Book review : Friends Are Forever - Mike Martin

 

I did a bit of a double-take when I started writing this review. I went to check which number book this one is in the Sgt. Windflower series and discovered that it is number 16. How is that even possible ?! Yes, our friendly, kind, even-tempered Mountie hero has already starred in an amazing 15 other books. This surely explains why readers (or at least I) have a real sense of coming home and catching up with a family member or friend when a new Sgt. Windflower book hits the shelves.

If you have yet to read any of the books in the series, let me explain the homely setting and its heart-warming main character. Sgt. Windflower is a RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) officer who lives in the small town of Grand Bank. Imagine beautiful sea views disappearing in the swirling fog that also hides the numerous giant moose lurking on the fringes of the roads, with a distinct scent of por'cakes and curried salmon wafting along on the breeze. As well as being a police officer, Sgt. Windflower is a big-hearted family man, husband to Sheila and daddy to two daughters, Stella and Amelia Louise, as well as guardian of two pets, a dog named Lady who loves to go for walks with Windflower and a cat called Molly who is far too important to cast a look at her master if he doesn't come bearing salmon-flavoured gifts ! Sgt. Windflower also shares some elements of his Cree heritage, whether through his smudging rituals or his dreamweaving, where he catches up with his family members who have passed on.

Sgt. Windflower has a close-knit group of friends and workmates who pop up in the various novels. Colleagues Eddie and Carrie Tizzard, along with their growing brood of children, Herb Stoodley at the local diner The Mug-Up and the whisky, food and literary quotation-lover Doc Sanjay, who sadly puts in his final appearance in this novel.

Despite all the good times in Newfoundland (the novel begins with a celebration for the newly promoted members of Sgt. Windflower's team), criminal shenanigans are never far away and this book throws Windflower into a series of violent bank heists, involving international mobsters and local biker gangs. As the body count starts to rise, Windflower realises that these crimes are the test run for a bigger crime spree, probably based in Toronto. 

While he doesn't hold back, even willing to put his own life on the line, it's the warmer, more comforting moments of his life that will keep me coming back for more tales of his life - a catch-up with friends, a good meal shared with loved ones or a witty battle of Shakespearean quotes with his friends. Bring it on, Sgt. Windflower, bring it on !

star rating : 4/5

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ottawa Press and Publishing Mystery
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ 1 May 2025
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 286 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1990896308
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1990896309

Disclosure : I received a review copy of the book in order to share my honest opinion.

Degustabox May 2025 review : BBQ & Garden Party

 

The latest Degustabox arrived last week and the theme got me feeling all excited and warm inside : BBQ and Garden Party. That's as good as announcing that summer is almost here and everything that that signifies - lazy days off work, going out for long walks in the warm sunshine, heading off on our big family holiday, catching up on my me-time. Bring it on, I say ! In the meantime, let's have a little look at what was hiding away in the Degustabox

 

First of all, I pulled out The Hungry Boar Flamin' Piri Piri Sticklers (RRP £1.50) which are a new product that are sure to appeal to all the carnivores out there. They are made with seasoned, smoked and cured pork and they taste delicious, reminding me of the kabanos sausages I tasted in Poland. The hot piri piri flavour didn't really appeal to me but they are available in other flavours, including chicken, pork and loaded cheese. As well as tasting great, they will fight hunger pangs and provide a good source of protein. Available at Tesco and selected convenience stores.

Blue Raspberry and Bubblegum Squeezits (RRP 2 x 69p) are a new kids' drinks option that instantly had me squealing "I remember those !" I was right too - produced in Austria since 1973, they were introduced to the UK market in the 1980's. My tastes have changed since my childhood though so the sweet shop-inspired flavours didn't really appeal to me. While I now favour natural, subtle flavours, the blue raspberry and bubblegum flavours did appeal to the Madhouse kids, who also loved the idea of squeezing the packaging to release the drink. Available at ASDA, B&M, Home Bargains, Iceland and numerous other stores.

