Posh on Toast

Both my Husband and I work full time.  With three kids things can be pretty hectic!  We like to get organised each weekend and plan our meals before we shop (we are both teachers so like to organise everything!).   We both like to cook but the logistics of our evenings mean things have to be easy and quick. Often by the end of the week we have beans or egg on toast, which to me is a child's nursery tea and more often or not leaves us grumpy! (the kids love it though!).

So we came up with the idea of having something more grown up and flavoursome, but still on toast.  We called it 'Posh on Toast'!  So here is the first instalment;


Cannellini beans with Pancetta and Thyme.

This recipe was adapted from Homemade by Tana Ramsay.
It is actually supposed to be the side dish to Roast pork loin, but we loved it on our toasted chunky bread!

1tbsp Olive oil
200g/7oz piece of pancetta diced (I used pre diced pancetta from Waitrose)
2 x 400g tins of cannelleni beans, drained through a sieve and then rinsed
15g pack fresh thyme, leaves only ( I found out we had some in our garden so I just used a small handful )
1/2 chicken stock cube. dissolved in 300ml/1/2 pint boiling water
salt and pepper to taste

Heat the oil in pan and add the pancetta, fry it until the pancetta starts to crisps and the oil runs out of it.

Add the cannellini beans and thyme to the pancetta and mix together.

Pour in the stock and bring to the boil on a medium heat.  (at this point it looks like beans in water, but don't panic..)

Take 3 to 4 spoonfuls of the mixture and mash roughly in a bowl.  stir back into the pan.  (this release the starches from the beans and makes the sauce thicker!)

Season to taste and serve on freshly toasted crusty bread with wine of your choice!
Enjoy!

Pinteresting...

So this weekend I started my new challenge, to do the things on my Pinterest boards.

                                                                   Source: juicy-bits.typepad.com via Lucy on Pinterest

I decided that I would try to make one of those balloon lampshades made with string. Mainly because I had bought some red string months ago, meaning to make it!  I kind of followed the instructions that I'd seen around, but here are my hints and tips...

First you need to gather your supplies: You need a large balloon, some string, coloured is preferable, and some glue.  I managed to fish out some PVA glue which I watered down. ( apparently that makes modpodge? )

Blow up your balloon but try not to let your children steal it and pop it in the garden.  Blow up another balloon if they did and you have one.

Cut your string into pieces and dip it in the glue.  Then place the string over the balloon. When you realise that you can't stand the balloon up on anything and you have to pull the chicken out of the oven and have glue all over your hands, ask a willing 7 year old to hold the balloon steady for you.  You may wish to get the 15 year old away from the PS3 to collect a loo roll tube from the bathroom.  Just ignore the grunts.  Sellotape the cardboard tube to the bottom of the balloon whilst praying that it doesn't pop it.  Put the chicken in the oven and put on an apron as you may have already got glue on your new top.

Lastly, when all the string is dangling down and not sticking on the balloon.  Shout at your volunteer for trying to play with his cars instead of helping.  This will make him wiggle the balloon, thus making it fall into the glue.  At this point when your Husband arrives asking what on earth you are 'trying' to do, give up!

P.S It is usually best not to get the boy to pop the balloon with some scissors as the glue from the string will fly all over your kitchen. (but you probably already know that, right?)

Pinterest oh sweet pinterest...

Oh, I know that you have all heard Pinterest. And that you too are hooked!  I used to try to scribble down all the sites that I had seen ideas of things to make etc in little notebooks, but since Pinterest has come along I don't need to bother searching for where the tutorial for this was or that was.  However I have now found that I spend more time on Pinterest oohing and aaarring and repining than I do actually making anything!

                                                                    Source: kimboscrafts.blogspot.com via Lucy on Pinterest

                                                                              Source: tumblr.com via Lucy on Pinterest

                                                                         Source: blogntell.blogspot.com via Lucy on Pinterest

Look, I even found some sweet graphics to show what I mean!  So after spending more time this week on Pinterest than at my sewing machine, I have decided to challenge myself to do what I wanted to use Pinterest for. The inspiration to make stuff!  Each week I will make sure that I do or make or cook at least 1 thing that I have pinned on my boards.  So there, I've said it. So now I will have to do it! eeeek!

mmmm... must just browse my boards to see what I must make. (he he he!)

Celebrate Colour!

It's the 1st of September, which is always New Year for me.  I am a Secondary School teacher, so along with getting my kids prepped and ready to start the new term I do too.  New shoes? check New uniform? check (nice navy wool dress from TK Maxx - Bargin!).  New pens and pencils?  mmm not yet but Wild Olive's pencil wraps may be just what i'm looking for to smarten up my old ones!

Anyway, I am also excited because it will soon be Autumn, which is my favourite season.  The colours, the smells, the anticipation of the holidays.  It is usually the most hectic time so I am so glad that Rachel from Stitched in Colour is running a Celebrate Colour series.  It will ensure that I focus on making stuff ready for presents etc and not just sit in front of the TV watching films, drinking spiced hot chocolate when the kids are in bed - although that does sound tempting!

I can't actually believe how soon those Autumn colours are coming around here.  Our summer has been the coldest for 20 years or so the papers say. The leaves are changing from green to reds and browns already.  My blog header picture is from our back garden so you can see the colours.

My favourite Autumn colour has to be purple or plum as some call it - that reminds me I must show you my hubby's spiced plum jam, it's like Autumn in a jar mmmmmm!
When we went camping last weekend I found my inspiration for the season.  The heather on the top of the Long Mynd looked amazing!

I know I have some Rico Creative Cotton in purple lying around somewhere. now all I need to do is think about what to make!

Bank Holiday Weekend

For my first post I would like to share with you some pictures of a lovely weekend I had with the family camping in south Shropshire.  Daisy (the camper) had been fixed, the weather was good (sort of) and the kids behaved ( if you don't count the screaming from little bear!)

Even the father-in-law had fun running through the fields!  Sunshine and showers, good food and chilly nights, typical british camping.

On the Monday we went to Long Mynd, the drive was a touch nail biting but the view was worth it.  Charlie loved bounding through the heather!

Later there was a fete at the local village rectory, tea and scones, hog roast, tombola etc, but best of all was the dog show! Charlie came 4th in the most beautiful bitch competition, but it was obviously a fix!!!

It was such fun to get together with everyone and enjoy the last of the summer before school starts next week. it was also the first time we had been able to enjoy Daisy for a long time.  Cant wait to do it again soon!