On Plan with my Menus

After rejoining Slimming World, needing to organise myself more, having to tighten our belts a bit financially and just enjoying writing lists, I thought I'd start writing a weekly menu. I always take a shopping list with me to the supermarkets, but it feels more organised making the list from the menu... and sticking to it, I'm hoping this will cut our shopping bills down by a little as well.

Our menu for the week was

Tuesday: Bolognese, pasta, cottage cheese and peas

 It was really filling and didn't take long to make (and there's bolognese in the freezer for next week too).



Wednesday: Burgers (from Slimming World), chips made in the actifry (with lots of paprika) and some salad

 Again, it was nice and easy, all I had to do was peel and chip the potatoes.



Thursday: Baked potatoes with cottage cheese, sweetcorn, chinese flavoured chop and salad

I think this was my favourite meal this week, so will probably be repeated next week.



Friday:  Cottage pie with a sweet potato topping and runner beans

Saturday: Vegetable Boulangere with gammon, sweetcorn and watercress

The idea for the Boulangere was from the Slimming World magazine and I've put the method after the menu.



Sunday: Corned Beef, spaghetti and fried potatoes.

 This was comfort food, nice and warming for this cold weather and to use up the potatoes from yesterday.


I made the Boulangere Saturday afternoon, it didn't take long (the longest part was probably waiting for the potatoes to cool down). It also gave me a chance to use our new frying pan, it has a ceramic coating that is supposed to mean you don't need to use oil. I was a little dubious, but wow, you can even dry fry an egg in it!

I started off by par boiling the potatoes.

Then leaving them to drain and cool

While they cooled, I sliced a couple of leeks, an onion and a few garlic cloves

Then softened them in the frying pan

When the potatoes had cooled, I sliced them and placed them in a dish with some pepper to season.

Lots of big, juicy tomatoes were sliced and layered on the potatoes.

On top of this went the leeks, onion and garlic , then a few more potatoes, tomatoes and seasoning with a little drop of vegetable stock followed by a sprinkle of cheese

In the oven for 30 minutes at gas mark 6

It was delicious!


I took pictures of our meals and popped them on Instagram (cherylbowsie if you want to come and say hi) each day, hopefully to inspire me in the 'harder' weeks.

Take care
xxx

New Year, Fresh Starts

The new school term started again last week so we're all gradually shrugging off Christmas (oh, but it was such a good one) and getting back into our routines.

I love the idea of a fresh start at the beginning of the year, a new year ready to fill with lots of wonderful things. I've started this year's diary and had a thought about how I'd like to inspire myself this year.


1. I've rejoined Slimming World

2. I've started making regular entries in my journal

3. I plan to use more of my existing craft supplies (rather than buy new, I have so much 'stuff')

4. Start scrapbooking again

5. I have a fitbit and I intend to get more use from it.

6. I'm going to use my arm weights and pedals (I've started with this)

7. Actively seek out more I can do from my wheelchair

8. Be more organised with my housework routine

9. Write more of my 'book'

10. Savour each and every day


We've said farewell to Christmas with the last of our candy canes

We've had a birthday to celebrate

I'm back on track for our healthy eating, healthier lifestyle. I made a bolognese in the multi cooker this afternoon, a big batch so we could have some for dinner and there's plenty to freeze too.

With pasta, cottage cheese and peas, yum

I've rearranged the mantelpiece after taking away the last remnants from Christmas

It means I can show off the adorable little sheep that my boy, Adam, bought me...

and the wooden sign my beautiful girl, Imogen bought me

Full of hope and excitement for 2016. Have you set any challenges for yourself, let's hope it's a wonderful year for everyone

Take care
xxx

12 Days of Christmas Swap

This is the first time I've been involved in a swap, the 12 days of Christmas, organised by Jo at Through the Keyhole. I really enjoyed looking for bits and pieces and it was exciting to have so many things to open through Christmas week.

My partner was Michelle from The Diet starts Tomorrow, and this arrived before Christmas...

I had to give the box of goodies to my husband to put aside so I wouldn't get too tempted to have a peek or two! It looks so pretty all wrapped up with tags telling me when to open them.

So here it all is

I was very taken with these Christmas decorations, aren't they gorgeous, and the little plaque too, I'm going to hang it in my craft room.

Michelle included the cats and dogs, it was their christmas too

I love stationery, so it was lovely to get these pens and a diary I can carry around with me.

