Meal Planning Monday

After a hectic last week, I had a lovely weekend pottering and sorting.

I had new curtains put in my living room and a new blind in the kitchen on Saturday which seemed to take up most of my day as the guy had to physically build the track for the curtains whilst at my house. I also went down to Oxford Street on Saturday and did a bit of shopping, the whole street and Regent Street were closed off to traffic and even at 5pm it was heaving!

On Sunday I went to the Bloomsbury Ephemera Fair at the Royal National Hotel and scouted out a bit of WW2 ephemera as well as a couple of 50s and 60s cookbooks. I then spent the rest of the afternoon putting the flat back together a bit and moving things in preparation for the damp being sorted next week. It's still chaos but I'm going to have to learn to live with it as I can't put anything back for 8 weeks whilst the plaster dries!

This week should be steadier than last week and sees a french class, 2 zumba classes and a party in the evenings and then I am off to Northumberland for the weekend to buy lots of lovely Northumberland cheeses! On the way back we are stopping at the Bowes Museum and to see the Feast Your Eyes exhibition, which is all about food in art and going to the Wives and Witches: Taking Tea with the Georgians and Victorians talk by Dr Annie Gray, which I'm really looking forward to, especially as we get to sample period tea time treats! Annie did the Game Cookery afternoon that I went to a few weeks ago, which was superb, so this promises to be an interesting afternoon.

So without further ado here is this weeks meal plan:

Monday
Salmon and Avocado Rice Salad
Chicken, Spinach and Blue Cheese Pasta

Tuesday
New Potato, Pea and Ham Salad
Salmon and Prawn Bake with Pasta and Pesto (WW Fresh and Easy Everyday)

Wednesday
Soy Sesame Chicken Noodle Salad
Nigella's Mexican Lasagne

Thursday
Cajun Turkey Wrap with Sweetcorn Salsa
Sticky Glazed Gammon with Bulgar Wheat

Friday
Out at a training course
Sausages and Mash with Leeks

Saturday
Salami Pasta Salad
Away for rest of the weekend

Check out At Home with Mrs M for some more helpful Meal Plan ideas.

Menu Plan Monday

I picked my first potatoes last week! It was so exciting! I've grown the potatoes in big tarpaulin bags so that I can pick them one or two at a time and I had such a fun time rooting around to find them.

I also have a load of courgettes and lettuces and the green beans are starting to come through. I'm still menu planning I just seem to keep forgetting to post them I really don't know where I'd be without them though. It makes sure that I use the ingredients in the fridge and don't spend lots of money on ingredients that never get used. My Menu Plan this week features lots of new recipes. I am really looking forward to the tuna burgers, its a Weight Watchers recipe and uses a tin of tuna. I bought 4 tins and am slowly using them up. I'm also trying stuffed courgettes for the first time to use up some of the bigger courgettes I've picked.

Sunday

Lunch: Sausage Sandwich
Dinner: Bacon, Pea and Basil Macaroni

Monday

Lunch: Crab Noodle Stir Fry
Dinner: Hummus, Carrot and Cucumber, Chorizo, Olives etc

Tuesday

Lunch: Chorizo and Cheese Salad
Dinner: Tuna Burgers, Baked Chips

Wednesday

Lunch: Minestrone Soup
Dinner:Cheese and Ham Stuffed Courgette

Thursday

Lunch: Broad Bean, Asparagus and Sorrel Risotto
Dinner: Stir Fried Spaghetti Bento with Carrots, Courgettes, Sausage and Pickled Ginger

Friday

Lunch: Quiche and Salad
Dinner: Sea Bass with Herby Butter, Potatoes and Veg

Saturday

Lunch: Courgette, Feta and Rice Salad
Dinner: Tex Mex Style Fish with Lime and Coriander Rice

Menu Plan Monday and Cheese and Black Bean Quesedillas

Last week I made quesedillas, I have only made them once before and they were a total disaster and all the filling fell out when I tried to flip them! This time I only filled half the tortilla and folded it over and then fried it and this worked much better.

I put cheese, Mexican black beans and spring onions in the middle and then fried until brown on each side. Served with guacamole.

I didn't menu plan last week because I was away for half the week, but I really struggled towards the end of the week for ideas for meals! I have so much veg in my fridge this week. Both from my Mum's veg patch and from my garden. I have courgettes ready as well as lots of loganberries, broad beans and different sorts of lettuce! So my Menu Plan Monday this week is trying to use up some of this veg!

