meal planning monday

How on earth is it Monday again? Does anyone have some kind of magical stop-the-clock machine? It's nearly midway through the year for goodness sake! Hmmm, I can't turn back time, but I can plan this week's meals. Here's what we're eating.

Monday: I'm going to flatten and marinate some chicken breasts and then grill them tonight. What am I marinating them in? Hmmmm, perhaps olive oil, lemon juice and zest and herbs de provence? I'll serve it with a salad and roasted cauliflower.

Tuesday: a quick steak and vegies meal is in order for when we get home from netball training. I'll prep the vegies early on by par-boiling them, then I'll sprinkle them with herbs and throw them in to bake for 10 minutes when we get home. Carrots, sweet potato, pumpkin and potato. With some green beans on the side.

Wednesday: I think I'll make a quinoa salad with roasted vegies tonight. And serve it with poached chicken? Yes?

Thursday: homemade corn cakes with bacon and guacamole. And salad tonight.

Friday: fish, some kind of fish. Grilled with herbs. And salad.

Saturday: we're FINALLY off to another Underground Epicureans adventure tonight, somewhere with a supper club feel! Exciting!

Sunday: beef and guinness pot pies, mash, peas and roasted carrots.

Phew, am exhausted just thinking about all this! What are you having?

image from housetohome.co.uk

meal planning monday

Oh, morning, how's things? I'm a bit sleepy, a bit snuffly, and a little bit frosty. Brrrrrrrrrrrrr. So this shall influence my meal planning today. Here's what we're eating.

Monday: I have netball training sessions from 4 - 6.30 tonight - eep! So I'm making a big pot of chilli con carne for dinner. I'll serve it with brown rice (the cheaty microwave packet).

Tuesday: chicken noodle soup is called for when you are snuffly. I have some garlic shoots I bought from the farmers market to slice into it. Mmmmmm.

Wednesday: burlesque tonight, so we might have steak and salad for dinner. Nice and early.

Thursday: it's my netball meeting this week, not last week. So I'll make an early dinner of chicken meatloaf with mash and steamed vegies.

Friday: my gal has a school dance and hubby and I are off to the opening of Watt Street Illuminations - where Newcastle's oldest street is lit up for a whole year. There is music, food and lots of fabulousness. We'll eat there, my gal can have pasta and pesto before she heads out.

Saturday: it's the Travelling Film Festival this weekend - lots of fabulousness from Sydney Film Festival. I shall be attending as many as possible, but am also going to an Art Opening at 2pm. I'll cook up some chicken kebabs with salad and a rice pilaf tonight.

Sunday: more film fest I'd say - so homemade pizza will be squished in amidst the viewings.

Done. You?

image from housetohome.co.uk

meal planning monday

Wowzers, how cool is a long weekend? Can we have one of these every weekend?

Here's what we're eating this week.

Monday: I have some chicken breasts that need eating, so I'll make schnitzel for dinner. With mash, corn cobs and green beans.

Tuesday: I bought duck sausages {DUCK SAUSAGES} from the farmers market. I'm going to serve them with pumpkin mash and roasted beetroot. And a green salad.

Wednesday: I also bought some lamb chops from the markets, so I'll make Nigella's Greek Lamb Chops for dinner. With salad.

Thursday: I have a netball committee meeting. Early dinner of chinese short soup made with chicken stock I made on Sunday night from leftover roast chicken. YUM!

Friday: I'm going to an art exhibition opening tonight, so we'll make homemade pizza on my return.

Saturday: my gal cooked dinner last saturday night from a cookbook - she can do it again!

Sunday: roast beef and lots of roasted vegies. Mmmmmm.

You?

Image from housetohome.co.uk

meal planning monday

Hey all, how's your monday treating you? To a grey and frosty show? Mine too! So there's comforting food on the meal plan this week. Here's what we're eating:

Monday: Salmon patties with salad tonight. My gal has ballet and I have netball development clinics instead of netball training. So I'll make these this afternoon and whack them in the fridge, ready to bake when I get home.

