* Lazylol *

National Baking Week

I've been ill for the last few days - full of cold, sore throat, you know the same thing everyone you speak to seems to be suffering from.  Feeling much better today though and better still, i know have a week off for half term :)

The free calendar I got in Prima Magazine cheered me up - it is lovely.
 

My little old car had its MOT this week and I got a nice surprise - it passed which is a miracle.  So to celebrate we abandoned the menu plan for Friday night and had a takeaway Chicken Korma and Naan - YUM!  My son is home from Uni for the weekend and his girlfriend is here with him. It is so nice to have a noisy house again.

I made this Scrummy Yummy Carrott Cake from my meal plan.  It was a lovely moist cake but I think next time I will leave out the raisins.  The raisins weren't very popular and I have to agree.  Seeing as it is National Baking Week I also made a Dorest Apple Cake after reading about it here.  I have to say this is now my new favourite cake. 

I served it warm with a dash of cream and it went down a treat  with everyone. YUM YUM YUM :)

I have more baking planned this weekend.  First off some Yorkshire Parkin which will need to sit for 3 days to be at it's best and will be perfect to take to the caravan.  We are planning lots of walking so I will make a flask of hot chocolate and take some parkin along. 

I am also going to try a recipe that I've seen in Prima Magazine for Chocolate Millionaire's Shortcake. Good job we are going to be walking and swimming a lot next week! 

Just Call Me Mrs Thrift.

Blimey, I didn't realise sending my son to University would be quite as expensive as it is turning out! I have had to make some changes to the household budget and am now on a mission to save as much as possible to keep my lad in Super Noodles for the next three (or more) years.

I have already managed to stash £100 in the Uni pot by cutting down at the supermarket this month.  I've been using what I already have in my bulging freezers, food cupboards and fridge.  I already cook a lot of meals from stratch but I've been making a weekly menu plan and doing lots of baking.  It's suprising what a difference it all makes and I've not been throwing food away which is a bonus. Making double quantities of things like bolognese, chilli etc and freezing them as not only saved me money but time too.  In fact, I am spending much less time in the supermarket and I love knowing exactly what we are having every night.  So much easier to get on with tea when i get in from work and am too tired to think!

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This weeks meal plan

breakfasts - porridge with fruit or toast

lunch - homemade soup (tomato & lentil/leek & potato) with bread plus fruit or yogurt

dinners

Monday - Stew and dumplings

Tuesday - fish with parley sauce, mash & veg

Wednesday - 'on toast' night (everyone is back from work and then out doing various activities so we have a quick meal)

Thursday - lasagne with salad and garlic bread

Friday - chicken curry and rice

Saturday - only me in for dinner so I will have some of the left over curry, with a glass or two of wine while I watch X Factor

Sunday - roast dinner and a homemade pud (treacle sponge & custard)

Bake of the week - Carrot Cake :)

I know I am going to hate the long, dark, cold wintery nights come January, but I love the beginning of each and every new season. Autumn in particular with the nights drawing in, candles flickering in the window and comforting winter soups and stews simmering in the oven.  It's nice to get back to some home and family time, cosy nights in snuggled under blankets watching TV.  Ahhhh......

I need to buy some of these Imageo candle lights. They had some in a restaurant we ate at recently.  They are a really good idea.  You charge them up on the little charging dock and then place them around the home for cosy and SAFE candle light. All you have to do is tip them upside-down to switch them on and off.  These will fab for me as I am always lighting my candles then I have to nip out so I need to blow them out and relight them.  Plus I think they would be great for upstairs because of course, you can leave these candles unattended.

Tonight I made my first batch of soup which as been enjoyed and still lots left for work lunches. I baked some butterfly buns too so the kitchen smells delish tonight.  I am baking and cooking from stratch much more now after being inspired by Economy Gastronomy and OSMS forum.  I need to save some money, the next few years are going to be expensive,  my youngest leaves for Uni on Sunday!  I am feeling a little sad about it but glad he is going.  I still have my 21 year old at home so no empty nest yet :) Plus the Uni is only at Leeds and although he is living there it is only a 20 minute train journey home so I expect to see him now and again during term time (especially if his washing needs doing!) 

A Bag Of Chips With Scraps On Please...

 

 

We are coming to the end of our two week summer holiday at the caravan.  It is the longest stretch we get all year so I'm a bit sad.  But it has been really enjoyable.  Most of the days have been gloriously sunny and we have been out and about so we are nicely tanned.  We did have two days of non-stop rain in the middle but that was just to remind us that we are still indeed in the UK! But we were ok because we have *cagoules and scrabble! As usual we have eaten too much, drank too much and spent too much money :) But then that is what holidays are for.  We have walked miles and miles in wonderful scenery and every morning we have been swimming. We've read, shopped and done no cooking what-so-ever instead we have eaten picnic or pub lunches or chips with scraps and lots of salt and vinegar, followed by ice cream cones.  Why can't this be my life all the time? Wouldn't it be fab!

