Stretching a chicken to last a family a week
I am rewriting the posts for stretching a roasted chicken to the max - making it last a 4 person family a whole week.
I've done most of the recipes now and just need to make sure everything links together properly.
After this marathon, I'm going to do another series, using different recipes, starting off with a whole poached chicken rather than roasted. Can't wait to get started on that! I already know what recipes I will be using.
I made a risotto as part of the roasted chicken series which came out lovely, have written that recipe up. Just got the pie and the fritters to go. The fritters are now an extra recipe rather than part of the series, and I need to make sure all the links work properly
The weather
The heat meant that I haven't been doing much exercise, but I haven't been very hungry either. Read an interesting thing the other day that said that women tend to eat less when it's hot, but that men tend to eat more. Have you found that? Judging by the size of my husbands dinner last night, it's true in this house!
Now it's not so scorchio, we went out for a bit of a walk at Beachy Head. It was beautiful, stunning views, blue blue sky. And there were two small planes doing stunts right by the cliffs. Practicing for the Eastbourne Airborne maybe?
There was a bit of rain last night. The garden is absolutely desperate. The extreme heat turned some of my plants to brown crisps! As I write there are clouds overhead and I'm hoping we'll have some more. July has been so dry. Great for getting out and about, festivals and sporting events, not so great for crops.
Have been busy weeding the garden, always tidying to do isn't there. The runner beans are still not happy. The plants are a lot less bushy than usual, and although there have been flowers, hardly any are setting. We've had just the odd one here and there so far.
And the courgette are hopeless - nary a one. I've been watering, but nope - zilch.
Still, the loganberries were fabulous this year. And the cherry tomatoes - blimey, we nearly look like tomatoes now we've had so many. Love a tomato straight off the vine!
Birthday
It's my birthday this week, and today (Sunday) we had a little gathering. There were 9 members of family in the garden. To make it easier (for me!) I suggested that everyone brought a plate to share. These things always seem to work out without anyone having to administer a list of dishes.
I had a little panic and got extras, so we'll be having those this week at some point.
One daughter and family couldn't make it which was a shame. But we all enjoyed it so much, we've resolved to do it all again very soon.
So nice sitting out in the garden, even if bits of the garden are brown and crispy!
Everyone then dispersed to their various abodes to watch the Euros. They didn't want to watch it here, they had to get ready for work tomorrow, or someone was coming round to watch with them or something.
I cheered myself hoarse. Been watching since the beginning and I'm so so proud of them !
Women's football has really taken off and I'm hoping that young girls will be encouraged and enabled to play
So, back to the recipes!
What I've been making in previous Julys
Peanut Oat Cakes with Roasted Onions & Green Pea Hummus
I love these oat cakes, they are filling and keep me going for ages. There are lots of vegetable purees that can be boosted with chick peas or beans of some kind. I've been having this pea one a few times lately which doesn't have any beans in as the meal plan it is featured in didn't have any available - you can always add some!
Easy Poached Pears in Apple Juice
A simple little pudding, contains no alcohol and is great for summer fruit, for a gathering or any time you like.
Savoury Baked Oats
Baked oats have become very popular, but have you ever thought of having savoury ones? I wondered one day if it would work, tried it and it was delicious!
An e-book or two
I published an ebook for meal plan 1 in August 2021 and am delighted that many people have thought it was worth getting. I've repriced it again in June 2022 and it's still holding on, even in these scary times.
I've managed to get my head around WooCommerce so I can feature it on the blog and you can find it here.
I was busy recooking, photographing and updating the recipes for Meal Plan 2 and putting them into an ebook as well. The meal plan was first written in 2013 and still prices up, which is fabulous and that is finally complete.
Do come and say hello on the Fantastically Frugal Food Facebook group, or the Sensational Slimming Sustenance group. I'd love to see you. Lots of useful tips, recipes and ideas. The over 17,000 membership are brilliant, brimming with talent.
And don't forget Thrifty Lesley, where there are 800+ recipes of fantastically frugal food and many weekly meal plans. And Cheap Family Recipes where you can find all kinds of delicious things that don't cost much, with two family monthly meal plans.
I've also got a few YouTube videos up, not many yet, but I'm planning to do more. I've done a couple more, need to edit them now. So much to do, so little time!
With all best wishes, until next time
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