Batchelors Super Noodles Air (RRP 2 x £1.45) are a new twist on instant noodles, made with air dried noodles rather then fried. Just as quick and easy to prepare as the regular kind, they are high in fibre, low in fat and a source of protein. Just add boiling water and they are ready to devour in five minutes. I personally would add some leftover cooked chicken and veggies but Pierre is happy to munch on them just with the seasoning sachets added. He loved both the BBQ Beef and Chicken flavours and asked me to buy some more. Perfect for a quick lunch or snack if you're running short on time or energy. Available at all major supermarkets.

 

Pelagonia Chargrilled Aubergine Slices (RRP £3.20) offer a simple way of adding a taste of the Mediterranean to your mealtimes. They can be eaten hot or cold, served straight from the jar in salads, antipasti or meze sharing boards or on top of crunchy bruschetta. They could even be added to cooked dishes, including aubergine parmigiana, pizza or pide, shakshouka, aubergine rolls stuffed with ricotta or, if you want something a bit more exotic, sabich pita with boiled eggs, hummus and tahini or make a veggie tart with a puff pastry base. I'm not keen on aubergines but even I was won over by the smoky flavour. Available at Ocado, Coop and Booths.

Proper Mature Cheddar Popcorn (RRP £1.90) is a new flavour to be added to the range of Proper Popcorn, which we have already tried and loved. I wasn't sure about cheesy popcorn but it does actually work very well, offering a rich, tangy mature cheddar flavour to get your tastebuds tingling. High in fibre and coming in at under 100 calories, it is also gluten free and uses all natural flavourings. Available in Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, ASDA and Ocado.

 

Mixologist's Garden Freeze Dried Sweet Strawberries (RRP £2.50) are a great and simple way of adding some pizzazz to cocktails and mocktails. Delicious, juicy strawberries are freeze dried to lock in their natural flavour and colour so all you have to do is float them on your favourite drinks. They could be mixed up into smoothies or used to top cupcakes too. Available in Tesco, Amazon, East of England Coop and www.mixologistsgarden.com

Crunchips X-cut Paprika (RRP £1.25) are gluten-free, deliciously flavoured, crinkle cut crisps that were deemed so tasty here at The Madhouse that I barely got a look-in ! They have a bold flavour and the texture seems extra thick and crispy. Utterly delicious. 

Kit Kat Hazelnut Flavour (RRP 85p) is a new take on the classic chocolate-covered wafer biscuit snack. I was expecting the regular bar to have a hazelnut filling but it is actually the chocolate itself that has been infused with a hazelnut flavour. I already loved the crispiness of the original Kit Kat bar but I was won over by the richness of the extra hazelnut flavour that reminded me of nibbling on praline chocolates at Christmas time. Available at all major supermarkets.

Creative Nature Apple & Cinnamon Oatie Snack Bar (RRP £1.40) is a gluten, dairy and nut-free snack bar that is actually free from the top 14 allergens. It is also kosher, vegan and contains no added sugar or artificial sweeteners. Alongside the natural apple flavour, there is a hint of warming spice that adds a real feel-good factor while you're nibbling. It's a simple bar with natural wholesomeness that makes you feel good about eating it. Available on the Creative Nature website.

 

Cape Herb & Spice Rub Greek Style Lemon & Herb Seasoning (RRP £3.75) is a tasty, Mediterranean-inspired spice blend, made with zesty lemon, roasted garlic and woody herbs. It can be sprinkled over most meat in the frying pan or on the barbecue, but it works particularly well with lamb, chicken or potatoes. I have also been experimenting on using it with fish, including salmon. It adds a great taste of freshness and summer sunshine. Available at Tesco, Sainsbury's and Morrisons.

Cirio Polpa Finissimo Finely Chopped Tomatoes (RRP £1.50) are this month's Product of the Month. This new product takes the same ripe Italian tomatoes and chops them into smaller chunks before adding a rich tomato sauce that will add a fresh taste of Italy to whatever you're cooking. Whether you're eating, pizza, pasta, tomato soup, chilli or a meaty casserole, these tomatoes are the perfect ingredient. Already available at Ocado and Morrisons.

for more information :

http://bit.ly/DBhomepage - website

http://bit.ly/DBUKfacebook - Facebook

http://bit.ly/DBUKTwitter - twitter

Also now on Instagram @DegustaboxUK

Disclosure : We received the box in order to write an honest review. As a Degustabox blogger, I receive all of the products that go into the monthly boxes, but subscribers may not get exactly the same selection.

