ornaments that are still boxed up after painting the walls in the passage and on the landings, jettisoning the ones that nobody wants any more, alongside about a dozen binbags of clothes that everyone has grown out of (so I need to chat up the local thrift store, plus make a few trips to charity bins and a book recycling centre in a (fairly) local town hall to try and drop all those off). I also need to change dentists (or finally manage to get a hold of our regular dentist) and try to find a doctor taking on new patients. I'm sure there was loads more that needed doing, but that will do for now ! This week, I fancy having a go at clearing all the odds and ends out of the kitchen cupboard (many packets leftover from Degustaboxes) and things that have been long forgotten in the freezer so I have no idea where this week will take us food-wise !

Monday

lunch- grilled ham, mash & green beans

dinner - chicken fajitas

Tuesday

lunch- chicken burgers, rice & ratatouille

dinner- pasta carbonara

Wednesday

lunch- beef tacos

dinner- chicken casserole (with mushrooms, onions, carrots, tomatoes) & rice

Thursday

lunch - freezer diving (not sure what's in there but I know there are some hidden surprises !)

dinner- freezer diving  / leftovers

Friday

lunch- macaroni cheese

dinner - pizza (or the kids might twist my arm for deliveroo !)

Saturday

lunch- grilled chicken with baked potatoes & coleslaw

dinner- fridge clearout (or cheese on toast)

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