Sunday 26 August 2012

What to eat this week


I haven't written about our weekly eats for a little bit, maybe because it all gets a bit samey.  Well my lovely Mum in Law gave me a book voucher for my birthday, so yesterday when we were in town I heard Waterstones calling and I cam away with Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall's new book Three Good things... on a plate, so hopefully my menus will get more interesting.  Well we still have to eat this week, so this is what I'm going to inflict my Mum and Husband.

FRIDAY
Courgette Spouffle - this has been in heavy rotation over the last few months, but it is very yummy

SATURDAY
Cannellini Bean and Tuna Burgers, with Sweet Potato Chips and Salad - this was the first time I have made these burgers and I think they need work, if I can improve on the recipe I will post about it

SUNDAY
Roast Chicken, Potatoes, Carrots, Broad Beans, Stuffing and Gravy, followed by Cinnamon Buns - the broad beans came in the veg box this week and they had to be podded, blanched and skinned, talk about a hard work vegetable

MONDAY
Chicken Biryani and Pea Cakes - must remember to put the split yellow peas on to soak, or else we won't be having these tomorrow

TUESDAY
Mustardy Mushroom Stroganoff

WEDNESDAY
Butternut Squash and Sage Spaghetti -  haven't tried this one before, we will have to see how it turns out

THURSDAY
Stir Fry Vegetables and Noodles

Sunday 19 August 2012

Birthday Cake


Is it sad to have to make your own birthday cake?  It's a pity my lovely Mum in law couldn't be here for my birthday, as she it a great baker (and it would have been great to see her too, she hasn't had a chance to visit since our abortive holiday in June) and would have been able to make a far better cake than this.

I saw Lorraine Pascale make this cake on her programme last Monday and claim that it was easy if a little fiddly.  It is her "Crouching Tiger Hidden Zebra Cake" and it is the only recipe not to be on the BBC website. 


It is supposed to have vertical stripes, but mine has more splodgy swirls.  I think I made the batter a little stiff, which is why it is a little bit dry, but the addition of a chocolate ganache and then a dollop of cream seems to alleviate that satisfactorily.  It is probably a good thing we only have a birthday once a year, as I will be eating far to much of this cake in the next few days.

Tuesday 14 August 2012

6 o'clock in the morning - just the two of us


So, it was just Hagrid and I out this morning.  Being a lovely and generous wife, I am currently sharing the cold that has been mithering me for the past week with the lovely Fluffrick. Aren't I generous?

We have had a bit of a week with the lovely Hagrid.  We were taking him out for his evening constitutional last Thursday, when a "Staffy-Cross" came barrelling down the road, off the lead and launched an unprovoked attack on Hagrid.  Hagrid may be quite big, but he is also a great big wuss, so by the time the dog's owner managed to pull him off Hagrid, the poor boy had four nasty bites.

Needless to say Hagrid has been feeling very sorry for himself and can't understand why we won't let him lick his metaphorical and literal wounds.  The bites are healing quite well, although we have had to resort to the "cone of shame" to prevent the licking.  But Hagrid is on the mend and hopefully the whole incident will not have traumatised him too much, he was a very nervous dog to begin with.

Sunday 5 August 2012

What to eat this week

I am really wanting to cook quick things this week, but that isn't always easy when you cook everything from scratch.  The Olympics are sustaining me, do we really need to eat as well?


If I can drag myself away from the TV, this is what we have and will be eating this week.


FRIDAY
Twice Baked Potatoes


SATURDAY
Sushi


SUNDAY
Salmon and Prawn Skewers with Couscous Salad


MONDAY
Sweet Potato and Peanut Gratin with Salad


TUESDAY
Mushroom Diopiaza, Gobi Aloo, Pea Fritters and Rice


WEDNESDAY  
Pizza


THURSDAY
Smoked Salmon, Mushroom and Cream Sauce with Spaghetti

A Lie In - 6:45 in the morning

Hagrid was kind enough, as it was Saturday morning, to allow us a lie in.  So it was at 6:45 that we headed up to Graves Park, to be honest we wouldn't go much later, as it is a very popular puppy park.
We were not the only ones enjoying the early morning


Graves Park was hosting a Fair


My attempt at an arty photo - into the early morning sun

The reason we don't mind getting up early, even on a Saturday