Foodie Weekend

 

This weekend started off with a woodland walk and mainly revolved around food.

Homemade Garlic and Rosemary Focaccia
With a risotto stuffed flat mushroom, topped with herby breadcrumbs and a salad.
Focaccia turned grilled deli sandwich with tomato, salami, mozzarella and pesto.

Lemon and Thyme Roasted Chicken
A traditional Sunday roast. Chicken, roasties, sweet potato, parsnips, stuffing, steamed vegetables. A feast. Followed by a delicious chocolate rice pudding, skin on.
Wholemeal seeded loaf baked for tomorrows left over chicken and stuffing sandwiches. 

Date Day

Fridays mean finishing work early and collecting the Bee from playschool for the afternoon. Today we had a little date, just us. A trip to 'the hot chocolate shop' to watch the cars and have some cake followed by a play in the park.

The afternoon threatened us with stormy clouds with bright blue skies peeking through. Mr Bee ran upstairs playing hide and see, only Nana forgot to find him and he fell asleep...

Which left some quiet time to see if some yoga would ease my aches and pains before making a scrummy, yummy Chicken, Leek and Ham pie. Now for an evening of films and goodies ;)

Places to Visit in 2014

Every year since becoming National Trust members I have compiled a list of places to visit in the coming year. In the three years that we have been members, we have pretty much exhausted most of our local properties and gardens, so this year I have expanded my radius to an hour and a half drive so that we can get some more new places visited. So here is our list for 2014.

Stowe Landscape Gardens, Buckinghamshire

This was on last years list. I am still desperate to pack a picnic and head here for the day with Louie. Fresh air and a great run around will do nicely.

Lyveden New Build, Northamptonshire

One of the many lovely room guides that we have met (at Packwood House I believe) said to Mr Bee one day "I know a place that you would like, a place where you can wear your yellow wellies and get nice and muddy!". Since then we have penciled in Lyveden New Build, especially as they have a coffee shop now ;)

Shugborough Estate, Staffordshire

Slightly further afield, but this gorgeous mansion looks right up my street. The best of both, a fantastic looking house with plenty of gardens to explore.

Sunnycroft, Shropshire

This late Victorian red brick villa looks so interesting. A middle class house virtually unaltered, with a tea room inside the house!

Stoneywell, Leicestershire

We can not wait for Stoneywell to open this year. A house prominent in the Arts and Crafts movement owned by the Gimson family, whose main house in the city was turned into the primary school I attended.

Waddeson Manor, Buckinghamshire

This 19th Century French inspired chateau was featured on a television programme we watched a few weeks ago. Enthralled by its story I can not wait to explore the beautiful house and grounds. I think Mr Bee will be pretty impressed by the woodland playground.

Wightwick Manor, West Midlands

When we visited Moseley Old Hall in July, we were recommended to visit Wightwick Manor, only a stones throw away. The amazing timber framed house boasts amazing William Morris interiors and with gardens to explore, it seems like a winner.

( Places with a strikethrough have been visited this year)

Last week was warm enough to play outside. How refreshing. So much better than being couped up indoors. I can't wait until it is warm enough to eat breakfast outside every morning. 

Back into the Swing

After three weeks holiday over Christmas, then a week of extra at work I am so glad to be back to normal. A little peace and normality has been resumed. This morning I took Mr Bee for his annual pottery painting, making a birthday party piece for his party. This years theme is still under wraps, a big surprise for our little chap.
Then an afternoon in the kitchen (making as much mess as possible...). A home baked bloomer, a delicious Carrot and Coriander soup, a first in our kitchen, certainly not the last and a deliciously moist Chocolate Guinness Cake which I haven't made since I was a teenager.

Routine never felt so good.

Resumed

Our first outing of the year with our pals the Stephensons. Our plans in tatters due to cars breaking down (again...! Not mine this time though!) so we filled ourselves with wrap pizza and pannetone and walked to the local park for some fresh, cold air.

In a Nutshell

Saturday

Staying in. Doing little jobs. Playing lego. Beef and Guinness pie. Cinema date to see American Hustle.

Sunday

Wintery walk. Wooly hats and gloves. Hot Chocolates at the Railway café. 

Country pub. Warming up by the fire. Bosworth Memorabilia. Wine and Ale. Duck salad. Tomato Soup. Roast Chicken with Pancetta and Spinach. North Indian Curry. Valentines reservation. 

Train time whilst everyone else has an afternoon nap.

Fougasse

First bread of the year and a new recipe, a french Fougasse. I was so pleased with how they turned out for a first attempt. It accompanied our Tomato, Chorizo and Chickpea soup wonderfully. Mr Bee particularly liked the poppy seeds! 

Little pincher took my glasses!

Little Adventurer

Our first outing of the New Year, a brisk walk at Packwood to fight off the terrible cough that Mr Bee has had since Christmas Eve. My legs were finally feeling a little better (After the Physio crippled me three weeks ago...) so we braved the rather muddy Welly Walk, going the whole hog this time. 

This handsome chap was being such a charmer as we flew (literally, we were being aeroplanes) around the Kitchen Garden.

What a menu, Mr Bee had a picnic bucket but still ended up sharing the Mushroom and Thyme soup anyway because it was so delicious. Then we set off on the welly walk.

 Proper mud...

This was just too cute, a proper little action shot, blur and all, jumping off of the big stone. 3, 2 1, JUMP!

He had so fun pretending to be Bear Grylls and thankfully the walk did the trick, no more coughs, well, at least until we got home!