Eat, Pray, Enlightenment with Jamie Oliver.......

At times, the relentless meal making gets me down. I get so bored with my usual creations but don't have the time or interest to dedicate to new elaborate recipes every night. I'm probably suffering from winter jadedness, (it is too a real word!) In the spring, summer and autumn I seem to get inspiration from the garden produce but winter is just not that inspiring.

I'm not a fan of ready meals, preferring to cook from scratch, but sometimes, after writing all day, I surface for air and find that it is almost time for school pick up. This is a time when fear strikes my heart, a time when I realise that the sproglets and hubby will soon need feeding.

The Entrepreneur came to stay recently, she's so glam and seems to knows everything [honest!]  She brought me a gorgeous present Jamie Oliver's 30 Minute Meals. It is a bloody revelation. He's made me think about planning ahead. I'm on a mission now: Meal planning for 30 days. Mrs Beaton'd be proud.

I'm not saying I'm following his recipes exactly, his are possibly a bit zingy for my gang, I like spice - they do not, but I'm mixing and matching from his book. I've written out a list of the meals I can do from my own repertoir and teaming them with puddings or sweet offerings. The second course seems to be most essential to the sproglets who ask, long before the first forkful of dinner is raised to their lips,

'What's for pudding?'

Normally I haven't thought that far ahead, being of a more savoury persuasion.

However my list is forming beautifully and with a 30 day plan I should be able to ensure ingredients are bought and in the dairy (pantry) or freezer ready for use that week. Here's some yummy examples:

• Italian tray-baked fish, potato wedges and salad with Jamie's Cheesecake
• Roast chicken and veg followed by apple crumble
• Spaghetti, home made meat balls and salad with chocolate muffins, cream and banana
• Slow Cooker Ham, peas and potatoes and Jamie's Pear Tartlets
• .......... I'm inspired and on a roll...............

Needless to say I'll be having weeny portions, in case the Weight-Watcher Police knock on the door, but I'd rather have a little of yummy than lots of boring...wouldn't you?

If you've got any good, tasty, fast combinations you'd care to share let us know.....It's Movie Night here in The Larches tonight so we're having home made meat-feast pizza followed by Jamie's Banoffee Pie.... Deeee-lish.

Happy weekend gang.

BTW I'm tweeting nowadays too....... what the hell is THAT about?????