This week's food is bought to you by...

A big pantry clean out which found a number of recipe bases stashed away and two books that I picked up at the second hand book stall at the school fair.

Today I have tried the pikelets from the Women's Weekly book.  They are made with wholemeal flour so will be in the lunch boxes this week.  There were quite a few other baking recipes in there I would love to try, but I had run out of eggs. My online shop is due tomorrow evening.

Menu plan - back to pen and paper

Oh dear, I am struggling to regain control of our menu plan!!  I visited the lovely shop Typo on the weekend and fell in love with their on-the-fridge menu plan.  I have also seen these at Kikki K.  You can also make up your own or there are plenty of free downloads online.  Anyway I have decided to stop regularly publishing my menu plans online each fortnight.  Do not fear, I will post them from time to time.  It's just that I much prefer blogging about recipes and tips than menu plans!

Not to mention you can always choose the menu plan label link on the left of the blog to review any one of my many menu plans already published.

Don't click unsubscribe and stay tuned because I still have plenty of recipes on my "to try" list!

Menu plan - I lost count of the weeks

Last fortnight (it was actually closer to 3 weeks)  I spent $342 on groceries.  I admit there were actually 2 takeaway meals on top of that (worth about another $60) and that's the price of not planning.  Here is the next plan:

Saturday - Pressure cooker pork spare ribs, wedges, corn, peas and carrot

Sunday – Lasagne

Monday – Meatballs and spaghetti

Tuesday – Chicken enchiladas with rice

Wednesday – Massaman beef curry (ravioli for the kids)

Thursday - Fish, chips and salad

Friday - Leftovers

Saturday – Roast dinner

Sunday – Steak, chips and salad

Monday – Leftovers

Tuesday – Spaghetti bolognese
Wednesday – Chicken meatballs

I hope to get through a bit of baking tomorrow and restock the pantry and freezer with snacks.

Back on track and a new plan for the fortnight

So after my much-to-be-desired planning efforts of the past month I think I managed to get back on track today. I spent $144 over the last week and stuck the the plan fairly well.  Today I even browsed some cook books and magazines for inspiration and came up with the following:

Wednesday -  catching up on making Pip's devilled chops recipe

Thursday – Mexican pizza

Friday – Bacon and leek quiche

Saturday - Butter chicken and rice (I will be trying a Curry Traders spice pack)

Sunday –Leftovers

Monday –Spaghetti and meatballs

Tuesday –Tacos

Wednesday –Massaman curry (raviolli for the kids) - I am going to try a new recipe this week

Thursday - Leftovers

Friday -Chicken enchiladas and rice

Saturday –Marinated chicken and vegetables

Sunday – Sausages, potato bake and veg

Monday – Leftovers

Tuesday – Chicken cacciatore risotto

The latest menu plan

After another week of no planning, I have had enough!  My head hurts way too much when I have to think each day about what is going to be for dinner.  I haven't done a proper shop but have planned for the next week based on my existing freezer and pantry stock.  Hopefully I get my fruit and veg order in time and it can help make it a little more exciting.

Wednesday - chicken stirfry with rice noodles (picture below)

Thursday – baked lamb chops, lemon risotto and peas

Friday – devilled chops, mashed potato and vegetables

Saturday - steak and home made chips with salad

Sunday – eating out with friends

Monday – roast chicken and vegetables

Tuesday – curried sausages and vegetables

Weeks 23 and 24

I am a little behind schedule.  The last week has been a bit overwhelming, plenty of things going on on all fronts and it has left me a bit weary.  Yesterday instead of getting on top of the housework, menu planning and grocery shopping I managed none of the above.  I'm sure this is completely normal, but it means things are not looking too exciting on the culinary front over the next fortnight.

The budget last fortnight was a total blowout (I'm really not having a good run) largely because of a couple of meals out and I did a Woolies shop and stocked up on the expensive things like razors, shaving cream etc.  It came to a very dismaying $432.50.

I think the next fortnight should be better.  I am stocked up on most staples and meat already.

Wednesday -  been and gone but the kids had ravioli and we had chicken kebabs

Thursday – Lasagne

Friday – Roast dinner

Saturday - Chicken cacciatore risotto

Sunday – Marinated chicken with lemon risotto

Monday – Enchiladas

Tuesday – Leftovers

Wednesday – Spaghetti and meatballs

Thursday - Marinated chicken and salad

Friday - Leftovers

Saturday – Chicken sausages and veges

Sunday – Spag bol

Monday – Home made meat pie and chips

Tuesday – Chicken meatballs made from rissoles

Weeks 21 and 22

Exciting progress this fortnight with the frames beginning to take form at our new house.  Also good news that the fortnightly groceries came in at $347.92.  Although maybe hubby snuck in a couple of extra take away meals that I wasn't informed of!  I'm doing the groceries tonight, a couple of days early, because I think it may be the only chance I get this week.  Here is the plan for the next 2 weeks:

Wednesday -  Meat pie, mash and veg

Thursday – Dinner with friends, I'm contributing Gluten Free Lemon Meringue pie using my easy recipe but with GF biscuits

Friday – Leftovers

Saturday - Baked lamb chops, Moroccan cous cous and vegetables

Sunday – Marinated chicken with lemon risotto

Monday – Bacon and leek risotto

Tuesday – Leftovers

Wednesday – Massaman curry and rice (keep your eyes out for this recipe, it was yummo last fortnight!)