Sunday

Lunch: Salami and Hummus Sandwich
Dinner: Out for my Mum's birthday

Monday

Lunch: Cheese and Ham Orzo Casserole, Salad
Dinner: Tomato and Cheese Tart, Salad

Tuesday

Lunch: Potato Salad, Frankfurters, Spinach with Vinaigrette
Dinner: Lamb Cutlets with Asparagus, Sorrel and Broad Bean Risotto

Wednesday

Lunch: Prawn, Avocado and Mayo Toastie

Dinner: Special Fried Rice

Thursday

Lunch: Asiago Pasta, Salad
Dinner: Smoked Haddock Fishcakes, Salad

Friday

Lunch: Ham, Spring Onion and Wendsleydale Pasty, Salad
Dinner: Chicken with Hummus, Olives and Thyme with Lemon and Sorrel Rice and Veg

Saturday

Lunch: Poached Egg with Ham and Toast
Dinner: Grilled Salmon with Courgette and Pesto Pasta

Menu Plan Monday and a Croque Madame (Sort of)

I think last week I ate out a total of 6 times! It was hard on my budget, but I did have an awesome time meeting up with friends and family. The only things I ate at home, were lemon chicken with egg fried rice, hummus and pitta bread and fajita, so there really was no highlight! This week's Menu Plan Monday is slightly more sedate. I am off to Sheffield with some friends at the weekend but eating at home most days before I go, which will hopefully be much easier on the pocket!



I made a croque madame a couple of weeks ago and it was absolutely delicious. I didn't go the whole hog and make bechamel sauce, so really it was just a grilled ham and cheese sandwich with mustard and a fried egg on top, but it really was tasty. I also served it with a huge side salad. I love my salads!

Sunday
Lunch: Out for Pizza with a friend
Dinner: Prawn Crackers and Sweet Chilli Dip (I was so full from lunch)

Monday
Lunch: Out at Yo! Sushi with my Mum
Dinner: Tuna with Wok Fried Soba Noodles

Tuesday
Lunch: Sesame Potatoes, Frankfurters and Marinated Carrots (Bento)
Dinner: White Bean, Sausage and Spinach Stew

Wednesday
Lunch: Cheese, Spring Onion and Black Bean Quesedilla
Dinner: Sea Bass with Herby Butter, Jersey Royals, Veg

Thursday
Lunch: Chicken, Mushroom and Leek Spaghetti Bake, Salad
Dinner: Sausage Sandwich

Friday
Lunch: Lunchbox Layered Salmon Salad (Bento)
Dinner: Out in Sheffield

Menu Plan Monday

Last week was lovely here weather wise, the temperature today is 30C, and it was in the mid 20s all last week. Sadly it is set to go back to more normal temperatures for the rest of this week, but its been nice to see the sun! I have been out in the garden planting more courgettes and I put in some tomato plants and dwarf french beans yesterday. Food wise last week was good also, there were some definite highlights the top in being Chicken, Mushroom and Leek Spaghetti Bake from eat the right stuff.



Look at all the cheesy goodness on top! It was absolutely delicious

This week's Menu Plan Monday includes a couple of meals out. Its Chelsea flower show this week and I'm going with my Mum and a friend for the day on Wednesday. I'm looking forward to the show gardens and the beautiful flower displays in the marquees. I think the courgette carbonara is the last of the grated courgette that I froze last year, but I still have two pots of ratatouille before its all gone! I'm looking forward to trying the spicy crab pasta salad, its always nice to find new things for lunch, I don't like eating the same thing everyday and struggle for new ideas.

Sunday

Lunch: Out for Brunch with my sister

Dinner: BBQ

Monday

Lunch: Brunswick Stew
Dinner: Hummus, Carrots, Crisps etc

Tuesday

Lunch: Wasabi Potato Salad, Chicken Sticks, Stir fry Broccoli and Beans with Soy Sauce (Bento)
Dinner: Out at Yo! Sushi with my Mum

Wednesday
Lunch: Out at Chelsea Flower Show

Dinner: Courgette Carbonara

Thursday

Lunch: Cheese and Ham Orzo Casserole, Salad
Dinner: Sausage Sandwich

Friday

Lunch: Prawn Cocktail, Lettuce
Dinner: Turbot with Spring Onions and Ginger Sauce (Leiths), Jasmine Rice

Saturday

Lunch: Spicy Crab Pasta Salad
Dinner: Sausages in Cider, Jersey Royals, Veg

Menu Plan Monday

Last week was again hectic. I am currently trying to find display objects for my exhibition which goes up in just under three weeks! I'm very excited but also very nervous, even more so that I have to give a talk about it in August. There were some definite highlights food wise though; the Cheesy Swiss Bake was really good, I added leek to the recipe as it needed using and it went really well with the potatoes and bacon. I also finally made Paprika Chicken with Pasta in a Tomato Cream Sauce from the Crepes of Wrath, which was delicious, although I only made this for one and I think I was a bit light on the paprika when adapting the recipe.



