Meal Planning Monday - the Wimbledon quick meals edition!

Yes, it's that time again and at the time of writing this on Sunday evening, I'm like a child on Christmas Eve. For tomorrow (today when you're reading this) is the first day of Wimbledon. I'm a huge tennis fan and I love it in all its forms but for me, Wimbledon is THE one as it's something I have grown up watching and I love the wall to wall coverage of it. Hence not a lot is going to get done for the duration and my meal plan has to reflect an ability to do mostly throw together meals or at least be able to be made ahead. You will note that two dishes from last week have reappeared as they got bumped after some last minute changes last week. I WILL get to make them this week.

Apart from tennis, I have to go to London for the day on Thursday which is going to be long as I have to get the 6am train from Preston. It's sandwich day anyway so at least they'll manage that between the three of them (the children now enjoy making their own butties when I let them). Oh, and Monkey has chosen Monday's tea as he has a friend coming for tea, a boy who has recently joined his class from another school. Again, I made sure it didn't involve too much faffing or can be made ahead of time and will help me maximise tennis viewing opportunities.

This is the plan, in all its glory.

Monday - Lasagne
Tuesday - Sweet and sticky wings (with supermarket coleslaw, so shoot me)
Wednesday- Baked aubergines with cannellini beans
Thursday - Sandwiches
Friday - Pea & spring onion tart (will make this on Weds)
Saturday - Sweet chilli bangers in buns and coleslaw
Sunday - Sweet potato and spinach bake

So, are you excited about Wimbledon? Have you planned nothing but sandwiches and salads for the next fortnight? What are you having? Tell me, then pop over to Mrs M's by clicking the badge above and discovering lots more meal planning entries. 

Meal Planning Monday - the quiet mid-Summer week edition!

So, I'm writing this after a weekend where my feet barely touched the ground. We went to a family wedding on Saturday, which was fabulous, and on Sunday, they held a day after party at their house. No time for anything and in the build up, I baked a cake which I decorated on Sunday lunchtime before taking over to Blackpool.

Back to normal this week. Nothing particularly unusual is happening, and I am very glad of that. We do, however, still have children doing five different after school activities between them, three of which are on the same day! They are finishing football this week though so as of next week, we'll  be down to four. Hurrah. My meal plan in response to this comprise a few easy peasy meals, and I've picked a couple of things to use up things in my freezer.

This is what we're having.

Monday- Sausages, sweet potato mash and onion relish (with broccoli not courgette)
Tuesday - Sloppy Joe bake
Wednesday - Warm smoked mackerel and new potato salad
Thursday - Sandwiches
Friday - Baked aubergines with cannellini beans
Saturday - Pea and spring onion tart
Sunday - Roast beef with salads

Don't forget if you need more of a meal planning fix, there are more entries to be found at Mrs M's, which you can find by clicking the badge above.

Meal Planning Monday - the summer easy cook edition!

So, I'm trying to ignore that the weather is due to turn this week and trying to cook simple things this week. Already, you will recognise a dish from last week's plan which has been bumped until the later part of the week when it's supposed to be colder. Which is a shame, as we are going to a wedding on Saturday and then the day after party on Sunday. On the bright side, that means no cooking for me this weekend so I only had the week to fill. We are fully back to normal this week with school and activities, with Monkey now out of his cast - although not a fully extending arm as yet.

This is the plan for the week, then.

Monday - Sticky chicken drumsticks and potato salad
Tuesday - Pasta with red pesto and meatballs (kids' choice!)
Wednesday - Pea and spring onion tart
Thursday - Lamb & aubergine stew with crispy chickpea topping
Friday - Mushroom coconut & mango pilau (adapted from our usual favourite)
Saturday - Wedding
Sunday - Party

Need more Meal Planning Monday inspiration? Get yourself over to Mrs M's where there will be plenty posts to give you ideas. 

Meal Planning Monday - the birthday and Mother's Day edition!

The short weeks are coming thick and fast at the moment.  On Saturday, Monkey turns 8 (how the hell did that happen?) so is having a tennis party and then on Sunday, it's Mother's Day and I am not cooking. I'm not sure WHAT we are doing yet but I did suggest to husband that he and the children made a roast for us to have at home. We'll see.

The weekend is therefore busy. On top of that, Monkey is taking part in a ukulele concert at a small music festival on Thursday night, on top of doing badminton AND swimming after school. I don't know when he's going to fit eating in. For now, I'm sticking to soup and might finally get around to making the soup I keep putting on the plan and then it not happening.

Here is what I have so far.