Tuesday: I'm bored with everything I cook, so I searched for something new to whack in the slow cooker and found this recipe. You can't go wrong with chickpeas and chicken. I'll serve it with some yellow cauliflower! And broccoli.

Wednesday: I haven't been to burlesque for three weeks. I need to go - desperately. I'll make beef and macaroni pasta bake for dinner tonight.

Thursday: I have no winter clothes, my gal has no winter clothes - and we're off for a couple of days to the Blue Mountains in a few weeks. So we'll go shopping and grab something to eat while we're out.

Friday: Salmon on the bbq with steamed vegies tonight. I'm out for drinks with a friend who's up from Sydney for the weekend tonight. We'll hit The Terrace Bar like we used to in our youth.

Saturday: looooooooooong weekend! Hurrah! I'll cook something up with my gal. We'll hit the cookbooks to find something fab.

Sunday: roast beef, roasted veg, lots of red wine gravy.

And that's me. You?

meal planning monday

What a wonderful weekend. Filled with five fabulous films that all made some kind of impact on my life - I've hit this week with a fresh sense of optimism and joy. And plans! Many, many plans. Speaking of which, here's a meal plan:

Monday: my netball training for my 10-year-olds (who, just quietly are on top of the ladder and doing AWESOME!) so I'll make a green chicken curry and serve it with rice and steamed green veg so it's ready for when my gal returns from ballet.

Tuesday: my gal's netball training. They need a bit more oomph, so I'm going down to do a bit of one-on-one training to help out the coach. When we get home we'll have pork schnitzel pan fried with pancetta, steamed green beans and roasted cubes of potatoes.

Wednesday: Burlesque for me tonight. Last week I made a really tasty spaghetti with chicken meatballs - I'll make it again. Really simple: chicken mince, grated onion, lemon zest and fresh thyme combined with an egg and panko breadcrumbs and seasoned. Then I made them into balls and baked till golden. I tossed orichette pasta with a jar of tomato-based pasta sauce with a couple of tablespoons of pesto, then stirred the meatballs through. Simply delish! Great served with a side salad.

Thursday: Baked salmon and salad.

Friday: How about some steak and salad tonight?

Saturday: I can't believe we don't have anything on. Hopefully that means we can get a few things done around the house. I'd love to get some gardening done, and a spot of painting in a few rooms. For dinner? Beef and guinness stew made into pot pies served with salad.

Sunday: Roast chicken and roasted veg.

Yep. That's it. You?

image: kitchen from housetohome.co.uk - how much does that pop of red in the kitchen sing? Love.

meal planning monday

Just once I'd like a Monday to arrive without thinking "What? Really? Monday? Again?" Wouldn't it be nice? My week's busy this week, with a gazzilionty films this weekend at the French Film Festival - and the Shout Film Festival. Eep! Here's what I'm going to aim for:

Monday: my gal has millions of tests this week at school (well, three) so she's skipping ballet this afternoon (as it's two hours!) so she can study. Not what we'd normally do, but we had my sister-in-law and her two gals down this weekend which was unusual, so you've gotta roll with things. For dinner I have pork schnitzel from Aussie Farmers. I'll crumb them with panko crumbs, parmesan and lemon zest and serve them with mash and roasted brussell sprouts.

Tuesday: my gal has netball training. I have burlesque. Spaghetti with chicken meatballs I think.

Wednesday: I have a butterflied chicken I need to bbq. Best do it tonight.

Thursday: it's my mother-in-law's birthday so I think we're popping up to say "Happy Birthday". Early dinner of chickpea and pumpkin curry I think.

Friday: opening night of French Film Festival. I'll snack on the wine and cheese available - and a bucket of popcorn (healthy). Husband and child will make pizza.

Saturday: another film. I'll whip myself up a tuna nicoise salad. Husband and child going to in-laws for the night to see sister-in-law and two gals before they go back to England on Sunday.

Sunday: three films today, starting at 11am. Husband and child taking English rellos back to airport. Lordy knows what time I'll be home - but I'll grab Sticky Rice takeaway on my way home. And rest my rectangular eyes...

