It's Gino D'Acampo #Easyteam Meal Planning Monday

I'm here ... ready

I have taken in some of the sights and sounds of Newcastle.

Newcastle for me debunks any previous myths I held about it.

Saturday saw me meeting Gino D'Acampo as part of Zanussi #easyteam at Fenwicks Newcastle.

Before being unleashed upon the gathering crowds of mainly women. With Gino I found what you see is what you get. Boundless energy and a joie de vie ( sorry I don't know the Italian for that!)

Along with fellow team member and soon to be friend Richard I found Gino sitting in a little room. Black smart no doubt Italian boots were visible , I plonked my stuff besides some comfy sofas.

You hear of famous people and their demand for hand peeled grapes and penchant for bottled water chilled in Icelandic glaciers.

Gino had a bucket full of Italian soft drinks and waters and a glass bowl of wotsits crisps. Yes you read that right Gino loves Wotsits infact he offered me a packet of Wotsits and a drink , a soft drink.

He ignored offers of champagne.

So this edition of meal planning plays in some part an homage to Gino who said when I questioned him "I don't understand why people don't meal plan"

"There's always time somewhere "

And he's right meal planning is key to a frugal living but frugal living doesn't mean you can't have luxury entwined within the meals.

Cupboard staples are the backbone of a cooks cupboard , you may have got to the stage where you feel it's a bit Mother Hubbard but take heart. Here's some easy ideas to get you going.

Monday

Lunch Wosit sandwich.

Dinner Carrot and Parsnip soup.

Dessert Eggless Apple crumble cake.

And I glad I'm not alone in making a mess in the kitchen Gino does as well. He believes more kids should be cooking and it's our fear as parents as parents of them making a mess that stops us.

Tuesday Cornbeef Hash

Wednesday Something from this.

Thursday 

Slow cooked pork chops with seasonal veg

Friday Freezer rumble 

Saturday Eat out

Sunday Chicken Roast

Thanks to Gino and Zanussi for making the magic happen.

If I get distracted this week you know why.

Splat The Cat And Starting School

Splat the cat is about to start school rather like his tiny human counterparts in the real world.

Anticipation of an event such as starting school can unleash a whirlwind of emotions.

Splat doesn't want to go to school , his reluctance is paramount but once he gets there he starts getting to grips with school.

Apparently you don't chase mice and with a little help from a friend the milk cupboard gets opened, and order is restored to all the little cats universe.

I don't earn much but I love to read to my reception class they are absorbing books like a learning sponge. So instead of buying that chocolate bar I buy a few books from the charity shop instead, I don't have to but it's what I do.

Reading helps establish routine and with routine you cultivate a child with an appetite for learning.

So Splat the cat  thank you .

I couldn't be any where different.

I couldn't be any where different.

I couldn't be nor would you be seeing what I see.

Scenery and buildings awaken 'The Tempest Soul' within me.

Family enlighten me ..

Are you in touch and tune with your surroundings whever you are on holiday or at home?

The Fringe

The fringe ,

It's the edge,

It's where I stand,

Watching,

Observing,

I shout,

Louder,

And louder,

And yet,

It's never quite,

Enough,

Enough,

Enough,

I say,

I take,

The stand,

My mind,

Is not,

Master over me.

All my tommorows #easyteam

Tommorow never comes does it.

Tommmorow becomes today.

And today becomes yesterday.

But tommorows can be an always constant in your life and one of them is learning how to cook .

So one of my tommorows is going to be cooking with Gino D' Acampo as part of the Zanussi easy team.

I am hoping I measure up to the task in hand.