So the girls have returned to school, and both are now in juniors, this means that I now have to pay for 2 lots of dinner money - £2.30 a day each... £92 a month! That's equivalent to one weeks shopping for a family of four, with enough left for a bottle of wine! But I know they both enjoy school dinners, and they are freshly cooked at the school which is something, and with us parents having to work, it gives me piece of mind that they've had a cooked meal in the day - which takes the pressure off in the evening. Especially good also is the fact that on days that they have Brownies or swimming, they have a cooked meal at lunch, and I can give them a packed lunch to have at afterschool club, pick them up - off to clubs then home, bath, bed, sleep, repeat.
Packed lunches are another bug bare of mine - and no I'm not on the band wagon and having a go at unhealthy choices for kids lunch boxes, I mean the lack of facilities to store them properly at school. I mean take the average ham sandwich - it has to survive being in a plastic lunch box, which is quite likely going to be on a trolley with the rest of the classes lunches - for the entire morning and the trolley is quite likely to be parked in the vicinity of a heater or radiator.... not a refrigerator in site! I think this is something they do need to address - goodness knows what germs will be lurking on the ham sandwich come lunch time!
Sunday 11 September 2016
Innocent grapes??
However all jokes aside, my two girls were amazed at the grapes with pips and couldn't wait to try them, I explained that all grapes were like this when I was little, but through farmers developing their strains of grapes we now have seedless - they seemed a little shocked :D
Monday 16 May 2016
Just another manic monday.....
Yep, manic, why are Monday mornings so incredibly hectic? And that before I've even left the house!
I'm hoping it gets easier as the children get older, but oh my goodness I can't believe how many times I have to repeat myself - 'have you brushed your hair?' 'have you brushed your teeth?' 'Put your shoes on' 'have you put your dinner money in your bag' it goes on and on!
Anyway, my Monday +Weight Watchers grub so far -
Breakfast: 2 pieces of toast and an egg - 9sp
Lunch - chicken and salad wrap - 9sp
That leaves me 12sp for tea time so planning on a jacket spud with tuna and sweetcorn.
After a morning in work the +Fitbit is reading 3012 steps - I'd best get walking between my patients this afternoon.
I'm hoping it gets easier as the children get older, but oh my goodness I can't believe how many times I have to repeat myself - 'have you brushed your hair?' 'have you brushed your teeth?' 'Put your shoes on' 'have you put your dinner money in your bag' it goes on and on!
Anyway, my Monday +Weight Watchers grub so far -
Breakfast: 2 pieces of toast and an egg - 9sp
Lunch - chicken and salad wrap - 9sp
That leaves me 12sp for tea time so planning on a jacket spud with tuna and sweetcorn.
After a morning in work the +Fitbit is reading 3012 steps - I'd best get walking between my patients this afternoon.
Sunday 15 May 2016
I'm back!
Hi there! Firstly I apologise for being a little absent but I've been struggling with time, family and a back injury! But am now mended and back to being organised.... ish.
This weeks shop - I went to Aldi for a change, I found lots of bargains and different brands to try, mostly this has worked out well and would absolutely shop there again and recommend it.
This weeks menu - hey! who knows! After all I did say organised.... ish. I have planned tomorrows tea, so in keeping with traditional Monday grub - it will be jacket potatoes all around with various toppings to suit each person, this usually consist of the following in various combinations - beans, cheese, tuna, sweetcorn, coleslaw. We tend to have this on a Monday as its quick, easy, healthy and filling. I've also got some potatoes planted at the allotment, which should be ready towards the end of July (I think), I've planted some charlottes - beautiful for salads etc, some winstons which make delicious jacket potatoes, and also threw in some supermarket maris piper which had decided to chit themselves in my veggie rack - a bit of an experiment, but time will tell.
I'm still +Fitbit crazy, but have also decided to throw in some +Weight Watchers to boost my weight loss efforts, I've experimented with the app and website over the weekend, and officially start tomorrow, which is Monday - because all diets start on a Monday.
