Anyone else had just about enough of the endless cycle of cooking that lockdown has brought with it? If it isn’t the basic three meals a day, it’s the endless snacks required. I can set my watch by the following conversation:

Child 1/2 or 3: ‘mummy, can I have a snack?’
Me: ‘yes, no crisps’
Child 1/2 or 3: ‘can I have crisps?’
Me: ‘no, it’s always no to crisps at 10:30am’
Child 1/2 or 3: ‘but there’s nothing else I like’
Me (in my head) ‘Oh FFS!’

At this point, we’re all eating too much rubbish, not enough veg and I just consider it a win if everyone eats the same meal at the same time. I’ve learned to set the bar realistically low with kids! There was a time (about 11 years ago) when I genuinely believed my children would eat everything, I wouldn’t pander to their likes and dislikes and if they didn’t like it, they could just starve. Oh how I laugh at that pre-kid version of myself as I make yet another sweetcorn and cheese wrap with baked beans on the side for ACOD…….. (every lunch, every day, no change).

As I stood peeling carrots on Friday evening, I deeply regretted not ordering our usual Friday night take away from Delish Indian. Having one night a week when someone else cooks and delivers dinner to my front door is about as exciting as life gets in lockdown III world. I miss school lunches (that are cooked by school), work lunches (paid for in Cowes and made by someone else), eating out in restaurants (where they also do the washing up) but mostly I miss eating with lots of friends and family round the table, drinking too much wine and talking shit that isn’t about COVID, vaccines, lockdowns and whether there is any point in booking a holiday (nope, not yet people!). So, to rescue the ‘no take-away this weekend’ situation, I thought we’d follow in the MacDonalds vein and have KFC! Ugh…. no, nope, never, grim but……. we did watch Jimmy and Jamie’s Friday Night and Jimmie’s version of KFC looked amazing! Never one to shy away from a cooking challenge, I took it on and it was truly fabulous.

Of course, every great take away needs an evil after dinner treat and this weekend’s inspiration came from March’s Good Housekeeping magazine – homemade wagon wheels. I adore wagon wheels. Now the recipe says each wagon wheel is 503cal which is a little more than anyone should have in a sweet treat so we made them a third of the size and OMG – these are not going to be good for one’s waistline……!

Reniera’s Fried (baked) Chicken (RBC)

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I’ve linked to the recipe above but did change a few things. I followed the TV show version which didn’t precook the chicken before crumbing and also used semolina instead of polenta. So, I coated the chicken in semolina and cajun spices, dipped in the egg before crumbing and then cooked at 180 for an hour. I also don’t have a griddle pan so precooked the sweetcorn and then just coloured it in a pan with butter. I also just used chicken thighs and drumsticks – I can’t be faffing about jointing a chicken.

Everyone loved the chicken. It was super succulent and tasted just like I remember KFC (I’ve not had KFC since I left SA 20 years ago..). I made the kids try coleslaw and sweet potato wedges. The coleslaw was more popular but they all at least tried them both (tiny win). COD and I loved everything! Even if it did include many, many pans, pots and equipment that all then needed to be cleaned!

Wagon Wheels

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Sometimes you see a recipe that just looks so damn good, you have to put aside the 4 million calories and head out to buy ingredients! This recipe threw up some challenges as I no longer own an electric hand beater so working out how to whisk the marshmallow over a pan of water (without growing new biceps) took some thinking but a combination of hand whisking over the pan of water for a minute to heat the bowl and then a minute in the Kenwood (and repeat many times) worked a charm! I also opted to dip the wheels into the chocolate half at a time and I think next time I would cut the rounds of paper and do it as the recipe suggests. I made 21 small ones from this recipe. Mine might not have shine but otherwise not too shabby hey?

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In other news:

• Along with my new vet qualifications, I am now also almost qualified as a hairdresser. I have layered the girls hair, chopped mega length of Leigh’s (and it’s straight enough) and suspect COD will appear, shears in hand, later this week. This pandemic has given me so many new roles. I mean, why be happy with motherhood and a full time job when you can add other new professions to the day?
• I’m enjoying the Sew and Tell webinars run by Planet Aware. They are all about repair and reuse of fabric and clothing. The last one was all about boro repair technique and I learned how to sew chennile
• Excitingly, the next big dig will start in a week. Yes, the basement work is due to commence on 15 Feb. This means a full dig out of the floor, a damp proof membrane, new floors, underfloor heating and finally being able to use the basement! I’m hoping the new guest suites will be ready for summer and that people will be allowed to visit!
• It’s 4 weeks until Sunday 7 March. This date is important for two reasons. Firstly, regardless of whether the Ryde 10 goes ahead as a proper race, we will be running in two-by-two fashion and secondly, because I am hoping against all hope that I will have three school bags packed and ready by the front door to return the girls to school the next day. I have booked 9 March off work in the hopes of having a day with no work and no kids…… what’s the bet I’ve now jinxed this?