Menu Plan Monday (21st May 2012 - 27th May 2012)

It's been a long time between posting Menu Plan Monday here - in fact my posting has been so irregular it's quite embarrassing.  To be honest we have been so busy especially me with my work and travelling that some weeks we plan and others we have been flying by the seat of our pants.

However I decided it was time to get back to routine not only for being organised but it actually makes full sense considering how busy we actually are.

So here is this week's menu plan for our house:

Saturday ~ Roast Beef with Yorkshire Puddings, Vegetables and Gravy
Sunday ~ Roast Beef Rolls with Gravy
Monday ~ Beef with Kaffir Lime, Snow Peas and Cherry Tomatoes
Tue ~ Kasturi Indian Restaurant for Noel's Birthday
Wed ~ Pork, Mushroom and Sage Lasagne
Thu ~ Curried Chicken Pie
Fri ~ Salami, Capsicum and Feta Frittata and salad

Menu planning plays a major roll in our life! By menu planning it ensures that we have a weeks worth of meals organised which is especially useful Monday through Friday when there is not much of the day left after finishing work, picking up the kids from school and having to deal with the tasks of homework, clothes washing, showers, etc., and to do without the hassle of worrying WHAT we are cooking for dinner each night. Honestly if I left deciding what’s for dinner until I go home we wouldn’t eat until midnight!!

I know that our week starts on a Saturday but that’s just for the ease of fitting in with my grocery shopping which is normally done on a Friday night or Saturday afternoon. As usual more great menu ideas can be found at Menu Plan Monday over at I’m An Organising Junkie, don’t be shy pop over and have a look at other’s menu plans. You never know you may just find something different to have for dinner.

Some recipes for things we cook can be found over at our cooking blog, A Dash Of Flavour, normally posted after they have been cooked or just click on the links for each meal when they appear.

Happy cooking,

Jo xx

Menu Plan Monday (28th May 2011 - 3rd June 2011)

Once again our life has been a little eratic and all over the shop but I have to put an end to it and get back into our routine as I cannot survive on this haywire feeling.

Menu planning is a huge component of our routine, needless to say it is a great starting point to get us back on track.

So on the House of Murray Menu Planner this week is:

Saturday ~ Scotch Fillet with steamed vegetables
Sunday ~ Spicy Chicken Drumettes
Monday ~ Roast Pork, roast potatoes, mushy peas, vegetables and gravy
Tue ~ Sesame Beef with Noodles
Wed ~ Lemon and Herb Lamb Cutlets with potato bake and vegetables
Thu ~ Chicken and Vegetable Strudle
Fri ~ Battered Fish and Homemade Chips

Baking:
Self Saucing Butterscotch Puddings
Choc Chip Biscuits

As you have probably gathered by now, I LIVE for menu planning! By menu planning it ensures that we have a weeks worth of meals organised which is especially useful Monday through Friday when there is not much of the day left after finishing work, picking up the kids from school and having to deal with the tasks of homework, clothes washing, showers, etc., and to do without the hassle of worrying WHAT we are cooking for dinner each night. Honestly if I left deciding what’s for dinner until I go home we wouldn’t eat until midnight!!

I know that our week starts on a Saturday but that’s just for the ease of fitting in with my grocery shopping which is normally done on a Friday night or Saturday afternoon. As usual more great menu ideas can be found at Menu Plan Monday over at I’m An Organising Junkie, don’t be shy pop over and have a look at other’s menu plans. You never know you may just find something different to have for dinner.

Some recipes for things we cook can be found over at our cooking blog, A Dash Of Flavour, normally posted after they have been cooked or just click on the links for each meal when they appear.

Happy cooking,

Jo xx

Menu Plan Monday 7th May - 13th May

The routine is back and we are cooking - mostly healthy which is what we are always aiming for. Now that Noel's mad work hours have ceased and he is working regular days he too wants to get our routine back and has admitted to missing cooking! Saying this no doubt I will have to travel with work soon.

