Miam Musings IV

Have you noticed how some weeks are better than others? Don't know about you guys but in this house we were on the edge of our seats for “easing” news last Sunday. In reality for us, no great change except … I can run with my friend – yippee! Whether I'll be saying that after the event is another matter entirely.

Anyway, an update. Remember me sending out a distress call to the North West re the alien abduction of all the Marmite Peanut Butter Smooth? Nobody likes a challenge better than my Sister, Whizzer (it's her nickname btw – those of us of an age will remember Billy Whizz from The Beano Comic – so called because of his speed everywhere – entirely appropriate in my Sister's case!) Having issued the challenge last Sunday it took her until Wednesday to find the illusive spread – I have awarded three Gold Stars for outstanding achievement in the face of adversity. Two jars with my name on both – it'll be worth the wait!

Moving on, here's my menu for this week :

Menu

Corned beef, potato and onion pasties

Raw slaw and roasted beetroot

A reprise of scallops and prawns with teriyaki

sauce and rice – by popular request

Pasta Alfredo

Fishcakes with stick blender mayo

and a slaw, seasoned wedges

You may have noticed there are only four mains mentioned above – that's because this week is “wing it week” or Treasure Chest week, or Lucky Dip week – any of the above will do! In other words, now is the time to reap the benefit of all that batch cooking over the last few weeks – a week off – three days really but it still counts.

My options are :

Venison

Pork

Spie

Braised steak

Four meat options to choose from on whatever night you want – jiggle them around to suit you. If you've done like I do and have cooked jacket potatoes in the fridge all you have to consider is the other veggies to serve with. Alternatively you might have new potatoes to serve and then leftovers to roast for wedges. Fly by the seat of your pants, but with help!

Last week the treat was cheese scones – they were yum by the way – this week it's a sweet treat. Not my favourite stuff but you have to look after everyone, all the more so at the moment. Mini cheesecakes here we come – lemon.

Which brings me to my rant of the week. I usually make my own lemon curd but decided to cheat and buy a jar of lemon curd – not any old lemon curd, it has to be Sicilian and my absolute favourite is M&S – there's a theme here – not a jar to be seen – in Waitrose they didn't have any “ordinary” lemon curd, consequently my options were limited, grudgingly settling for the Waitrose Duchy Organic version. However, I've set my heart on mini lemon cheesecakes – so just get on with it and stop whinging woman!

Finally, just before I go an update on flour - I'm now thinking that being able to buy a bag of flour was a mirage. If I didn't have the bag in the pantry and produced a photo to remind you what it looks like I'd think I imagined the whole thing. The shelves are completely bare again – the flour famine continues.

See you soon, stay safe and well,

Love xxx

P.s. Wouldn't leave without giving you the mini cheesecake recipe and a couple of photos!