I love my vegetable garden!

Yesterday I was very hungry and very lazy. I had no food in the fridge and no desire to go to the supermarket. My toddler and my dog were amusing themselves digging up potatoes in the raised bed in the garden. It's messy but it keeps them quiet! I grabbed some potatoes and I picked some beans. I was able to make a delicious and healthy Niçoise salad. Boiled potatoes, boiled egg, green beans, a tomato and a tin of tuna. For dressing I just used olive oil and balsamic vinegar as I was so low on ingredients. I didn't take a photo as my toddler and I ate it so fast! I only have a small garden but I love growing vegetables in it. My husband does most of the work on it and he really enjoys it. It's his little hobby.

French Toast Casserole

I LOVE French toast!!!! Unfortunately, I'm not a morning person. I googled loads of French toast casseroles but they all seemed really unhealthy and sugary so I just made up my own. It's very easy and Saturday mornings are now a delicious breeze. I use brioche rolls. I slice them in half and arrange them in a casserole dish. In the middle I add a punnet of raspberrys.

This adds sweetness and a lovely tart note. I add a second layer of brioche and sprinkle with cinnamon.

I make a custard. I beat three eggs with a teaspoon of vanilla extract (I didn't have any today and it still tasted amazing). I add three quarters of a cup of whole milk (you can add some cream if you want to make it richer).

I pour this over the brioche and wrap it tightly in cling film.

This goes into the fridge overnight. The next morning I remove the cling film and cover it in tin foil. Make sure you cut a cross into the foil to let the steam escape. I put it in the oven at 200 degrees for half an hour. I then remove the tin foil and bake it for another ten minutes.

Then I put a punnet of fresh raspberries and blueberries on top. It looks fantastic.

We ate ours outside in the shade as it was a beautiful day with a side of watermelon.

For the last two weeks I have been gradually transforming the house (in organisational terms). I organise a drawer completely every single day. This involves taking EVERYTHING out. No short cuts! I am focusing on the kitchen and my bedroom to start. I line each drawer with wrapping paper or wallpaper. When the drawer looks super cute I'm hoping that I won't want to mess it up.

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.