And crafty bits and bobs..

I do like to paint my nails, so it was lovely to get these extra big polish remover pads, file and hand cream.

I hope Michelle enjoyed her 12 days too, I can't wait to sign up again for next year!

Take care
xxx

My Favourite Christmas Films

We have a few Christmas films on dvd that get rolled out every year, the family favourites. School has finished for Christmas now so it's time to start our festive build up with some films.

I think my favourite that we watch every year has to be 'Its a Wonderful Life. It often ends up just being me and Andrew who watch this one.

It's a black and white film, but there are colourised versions too and it's with the wonderful James Stewart. The ultimate feel good film, a story about love, family and community

George Bailey is in trouble, but the angels have heard all the prayers as those around him ask for him to be helped. We see a quick retelling of the highlights of George's life before the angel Clarence is sent down to help him.

Poor Clarence doesn't have his wings yet, so hopefully he can help George and earn them. 'Everytime a bell rings, an angel's got it's wings'


One of our other favourites has to be 'How The Grinch Stole Christmas'

I love it, from the wonderful village of Whoville with it's Christmas crazy inhabitants to the excellent grumpy Grinch who has a heart 2 sizes too small...

It's a feel good movie (just as I like Christmas films to be), the Whos in Whoville are overtaken by the commercialism of Christmas, all except little Cindylou, she wants to know what it's all about, what it really means.

I'm not a big Jim Carrey fan and often find him far too over the top for me, but he is wonderful as the Grinch, horribly 'grinchy' but also sympathetic (and I think the make up is amazing)



Another that gets played every year here is 'Deck the Halls'. A jolly jape with Matthew Broderick and Danny DeVito.

Broderick plays Steve, he has a schedule to keep to so he can make it a perfect Christmas for his family, whether they think it's perfect or not!

Danny DeVito is 'Danny', all he wants is for his house to be seen from space... what could go wrong...

We always watch 'Scrooge', it's always been hubby's favourite Christmas film and Imogen loves it too. There are a few versions, but our favourite is the musical version with Albert Finney and yes we all enjoy a good old singalong with it.

It's the Charles Dickens story 'A Christmas Carol', ghostly visitations

The epiphany for Scrooge as he realises the error of his ways and tries to make amends.

I can't make a list of our favourite Christmas films without adding 'Elf'.

Will Ferrell is a human brought up in the North Pole as an elf. He just doesn't fit in with the other elves, so when he finds out he's a human, he sets off to find his father.

Buddy the elf goes to New York where he sees things for the first time, revolving doors, the world's best cup of coffee and used chewing gum....

It's all about the Christmas spirit with plenty of laughs along the way.


There are so many brilliant Christmas films (and of course so many absolutely dire ones). I really feel I should have added the 'Santa Claus' trilogy (I do like to watch them while I do the wrapping up) and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation all about the family get togethers. but I have to stop somewhere or my list will go on and on!

Hope you're all enjoying the Christmas build up, not getting stressed, just excited. Are you watching your favourite Christmas films too?

Take care
xxx

It's That Time of Year

I love Christmas, I love the preparation and the decorating. I think I have as much child like excitement now as I did when I was young, in fact now that I organise my own Christmases, I think I have even more!

We always put our decorations up when December arrives. It used to be done by the elves while we slept and Imogen would come down the next morning to a winter wonderland, looking to see where the elves and put everything. Now she's a bit older (sob), the elves don't come, but it's still as much fun doing it together.

We treated ourselves to a new tree this year, one to go in the dining room/snug. I choose a white one like we used to have when I was a child.

There isn't a great deal of room, so it's a nice narrow one. It looks gorgeous with all the lights twinkling, and these photos really don't do it justice at all.

Also new this year is my little nutcracker, a smart little fellow who makes me smile.

All the Christmas trimmings are out, lots of candles and fairy lights. The candy canes hanging from the mantle piece are stocking holders for Christmas Eve.

One of my favourite decorations is this small fireplace with it's stockings hanging down.

Here's my dish full of yummy, colourful chocolate coins.

I have been doing some crochet too, though not with much of a Christmas theme. Here's my parrot.

The light isn't very good,the colours are red, oranges and yellow, nice and bright.

He has long tail feathers that drape behind him.

How are your Christmas preparations coming along?

Take care
xxx