Meal Plan July 28

Pat on the back to me. I have this week's meal plan organised on a Saturday and will be ready to post the blog on Sunday morning instead of making a mad dash on Sunday afternoon. It is all too possible (in my case very likely) that I sometimes over think these plans but it does take me at least half an hour to decide what to make and then to do up the shopping list. I don't want to eat pasta every night or have chicken two nights in a row so I have to do some juggling sometimes. Also, I tend to make the meals that I think will have leftovers the night before the meals which I think will be a little light so that I am prepared when I hear "I'm still hungry" five minutes after the last of the dinner has been served up.

I also like to try new things. My children love to watch Master Chef at the moment and they have taken to scoring the new meals out of 10 and make my husband rate them too. My lowest score was a 2 out of 10 from son number 1 because it had capsicum, tomato and onion in it - his 3 most hated vegetables. I've scored a few 10 out of 10's from the youngest son. He loves me and he loves his food. If he meets a girl who can cook I think he'll marry her!

This week all of the recipes I have chosen are new recipes to me so there will be plenty of Master Chef type judging that will occur. (When I say 'new' I refer to the particular recipe rather than the concept; ie. I've had fish and chips before but not used the recipe that I'll be using on Monday)


So here is what we'll be eating this week...


Monday

Baked Fish and Chips
Last week I got some dill and limes from a friend (who has an amazing vege garden) so fish and chips with a dill mayo on the side seemed a perfect way to use them. (I'll make the dill mayo instead of the tartare sauce that the recipe on the link has. It will simply be whole egg mayo, dill, lime rind and lime juice. The amounts will be decided on taste)
I also have an abundance of potatoes after I accidentally bought a big bag not realising (remembering) that I already had some. So, home made chips are perfect.
I try to avoid frying in my meals so that is another reason I have chosen this recipe - It is baked fish and baked chips


Tuesday


Chicken and Chorizo rice pot
I have made a very similar recipe to this one in the slow cooker but I couldn't find that exact recipe when I went Internet searching and stumbled across this one instead. I will be adding extra vegetables to the recipe - at this stage I am thinking zucchini or baby spinach or (probably) both. I am not anticipating a rave review from son number 1 due to the capsicum and onion but will persist anyway!


Wednesday

Moroccan carrot and pumpkin soup
I have a fairly busy day this Wednesday. I have volunteered to help in both sons classrooms and so will find myself at school until just before 2pm. Just enough time to dash home, make dinner, and go back to school to do pickup.
That night I also have the school parent forum meeting (don't know what that's called in other states or other countries - maybe P&C committee?) plus I am trying to squeeze in another meeting for another school function which I am organising. Putting it in writing is not filling me with any great excitement. However, there will come a time when I am just too embarrassing to be seen with, let alone allowed to help out at school so I will take it now while I can.
Soup is a perfect dinner for a day like that - I can make it in advance and will eat mine on the run in between my meetings. The boys and my husband will still sit down at the regular meal time and eat together.


Thursday

Thai beef and noodle stir fry
The only change that I'll make to this one is add more vege's - probably baby corn and capsicum or baby spinach and carrot or maybe all 4.


Friday

Chicken wraps
These are probably more of a lunch meal than a dinner meal but I am sure they will be well received. I am also hopeful that there'll be some leftovers for a road trip on Saturday.


For the disclaimer on my meals plans click here
For the current Pinterest board of this meal plan click here

Meal plan July 22

It has been a lovely, sunny winter's weekend here (For those not familiar with where I am, I live on the east coast of Australia, lets say at about the half way point between the tip and the bottom).
The kids were running around in shorts and t-shirts, not a jumper in sight. This morning we visited a friends house for coffee. They have a German exchange student staying with them and she commented on the fact that our Winter here in Australia is the same temperature as their Summer in Germany. It's funny how sometimes it takes another persons perspective on what a great place we live in for me to appreciate it.

I'm back to running this week after a self imposed ban due to a leg injury.
This time though I will listen to my body (leg) and take it slow if necessary. I have signed up to a second half marathon in 2 weeks time and should be running a bit more in preparation but I am not putting any pressure on myself for this run and so am not too worried. (I say this now; in a week's time I may hit panic mode).
I am hoping that a long run tomorrow goes smoothly, ie. pain free, and that I can join a new friend for some sprint sessions or a trail run later in the week.

