Batch Cooking & Pancakes...

Well I had to try my recipe to check it worked ;-)

Step 1 - Mixture poured into the frying pan...


Step 2 - Flipping it!! Takes much concentration by the looks of it!


Step 3 - Smother with lemon juice and sugar..


Step 4 - Gone!!....Next...


Now, I have had a somewhat turbulent couple of weeks and during this I had my first Organic vegetable box delivery (*Yey*).

I am really pleased with the contents of the box I absolutely wholeheartedly believe in paying more for Organic & wherever possible UK produce, we also had Organic Milk and Bread delivered. The service from Abel & Cole has been absolutely fantastic as well. They phoned the day before delivery to say it was coming and to see if i had any questions and then phoned the day after delivery to check I was happy with everything!

The only problem I face is that due to recent circumstances I am spending large amounts of time either with family (here or at theirs) and therefore do not have the time (or inclination) to cook.
I am still getting over the flu I had over the prior weekend as well and I know that in order for my body to feel well and to have a better sense of well being I need to feed my body with something decent.

So instead of eating the veg fresh as and when needed I am going to batch cook as much of it as possible (otherwise it will end up in the compost as it was not used as i didn't have time).

So perishable contents of fridge:
cauliflower, white cabbage, swede, lettuce

Perishable contents of cupboard:
potatoes

Perishable contents of veg box:
Leeks, onions, potatoes, celeric, mushrooms, tomatoes, carrots, green cabbage, lettuce

What will I be cooking?

Leek & Potato Soup (using the leeks & half of the potatoes)(Chopped 5 leeks and 5 potatoes and fryed in butter, added 2 pints of chicken stock, blended and sieved it smells delicious!)

Italian tarts (using mushrooms and tomatoes and puff pastry from freezer)(Puff pastry rolled out and cut into squares, scored 1cm from edge, tomato puree spread on middle, chopped tomatoes, mushrooms and cheddar cheese placed onto and drizzled with olive oil) (Also made sausage meat and stuffing plait to use up the rest of the pastry).

Cornish pasties (using potato, onion, swede, carrots and minced beef from freezer will make shortcrust pastry from scratch)
Cabbages, lettuces and grated carrot use as salad with tarts or pasties.

Cereriac ?? Never had this before I have no idea what to do with it! Anyone??

Also in a recent post I said I would use the old style ashtray/soapdish by the sink...here it is...


Also the old style pot I had from grans is being used to hold my utensils, and you can see the lamp in my kitchen to save me using a bazillion lights in the kitchen fittings! You can also see my notepad where I had just been listing the freezer contents!


And to sign off I thought I would list 5 things I am thankful for as I haven't done it for a while and it is very easy to become wrapped up in yourself when you are grieving.

1. That my gran & gramp are together. It may be difficult for me and the family to move on without gran but ultimately she is back where she belongs, by his side.
2. My Ipod. I used to sing in a band with my sisters from the age of 10 to 15. We made a few CD's and did bookings at pubs and clubs a couple of times a month. Although I do not regret giving it up I absolutely love singing. I got my Ipod a few christmases ago and singing along to it helps me deal with so many thoughts and feelings. I feel really good when I have just sung my heart out!
3. That I am fortunate enough to have a job which enables me to save for an emergency fund/house/baby fund. And that alongside this I still have some spare to help charities and people who need it. I am going to do a car bootsale soon to raise more money for the house fund and (mainly) to declutter. How fortunate I am to have excess to sell off.
4. I am thankful for my parents in law and husband being 'OK' with gran coming here to die. I am filled with such peace and calm knowing her wish of being 'at home' was fulfilled and her being here enabled all the family to be her when she passed. I will NEVER ever stop being thankful for that.
5. I am also thankful for my family. They are not perfect be any means and they may cause me shedloads of stress but they love me. I am so lucky to have a family that love me and are there for me.

I hope everyone is ok - please share your 5 if you leave a comment!!