Meal Planning Mondays & Cooking the Books!

I have been so quiet lately as not only have I been super busy but I was also lucky enough to have my Mum, Sister and amazing nephew/ God Son stay with us for the last 3 weeks! It was so much fun and meant there was no time for blogging even though I was still planning my meals like normal and cooking up a storm (nothing like cooking for family - it is by far my favourite thing)! Now I have a bit more time so Meal Planning Mondays are back, however for the next few weeks I am going to be focusing on some book reviews that are long overdue! I love reviewing cookbooks and putting recipes to the test, however it doesn't make for very exciting Meal Plans for you since there are no or minimal links for recipes, so for the next few weeks forgive me and instead I hope you look forward to reading the reviews! Once I am caught up with the three books I am currently reviewing I'll be back with more recipe links, hopefully some new recipes as well as even more new and exciting book reviews!

So since we are already on Wednesday of this week rather than posting my usual Meal Planning Mondays Menu, here is a list of some of the things I will be making and eating this week (links included where possible):

Pasta in Creamy Savory Pumpkin Sauce

Curried Squash, Lentil & Coconut Soup

Lasagna Pinwheels

Halloween Cake Pops (hopefully will have a pic to share!)

Pumpkin Spice Pancakes

Mint Chocolate Ice Cream

Cottage Herb Bread

French Onion Soup

Key Lime Pie

So there you have it! Next week will be much the same with recipes coming from the books I am reviewing. If you are interested to see what books I am cooking from here they are...

Have a great week folks x

Meal Planning Mondays June 16th ~ 22nd

Well it's a day late but that's because I wasn't actually going to post this week's MPM due to the fact it's pretty vague because I am having minor surgery on Wednesday. Since it's my first time having a general anesthetic I have no idea how I will feel after and how much I will want to cook - I guessing not much!! I am trying to be organised by making a dish today for tomorrow - more so for my mother-in-law who was has the lucky job of looking after me(!) as I don't imagine I will want much to eat. On the off chance I do though I'm also going to make up a batch of Carrot & Lentil Soup (definitely not Summery but very comforting!).

Last night Wee One and I made the most of Scott being away by having our favourite - Tomato Pasta! I had leftover sauce from Friday's Roasted Pepper & Tomato Pasta so all I had to do was quickly cook some pasta, make a salad and hey presto dinner was done! Tonight and I'm trying out a new recipe that I found in an old issue of Olive (you've got to love opening an old magazine and discovering a ton of recipes you want to try!) - Carrot, Cumin & Feta Fritters. Only problem is I hope I'm not starving after since I can't eat anything tomorrow before my op!! Tomorrow and after much deliberation I have decided to make my Thai Red Curry with Chicken (using thighs instead of breasts so they don't dry out while being reheated and replacing the Bamboo Shoots with Squash) which I am making mainly for my MIL but will also mean I have leftovers for later in the week which I'll need. After that it will be a case of waiting to see. Thursday will definitely be either leftovers or takeaway and I have planned Fajita's for Friday since they are really easy and fast to make and I have all of the ingredients. It's yet another one of my planned "coming soon" recipes but we shall see as I seem to have less and less time to spend on here (as you have most likely noticed!). As usual the weekends are undecided as it will depend on what we do but I definitely suspect Scott will be barbecuing at least one night!

So there you have it! Have a great week everyone with family, friends and of course, lots of good food! x

 Monday June 16th - June 22nd

                                  Monday  -      Tomato & Pepper Pasta with Salad

                                  Tuesday -       Carrot, Cumin & Feta Fritters with Coriander Yogurt
                                  Wednesday -  Red Thai Chicken Curry with Jasmine Rice

                                  Thursday -      Leftovers or Takeaway

                                  Friday -          Chicken Fajita's (my own recipe which I unfortunately don't have                                                                   on the blog!)

                                  Saturday -      TBD

                                  Sunday -        TBD
  
As always don't forget you can add links to your Weekly Meal Plans in the comments section below.  

Meal Planning Mondays June 9th ~ 15th

Well another Monday and another Meal Plan! We have been so incredibly lucky with the weather - normally June is a bad month for us here in Canada but so far it has been fantastic. We had a good week last week despite the fact that hubby was away again but I'm delighted he's home this week. The weekend was fairly busy but we still had time to relax on the boat for a few hours and enjoy another picnic on our own private beach.

I'm so excited as I picked up the chilli and tomato plants that I had ordered from a local farm so yesterday we spent the afternoon planting them as well as some extra herbs (Sage, Coriander/ Cilantro, Dill and lots of Basil - sweet and purple) and finally got our hanging baskets done. Planting everything really makes it feel like Summer is here so I'm just hoping we get a bumper crop! I have 3 tomato plants (a San Marzano which I'm very excited about; 1 yellow cherry tomato and 1 red cherry tomato) and 8 chilli plants which range in heat so I should be covered! The strawberry plants are already producing lots of strawberries and although most of them are really small they are so unbelievably sweet and packed with flavour. Funnily enough Ben seems to be the one that is reaping the rewards of the strawberry plant! Why am I not surprised?!

