Help me expand my range of meals!

[GoodGrrrl]

I have officially become a bore in the kitchen. I'm boring myself. I'm already planning to make my own fish fingers and chicken nuggets this week, but i need more meal ideas for cooking for DH and I, or all of us inc 2 toddlers.

I ALWAYS seem to be cooking:

Bolognaise / lasagne
Homemade burgers / meatballs
Curry (Indian or Thai)with rice or noodles.
Roast chicken dinner

The kids will try most things, DH doesn't really like broccoli / cauli / swede, but will at least try most stuff.

Help!

Fajitas - the toddlers can have the chicken and veggies, while you and DH tuck into the wraps and sauces.

We all love Cottage Pie, Chicken chow mein, Chicken stew and Fish Pie too - any good?

yes what about fish?
salmon in the oven for 15 minutes with lemon juice and herbs on is lovely, serve with mash and broccoli
or tuna pasta bake is yum
pesto pasta with cheese grated on top, can ut chicken in it too

Was about to suggest wraps too. Nice Annabel Karmel marinade for chicken (quantities variable, you will find what you like, and I'm typing from memory so maybe not exactly her recipe but will still be v tasty):

2 tblspn soy sauce
2 tblspn runny honey
1 tspn toasted sesame oil
1 tblspn rice wine vinegar
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 inch ginger, grated

We mix it with strips of chicken, leave for however long you've got, stir fry with whatever veggies you like and serve with rice or in wraps. Cashew nuts are nice with it.

Is shepherd's pie too boring? We like it and I put a huge dollop of HP sauce in with the meat and onion mix. Great as can prepare in advance and just stick it in the oven.

fish cakes mix up poached salmon, tomato sauce, grated cheese and mashed potatoes, make theminot cakes, dust with flour or breadcrumbs and fry

risotto- we tend to have this at least once a fortnight, either smoked salmon and spinach/magetout or mushroom or smoked haddock and courgette.

recipes available on request!

also...stirfry? different types eg prawns with noodles, chicken with rice

egg fried rice

fish baked in the oven with new potatoes and veg, with or without sauce?

Maybe if we each post what we are having this week it would give you some ideas?

Monday (last night)- pasta carbonara
Tuesday- (out)
Wednesday- lasagne
Thursday- Lentil curry
Friday Homemade pizzas
Saturday- chicken tikka masala (from Pataks paste)
Sunday- beef hotpot

Monday- smoked haddock and courgette risotto
Tuesday- meatballs and pasta
Wednesday- chciken kiev
Thursday- stuffed peppers
Friday- fajitas
Saturday (out)
Sunday- sausage casserole

Any recpes just ask!

awesome, cheers guys. I'm so busy with working, plus 2 toddlers, i've fallen into the trap of making to same things. I do make alot of homemade soup too, but that usually for lunches.

Fajitas- not had them for AGES. Fish pie def on the menu for next week too- the kids love fish.

ooh those fishy risottos sound yum! would love the recipes.
In need of ideas here too, DS1 (2.8) hates trying anything new and/or most veg, so we are stuck in a rut of the following:
spaghetti carbonara/chilli/spag bol/homemade pizza/green curry/pasta with pesto
all of which are great but does get really boring after a while, plus would like 9mo DS2 to be able to eat our food, and none of these are ideal for him, he gets v frustrated if his finger food is at all tricky unlike DS1 who is still of the opinion that yogurt is the optimum finger food....

Homemade fishfingers are tricky, I really think good quality shop bought ones are better.

I do make fishcakes though, Tuna with lime ad coriander is a favourite.

This week we are having

monday - Cottage pie with peas and onion gravy (except I had a massive steak instead late at night I was stressed ha ha)

tuesday - Sausage and bean casserole (sausages, butter beans, red lentils, two red onions, two tins of chopped toms,a pinch of chilli and lots of herbs)

wednesday - fishcakes with homemade chips and raita

thursday - quesedillas with soured cream, guacamole and a tomato and onion salad

friday - a mild thai green veg curry with rice

saturday - chicken and mango skewers with a roasted pepper couscous

sunday - lemon chicken roast

that sausage and bean casserole sounds good

i thought homemade fish fingers were easy? That's the impression i've been given anyway

Tagine? Other Morrocan inspired stuff?

Stuffed peppers?

Interesting/special pasta dishes - linguine with prawns or smoke salmon, for instance?

Risotto?

Goulash?

Paella?

Cook more fish? Salmon teriyaki? Asian inspired tuna steaks with soba noodles & Asian greens? Herb crusted cod? Fish pie? Goan fish curry? Salmon en croute?

West Indian food? Jamaican-style curried chicken is delicious.

Old fashioned favourites? Homemade pies? Toad in the hole?

My DH has taken the boys away for half term so I can please myself this week but I am already planning for meals when they get back so........

Toad in the Hole with baked beans

Asparagus Risotto

Chicken with creme fraiche and tomatoes
Sauteed potatoes and vegetables

Saltimbocca

Meatballs and spaghetti

Roast Chicken with all the trimmings

Moules Mariniere

ooh tagine- any recipes? DH loathes cous cous though, so would have to serve it with something else.

For an easy Tagine recipe - I use Tagine Paste (I get one from m&s but others sell it).

You just brown the meat (I use chicken or lamb) add onions, when cooked add a couple of spoons of the paste and then a tin of tomatoes and some water. Cook for an hour or so then add a tin of chickpeas and cook for a few more minutes then serve.

I serve with couscous but you could always try rice instead.

smoked salmon risotto

fry chopped onion and 1 clove garlic in olive oil. add risotto rice (i use arborio i think) and stir till rice goes opaque.

add fish stock (best with fish stock and white wine but maybe not for dcs!)

keep stirring and adding more stock as rice absorbs a lot. near the end add smoked salmon 9if its just me and DH i use those value packs of trimmings you get- for guests i use proper slices), a good amount of lemon juice and either spinach or mange tout.

smoked haddock risotto (a bit like kedgeree)
this is DHs speciality but ill do my best!

fry onion,garlic and courgette til soft ish.add rice then diced tomatoes (actual tomatoes chopped- a tin doesnt work as well, add chopped smoked haddock then plenty of veg stock and parsely, simmer til done.