What's Cooking At The Madhouse ? menu plan week 20

This week was a quiet, normal week which was just what was needed after a few hectic weeks. We had a big moment of panic at work when we suddenly realised just how close the end of term is and all that that entails - final exams, filling in reports, class meetings, sorting out the classes for next year, ... Oh well, one step at a time. This coming week, Monday is our final training day which gives us a nice easy start to the week. Here's the menu plan for next week.

Monday

lunch-  school canteen for me (Sophie and Pierre can go fridge diving)

dinner - beefburgers, rice and beans

Tuesday

lunch- bacon and leek quiche with salad

dinner-  sausages and mash with gravy and carrots

Wednesday

lunch- something instagram-inspired found by Sophie

dinner-spicy chickpea, tomato and sausage hot pot with rice

Thursday

lunch- something in town with Sophie

dinner-  baked potatoes with mushrooms, onions, bacon and cream

Friday

lunch- school canteen (Pierre and Sophie can fend for themselves)

dinner - beef stew with carrots, red peppers, onions, paprika and rice

Saturday

lunch- leftovers

dinner-  chilli con carne and rice

Sunday

lunch- chicken curry with rice

dinner - pasta bolognese

***Click on my Menu Plans tag to see all my other weekly menu plan blogposts.***

What's Cooking At The Madhouse ? menu plan week 19

I didn't end up doing a menu plan last week as we had major problems at home - our toilet blocked and we had to get a plumber out to unclog it. He didn't manage either so we had to get the truck out to force air/water through the pipes, which, he warned us, could end up breaking the toilet that would take a fortnight to repair. Luckily, it didn't break the toilet but the bill still came out at an eye-watering €1800 and we had four days without a toilet. Luckily there's a nearby fast food restaurant that we kept running to as needed and we headed off to Sophie's flat in Lille for the weekend. I'm glad that's over though ! May is the month of bank holidays so we had Thursday off last week and it's the same again this week. I do have to go in on my Wednesday day off though as it's the oral exams for the older kids and they needed more teachers to help out. Here's what's on the menu plan this week.

Monday

lunch-  lunch in town with Sophie

dinner - beef, carrot and mushroom stew with rice

Tuesday

lunch- baked potatoes with cheese and bacon

dinner- fresh beefburgers with mash and baked beans

Wednesday

lunch- tomato upside-down tart (a recipe that Sophie found on instagram)

dinner- cottage pie

Thursday

lunch- grilled ham, rice and ratatouille

dinner-  cordons bleus for Pierre and Sophie, lamb chops for me from Too Good To Go, with mash and green beans

Friday

lunch- school canteen (Pierre and Sophie can fend for themselves)

dinner - fish and chips

Saturday

lunch- chicken fajitas

dinner- pasta carbonara

Sunday

lunch- roast dinner (chicken or gammon)

dinner - bacon sandwiches

***Click on my Menu Plans tag to see all my other weekly menu plan blogposts.***

What's Cooking At The Madhouse ? menu plan week 17

After a hectic final week at school, it was lovely to head into a two-week break for Easter. We went visiting family in Hastings, which is always nice and relaxing. We had a week to settle back in at home after we got back and got through some jobs that have been cluttering up my to-do list (paying the remainder of our summer holiday, doing a 3-hour online training session for work, starting to dejunk the garage, ...) My fridge is full of too good to go goodies this week as we've been busy restocking the kitchen cupboards and the fridge. We ended up with about eight rolls of puff pastry that I threw in the freezer so we'll be looking for ways to use those up ! As Monday is a bank holiday, it will be a quieter week back at work next week. Thank goodness for that !