Due to some last minute plans over the weekend the meal plan was changed a bit so we didn't have the Potato & Chorizo Omelette which means it's back on this week's menu. Tonight I am excited to try out another recipe from the Bill Granger book I am reviewing - thankfully this one has a link if you like the sound of it. Tuesday and Ben has a Birthday party so I'm not entirely sure if we'll need fed or not so at least the Omelette won't take long to make if it turns out that Scott & I need a late, quick dinner! Wednesday and it's another review book recipe, this time from Clodagh's Kitchen Diary. She has so many Summery recipes that I am desperate to try so I'm  hoping this one will be good, but really how can you go wrong with Creamy Basil & Grilled Chicken Tagliatelle!?! I'm going to cook a little extra chicken on Wednesday and then Thursday will be a quick and easy Chicken Caesar Salad - perfect for after swimming. Friday and I realised we need a vegetarian night as the menu is pretty heavy on the meat this week(!) so it's going to be a Roasted Pepper & Tomato Pasta. I'm thinking along the line of my Spiked Pepper, Tomato & Chorizo Pasta Salad but without the Vodka and Chorizo and served warm. I would love to say it will be a new recipe that I'll get up on the blog soon, but my list of "New recipes coming soon!" is getting a lot longer than I care to see... Honestly I have so much I would love to share with you I'm just finding it hard to find the time to sit down and type it all out, never mind taking and editing photographs.... hopefully I will get something up soon, besides just a meal plan! As usual with our weekend I have no idea at this point what it has in store so Saturday is still TBD and Sunday is a surprise for now as it's Father's Day so I am hoping to really pull out all the stops and treat Scott for an extra special day.

So there you have it! Have a great week everyone with family, friends and of course, lots of good food! x

 Monday June 9th - June 15th

                                  Monday  -      Banh mi Vietnamese Baguettes

                                  Tuesday -       Potato & Chorizo Omelette
                                  Wednesday -  Creamy Basil & Grilled Chicken Tagliatelle (Clodagh's Kitchen Diary)

                                  Thursday -      Chicken Caesar Salad

                                  Friday -          Roasted Pepper & Tomato Pasta 

                                  Saturday -      TBD

                                  Sunday -        Father's Day - surprise for now!
  
As always don't forget you can add links to your Weekly Meal Plans in the comments section below.  

Happy Halloween (& Our Party)

It's only a couple of days until Halloween – are you all ready for some trick or treating or guising? 

We decided to host our Halloween Party last weekend and it was SO much fun. I got a little carried away with decorating but it added to the party and got everyone in the 'spirit'!! Unfortunately I didn't manage/forgot to get photographs of everyone all dressed up and of the food (disaster I know!) but I have included some menu suggestions below and lots of pictures of the decorations.

Happy Halloween – I hope you all have a spooktacular time!!

Menu Ideas

Vampire Juice 
(I use my recipe for Cranberry Fizz and omit the alcohol for a Mocktail version)

Slime Dip
Goo
Bat Wings
Trolls Toes
Deviled Eggs (no recipe)
Zombie Fingers (Sausage Rolls - no recipe)

Thai Pumpkin Soup

Witches Hair with Bugs
Ghoul-lash
'Zombie Arm' Meatloaf (no recipe)

Creepy Crawly Mud Pie Cupcakes
Orange Jelly Pumpkins
Pumpkin Cupcakes
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Father's Day Menu Ideas

From Top L-R: Twice as Spicy Wings; Jalapeno Popper Dip; Prawn Cocktail Trio; Classic Barbecued Beef Burger; Char-Grilled Steak with Basil Hollandaise; Pulled Pork Buns with Coleslaw; New York Cherry Cheesecake; Profiteroles and Homemade Ice Cream

It's Father's Day on Sunday so I've put together a collection of recipes bound to keep the Dad in your life happy! Whether he likes to chill out in the garden with a Beer and Burger, get finger-licking messy with Wings and Pulled Pork (don't forget the napkins!) or perhaps prefers a refined sit-down meal with a good glass of wine, Steak and homemade Hollandaise sauce I've got plenty of ideas.

So for all you Dad's out there (especially my Dad and my husband – both of which are the best Dad's ever!!) have a great day x

Twice as Spicy Chicken Wings

Jalapeno Popper Dip

Prawn Cocktail Trio

Mushroom Bruschetta with Aioli

Baked Brie with Asparagus & Prosciutto

Potted Crab

Crispy Calamari

Spicy Chickpea Fritters

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Classic Barbecued Beef Burger

Char-Grilled Steak and Basil Hollandaise with Potato Wedges

Pulled Pork Buns with Coleslaw

Scallop and Bacon Spaghetti

Penne Arrabiata

Mushroom and Goats Cheese Ravioli

Barbecued Pizza

Pan-Fried Duck Breasts with Red Wine Sauce

Friday Night Chicken Curry

Fiery Lamb & Spinach Curry

Steamed Crab with Trio of Dipping Sauces

Grilled Fish Tacos

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New York Cherry Cheesecake

Profiteroles

Ice Cream

Coffee Cupcakes with Irish Cream Buttercream

Nanaimo Bars

Black Forest Cupcakes

Bonfire Night Menu Ideas

When it comes to Bonfire Night (or Guy Fawkes) the food you want to eat is all about complete comfort. Warming, comforting food that is easy to eat while standing around a giant bonfire and watching fizzing, whizzing, popping fireworks. If you are having a bonfire party this year here are a few suggestions for some of my favourite recipes to enjoy around the fire which are guaranteed to keep you warm and toasty. Just don't forget the sparklers!

{Although Bonfire Night is a British celebration there is no need to miss out on an excuse to get your family and friends together and have a warm and cozy Comfort food party!}