Life is a Journey not a Destination

After being religious about menu planning for quite some time I recently took a break. It was fun. I didn’t resort to takeaway. We still ate very well. But it wasn’t until I decided I wanted to empty out freezer that I realized what menu planning does.

So about 1.5 weeks ago I went through the fridge and freezer and made a list of everything it contained, taking special notice of anything that would expire when we’re away (leaving for a 10 night cruise on Saturday). I then went through and made out a menu plan for the 2 weeks before we left. I mainly do dinners but I had a few breakfast and lunch ideas so I put them on some days.

Menu plan done! Now the revelation. Firstly, it was so much easier just checking the fridge (where the menu plan lives) to see what was for  dinner each day. I didn’t have to think – brilliant. Secondly, we are eating a better variety of meals. I hadn’t realized we were eating the same dinners week in week out. Thirdly, as hoped we made a good dent in the fridge & freezer. And forth, we saved a bunch on groceries by eating the food we’d already paid for . So am I converting back to regular menu planning. If you’ve never done it before give it a go. There are plenty of free printables on the internet but all you need is pen and paper (and maybe gloves for diving into your freezer ).

Well, with most of the family being sick during the week it was easy meals all around, and no new recipes.

MONDAY: Muffin Tin Dinner (made by Amy) – Amy & Kevin had fish, I had a veggie burger.

TUESDAY:Home-made Pizza

WEDNESDAY Falafel Wrap

THURSDAY: Vegetable Schnitzel

FRIDAY: Sweet Potato Frittata

SATURDAY: Christy requested pancakes.

I had a salad

SUNDAY: Sweet Bean Burrito for me, Kevin had a scrambled egg wrap.

Not too sure what’s on the menu for the coming week (and I’m away for the weekend) but be sure to check out the Organising Junkie for more menu ideas.

Not too sure how this not menu planning is working out but we’ve not resorted to take-away so it must be going okay. Having said that last week was a very strange one with me being unwell for the whole week, so easy dinners were definitely on the cards.

MONDAY: New recipe : Macaroni Bake – was OKAY

TUESDAY: TVP Wraps

WEDNESDAY: Take-away pizza for my birthday

THURSDAY: Pasta & Veggies (from freezer) – was quite nice and certainly VERY easy

FRIDAY: Sweet Bean Burrios

SATURDAY: TVP Nachos

SUNDAY: Homemade Pizza at the Powells – similar to this one.

And for Muffin Tin Monday this week, Amy was kind enough to make us dinner.

Be sure to visit the Organising Junkie and Her Cup Overfloweth.

Okay, let’s start with the recap of last weeks meals.

Monday – I got off to a great start and forgot to take a photo of our Brown Rice Patties. We only thought they were OKAY – a little tasteless despite the sauce we put on them.

TUESDAY – Bean & Corn Enchiladas – We all LOVED these and will def. make again (thanks Bel)

WEDNESDAY – Vegetable Pie (bought from an award winning bakery that I don’t get to very often)

THURSDAY : Got Kevin to bring in Pizza from Dominos after a busy day out and about. Forgot to get a photo – we had cheese, tomato, pineapple & onion with BBQ sauce on a thin crust. YUM!!

FRIDAY : Away in Melbourne – Vegetable Pita from Nandos

SATURDAY: Away in Melbourne – Noodle Soup

SUNDAY: No vegetarian food on flight home so I got a spinach & cheese pastie from Gloria Jeans to eat in car on way home – wasn’t that nice though so didn’t eat much.

Meals ideas for the upcoming week

- Baked Cheesy Macaroni (might make tonight)

- Homemade Bean Burgers

- Pumpkin Curry with Lentils

- Sweet Bean Burritos

I’ve decided to get a bit more creative in the kitchen and as part of that I’m not going to be doing a proper menu plan. I will have a few receips in mind to make but I’ll be winging it a lot more, based of what I have in the house and what is needing to be used up. I going to try and take photos of each dinner to share with you the next week (except I already forgot Mondays)

Kevin & I go to Melbourne on Friday for a long weekend so we’ve only got 4 nights at home this week.