Oh well back to reality (and the diet!) on Monday! At least I still have 3 weeks off work even if I do have a ridiculously long 'to do' list to crack on with. And I better add some crafting to it seeing as I've bought lots of paper crafting materials and fabric etc.

 

Photos all taken in Scarborough.  The last one is where we parked, right next to the hotel which was used as the outside of the hospital in the ITV TV series 'The Royal'

* OMG cagoules bring back so many cringey  memories from my childhood. My parents, my brother and I all had matching red ones duringthe 70s. I must have been around 8 or 9. How bloody embarrassing. I remember wearing them at Butlins in Filey and other family days out.  How could my parents do this to us.  Traumatic!

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Blog Candy I am hoping to win - CraftyC's ,CraftyEmma's , Card Grotto and PapercraftingbyRach

Wish me luck - I keep trying but I have yet to win anything :(

Picnic Lunch

 

No sooner had  I recovered from the 'bug' I caught, I was ill again.  I've spent another week mostly in bed feeling bad.  Thank goodness I am now better.  MrFuzz went away on a golfing break earlier in the week and the lads escaped to another music festival.  Now we are back at the caravan for two weeks and I'm really looking forward to it. Hopefully we will have some nice weather so I can sit outside in the sun and have some BBQ and Pimms :)

These are some pictures i took over a week ago, during a trip to Flamborough.

 

Picnic lunch

lovely view....perfect :)

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Papercraft Blog Candy & Giveaways I've entered

Stephanie's at stamping & sharing

Michelle's at The Card Grotto

Basic Grey Challenge Blog

Claudia's at Pretty Pressings

Go visit & drool over the fantastic offerings - still time to enter!

 

 

Golf

 

A few hours well spent yesterday. MrFuzz at the driving range.

 

Reading, watching the practising, taking in the lovely view and walking along the cliffs in the fresh air.  Lovely.

Coconut Pud

Usual early Sunday morning start.  Quick cuppa then hit the car boot sales.  I think I am getting addicted to these because when I don't go I feel sick with the thought that I've missed something good.  Not that I need anymore junk but what can you do?  We have a really good car boot sale near to my home so when I am at the caravan I didn't used to bother going too often. Unfortunately, I have recently discovered that the ones here are equally good and I am spoilt for choice with seven different ones! I can never decide which one to visit.  Decided on one with a big Sunday market attached this morning.  Lots of bargains and best of all, my favourite cake stall.  I got some coconut tart which I served with custard for an after Sunday lunch treat.  I didn't manage more than a couple of spoonfuls though :( because I am still slightly off my food. 

Now I'm just listening to the pitter patter of rain on the caravan roof.  Wishing it would stop so I can go for a nice walk before I pack and leave for home.   

 

We have had so much nice weather lately, I want it to come back :)

Freedom

Woohoo ...it is the first day of my seven week summer holiday.  One of the bonuses of working in a school. I have spent most of the last week feeling really ill and even took 2 days off work, spending the whole time in bed.  I was slightly worried about swine flu (one of the teachers at school did have it) but it was just a viral infection. phew.  I am still a little wheezy and light headed but I am not going to let that stop me enjoying today.  I am at the caravan, the weather is fresh and bright which I am happy with because the forecast was heavy rain all day.  So far so good. The internet connection is surprisingly good today too :)

I have so many plans for the 7 weeks.  Camping of course with lots of days out and visiting.  Picnics, walking and days on the beach. A bit of DIY when I'm at home. Trying out new recipes.  Maybe some sewing.  Lots of reading, blogging and what ever takes my fancy.

Happy Holidays!

To Blog Or Not To Blog...that IS the question!

I have decided that I am more a reader of blogs, than an actual blogger. I'm not sure what direction this, my poor and sometimes neglected little blog is going.  Often I am full of ideas of things to blog but when I sit down to write it, my mind goes blank.  Not very productive on the craft front  lately either. I am so short of time that I can't create anything or whip up a new recipe.  Luckily I have the summer holiday coming up.  Thank goodness I work in a school.  I hate having to work full time so the summer holidays, well, all the school holidays help me through. 

Is once a week really enough to blog?  I'd like to do it more but I don't often have the time.

This week I have been mostly reading.........

 

I am doing something that I have never done before - reading two books at the same time.  I absolutely do not do it.  Ever.  I always finish a book before I open the next one. But here I am with these two little beauties on the go and I can't put them down or decide which to read from next. What a rebel.

I wanted to read this before the movie comes out

  

I know I'm always way behind everyone with what I'm reading but I'm half way through and enjoying every word.  Very entertaining. Maybe reading two at a time is the way to go?

This is the other book.

Again, a very good read so far.  The bit about the sheep in the road made me laugh out loud.