During the summer holidays it was really nice to be able to think of something to make for dinner and have the time to see it through - no kids' sporting drop offs or pick ups from friends houses to manage around the dinner preparations. There is no doubt that life definitely runs a lot more smoothly for us when I take the time to plan a week or a fortnight of meals. To keep myself motivated I'm keeping a record of what we've been eating lately, which I can jump back to if I find myself in that five-thirty black hole again..
2. Chargrilled vegies - good, honest, simple fare that always tastes good.
3. A favourite of summer - the humble bbq. I love that there are so few dishes to clean up afterwards..oh, and hubby does the 'cooking'.
4. Sweet potato and bean salad - this is one I like to play with. I like to add different types of toasted seeds/nuts and experiment with different dressings (balsamic/olive oil, mustard vinaigrette etc). It never disappoints.
6. Blaukraut - German fermented red cabbage. This was my first successful attempt into homemade lacto-fermented vegetables and it's really good! Great to have on the side of a lunch or dinner plate.
7. Ahh, yes, the chip debate. My kids love 'em, heck, even I do, too! They just taste soo good, but are horridly bad for us. I was pleased to discover that sweet potato and parsnips make perfectly acceptable chips that fill that void in my appetite. The kids, well they are still in the convincing stage..
8. Lentil and radish salad - yum! Easy. Must plant more radishes..
9. I had never made scotch eggs until just recently when we went on holiday and I gave it a go in a meatloaf. It was gooood! And a real hit with the kids. I used 5 or 6 hardboiled eggs in the 1kg meatloaf - although next time will add a couple more. Youngish people find great delight in receiving their dinner with the surprise inside! A good one for hot days too, as it can be made ahead and served after it has had a chance to cool down, alongside a salad or two.
10. Sauerkraut - the second attempt. This one is a white cabbage, celery, carrot and apple concoction. I have commenced consumption and am finding it tastier that the blaukraut mentioned earlier..
11. Love a roast lamb. Always have, always will.
12. And it's all the nicer if the roast lamb is made into Greek souvlakis by the 14yo. Yum!! She had wrap bread. I didn't. It was still tasty as ever.
13. Another easy five o'clocker - the Thai green curry. One pot, half an hour and it's done. Plus I get to use some of our kaffir lime leaves from the tree and feel quietly pleased about that. What's not to like here?
14. Smoothies for breakfast. Any combination of fruits suits me just fine. Frozen fruits are best for that extra thickness! The youngest is fun to have along on this morning ride too.
15. Yes, I realise, a gluten free pizza is just completely wrong...but when the rest of the family is dining on crusted, yeasted, melted delights for dinner, what IS a girl to do? Seriously! It actually didn't taste that bad..surprisingly.
16. Ok, this one needs work - a quinoa and vegetable stuffed pumpkin. I don't know the exact origins of the idea but found it was calling at to me to be made..remarkably earlier than 5:30! Gotta love that. Cooked quinoa, sauteed onion, carrot, parsnip, chorizo and zuccini with a bunch of clashing spices and then baked in the pumpkin for a good hour, plus. Yuh...kind of ok, although seriously not a hit with the younger members of the family. More refinements necessary. Advice please?
Do you meal plan? Or are you a 5:30 scrambler like me? Is there any hope for us?