Monday - Prawn and coconut curry
Tuesday - Honey mustard pork
Wednesday - Corned beef and beans pie
Thursday - Minty pea and potato soup
Friday - keeping free
Saturday - keeping free (and party food)
Sunday - keeping free

What about you, oh wonderful meal planners? My plan was done in a rush, and I'm hoping I can return to normal next week. In the meantime, Mrs M has more meal planning marvellousness.

Meal Planning Monday - the short week into March edition!

Yes, this is another short week. This is because I am working/playing this weekend and heading to Derbyshire for a work event that doubles as a social. Husband is working too so the children are going to their grandparents on Saturday and staying there until I pick them up on Sunday afternoon. I'm leaving here Friday lunchtime so Friday has been designed for the slow cooker so that they can pick up tea when they are ready.

The rest of the week has been chosen to fulfill Monkey's desire to have "pie", a leftover dish from last week, something I chose because I fancied it and a dish to use up some meat in the freezer. Sounds thrilling, eh?

The devil, of course, is in the detail and here that detail is.

Monday - Thai pork and peanut curry
Tuesday - Cauliflower cheese and jacket potatoes
Wednesday - Minced beef pie
Thursday - Minty pea and potato soup
Friday - Sausages in onion gravy from the slow cooker for everyone else
Saturday - kept free
Sunday - kept free

After last week's summery feel, that looks pretty wintery again! Cannot wait to have cauliflower cheese myself. Once you've drooled over this menu, (what do you mean you haven't?) hop over to Mrs M's for more MPM mayhem.

Meal Planning Monday - the emptying my freezer edition

I have these moments every now and then when I decide that some things have been in my freezer for far too long so get round to planning in meals that will use them up. Not that I ignore what's in my freezer, it's just there are a few bits that have been languishing for a while and need using up. It also keeps the food bill down for the week. It's a fairly standard week for us, apart from the fact that Missy Woo has a friend coming for tea on Friday and I'm off to Blogcamp in Manchester on Saturday.

Here's what I've cobbled together.

Monday - Red lentil loaf with mash and peas
Tuesday - Slow cooker lamb chops
Wednesday - Pea and pesto soup with fish finger croutons
Thursday - Crock pot hoisin chicken
Friday - Meatball pasta bake
Saturday - Green pork chilli tacos
Sunday - Ham hock with pinto beans (if I can get a ham hock!)

That is our menu, in a nutshell. What does yours look like? Remember I'm after some nice things to make that can be reheated now that husband is working twilight shifts Monday to Thursday.

And don't forget - Mrs M has all the Meal Planning Monday entries over on her blog.

Meal Planning Monday - the reality bites edition

So, my birthday has been and gone, the kids are back at school and reality hits home. It's January and I want to eat as healthily as I can. The month feels like it goes on for ever too so let's hope this one passes quickly.  The healthy eating well explain why there are three dishes containing poultry on the menu this week. Again, all the recipes (apart from the risotto, which is just made up) are from BBC Good Food this month but none of them have reached their website. And excuse the chicken pies - they are in my freezer and I've actually checked, they're not too bad in the calorie department. 

Here is next week then. Nothing out of the way, I'm leaving Saturday free because I am not currently sure what we are doing. 

Monday - Chicken risotto

Tuesday - Baked turkey meatballs with crispy potatoes and broccoli

Wednesday - Mushroom stroganoff with rice

Thursday - Chunky pea soup with bread

Friday - Chicken pies, mash and mixed veg

Saturday - left free

Sunday - Salmon and broccoli cakes with salad. 

Are you planning your meals this year? What are you planning to eat this week? Tell me, and then visit Mrs M's  place to visit the other entries in this week's linky. 

Meal Planning Monday

I'm back! Returned from our holiday this evening and the unpacking is done. Time to plan a week of meals for getting back into the routine. My BBC Good Food arrived and I managed to get a read of it whilst I was away on holiday and there were lots of things I wanted to try so there are a few recipes from there that I'd like to try.

Monday - Baked eggs with spinach tomato and chorizo
Tuesday - Wild mushroom and chestnut cottage pie
Wednesday - Honey mustard pork, mash and broccoli
Thursday - Pea pesto and prawn spaghetti
Friday - Sausage and bean casserole
Saturday - Onion pie
Sunday - keeping free

Seems like a reasonable mix. Two complete veggie dishes in a week and some seafood back on the menu. Sorry there are no links - either Good Food haven't added them to their database yet or they are likely to be copyrighted and not placed there, which is a shame.

Have you planned your week's meals? What are you eating next week? Why not pop to Mrs M's blog to see what other people are eating?