Tuesday, April 27, 2010

The Very Merry Month of May

I have a trip planned to France and London in May; holidays for me are like buses, none for ages then they all come along at the same time, causing chaos.   May is also home to husband's birthday, a concert, 5 school holidays, 6 birthday parties, the school disco and parent's day.   Top that with friends donning the Bermuda shorts to fling caution to the wind/snow/thunder and lightning by dragging out the dusty BBQ and you've got a pretty hectic month.   It's got nothing on June though..........

None of this is complaining, you understand; au contraire, I am veree 'appy, mademoiselles.   It's just a wee bit "aaaargh" and a wee bit "when-do-I-do-the-laundry".   

But since it's still only April, we shall sit back and smell the roses/smoked brioche puffs/mince and tatties.   I have a few days until the madness and fun begins.

I was remiss in my homely duties today because shopping, despite being on the list was forgotten; instead, I went to yoga....wonderful, tiring.....then met Shona for coffee and lunch....lovely.... and straight to the school to draw and paint circus decorations....strange.   I made macaroni cheese when I got home, explaining to Kelly along the way what 'necessity is the mother of invention' means; she asked why the cheese sauce tasted even more delicious och, she's a flatterer that 'un than normal although I did get "um...it needs some more pepper, mum"...there's always a critic....and I explained that I only had a little drop of milk left so I used cream for the rest of the white sauce before adding the cheddar cheese.   Hence my use of the phrase regarding mothers and necessities.

This week, we've had................

Chicken and Olive Stew with dumplings

Curried Parsnip Soup with Quick Pan Bread

Spaghetti Sugo (Spag Bog by any other name)
Lucy's favourite!
 
 Happy kids

Potato and Butternut Squash Soup

Lemon Roast Chicken stuffed with Savoury Rice
Plus roasted carrots, potatoes, onions, butternut squash, 
steamed broccolli and green beans and baby boiled tatties.

I shall make a new shopping list up tonight, do the trip tomorrow and add it this week, along with one or two recipes.   Have a wonderful week, bloggy peeps.

14 comments:

Brittany said...

You are one busy lady, Helen! Enjoy all your trips and your chaos because May will be over before you know it.

I'm spell-bound by your beautiful Easter Cake, btw. Your culinary talents never cease to amaze me.

Helen McGinn said...

Thank you Brittany, I wing it most of the time so I really appreciate that! xx

Mama Up! said...

I know it's just the angle of the pic, but the spaghetti snapshot is truly freaky!

Unknown said...

Sounds wonderful! Would love for you to share one your yummy recipes in my Whatcha Cooking Wednesday Recipe link-up!!
http://www.mamabirdnest.com/2010/04/whatcha-got-cooking-wednesday-greek.html

aladdinsane12 said...

spaghetti bolognese is my absolute favorite! i would eat that entire plateful. no joke. i love your kids' sauce-covered faces!

mimbles said...

All right, cough up on the Chicken and Olive Stew recipe! We're heading into colder months down this way and that looks perfect to add to my arsenal :-) (You know, only if you were planning on blogging it...pretty please?)

Love the spag and kid pics, saucy grins FTW!

Helen McGinn said...

Christa, *L* It does look freaky!

Mama Bird, sounds great! x

aladdinsane, actually, me too, not that I get the chance..... ;O) x

mimbles, I'll definitely post it, it was a tasty one. x

Melissa B. said...

Oh, comfort food should go quite a ways toward settling everyone down, I would think. Good luck with such a full plate!

Jayne said...

*Five* school holidays in May??! There are two/three public hols way down here in 'sunny' Jersey (still not sure if we're getting Liberation Day 'in lieu' this year). If you're beating us by two more then I think we should complain ... to someone!

Mhel said...

Your lemon roasted chicken looks sumptuous. Looks like the kids had fun.....And I've just given you an award! Checkout my last post for the details... U

koralee said...

I so hear you about May...we have so many Birthdays this month...it is crazy...have a fun trip you lucky girl. xoxox

Claudya Martinez said...

My birthday is in May too.

Maria said...

Lovely post as usual and the food...good job I ate before I came over, this blog usually has me salivating. I love May because it's my birthday month. LOL xxx

Jenny said...

Love post from a busy, busy lady. Your photos always make me quite hungry! I think that means you're doing a great job!