With this weeks Menu Plan Monday I'm trying out loads of new dishes. I have handed in my last essay for College and now have a bit more time on my hands. Although planting in the garden has now started so I'm expecting to be busy with that over the coming weeks. I got my courgette plants in on Sunday and I cannot wait to eat home grown courgettes. I am really looking forward to the Ginger Udon with Mushrooms, Snow Peas and Veal tonight from the Crabby Cook and the Chicken, Leek and Mushroom Spaghetti Bake from eat the right stuff later in the week. My Mum gave me a huge bag of spinach last week out of her garden, so I am now using it in everything, I absolutely love spinach and it goes with pretty much anything!

Sunday
Lunch: Tortelloni with Salami and Basil
Dinner: Chickpea Curry, Aloo Palak, Naan Bread

Monday
Lunch: Hummus and Spinach Pakora in Pitta Bread
Dinner: Ginger Udon with Mushrooms, Snow Peas and Veal

Tuesday
Lunch: Mini Quiche and Potato Salad (Bento)
Dinner: Out with my Dad

Wednesday
Lunch:
Dinner: Chicken, Leek and Mushroom Spaghetti Bake

Thursday
Lunch: Falafel, Hummus, Couscous with Pepper, Pine Nuts, Herbs (Bento)
Dinner: Cheese Burger

Friday
Lunch: Red Pepper and Cream Cheese Pockets
Dinner: Sausage with Pease Pudding and Gravy, Mushrooms

Saturday
Lunch: Mini Cheese Ravioli, Prawns, Alfredo Sauce
Dinner: Out?

Menu Plan Monday

I don't know when I last did a Menu Plan Monday, the end of March maybe? What with getting stuck in America and then jet lag, the last few weeks have been a bit hectic! But I'm back and planning. I'd say its helping to keep costs down but its not really, I usually go shopping after work and I'm always hungry then, and tend to come back with more things than were on my list. I have good intentions, just awful willpower! This is one of the meals I ate last week, which is typical of a meal after a late night at work. Hummus, Feta and Pesto Frittata, Cherry Tomatoes, Salami, Cheese, Olives and Pitta Chips, easy and quick after arriving home from work at 8.45pm.



I did at least have a productive weekend, a couple of friends came over and helped me plant some pretty things in my flower border, and put together my raised veg bed surround, so I can start growing some courgettes! I also planted spring onions too.

This weeks Menu Plan Monday is all about trying out new things and I am definitely looking forward to the Paprika Chicken with pasta on Saturday, although its appeared on my plan a number of times and I still haven't yet got around to trying it! I am also really looking forward to trying the Scandinavian Kitchen on Wednesday, the menu on the website looks really good.

Sunday
Lunch: Sausage Sandwich
Dinner: Baked Sea Bass with greens and Jasmine Rice

Monday
Lunch: Cauliflower Cheese and Spinach Pasta Bake, Salad
Dinner: Fishfinger Sandwich with Rocket

Tuesday
Lunch: Smoked Haddock, Rocket and Rice Salad with Vinaigrette
Dinner: Something Quick

Wednesday
Lunch: Out with a friend to the Scandinavian Kitchen
Dinner: Cheesy Swiss Bake

Thursday
Lunch: Pasta Salad with Mushrooms, Asparagus, Salami, Pine Nuts etc
Dinner: Pork Fajita

Friday
Lunch: Salad with Salami and Cheese
Dinner: Out with a friend

Saturday
Lunch: Salami and Cheese Sandwich
Dinner: Paprika Chicken and Pasta

Menu Plan Monday

I'm sorry that there isn't anything much more interesting than just the plan, but seeing as how I actually bothered to Menu Plan I thought I'd post it! I have lots of work on at the moment, so my entries won't be as long and exciting! I am currently setting up an exhibition on Sadler's Wells which has to be with the designers on the 9th April to go up on the 7th June, which is really interesting and exciting but very time consuming!



Sunday
Lunch: Minestrone Soup
Dinner: Tuna, New Potatoes, Asparagus, Courgette in a Creme Fraiche Sauce

Monday
Lunch: Mediterranean Pasta Salad
Dinner: Prawn and Spinach Curry, Rice

Tuesday
Lunch: Pesto Hummus Potato Salad, Sliced Bratwurst, Cherry Tomatoes (Bento)
Dinner: Chicken en Croute or Paprika Chicken with a Tomato Cream Sauce

Wednesday
Lunch: Pitta Bread, Spinach Pakoras, Sour Cream
Dinner: Courgette and Cheddar Pasty, Salad

Thursday
Lunch: Leek and Tortelloni Bake
Dinner: Chickpea Soup, Bread

Friday
Lunch: Poached Egg, Ham and Hollandaise
Dinner: Out at a friends house

Saturday
Lunch: Salad with Kabanossi, Cheese, Feta, Artichokes etc
Dinner: At my parents house

Spring Menu Plan Monday

Soring has finally sprung. Last week the flowers in my window boxes came out and the weather has turned much better. I am no longer in thick jumpers for work, but back to my comfy cardigans! We planted the window boxes back before Christmas and I have been waiting anxiously for them to come out, and they look beautiful. I have some lovely yellow crocuses, an iris and also some mini daffodils, which are apparently narcissus. I love daffodils, to me it truly signals the end of winter and heralds the start of spring and much warmer weather to come.

