So, last week worked really well - here's the gist if you missed it...
Back..ok
So, as usual I'm acting like my children actually run the house and have the upper hand, and I'm letting them do the meal planning again. I've suggested they follow up on this and do the shopping too but they both disappeared leaving me with a 1 year old that can push a trolley but just throws money out of purses therefore can't yet be trusted.
Although they have chosen what they want to eat, I have jigged it around a bit, just to stamp my authority as an adult really, and to make it so I can cook once on Monday after I've shopped and then have more free time to clean up after the little darlings and chauffeur them around if necessary.
Here it is..
Monday - Spaghetti Bolognaise and Garlic Bread
Tuesday - Green Thai Curry and Rice with piles of mange tout and baby corn
Wednesday - Spaghetti Tacos and potato wedges
Thursday - Slow Cooker Curry
Friday - Cheesy Mash Shepherd's Pie and piles of veg
Saturday - Take Awaaaaaayy!!
Sunday - Paprika Chicken and Quinoa
and the plan for cooking...
Monday
- Make huge batch of spag bol and freeze several portions.
- Put enough in fridge for Spaghetti Tacos on Wednesday
- Make Thai Curry and refrigerate
- Mix up the curry sauce in a freezer bag and put in fridge
- Make garlic bread - from scratch!! (anyone know if I can freeze dough?)
- Make two shepherds pies and freeze
Tuesday
- Make pan of rice and veg for with curry
Wednesday
- Dice chicken and add to bag of ingredients
Thursday
- Fling chicken curry bag contents into the slow cooker in a flamboyant, I've beat this stove standing lark fashion
- Remember to switch slow cooker on at the plug!!!
- Make some rice and chips at tea time
- Defrost a shepherds pie
Friday
- Bung shepherds pie in oven and boil loads of veg
And you're thinking but what about the Paprika Chicken?
Well it's already lingering at the back of the freezer. I found it during a lunchtime freezer dive last week.
This reduced cooking plan is really working for me!
This post is linked up with the Meal Plan Monday Linky on I'm an Organising Junkie. There are loads of meal plans on there and I urge you to read them as some are gourmet!!
It's the Easter Holidays and about time. Both boys are worn out and quite frankly that is wearing me out.
So, tactics are required here. Dinners (lunches) are always a bit of a hit and miss thing. Some are planned and healthy, some are made by themselves as a cooking activity and others are thrown together and eaten like we're cavemen.
I will not be chained to the kitchen for this holiday and I do aim to leave it at sometime. I'm adopting the Once a Month Mom tactic. (prepping as many meals as possible and spending one full day cooking)
Here's the meals:
Monday: Chicken Dinner
Tuesday: Sloppy Joes and Potato Wedges
Wednesday: Chicken and Veg Pasta Bake
Thursday: Turkey Tikka Massala
Friday: Gluten Free Chilli Tacos
And here's how I'll do It
Monday: Cook 2 Chickens and double veg refrigerate leftovers
Make Cheese Sauce and refrigerate
Cook Sloppy Joes in Slow Cooker and refrigerate
Bake 4 potatoes and refrigerate
Mix up Turkey Tikka Massala Raw in a Freezer Bag and freeze
Cook big batch of Gluten Free Chilli on hob then freeze
Tuesday: Warm up sloppy joe mix, Cut wedges, sprinkle with seasoning and bake, toast buns, fill with sloppy joe mix and serve
Wednesday: Warm up cheese sauce to loosen up. Put extra chicken and left over veg in pasta bake dish, pour over cheese sauce, pour over water until loose consistency and stir well. Take out 20 mins in and stir. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs and cook until hot.
Take the Turkey Tikka Massala from the Freezer
Thursday: Cook the Turkey Tikka Massala
Take the Chilli out of the freezer
Friday: Heat through the chilli and serve in tacos with loads of accompaniments
What do you think? Sounds easy? I'll report back next week how it goes (fingers crossed!)
There's loads more meal plans which are probably not so frantic over on I'm an Organising Junkie and this post is linked up to the huge Meal Plan Monday linky of fantastic meal plans. Go look!!
Don't even ask how last weeks self feeding went. With all the good intentions, I was chasing him with a bowl and when I wasn't doing that he was trying to climb out of his highchair.
I sound like a case for Supernanny! It's not that bad (honestly.) (I don't think!)
So this week, Again, we're on kids food and I've let the bigger two choose their favorites. The Easter Hols are nearly upon us and I need to muster resolve for that. In my quest for an organised life, I'm now activity planning, so I've given the meal planning task to the big boys.
Here's their plan
Monday: Potato Cakes, Bacon and Beans
Tuesday: Macaroni Cheese and Bacon
Wednesday: Fajita Buffet Bar
Thursday: Home Made Chicken Strips and Chips
Friday: Home Made Doner Kebab (Thanks to recipe on Mortgage Free in Three)
Saturday: Oh a well earned takeaway for all!!
Sunday: The Big 3 Courser - Melon - Slow Cooked Lamb - Ice Cream Buffett!!
I'm also trying to get weight on my 12 year old so we need to plan desserts as well as main courses rather than the haphazard approach of look in the cupboard and choose! I've written a little about the food diary situation, but will be putting a lot of effort this week into planning several months of food to get some weight on the lad.
If you have an underweight child, I'd be really interested to hear from you as I feel the care given is dismissive and unhelpful. Oh I feel a rant coming on, I'll rein it in!!
This post is linked up with the Meal Plan Monday post on I'm an Organising Junkie - Go and have a look at all the delicious ideas on there - I love a good nosey!
Have a fabulous week, all of you!!
Claire x
Or Not So Chilli and I have named it. Kids love it, it's gentle enough for toddlers and this intro to chilli will ramp up over the years until the kids are all at full strength!
(Unfortunately we ate it before a photo, so a photo will follow soon!)
Ingredients:
1 pack of minced beef
10 sun dried tomatoes
2 tbsp worcester sauce
1 tin of BBQ Baked Beans
1 carton of Passatta
Method:
Cook the mince
Blend the sun dried tomatoes and worcester sauce and add to pan
Cook for a minute or two
Add the baked beans and heat through
Add the passatta
When it's all hot, it's done.
Serve with Nacho Chips, Sour Cream, Mashed Avacado and Savoury Rice
Can also be served over a jacket potato or with potato wedges
Cost:
£5.l4 based on Asda Prices on 21/03/14 which includes Nacho Chips and Savoury Rice
Equates to 64p per portion
Yeild:
8 child portions suitable for freezing