That's all from me for tonight, I'll pop by with another food/menu update in the week, goodnight folks!
This weeks shop - I went to Aldi for a change, I found lots of bargains and different brands to try, mostly this has worked out well and would absolutely shop there again and recommend it.
This weeks menu - hey! who knows! After all I did say organised.... ish. I have planned tomorrows tea, so in keeping with traditional Monday grub - it will be jacket potatoes all around with various toppings to suit each person, this usually consist of the following in various combinations - beans, cheese, tuna, sweetcorn, coleslaw. We tend to have this on a Monday as its quick, easy, healthy and filling. I've also got some potatoes planted at the allotment, which should be ready towards the end of July (I think), I've planted some charlottes - beautiful for salads etc, some winstons which make delicious jacket potatoes, and also threw in some supermarket maris piper which had decided to chit themselves in my veggie rack - a bit of an experiment, but time will tell.
I'm still +Fitbit crazy, but have also decided to throw in some +Weight Watchers to boost my weight loss efforts, I've experimented with the app and website over the weekend, and officially start tomorrow, which is Monday - because all diets start on a Monday.
That's all from me for tonight, I'll pop by with another food/menu update in the week, goodnight folks!
Sunday 7 February 2016
Menu 1 week and beyond!
And next week I have quite a few meals on standby by!
But tonight I've prep'd a slow cooker meal that everyone loves (husband and children!) chicken and chorizo stew, prep'd and in the fridge tonight? Then I'll put in the slow cooker before work tomorrow - ready for when we get in at around 6pm
Recipe -
Chicken and chorizo stew
Brown onion, garlic, red pepper and chicken 3 breasts, then add a chopped chorizo.
Add chicken stock 1/2 pint, tin of tomatoes or pasata, 1 tbsp tomato purée, 1tsp smoked paprika, shake of dried chilli flakes.
Mix.
Add red lentils 8 tablespoons, add 1 peeled and chopped butternut squash or a bag of baby new potatoes, bring to boil, then simmer for 15mins, put in the oven for 45mins on 180.
OR slow cooker version - put all raw ingredients into slow cooker, mix and cook on low for 8 hours - serve with nan breads.
Monday 25 January 2016
Oh my!
Now I'll admit to being a bit of a Facebook-aholic - and I do love the videos of recipes on there, I quite often send myself the link so that I have a list of things ready to try out. There's been a clip on there lately of a pastry Nutella star, I think it was by yummly - and tonight was the night that I had pastry that needed to be used up... cue the Nutella pastry star!
So easy to make, cut two dinner plate sized rounds of pastry, spread one with Nutella, the put the other on top. Put an upside down shot glass in the middle, then slice outwards so you have quarters - cut these again, and the 8th again - it'll look a little like a sunshine. Then take a pair of sunbeam and twist twice outwards, work around until all are twisted. Brush with egg and bake on 180 until cooked, ta-daaahhh!
My girls love them! The hubbys not home yet, best he hurries! 
fitbits, goals and life!
So at the end of last week - that marks 3 weeks of trying to get fit in 2016, unfortunately I had one of those weeks that were busy, tiresome and I just wanted to hibernate - you know the ones? So by Friday morning I was feeling like throwing it all in, that was until I switched on the +BBC News and saw that the amazing Jo Brand was getting moving with a 170mile walk for sports relief. Jo is an amazingly funny and shall we say curvaceous comedienne, and her interview and story was just inspiring!
If Jo could do 20miles that day - I was certainly not going to sit on the sofa and watch her, oh no sir! I pulled on my trainers and jumped on my treadmill - 5hours later that day I had my best ever +Fitbit achievement and earned my next badge (its all about the badges :D )....
By the next day my legs were the achiest I ever remember them being, so after going for a 4mile run with the dog ( I had to walk off the sciatica somehow!), I relaxed in an Epsom salt bath - it was wonderful, I might have mentioned before that I love taking a bath - well I do and its even better when its following a good workout. So that's my update for week 3 of January, wish me luck with week 4!
