Meal Planning Monday - some old favourites

Meal Planning Monday - time to get ready for the week ahead with some (hopefully) healthy meals and lots of old favourites.

Monday: Spicy Chicken Couscous - chicken, onion, red pepper, couscous made with chicken stock (made from my own roast chicken), curry paste - tonight, tikka masala - dried apricots, flaked almonds, and coriander. One of my faves, and the OH loves it too. Really quick, easy, and very satisfying.

Tuesday: Lamb Mango & Coconut Pilau from Good Food - fry some chopped lamb with onion and lots of spices - I make up the spices every time depending on my mood. Pop in a casserole dish and top up with lamb stock and coconut milk, pop in the oven for about 30 minutes. Then stir, and add rice, and pop back in the oven with some seasoning. After about 15 - 20 minutes (or when the rice is fluffy and cooked), dish up, and top with sliced mango, flaked almonds, and chopped coriander.

Wednesday: Out at a friend's house so am being cooked for, yay!

Thursday: Cottage pie, with minced beef, peas, and possibly baked beans, but made with sliced new potatoes (does that make it a hot pot?), served with brocolli.

Friday: Risotto made with courgettes, mint, basil, and feta cheese.

Saturday: Beef Stroganoff, with lovely little button mushrooms. But would you believe it, none of my recipe books contain a recipe for this, so I'm going to make it up. It has paprika in it, doesn't it? I'll serve this with Italian potatoes I think, or possibly rice.

Sunday: Roast Chicken with veg and new potatoes. This is what we were meant to have last night, but I forgot to get the chicken out of the freezer, so we ended up at the mother in law's...

I feel so much happier planning the week, knowing exactly what to buy, and knowing it'll save money and be economical too. And it's so good to know you've got a week of healthy, delicious meals all ready and waiting.

Meal planning Monday soon comes around

Meal planning Monday comes around once more - it only seems five minutes since the last one...

This week, I've tried to keep things as light and healthy as possible - I always do, but some weeks the plans get forgotten and we end up eating more chips than should be allowed. Also, after overcoming a random and sudden onset allergy, I need to really keep track of what I'm eating to see whether anything triggers a reaction off again.

Monday: Baked salmon with a pesto and breadcrumb crust, served with brocolli and rice
Tuesday: Grilled sausages, with butternut squash quinoa, with onions, dried apricots, pistachios, flaked almonds, and mint, served with yogurt mixed with a little tahini
Wednesday: Chicken and mango salad, with a mango chutney, curry powder, and yogurt dressing
Thursday: Pork meatballs with chilli noodles and hoisin sauce, with pak choi
Friday: Something with pasta and bacon and whatever else I can find in the fridge
Saturday: I'm at a hen do during the day, then we're out at a wedding in the evening, so meals are dependent on others
Sunday: Roast chicken, with roasted new potatoes, citrus roasted carrots, and any other veg I can muster up

Wednesday's meal: curried chicken mango salad, from BBC Good Food

At the moment, it's all making my stomach churn. I haven't quite recovered from the allergic reaction yet, and I think the antihistamines are still making me a bit dozy. I hope my energy and appetite return soon.

What are you cooking this week? Anything delish?

My first Meal Planning Monday

I'm grabbing hold of the Meal Planning Monday baton and running with it...

I've always been a weekly meal planner - I've just never written it down before, so why not start now. For me it's a must. It organises me and the other half, and takes the pressure off trying to think of something tasty and nutritious either first thing in the morning with bleary eyes, staring into the freezer trying to imagine being hungry in 10 hours, or in a rush the second I get in the door from work when all I want is a cup of tea. It also saves money, most definitely, and is a great way to make sure everything is healthy and balanced. I'm not very good at being spontaneous, neither in general day-to-day events nor at dinner time, so it suits me.

It also means I get a dedicated amount of time to sit down with recipe books and food magazines, browsing through new ideas and recipes.

This week, we shall mostly be eating:

Monday: Steve's still in Wales mountain biking, and I'm going to a cake club, so I won't have dinner.

Tuesday: Sweet & sour chicken kebabs, with peppers and pineapple, with fruity noodles.

Weds: Jacket potatoes with tuna and beans (a guilty pleasure of mine).

Thurs: Salmon and brown rice salad with soya beans and cucumber.

Friday: Curried chicken and mango salad.

Saturday: Sausages with a salad of roasted butternut squash & peppers with rocket.

Sunday: Who knows. I like to leave one day open for whatever's left in it fridge!

Thanks to Dolly Bakes for introducing me to Meal Planning Mondays!