I've decided to try something new on the blog for a while. Starting today, and for at least the next several Monday's to follow, I am going to post my family's dinner menu for the week.
Before you start thinking that I'm some kind of menu planning guru, I feel the need to clarify a few things:
- do NOT prepare 3 course meals every night, although I have a 9 Children and depending on the age they needs two course.
- do NOT fix new, gourmet recipes for my family every night.
- do NOT spend hours in the kitchen preparing food every single day.
- DO cook more than one meal at a time.
- DO plan out meals for a week at a time so I can limit my trips to the supermarket.
- DO ask my family to help with meals whenever possible.
Now, I can share with you the strategies that I use when I plan meals for my family. I haven't cracked any secret menu planning code, I've simply figured out what works for my family and our crazy schedule.
This is the basic outline that I use to help me plan our meals. It's way easier for me to use this little guideline so I know that we are eating a (somewhat) balanced menu every week.
Monday: Fish
Tuesday: Pure with Chicken
Wednesday: Soup or Salad or Sandwiches or Croquettes
Thursday: Beef or Pork
Friday: Pasta or Pizza or Eggs
Saturday: Chicken or Turkey with rice or pasta
Sunday: Breakfast food, In My case, normally We are going of Picnic wherever.., Beach, Cenntenial Park, Balmoral some Park.. In Australia that is Marvelous!!
Having a menu planned for the week, doesn't make me immune from unexpected events that inevitably pop up either. ( rescheduled games, last minute meetings and .) There are some nights when we would just rather go out to dinner too. In that case I put my dinner plan on hold for the night and take advantage of the opportunity to spend a night out. It's not something that comes naturally to me, but I'm slowly learned to be flexible with the schedule.
So here it is, our menu for this week:
Monday: Grilled Salmon with Potatoes and Salad.
Tuesday: BBQ chicken and fresh corn bread
Wednesday: Salmorejo, Let me to show you the recipe:
Salmorejo is a cold, creamy tomato soup, originating in Córdoba, Spain. It is a simple pink-orange, summer soup made with tomatoes, bread, oil, garlic and vinegar, similar to gazpacho. Then, it is garnished with diced Spanish Serrano ham and hard-boiled eggs.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 4 Servings
Ingredients:
• 2 eggs
• 2 oz Serrano ham (substitute prosciutto)
• 1 (8 oz) baguette, stale
• 1 large clove garlic
• 2 lbs (1 kg) ripe tomatoes
• 8 oz (250 ml) extra virgin olive oil
• 2 oz (60 ml) red wine vinegar
• salt to taste
Preparation:
Hard boil the eggs. Place in ice cold water to cool. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Cut off hard crust from baguette, then cut into slices approximately 1/2-inch thick. Pour about a 1/4-inch water into a large glass baking dish. Add bread slices and allow bread to soak for 30 minutes. Squeeze excess water out of slices and place in a blender or food processor.
Peel and mince garlic and place in food processor. Peel tomatoes and remove seeds. Add to the food processor and pour in vinegar. Process.
Slowly pour in oil while processing. Continue to process until smooth. If mixture is too thick, pour in a bit of cold water while processing. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
When ready to serve: Dice Serrano ham. Peel and quarter hard boiled eggs. Pour soup into four bowls. Sprinkle ham over bowls. Add two egg quarters to each bowl.
Thursday: Spaghetti Bolognesa
Friday: Pizza, normally I do the dough in the Thermomix, I love this machine. After you usually put different ingredients, first tomato (plain or fried) Cheese and ham always, salami and mushrooms.
Saturday: Smoked Chicken Cobb Salad with Avocado Dressing (Using leftover chicken from Tuesday.) and Ravioli with cheese and Arugula filled.
Sunday: The Picnic day, we usually varied sandwich, and sushi.
I can not stress to you strongly enough that it is highly likely that I will have to deviate from the menu at some point during the week. My goal is to simply provide you with some inspiration and helpful tips and ideas that you can use to create a menu plan for your family.
If it is at all helpful or encouraging to any of you, I will do my best to continue the Monday menu postings. Send me a comment and let me know if you think my menu postings are helpful or if you would rather I just stick to blogging recipes.
Have a great Monday!
Lovely!
Ele