Monday

lunch- baked potatoes with sausages and beans

dinner - smoked mackerel pilau rice for me - chicken cordon bleu with rice for Pierre and Sophie

Tuesday

lunch- chicken burgers with pasta

dinner- puff pastry chorizo rolls with mash and carrots

Wednesday

lunch- something veggie-based using whatever's in the fridge with Sophie

dinner- chicken and chorizo traybake

Thursday

lunch- I'll eat in town with Sophie

dinner- air fryer chicken shawarma with rice

Friday

lunch- school canteen (Pierre and Sophie can fend for themselves)

dinner - pasta carbonara

Saturday

lunch- air fryer chicken skewers with couscous and salad

dinner- paprika pork  with pasta

Sunday

lunch- roast gammon, roast potatoes, veg and gravy

dinner - bacon sandwiches

***Click on my Menu Plans tag to see all my other weekly menu plan blogposts.***

Degustabox April 2025 review : Snacking & New Recipes

 

Just in time for the school holidays, the postie dropped off this month's Degustabox. Its Snacking and New Recipes theme fit in perfectly with the kids being off school, so much so that the contents started to get eaten before I'd even taken the photos for the blogpost ! I managed to retrieve the Cheez It chips packaging from the bin but the pork scratchings disappeared too soon so they're missing from the main photo - apologies for that ! It shows how popular this box was though ! Here's what was in this month's box.

Mr Porky Crispy Strips (RRP £1.50) are a lighter version of traditional pork scratchings. They have the same salty porky taste, very similar to bacon, but they come in light crispy strips. I was surprised to see that they left no grease at all on my fingers and they are low in carbs and high in protein, containing 59g of protein per 100g. That makes them a good option as a snack before or after going to the gym for a workout, but they are great as a nibble on the settee in front of the telly too !  Available in all major supermarkets.

Brioche Pasquier Choc Chip Pancakes (RRP £2.50) are this month's Product of the Month. The Madhouse kids were all suitably wowed and gaily tucked into them for breakfast. As proudly proclaimed on the front of the pack, they are light and fluffy and they are very quick to prepare, as all they need is a quick zap in the microwave. They are perfect as they are but can also be topped with butter and/or maple syrup or whatever else you may fancy on them. A couple of strawberries and some chunks or apple and orange on the side made them into an extra special holiday breakfast. They are packed in sealed packs of two, making them great as a breakfast-on-the-go or snack option too. Available in Ocado and Morrisons.

Bonne Maman Crunchy Hazelnut Chocolate Spread (RRP £3.10) is a deliciously decadent sandwich filler or toast topper. I was surprised to read that over a quarter of this rich spread is made up of hazelnuts but once tasted, it became more obvious as I could detect crispy chunks of hazelnut pieces in my mouth. The spread is made with top quality, simple ingredients and not a drop of palm oil. It tastes as good as it sounds. Available in all major supermarkets. 

 

Rubicon Spring Vits (RRP £1.29 each) are a new range of deliciously flavoured vitamin drinks. We loved the fruity flavours of both Mango Passion and Black Cherry Pomegranate and are now keen to look out for the third flavour, Strawberry Watermelon. Juliette loved the fact that it comes as a non-fizzy drink and I love the fact that is low in calories (just 15 calories per bottle). On top of that though, one bottle contains 100% of your recommended daily intake of Niacin, Vitamin B6 and B12 which is a huge added bonus. At £1.29 each, they are no more expensive than other similar drink brands so these will be a great summer thirst quencher. Available in front-of-store chillers.

Knorr Aromat (RRP £1.90) is an all-purpose savoury seasoning that we discovered in a previous Degustabox last year. It can be added to anything and everything from pasta and mashed potato to meat or fish, just like sprinkling on salt and pepper before you eat. The producers suggest trying it mixed with finely chopped rosemary, thyme leaves, sea salt and a splash of olive oil, which sounds like a great marinade for rubbing over a roast chicken. Available in major supermarkets.

Kit Kat Sharing Bars (RRP 3 x £1.50) are a new way of sharing an old favourite. These 99g bars come in three flavours : Hazelnut, Double Chocolate and Salted Caramel. We tried all of them and thought they were all delicious but our favourite was Salted Caramel. We love the rich, decadent fillings and the swirly marbled toppings. Available in major supermarkets.