Last weeks menu plan went pretty well with only a few minor alterations. I still haven't eaten pease pudding. I remembered that I had some biscuits and gravy that a friend brought back from the States for me and tried them instead. Most of what I ate last week were things I have had many times before, but were still delicious none the less. Couscous featured heavily as I made too much for my dinner party on Sunday and finished it off during the week. It seemed to go with everything!

With this weeks Menu Plan Monday I am once again trying to eat out of the freezer. I finally get paid on Friday and I cannot wait, its felt like a long month. I also need to finish off lots of frozen leftovers, and things that have been hanging around in the freezer for a while. I am really looking forward to the chicken and bamboo shoot stir fry as it looks really easy but really full of flavour.

Sunday
Lunch: Breaded Prawns, Potato Balls, Gyoza, Chicken Tenders, Dips
Dinner: Out at my sisters, mushroom risotto

Monday
Lunch: Lentil, Bulgar Wheat and Spinach Soup
Dinner: Pork Fajitas

Tuesday
Lunch: Pasta Salad with Garlic Sausage, Mange Tout, Pine Nuts, Pesto
Dinner: Sausages in Cider, Mash Potato, Veg

Wednesday
Lunch: Garlic Sausage and Cheese Sandwich
Dinner: Chicken and Bamboo Shoot Stir Fry, Rice

Thursday
Lunch: Courgette and Dolcelatte Risotto
Dinner: Frankfurter Sandwich

Friday
Lunch: Prawn Cocktail, Lettuce, Bread
Dinner: Scallops with Old Bay Seasoning, Grits

Saturday
Lunch: Salami and Goats Cheese Quiche and Salad
Dinner: Chicken En Croute, Veg or Daring Cooks

Menu Plan Monday

There were definite highlights from last week. I tried turbot for the first time and absolutely loved it, and the poulet a l'estragon was delicious. I wasn't a big fan of the cheesy tuna tortilla melts though. They had a slightly strange sweet edge to them from the tinned tuna, and would have been much better with chicken or beef. One of the best meals from last week was one my sister requested for our Sunday night get together. It was Southern Indian Seafood and Rice Soup by Jamie Oliver. I really enjoyed it, I used a little less chilli, because both of us are really susceptible to it, and I loved the flavour and textures from the fish and rice. My sister found it a little too creamy, and would have halved the coconut milk and used water instead.

This week is going to be busy. I have a group presentation for college tomorrow and loads of things to get done at work this week. I also have to start researching for another essay which is due in April. So the menu plan is simple and lots of things I've cooked many times before. My freezer has also got a bit full again so I'm working to try and empty it a bit before I made more delicious food! I am really looking forward to the Chicken wrapped in bacon because I haven't had it in ages and also the sausages with pease pudding. I'm curious to find out what pease pudding tastes like.

Sunday
Lunch: Mushroom and Garlic Creamy Pasta
Dinner: Meze, Lamb and Olive Tagine with Couscous

Monday
Lunch: Cassoulet
Dinner: Seafood Curry Noodles

Tuesday
Lunch: Cheese Sandwich
Dinner: Chicken wrapped in Bacon with Cream Cheese, Pasta with Pesto, Veg

Wednesday
Lunch: Macaroni Cheese with Bacon
Dinner: Salmon with Watercress Sauce, Crushed Potatoes and Veg

Thursday
Lunch: Out for lunch? if not Courgette Soup and Cheese Sandwich
Dinner: Beef Stew, Bread

Friday
Lunch: Chinese Fried Rice with Chicken Tenders (Bento)
Dinner: Sausages and Pease Pudding, Veg

Saturday
Lunch: Greek Pasta Salad
Dinner: Out at a Birthday Party?

Menu Plan Monday

I still can't quite decide on lunch for either Wednesday or Saturday. Wednesday I'll be spending at home, probably painting! Saturday I'm working, and I just can't think of anything exciting at the moment. I like to have variety in my lunches, which should make it easier, but some weeks I just have no inspiration!

Last weeks plan went really well. I loved having the smoked salmon to eat all week and there is no end to the variety of things you can do with it! I had it in jacket potato, in a pasta sauce, with a poached egg and in pasta salad with pesto. The sausages in cider went down really well with my friends, and both of them asked for seconds. The chocolate pots went really well too, and my sister even turned up the next day for a taste. Sadly I totally forgot to take any pictures, they were gone too quickly!