Meal ideas

Monday : Brown Rice Patties

Possibilities – Baked Cheesy Macaroni

- Sweet Corn & Bean enchiladas.

For more menu ideas be sure to visit the Organising Junkie.

I didn’t do a  menu plan last week but we did eat in every night, except last night we ordered pizza. I made a new recipe – soy sausage casserole which was a big hit.

MONDAY: Filled pasta with cheese sauce

TUESDAY: Roasted vegetables on quinoa

WEDNESDAY: Vegetable burgers

THURSDAY: Sweet Corn and Bean Enchilidas (inspired by Bel)

FRIDAY: Marinated Tofu and veg stirfry with brown rice

SATURDAY: Friends for dinner (BBQ)

SUNDAY: Chili con carne or leftovers

For more great menu idea visit the Organising Junkie.

Last week went well. We all enjoyed dinner by Amy on Tuesday night. We had our own personal menus and were served Spring Rolls with wedges.

And apple crumble for desert. It was delicious.

Then we were served tea and berry muffins while the girls put on a show.

Kevin is away for 5 nights this week so I’m only cooking for Amy and myself (Christy always has toast of some sort).

MONDAY: Rissoto / leftover pasta for Amy (to eat before dancing)

TUESDAY:Pumpkin Lasagne (Amy to make)

WEDNESDAY: Veggie Snitzel and veggies

THURSDAY: Possibly take-away pizza

FRIDAY: Not sure (just me tonight)

SATURDAY: Homemade pizza (didn’t have it last week)

SUNDAY: Leftovers (hosting Mother’s Day lunch)

For more great ideas check out the organising junkie.

No theme this week so we’re back to the normal after school snack.

Don’t forget to stop by Her cup overfloweth to see more great muffin tin meals.

Last weeks plan went pretty well. We LOVED the quesidillas (Amy even made them again the next morning for her breakfast), missed out on pumpkin lasagne (Amy was away at a sleepover), thought the stir-fry was just okay (dogs got the leftovers).

School starts back on Wednesday so we’ll be back into our normal routine.

MONDAY: Leftover Mexibake from Sat. night

TUESDAY: Amy’s making a special dinner – I think I heard mention of spring rolls.

WEDNESDAY: From freezer

THURSDAY: Pumpkin Lasagne

FRIDAY: ????

SATURDAY: Home-made pizza

SUNDAY: Leftovers

For more great menu ideas visit the organising junkie.

Coming later… Muffin Tin Monday

I did a bit of free-style menu planning last week – meaning that I didn’t have one. We ate from the freezer, had some easy meals like nachos and had takeaway noodles – which fed us for 3+ meals each. Time to get back to this week. I also want to get better at trying new recipes as I become a bit slack of late. The goal is 1-2 new recipes each week.

MONDAY: Homemade pizza on pita bread (Amy has friend for sleepover)

TUESDAY: Pumpkin Lasange (Amy to make

WEDNESDAY: Black bean, zucchini & tomato quesadillas (new recipe)

THURSDAY: Speedy TVP & Noodle Stirfry (new recipe)

FRIDAY: Sweet Bean Burritos

SATURDAY: Friends for dinner – not sure of menu yet

SUNDAY: Leftovers or Cheese on Toast

For more great menu ideas visit the Organising Junkie.

Happy Easter!!

Amy, Kevin & I awoke about 6am. I got a cup of tea and snuggled back in bed with the laptop until Christy woke. Then it was time to check out what the Easter bunny had bought. The girls had left a card and there was a thankyou letter, some PJs and a chocolate bunny.

After sampling some of the chocolate, we went to visit the Powell. We gave them this basket filled with eggs, and chickens for the girls.

There was also a visit by the Easter bunny…

Breakfast today was hot cross buns, and Kevin made a trip to the local McDonalds to get some “real” coffee for him and Noel. Since was another beautiful day we decided to take the kids to the beach for a few hours. We hung out here for a bit and Kevin dragged the girls around in the tube.

Then headed over to the surf. It was cold but lots of fun.

After some lunch Kevin & Noel took Amy and Sarah fishing on the boat (they also had a swim). Leanne & I took the younger girls to the  pool, then spent some time reading (and drinking more tea).