Meal Planning Monday - the dull mid-January edition!

Not much to say about this week - just another week marking off to January payday.

The plan has a lot of stuff I've already got in to keep food costs down.

Monday - Chicken, ham and mushroom pasta bake (based loosely on that dish)
Tuesday - Burgers
Wednesday - Roast parsnip and parmesan soup
Thursday- Cauliflower cheese
Friday - Gnocchi and sausage bake
Saturday - Quiche lorraine
Sunday - Roast or pie, whatever is on offer at the supermarket later.

Short and sweet this week. Don't forget to join in at Mrs M's

Meal Planning Monday - the I am really rubbish edition!

I cannot believe it's 3 weeks since I posted a plan. I swear I had posted since but obviously not. September was stupidly busy. I'd like to say October is calmer but it's not. Next week, I have something every night until Friday. This weekend, I was away in Birmingham with work, I went to London the week before that and a few days before that, we went to Devon and back!

Trying to make up a plan that fits around everything is nightmarish. Monkey is taking part in a school football tournament after school for 3 weeks; he's done one already and so we have two more Mondays to do. Missy has rejoined choir, which is on at the same time! Luckily, someone is taking him to the tournament for me tomorrow so I will pick up Missy later and go watch them play their last matches. On Tuesday, I've started going to a gym class after school but straight after that, we're going to a secondary school open evening. Wednesday, the children have swiming and I have a meeting later (and it's Bake Off final - argh!) and on Thursday, we are going to one final, FINAL secondary school open evening. Phew.

Meals are therefore a mixture of things that cook very quickly, things I can leave (like in a slow cooker) or things I know the kids will eat quickly plus I'm on an economy drive so it's nothing fancy, I can assure you. And we have nothing planned for next weekend - total, total bliss!

Monday - Chinese chicken and sweetcorn soup
Tuesday - Slow cooker chilli with tortillas and guacamole
Wednesday - Sandwiches
Thursday - Cauliflower cheese
Friday - Slow cooker barbeque chicken wings and drumsticks with roasted veg and "stuff"
Saturday - Slow cooker sweet and sour pork, rice and prawn crackers
Sunday - Slow cooker gammon in cola

Hmm. That slow cooker is going to get a hammering!

Don't forget that the lovely Mrs M host Meal Planning Monday on At Home with Mrs M,

Now, unless the world falls in, I PROMISE I will definitely post again next week. Ha.

Meal Planning Monday - the February half term edition!

A very quick one from me as I'm just cobbling a plan together ahead of going away to Cadbury World on Tuesday. It's half term so nothing is going to be fancy and I'm going to rely on the fridge and freezer as much as possible.

Monday - away
Tuesday - Freezer dive (probably chicken kievs)
Wednesday - Chicken drumsticks in BBQ sauce, corn on the cob, peanut slaw
Thursday - Cauliflower cheese
Friday - Roasted butternut squash, sage and garlic risotto
Saturday - Pizza
Sunday - Roast dinner probably

Enjoy half term if you've got the week off! Don't forget to visit Mrs M's for more meal planning mayhem or something like that.

Meal Planning Monday - the quiet February week edition!

At least that's what I'm hoping!

Last week felt insanely busy and I ended it feeling meh for lots of reasons. I've got a bit of a cold that comes and goes, and on Saturday, my foot started hurting periodically without doing anything (other than a bit of jogging). So I sat down that afternoon, planned the week and stuck in a grocery order (motivated just a bit by a 10% off code in my email) so I could have a quiet Sunday, mostly child free as they went off to visit the in-laws. I had a morning of doing nothing, putting away said groceries and an afternoon of making a roast and some bread.

I'm hoping the week continues in this calm vein, although it's parents evening this week (for me, afternoon...) and Friday is the end of this half term, which is the halfway point in the school year. Wow. Nothing else special on so I've got some new things to try and one carry over from last week because I gave up and went to find a new chippy.

Monday - Bhaji frittata
Tuesday - Slow cooker Thai coconut chicken soup
Wednesday - Cheesy lentils
Thursday - Slow cooker bacon, smoked cheddar and egg casserole
Friday - Arabian lamb mince
Saturday - Cauliflower and broccoli cheese
Sunday - keeping free for now

That's it. Next week will of course be the half term edition, which will only be half a week as we are away for one night and late back another.

