Meal Planning {monday}

I'm getting back on plan {or trying to}, this week we'll be dining on...

Monday 
Chicken fajitas with rice

Tuesday
Sausage, bacon and eggs
Although I'm dining out with work for our Christmas night out {yes, I said Christmas}

Wednesday
Spaghetti bolognese {with Turkey mince} and garlic bread

Thursday
Sausage, mash and beans {we've got a lot of sausages to eat!}

Friday
Salmon, wedges and veg

Saturday
Baked potatoes, slimming world quiche and coleslaw

Sunday
Chicken and veg curry with rice

What's on your plate?  To link up with Mrs M just click the image above.

A x

{I'm a} loser

I am a loser. I've lost 10lbs in 4 weeks, great huh? Number 1 and 2 of my 14 goals in Twenty 14 are in progress! I've still got a long way to go {around 67lbs more to lose to be at my 'ideal' weight} but small steps in the right direction. I'm not strictly following any one diet and I've not signed up to anything, but I am following the premise of Slimming World and have gathered knowledge from friends who have tired the plan and are currently on it. To be honest, it's not rocket science, it is common sense and planning... oh yes planning and home cooking! I was never one to buy any ready prepared meals so that part has been no problem for me.

eggs, my new friend! love boiled eggs!

So, to planning - here's the plan for this week's meals. Also trying to control the spending as we're going to Disneyland, Paris in two weeks time!!

Tuesday - veg curry {butternut squash, peppers, onion, mushroom and spinach} with rice

Wednesday - spaghetti carbonara {sauce made with quark and eggs}

Thursday - out - I'm at the Scotswoman of the Year Awards in the City Chambers

Friday - homemade burgers with paprika wedges

Saturday - quorn sausages, mash, peas and gravy

Sunday - omlette, homemade {slimming world recipe} chips and beans

What's on your plate? Click the image above to join in with Mrs M's Meal Planning Monday

A x

Meal Planning {Monday}

Hello! Here's to the first meal plan of the year... incorporating number 1, 2, 4 and 6 of my 14 goals of twenty14 I've got some new recipes to try out and some below that I've already tried {yum!}

This week we're planning to eat:

Monday - slow cooker meatballs with spaghetti {homemade meatballs made from turkey mince}

Tuesday - chicken tikka, riata and rice {using this Schwartz packet}

Wednesday - roasted veg pasta and garlic bread {homemade sauce}

Thursday - lamb leg steaks and veg stir fry rice

Friday - chilli, wedges and cheese

Saturday - slow cooker ham with mash and veg

Last week we tried some new things, which were all very tasty!

Roast Veg Lasagne - ready to bake

Roast Veg Lasagne

I had some mozzarella that needed used up {I hate waste} and some limp peppers in the fridge... I roasted the peppers with some spray oil and herbs and layered them with lasagne sheets, a carton of Sainsbury chopped tomatoes with basil and chilli and the mozzarella.. baked for 20mins. Such a filling dish, I'll be making this again.

Roasted Veg and Chicken

I had a whole cauliflower to use up and one of those limp peppers so I chopped them up along with a carrot, added two cloves of garlic and sprinkle of herbs and roasted for an hour. Topped with a chicken breast and a splash of Nandos medium sauce {still a bit spicy for me}. The roasted cauliflower was a nice change, didn't really taste like cauliflower which was strange but nice.

Homemade Turkey Burgers

Homemade Turkey Burgers and Piri Piri Fries

We had these yesterday... amazing! I had a huge pack of turkey mince in the freezer which I had no idea what to do with {I picked it up at supermarket and was reduced to 10p from £3.50}. I defrosted the mince and added some frozen onion and mixed herbs, shaped the mixture into burgers and gave a quick fry in the griddle pan {with spray oil} to seal. I then covered them with foil and baked in oven for 15 mins. The fries were home fries and when cooked I sprinkled with Nandos piri piri chip sprinkle {Yeah I got a little Nandos gift set from a colleague, love it}. I served the burgers with melted cheese, mayo and salad.. on a roll. Everyone loved them and they were so juicy and simple to make. I'm using the other half of the turkey mince for today's meatballs. Two hearty meals for 10p! Can't beat that!