The weekly shop and menu plan 25 Jan 2016...
Wow, the last week of January all ready, and another busy week for us - after school clubs Monday to Thursday, and the Mr is working 2 days and 2 nights then off on a fishing adventure Friday night. Its never easy trying to plan the weekly shopping around all the weeks activities, and that's why I make sure the girls have a cooked meal in school, then I don't feel quite so guilty about 'quick' teas when we have busy evenings.
This week again I have online shopped at +Sainsbury's - and the most expensive shop of the month! I'm thinking throughout this week I am going to try and find healthy and cheap meals - to cook for next week, I'm quite a fan of batch cooking and using the slow cooker, and I'm also quite lucky that my children will eat most things, they've been brought up to eat everything put in front of them and have not known anything different, so look out for more recipe/cooking posts over the next week - I'm feeling productive!
Talking of productivity, any tips on being an organised and all round fantastic mum and wife, while holding down a job and trying to get fit? Lol! I know its just such a hectic life sometimes, I had an organised mum diary which I find essential to keeping me on track with the childrens busy social life, plus organising my food, hubby's shifts etc. I did try to use a smart phone calendar once, but unfortunately it all went disastrously wrong and I lost everything! Anyhow, here's the shopping list for this weeks grub, if I'm honest I'm not very excited about it, so I must get cracking with a more exciting one for next week!
Mon 25 Jan 2016
mon: burgers in buns, salad and onion rings
tues: girls - snacky tea at club
adults - pizza and salad
wed: girls - snacky tea at club
mum - Eggs on toast
thurs: ham and cheese toasties
fri: southern fried chicken breast egg/salad (or maybe peas) and chips
s: Daddy and girls choose – mummy out for
tea with friends
s: Roast?
Total
£64.25
|
Quantity
|
Product
|
Price
|
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Smoked Back Bacon, Basics 250g
|
£1.50
|
|
2
|
Sainsbury's Diet Indian Tonic Water 1L
|
£1.00
|
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Dry Gin 1L
|
£15.50
|
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Easy Peelers x6 (minimum)
|
£1.35
|
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Pink Lady Apples x5 (minimum)
|
£2.25
|
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Fairtrade Bananas x8
|
£1.25
|
|
1
|
Munch Bunch Seasonal Squashums Yogurt 6x60g
|
£1.50
|
|
1
|
Müller Fruit Corner Yogurt 6x150g
|
£2.00
|
|
1
|
Peperami Hot 5x25g
|
£1.50
|
|
1
|
Peperami Original 5x25g
|
£1.50
|
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Ready Oats 500g
|
£1.50
|
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Teacakes x6
|
£1.00
|
|
1
|
Sainsbury's French Fries 900g
|
£1.00
|
|
2
|
Sainsbury's Southern Fried Chicken Goujons 245g
|
£4.00
|
|
1
|
Premier Deli Breaded Ham 250g
|
£1.50
|
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Full Flavour Cheddar, Basics 625g
|
£2.90
|
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Free Range Large Eggs x12
|
£2.40
|
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Italian Style Salad 100g
|
£1.50
|
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Thin & Crispy Meat Feast Pizza 10'' 325g
|
£2.20
|
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Granola Bars Maple Syrup 4x42g
|
£1.40
|
|
1
|
Ritz Breaks Original Crackers 190g
|
£1.80
|
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Houmous, SO Organic 200g
|
£1.20
|
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Carrots 1kg
|
£0.60
|
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Cucumber Whole
|
£0.45
|
|
2
|
Taste Original Mini Chicken Satay x12
|
£4.00
|
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Sesame Topped Burger Buns x6
|
£0.55
|
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Battered Onion Rings 800g
|
£1.50
|
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Beef Quarter Pounders x4 454g
|
£2.00
|
|
1
|
Birds Eye Beef Burgers with Onions x4 227g
|
£1.00
|
Thursday 21 January 2016
Bath time....