In this weeks Menu Plan Monday, I am really looking forward to Poulet a L'Estragon and the turbot. Both include tarragon, which has to be one of my all time favourite herbs. The turbot was very cheap in Waitrose. Reduced from £41.99 per lb to £14.99 per lb. I got two fillets which would have cost me £17, and actually cost me £6! Its the first time I've cooked with it, but I'm really looking forward to trying it.

Sunday
Lunch: Cheese and Pickle Sandwich, Pretzels
Dinner: Indian Rice and Seafood Soup

Monday
Lunch: Hot Smoked Salmon Pasta Salad
Dinner: Bean Chilli with Lime and Coriander Rice

Tuesday
Lunch: Hummus and Cucumber Sandwich
Dinner: Poulet a L’Estragon, Mash with courgettes, Veg (Telegraph)

Wednesday
Lunch:
Dinner: Turbot with Mushrooms and Saffron (Fish Book)

Thursday
Lunch: Ham and Cheese Orzo Casserole, Salad
Dinner: Ham and Mustard Sandwich

Friday
Lunch: Quiche and Salad
Dinner: Lamb Cutlets with Butter Bean Mash and Cherry Tomatoes

Saturday
Lunch:
Dinner: Cheesy Tuna Tortilla Melts

Menu Plan Monday

I have Menu Planned this week, I actually found it really hard! I'm off work for 4 days, and I found it difficult to plan for lunches when I knew I'd be at home! I do have some lovely things planned for my few days off. I'm cooking for some friends on Wednesday evening, I'm going to the theatre on Thursday evening, and then on a tour of the Houses of Parliament on Friday afternoon. Its very exciting! I also have a couple of doors to paint and cupboards to clean! I found a really good cheap bookshop near Waterloo Station, and bought a couple of really good books; The Joy of Eating by Jill Foulston and Taste, The Story of Britain Through its Cooking by Kate Colquhoun. They are both really interesting and the Joy of Eating has passages from food writing, both fiction and non-fiction, its given me some really good ideas for books to read.

A lot of this weeks Menu Plan Monday has smoked salmon in it. My Mum gave me a packet of smoked salmon, that goes off on the 4th March and I have tried to include it in lots of my meals! That's not a bad position to be in! I'm cooking sausages in cider for my friends, which is fairly easy to make and hopefully will be really tasty.

Sunday
Lunch: Help yourself
Dinner: Baked Fish and Chips, Sugar Snap Peas

Monday
Lunch: Sandwich from Pret a Manger
Dinner: Cheese Burger

Tuesday
Lunch: Pitta Bread with Onion Bhaji and Crème Fraiche and Mango Chutney
Dinner: Prawn and Pesto Pasta Salad

Wednesday
Lunch: Poached Egg on Smoked Salmon with Hollandaise
Dinner: Sausages in Cider, Mash, Salad and Chocolate Pot

Thursday
Lunch: Chinese Fried Rice
Dinner: Pasta with Smoked Salmon, Crème Fraiche Sauce

Friday
Lunch: Jacket Potato with Salmon and Cream Cheese
Dinner: Daring Cooks

Saturday
Lunch: Sausage Sandwich
Dinner: Out at a Hen Night

Menu Plan Monday

Last weeks Menu Plan Monday got somewhat messed around. I ended up going out for Chinese on Saturday night, so changed Friday night as well to a yummy creamy prawn pasta dish. I am trying my hardest to eat things out of the freezer and the cupboards, this month seems a little lean on the money front and food from the freezer definitely needs eating. The venison steak and chops was delicious last night, and I am really looking forward to the breaded veal with polenta.

On Saturday I sat down and wrote my essay which is due in on 23rd February, for my lunch break I had a bratwurst wrap with onion sauerkraut filling. It was absolutely delicious and really filling. Now all I have to do is check over the essay and send it to a friend to check over it too. I am so glad to have it finished.



Sunday:
Lunch: Sausage Sandwich, Salad
Dinner: Venison Steak and Chips with Mustard Mayo and Grated Courgette with Lemon

Monday
Lunch: Three Mushroom Rice with Vegetable Balls and Sweet Chilli Sauce
Dinner: Spinach Pakora in Pitta Bread with Crème Fraiche

Tuesday
Lunch: Vegetable Biryani, Samosa
Dinner: Out with my Mum and Sister if they get back from Brussels!