Healthy Lunches

It's Monday {as you know}, so that means the diet starts healthy eating starts, so I'm going to try and pack a healthy lunch each working day. The one above was from Friday - ham salad with raisins and grapes, it was so tasty and I used the leaves as wraps! Today I have king prawn salad and I made my own thousand island sauce {Will let you know if it's a hit!}

I'm now following the Meal Planning Monday board on Pintrest if you want to join in click the image at the top to go to Mrs M's page!

Look forward to reading all your meal plans.

A x

Meal Planning {Monday}

So I planned my meals well in advance last week but that's now changed as I have a few meals out this week {yipee}. Yesterday I made some scrummy minestrone soup and some mac 'n' cheese with garlic bread it was all very tasty indeed!

The rest of the week looks like this:

Monday
Sausage, mash and beans {for kids as us Adults are dining out.. tapas!!}

Tuesday
Spaghetti carbonara and garlic bread

Wednesday
Stir fry chicken for kids {Adults dining out again}

Thursday
Pitta bread pizza and homemade wedges

Friday
Mediterranean Pasty Ring {recipe here}

Saturday
I'm so hoping we get take away as we will be packing for our holidays {leave on Tuesday}

Sunday
Staying overnight in hotel in Glasgow, with dinner!

You can link up... just click the logo above to go to Mrs M page, here you can join in.

Dina Dina Dina... batman!

I'm trying to get in the blogging zone in preparation for my 'Blog every day in November' ... stop laughing, I'm going to try!

This week we're going to be eating:

Monday
Pasta bake and garlic bread eaten!

Tuesday
Spag bol

Wednesday
Mexican beef and potatoes

Thursday
Chicken tikka and nan bread

Friday
Salmon with....... something!

Saturday
Chilli con carne (slow cooker)

Sunday
Minestrone soup and mac 'n' cheese

Monday
Sausage, mash and beans

Tuesday
Spaghetti carbonara

Wednesday
Pitta bread pizza

Yes, I know it's more than a week but I've just done my online grocery shop at Sainsburys and I planned this far in advance.

What's on your plate?

Remember to link up with Mrs M (click the logo at top to go straight to her page)

Meal Planning!

Hello! Where have I been? Right here, and very busy. Recovering from my op whilst still working and looking after littlest, then catching a throat infection and cold virus... but I have been right here. Stressed I must add, but that's just hectic family life for you! No matter how you debate how you think work / life balance should be in your head, it doesn't work out that way and sometimes (all the time) you just have to grin and bare it!

In a vow to be more organised so that those little stolen 5 mins of family time can be achieved I'm meal planning again... here it is!

You can join on with Mrs M too - just click the link above.

Meals

The meals this week... it's all a bit of scribble and thrown together. I go into hospital at 9am tomorrow for my stomach surgery and we're also running down the freezer as it's full! 

Tuesday - Goat's cheese quiche, roasted sweet potato and salad.  Littlest had chicken nuggets and corn on the cob.  Biggest had pizza. 

Wednesday - Chicken nuggets and home made fried rice with mushroom and onion.

Thursday - Potato wedges {waffles for biggest} and cheese burgers with salad.

Friday - Spag bol with garlic ciabatta.  Biggest having chicken and waffles.

Saturday - Mediterranean veg pastry ring.  Littlest having fish fingers and beans and Biggest tbc

Sunday - Chilli meatballs with rice.   

I'm linking up with Mrs M... what's you your plate this week?

Mmm {and a Tesco rant}

I'm sat here staring at my meal planning list that I scribbled earlier... I wrote it on orange paper with a red pen, I can't see a thing! So, I'll improvise, which should be fine as I've not long unpacked my shopping from my late night Tesco trip.

I wasn't happy at all with Tesco tonight {yes, I've scheduled this post}. I usually go to Carluke or Lanark Tesco but opted for Wishaw tonight {never again}.  I had a huge trolley filled with groceries {over £80 worth} and when I got to the check out there was no-one serving! I asked the girl at the self serve why and was told no-one was available and I had to self scan {WTF}. It was a nightmare, let's not mention my bad hand or the fact I've not to do heavy lifting due to stomach problem. I even had to shout, abruptly, to get the staff member's attention as she stood chatting to her friend at the other side. Not long after I had started scanning two check-outs opened up, I really wasn't pleased. By this time another girl had taken over manning the self serve and I asked her why there was no staff and she didn't know. I told her I wasn't happy and I wouldn't be back and she said.... nothing! I had lots of coupons to use and the self serve is a total ar5e for scanning coupons! Each one had to be authorised and I'm sure some didn't even scan!