You?

cute pic from housetohome

meal planning monday

Hungry? See that pic? It's the slow-roasted lamb shoulder (covered with herbs, garlic and orange zest and juice) that I cooked for four hours on a bed of onions. Then I served it with pomegranates and a butter bean, parsley, garlic and lemon salad. Delish.

Here's what we're eating this week.
Monday: netball training for me until 6.30, ballet for the gal until 7.10. So I'll whip up some homemade burgers when I get home. Lots of salad on them and on the side.

Tuesday: I'm back into burlesque. Honestly! So I'll make spaghetti bolognaise for dinner.

Wednesday: butterflied, marinated chicken on the bbq with salad tonight. And a warm lentil salad on the side.

Thursday: I think we need some ribeye steaks on the bbq. With a green salad (with watercress) and a warm potato salad (lemony mayonnaise dressing).

Friday: Salmon on the bbq. With salad.

Saturday: My sister-in-law from England and her two gals are coming down for the night. I'll cook up chicken pot pies with mash and steamed vegies. Both her gals love that dish.

Sunday: Mother's Day - who know WHAT my family will whip up for me. Or perhaps we'll go out to dinner, we'll see...

Have a fabulous week x

meal planning monday

Goodness, it's already Monday. I swear my meal planning went out the window last week. I tried, but life conspired against me. I still have two lamb shanks in the fridge as I didn't make the soup I'd planned last week. I had no days when I was free to start cooking at 3pm. So that's today's meal. Oh, see that steak, frites and bernaise? Plat du jour at Le Petit Deux last friday with my friend C. That amazing meal and a glass of wine. Divine.

Here's what we're eating this week:

Monday: Lamb and chickpea soup. Really.

Tuesday: we have a funeral to attend. Sadly my husband lost his brother last week and we're laying him to rest tomorrow. It was a life cut short way too soon. We'll stay with his parents and family after the funeral and organise some dinner up there.

Wednesday: spaghetti and meatballs. I'd like to get back into burlesque classes again, so it's back to pasta on that night.

Thursday: poached chicken breasts in a vietnamese style salad.

Friday: salmon on the bbq with salad.

Saturday: it's my hubby's birthday - so we're headed out to Restaurant Mason for dinner. Hurrah.

Sunday: I have bookclub this afternoon, so I'll need something I can whip up quickly when I get home. Prawns and chorizo on the bbq will do nicely.

And breathe x

meal planning monday

Ahhh, there's no place like home is there? We had a fabulous holiday last week, but we're home again and I'm looking forward to cooking again in my own kitchen. So here's what we're eating:

Monday: It's school holidays, but we still have netball training. After last week's rich holiday meals I'll make simple grilled steak and steamed veg for dinner tonight.

Tuesday: It's soup weather now, well, just. I have an idea for a soup: chickpea and lamb shank. It'll have a base of beef stock, lots of vegies and a tin of tomatoes. Lots of garlic, some herbs and a couple of browned lamb shanks. It'll have to simmer for a good couple of hours to let the lamb fall from the bone. Then I'll add a tin of drained chickpeas and some baby spinach or baby kale at the last minute. Yum.

Wednesday: I'm going to flatten out some chicken breasts and marinate them, then I'll grill them on the bbq. I'll serve them with wilted greens and french lentil salad.

Thursday: It's Anzac Day so I've plenty of time to prepare something yummy. Perhaps beef and guinness pies?

Friday: Baked fish tonight. With lots of vegies and a salad.

Saturday: A chorizo and white bean bake. With kale salad should be nice.

Sunday: Roast beef. And veg. And yum.

meal planning monday

Good afternoon! Sorry for my tardiness, we've been away at my in-laws and I'm just back on deck. Here's what's on the meal plan this week.

Monday: tonight I'm off to Movies in the Vineyards again to see Rocky Horror (so excited!) My friend S and I have booked a hamper, so I'll be supping on popcorn with truffle butter, gourmet sarnies and some kind of awesome dessert. I know, it's a tough life. I'm making a double-batch of bolognaise for the gal and my hubby.

