Sunday brunch

It's been a fun weekend - after college on Saturday I met up that evening with some friends for our Book Club night.  "Book Club" - which also could be called Wine Club!

 

Then on Sunday Enid, Alice and I met up for an impromptu brunch - arranged late on Saturday.  Alice has recently moved house and lives much nearer to Enid and I now so she cycled in to my place.

 

We have spoke about how in November when we are in Key West we will drink breakfast cocktails every day so I figured we'd have a practice run today.

I made espresso martini's which Enid and Alice found a little too kicky (a little too much vodka?) so to counter this I added a little Baileys which made them more smooth and creamy.

 

We then went to our usual brunch spot of the M&S restaurant on Grafton Street.  The food is just ok there, but it works for us for sitting and chatting for a few hours - particularly if we get one of the nice booths.

I had the smoked salmon bagel which was nice.  Afterwards I had a craving for something sweet so I got this Red Velvet cupcake which looks divine doesn't it.  I should have read the description of it properly.  It was filled with raspberry jam (bleugh) which I do not like.  And the cream cheese topping was very bitter. So it was not for me!  I'll know better in future.

Inspired by Frugal and Thankful :-)

Lately I have been reading a lot of Lena's posts over on her Frugal and Thankful blog.

And while I didn't set out to get a "value" shop today, things from her blog must be sinking in, because I ended up getting a lot of bang for my buck!  Unplanned, unexpected, but feels good!!

I am having my cousin Kasey over for dinner tomorrow and as I have a work day out today (family fun event celebrating 75 year history of the company) I said I'd go get everything organised this morning so that I don't have to think about it later.

So I popped over to Marks and Spencer which I admit is my Go To when I am entertaining.  The food is all just so nice, and with alot of it being prepped it makes things very easy all round.  It is more expensive than buying elsewhere but I always think it is worth it.

When I got over there I realised the Dine in for Two offer was on so I said I'd take a look.  This is a really good deal where they offer a main, a side, a dessert and a bottle of wine for just €14.  So I decided I would use that meal as the basis for my menu.

I bought the Dine in deal, plus extra vegetables, limes, oil and sea salt. A lot of the veg was short shelf (two days left) and were hence reduced.  The potatoes for example were just €1.50 instead of €2.95

Total was €22.98!!

Let me remind you this includes a bottle of wine!!!!

So to give you a taster of what I am going to make tomorrow.

First up I am going to make a nice refreshing cocktail.  

My caiproska's always go down a bomb :-)

For main I will do Gammon - which was the "main" in the Dine in for two deal.

I am going to try make hasselback potatoes for the first time ever.  Hope they go okay.

And then with the meat and potatoes I have both roast Mediterranean veg and nice green beans and other veg.

Oh and for dessert, as part of the deal I got profiteroles which I always like.

So if all of this food is enough (and nice) that will be dinner for three people for €22.98.

And if I had the above in my store cupboard then the overall total would have been just €20.50

Sunday Brunch!

Today I called to my cousin's apartment for a lovely Sunday brunch.  I got on the train at my house at 10.55 and arrived at her apartment at 11.05, how convenient is that!

This was my outfit for brunch - it's getting chillier already :-(

How cute is this little Bewley's jug*??!!!  

(*read my next blog post if you'd like to know more about this little jug and it's origins!)

Kasey made very nice rashers (bacon!) and french toast.