14th April - 20th April 2012

This weeks menu plan is very Italian inspired, not that it was planned that way, just almost everything we liked the look of happened to by from that part of the world this week.

SUNDAY 

Sticky Pork Ribs with Coleslaw

My lovely boys recently bought me a copy of One Pot One Bowl by 4 Ingredients super whiz 

Kim McCosker.    

I really like it for those mid - week meal options because everything in the book is very easy to prepare / cook.   The Sticky Ribs are no exception, so easy to prep (marinate, American style ribs, I separated the ribs from the racks 1st then marinated them in Ketjap Manis, tomato sauce with BBQ sauce for 2 hours) when ready pop in the oven for 50 minutes on 180oC

Done.  

We served it with Coleslaw (our own blend) of 1/2 a White or Red Cabbage, 3 grated carrots and spring onions and mixed together with the Dressing which was mayo free.  Just yogurt, mustard, sour cream and honey. 

SATURDAY 

Spezzatino di Manzo

Spezzatino di Manzo is a lovely rich beef Italian stew.  It is very easy to prepare, the only work is browning the beef and chopping the veg and pancetta.  We where happy as we got to use a lot of herbs and celery out of our garden.    It cooked for 1 hour and 20 minutes with the lid on and another 40 minutes with the lid off.  In the last 40 minutes I got the cooled polenta out of the fridge, (Cooked to package instructions and added the chopped olives, thyme and Parmesan cheese to bind.  We spread it out in a shallow baking tray and popped in the fridge to cool down) Cut the polenta into triangles and baked for 20 minutes or until brown and crisp.

21st - 27th January

Monday 

Red Curry Lentils

Source:  Women's Weekly: Midweek Meals (recipe book)

Serves 4

Prep and cook time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon of olive oil

1 medium brown onion (150g) quartered

2 tablespoons of red curry paste (we didn't use as much, because of Mr. 4 year old)

2 x cans of brown lentils (rinsed and drained)

1 cup of vegetable stock

200g of green beans (halved)

2 tablespoons of lime juice

2/3 cup of yogurt

Method:

Heat oil in medium saucepan and cook onion, stirring until soft.  Add paste; cook, stirring until fragrant.  Add lentils and stock and bring to the boil.  Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, about 10 minutes or until stock has thickened.  Add beans, simmer for 2 minutes.  Remove from heat; and stir in lime juice.

Divide curry among serving bowls; serve topped with yogurt and (we had mountain bread) also. 

Sunday

Veal with Salsa Verde and Potato Rosti 

Source:  Women's Weekly: Midweek Meals (recipe book)

Serves 4

Prep and cook time: 35 minutes

Ingredients:

800g piece of veal tenderloin, halved lengthways.

4 medium potato’s (800g)

1 egg

Salsa Verde:

2/3 cup of finely chopped fresh flat lead parsley

1/3 cup finely chopped fresh mint

1/3 cup finely chopped dill

1/3 cup of finely chopped chives

1 tablespoon of wholegrain mustard

¼ cup of lemon juice

¼ cup (50g) drained baby capers (rinsed)

2 cloves garlic

½ cup (125ml) olive oil.

Method:

Make Salsa Verde (Place all ingredients in medium bowl; toss gently.

Rub veal with half the salsa; cook on heated oiled flat plate (on BBQ or if you one our stove top), uncovered, until cooked as you like.  Remove from heat, cover to keep warm.

To make Rosti, grate potatoes coarsely then squeeze excess moisture form potato.  Combine potato and egg in a medium bowl; divide into 8 portions onto the heated oiled flat plate, flatting with a spatula, until browned both sides.

Slice Veal thickly; serve with Rosti and remaining Salsa Verde.

Saturday 

Pumpkin and bacon pizzas with walnut salad

Source: A weight watchers Recipe from www.taste.com.au

Ingredients (serves 4):

• 1kg butternut pumpkin, peeled, deseeded, cut into 1cm-thick pieces
• 2 pieces lavash bread
• 1/3 cup tomato and herb pizza paste
• 2 red capsicums, cut into 3cm cubes
• 125g 98% fat-free Weight Watchers bacon, trimmed, cut into 2cm pieces
• 100g baby spinach, trimmed
• 2 tablespoons 100% fat-free balsamic Italian dressing
• 1/2 cup walnut halves, toasted (see tip)
• 1/4 cup low-fat ricotta cheese
• small fresh basil leaves, to serve

Method: 

Place pumpkin in a large saucepan. Cover with cold water. Cover and bring to the boil over 
medium heat. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until just tender. Drain. Allow to cool.

Preheat oven to 220°C. Lightly grease 2 baking trays. Place 1 lavash on each tray. Spread pizza paste over lavash. Top pizza bases with half the pumpkin, half the capsicum and all the bacon. Bake pizzas for 15 to 18 minutes, swapping trays over in the oven after 10 minutes, or 
until bases are crisp and pumpkin is tender.

Meanwhile, combine spinach, remaining pumpkin and capsicum in a bowl. Pour over 
dressing. Toss to coat. Sprinkle with walnuts.

Dollop ricotta over pizzas. Sprinkle with basil. Season with pepper. Serve with salad.

Please Note: 

To toast walnuts, spread over a baking tray and toast in oven, while cooking pizzas, for 2 to 3 minutes or until golden.

Its been a while.

I have been a busy lady, with a lot of things getting in the way of my new blog.   So this year, after a lovely holiday with my family over Christmas and New Year, I'm back on board.

I am going to do things a little different in 2012.  I will write more about our weekly mean plans and the recipes we put together in them.  

My husband and I work full time and we have Mr. 4 year old keeping us on our toes as well.   About 2 years ago a friend mentioned that she meal planned and I thought it was way too much hard work.  But we tried it and now love it.  We would be lost without doing it.  It fits perfectly with our schedules and we don’t have the hassle of trying to figure out what to cook on a daily basis and spending a large amount of money during the week buying extra stuff. 

We both enjoy the variety of meals, we eat what's in season and we have a large vegetable garden with plenty in season veg and many herbs.  Every Saturday we walk down to markets and do our weekly shop, it’s something that we do as a family.

We have a monthly budget of $600, which includes everything!!!

I hope these entries show that you don’t need a massive budget to feed your family well and healthily with a wide variety of food.  


Our up coming Menu Plan.


Due to the up coming hot weather in Melbourne this week, our meal plan will include a lot of dishes that can be cooked on the BBQ , wok burner on the BBQ or on the stove top.  But because its Australia Day on the 26th, we will be enjoying a roast leg of lamb.  Yum !!