So, Tesco... I'd be keen to hear your comment?!

Monday: BBQ chicken pasta bake with garlic bread slices

Tuesday: Chicken Fajitas {we got a new grill / pannini toaster, so I'll be toasting my fajita wraps}

Wednesday: Goat's cheese quiche with filled pasta and sundried tomato sauce {we didn't have this last week we had a sundried tomato one then}

Thursday: Feta, olive and carmalised onion pastry tart

Friday: We're off to Shetland and back on Sunday evening!


Why don't you join in this week? Do you plan your meals or just decide on that day (I'd love to do that!).  Click the link above to join in with MrsM

MPM {so soon!}

I probably say it every week {or at least I do in my own head} but how can it be Monday already?

I had a moment on Saturday... I was tired {are you sick of hearing me say that? I'm sick of saying it} and hungry and the thought of cooking or eating was a chore in itself. But off to Tesco I went and I filled the trolley with lots of prepared vegetables, some ready meal curry, two dine for £10 deal {which looks lush} and some other prepared things. I had to check myself a few times that night to see if I had come out in a rash.

Now, I don't think there is anything at all wrong with buying these types of meals but I always do homemade and it just feels so strange just popping things in the oven. I've only had one prepared meal so I'll pass judgement on the rest until next week.

This week looks like:

Monday: we ate out at Wagamamas

Tuesday: Tesco - two dine for £10 meal - horseradish mash, chicken and choritzo main, chocolate and caramel melt in the middle dessert

Wednesday: roasted veg with goats cheese quiche

Thursday: breaded chicken and sweet potato {roasted or mash}

Friday: panninis with various fillings {I fancy brie, cranberry and ham}

Saturday: pasta dish

Sunday: tbc

What's on your menu... inspire me!  You can link up with Mrs M too, just click the button / photo above.

{sunny} Monday

I'm hoping it's sunny {as I'm scheduling this post as I am out picnicking in the park - if it's sunny}...

What a glorious weekend! A busy day on Saturday shopping with the littlest and my wee Sister... hours of walking, my legs still haven't recovered from. A busy day on Sunday, every last bit of laundry washed and dried {although basket is half full from bedtime routines}, lots of playing in the garden, lunch at the garden table, ballet4babies class, more playing in the garden before bed... a long lie tomorrow would be just perfect, but sadly no - I've got a few more weeks to wait until it's my long lie day!

Food... yes food... last week's meal planning went great until I forgot to defrost the meat for Sunday's slow cooker stew. So that meant a take-away of a healthy chicken kebab {there's salad in it you know!}. This week's meals look like this:

Monday - spaghetti carbonara and garlic bread

Tuesday - lasanage {leftovers from last week's that I froze} and fries / salad

Wednesday - pizza and salad

Thursday - subway style rolls with various fillings

Friday - stew and york puddings

Saturday - sausage, mash and beans

Sunday - slow cooker curry and nan bread

What's on your menu this week? Don't forget to link up with Mrs M...

Meal Planned {organised}

It's a Bank Holiday Monday - yay! Last week's meal planning went great up until Friday and I was busy  at work then had to go to my frame suppliers afterwards {had lots of orders in for my personalised prints} so when I got home I was too tired to think about cooking and everyone else was fed so I had toast. Saturday was a glorious day so we went to the park and got chips on the way home {result}.

This week looks like this:

Monday: lasagne and garlic bread

Tuesday: chilli (will make this on Monday as I'm busy bee on Tuesday)

Wednesday: freezer dinner (got lots to use up in there)

Thursday: brinner (just the kids as Hubber and I are out for dinner)

Friday: slow cooker curry and nan bread

Saturday: chicken chow mein

Sunday: stew, mash and yorkshire puddings

As per it's another busy week ahead in preparation for painting the living room next week and I still need to tackle that tower of ironing. I'm feeling a little more organised though as I have a new filofax {oh yeah.. and it's purple / ultra violet} AND... AND my new assistant starts on Tuesday {hurrah!}.

