Leftovers ... and a Birthday Meal Out

 

After leaving myself with a lonely, single sausage after a sausage bun for my lunch last week, I decided this morning that I had better use it up and free some more space in my freezer.  

I could have made myself a mini single sausage Toad in the Hole, or cooked it up, sliced it and added it to a bowl of pasta for an evening meal, but I was feeling lazy so instead I simply popped it into the Remoska to cook. 

And while it was cooking away I whipped up a mini, slightly cheesy omelette using one egg and a big pinch of grated cheese, and using the biscuit cutter that was nearest in size to my slices of bread as a shaping device.

As you can see it worked a treat, and with the sausage sliced in half made for a tasty and surprisingly filling breakfast.

I'm a bit late in posting today as we enjoyed a real family day yesterday, we were helping my little great-grandson Finley-James celebrate his 2nd birthday.  His birthday was actually on Friday, he had a party with all his little friends and family members on Saturday at a soft-play venue, and then he had a meal with our side of the family and his big and little brothers yesterday.  This photo is of him letting off a bit of steam after finishing his lunch, he needed to he seemingly has the same big appetite that his dad and grandad had at that age.

While Finley-James and his great grandad Pete both tucked into chicken nuggets and chips, for my lunch I chose BBQ Cauliflower Wings served with a lovely cous cous based side salad, absolutely delicious and a bit more complicated than this mornings simple breakfast ... oh and for the record great-grandad Alan had Hunters Chicken and chips.  😀

Now it's all back to normal and menu planning for the week ahead.

Sue xx

Just a Relaxing Sunday Post

 

Abbot's Bay, Derwent Water in the Lake District

Photo copyright Graham Shaw - my brother.

A peaceful, cooling photo for what has been promised to be a hot, hot day.

Cleaning Fruit by William K Blacklock

Something a lot of us are doing at the moment, before jam making, bottling or freezing.

A beautiful green kitchen, and you all know how much I love a green kitchen.  💚

And finally, somewhere to sit and drink the coffee that you make in the beautiful green kitchen.

Hoping you have a lovely relaxing Sunday.  

Sue xx

 

My Back to Basics plan is going quite well.  

True I have spent a bit more than I meant to already this month, and on things that I really didn't need.  But just having the plan on the back of my mind is making me do so much better.

It's oh so easy to let things slide isn't it, you start by not always writing shopping lists or menu plans, and maybe eating slightly too much because you have cooked too much, and then not saving the leftovers for the start of another meal.  So I have been thinking a bit more about things this week, and using my purposeful leftovers.  The remaining two portions of baked beans after this breakfast the other day were incorporated into lunches.

The top photo simply adding two hash browns from the freezer to the plate.

Then a nice baked potato with the final pot of beans and a sprinkle of cheese.

While I have been a bit remiss about making out shopping lists, well I only needed two items so I decided not to write them down, even if I did come away with a couple more ... I have been good about following the menu plan.  

As you can see from this photo taken at the end of last week, I ate all bar two days meals directly off the menu plan.

So they were added straight to the top of the next menu plan.

The burger was delicious, with added onion, homegrown tomatoes and cheese.

And the 'Wrap Pizza' was delicious and very satisfying.  It made good use of a small tub of pasta sauce and half of a small tub of Mediterranean vegetables from the freezer

I switched around the fish fillets and new potatoes instead of the pie, that was destined for last night as it was just far too hot for pie and gravy, but apart from that I have been just as good at following my plan this past week.  

Will I make the soup tomorrow ... perhaps not for the same reason, but the beauty of a menu plan is that it gives you ideas when you just cannot think straight at the end of a long and perhaps busy day.  It doesn't have to be written in stone and rigidly adhered to, and sometimes it can simply be beans on toast again.  😁

Sue xx

When Life Gives You Lemons ...

 

When life gives you lemons ... buy more yellow stuff to match them.  😄

I called into Booths after having my haircut first thing yesterday morning.  It was so hot outside and deliciously cool in the store so I followed the cool air.  I mainly wanted some lemons and a banana, so I think I got away quite lightly with only three other things leaping into my trolley.

It was so lovely and cool in there that I decided to go upstairs and treat myself to a coffee.  Between the coffee and a glass of tap water I managed to stay in the cool of the café for almost an hour, replying to comments on previous blog posts, doing my Wordle and my Woodoku daily puzzle and generally enjoying the chilly air-con.

Then it was back home before my ice-lollies melted in the heat of the car. 

I struck gold, well coffee-ground gold in the café for the first time while I was there.  

They have a basket at the end of the counter that has a sign saying 'Coffee Grounds for Your Garden, please help yourself'.  I have never seen any in it, obviously going in so early in the morning is the way forward, so I might have to call for another cup of coffee early one morning.  😉

Coffee grounds can be a beneficial addition to your garden, improving soil structure, providing nutrients, and even deterring pests when used correctly.

Benefits of Coffee Grounds

1. Nutrient Content: Used coffee grounds contain about 2% nitrogen, along with trace amounts of phosphorus, potassium, and micronutrients like calcium and magnesium. These nutrients can help promote healthy plant growth. 
2. Soil Improvement: Coffee grounds can enhance soil structure by improving drainage and aeration. As they decompose, they contribute to the formation of humus, which is essential for healthy soil. 
3. Microbial Activity: Adding coffee grounds to your compost or soil can stimulate microbial activity, which is crucial for breaking down organic matter and enriching the soil. 
4. Pest Deterrent: Coffee grounds can help deter slugs and other pests, making them a useful addition to your garden. 
5. How to Use Coffee Grounds

• As a Soil Amendment: Sprinkle used coffee grounds directly onto the soil or mix them into the top few inches. Aim for a layer no thicker than 1/2 inch to prevent compaction and water resistance. 
• In Compost: Coffee grounds are considered a "green" material in composting, meaning they are high in nitrogen. They should make up no more than 15-20% of your total compost volume to maintain a balanced mix with "brown" materials like dried leaves. 
• For Specific Plants: While coffee grounds can benefit many plants, they are particularly good for acid-loving plants like azaleas and blueberries. However, they may not be suitable for all plants, so it's essential to monitor how your plants respond. 
• Precautions

• Avoid Fresh Grounds: Do not use fresh coffee grounds, as they are high in caffeine and acidity, which can harm plants. Always use used grounds that have been brewed.
• Monitor Application: Over-application can lead to compaction and create a barrier that prevents water from reaching plant roots. Use coffee grounds sparingly and assess your soil's needs before application. 
  By incorporating coffee grounds into your gardening practices, you can enhance soil health and promote robust plant growth while recycling a common kitchen waste product.

1.                           

 I thought that this might be useful.

Sue xx

The Cupboard Under the Stairs

 

Not that I have too many at the moment.

But poor Alan after supposedly retiring back in February is still working through the last of our final contract ... and without pay!!

The company he works for had very kindly paid him upfront for our final contract so that we could set the wheels in motion to legally close down our limited company.  But then more and more has had to be added to the workload, and now because he is an honourable man and a lot of it is teaching people how to do the work that he used to do, he is ploughing through it.  

Thank goodness my side of things is all done and dusted.

With Alan being away this week and me having no dogs to walk, talk to or look after it has felt very strange.  Ginger is not quite the companion that Mavis was.  His needs are few and very simple, and he has taken to sleeping in the cupboard under Alan's stairs so I'm not even seeing that much of him ... although it is lovely and cool in there so I could join him.  😁

The photo of Ginger is an older one ... he's not around for me to photograph at the moment!!

Sue xx