In the meantime, this is what we'll be eating at our house

Monday
Chicken and vegetable soup with pasta
Chicken and vegetable soup with pasta
On the weekend I made some chicken in the slow cooker. I have shredded the leftover chicken and kept the broth which I plan on using to make this recipe. I don't plan on using the cabbage though simply because I think cabbage is a bit blah! Instead I think I'll add turnip or leek or zucchini - When I go shopping tomorrow for the veg I'll see what is available and make my decision then. That's one of the reasons I like soups like this one, once you add the staples the rest is fairly adaptable.
I will be harassed by the rest of the family to make bread rolls to go with this one, but to be honest it doesn't take that much to convince me.


Tuesday

Traditional lasagne
I like a traditional lasagne. The only change I'll make is to grate zucchini and carrot into the mince as it's cooking


Wednesday

Easy oven baked frittata
This is a yummy recipe that gets a thumbs up from everyone. The only annoying thing about it is slicing the potatoes. Every time I makes it I wish I had one of those mandolin slicers...Might put that on the Christmas wish list for Santa. If you want the vegetarian version simply omit the pancetta. I've also tried this with chorizo and it's nice to have the extra spiciness


Thursday

Chicken sausage rolls
This is a sure winner in our house, and it's fairly healthy too. Someone (in the ratings & comments section) made a great suggestion to add a tin of creamed corn and I have always done that - extra veg and extra flavour, yum.


Friday

Slow cooker Beef Massaman curry
I made this recipe a couple of months ago after I saw it on a friend's page. I wasn't super impressed but I didn't make it exactly to recipe as I was missing a couple of the ingredients. I vowed that I'd make it again and stick to the recipe. This is it's last chance though...


Have a fabulous week
The pinterest board for this week is here: http://pinterest.com/jenstrongy/this-weeks-dinner/
The meal plan/recipe disclaimer is here

Meal plan June 17

I am loving doing up this meal plan each Sunday.
The best thing about it is that it takes out the worry (ie. staring at the fridge and cupboard) all week about what to make and consequently we eat better (not that we eat bad normally). Also, it saves money as I don't find myself at the supermarket every second day.
I used to do a weekly meal plan a few years ago but just got bored of doing it. I am anticipating that I will get bored again eventually but the difference this time will be that I have a record of what I did so, essentially, I can just start again from my first meal plan.

This week we have the school athletics carnival on Wednesday so, from that day, I am making meals that I know will be eaten as I anticipate that there will be some tired kidlets


Monday










http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/22910/speedy+fried+rice
An easy start to the week. Yummy

Tuesday

http://asunshinyday.com/slow-cooker-coconut-cashew-chicken/
This one looks really good. I haven't made it before but I figure you can't go wrong with cashews! I will probably add some vege's to the slow cooker at some stage - maybe baby corn, capsicum and spinach leaves. And I plan to serve it with noodles (only because we are having rice the night before)

Wednesday

http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/19828/individual+chunky+beef+pies
Another recipe that I haven't tried before. I am thinking that I'll do mushroom for the adults, and carrot and potato for the boys as mushrooms are not on their favourite vegetable list.
There's quite a few suggestions in the comments section that I am going to have a good read over before I start this one.

Thursday

http://www.bestrecipes.com.au/recipe/Curried-Sausages-L602.html
The picture I've posted and the picture that comes up from the link do not match. It's a pinterest thing but I like the picture above better than the one on the link - simple as that.
This dinner will be yummy with mash

Friday

http://pinterest.com/pin/486036984755614949/
I think I could make this recipe with my eye's closed. Its almost foolproof.
Foolproof risotto is what it should be called.
It's originally from a Family circle cookbook - Quick short Chicken recipes.
I generally do pumpkin and spinach instead of leek. I also add pine nuts and bacon or ham if I have it.
It is super easy and super delicious.

Have a great week.
The full link (board) of what I am making is here:
http://pinterest.com/jenstrongy/this-weeks-dinner/