Super easy lamb tagine

This one is ridiculously easy! I made it when I had hardly any food in the house and was forced to become inventive.

I dry fry lamb pieces. Add a tablespoon or two of honey. Add a sliced onion and a minced clove of garlic. I brown that for a bit. Then I add my spices! Two teaspoons each of cumin, ground coriander and cinnamon. I add a drained and rinsed can of chickpeas. Finally I add two tins of plum tomatoes. I let it bubble away and reduce down at a medium heat for around half an hour. I usually go off and do a few jobs around the house. I serve it with couscous.

It's incredibly tasty given how little effort it takes. Toddler also adores it.

Table setting relief!

I had a painter in the house for the last two weeks and things have been in total disarray to say the least! Everything from the kitchen was piled onto my table and we were eating surrounded by junk for a week. It was miserable! I was cooking great food but the experience of eating it was awful. I started putting things to rights today as all the work was done. It felt great to set the table. My mother is coming over tonight so I'm happy it looks so good.

My top tip for table setting is to use large mats in addition to a table cloth. It really cuts down on stains!

Getting Organised

I started reading a blog called www.iheartorganising.com. I am SO motivated now! I have been trying to organise a drawer or a cupboard every day. This is what I was working on yesterday. I didn't take any before photos because I don't need to embarrass myself on the internet. Ta da!

This is my snack cupboard. I added baskets. It makes it easier to categorise things and stop things from falling over.

This is where I keep pasta, rice and grains. I already had most things in jars but i added a little shelf as space was tight. I also lined both drawers with kids wallpaper that I bought in IKEA. I keep opening them to look at my work. I'm so proud!!!

Father's day breakfast picnic

For father's day I planned a beautiful breakfast picnic. I had my picnic basket and blankets ready to go and a lot of food prepared the night before. I woke up and it was raining. A lot. Alas and welaway! My breakfast picnic was now just breakfast.

I had planned the food in terms of portability. I made breakfast muffins

French toast casserole

And fruit salad

With tea, freshly made apple juice and Prosecco. I am devastated that my breakfast picnic didn't go ahead but it was still a delicious normal, indoor breakfast. I opened the French doors beside the table so it would feel a bit like outside.

Samphire

Today in the fishmonger I saw this. It is only available for six weeks in the whole year in Ireland. It is a type of seaweed and is very good for you.You can eat it raw or lightly sautée it with garlic and butter. This is a beautiful accompaniment to a fish dish. It would also be lovely with an aperitif along with olives and capers.

Table setting

I love to set the table very nicely once a week. I just have to maintain it all week which is easy enough. It makes dinner more special and helps to ensure that it doesn't feel like a rushed chore. I try to remember to light the candles every night too although I do forget more often than not. To protect against the toddler I just lift up his corner while we eat. I have an oil cloth underneath. When we finish eating I wipe it up and put the tablecloth back down.

I love Pimms!