Wednesday
Lunch: Salad with Kabanossi, Cheese etc
Dinner: Out with my Dad

Thursday
Lunch: Black Bean Curry, Naan Bread
Dinner: Chicken and Cucumber Sandwich

Friday
Lunch: Chicken Soba Noodle Salad
Dinner: Breaded Veal with Tomato Sauce and Polenta

Menu Plan Monday

Ok so I totally did do a menu plan on paper for last week, I just never got around to posting it. I have to say it wasn't very exciting. I had a really busy week and ate out a lot of nights too. This is a recipe from the week before last, which I found in my Big Book of Casseroles.

I have to say that it actually was somewhat of a disappointment. I still can't really see the point of baking it as opposed to just drizzling the sauce over the hot pasta, and the sour cream just clumped and stuck to the pasta. I am not impressed with this cook book at all, although it had good reviews on Amazon. The only other recipe I have made from it for macaroni cheese was almost inedible, but here is the fettuccine recipe if you want to try it.

Fettuccine with Basil Pesto (from the Big Book of Casseroles)
(Serves 6)

1/2 cup basil pesto
1/2 cup light sour cream or yoghurt
8 ounces of fettuccine

Preheat the oven to 180C. In a small bowl, stir together the pesto and sour cream. Toss with the fettuccine. Transfer to a casserole dish lightly coated with cooking spray or oil. Cover and bake until heated through and flavours are blended, about 20 mins.

Hopefully I am in more nights this week, which will save me a lot of money. Although I was good and took a packed lunch and dinner a couple of times last week. I am really looking forward to the sea bass with potatoes and olives, which is a roll over from last week and the vegetable biryani, which has been hanging round for about a month!

Sunday

Lunch: I really went out for Breakfast, Blueberry Pancakes with Maple Syrup, Yum!

Dinner: Cheese and Salami Orzo Casserole, Garlic Bread

Monday

Lunch: Hummus and Cucumber in a Pitta Bread
Dinner: Cambozola and Spinach Pasta (Leiths)

Tuesday

Lunch: Tomato Pesto and Prawn Pasta Salad
Dinner: Sea Bass with Potatoes and Olives

Wednesday

Lunch: Chicken Soba Noodle Salad
Dinner: Vegetable Biryani

Thursday

Lunch: Bean Chilli with Crème Fraiche and Grated Cheese
Dinner: Pitta Bread and Hummus

Friday

Lunch: Goats Cheese and Salami Quiche, Salad
Dinner: Prawn Tamarind Stir Fry (Vietnamese Cookbook)

Saturday

Lunch: Bratwurst Wrap with Sauerkraut and Cheese

Dinner: Lamb Cutlets with Hummus Mashed Butter Beans

Menu Plan Monday

Last weeks menu plan went pretty well with only a few changes. Definite highlights include the Tamarind prawns which I wrote about yesterday, and the Asian chicken noodle salad, which was really delicious. I had a little mishap while making the courgette and dolcelatte risotto, and dropped my le creuset casserole dish on my big toe, fortunately before I had started cooking. It survived, thankfully, but needless to say my toe was very painful. I went to A&E on Saturday morning and they x-rayed it, and then let the blood out from behind the nail. Its not broken, just very battered and bruised and sore. So I'm back at work in my slippers!

This week is a mixture of old and new, I'm making cheesy tuna tortilla melts, to use my the tin of evaporated milk that's about to go off and to hopefully disguise the taste of tinned tuna, which I've discovered I don't like after buying 4 tins! I am also going to my parents house for the weekend, as they are hosting a concert for about 30 people on Friday night, and I'm helping with the cooking.

Yesterday I made some chickpea and rosemary soup, from a recipe I found through foodgawker, ages and ages ago. It came from Frantic Home Cook, who unfortunately doesn't blog anymore. But the soup was delicious and really filling. I only had half a bowlful in the end and I was really full after that. The combination of chickpeas, rosemary and lemon was fantastic. I also swirled in some sour cream at the end.

Sunday

Lunch: Chickpea and Rosemary Soup
Dinner: Prawn Noodle Soup

Monday

Lunch: Onion Bhaji, Sour Cream, Pitta Bread
Dinner: Goose Curry with Rice and Beans

Tuesday

Lunch: Out with my Mum for Sushi

Dinner: Cheesy Tuna Tortilla Melt

Wednesday

Lunch: Leek and Dolcelatte Tortelloni bake (Delia)
Dinner: Chicken Pie, Veg

Thursday

Lunch: Out with a friend? If not Macaroni Cheese and Salad

Dinner: Ham and Mustard Sandwich

Friday and Saturday: at my parents house

Menu Plan Monday

Last weeks menu planning went quite well and there were some definite highlights, the Caribbean chicken with spring onion sauce was delicious, much tastier than I was expecting. I still haven't made the vegetable biryani, I really didn't feel like it on Tuesday and got Chicken Kiev and Chips from Marks and Spencer instead! Ultimate easy comfort food for me! On Saturday I was meant to try my hand at pease pudding, but when I went to the cupboard I discovered that the split peas had gone off in August 2008! So instead I had spaetzle with a tomato sauce, sausages, steamed broccoli and sauerkraut, which was a slightly weird combination but seemed to work!

