Menu Planning

[Beccarollover]

I need to get back into this - we NEED to save money.

Two things

1. Ideas for quick and easy meals and
2. Does anyone have a copy of a menu plan they have in excel or similar they could email me?

rebecca.roll at btinternet.com

Thannks!

am I not enough help??

mine's full of crap rather than healthy stuff (no, to be honest about 50:50), but am mailing you my excel sheet

brill Georgina THANKYOU!!

Popsy, want me to forward it on to you?

yes please...

i want recipes where i can hide veggies from an ever increasingly fussy toddler who used to eat me out of house and home but now hardly touches a thing

oh can you post some of it on here please GeorginaA?
I'm sure we would all thank you for it. I have to get some vegetables down my 3.5 yr old before he gets scurvy
Thanks

Eeep... sure.

I have different tabs. So I'll print out a tab per post.

BREAKFAST
-----

cheerios
sugar puffs
toast & marmalade
rice krispies
cornflakes
ready brek
weetabix
shreddies

LUNCH
-

soup & roll
supernoodles
macaroni cheese
beans & pork sausages
spaghetti hoops
toasted sandwiches
baked potatoes
crackers, crisps and fruit
sandwiches
soft boiled egg & soldiers
omelette
scrambled egg on toast
beans on toast
cauliflower cheese
tuna & sweetcorn salad
caesar salad
eggy bread
egg fried rice
bananas on toast
ravioli
cheese & tomato on toast

DINNERS
---

sausages, mash, peas & onion gravy
fishfingers, chips & peas
beefburgers, chips & beans
chicken supreme (packet mix), mash & veg
spaghetti bolognese (with or without meat)
vegetable pies, mash & veg
chinese "takeaway" (ready meals)
indian "takeaway" (ready meals)
roast & trimmings
vegetable cheese grills, mash & veg
chicken korma, rice & naan
pizza
mushroom stroganoff & rice
shepherds pie
vegetable lasagne and salad
chicken casserole, mash & veg
salad
fry up
beef stew, mash & veg
hotdogs, chips & beans
chicken nuggets, potato shapes & beans
sausage casserole, mash & veg
pork chops, mash, veg, gravy & apple sauce
chilli con carne and rice
somerset pork (packet mix), mash & veg
chicken and leek bake (recipe in file)
chicken supreme (recipe in file)

ACCOMPANYING VEG
----

courgettes (Parma style)
broccoli
cauliflower
mange tout
babycorn
corn on the cob
savoy cabbage
brussel sprouts
carrots
peas
cauliflower cheese
mixed salad
runner beans
carrot & swede
potato cakes
mash
chips
potato shapes
hash browns
sauteed potatoes
leeks

ooh ravioli, didn't think of that one

PUDDINGS
----

syrup sponge & custard
yoghurts
jelly & cream (or icecream)
fruit
pancakes
chocolate fondants & icecream
apple turnover
apple crumble & custard or cream
grasmere gingerbread
marmalade gingerbread
fairy cakes
flapjacks
muffins
malt loaf
chocolate crispies

SNACKS
--

biscuits
raisins
grapes
cheese
dairylea strip cheese
babybel
bread & butter
sausage rolls
cold sausages
crisps
raw carrots/celery/cucumber/pepper & dip
rice cakes
bread sticks
fruit bars
hot cross buns
crumpets
toasted tea cakes
iced gems
mini muffins
banana chips
dried apricots
scotch pancakes
apples
chocolate crispies
cheese & onion rolls
pain au chocolat

Hi Georgina! Wow, what a menu! What age group is that from? TIA

wow that's pretty comprehensive
and what kind of success rate do you get with your child?

As I also mentioned in my email to Becca, to try and reduce the crud I have the following evening meal rule:

ONCE PER WEEK:
Something & Chips
Something & veg
Convenience
Family Favourite
Something & Rice or Pasta
Slow Cooked/Pressure Cooked
Try something New

Oh and also I've started using the Abel & Cole to pick my fruit & veg for the week. I don't buy for there (I'm broke) but that's how I decide what we're eating

P.S. Do you mean authentic Grasmere gingerbread from the little shop in the Lake District?! Or is it a substitue one?

Now you can all marvel at how crap my diet is

Ds1 is 3 years old and eats with us. If he doesn't like what we're having he goes hungry until next snack or mealtime (we're mean parents!). He doesn't have to eat everything but does have to try a bit of everything, and he gets healthy bribery in the form of mini pack of smarties if he eats all of main & pudding (evening meal). He's a veg fan, so worst case scenario he's eaten a few mouthfuls of something + some fruit/yoghurt for dessert at the very least.

Ds2 is 5 months so isn't eating with us yet. I suspect once he's on solids I'll make him stuff separate to us until he's 1 and I don't have to worry about salt, etc.

Yes, I mean authentic grasmere gingerbread - my mum bought their recipe (it's on postcards there) when I was a kid

I love that gingerbread! Do you know that you can buy it on the internet here www.grasmeregingerbread.co.uk/
for b/days etc!

It is the best gingerbread in the world, isn't it

I know I am being rather demanding this evening but any chance of the recipe?

It seems like there are several variations.

The Foody.com

The one I have which was on a postcard in the area is:

Grasmere Gingerbread:

9oz brown wheatmeal flour
3oz porridge oats
3/4 level teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1 1/2 level teaspoons cream of tartar
3 level teaspoons ground ginger
9oz hard margarine
9oz soft brown sugar

Set oven to 325 F or Mark 3.
Well grease a shallow tin 14" by 9".
Put flour, oats, bicarbonate of soda, cream of tartar and ginger into a
bowl. Add the margarine cut into small pieces and rub in well until the
mixture resembles bread-crumbs. Stir in the sugar.
Put into tin and press down firmly with a floured fork.
Bake for 20 - 30 mins until pale brown.
Cut into squares whilst warm and leave in tin until completely cold.
Keeps well in an airtight tin.

The site says that the "real" recipe is secret and is locked in a bank vault, so neither might be "THE" one.

thanks