Remember to link up with Mrs M and tell us what's on your menu this week?

{meal} Planning

Oh dear, two blog posts on the same day.  To me it's a sin nearly as bad as a DJ playing the same song twice at any gig {Husband used to be a DJ, trust me it's a cardinal sin}. But... in my defence if you have read my previous post you'll see I'm catching up from the weekend as I was a social butterfly then!

I'm rushing with this week's meal planning and using up as much of the groceries I have at home, and I have a fridge full of veg {which is getting roasted tonight}, there might even be some soup made mid week if there's still lots left.

Monday - roasted veg pastry parcels with herb rice

Tuesday - spicy cheeseburgers

Wednesday - chicken kiev and cheesey potato wedges

Thursday - something quick 

Friday - twice baked potatoes, filling tbc

Saturday - lasagne

Sunday - will decide at the weekend

What are you dining on this week?  Remember to link up with Mrs M x

Monday...

A new week has arrived and with it some awful weather... there was sleet on my drive to work this morning!

It's been a sad day today.. 2 years ago today {on Friday 13th} my big kiddos Dad sadly passed away. I wish I could hug their heartache away.

On a happier note, we {at work} finally made our decision and I now have a shiny new assistant! The lovely girl will start on 28th May... I.can't.wait!

So, let's meal plan! Remember to hook up with Mrs M if you're joining in...

Monday - {we had} bacon cheeseburgers and fries

Tuesday - chicken fajitas

Wednesday - goat cheese and sun dried tomato pastries

Thursday - {my biggest's 22nd Birthday} subway style meat and salad rolls and birthday cake

Friday - slow cooker surprise {not decided yet}

Saturday - we're out in Glasgow {and staying over} to celebrate our friend's 40th special birthday {this will be the first time I'll have been away overnight from my littlest... I'll be fine right?}

Sunday - we're all out for Logan's Birthday dinner {he's still to choose venue}

I really need to make some menu changes as we seem to be eating the same things each week and it's getting boring... this week's 'adventurous' dish is Wednesday so we'll see how that works out!

What's on your menu plan this week?

{Bank Holiday} Monday Meal Planning

It's all back to normality from tomorrow {after our holiday / week off}, but I am thankful for the extra day the Bank Holiday has given {even though the weather here was rubbish}. Our plans of having a day away didn't come to much but we did eat out at Wagamama for lunch - I do love duck gyoza!

On the subject of food, here is this week's Meal Planning Monday:

Monday - we ate out for lunch so it was tea and cake for dinner

Tuesday - veg pastries, baked potato, salad and 'The Slaw'

Wednesday - cod and chips {for them, as I'm out with a friend for dinner}

Thursday - chilli nachos

Friday - sausage, mash and beans

Saturday - {homemade} chicken fried rice

Sunday - slow cooker meal - not decided what yet

Are you joining in with Meal Planning Monday?  Don't forget to link up with Mrs M... what's on your plate this week?

What, no Meal Planning?

This week's we are on holiday to Lanzarote and eating all inclusive... there may not be enough space to contain all we eat in a blog post.

Hope you're all having a great day and if you want to link up with Mrs M just click the image above and see what's on everyone's plates.

*schedule post

{late} Meal Planning

It must be bed time right?

What a busy day.  We were woken up at 5.30am with the littlest thinking it was wake up time... the black out blind had slipped off the window! Someone (who I am married too) hadn't secured it properly.... so when the sun came up baby woke!  She came into our bed and I expected her to drop off back to sleep but no... she did lay down and play with teddies for about an hour but I obviously was also awake from the crack of dawn.  The rest of the day is a blur, a morning shift at work, rush home to make lunch, write shopping list then back out to pick up middle child, rush to shops and back home to make dinner... I've not long sat down and my eyes are heavy!

My meal plan for this week is total rubbish but in my defence we are using up (or trying to) what's in the fridge / freezer as we go on holiday next week... so here it is:

Monday: homemade herb wedges and chilli and pasta bake (chicken and fries for fussy boy child)

Tuesday: stew, sausage and veg casserole with mashed turip

Wednesday: still to decide

Thursday: spaghetti meatballs (for Hubber, Baby and I), BLT baguettes (for older kiddos)

Friday: chicken and fries (middle child), fish and chips (fussy boy child), pizza pasta (for Hubber, Baby and I)

Saturday: something with chicken in slow cooker

Sunday: HOLIDAY (big kiddos home alone, I can imagine their menu next week will be trying out each take away place)

Don't forget to link up with Mrs M and showcase your meal plan (It's sure got to be better than mine)

Let's eat! {Meal Planning Monday}

It's Meal Planning Monday again and I'm linking up with Mrs M (click the image to join in too).