And in the meantime, you go over to Mrs M's and see the other entries in Meal Planning Monday. Click the badge above to enter a world of meal plans.

Meal Planning Monday - the February at last edition!

You know I thought January went on forever. I won't go on about it anymore except to say "February, yay!" I don't know why I am saying that because this week appears to be stupidly busy. Tonight, the children are taking part in a Young Voices concert in Manchester so are going on a coach there at lunchtime with the rest of the school choir, rehearsing then staying for the concert. We're going of course, then going home and picking them up. It will be a late night for them and then Missy goes on a school trip to Salford on Tuesday. And to top it all off,  Monkey starts back at cricket nets on Tuesday evening. Eventually, life returns to normal somewhere around Wednesday (ish) and I think hoping for a fast arrival of the weekend. I don't usually wish the week away but tired children usually equals grumpy children in our house.

This is what we are having this week.

Monday - bacon butties for the grown ups, kids are taking a packed tea with them
Tuesday - Cauliflower cheese and jackets
Wednesday - Chilli and cornbread (held over from last week)
Thursday - Roasted butternut squash and carrot soup
Friday - Bhaji frittata
Saturday - Salmon, dill and mushroom lasagne
Sunday - Roast dinner (not sure which yet, we went shopping in Waitrose and I can't afford 90% of their joints)

Mrs M's is open for business (or should be soon) and you can see lots and lots other interesting meal plans. Click on the badge above to discover lots of meal planning loveliness.

Meal Planning Monday - the New Year edition!

This plan took a very long time. I certainly struggled for inspiration as to what to cook this week. It's that time where nothing actually happens. We have no further trips to visit family, husband is back at work, except for New Years Day so it's kind of a normal holiday week with a special day in the middle.

Also, after all the cooking I did last week, this week seems a bit dull. Never mind, I got there in the end. Hope you had a great Christmas by the way.

Here is the week.

Monday - Cauliflower cheese
Tuesday - Takeaway
Wednesday - Swiss fondue (wish me luck on this one, the kids have never had it)
Thursday - Slow cooker corned beef hotpot
Friday - Friday night fish pie
Saturday - Mexican bean chilli
Sunday - Black pudding rumble

That's all for now. Time to get back to my little ones and enjoy the rest of this holiday. Happy New Year!

Meal Planning Monday - the why is not half term yet edition!

Even going back to school later has made no difference, and we're all feeling a bit tired today. Maybe it's the 400 mile round trip to Buckinghamshire for a party this weekend that is at fault, but I'm thoroughly looking forward to the children not having anything to go to for a week (although we do, just not school stuff).

This plan was kind of cobbled together (as it always is, it gets rejigged so many times!) before and after my weekend. I expect it to fail! Eyes down, look in, here we go. 

Monday - Thai chicken and sweet potato soup

Tuesday - Beef and mushroom meat loaf

Wednesday - Sausage and bean crumble

Thursday - Butties

Friday - Spiced rice and lentils with cauliflower

Saturday - Prawn and coconut curry

Sunday - Roast pork

So, that's me for the week. Can I sleep now? 

Meal Planning Monday - the family choice edition!

Another week, another dollar. Or something. Not wanting to hunt out lots of meals for my plans this week, I opened it up to the children and husband who made a few suggestions and I dropped in a couple of extra things. I've even been to the supermarket on Sunday to buy it all so the week will start with me vaguely organised.

Here we go for this week. 

Monday - Fried eggs with chorizo, onions and potatoes

Tuesday - Lasagne

Wednesday - Ribs and coleslaw

Thursday - Sandwiches

Friday - Cauliflower cheese

Saturday - Italian spiced chickpea burgers

Sunday - Roast beef

Nothing particularly fancy there; my kids are fairly traditional in taste. Missy Woo loves cauliflower cheese, Monkey wanted roast dinner and they both adore pasta! Husband wanted chicken or ribs and the kids chose ribs. Who am I to argue?! 

When you're done reading this (all of 30 seconds probably), hop on over to Mrs M's to find more MPM posts - click on the badge for further details. 

Have a good week! 

Meal Planning Monday - the I don't know which season it is edition!