Thursday - Sausages and cous cous

Friday - Chicken cacciatore risotto

Saturday – BBQ, wedges and salad

Sunday – Spag bol

Monday – Leftovers

Tuesday – Chicken wings and quiche with salad

Menu plan for weeks 19 & 20

Drum roll please.....   the fortnightly expenditure has come in at $372.37.  So it obviously doesn't pay not to have a plan.  Lesson learned, back to the drawing board.  BUT my secret weapon is a freezer full (and I mean bursting) of meat.  I am overloaded with recipes to try out and magazines to review.  I need to pace myself and not get carried away.  So here goes:

Wednesday -  Pressure cooker pork spare ribs, rice and baby bok choy (peas for the kids)

Thursday – Baked lamb chops, cous cous and vegetables

Friday – Leftovers

Saturday - Bacon and leek risotto (keep your eye out for this recipe in the coming week!)

Sunday – Marinated chicken with lemon risotto

Monday – Sausages, pesto pasta and corn

Tuesday – Leftovers

Wednesday – Massaman curry and rice (does anyone have a good recipe for this?)

Thursday - Sausage, pea, fetta and cous cous

Friday - Mexican canneloni

Saturday – BBQ, potato bake and salad

Sunday – Meat pie, mash and veg

Monday – Leftovers

Tuesday –Rogan Josh and rice (frozen meal from the freezer) for the kids

No plan this fornight

Last fortnight's grocery expenses came to $312.53.   Two main reasons for not having a plan this fortnight:

1. My freezer and pantry are pretty full already, I need to use up what I have
2. I'm tired, exhausted actually, and can't even bear the thought of sitting down with my cook books and shopping list to plan the coming fortnight

But do not fear, I have a couple of recipes in mind to try out and hopefully share.  I also think I will still manage to stay within budget.   The Bacon and leek risotto from Sue and Noel was beautiful, I'm hoping to make it again.  And I have a ham hock so looking forward to making some pea and ham soup.  BUT tonight we will be celebrating!!!  Because a start has been made on our new house, I am even thinking we might grab some takeaway sushi and savour this special occasion.

Menu plan week 15 and 16

Last week's budget came in great at $327 for the fortnight.  But boy it is hard work.  And a busy fortnight meant that dinner was spaghetti on toast a couple of times.  Oh well, guess nobody is perfect and its better than take away I suppose.  I'm quite rushed in my planning for the coming fortnight and I'm still not sure how I am going to fit in my shopping "time" this week.

Wednesday -  Fettucine boscaiola

Thursday – Sausages, mash, peas, carrot and mushroom

Friday – Sausage hotpot with rice

Saturday - Roast chicken, potato, carrot, onion, peas, corn and yorkshire puddings (with gravy)

Sunday – Minute steak burgers with home made wedges

Monday – Picnic lunch and dinner with friends

Tuesday – Bacon and eggs (I need something quick and easy as we will be in a rush)

Wednesday – Lasagna and garlic bread

Thursday -Leftovers

Friday - Sue & Noel's bacon and leek risotto

Saturday – A night out - woo hoo!!

Sunday – Beef and vegetable casserole with rosemary dumplings with Apple and butterscotch sponge pudding (both from latest Superfood ideas) - I never got around to making this last fortnight.

Monday – Enchiladas and rice

Tuesday – Leftovers

Menu plan week 13 & 14

I cannot believe we are into Week 13 and 14 already!  Still no work commenced on the new house, although the old one is well and truly gone.  I am hoping this fortnight sees things starting to happen!

I ended up shuffling around last fortnights menu plan and "accumulated" some extra food I had not planned for.  We also ended up eating out once and I headed out for dinner with girlfriends another evening.  So all in all the freezer is still pretty full.  The fortnightly food and grocery bills came in at $346 - pretty happy with that given the eating out factor!

I need to work extra days and hours this week so I am hoping that my groceries (with the help of a fruit and veg box delivery) may last until the weekend when I will get my first chance to head to the shops to try another Aldi shop.  Unfortunately this does not make for a very interesting menu this week as I use up things like the frozen veg and oven bake chips in the freezer.