Ah the bubbles and the warm bubbly water - as we all know, nothing better than bathing the little ones to help them relax before bed and settle down for a restful nights sleep, but when it comes to mummy relaxing in a lovely warm +LUSH bathbomb infused bath.... nope! Suddenly everyone needs to go for a tinkle before bed, brush their teeth, fill a glass of water.... it goes on and on, so no tonight's relaxing mummy bubble bath did not happen, therefore I have decided that from now on indulgent, relaxing bubbly mummy time will have to happen during school hours - just checked my diary, pencilled myself in for a warm relaxing soak next Thursday - can't wait! But just to reassure you readers - I will still take a daily shower haha!
Family time is important, but equally so is time for yourself, so in this busy world we live in - don't forget.... make time for you to relax, refresh and recharge, because lets face it you deserve it!
Family time is important, but equally so is time for yourself, so in this busy world we live in - don't forget.... make time for you to relax, refresh and recharge, because lets face it you deserve it!
Thursdays tea - slow cooked savoury mince
Thursday is one of my days off, so I like to throw something in the slow cooker that'll make the house smell homely and scrummy. My family (hubby and daughters 6&9) all love traditional, comforting home cooked dishes, so tonight we're having savoury mince with roast potatoes, peas and Yorkshire puds. There is no exact science to my savoury mince recipe and sometimes I just add a packet mix, but today I have made it from scratch. I tend to try and use what I have in the fridge, and also, seasons and weather permitting - I like to eat what we grow at the allotment, you can follow also follow our allotment blog - http://myallotmentadventure.blogspot.co.uk/.
So with the help of my sear and stew slow cooker - it usually ends up a tasty hearty meal that everyone enjoys. I love this type of slow cooker as it can be used on the hob, then all ingredients transferred in the pot to continue cooking in the slow cooker - less fuss, less dishes!
Here's the recipe for todays tea, I hope you try it and would love to know how yours turned out.
Mummy Moo-Moos Savoury Mince
Ingredients
Splash of oil
1 large chopped onion
1-2 chopped stalks of celery
2 chopped carrots
2 cloves of garlic - crushed
500g minced beef
A sprinkle of mixed herbs
A sprinkle of paprika
Dash of Worcestershire sauce (I would have added this if I had some!)
1 beef oxo cube
200mls water
sprinkle of gravy granules
Method
1. Heat oil in pan and add onion, celery, carrots and cook until softened.
2. Add minced beef and garlic, cook for a couple of minutes until brown
3. Add herbs and paprika - stir.
4. Mix oxo cube with water and add to the pot, splash on the Worcestershire sauce and stir.
5. Transfer ingredients to slow cooker.
6. Cook on low for 4-6 hours
7. Thicken with gravy granules and serve.
Serves 5 portions - 222cals per serving
So with the help of my sear and stew slow cooker - it usually ends up a tasty hearty meal that everyone enjoys. I love this type of slow cooker as it can be used on the hob, then all ingredients transferred in the pot to continue cooking in the slow cooker - less fuss, less dishes!
Here's the recipe for todays tea, I hope you try it and would love to know how yours turned out.
Mummy Moo-Moos Savoury Mince
Ingredients
Splash of oil
1 large chopped onion
1-2 chopped stalks of celery
2 chopped carrots
2 cloves of garlic - crushed
500g minced beef
A sprinkle of mixed herbs
A sprinkle of paprika
Dash of Worcestershire sauce (I would have added this if I had some!)
1 beef oxo cube
200mls water
sprinkle of gravy granules
Method
1. Heat oil in pan and add onion, celery, carrots and cook until softened.
2. Add minced beef and garlic, cook for a couple of minutes until brown
3. Add herbs and paprika - stir.
4. Mix oxo cube with water and add to the pot, splash on the Worcestershire sauce and stir.
5. Transfer ingredients to slow cooker.
6. Cook on low for 4-6 hours
7. Thicken with gravy granules and serve.
Serves 5 portions - 222cals per serving
Just not feeling it...?
