Monday, 11 November 2024

Degustabox Advent Calendar 2024 review

 I always think that once Halloween is done and dusted, Christmas is fair game. I won't be putting the tree and decorations up for a few weeks but I'm busy hunting presents and looking at advent calendars for the kids and myself. One that really appealed to me is the Degustabox advent calendar. I always enjoy discovering the new and often unheard of products that pop up in the monthly boxes so the idea of an advent calendar with a new product to try out every day in December really appealed to me. I was sent a calendar to review so we got to unpack everything in advance. I'm showing you the products in a random order to help keep the surprise element if you decide to buy one. Here's what we found hiding behind the doors.


Teapigs Spiced Winter and Everyday Brew - Perfect for starting the day off in style or having a warming cuppa during the day. The Spiced Winter Red Tea is everything festive in liquid form. Cinnamon, cloves and orange peel with a caffeine-free rooibos base, it can be enjoyed with or without milk. English breakfast tea is a top-quality version of "regular tea", just the way most tea-drinkers love it.

Vidas Drinks - Discover a new range of drinks that offer the perfect combination of healthy choices and great flavours. Made with 100% natural ingredients, no added sugar (all sugar comes from apple or grape juice) or nasty additives and under 60 calories per can. They're refreshing with lovely natural flavours.


 

Sweet Freedom Choc Pot Caramel - A smooth and creamy chocolate spread that contains no palm oil and provides 15 calories per teaspoon, which is better than the bigger brands. It's sweet (all natural sweetness from fruit, namely apple and carob) and delicious, simply smeared on a slice of toast (or a rice cake, if you want to be extra healthy) or used as icing for your favourite cupcakes.

Rock Stone Confection - A funky twist on the traditional seaside sticks of rock, these sweets celebrate different cultures and diversity from around the world with exciting, bold flavours. The first offering represents the Caribbean and includes Pineapple/Coconut, Caribbean Crush and Pink lemonade. If I were their marketing manager, I'd say they are rock-ing all over the world !

 

Cheez-It Cheese & Chilli - Thin, crispy snacks baked with 100% real cheese with no artificial colours or flavours. They are deliciously crunchy with a kick of chilli heat. Very tasty.

Pringles Hot Kickin' Sour Cream - I love the taste and crunch of regular Pringles but I was worried these would be too spicy for my tastes. They do have a gentle level of heat in the background but the one chilli spice rating was perfectly acceptable. I love the robust sour cream flavour. Perfect with or without a dipping sauce.

 

Leon Tomato Ketchup - Leon set out to make fast food good food, perfecting the combination of great taste and healthy ingredients. This ketchup is a perfect example, with sun-dried tomatoes, red peppers and a little clove taking the tomato base to another level. A very satisfying, natural flavour. Just add chips for a tasty snack !

Filippo Berio Classic Glaze - I will be honest, I wasn't at all sure what to do with this product and, having read the description, I'm still undecided. It's a rich, thick syrup with a subtle, tangy flavour that is perfect with grilled meats. So far, so good. However, it can also be used in sandwiches, on pizza, even on fruit and ice cream. I haven't been brave enough to try those ideas yet so let me know if you have ! 


Lavazza Cappuccino - This Cappuccino is an iced ready-to-drink coffee. It is a blend of 100% Arabica with semi-skimmed milk and cocoa. It has a velvety, creamy texture and a satisfying balance of chocolate and coffee notes. Perfect for coffee lovers who want to try something a bit different.

 

Horlicks Chocolate - The signature malty taste of Horlicks is enriched with a hit of chocolate to create a rich and comforting drink, perfect for when you're cold or feeling under the weather over the winter months. It is enriched with 14 vitamins and minerals and its creamy texture makes it feel like a hug in a mug.

St Dalfour Apricot Fruit Spread - Made in Bordeaux, France, from 100% fruit, the fruit spread has no added sugar, using the sweetness from grape juice and other fruit juices to impart a rich, tangy flavour. It is a well-deserved winner of a 2-star 2024 Great Taste Award. Delicious in a sandwich, on toast, in a sponge cake or why not go French and slather it in a croissant ?

 

Billingtons Dark Brown Soft Sugar - I love the treacle-like aroma that wafts out of the bag when you open it up. This unrefined sugar is carefully produced to lock in the natural molasses of the sugar cane. Its rich, deep flavour is perfect in cakes and bakes, taking them to another level.

Ryvita Rosemary & Sea Salt Thins - These delicate, light, crunchy strips are perfect for dunking into your favourite dips or topping with cheese spreads or moist combinations like tuna & mayo. The snappy texture adds a delicious twist to fridge grazing and snack time.

 

Simply Cook Masala Lamb Chops - Simply Cook kits contain 3 pots of ingredients needed to cook 140+ chef-created recipes in 30 minutes or less. In this kit, you get Masala Paste, a Spice Blend and Mint Chutney, which combine with the meat, potatoes and vegetables on the recipe list to create a tasty, satisfying meal. Great for when you're running out of imagination for trying some new meal options.