Tuesday: it's my gal's netball training, so I'll make a pasta bake with the leftover bolognaise. Serve it with a green salad as a nod of my head toward health.

Wednesday: I'm going to make caramelised pork with udon noodles. Why would I not?

Thursday: I haven't made chicken schnitzel for yonks. Best. And serve it with lemon roasted potatoes and lots of steamed greens.

Friday: I'm off to an art exhibition at The Lock Up tonight. Homemade pizza is a good dinner option.

Saturday: I know there's something I should be cooking. Lamb shanks perhaps? With soft polenta?

Sunday: BBQ time. Squid and chorizo perhaps. With lots of salad.

And that's it. Woo hoo. You?

French word of the day: horreur (hoh- rer) horror, in honour of my fave film.

image from housetohome.co.uk

meal planning monday

Helolo everyone, welcome to another meal planning session. (ps: helolo is how the cool kids are saying hello - sounds super-friendly non?) Here's what we're eating this week:

Monday: I have a friend up from Sydney tonight so I'll make paella for dinner. As I have netball training from 5.30 to 6.30 I'll sauté the chicken and chorizo and make the sofrito beforehand. Here's the recipe I'll (loosely) follow.

Tuesday: My mum and step-dad are calling in on their way up to Queensland for a Kombi get-together. Best make a nice, nourishing vegetarian meal for them. How's a roasted vegie frittata with lots of salad sound? Good?

Wednesday: panko crumbed pork chops and apple sauce, with salad.

Thursday: Hopefully we're going up to check out Oz The Great And Powerful at Movies in the Vineyards tonight. So we'll take a picnic dinner along.

Friday: Good Friday, so hey, we've gotta do fish. But maybe thai fish cakes with salad.

Saturday: 7 hour leg of lamb. With lentils, and roasted veg.

Sunday: Roast chicken and salad.

And that's it. You?

ps; the pic's from housetohome.co.uk - loving the colander light fittings!

French word of the day: égouttoir (ay-gou-twah) colander.

meal planning monday

I'm feeling festive this week - so it's a party shot to plan meals to. Why not? Shouldn't every day be a celebration? Here's what we're eating.

Monday: my 10-year-old team's netball training doesn't finish till 6.30, and then my gal doesn't get home till after 7pm from ballet so I've got some honey soy chicken kebabs to serve with a rice salad.

Tuesday: my gal's netball training tonight till 6.30pm. I'm just going to cook steak and salad. Not on the bbq because the stupid gas bottle ran out about 10 minutes into cooking Sunday night's lamb shoulder. I discovered this about 45 minutes into the cooking time :(

Wednesday: I'm going to make salmon patties tonight. I have a tin of red salmon in the pantry, and can cook up some mash potato on Tuesday night. Easy-peasy.

Thursday: Homemade burgers tonight.

Friday: Lesley Taylor, the hatted chef from the former Restaurant Deux and head of Le Petit Deux is heading up the kitchen at my local bowling club apparently. It's an Italian-themed bistro Osteria. We'll go there tonight. It's a mere stroll from my house.

Saturday: we have nothing planned tonight. Nothing. Might cook up something lovely and slow. Osso Bucco? Lamb ragu? Whatever I make I'll serve it with soft polenta. Mmmmm.

Sunday: roast chicken cooked on a bed of French lentils. Yep. That.

You?

meal planning monday

Hi, how's things? All's pretty well in my world, just gearing up for a busy one. Here's what we're eating.

Monday: I'm coaching my new 10-year-old team for the first time from 5.30 to 6.30 today, so when I get home I'll throw some salmon on the bbq and whip up a quick salad. This should be ready for when my gal finishes ballet after 7pm.

Tuesday: my gal's netball team has training, which I'm helping out with. That's from 5.30 to 6.30 as well. I'm going to make Nigella's Greek Lamb Chops in the morning and put them in the fridge. Then, when hubby comes home from work at 6pm he can turn on the oven and pop them in and they'll be ready to eat with a green salad when we get home.

Wednesday: I have burlesque tonight - yay. I'm going to make a mince and pasta bake.