I've only called it that because I can't think of anything else to put! It's still September, I'm still getting myself back on an even keel and learning new routines. Getting there slowly should be the phrase of the week. I seem to have two dishes I didn't make last week - one of which was because I spent so long doing the supermarket shop that I it was too late to cook anything and be ready at a reasonable time for the children.

There is nothing special on this week apart from all the things we normally do. The kids are doing choir at school, Missy Woo is dancing and both are swimming at separate times. We have no major social events to go to, although Monkey is keen to go to the presentation night for his cricket academy (even though he's yet to play for the team). Oh yeah, it's the proper launch of Strictly on Friday and Missy Woo will be giddy with excitement.

Apart from that, let's get on with the week. Some things are a bit retro and low effort, I like it like that.

Monday - Chicken and sweetcorn fried rice
Tuesday - Leek and tomato eggy bread bake
Wednesday - Mince and mash
Thursday - Cauliflower cheese soup
Friday - Loaded healthy nachos
Saturday -  Butter pie with apples and cheese
Sunday - Salmon with butterbean mash

As ever, you can find more Meal Planning magnificence at Mrs M's so click the badge above to go on a voyage of discovery.

Meal Planning Monday - the post holiday holiday edition!

No post for two weeks? Very bad blogger, me! But now, I'm back. Hello. This blog has been neglected and for that, I apologise. Maybe I'll blog about our holiday soon but it was good. Got back on Saturday and now husband has started his course. However, the children are still off this week so it's just me and them during the day.

Time indeed to get back to normal meal planning, which I did last night, honest guv but I got distracted by tennis (US Open) and the fact I was getting a new car today. Excited doesn't even cover it. I've had the same car for over 9 years!

I've included Monday's meal even though we've already eaten it because it was universally enjoyed and will be one I make again.

Eyes down..

Monday - Prosciutto and pesto fish gratin
Tuesday - Jamaican pork and kale stew (heavily adapted so not too hot and we have no kale!)
Wednesday - Cajun turkey gumbo (adapted again)
Thursday - Cauliflower cheese
Friday - Turkey chilli jackets
Saturday - out at a wedding reception
Sunday - Leftovers

If you want more meal planning inspiration, click on the badge above to take you to Mrs M's joint.

Meal Planning Monday - the Monkey chooses edition!

So this week, I let Monkey choose most of our meals as Missy Woo went to play at a friend's (and forgot to come home for tea, had to send Monkey to get her!) so we were home alone when I was planning meals. His first thought was "spaghetti" so I'm introducing them to carbonara as it's a damn sight easier than bolognese. He helped me choose the rest of the week although I inserted something I wanted to cook from my trawl of the other MPM entries last week. And then I ended up doing a sort out of my recipe file, which threw out a recipe I wanted to make about a year ago that I never quite got round to (no idea why!) which has gone on a menu. Expect many more of those in coming weeks as I have a list of everything I have and some are asterisked to cook soon.

So, the menu according to Monkey is

Monday - Curry lentil stew with tomatoes
Tuesday - Spaghetti carbonara
Wednesday - Sausage, bean and cheese pasties
Thursday - Cauliflower cheese soup
Friday - Cherry tomato and ham bread and butter bake
Saturday - Cowboy corned beef and beans pie
Sunday - Roast chicken (expect leftover chicken recipes next week)

I think it's obvious which ones I chose there! He is definitely a meat and two veg child, happiest with meat, pies, gravy and more meat.

So this is us. Let me know what you're having, I always like to know. And more MPM entries can be discovered at Mrs M's by clicking the badge above. Have a good week.

Meal Planning Monday - the keeping it simple edition!

Still holidays here although I have to work this week. No rest for the wicked! I opened out choices to everyone and the children came up trumps with a couple of ideas. We have one meal leftover from last week after I ended up taking the children on consecutive days to the Cake and Bake Show in Manchester so I was home late two days in a row. Monkey has discovered Filet-O-Fish recently so I now have to make a home alternative (*whispers* I'm buying pre-made fish burgers!) and Missy Woo asked for cauliflower cheese. I picked the rest - husband was no use whatsoever!

This is what we have.