 

Teapigs Decaf English Breakfast (RRP £11.90) offers a decaffeinated version of regular black tea so you can even drink right before bed without any problems going to sleep. Teapigs use the CO2 method to decaffeinate their tea leaves without removing any of the flavour. I passed these on to a tea-loving friend who said they made a great brew. Available in major supermarkets and online at teapigs.co.uk.

Cheez It Sour Cheese Cream & Onion Snap'd (RRP £2) are a new version of the thin and crispy baked snacks that we (re)discovered in the February Degustabox. They have a lovely, crunchy, melt-in-the-mouth texture and the tangy, punchy flavour is pretty much addictive ! We loved the original Double Cheese version but these ones were a big hit too. Available in all major supermarkets.

for more information :

http://bit.ly/DBhomepage - website

http://bit.ly/DBUKfacebook - Facebook

http://bit.ly/DBUKTwitter - twitter

Also now on Instagram @DegustaboxUK

Disclosure : We received the box in order to write an honest review. As a Degustabox blogger, I receive all of the products that go into the monthly boxes, but subscribers may not get exactly the same selection.

What's Cooking At The Madhouse ? menu plan week 14

Last week was a majorly busy week and somehow this week didn't seem much better. On Monday, we had a training day at school, followed by a meeting with the school inspectors about our upcoming opening of an English literature class. There will be one new level each year and I've been earmarked to teach them all so I'll be changing from being an English language teacher to an English literature teacher within a few years. On Thursday, I went along with the school orchestra to supervise the kids during rehearsals and a big concert with another school orchestra. At the end, it was back to school on the bus with the kids and time to finish off with the parent-teacher evening. I was totally knackered by the end of the week and fell asleep at 9.30 on Friday night ! Next week should be quieter but the kids are going to see a historic football French Cup semi-final match with Dunkirk against Paris PSG (pretty unbelievable !) and Pierre has to go back to Cambrai for a day at the school he hopes to go to next year. He also has to produce a letter explaining why he wants to go there and a portfolio of 20 photos. It's all happening ! This week's menu plan will be complicated as I'm not entirely sure who's eating where but it's better to have a plan. My fridge is fit to bursting with too good to go goodies this week.

Monday

lunch- something in town with Sophie

dinner - chicken orloff and pasta for Sophie and Pierre / salmon with spices and pomegranate molasses for me with pasta and salad

Tuesday

lunch- veal paupiettes with mash and peas

dinner- I'm home alone so I'll go fridge-diving - there's a cod and rice ready meal in the fridge that would do (or there may be leftover salmon)

Wednesday

lunch- home alone again - there's some minced veal in the fridge (I fancy trying these Kofta Kabobs )

dinner- just me again - pasta bolognese (in the fridge from too good to go)

Thursday

lunch- school canteen for me (kids can fend for themselves)

dinner- giant sausage with red peppers/onions/mushrooms and rice

Friday

lunch- school canteen (Pierre and Sophie can fend for themselves - there are chicken cordon bleus that they can eat)

dinner - spaghetti bolognese (homemade this time)

Saturday

lunch- chicken burgers with baked potatoes and baked beans

dinner- cheese and ham pastries with salad and mash

Sunday

lunch- beefburgers with chips

dinner - leftovers

***Click on my Menu Plans tag to see all my other weekly menu plan blogposts.***

Degustabox March 2025 review : Hello Spring & Ready for Easter

 

I really feel like spring has sprung in the past week or so. Temperatures are rising, we've had lots of sunshine and very little rain for the past couple of weeks and the sight of daffodils, tulips and tree blossom is guaranteed to put a smile on my face on the way to work every day. We're starting to move away from wintry, warming belly-fillers and onto lighter and brighter, veg-packed springtime dishes. Would this month's Degustabox follow this trend? Let's go and have a look at the contents of this month's box. 