No matter how determined you are at the start of the year, its so hard to keep your motivation going especially during a busy week with the family. This week has been a huge struggle for me - following last weeks amazing step totals and new +Fitbit badges, so far this week I've not met my step goal once! Now not only am I not feeling the love for fitness, moving and anything energetic, I'm now also annoyed with myself for not achieving this week... pffft.... vicious circle - NO! No, no, no! I could just sit in my pj's all day, drinking coffee and eating chocolate - or I could put on my work out gear and get this thing done!
So far this year I have done looooong walks, and also used my treadmill (quite good when its raining actually, I can put a film on my laptop and then walk and watch. But I've spotted the rarely used xbox and wii in the cupboard - I think I might give these a whirl today, well, do a session on the wii fit this morning, break for lunch - pop to shops as I still need to get a mix for tea, then back home and watch and walk before the school pick up.... yes, that is the plan - current steps today - 854, step goal 15,000 - what am I waiting for? No more excuses! Go, Go, Go!!!
So far this year I have done looooong walks, and also used my treadmill (quite good when its raining actually, I can put a film on my laptop and then walk and watch. But I've spotted the rarely used xbox and wii in the cupboard - I think I might give these a whirl today, well, do a session on the wii fit this morning, break for lunch - pop to shops as I still need to get a mix for tea, then back home and watch and walk before the school pick up.... yes, that is the plan - current steps today - 854, step goal 15,000 - what am I waiting for? No more excuses! Go, Go, Go!!!
Sunday 17 January 2016
A lovely day out...
Well after checking the weather app and the tidal forecast I decided on a trip to the beach - and what an absolutely lovely time we had, plenty of fresh air, plenty of space to run, rock pools to explore shells and beach treasures to find, quality time together, even the dog enjoyed zooming around, barking at the sand and the freedom of running around off her lead.
The beach we went to was Portwrinkle on the south coast of Cornwall, it's not a beautiful golden sands type beach but more shingly and rocky.
Parking in winter is charged at 10p for an hour or 50p all day (much cheaper than it's summertime rates!).
Across the road from the carpark is a public toilet - perfect for a quick stop before continuing on to the beach.
Just along from the carpark is the Whitsand bay hotel which offers a lovely menu and Sunday roasts, and what better day to walk off the delicious food than a walk on the beach.
There's also a beautiful little cafe called 'The Jolly Roger', that over looks the beach, but we didn't go there today. Here they offer hit and cold drinks, light meals and icecreams.
Getting to the beach - easily accessed by a concrete path - it's quite steep, but compared to other local beeches probably one of the more easily accessible ones.
Notes for future visits - picnics and body boards for warmer weather, soup picnics while it's still chilly. Good beach for kite flying.
All in all a refreshing January's walk -
Total spend £0.50
Mummy Moo-moo rating 8/10
This weeks meal plan and shop - monday 18th January
This week I have the inlaws coming for tea on Monday - Mr Moo-moo is cooking a spaghetti Bolognese - which I'm certain will be delicious.
Lunches - the girls will have cooked lunch in school, I will have teriyaki stir fry veggies and salmon mon, tues and wed, thurs and Friday will probably be homemade soup from the freezer or eggs. Mr Moo-moo will forage the cupboards and shops for his lunches.
Tea time as always depends on shifts and clubs, so here's the plan, with cost and shopping list - as usual purchased online at +Sainsbury's , shopping list included at the end. There are also extra snacks, cereals etc on there.
The only additions to this will be bread, milk and savoury mince packet mix that I couldn't get online. Oh and freezer tea is whatever I can find in there.... may be a strange selection but the girls usually love it.
Lunches - the girls will have cooked lunch in school, I will have teriyaki stir fry veggies and salmon mon, tues and wed, thurs and Friday will probably be homemade soup from the freezer or eggs. Mr Moo-moo will forage the cupboards and shops for his lunches.
Tea time as always depends on shifts and clubs, so here's the plan, with cost and shopping list - as usual purchased online at +Sainsbury's , shopping list included at the end. There are also extra snacks, cereals etc on there.