Last week was quite a busy week and it's weeks like that I'm glad I spend the time on Sunday meal planning, writing a shopping list and shopping. Meals in our house can be quite a task to organise, there's 5 of us... 1 quite fussy and 1 a bit fussier than the quite fussy one, so trying to please everyone is a challenge!  

There's probably only a handful of meals that we all eat together and sometimes I can be cooking 3 different meals (after a full days work). But meal planning is definitely helping that mind numbing task (of deciding each day what to cook for dinner) as I can schedule the meals we can all eat when we're all at home. AND we will be saving money too as I am planning meals around what we've got left in the fridge / freezer too.

So without further ado, here's this week's meal plan:

Monday - BLT baguettes

Tuesday - Cottage Pie (from freezer, homemade from a few weeks ago)

Wednesday - Sausage, mash (or fries), beans 

Thursday - Take away 

Friday - not sure yet...

Saturday - Steak Pie (for kiddos as we're out for dinner)

Sunday - Slow cooker meal... not decided which one yet, might try something new

There you have it, hope you link up as reading other people's meal plans can often inspire new dishes to try out the following week.

Enjoy your day!

It's Monday {again}

So, let's meal plan!

Monday - Sausage, mash and beans

Tuesday - Chicken fajitas

Wednesday - Curry, rice and wraps

Thursday - Gammon steak, pineapple and beans

Friday - Lasagne and garlic bread

Saturday - Sweet and sour chicken

Sunday - Roast dinner

What's on your plate this week?  Link up with Mrs M, click the image below.

Birthday Girl and MPM {meal planning monday}

It's my big girl's 19th Birthday today... Happy Birthday Zoey!  I love her so...makes me proud each day!

MPM {meal planning monday}

Last weeks meal planning went to pot!  Our oven broke (element blew) so we had three nights of take away!  I'm totally take away'd out now (for a while)..

This week looks like this:

Monday - Zoey chose a Carvery Meal for her Birthday dinner.. sadly the place we chose wasn't very nice, so we'll have to arrange another Birthday meal out!

Tuesday - Pizza (I'm working late then have some de-cluttering planned in wardrobe so a quick dinner required)

Wednesday - Mince, Mash, York Puds and Veg last minute change (as I'm getting sick of this meal)  Breaded Chicken Steaks and fried rice

Thursday - Just me, littlest and biggest - Cheeseburgers and Fries

Friday - Baked Potatoes and Salad

Saturday - Chilli Nachos

Sunday - Fish (not decided which type yet), Potatoes and Veg

What's on your menu this week?  Link up with Mrs M by clicking the icon below.

MPM {Meal Planning Monday}

 

Oh, it's the last Meal Plan of March!  It's my big girl's 19th birthday one week today... eek!  19!  Here's my plan for the week, not exciting at all... I'm hoping to have some fresh ideas for meals in April.. hoping!

Monday - mince and sausage casserole in the slow cooker with york puds and mash (this was meant to be stew but when Hubber took out the bag of meat from feezer, he thought it was stew but it wasn't.... oh well)

Tuesday - chicken nuggets for littlest and pizza for the rest (I'm working till 7pm.. boo)

Wednesday - toad in the hole with mash and gravy (or beans)

Thursday - carbonara (my quick method, I'll post the recipe) with chicken and bacon

Friday - brinner (breakfast for dinner - which is probably quite apt as Hubber is on night shift)

Saturday - twice baked potatoes (not decided on the filling yet)

Sunday - Easter Eggs (and probably a roast)

This week I'm also planning to finish sewing up my knitted Easter Bunny, make progress on the littlest jewelled cardigan I'm knitting for Summer and write more #PostCircle letters,

Have a good week everyone, I'm off shopping for a special girl's birthday.... 19... eek!

A x

Ps... don't forget to link up with Mrs M (click the image at the top)