I am also using some meal bases that Mars sent me after I wrote in to Dolmio about my Lasagne recipe.

Here is the plan:

Wednesday -  Crumbed chicken wings, lemon risotto and peas

Thursday – Lamb chops with oven chips, peas and carrot

Friday – Carbonara (Using the Dolmio Carbonara meal base but adding mushrooms)

Saturday - Chicken meatball soup and Choc-hazelnut bread and butter pudding (from latest Superfood ideas)

Sunday – Meatloaf with oven chips and salad plus make some Tuna mornay pies to freeze (from latest Superfood ideas)

Monday – Leftovers

Tuesday –Curried sausages (Using Masterfoods Curried Sausages recipe base) with mash, peas and beans

Wednesday – Country beef casserole (Using Masterfoods Country Beef Casserole recipe base) with rice, peas and asparagus

Thursday - Leftovers

Friday - Chicken cacciatore risotto

Saturday – Beef and vegetable casserole with rosemary dumplings with Apple and butterscotch sponge pudding (both from latest Superfood ideas)

Sunday – Leftovers

Monday – Enchiladas and rice

Tuesday – Leftovers

Menu plan week 11 and 12

I'm running a little behind this week, haven't yet thought about by menu plan and its grocery day tomorrow.  My last fortnight came in ridiculously over budget at $428 - what a disaster!  The only good thing to come of such a drastic overspend is a well stocked pantry due to the menu bargains I was unable to resist at Aldi.

Wednesday -  Coq au vin, crusty bread plus lemon meringue pie

Thursday – BBQ chicken and avocado pasta

Friday – Meat loaf, lemon risotto, peas and broccoli (for me at least!)

Saturday - Homemade pizza

Sunday – Sausages with potato bake and garden salad plus sticky date self saucing pudding

Monday – Sausage hotpot with rice

Tuesday – Leftovers

Wednesday – Jamie Oliver's Melt in your mouth shin stew

Thursday - Lamb chops with mash and peas

Friday - Slow cooker chicken cacciatore and rice

Saturday – Enchiladas and rice

Sunday – Speedy chicken and mushroom casserole

Monday – Leftovers

Tuesday – Chicken meatball soup

So with that insight into my upcoming culinary adventures, I will say goodnight and leave my shopping list compilation until the morning.

On a separate note can I add that budget busting means we are attempting to survive the winter with no heating in the house, so far so good, although my fingers are numbing as I type. The children are well and truly rugged up and snuggled in their warm beds, and my hot water bottle awaits.

Menu plan for weeks 9 & 10

The school holidays just finished and last fortnight's budget came in just over at $384.  The bad news is I have already completely blown the coming fortnight's budget.  I think what is going to change is that I  need to include at least 2-3 "leftovers" days in each fortnight.

I had the day to myself and headed to the shops in person this time for a leisurely grocery run where I could touch and smell what I was buying.  I'm sure I picked up stacks of bargains, but without being able to keep track of what I was spending I already have spent $370 - oh no!! So the freezer, pantry and fridge are bursting at the seams and here is the plan for the fortnight:

Wednesday - Take away (hamburgers and chips) - splurge!!

Thursday – Chicken satay noodles (from the Women's Weekly Chicken cookbook) plus ravioli for the kids

Friday – Roast chicken and vegetables

Saturday - Homemade pizza

Sunday – Sausages with potato salad and garden salad

Monday – Sausage hotpot (inspired by @bowhite) with rice

Tuesday – Leftovers

Wednesday – Meat loaf, lemon risotto and peas

Thursday - Meat pie, potato bake and garden salad

Friday - Leftovers

Saturday – Roast beef and vegetables

Sunday – Penne pesto pasta

Monday – Fish and calamari (from the freezer) with chips (home made)

Tuesday – Chicken cacciatore risotto

Menu plan for weeks 7 & 8

I thought I was getting in early this week, but just found this post still sitting in draft!  Woops so its a bit late. 

I did my shopping right on Wednesday, mostly because the cupboard was bare!  My total food and grocery expenses for the past fortnight are a bit over this time coming in to date at $378 (with no anticipated expenses).  I think the biggest culprits to send me over budget were bananas (I spent about $35 on these last fortnight), a meal out for me and a few too many coffees.  Am hoping this coming meal plan may help keep me under this time.

Wednesday - Home made "takeaway" chicken wings, potatoes and vegetables (I never got around to doing these last week)

Thursday – Bacon and pea pasta

Friday – Dinner at mums

Saturday - BBQ sausages, 1 T-bone for hubby, potato bake and salad

Sunday – Lasagne x 2 (1 for a friend having a new baby!)