No complaints when we pulled the first product out of the box -  Fruittella Berries & Cherry Stick (RRP 65p each) were guaranteed to be enjoyed. We've eaten many of the Fruittella flavours in the past but this was a new one for us : a mixture of raspberry, blackberry and cherry chewy sweets. They are made with real fruit juice and only natural colourings and flavours, as well as being vegan, dairy, gluten and nut free. Each pack contains ten sweets and as they are all individually wrapped, it is easy to share them out . We loved the fruity, juicy flavours and would definitely buy these again. Available in most independent stores.

Flava It! Garden Mint (RRP £1.10) could be enjoyed year round but as soon as I saw it, I thought it would be perfect for a leg of lamb at Easter. It is a classically British marinade seasoning made with refreshing sweet mint and a hint of rich tomato. It is extremely simple to use - you just sprinkle it over your meat then throw it in the oven (or the pan in you're cooking lamb chops maybe). It takes all the fuss and stress out of cooking if you're not feeling overly confident. Available in Morrisons.

Gouda Cheesies (RRP £1.50) are a tasty snack made from 100% gouda cheese - no more, no less - baked until crunchy. The smooth, mellow cheesy flavour makes them perfect as part of a packed lunch (no fridge required, making them easier to store than fresh cheese) or evening snack in front of the TV. The kids love these and asked to buy them again. Available at Holland and Barrett, Ocado, Amazon and at www.wearethecurators.com. You might like to know that these snacks are available in other flavours if you prefer a punchier option - you light like to try Cheddar, Red Leicester or Goat's Cheese varieties. 

From savoury snacks to sweet treats. Ritter Sport Mini Nut Selection (RRP £3.50) is guaranteed to be a big hit with anyone who likes chocolate and nuts. The pack contains seven minis, featuring crunchy roasted hazelnuts covered in creamy white, milk or smooth dark chocolate. We loved all of the flavours and appreciated the fact that the bag is made of paper so it's easy to recycle. Available in all major supermarkets.

 

Sanpellegrino Zero Peach & Clementine (RRP £1.30) is a new sparkling, fruity drink that is perfect for welcoming in the warmer weather. It is made with Italian fruit juice and no added sugar, just the natural sugar from the fruit. The bold flavour of juicy, sun-ripened peaches and clementines is guaranteed to put a smile on your face as it quenches your thirst, helping you to imagine you're in the shade of an Italian orchard in the middle of summer ! Available in Tesco.

Ritter Sport Mini Chocolate Selection (RRP £7.50) is a chocolate-lover's dream, containing 16 mini-squares of milk, dark and white chocolate varieties, including fillings containing crunchy whole hazelnuts or crispy cornflakes, beautiful buttery biscuit or soft silky praline, sweet almond marzipan or classic alpine milk. We loved all of them and couldn't choose a favourite. Perfect for Valentine's Day or Mother's Day, or even any random day when you want to put a smile on someone's face ! Available in major supermarkets.

Slooow Stone Oven White Baguette (RRP £1.65) is a tasty, sourdough baguette, made with 100% natural and organic ingredients to create a flavour-packed soft crumb and a thin, crispy crust. Delicious dipped into soup, eaten on the side of the plate topped with salted butter or filled with your favourite sweet or savoury fillings. It is 100% natural, vegan-friendly and packed with flavour. Available at Tesco and Hello Fresh.

Ueshima Coffee Company Iced Latte (RRP £2) is a Japanese crafted coffee that promises exceptional flavour. Mr Ueshima founded his company in 1969 after seeking a way to buy coffee to be enjoyed any time, anywhere and they were the inventors of the world's first canned coffee. I'm not a coffee-lover so I passed this on to a friend who said she really enjoyed it. Available at www.ueshimacoffeecompany.com.