Thursday: First netball committee meeting in my new role as President - which means chairing the meeting. YIKES! I'll make chicken and avocado burgers for dinner tonight.

Friday: My gal and I are off to drinks at a friends with a few other mums and their kiddos. We'll take some nibbles and pick up thai takeaway for dinner.

Saturday: It's my last-ever Nobby's Lighthouse Cinema tonight. Last time my friend C made the most delicious zucchini slice - I'd best whip up something yummy to take along too.

Sunday: My gal and her team mates have a netball umpiring clinic in the morning, and we'll just catch-up on garden/house work in the afternoon. I'll make a butterflied leg of lamb on the bbq tonight. With a beetroot, walnut and feta salad.

Oh, and that pic above is from last week's spanish chicken - so easy, so delish.

meal planning monday

Hey, how's it going? Ready for another week of meals? Don't you wish you had that cream Aga in the image above? How good would meals be cooked in that little beauty? I don't have an Aga, but here's what I'm cooking this week:

Monday: Spanish chicken served with a green salad.

Tuesday: I'm off to burlesque tonight after missing it BOTH nights last week. So I'll make spaghetti bolognaise for dinner.

Wednesday: I think steak and salad tonight. Simple. Delicious.

Thursday: I need to make a chicken and leek casserole with herbed dumplings. I'll share the recipe when I've made it.

Friday: I'm off to check out Tim Rogers at The Cambridge tonight with friends. Will need fuel for dancing. Homemade pizzas perhaps?

Saturday: I haven't made a paella for 900 years, best rectify that.

Sunday: Slow roasted pork belly on a bed of green apples. With a green apple slaw on the side and some garlic roasted potatoes as well.

And that's it. Phew.

How about you?

Image from housetohome.co.uk

meal planning monday

Hi, sorry I'm late. I slept in this morning and barely made it to work on time. Here's what's on the menu this week at Chez PPMJ.

Monday: I've bought a roast chicken from the supermarket and a family-sized microwave basmati rice. With these I am creating a chicken fried rice. Sauteed bacon, shallots, corn, capsicum, broccoli - added rice, soy sauce and stirred. Then I'll toss through shredded chicken and fresh basil at the end.

Tuesday: the 10-year-old netball team I'm co-coaching has grading tonight. It starts at six and ends goodness-knows-when. I have leftover slow-roasted lamb shoulder and french lentils from sunday night so I'll dice up the lamb, and make a sauce with beef stock, bacon and red wine. I'll mix in the lentils, pop these in ramekins and make some mashed potato for the top. Hubby and daughter can pop them in the oven when they're hungry and serve them with some corn and peas.

Wednesday: I'm making my new fave - Nigella's Greek Lamb chops, these things are addictive! Served with a watercress salad.

Thursday: Perhaps salmon on the bbq tonight? With salad.

Friday: Nothing planned - so we'll have a bbq. Steaks. Big ones. Salad. Big too.

Saturday: Hmm. Butterflied chicken on the bbq perhaps? With a salad. Perhaps that quinoa salad in the pic above with the duck confit? Yes?

Sunday: I'm going to slow-cook something tonight. Could be pork belly, could be roast beef, could be ribs... let's see where the mood takes me.

And you?

meal planning monday

Okay, deep breaths, I honestly do not know how I'm going to get through this week - busyness is amped up to the max. Eep! But it's all (mostly) good. Ready? Strap yourself in:

Monday: I'm grading the 15 year olds at the netball courts at 5pm tomorrow. They'll play for an hour, then we'll have to form them into teams. Wish me luck. Oh, and my gal goes back to ballet too - so she won't be home till after 7pm. Cheaty butter chicken and rice with garlic naan from Coles tonight it is.

Tuesday: I love my daughter, but her teeth drive me (and her) bonkers. See, they won't fall out. So every tooth so far, except two, has to be extracted by the dentist. Today it's a molar. Eeep. I'll make her some soothing homemade chicken noodle soup tonight to take the edge off. Might have a bowl myself when I get home from burlesque.

Wednesday: Burlesque class again. I'll make steak and salad for dinner tonight.