Monday – Dinner at friends place

Tuesday – Sundried tomato chicken thighs, lemon risotto, peas and asparagus

Wednesday – Wonton noodle soup

Thursday - Spaghetti and meatballs

Friday - Chicken risotto plus apple foldovers

Saturday – Chicken meatball soup plus Mediterranean tarts

Sunday – Roast with veg plus easy apple pie

Monday – Meat loaf, home made wedges and veges

Tuesday – Corned beef, roast veges, cauliflower, peas and white sauce

Wish me luck!  Some of the menu items this week are personal recipes, so stay tuned to learn the secrets.

Ready for weeks 5 & 6

The results are in: last week's food and grocery expenses totaled $378 BUT I'm new at this game and ordered way to much meat last fortnight and still have close to $50 worth in the freezer. So, I have made an adjustment of $40 which brings the actual expenses down to $338. And don't worry, I have already added the $40 to my fortnightly tally for weeks 5 & 6, it won't get forgotten in the calculations. I am also pleased to report that I managed to squeeze into that amount a (cheap) meal out with some girlfriends and between the two adults a couple of purchased lunches.

Way too late last night I worked out the meal plan, and this morning after hitting the snooze button a few too many times, the kids were by some miracle eating breakfast peacefully, so I placed my online shopping order and my fruit and veg delivery. I also ducked in to my local butcher who stocks fabulous quality meats, makes great sausages and of course like any good butcher has all sorts of cooking suggestions and is happy to cut up the meat just how you like it.   Don't be fooled into thinking that you have to shop at major or discount supermarkets to get value for money.  Anyway due to my already overstocked freezer, this time I just picked up some pork spare ribs on special and some sandwich meats.

So people, get your shopping lists ready; here is the plan for the next fortnight:

Wednesday - Pork ribs, home made wedges and salad (raw carrot and mushroom for the kids)
Thursday - Creamy chicken pesto pasta
Friday - Chicken and corn soup plus rice noodles and apple crumble
Saturday - BBQ sausages, 1 T-bone for hubby, potato bake and salad
Sunday - Home made meat pie, leftover potato bake and vegetables plus some baking treats
Monday - Home made chicken schnitzel, home made chips, gravy and salad
Tuesday - Spaghetti bolognese
Wednesday - Beef and tomato gnocchi casserole
Thursday - Leftovers
Friday - Chicken risotto
Saturday - Quiche, home made wedges, salad plus make passion fruit slice
Sunday - Home made "takeaway" chicken wings, potatoes and vegetables
Monday - Home made pizza
Tuesday - Chicken meatballs (leftovers from freezer)

The blog posts to date have prompted many discussions about cook books, so today I unpacked the cookbooks and headed to the library for some supplements. With any luck there may be some exciting dishes on the menu next week and some additional, unplanned baking treats (my favourite!) over the coming fortnight.

Week 3

This week has gone really well.  I definitely upped my game with the fortnightly menu plan, plus I had a free delivery voucher on my online shopping.  Not to mention the absolute bargain basement price I got on chicken breast (as you can see from the menu below) A friend also put me in touch with a great home delivery fruit and veg service that is delivered straight from the market.  I received our first $25 box this week and was really impressed with the quantity and quality.  I'm thinking this order may make a regular feature.

Week 3-4 menu plan

Saturday – Leftovers

Sunday – Beef stew with mash and make raspberry butter cake I had half a bag of frozen raspberries in the freezer since Christmas, this cake worked really well and kept for the whole week.  The stew I substituted with gravy beef and cooked slowly for about 4 hours - it was beautiful!

Monday – Meatballs and spaghetti

Tuesday – Bacon and pea pasta this recipe was great and will definitely become a regular fixture

Wednesday –Sausages, home made wedges and veg

Thursday – Frozen spag bol sauce and spaghetti

Friday –Meatloaf, potatoes, peas and brocolli (well for me anyway)

Saturday – Honey mustard roast chicken, potato, pumpkin, asparagus, peas and corn and make stock

Sunday – Chicken and mushroom fettuccine and sticky date pudding not a huge fan of the pasta but the pudding worked out beautiful, even if I forgot to measure the water and it took a bit longer to cook.

Monday – Chicken meatball soup

Tuesday - Nachos

Now for those of you wondering, the fortnight officially runs Wednesday to Wednesday.  This fortnight was a little short as we moved house on the first 3 days and food was either meals from the freezer or precooked meals from our friends and family helping us move.  Let me be clear, this is not cheating.  We often have people over for dinner, or I might make a meal for a friend who needs a hand.  Or we take dessert and wine when heading to someone's house for a meal.  Similarly, these all come out of that same budget.

The chicken and mushroom fettuccine underway, not my favourite meal of the week but it made heaps: 3 extra serves in the freezer.