Sweet Dough Things Honey Vegan Sugarfree Candy Floss (RRP £1.99) is a product that made me do a double-take. Candy floss is literally spun sugar so how does sugar-free candy floss come about?! The website is pretty secretive : "The sugar-free vegan version of the all-time favorite. Our innovative honey flavoured candy floss is created with health in mind. For people who can’t or don’t want to have sugar. Our vegan sugar free candy floss is the perfect no guilt treat. Made with the finest ethically sourced ingredients, this halal product is suitable for vegetarians and vegans and has absolutely no sugar, gluten, or added nasties!" I'm still no closer to knowing how it is made but I gave it a try and it is very tasty and very reminiscent of classic candy floss. Other Degustaboxers received Pumpkin or Cinnamon flavours, but the website also offers other options, including Mint, Vanilla, Watermelon, Chocolate, Blueberry, Rose, Liquorice, Candy Cane, Apple and Cherry. Available at https://sweetdoughthings.co.uk.

Finally, this month's Product of the Month, Tilda Easy Meals (RRP 2 x £2.50) are perfect for students, those with limited cooking facilities or anyone who needs a quick lunch at work. Each pouch contains one meal and just needs two minutes in a microwave to be ready. We got Sundried Tomato and Beans which I used (for two people) as a baked potato topping with a little cheese on top. We also tried Chickpea Korma, along some leftover rice, for a tasty and filling dinner. Also available in a Vegetable Paella variety, they provide one of your five a day and are a source of protein while also being low calorie. These are great to store in a food cupboard as a fallback plan when someone needs a quick lunch or a veggie option. Available in Sainsbury's.

A subscription to Degustabox costs £12.99 per month including delivery, with each box having a value of much more than that, but the great news is, I have a discount coupon code for you which means you'll get the first box for just £9.99 - enter code PKUFE at the checkout. 

for more information :

http://bit.ly/DBhomepage - website

http://bit.ly/DBUKfacebook - Facebook

http://bit.ly/DBUKTwitter - twitter

Also now on Instagram @DegustaboxUK

Disclosure : We received the box in order to write an honest review. As a Degustabox blogger, I receive all of the products that go into the monthly boxes, but subscribers may not get exactly the same selection.

What's Cooking At The Madhouse ? menu plan week 13

It's been a busy old week. On Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, I had after school meetings for each class to discuss each pupil's results and progress. On Thursday, I had an hour's wait after my lessons then had two meetings. During my free hour, I got a phone call from Sophie. The dog had been pooping blood all over the house and the kids had set up a vet's appointment for 6pm. I would still be in meetings but we managed to arrange for the dog sitter to take Sophie and the dog to the vet's by car. The vet doesn't really know what the problem was - maybe polyps or maybe he ate something - but they came home with medicine and, fingers crossed, he seems to have perked up. On Saturday we took the train to a town three hour's away to visit a school that Pierre would love to go to to do a photography course for the next two years. The trouble is, there are very few places so he now has to send in a letter outlining why he'd like to go there and a portfolio of 15-20 photos. We visited the pupil accommodation blocks too and he'd love it, as there's a gym and a room with a big screen TV to watch movies and sports on. This coming week will be busier than usual too as I have a training day on Monday and a parent-teacher evening on Thursday. Luckily the holidays will be coming around in a couple of weeks - I need them ! Here's the plan for this week's food.

Monday

lunch- I'll be at school (Sophie and Pierre can have sausages and pasta)

dinner - fresh beefburgers with gratin dauphinois

Tuesday

lunch- cheese/mushroom pastries with rice and ratatouille

dinner- pasta carbonara

Wednesday

lunch- fresh pasta from too good to go

dinner- beef stew with rice and carrots (or leftover gratin dauphinois)

Thursday

lunch-something in town with Sophie (fridge diving for Pierre)

dinner- meatballs in tomato sauce with pasta

Friday

lunch- school canteen (Pierre and Sophie can fend for themselves)

dinner - spaghetti bolognese

Saturday

lunch- baked potatoes with bacon, onions, beans, red peppers, cheese

dinner- takeaway (Juliette's choice as she's home for the weekend)

Sunday

lunch- roast chicken dinner

dinner - leftovers

***Click on my Menu Plans tag to see all my other weekly menu plan blogposts.***

What's Cooking At The Madhouse ? menu plan week 12

Last week, I ended up coming down with a stinking rotten cold - probably the result of the changing weather that I mentioned last week. I fell asleep as soon as I got home after work on Thursday and ended up taking the day off and sleeping all day on Friday too. I'll be going back to work on Monday and will hopefully be fighting fit for all the end-of-term class meetings after school each day next week. Even the weekend will be busy as we'll be heading off to Cambrai (three hours away by train) to see the school that Pierre wants to go to next year. Here's what's on the menu this week.