This week's menu planner starts of a little differently with a friends 40th on the Saturday night and then Mother's Day on the Sunday. Noel and the kids took me out for dinner to a chinese restaurant in Langwarrin, which was really nice to just sit and relax and enjoy each other's company.

So on the House of Murray Menu Planner this week is:

Saturday ~ 40th Birthday Party

Sunday ~ Delight Inn, Langwarrin

Monday ~ Afgani Lamb and Spinach Curry, Steamed Rice

Tue ~ Baked Mediterranean Chicken

Wed ~ Baked Pasta Fritatta

Thu ~ Sticky Pork

Fri ~ Steak with Creamy Tarragon Sauce and Steamed Vegetables

Baking:

Hummingbird Muffins

As you have probably gathered by now, I LIVE for menu planning! By menu planning it ensures that we have a weeks worth of meals organised which is especially useful Monday through Friday when there is not much of the day left after finishing work, picking up the kids from school and having to deal with the tasks of homework, clothes washing, showers, etc., and to do without the hassle of worrying WHAT we are cooking for dinner each night. Honestly if I left deciding what’s for dinner until I go home we wouldn’t eat until midnight!!

I know that our week starts on a Saturday but that’s just for the ease of fitting in with my grocery shopping which is normally done on a Friday night or Saturday afternoon. As usual more great menu ideas can be found at Menu Plan Monday over at I’m An Organising Junkie, don’t be shy pop over and have a look at other’s menu plans. You never know you may just find something different to have for dinner.

Some recipes for things we cook can be found over at our cooking blog, A Dash Of Flavour, normally posted after they have been cooked or just click on the links for each meal when they appear.

Happy cooking,

Jo xx

Back to school and back to ROUTINE!

Today is the first day at school for my two little darlin's with one, Alex of course, being excited and awake, teeth brushed, hair brushed, bag packed and asking if it was time to leave all by 6.30am while the other, Oliver, stayed in bed and if he could that is where he would have stayed.

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Both have new teachers and are in new levels. Alex is in Grade 3 and has Mrs M, who Oliver had for both Grade 3 & 4 so I am sure she will find the difference between the two of them refreshing! It's Grade 6 for Oliver this year and he has Ms V. He was moved over to the other 5/6 grade, I am usure as to why, but he is happy with the change. Maybe the change will be as good as a holiday for him??

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As for me I revelled in the fact that today was the first day of being back into ROUTINE. I love routine. We work better with routine. So this morning 5.30am the alarm went off (which allowed me a few minutes of lying there gathering my thoughts) then it was like clockwork. Sandwiches made for all four of us, lunchboxes packed, uniforms ready and waiting for bodies, showers had, school bags and my bag packed, all done and out the door by 6.55am! The children can be left at Before School Care at 7am which is great as I start work at 8am.

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Either Noel or myself will pick them up from school depending on work commitments, etc, tonight Noel will pick them up. For me Monday's is Weight Watchers and I know this week I have a doctors appointment at 5pm also (just to check my BP).

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Normally the kids do their homework when we get in - depending on who has picked them up it can be anywhere between 4.30pm and 5.30pm by the time we walk through the front door. There is no TV or playstation during the school week. The evening routine is just as frantic as the morning and we try in hope to get dinner on the table by no later than 6.30pm, thankfully Noel loves to cook also so that is a great help. If I am running late he will start getting things ready. So needless to say weeknight dinners need to be quick and easy. Then after dinner it's shower and bed by 8.30pm but 8pm if they want to read a book etc.

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Now I know that it doesn't sound all that exciting especially for the kids but come Friday night the weekends are all about them. As most of you know I normally work on Saturday morning but honestly, this gives Noel one 0n one time with them, which he doesn't get when he is chin deep in overtime or night shift. We try to make the weekends fun and do something that interests them. And of course we try to catch up with our family and friends.

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So there you have it - the happenings of the House of Murray. Busy times but fun times and my beloved ROUTINE...