Student Homemaker

Last night was my University department's Spring Ball.
Most of the departments in the University have a society for social events, and they organise events (usually pub crawls).

This year's Spring Ball was lovely - it was in a posh hotel, with a three course meal, alcohol and jazz band.
Well, the band wasn't too great, but it was nice to have one!

So today's a morning after the night before - which really throws a lark like me out of wack.
But I am so glad I went - I love any excuse to share a meal with friends/workmates.
And of course, BP (my boyfriend) was there to share it all with me, too.

Wonderful! I can't wait to go next year, too! Yay!

Last night, boyfriend (BP) asked if I was interested in catering for his University society party.
And, as you might expect, this enthusiatic foodie couldn't resist saying yes.

Then, realisation dawned - 80 people to cater for, finger food, on one night - could I pull it off?
Me, who has never catered anything before? I've never even held a party just to cater it, or pretended I was (although that's always tempted me)
So I asked my BP for a get-out-clause - the possibility of some volunteers to delegate tasks to.

Now I've slept on the idea.
And it's my firm belief I can do it!
Maybe even without help (?!)

So here's my strategy - the best parties offer a selection.
Take one guest, make one recipe that would feed just them - then share it around so 12 or so people eat it.
Hence, propagate the idea and each person gets 12 different things to eat.
Naturally, 80 dishes is not possible...
Divide the 80 into 8 groups of 10:
So make 10 different dishes, and 8 batches of each.

That's perfectly manageable - and if I have 9 volunteer helpers, that's only one dish each. Simple!
And as for the £3 a head budget - just don't choose any dish costing more than £3.

Ok, I really must try to expand my Sick Recipe List.

I'm feeling pretty run down right now, and that means that although I want/need something good to eat, the amount of effort I can put into it is rock bottom.

Tonight, my boyfriend-flatmate and I are having my garlic chicken, which involves less effort than a pack of Supernoodles (although the latter is finished more quickly).

No-one can say they can't be bothered to smear some butter over a chicken breast and add some garlic and seeds. Just two things I do have to excuse, before anyone blasts me - I admit that there are degrees of illness where this wouldn't be possible, and also that my boyfriend will be butchering the chicken a little for me (but that's his fault for only getting the part-boned chicken breasts instead of the boneless sort).

The problem comes in the fact that:
Firstly, I haven't shopped properly this week and lack many staples (like bread!)
Secondly, my list hasn't many cheap light lunches

So, what am I going to do this lunchtime? Given that yesterday's fodder of canned pasta shapes, cereal and ham-from-the-packet (not mixed!) is no longer in the store-cupboard and not good diet.
I desperately crave tomato soup, but even if I successfully make it from passata, I've no bread to go with it.
I'm off to search my food stocks and play a half-effort RSC...

I loved Mother's Day, just to see the smile on my mum's face at everything I got her.

I spent most of Saturday shopping for it, while I was already staying at my parent's place for the weekend. Generally, I hate myself for doing things last minute, because all you seem to buy at that time is so obviously bought last minute. So I made my last stop on my shopping spree my local craft store and got some things to personalize nearly everything I bought previously.

So here's what I got, and what I did with it:

Thornton's "I love Mum" cups - she'd been asking about them, so I had to get them for her.

Patio plants set - three patio flowers in one pot, and I stuck pretty pink ribbon around the plain pot.

Forever Friends bear - which I left in her bed so she'd find it after I'd gone back home.

Mother's Day Cake - bought sponge cake and icing set, to decorate my own way with flowers and lilac icing. I was really impressed with myself on this, so I must try cake decorating again.

And then I made a pink pearly card, with ribbon and flower shapes of handmade paper.

She absolutely loved everything, and we went to a Mother's Day service at my church, and got a Sunday lunch together at a local pub (which she insisted she paid for).
And all over, I think she was the most delighted she's ever been with Mother's Day.

So, last night, I was tucked up in bed, when I was awoken by a shaking.

Turns out England had a small earthquake last night.

It wasn't really that scary, maybe a little concerning.
Just thought I'd note that I was there.