Monday - Cauliflower cheese with jacket potatoes
Tuesday - Tandoori chicken with rice
Wednesday - Fish burgers in a bun (with tartare sauce) and chips
Thursday - Pea and new potato curry with naan
Friday - Creole jambalaya
Saturday - Mince and onions with mash (tho this might get turned into a pie!)
Sunday - keeping free

What are you having this week? Fingers crossed that it continues to get warmer now.

Click on the badge above to discover more meal planning wonderment. Or something like that, anyway.

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 February trying to keep it healthy edition!

Yay, it's really February now. The nights are getting lighter. It's slightly warmer (although I've just noticed snow is forecast for later, joy). And I'm still trying to be healthy. If you picked up this month's Good Food (which is actually the March edition, go figure), you'd be forgiven for thinking that people only eat interesting healthy food in January, because a lot of the recipes are quite fattening, starting with the recipe that is 1,100 calories per adult portion. Stuff that - that's for Christmas!

So I've had to hunt around to pad out my plan for the week.

What's going on this week? Well, parents evening is on Wednesday and so sandwiches are the order of the day then. Apart from that, not masses is going on other than the usual routine. Husband is working his weekend off, but in advance of taking two weekends off for half term, which is the third week of February.

This is what I have planned for us foodwise this week.

Monday -  Southwestern black bean casserole
Tuesday - Slow cooker turkey stroganoff
Wednesday - Sandwiches
Thursday - Spiced parsnip and cauliflower soup
Friday - Pork taco mix probably done as fajitas
Saturday - Smoked salmon spaghetti
Sunday - Chorizo and pepper lasagne

How do you like my menu? What's on yours this week? Toddle on over to Mrs M's place if you want more Meal Planning Monday action. 

Meal Planning Monday - the first 2013 edition!

So, that was 2012, that was. Today is the last day and 2013 starts tomorrow. Really, this is my first meal plan of the year, especially as I'm not planning to cook tonight so the 2012 kitchen is well and truly closed. The children and I are planning to have a Chinese tonight - hubby will be at work until midnight so won't be partaking. I'm leaving New Year's Day open as well as I'm not really sure what we're doing - we still have family to deliver presents to, so we might be out.

This week is different for a number of reasons. Firstly, a friend who used to live across the road and now lives in Cambodia is coming to stay for a few days. The children are still off school, and husband's shifts are longer than usual. Finally *whispers* it's my birthday on Sunday and we're probably going to go out for lunch then. More normal service WILL be resumed next week. I hope.

Here is the plan, such as it is, for the week.

Monday - Chinese
Tuesday - keeping free
Wednesday - Chilli Marrakech
Thursday - Sausages with cauliflower cheese mash
Friday - Chicken satay with rice (I think!)
Saturday - Crispy cheddar pies
Sunday - I am so not cooking today!

That is us. How is 2013 starting in meals for you? Do tell. And then pop by Mrs M's to check out some other meal plans.

Happy New Year!

Meal Planning Monday - the busy nearly Christmas week edition

Well, that's the only way I can think of to describe it. It's not quite Christmas but there are plenty of Christmas things going on. The children have their school show this week on Tuesday and Wednesday, we're going in to hear Monkey's class play their ukuleles (yes, really!) on Wednesday morning, the children are off to have a sleepover at Granny and Granddad's and going to a pantomime (oh no they're not!), leaving us to have some child free time, possibly to go to Manchester for the Christmas markets. Oh, and the husband has an appointment to be Father Christmas for a group of babies and small children.

It's nothing special - easy or quick things mostly. Still using some things from the freezer, trying to keep some things lighter in advance of the rich food that is to come in the weeks to come.

Here, then, is our week.

Monday - Bean chilli with baked sweet potatoes
Tuesday - Sausage and bean cobbler (from the freezer!)
Wednesday - Cauliflower cheese soup
Thursday - Honey and lemon chicken
Friday - Pizza? Or maybe fishfingers?
Saturday - not cooking
Sunday - Greek lamb and macaroni bake

So that's us, what about you? Do you like my meal plan? What are you having this week? Mrs M host the linky with all the other Meal Planning Monday entries. Don't forget to check them out!

