meal planning monday

Hello, well, it’s our first full week back on board after our lovely holiday in the Southern Highlands – and the last week of the school holidays. I’ll be keeping things pretty simple this week, and trying out something new along the way. Here’s what we’re eating.

This week’s menu

Monday: Slow cooker lamb pilaf - omg, this is so good. I've added a tin of drained chickpeas to this, and decided to use beef stock. It's YUM (from the few spoonfuls I've tested)*

Tuesday: Chicken Schnitzel, mash, corn on the cob and green beans

Wednesday: Beef tacos with corn salad and guacamole

Thursday: Pistachio dukka crusted lamb fillets with roasted chick peas. I’ve got a yummy pistachio dukka from the supermarket that I like to roll lamb fillets in then I sear them in a hot pan and finish them off in the oven. While they’re in there I’ll throw in a tin of drained chick peas on an oven tray to crisp up and then pop them in a bowl with roasted capsicum, sliced green onion, garlic and a balsamic, lemon and olive oil dressing.

Friday: Pan-fried blue eye cod, crispy potatoes and salad

Saturday: Aussie Farmer’s Direct Lemongrass and garlic prawns with a rice salad

Sunday: Roast beef and roasted vegies plus green beans with almonds. I bought a roasting sirloin at Coles this week. I'm going to place it on a bed of slice onions, thyme and red wine in the Le Crueset (after first searing it till golden brown in a frypain) and slowly cook it with the lid on. My guess is that it'll be tender and I'll have made my own gravy in the pan. I might just need to reduce it on the hotplate while the beef's resting at the end of cooking.

What are you eating?

*Okay, will need to update the recipe on this - needs cooking on low and less stirring in my opinion. It was delish, but the rice went gluggy really quickly. Perhaps it'd be better as a non-slow-cooker dish? 

meal planning monday

Monday: i'm off to the movies (again) tonight. It's not my fault, it's the cinemas for having so many awesome films screening. It'd be rude not to attend. So I'll whip up a spaghetti bolognaise early in the day in the slowcooker. Sure, I'll hate myself at lunch when I have to eat a boring sandwich while I smell simmering Italian delights, but it'll make life easier when it comes time to serve. 

Tuesday: it's a late ballet night for my gal so I need to have something I can serve up the second she walks in the door at 7pm - two hours of dance fuels a big hunger. I think I'll make lamb kofta with a parsley, tomato and red onion salad, tsatziki and pita bread. And I'll whip up a quick cheaty-hommos with a tin of chickpeas, olive oil, garlic and lemon juice (and tahini if I think to buy it). I'll whizz all the ingredients in a blender and add a little salt and pepper to taste. Yum.

Wednesday: netball training. I might have to make a curry in the slow cooker. Chicken curry perhaps. Served with rice, wilted greens and garlic naan.

Thursday: I've found I'm getting tired and lazy by the end of the week, so am thinking of really super-easy meals to serve. Steak, mash and steamed veg will do nicely I think.

Friday: simple salmon patties with salad, seriously, that's all I can cope with on a Friday. I'll make them in the morning and refrigerate so they're ready to cook when I knock off work that night. I might need to sip on a glass of white while they're cooking. Don't you think?

Saturday: I've made nary a soup this winter - what's wrong with me? I think I need to rectify this by making a chicken wonton soup - how amazing would that be? Shall blog the recipe next week after I've made it.

Sunday: seven hour leg of lamb is the roast du jour tonight. With loads and loads of veggies and lentils of course. Lamb and french lentils are a match made in heaven.

And that's it. How about you? Tell me what's on your meal plan this week - and hands up if I've managed to convert another of you to the meal-planning side!

flowers for friday

Would you LOOK at this image - so many of my favourite things. Single blooms in wee little containers, blue milk glass, tulips, glorious, glorious roses. Oh my WORD. My carnations have finally given up the ghost this week, so I think I need to gather some more blooms. Luckily my Duchess de Brabant roses are in full bloom so I can do the single blooms in wee containers trick. Love.

So, it's Friday - YAY! Very, very happy to see the end of this week. It was, you know, just one of those weeks where things are annoying. My gal had a massive assignment, which, despite her starting on early and doing lots of work over two weeks - still required a gigantic burst at the end. Then there's Naplan next week {shudder}. Thankfully there doesn't seem to be the same pressure at high school as there was at primary. Oh for the olden days when Naplan was there to point out where your child needed help - not used as a tool to assess schools...

It's GLORIOUS weather here at the moment. Seriously, we've had 25 degree days. Bliss. And the sky is the most exquisite shade of blue. We've got a fair bit on this weekend, lots of sporting stuff tomorrow, and then I'm off to check out another French film {yay!} with a fab friend {double-yay}.

Sunday's mother's day and I've asked for a French breakfast - warm croissant, Lurpak butter, Bonne Maman jam and a bowl of coffee. Easy peasy - but soooooooo good. Then we're off on a day trip to Gloucester - fun!

Enjoy your day, and your weekend.

flowers for friday

Don't pansies just have the prettiest lil faces?

painting days

We've got a busy weekend planned - painting our gal's bedroom. Yes, high school means that the pretty pink primary school bedroom is out the window - and in with the Frenchy ice blue bedroom. Wish us luck...

smart shoe storage

So, we've paid for the new wardrobe and it'll be delivered in about a week or so - squeeeee! Now, as I said, it's the perfect size for our bedroom wall - almost like it was made for it - but there's a gap of around 40cm. Which, is pretty perfect as there's a space of adjoining wall next to our door that's just crying out for something like this!

Picture rails for hanging your heels - hello - perfection.

i need to have a cocktail party

Just so I can hang one of these on my front door.

Cuteness!

well, hello summer

It might have taken its time getting here, but summer's finally arrived at my house - and I like it! I spent the last day of holidays yesterday swimming, lazing by the pool, gardening, cleaning and getting the house and myself in order for a new year of work. Everything seems easier when it's sunny.