Old Mother Hubbard the Update...........

Last week I set myself the challenge of using up the contents of our bulging food cupboard and freezer and so far so good!

Remember this?

Well here it is now.....

Much better, out of date items gone, like with like and most important, I know what is there!

After checking the freezer and fridge I compiled a menu for the week and the following shopping list:

Butternut Squash

Broccoli
Mushrooms

Tuna in spring water

Cheese sauce

Garlic bread

Orange juice

Sunday

Fish cakes with mini jackets and broccoli

Monday

Lamb, roasties and roast vine tomatoes, there was enough meat left to make Sophie 3 portions of her fave lamb casserole too!

Tuesday

Chicken katsu curry (and yes I made the curry sauce myself!)

I also turned this....

Into this......

 Wednesday

Beef chili with grated cheese and potato wedges

Thursday

Gnocchi with tomato sauce (served this with garlic bread but forgot to cook it so we ate it after!)

So there you go a whole weeks meals and there is still enough for more meals!
The challenge continues!

Lots of Love xxxx

Welcome......

To the new year, a new blog and, for me, a new challenge!

I have set myself the slightly panic inducing challenge of decluttering my home and therefore (hopefully) my mind.  

The Confession......

I've mentioned decluttering so many times in the past at 'Kelly's Recipes For Life' that I should have my home organised to within an inch of its life, sadly this is not the case and no matter how ruthless I am I still find myself searching for what I need.  I still feel that, despite the wardrobe full of clothes, I have nothing to wear.  I'm fed up with being late or forgetting things because I'm just not that well organised!

My house is far from an imminent visit from Kim and Aggie, it is (usually) spotlessly clean and  to the naked eye it is tidy enough, I never feel that I can't invite people inside but I know that if they just opened that drawer or looked inside that beautiful sea grass basket they would see the real me and heavens forbid they asked me to find my keys!  

I have, on countless occasions, ruthlessly culled my belongings, and each time the house improves to a point but obviously as life changes what we value does too and I suppose this is just another stage in the journey.  I'm a Mum now and my little baby is growing into an inquisitive, mobile toddler, and like many women in my position, family is the focus of my attention leaving less time for me to indulge in the hobbies from my distant past. 

The Challenge.......

I have given myself a realistic timescale of one full year to properly explore and assess what I own and 'use it or loose it'.  Obviously (given my previous experiences) outing as much as possible over the course of a week or two just isn't the answer, I also am not prepared to forfeit time spent with my little girl for the sake of a tidy garage.  I will dispose of all items in as an environmentally friendly way as possible, that being donating to charity, selling or giving to a new owner (who really has a use for it!), recycling or simply making sure the items are used up rather than cluttering up!

I was reluctant to incorporate this latest endeavour into my 'normal' blog and hope you agree that this subject is worthy of a blog all of it's very own!

I am hoping that, at least, some of my followers from 'Kelly's Recipes For Life' will visit me here and offer the encouragement and tips or even join in if you feel like I do!

We might even have fun along the way!!!