The only additions to this will be bread, milk and savoury mince packet mix that I couldn't get online. Oh and freezer tea is whatever I can find in there.... may be a strange selection but the girls usually love it.
Mon
18th Jan 2016
Monday –
Bolognese, pasta, garlic bread… inlaws here for tea.
Tuesday – Mr
Moo-moo: pizza Mrs: zoodles, bacon,
onions, philli
Snack tea for afterschool club:
chicken satay, crackers, cuc/carrot/pepper
& humous, granola bar
Wednesday – Adults - Bacon/sausage
sandwich
Snack tea for afterschool club:
chicken satay, crackers, cuc/carrot/pepper
& humous, granola bar
Thursday – Slow cooker savoury
mince, roast pots, Yorkshire puds
Friday – Chicken
kiev, caul and broc cheese & peas
Saturday – Ham rolls for lunch, freezer tea
Total
-£10 online voucher = £53.55
Quantity
|
Product
|
Price
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Garlic Baguette x2 420g
|
£1.40
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Houmous, SO Organic 200g
|
£1.20
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Courgetti 300g
|
£1.20
|
1
|
Schweppes Elderflower Tonic Water 1L
|
£1.20
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Popcorn Sweet Cinema Style Basics 160g
|
£1.15
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Pepperoni, Basics 60g
|
£1.00
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Carrots 1kg
|
£0.60
|
2
|
Sainsbury's Beef Mince 10% Fat 500g
|
£7.40
|
1
|
Sainsbury's English Butter, Salted 250g
|
£0.85
|
1
|
Peperami Original 5x25g
|
£2.50
|
1
|
Premier Deli Breaded Ham 250g
|
£1.50
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Easy Peelers x6 (minimum)
|
£1.00
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Frosted Flakes Cereal 750g
|
£1.95
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Fresh Teriyaki & Ginger Stir Fry Sauce 175ml
|
£0.85
|
1
|
Copella Orange Original 1.5L
|
£2.00
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Roast Potatoes 900g
|
£1.00
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Pink Lady Apples x5 (minimum)
|
£2.25
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Pineapple Pieces In Juice, Basics 227g
|
£0.35
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Onions 1kg
|
£0.80
|
1
|
Petits Filous Frubes Strawberry 9x40g
|
£1.00
|
2
|
Sainsbury's Cheddar Cheese Sauce Mix 40g
|
£0.80
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Smoked Back Bacon, Basics 250g
|
£1.50
|
2
|
Taste Original Mini Chicken Satay x12
|
£4.00
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Granola Bars Maple Syrup 4x42g
|
£1.40
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Red Pepper (each)
|
£0.60
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Cucumber Whole
|
£0.45
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Tortilla Chips, Basics 200g
|
£0.55
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Thin & Crispy Meat Feast Pizza 10'' 325g
|
£1.80
|
1
|
Pedigree Dentastix, Small Dog x7
|
£1.50
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Lemon & Raisin Pancakes x8
|
£0.70
|
1
|
Müller Light Red Fruit Yogurt 6x175g
|
£2.00
|
1
|
Warburtons Teacakes x4
|
£0.65
|
1
|
Sainsbury's British Cauliflower & Broccoli Floret Mix 1kg
|
£1.20
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Avocado, Ripe & Ready x2
|
£1.80
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Chicken Garlic Kievs x4 568g
|
£2.65
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Yorkshire Pudding, Basics x15 230g
|
£0.50
|
3
|
Sainsbury's Microwave Rice Basmati 250g
|
£1.50
|
1
|
Dolmio Bolognese Pasta Sauce Original 500g
|
£1.00
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Stir Fry, Basics 700g
|
£1.00
|
1
|
Sainsbury's Free Range Mixed Weight Eggs x6
|
£0.85
|
1
|
Young's Boneless Pink Salmon Fillets x4 360g
|
£3.50
|
1
|
Ritz Breaks Original Crackers 190g
|
£1.00
|
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