Room for Improvement - Home Makeover on a Budget

With 3 kids the rooms in this house are constantly in need of a makeover, there are always grubby fingermarks that need cleaning off the walls, or chips out of the paintwork that need touching up.

When MoneySupermarket challenged me to makeover a room on a budget of £50 it couldn't have come at a better time. I needed that kick up the bum to get my paintbrush out again, and this time it was on the landing (is the landing actually classed as a room? maybe not). I'd starting painting it sometime last year but never got around to adding that final coat of white or putting any pictures up. I had already bought a heart shaped mirror and a small multi photo frame in preparation, but that's a far as it got. I knew there wasn't much that needed doing, just that one coat of paint and maybe a touch up of the wooodwork.

Whilst out shopping for a few accessories and more photo frames I spied a bargain in Asda Home, a tin of Pearl Grey paint for just £5. Not one to make life easy for myself I bought it, meaning that I would now need to paint at least 2 coats of grey instead of just one white - and then what if I didn't like it?

I bit the bullet and painted anyway, avoiding the questions of "what colour is THAT?".

Thankfully it worked, and everyone loved the grey (phew), and once the woodwork and doors were cleaned up with the help of a few baby wipes and some cream cleaner I put the pictures, mirror and new lampshade up.

It's not easy to take photos of this space but hopefully the difference is noticeable.

This is how I spent my £50 :

Grey & white striped basket £10 Asda

Birdcage lamp shade £12.99 Dunelm

6 picture photo frame £7.99 Dunelm

9 picture photo frame £12.99 Zulily

Pearl Grey paint £5 Asda

Bathroom door hanger £1.79 Dunelm

Total Spend £50.76

I was provided with £50 towards to cost of the makeover

Moroccan Lamb and Rhubarb with Lemon & Coriander Cous Cous

After failing to get my hands on any rhubarb via my allotment friends I resorted to the supermarket - £2 for 3 skinny sticks of rhubarb is outrageous! However, after my eldest went to his best friend's house for a sleepover at the weekend he returned with tales of rhubarb and apple crumbles (it's all about the food with him), "erm rhubarb you say? they have rhubarb growing in their garden?", "yep, loads of it". I considered donning a balaclava under the cover of darkness & scaling the fence (or 2) that divided our house from the best friend's to get my hands on the much sought after rhubarb, but instead opted for the safer option of sending my son around armed with a bagful of spiced lemon cookies as a trade.

Low and behold, the next day appeared a big bag of fresh & tasty rhubarb

Time to get on and rustle up the next for entry into the Swallow Charity Recipes For Life Challenge for May, which you can read more about here.

I have no idea if they even grow rhubarb in Morocco but I figured that the cinnamon and dried fruit made this dish Moroccan even if the rhubarb didn't. The rhubarb creates a really rich tangy sauce which I think would be great in a chilli too.  There's not much to this recipe, just a case of throwing the ingredients in & leaving it to do it's thing.

 

Moroccan Lamb and Rhubarb - serves 3/4

3 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp ground coriander
2 tsp cumin
1 tbsp plain flour
2 lamb leg steaks, diced
Tbsp olive oil
1 garlic clove, crushed
1/4 tsp chilli flakes

180g rhubarb

1 tbsp sugar

400g Can of tomatoes

100ml water or stock

50g dried Apricots, chopped
50g juicy raisins

Lemon & Coriander Cous Cous


200g dried cous cous
grated zest of 1 lemon
Handful coriander, chopped
250ml boiling water

• Mix the cinnamon, coriander and cumin with the flour
• Toss the lamb into the flour & spices & coat well
• Heat the oil in a heavy based lidded pan 
• Add the garlic & chilli & fry for 2 mins
• Add lamb & flour and fry for 5 mins until browned on all sides
• Add rhubarb & sugar & cook for 2 mins 
• Add tomatoes and water (or stock)
• Stir, place lid on & simmer for 30 mins stirring occasionally
• Stir in the apricots and raisins, place the lid on & cook for a further 15 minutes, until the lamb is tender
• Add the cous cous to a bowl
• Add the lemon zest & coriander
• Pour over the boiling water and stir
• Place a lid or plate over the bowl and leave for 5 minutes
• Fluff up with a fork and serve

Garnish with sliced or ground almonds & fresh coriander (optional)

Tasty Holiday Foods {Guest Post}

Tasty Holiday Foods
Food on holiday is always a touchy subject. Should you go all out and try the exotic local cuisine or stick to what you know? Well, of course, for the full flavour of your holiday you need to let your taste buds tingle. While adrenaline fuelled extreme sports might get you seeking holiday claims with Irwin Mitchell, these recipes are just the ticket to take you far away from the comfort of your kitchen!
Ceviche
Popular across South America, it is Peru that takes the glory for the origin of this delicious dish. Made with fresh raw fish, it is far more appetising than some pictures make it look, and perfect for a summer’s day. An advantage is to try it from a master or the country first but here’s how to do it at home:

• Slice white fish or salmon as thinly as possible
• Marinate in citrus juice and chilli.
• Leave in the fridge for half an hour or an hour.
• Plate up with corn, lettuce and sweet potato.
• Add onions and season to taste – adding more chilli if you want an extra kick.