Thursday: It's Valentine's Day and hubby and I are going on a date night to Lizottes to see Baby et Lulu - and have a two course dinner. Romantic! My in-laws are coming down to stay with our gal, so I'll make them Nigella's greek lamb chops and salad for dinner. I can throw it in the oven when I get home from work, and my mother-in-law can just serve it when it's done.

Friday: Nothing planned. Woo hooo. Now, two separate people have RAVED about this recipe on Twitter so I'm going to cook Nigella's Pasta Risotto with peas and pancetta. It's from Nigellissima.

Saturday: Okay, please, please cross your fingers for nice weather as my friend C and I are off to Nobby's Lighthouse for a spot of open-air cinema tonight. We'll take some picnic food, cheese, crackers, bread, fruits - and sparkling wine.

Sunday: all three of us are off to Sydney to see Sarah Blasko in concert at The Sydney Opera House. Woo hoo! We're staying in a harbourview hotel on the northern side of the harbour, so we'll catch a ferry to circular quay and have dinner at Opera Bar before the show. So excited. It's my gal's first concert and she adores Sarah Blasko - what a first concert!

And that's it. You as exhausted as I am at the thought of this week?

French word of the day: occupé (ock - you - pay) busy!

meal planning monday

Okay, this week I'm not even going to say "Oh, I've got a busy week this week," because I'm sure you'll just say "Duh, PPMJ, when DON'T you - you gadabout you." So here's what we're eating. Not that meal above which was a delightful lunch of pork rillettes from III Bean at Hamilton - but it's inspiring me. Read on to find out why:

Monday: tonight I'm off to the movies to see Silver Linings Playbook with friends. It's an early session, so we'll have an early dinner of thai chicken breast salad. I'll marinate the chicken breasts in chilli jam after flattening them with a meat mallet to about 1cm thick. Then I'll grill these on the bbq and slice on the diagonal and toss through salad leaves.

Tuesday: I have burlesque tonight - a class I'm falling deeper, and deeper in love with each week. I'll make spaghetti bolognaise for dinner tonight as it's simple and reheats well.

Wednesday: nothing on tonight. Woo hoo! I'll make a thai beef salad tonight. Rump steak grilled and sliced on the diagonal tossed through leaves with lots of mint. YUM!

Thursday: it's netball registration night tonight, so I have to be at the club to help get everything sorted. Eep. Fritatta and salad for dinner tonight.

Friday: hubby and I are off with friends to another Underground Epicureans dinner. The chef this time is from the hatted Bistro Mason - no idea where it's being held. Shall fill you in later.

Saturday: I'm off to a friend from work's hen's party. It's Thai-themed so shall be heaps of fun. Hubby and daughter can fire up the bbq.

Sunday: I should make something new this week. Hmmm, what shall it be? Shall consult recipe book and let you know later in the week.

And that's it. Now, as for how that meal above is inspiring me - it's showing me how to plate up a salad and make it look magical. It's all about the accessorising! Let me know what you're eating this week.

Whoopsies, forgot the French Word of the Day. Here tis: entierement (on-ti-er-i-mon) - completely. Oooh, so I could say J'taime entieremont - I love you completely. Bless.

meal planning monday

Monday, hey, you come around in quite a Speedy Gonzales manner don't you? Well, now you're here, it's time to share this week's meal plan. It's a simple one because, as I mentioned yesterday, I'm a wee bit of a social butterfly this week. Here's what we're eating:

Monday: I'm off to the movies tonight to see Hitchcock with my friends A and C. Can't wait, it looks brilliant, and I'm quite the Hitchcock fan. I'm picking up A at 6.45 so we'll be eating early. I'm going to pound out some chicken breasts in the morning so they're about 1cm thin. Then, I'll pop them in a dish and cover with peri peri marinade. I'll cover it with cling wrap and refrigerate. When I get home they'll go on the open grill section of the bbq while I whip up a salad of mixed leaves, roasted capsicum, feta and pinenuts. When the chicken's cooked, I'll rest it for a tic, then slice it on the diagonal into thick strips and toss it over the salad. YUM.

