Saturday, November 04, 2006

On the menu

I am now officially organised ... in one area, at least. I have a menu plan. I used to have a rolling four week menu which worked beautifully for a while, but it somehow fell apart due to inertia quite some time before pregnancy would have rendered it useless in any case. For the last few weeks I have been writing, and pretty much sticking to, a menu for the week. Flushed with success, I decided to go the whole hog with a new four week plan. Most weeks I will have to make adjustments to allow for real life, but I know from experience that having a basic plan to draw on is a lot less effort than trying to work out a menu from scratch.

I am so proud of myself for finally getting my culinary efforts organised I thought I'd share this coming week's plan.

Sunday
Lunch: Baked salmon, mashed potatoes, sugar snap peas and carrots (We usually have a roast lunch on Sundays, but tomorrow we are rushing out to Angel and Star's dance school prizegiving.)
Dinner: Sandwiches (more rush, as we are joining friends for a Bonfire Night fireworks display in the evening.)

Monday
Lunch: Jacket potatoes with cheese and / or baked beans
Dinner: Chicken and potato bake, broccoli

Tuesday
Lunch: Cheese on toast
Dinner: Beef casserole and Yorkshire pudding

Wednesday
Lunch: Egg mayo sandwiches
Dinner: Lamb chops, mashed potatoes, sauteed cabbage (currently a big favourite with Angel and Star. I never imagined I would end up with children who drool over cabbage!)

Thursday
Lunch: Tuna and sweetcorn sandwiches
Dinner: Chicken fillets in breadcrumbs, curly chips (= fries!), sweetcorn (Thursday is often a busy day and evening, so gets the instant, throw-in-the-oven-from-the-freezer dinner)

Friday

Lunch: Macaroni cheese
Dinner: Cod and potato pie, peas, carrots

Saturday
Lunch: Pitta bread, falafel, houmous
Dinner: Crusty bread, ready-cooked hot chicken (from the supermarket)

I have to work round a few limitations - we aren't by any means strictly Kosher, but we never have pig products in the house (no ham! no bacon!), and Tevye does not eat cheese in any shape or form, so the girls and I tend to have cheese for lunch when Tevye is at the office. I also try to cater to the girls' tastes at least to some extent - fortunately they are not particularly picky eaters, though Star is in an irritating phase of suddenly deciding she dislikes things she has eaten happily for years.

If you enjoy reading menus, tell me and I'll post the other weeks later.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Kathryn,
Thank you, I'd love to see your other menus. Do you just saute the cabbage in butter? BTW, I always enjoy your blog!
Blessings,
Becky from Oregon

Theresa said...

I would love your Yorkshire pudding recipe. I used to make it often and it was always a hit, especially with the little ones, but I lost the recipe in a move awhile back. Can you share it?

The Bookworm said...

Becky ... yes, I just saute it in butter. I hadn't thought of doing it until I saw it suggested on Menus 4 Moms (www.menus4moms.com). They love it!

Theresa, I'll post the Yorkshire pudding recipe later - I need to look up the conversions (ounces to cups).

Karen Edmisten said...

I would love to see more menus. Isn't life simpler when the meal planning is in place? I'm a happier mom, too.

Frabjous Days said...

Wow, I am truly impressed. Would love a peek at your other menus too. Think I need to get planning...

Nancy Ruth said...

I enjoy seeing other people's menus. Part of my extreme nosiness.