Spicy Thai Lobster Soup
A dish with a truly Asian blend, the flavour is wild thanks to the seasoning and adds an extra zip to your meal. Another delicious meal from Thai cuisine, the complexity of flavours gives it a winning touch:

• Slice lobster meat from two lobster tails and set aside.
• Stir one and a half tablespoons of Asian Blend into a large saucepan on medium heat for one minute.
• Add four cups of chicken or fish broth with one tablespoon of lime rind and boil before stirring in 1/3 cup of uncooked long-grain rice. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
• Add a cup of coconut milk and six sliced mushrooms, stirring occasionally for five minutes.
• Add two chopped green onions, chile and coriander with the lobster to cook for five minutes.
• Take off the heat and add two table spoons of lime juice.

Butter Chicken
An exciting and vibrant country, the UK has a number of eateries related to India, but none take you there in quite the same way. Food culture in India has a long history, find out how to make the pride of Punjabi cuisine:

• Create a marinade from 100ml of plain yoghurt, the juice of one lime, 15g of crushed garlic, a couple of centimetres of grated garlic, cumin, coriander, garam masala, paprika and salt.
• Cover this over the chicken breasts and marinate in the fridge overnight.
• Shake off any excess and grill each breast for four minutes until golden-brown.
• Use lemon juice and butter to baste the breasts and roast in the oven (200C) for 12 minutes.
• In this time make the sauce. Fry one onion in butter until softened before adding two crushed garlic cloves and grated ginger for an extra minute. Add tomato puree and chilli powder before cooking for a further two minutes.
• Reduce heat, add 200ml of double cream and simmer before adding the breasts.
• Season and serve with naan bread and/or basmati rice.

Going on holiday is a great excuse to try things you normally wouldn’t. But, if you are a dab hand in the kitchen then these can lower your risks without holding back on the taste. Alternatively if you should be receiving compensation after an ill-fated trip then make sure you have all your documents secured to help the process.

 

Rustle up a Fishy Feast with the Saucy Fish Co.

It's not often that I post fishy meals on this blog as I'm not really that keen on fish or seafood but the husband loves it so I do try from time to time, as long as the fish is prepared for cooking of course.

The Saucy Fish Co takes the hassle out of preparing your favourite fishy feasts and the new products in their range include ready cooked salmon fillets, along with a sachet of dressing.

The fillets can be eaten straight from the pack, or warmed up. I chose to use them straight from the pack and flaked them over pasta and salad for some really quick and tasty meals. First up I used the roasted sweet chilli fillets which come with a chilli chutney dressing, which I stirred through the spaghetti, along with a little red pesto. I tossed the flaked salmon and some rocket into the spaghetti and it fed 3 people nicely.

For an Al Fresco lunch on Sunday I made a salad with the steamed salmon and lime & coriander dressing, 

and more pasta, this time with the smoked salmon fillets and maple dressing.

My favourite was the steamed salmon fillets with the lime & coriander dressing, so fresh tasting.

With salmon this good, not to mention the convenience of it being ready prepared, and with a dressing, I expected them to be quite pricey but was really pleased to see them priced at £3.50 per pack (rrp £4). Considering they would feed 2 adults, and if you're very frugal a couple of kids too, I think they are excellent value and will definitely be looking out for them in the Supermarket.

Further info & stockist details :

Roasted Sweet Chilli Salmon with Tomato and Chilli Chutney

These tender sweet chilli-infused salmon fillets are complemented perfectly by the delicious tangy tomato and chilli chutney in this exciting new offering from Saucy Fish. With a fiery kick from the tasty chutney, this dish delivers the ultimate in flavour sensation for a speedy, healthy and delicious fish supper. Why not pair with fresh egg noodles and crisp stir fry veg for an Asian-inspired dish which will really tantalise those taste buds? And at only 266 calories per serving, you can indulge without the guilt!

RRP £4 – available from Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Asda

Smoked Salmon with Sticky Maple Dressing

Introducing the very first smoked salmon product to The Saucy Fish Co. range, this delicious addition is sure to be a hit with those who prefer the woody flavours of cured fish. The sweet and earthy tones of the sticky maple dressing complements the smoked fish fillets perfectly, and tastes great when served up with sautéed potatoes, buttery green beans and a drizzle of the Maple Dressing for a fish dish with the wow factor.

RRP £4, available from Asda and Ocado

Roasted Lemon and Herb Salmon with Sicilian Lemon and Dill Mayonnaise

All of the delicious flavours of Mediterranean cuisine are infused into these succulent Ready to Enjoy salmon fillets, for a true taste of summer on your plate. The zingy lemon and soft hues of fresh herbs make for a mouth-watering combination which is perfect when paired with sundried tomato couscous, roasted Mediterranean vegetables, buttery new potatoes – all topped off with lashings of the zesty Lemon and Dill Mayonnaise.

RRP £4, available from Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Asda

Steamed Salmon with Lime and Coriander Dressing

This new addition to the Saucy range delivers the ultimate in fresh-tasting Asian-inspired flavours with the zesty Lime and Coriander dressing. For a dish to really impress, why not serve with steamed jasmine rice and a fresh crisp summer salad – with a generous drizzle of the zingy dressing?

RRP £4, available from Morrisons and Asda

I was sent 4 packs of salmon fillets with dressing for the purpose of this review.