Food Safety Week - What's In Your Fridge?

Food Safety week runs from 10th-16th June this year and is a great way for the Food Standards Agency to raise awareness about food hygiene at home. I love to cook, as do the Mini Mes, so making sure we do it properly to prevent food poisoning is vital! I took the Kitchen Check test to see how much at risk we are and apparently I'm a 'Hygiene Machine' scoring over 25, which is ideal.

 

You can tweet a picture of the inside of your fridge to @foodgov for some tips from the experts on how to stock your fridge safely.

This is our fridge today, a little low in content as the food shop will be done tomorrow!...

 

 

 

"Hi @TheMiniMesandMe Good fridge – plenty of space for cold air to circulate and all meats on the bottom shelf – gold star! #FridgeClinic"

— FoodStandardsAgency (@foodgov)

I always knew to store meat products at the bottom of the fridge but these tips from the website may be useful to you:

 

Make sure your fridge is set below 5°C, using a fridge thermometer to check. This is to prevent harmful germs from growing and multiplying.

Don’t overfill your fridge. This allows air to circulate and maintains the set temperature.

Store raw meat and poultry at the bottom of the fridge and properly wrap or cover it to avoid raw juices contaminating other foods.

If you wish to teach the importance of food hygiene to your children in a fun way the Food Standards Agency website has some activities which you can print off for free for them to complete:

Food Safety Week Activities

 

 

 

For more information on Food Safety Week you can head to the website:

http://www.food.gov.uk

 

 

What's in your fridge?

 

Meal Planning Monday

Woohoo! It's holiday time for us this week and we are heading to Torquay for a few days. I'm hoping the weather remains sunny as it has been over the weekend so we can fully enjoy the local attractions. I have of course packed paper, pens, cards and a variety of toys just in case it does snow/thunder/hail while there but fingers crossed they won't be required!

 Meals for this week...

Quorn masala with naan bread


Yep, that is the only meal that is planned for this week, which we are taking down in the cool bag to eat upon arrival. The rest of the time we will be eating out or picking up what we fancy as and when. I prefer to be relaxed during holidays which includes eating and dieting even if it involves spending a few more pounds.


I'd also like to wish Minxy a very happy 9th birthday today!!

I'm not sure how she has grown from this tiny baby so quickly into my tween princess.
Time goes so fast. Time for another?!...

 

What's on your menu this week?

I'm linking this over with At Home With Mrs M.

Meal Planning Monday

We are completely back to normality this week with the return of school and work, unfortunately *sigh*. Although the routine is appreciated I'll miss the lazy mornings and trip out with the Mini Mes but we have had a lovely break - Bring on half term!

This weeks planner...

Toad in the hole
Lasagne
Lamb stew and dumplings
Pizza, salad and garlic bread
Salmon and gnocchi bake

At the weekend we will be heading out for some family fun but as I'm trying to lose some weight there will be no take-away or eating out on the agenda.

What's on your menu?

I'm linking this over with At Home With Mrs M.

Meal Planning Monday

We had to do a bit of juggling and rescheduling last week so we didn't stick to the plan very well but this week everything should run a little smoother... hopefully!

This weeks menu...

Spaghetti meatballs
Toad in the hole
Eating out
Slow cooked lamb and stew and dumplings
Work Christmas party (roast dinner and disco)
Mexican night (Fajitas, Enchiladas, nachos etc)

I've already picked up our Sombreros and all the food and drink ready for the weekend and I am very much looking forward to hosting the evening. It was meant to be last week but the Mr had his work party so it was put forward to this weekend instead last minute! I'm back on Jenny Craig, with a months supply this time so I should definitely lose a few more pounds for Christmas. 8lb down already on their plan! 

What's on your menu?

I'm linking this over with At Home With Mrs M.

Meal Planning Monday

In a slightly hungover state we completed the food shopping Sunday afternoon and decided what to eat while pushing the trolley around. Who said you need to have a list and be organised!

This weeks menu looks a little like this...

Fajitas
Toad in the hole
Salmon and gnocchi bake
Pizza
Lasagne

The weekend we will leave free as no doubt we will be out and about with the Mini Mes and we will also be putting up the Christmas tree!! I can't wait.

What's on your menu?

I'm linking this over with At Home With Mrs M.

Ham, chicken and leek pie

This is perfect comfort food. The crispy pastry and soft creamy filling is loved by all in our house. It's ideal for this time of year when the weather is cold and you want something to warm you up with very little hassle.