Meal Planning Monday - the 5th of November edition

Corny but true;  I can't believe how fast this year is going, particularly so since September. Half term has been and gone, although the children have an extra day off today and go back tomorrow so we have one more day free of routine then it's back to normal. Well, kind of. Husband has the evening off tomorrow as he's got a meeting, the children and I are going to see the Cbeebies pantomime being filmed on Wednesday after school and Missy Woo has a friend coming for tea on Friday. Consequently, she has chosen tea - and reminded me that she's been asking me for chicken nuggets for a few weeks and I've not been able to fit them into the plan so this is being rectified this week. I've chosen the rest.

Talking of which...

Monday - Sandwiches (no, we are not going out to see fireworks. Tried that Saturday and Missy Woo didn't like the noise!)
Tuesday - Sausages in onion gravy, yorkshires, mash and broccoli
Wednesday - Sandwiches again (I'll be on a train, OK??!)
Thursday - Minced beef and sweet potato stew
Friday - Chicken nuggets, chips, carrot and cucumber sticks, tomatoes
Saturday - Roast cauliflower and hazelnut pilaf
Sunday - keeping free (though roast pork is a possibility)

That is our week, full of warming hearty food again. What are you having? Why don't you tell me, then head over to Mrs M's where the rest of the week's meal plans can be found.

Meal Planning Monday - a late-night, cobbled together edition

So it's 13 minutes to midnight on Sunday and I still don't have a meal plan together yet. For that, you can blame my mad weekend during which I met both Myleene Klass and Judy Murray, then spent today catching up. This evening, instead of meal planning, I followed the Ryder Cup, first on Twitter then on television for the last hour or so. Now I'm in a state of mild panic as this is not like me.

Cobbling away merrily, here is my meal plan. By the way, from this week, my husband is working evenings Monday to Thursday so won't be around for teatime, so everything is going to be reheatable for him to eat the next day.

Monday - Cauliflower cheese soup
Tuesday - Cheese whirls (a request by Monkey)
Wednesday - Curry in a hurry
Thursday - Minced beef cobbler
Friday - Mauritian Pork Satay
Saturday - keeping free
Sunday - I might just get that flipping chicken in my freezer roasted!

What's on your menu this week? And do you have any suggestions of meals that reheat well for future weeks? Let me know... then pop on over to Mrs M's for some more Meal Planning Monday action.

(Edit - this apparently is my 600th post on this blog... go me!!)

Meal Planning Monday - a finally getting back to normal edition!

We've been away for at least part of three of the last four weekends and with going back to school, I feel like I'm fighting just to stay on top of things. This week should be quieter - although I have parents evening on Wednesday, a possible night out on Thursday and the usual things that the kids do. But the weekend - that's free, hurrah! No packing, tidying up before I go, travelling, washing when I get home and all that other stuff. Phew.

I've tried to go for easyish stuff all week and I'm trying a recipe from a book I'm reviewing at the weekend, so I'll tell you how that goes later. I will finally FINALLY get to make Moroccan chicken this week - events have conspired against me in previous weeks!

Here, then, is our week.

Monday - One pot mushroom and potato curry
Tuesday - One pot Moroccan chicken
Wednesday - Spicy fish stew
Thursday -  Slow cooker chilli
Friday -  Cauliflower cheese crumble
Saturday -  Spicy pork meatloaf

Don't forget that the lovely Mrs M has the Meal Planning Monday linky over at hers. Bon appetit - what's on your menu this week? 

Meal Planning Monday

Yet another week of meals! Last week's plan ended up altered slightly - the chilli bean bake got bumped when we went out on Monday afternoon and got home late, so we needed to have a quick tea. We also swopped a couple of things around - Wednesday, we ate a picnic in the garden for lunch and had fajitas picnic style for tea too. Lovely and totally unheard of in April in Lancashire!

So, onto this week, which I've planned on my child free Saturday afternoon, along with making a birthday cake for my husband. Yes, I do know how to live!

Monday - Chicken biryani bake
Tuesday - Moroccan spiced supper and couscous
Wednesday - Chilli bean bake and sour cream mash
Thursday - Sausage, bean and cheese pasties
Friday - Persian cauliflower kuku
Saturday or Sunday - Roast dinner (going to see what's best value)

No fish this week, but other than that, it's fairly balanced, I think.

Why not pop over to Mrs M's blog and check out more entries for Meal Planning Monday? You might get some fab new ideas. Feel free to join in if you like.