Yesterday I did a sort out of my kitchen cupboards, after finding the gone off peas on Saturday I decided it needed it, and chucked out anything that was out of date, and put things that needed eating near the front of the cupboard, so my Menu Plan Monday this week includes lots of things that need eating! I'm really looking forward to the courgette and blue cheese risotto, which will use up the grated courgette I froze in the summer. I'm also looking forward to the tamarind prawns tonight, as I found the recipe on a packet of tamarind and it sounded interesting.

Sunday
Lunch: Hummus and Pitta Bread, Cheese and Biscuits
Dinner: Out at my sister's for dinner (Chicken and Ratatouille with Pasta)

Monday
Lunch: Mackerel and Avocado in Pitta Bread (Juice Master)
Dinner: Tamarind Prawns and Rice

Tuesday
Lunch: Chicken, Avocado and Mayonnaise Sandwich
Dinner: Out with a friend

Wednesday
Lunch: Asian Chicken Noodle Salad
Dinner: Bratwurst Wrap

Thursday
Lunch: Courgette and Pasta Soup, Cheese Sandwich
Dinner: Black Bean or Lentil Curry, Naan Bread

Friday
Lunch: Chicken and Potato Croquettes, Stir Fry Veg
Dinner: Salmon with Fettuccine and Basil Pesto (Big Book of Casseroles)

Saturday
Lunch: Pitta Bread, Onion Bhaji, Sour Cream
Dinner: Courgette and Blue Cheese Risotto (Leiths Vegetarian Bible)

Menu Plan Monday

Last week's menu plan went pretty well. The definite highlight was the Chinese Style Roast Chicken, it was so moist and juicy, the meat just fell of the bone, and the sherry gravy really worked well. More of that later in the week. I also really enjoyed the hot smoked salmon pasta salad, I used tzatziki, mayonnaise, lemon juice and dill to make the sauce and this worked really well with the salmon.

I had a fantastic weekend food wise; I went back to The Diner in Islington, where I went to have my Thanksgiving dinner back in November, and had brunch there on both Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday I had french toast with maple syrup, which was so good, it had loads of cinnamon on it and it was delicious. My sister had blueberry pancakes again with maple syrup, and again it was delicious, properly made American pancakes, absolutely gorgeous. I went back on Sunday with some friends and I had a breakfast burrito; eggs, cheese, tomato and chorizo wrapped in a tortilla with pinto and black beans on the side. I didn't like this so much, there was too much egg really, I think they left out the tomato and it would have been better with it or with some peppers in it to contrast the texture. The beans however were really nice, and I would totally go back for the Pancakes!

This week I'm really looking forward to the hummus mashed potatoes and the pease pudding with sausages. The Caribbean chicken with spring onion sauce is a roll over from last week as I went out on Friday evening instead.

Sunday
Lunch: Out for Brunch
Dinner: Sweet Potato and Chickpea Soup with Garlic Bread

Monday
Lunch: Pasta Salad with Tuna, Red Onion, Capers, Sundried Tomatoes and Pesto
Dinner: Chicken Fajita with Avocado, Sour Cream and Cheese

Tuesday
Lunch: Pitta Bread, Hummus, Ham and Avocado
Dinner: Vegetable Biryani

Wednesday
Lunch: Mortadella and Pesto Pasta Salad
Dinner: Pork Steak with Hummus Mashed Potatoes

Thursday
Lunch: Cassoulet
Dinner: Pitta Bread and Hummus

Friday
Lunch: Goats Cheese and Salami Quiche and Salad
Dinner: Caribbean chicken with spring onion sauce with Rice and Peas (rolled over from last week)

Saturday
Lunch: Pitta Bread with Avocado and Mackerel
Dinner: Sausages with Pease pudding

Menu Plan Monday and Swedish Meatballs

I didn't have a menu plan last week, as I didn't come home until Monday evening and I was so disorganised that I never quite got to the planning stage. One of the highlights of last week however was these Swedish Meatballs from Dining Alone. Like me the writer of this blog cooks mainly just for herself, so I get some really good ideas for one person meals. These meatballs were delicious, although I cheated and used pre-made meatballs from the freezer.



Money is tight this month after the Christmas splurge and I got paid early before Christmas so its a long way to the next pay day. I managed not to go shopping until the weekend and then only bought essential things, so this weeks Menu Plan Monday is using mostly freezer and store cupboard items. Its a good job that my freezer and cupboards are well stocked! I am also trying to loose some weight over the next few months as the pills the Doctor has put me on for my headaches have made me gain weight like crazy!