Tuesday: back into Burlesque classes tonight if the weather behaves. Last week it was 40 degrees, and, as the classes are held in a school hall with only two ceiling fans I gave it a miss. I'll make this beef pasta bake and eat some when I get home.


Wednesday: I'm doing NOTHING. I am staying home. Yay. I'm going to do some lamb racks with a simple spinach and orange salad tonight. Complete with finely sliced red onion that's been steeped in orange juice for 30 mins. I'll then mix that juice with olive oil and use it as a dressing.

Thursday: busy. I'm off to dinner with my workpals to say farewell to the most awesome person I've ever worked with {sob}. We're headed to The Landing {surprise}. Then I have a netball committee meeting afterwards, as you do. Hubby and daughter will have steak and salad.

Friday: a quiet one tonight. So salmon and salad will be awesome.

Saturday: I'm off to an outdoor cinema night at Nobby's Lighthouse with my friend C. We'll take some yummy nibbles to snack on before the film. I might even make some savoury tarts to take along. I'll make extra to leave for hubby and daughter.

Sunday: I'm going to roast a chicken on a bed of lentils and serve it with salad. Yes. I. Am.

French word of the day: réjouir  (ray- shjwah) - to be delighted.

Have a fabulous week lovelies x

image from housetohome.co.uk

meal planning monday

Well, here we go again, another busy week - with another week full of food. This pic here is from a chinese place in Hamilton I'd been dying to try. I went for yumcha the other week with some friends and it was DIVINE. Worth the wait. Look at all those lovely, lovely dumplings. Ahhhhh.

Now, my parents arrive from Melbourne tomorrow. They're up for a fabulous 9 days. So we'll be eating vego-friendly most of the time - with a few dishes we can adapt for my vege-phobe husband and child... Here's what we're eating:

Monday: I'm making tarts with puff pastry. Asparagus and sheep-milk feta for the vegos and adding some proscuitto for us three. Served with a tossed salad.

Tuesday: We're going across for Christmas drinks with the neighbours across the road while our gal's at ballet. I'll ask my step-father to whip up a mexican feast. We have loads of beans and avocado.

Wednesday: I'd like to make some fritters. Perhaps zucchini and haloumi - and corn fritters for my gal who's not so keen on many things green. Served with lots and lots of salads.

Thursday: pasta? Fresh spinach pesto? With a tomato salsa perhaps?

Friday: bbq. Loads of roasted vegies, haloumi and chicken kebabs on the other side of the bbq away from the veg. With salads, one with chick peas and one with baby beetroot and labna.

Saturday: I think we're hoping to catch up with friends - mine and my parents. I think curries could be in order for a crowd, don't you?

Sunday: We might have an early christmas dinner with the fam. I like to make a stuffed vegetarian loaf to serve as the main. A hollowed out loaf filled with layers of pesto, tapenade, roasted veg, wilted spinach and cheese - then sliced. Divine.

Now, that sounds alright doesn't it?

meal planning monday

image from marthastewart.com

Gah, it's the pointy end till Christmas now isn't it? Eep! It's all-stations-go this week, so here's what we're eating.

Monday: my gal has her ballet concert theatre rehearsal tonight and won't get home till late. So I'll whip up a stir-fry with chicken, cashews, brocollini and udon noodles.

Tuesday: late ballet. I'll just make steak and salad.

Wednesday: touch footy for my gal (I know - hectic!) I might make chicken sliders - teeny chicken rissoles on teeny little buns. With baby cos lettuce and a shredded veg salad on the side.

Thursday: we're off with friends to a wine dinner and degustation at Bacchus. Mmmmm. Many courses accompanied by lovely wines. I know, it's a tough life.

Friday: totally forgot about this: I'm going out with my team from work barefoot bowling for a christmas do. FUN!

Saturday: Prawn linguine tonight. With lots of lemon zest and parsley.

Sunday: we'll be up in Maitland most of the day. So a simple meal of a bbq is in order. Perhaps a butterflied leg of lamb, with a chick pea and roasted capsicum salad and lots of greens.

And that's it. How about you?