Ingredients

4 chicken breasts, diced

250g gammon steak, cut into small pieces

4 carrots, peeled and sliced

3 potatoes, peeled and cubed

1 leek, sliced

1 tbsp thyme

600ml chicken stock

30g butter

1 large onion, sliced

50g plain flour

300ml double cream or milk

500g Puff pasty

1 Egg

Method

• Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.
• Put the chicken, gammon, carrots, potato and thyme in a pan on a low heat. Add the stock, bring to the boil and allow to simmer for 12-15 minutes until cooked. 
• Drain the stock using a colander and keep to one side.
• In a separate pan add the leek and onion with the butter and cook for a few minutes until soft.
• Add the stock, flour and cream to create a sauce - allow to thicken.
• Pour the sauce over the chicken mixture and stir well before placing in an oven proof dish approx 10" by 12"
• Roll out your pastry slightly larger than your dish and place over the top.
• Using a fork press down the pastry to create a seal and brush the egg yolk on top. Poke a few holes in the pastry.
• Cook for around 40 minutes until browned and serve.
• Scoff!

Back on the weight loss wagon

When I look back at pictures of myself in my late teens I was unbelievably slim but since having the Mini Mes I've let myself go and just about managed to eat everything in site gaining several stone in the process. I assumed that the weight would just fall off after pregnancy but it didn't. I then fell pregnant again when Minxy was 15 months old and put even more weight on. Ever since then my weight has gone up and down like a yo-yo which really isn't wise.

My enthusiasm levels for exercise are either superb or non-existent, there doesn't seem to be a middle ground. I have calorie counted and lost weight before but it's the keeping it off afterwards where I really struggle.

I've decided to give Jenny Craig, a weight loss and diet meals plan, a shot to hopefully drop a few dress sizes (or just the one would do nicely) in time for Christmas. Wearing something smaller for the seasonal celebrations and to welcome in the new year would really give me the confidence boost I need.

Food for a fortnight.

Being provided with their breakfast, lunches, dinners and snacks combined with a daily eating program and weekly phone consultations I think that I will have the support and everything necessary to actually stick with it this time.

My hamper of food and all the information required to do the plan arrived Friday and I've decided to begin the plan today at the beginning of a new week. I was pleasantly surprised that the meals are actually proper food rather than powder or milkshakes that alternative companies provide and I don't need to worry about feeling hungry! I just have to add in fruit, veg and dairy.

Day ones food looks like this....

As well as the above today I shall be having fruit, milk, a yogurt, salad, cheese, crispbreads and dressing. I am on a 1500 calorie plan.

I received my first call from my consultant, Rebecca, on Saturday morning as scheduled and she was really helpful and informative. I felt that she actually cared about me as a person and wanted to help me achieve my goal!

Here's to me getting back on the weight loss wagon and sticking with it!

Day 1...

Meal Planning Monday

Although I will be cooking the dinners this week I won't actually be eating them. I've started Jenny Craig today to see if I can shed a few pounds ready for the Christmas season. I felt I'd lost my way a little and was struggling to lose weight so I'm hoping this is the kick up the bum that I need to sort myself out, once and for all. 

I think because my goal is quite a few stone away (4) I end up giving up too easily but Jenny Craig has already taught me to set smaller goals and to reward myself on the way to success and reaching my overall target.


This weeks planner for the Mr and the Mini Mes...

Kievs, potato and veg

Toad in the hole

Fish, chips and peas

Spaghetti bolognese

Tuna Pasta

My planner (meals supplied by Jenny Craig)...

Vegetable and lentil dahl

Prawn Korma and rice

Chicken chasseur with potatoes

Beef goulash with potatoes

Three bean chilli

What's on your menu this week?

I'm linking this over with At Home With Mrs M.

Meal Planning Monday

Where did the weekend go?! It seems to fly by at the moment!

The Mr and I both did the food shop together yesterday, he usually gets trolley rage so I leave him to go alone, but it was actually quite a pleasant experience. The aisles weren't too busy for a Sunday. I was good and avoided the chocolate and alcohol - bonus!

This weeks planner ...

Monday - BBQ chicken, potatoes and veg
Tuesday - Enchiladas and salad
Wednesday - Sweet and sour chicken with noodles
Thursday - Lasagne
Friday - Pizza and garlic bread

Saturday I'm leaving free and on Sunday we are off to the Zoo (Woburn Safari Park) so we will be eating out.

What's on your menu this week? 

The Gallery

This weeks theme for the gallery is Food! I had a think about food and as we love cooking and baking, eating and sharing food with family and friends I realised that food infact makes me happy. I thought I would share a few food related pictures that bring back happy memories.

My first attempt at a giant cupcake!

The mess kids make learning to eat

Fun with food

You can view more snaps or add your own by clicking the badge below