Mostly this is about portion control for me, I eat the right things just too much of them, and I still remember the childhood rule of eating everything on your plate. So I'm trying to cook less for each meal and hoping that it works!

Sunday
Lunch: Dumpling Noodle Soup
Dinner: Out at my sisters

Monday
Lunch: Sour Cream Potato Salad, Mini Quiche, Cocktail Sausages, Tomatoes, Mustard and Ketchup
Dinner: Breaded Plaice and Veg

Tuesday
Lunch: Coriander Chickpea and Potato with Boiled Egg, Salad
Dinner: Pakora in Pitta Bread with Yoghurt Dip

Wednesday
Lunch: Out for lunch with a friend
Dinner: Mushroom Risotto

Thursday
Lunch: Courgette and Cheddar Pasty, Salad
Dinner: Spinach and Ricotta Tortelloni with Sundried Tomatoes and Goats Cheese Sauce

Friday
Lunch: Hot Smoked Salmon Pasta Salad
Dinner: Caribbean Chicken with Spring Onion Sauce (Good Food) with Rice and Peas

Saturday
Lunch: Roast Chicken Chinese Style with Sweet Potato (Leiths)
Dinner: Pitta Bread and Hummus

Menu Plan Monday and Paris 2

Ok, so the week before last I went to Paris for a couple of days, this is continuation of my post about Paris from last week. On Thursday morning I went to L'age D'or Hollandaise, an exhibition all about the golden age of Dutch art, it had not only the paintings but also some of the objects which appeared in the paintings. I went to the exhibition with Hope who adopted me and my blog in adopt a blogger 3, and I had a really good time, the exhibition was really interesting, but they kept hiding the information boards in English. I can read a bit of French but not much and so it was really cool to have Hope translate the board when we couldn't find the English ones!

On Thursday evening I went out for dinner with Hope and her partner D, to a wine bar in the Montparnasse area of Paris. Both Hope and I had the Andouille (I think) Sausage casserole which had lots of lovely green veg in it. It was called something funny on the menu but I can't remember what now! It was delicious.



D had duck breast on pureed potatoes, which looked really good too.



We did have pudding, but I forgot to take pictures of it! All in all I had a really lovely evening and it was lovely to meet both Hope and D.

I didn't even post last weeks menu plan! I went out for dinner 3 times last week, and the other two evenings were late nights, so I didn't do anything special! We had our work's Christmas dinner, which went ok and I went to the S&M cafe (Sausage and Mash), and had sausage and mash with a friend. Then on Friday I went to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, with another friend and we had mulled wine and bratwurst sausages! It was freezing though and the market wasn't very good.

This weeks Menu Plan Monday is very short as, in case you didn't know, its Christmas on Friday! I'm going home to spend the break with my parents, and so there's no planning needed for the end of the week. The rest of the week is just using up left over veg and items from my fridge to create quick and easy meals.

Sunday
Lunch: Roast Chicken, Stuffing, Potatoes, Carrots, Broccoli and Gravy
Dinner: Hummus and Pitta Bread

Monday
Lunch: Ham and Cheese Orzo Casserole, Salad
Dinner: Beef and Veg in Black Bean Sauce

Tuesday
Lunch: Japanese Smoked Salmon and Rice Salad with Avocado
Dinner: Out with my Dad at a Polish restaurant

Wednesday
Lunch: Fish finger Sandwich with Potato Croquettes
Dinner: Home

Menu Plan Monday

These essays are really taking there toll, again I haven't updated between menu plans! I am about half way through them now, although I have left the worst until last! I have to write a 1500 word design critique of a website I'm creating using xhtml, and I have no idea what to write!

One of the highlights of last week was this Green Tea Soba Noodles with Tuna Steak from My Cooking Hut. The flavours worked really well together and this was a really tasty dish.



I changed the recipe a little bit and added mushrooms and mange tout instead of courgette as that's what I had in the fridge.

This week is very short, I'm going away at the end of the week for a few days, so I'm trying to use up everything in the fridge and not buy any more. I'm also going home for Christmas so I don't want to have too much left around for then either!

Sunday
Lunch: Fish Fingers and Potato Croquettes
Dinner: Breaded Veal with Japanese Curry, Noodles or Rice

Monday
Lunch: Macaroni Cheese, Salad
Dinner: Fish Soup, Bread Roll

Tuesday
Lunch: Broccoli and Mushrooms with Rice Noodles and Chicken Patties
Dinner: Out with my father

Wednesday
Lunch: Away
Dinner: Away

Thursday
Lunch: Away
Dinner: Away

Friday
Lunch:
Dinner: Sausage and Mash with Onion Gravy, Veg

Saturday
Lunch: Croque Monseiur, Salad
Dinner: Out for a Christmas Party