Hilltop Blossom Honey - Hilltop promise that their rigorous testing standards guarantee that their jars contain honey that is as pure and authentic as that taken straight from the hive. The rich amber colour and delicious, sweet taste won a Great Taste award. Delicious on toast or drizzled over pancakes.


Knorr Chicken Gravy Pots - I love these gravy pots and invariably end up lobbing one into a casserole or adding to the meat juices from a roasting tin or the slow cooker then topping up with water to create a rich, delicious gravy. I've just noticed though that you're supposed to add one to a saucepan of warm water then bring to the boil. Maybe I should try that next time and see how it works out ! They are made with slowly simmered meat juices and make great tasting gravy without all the fuss.

 

Garner's Sweet Pickled Baby Onions - I'm so used to eating the small silverskin pickled onions from the supermarket that I had forgotten just how flavoursome the bigger, traditional pickled onions could be. These baby onions are pickled in a unique balance of malty vinegar, delicate spices and tangy sweetness. They are sharp but sweet and work great on the side of the plate with fish and chips, charcuterie boards, salads or even chopped up in a sandwich with cheese. They are the winners of a Great Taste award.

Clara's Wafer Rolls - These wafer rolls are a delight, either on their own or with ice cream. Their crunchy, crispy wafer shell and the sweet, creamy filling tucked away inside combine to create the ultimate sweet treat to nibble on, whatever your age.


Ballymaloe Relish - Ballymaloe Relish was created by Myrtle Allen, Ireland's first female Michelin-starred chef, over thirty years ago and her daughter Yasmin now produces the relish for markets worldwide. A mixture of tomatoes, sultanas and a carefully picked blend of spices, it can be used in sandwiches, burgers or cheese dishes, as well as added to a variety of home-cooked meals. Add a spoonful and see how it works out ! I've read that it works well in curries. It's guaranteed Irish, gluten free, fat free, vegan-friendly, made with natural ingredients and is a winner of a Great Taste 2023 award.

Truly Nuts Brazil Nuts - Whether covered in milk or dark chocolate, chocolate-covered brazil nuts are one of my traditional Christmas flavours. These Truly Nuts Sweet Talk Milk Chocolate and Deep Thought Dark Chocolate snack packs are perfect for nibbling on in front of a festive movie.

 

Rubis Chocolate Wine - It took me a while to get used to the idea of adding chocolate to chilli so you can imagine my reaction when I discovered Rubis Chocolate Wine, an infusion of Spanish Tempranillo grapes and precious essence of cacao, brought together to create an extraordinary taste sensation. The company claim it is "the perfect antidote to the ordinary everyday", "an unforgettable taste sensation - extraordinary in every way". Rubis Chocolate Wine is described as a luxury to sip and savour, when you need a moment to inspire your soul. I'm still awaiting the perfect moment to sample this but I am totally intrigued !

Explore Cuisine Organic Green Lentil Penne - Easily prepared in just 7-9 minutes, this simple pasta, made with clean, nutritious, organic and gluten free ingredients, is great as a store cupboard staple and could be perfect for using up some of the leftover Christmas turkey. Each 100g serving packs in 21g of protein and 6g of fibre so it's a simple way of adding plant protein to your diet.

 

Joyfull Fruit & Nut Crunchy Muesli - A tasty mix of roasted crunchy millets, oats, corn and wheat flakes with plenty of juicy cranberries, raisins, papaya and almonds to create a different fruity combination in every spoonful. A great way to start off the day.  

Cypressa Rose Harissa Paste - Combine the spicy smokiness of chilli with the floral undertones of rose water and you'll get an idea of the flavour of this rose harissa paste. You can stir a spoonful into chicken dishes, pasta sauces and soups to add an extra depth of flavour. Spice up your life !

The Degustabox Advent Calendar contains 24 full-sized products, perfect for sharing with your loved ones over the festive period. The products have a value of £55 but you can grab yourselves an advent calendar for £44.99. It's an enjoyable way of counting down the days to Christmas for the whole family to share but it would also make an original gift idea.


Disclosure : We received the product in order to share our honest review.

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.

Sunday, 22 September 2024

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


We're heading into a full week of rain this week apparently so it might be time to start scheduling some winter warmers. I have lots of leftovers in the fridge to use up for the start of the week, as well as some steak. It was on the reduced-for-quick-sale yellow stickered items when I went shopping so I grabbed four packs to fill up the freezer. Friday is our school open day after school so that will probably end up as Deliveroo by the time I get home. Here's the plan for this week.

Monday

lunch- school lunch 

dinner - sausages, onions, peppers, tomatoes with pasta

Tuesday

lunch- Provençal chicken with rice and carrots

dinner- steak, baked potatoes and peas

Wednesday

lunch- chicken burgers, rice and ratatouille

dinner- mince tacos

Thursday

lunch- school lunch

dinner- pasta carbonara


Friday

lunch- school lunch

dinner - Deliveroo

Saturday

lunch- chicken & veg stir fry with noodles

dinner- spaghetti bolognese

Sunday

lunch- BBQ chicken with rice and green beans

dinner - leftovers

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

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