Monday

lunch- something in town with Sophie

dinner - tacos

Tuesday

lunch- sausagemeat patties, rice and sweetcorn

dinner- fresh beefburgers and pasta

Wednesday

lunch- asparagus ravioli (from too good to go)

dinner- sausages, baby potatoes and coleslaw

Thursday

lunch-something in town with Sophie (fridge diving for Pierre)

dinner- steak pies, mash and peas

Friday

lunch- school canteen (Pierre and Sophie can fend for themselves)

dinner - spaghetti carbonara

Saturday

lunch- something in Cambrai with Pierre

dinner- probably takeaway as we'll be tired out when we get back

Sunday

lunch- chicken, rice, veg and gravy

dinner - leftovers or cheese on toast

***Click on my Menu Plans tag to see all my other weekly menu plan blogposts.***

What's Cooking At The Madhouse ? menu plan week 11

As I write this menu plan, the sun is shining brightly outside and I feel like we're in the midst of spring. I'm hopeful that this will last, but sadly, I think it's just a one-off and we'll be back to rain and cooler temperatures next week. Fingers crossed though - it's amazing how much better we all feel when the weather picks up. We're heading into the conseils de classe at work (end-of-term meetings for each class to discuss marks and behaviour of each pupil) so that will keep us busy for a couple of weeks. Sophie will be picking up the cooking duties when I get in late from work. Here's the plan for this week's food.

Monday

lunch- I'll eat at the school canteen

dinner - fish, rice and peas

Tuesday

lunch- sausages, mash and baked beans

dinner- pork chops with pasta and ratatouille

Wednesday

lunch- chakchouka

dinner- raclette, baked baby potatoes and pork belly

Thursday

lunch-something in town with Sophie (fridge diving for Pierre)

dinner- fresh ravioli (from a Too Good To Go bag)

Friday

lunch- school canteen (Pierre and Sophie can fend for themselves)

dinner - tacos

Saturday

lunch- fricadelles (like rissoles) with chips

dinner- mini burgers with salad and potato salad

Sunday

lunch- roast chicken, roast potatoes, veg and gravy

dinner - leftovers

***Click on my Menu Plans tag to see all my other weekly menu plan blogposts.***

What's Cooking At The Madhouse ? menu plan week 10

Last week, we finally got around to going to the travel agent's to book this year's summer holiday. We'll be heading off for two weeks in Marrakech, Morocco, which should be lovely but apparently very hot. Juliette's boyfriend will be coming with us which should give the kids a chance to spend some time doing their own activities, such as the giant pool slides, while I flake out with a book under the poolside parasols. Sounds good to me ! Using things out of the freezer is turning into a great way of saving money at the moment, which is perfect timing with the holiday to pay for. We'll do more of that this week as there is still plenty in there. Here's the plan for this week.

Monday

lunch- I'll eat in town with Sophie (fridge diving for Pierre)

dinner - leftover roast gammon with rice and carrots

Tuesday

lunch- battered fish with mash and veg

dinner- pasta carbonara

Wednesday

lunch- some sort of spicy veggie concoction for me and Sophie

dinner- roast beef with gravy, roast potatoes and peas

Thursday

lunch-something in town with Sophie (fridge diving for Pierre)

dinner- sausages, mushrooms, canned tomatoes and onions with pasta

Friday

lunch- school canteen (Pierre and Sophie can fend for himself)

dinner - leftovers

Saturday

lunch- steak pies with mash and veg

dinner- the kids will probably want some kind of takeaway (Pepe chicken, I would imagine)

Sunday

lunch- Moroccan-style grilled chicken breasts with couscous and tomato/chickpea sauce

dinner - leftovers or soup

***Click on my Menu Plans tag to see all my other weekly menu plan blogposts.***