Menu planner update

By the time it comes to tea time on most days, my brain has pretty much turned to mush. What with getting up early, work and the battle of the school run, I am not really capable of any in depth thought, even after a cup tea. That "What's for tea?" question used to give me a bit of a panic attack but then I sorted out a menu planner. I wouldn't say that I was exactly qualified to give good mummy advance but when you have an eating machine like my Charlie, being a little bit organised seriously reduces the amount of stress. If they want to know what is for tea, I look on the fridge and that is what's for tea, no discussion, no negotiation and no arguing and because my husband is such a complete star and does the shopping, everything I need to cook what the fridge tells me, is in fact in the fridge. There is a little bit more to it than that, like deciding what meals are going to go in the menu planner and writing the shopping list, but I am so grateful to have the fridge to turn to everyday after school.

I originally made the menu planner fridge magnets last September (check it out here) but the meals have a slightly wintery feel and in anticipation of the produce that I am growing at the allotment, it was time for a bit of an update.

Quick Tutorial

You will need

• Cardboard (Cut up a box, I do like to reuse and recycle)
• Decorative paper (I used vintage musical score)
• Pretty Card stock
• Little labels (I made my own using some old graph paper and my vintage typewriter. I used an ink jet printer last time and the ink smudged a bit when I painted the Modge Podge over the top)
• Mod Podge
• Magnetic strips (I cut an old magnetic postcard that I got from the council about composting)
• Fancy edged scissors

Cover the cardboard in Mod Podge, stick the musical score to it and then more Mod Podge

Cut the card stock with some fancy edged scissors and stick that on top of the cards with more Mod Podge.

The weather was so glorious today that I took my vintage type writer out into the garden to type the new meals labels. It isn't necessary to really go to so much trouble but these happy memories of sunny days, pretty papers and lovely typeface all help to diffuse the stress of tea time.

More Mod Podge and more sticking

Josie was very impressed with the Eton Mess which I will be able to make with raspberries or strawberries or perhaps even red or black currants. She did not like the beans on toast idea but this is strictly for adults and made with broad beans or runner beans and  goats cheese on ciabatta garnished with freshly picked rocket. I can not wait!