Make me a meal plan...

[~ Mylitta ~]

Ok, so I don't actually expect anyone to make me a meal plan really, but I'd love some ideas for meals that will suit my family and situation at the moment.

Since having DD almost four weeks ago I now have three kids under three and one thing I'm finding difficult is organising meals for everyone. We also have my husband two older sons that live with us too, so working out meals to suit everyone if difficult. I feel terrible because DH and I fed the kids easy meals early in the evening twice this week and after they were in bed resorted to McDonalds ourselves. Not only is it expensive, but I feel ick if I have take away too often.

I'd love some ideas on meals (both dinner and lunch) that would be good for us to make. My preference is for things that are easy and quick to make, and preferably things that I can cook/prepare in batches and freeze the extra. Our lunches tend to be fairly small and snack-like (but healthy) because both my almost 3 year old and my 14 month old like to "graze" on breakfast foods during the morning and aren't usually too hungry at lunch time.

Any suggestions (oh and RECIPES if possible!) would be greatly appreciated

[Santosha]

Don't know if your kids will eat this... or you will like it, but it's quick, easy, healthy, and my go-to meal if I have minimal fresh in the fridge and no energy. DD loves it.

LENTIL BOLOGNESE

Tin tomatoes
Tin lentils
Frozen / fresh spinach chopped finely
Grated veg - usually use carrot and zucchini but whatever you have works fine
1/2 a tub of tomato paste
Garlic
Onion
Fresh/dried parsley

I always keep the required tins, tomato paste and frozen spinach in the freezer so I know I've got this ready to go if I need it. Takes 5 mins to prepare (plus cooking time - 15-20 mins for sauce and pasta cooking time). Freezes well. Easy as, and I'm all about easy!



For lunch I either do fruit and toast, sandwiches, omlette, or veg / veg and tuna patties - again, 5-10 mins prep

Grate / finely chop whatever veg you have
Grate a handful or 2 of tasty cheese
(I sometimes add a tin of tuna)
Add an egg
Approx half a cup of wholemeal self raising flour (enough to make a thick pikelet consistency)
Fry like pikelets - tiny bit of oil, pour in small patty size, wait for bubbles on top then flip

Again, very quick and easy and everyone likes them. Good for BLS as bubba likes them too and I know they've only got good stuff in them. They don't freeze though.

[feeb]

Lunch here is generally sandwiches or wraps.
Sausgae rolls
pasta with tuna peas and corn and cheese

Things I find easy to add veg too and cook in large amounts to last a few meals or feed lots are:
Spag bol and next day I make a pasta bake from left overs
Risotto (chicken, onion, capsicum 2 colours, peas, corn, carrot grated, mushroom, bacon)
Lasagna
Left over roast lamb I make shepards pie
SLOW COOKER
Chicken curry
lamb shanks
beef stroganoff

[Pholi]

I do a lot of stirfries when I'm in a hurry - I cook the onions while I'm slicing the other veg and the meat (if I include meat), then toss in the meat while I microwave any 'harder' veg (carrots, cauliflower) so that they go in to the pan hot and don't take so long to cook. Then a packet of noodles (the soft ones) and a splash of sauces and water toi thin the sauce a bit, in whatever combination I fancy - oyster, hoisin, teriyaki, sweet chili, plum, soy - and it's done, from start to finish in about 20 minutes.

Also pasta with stir-in sauces such as pesto, with steamed/microwaved veg on the side

And I love a recent idea I got from someone here - I called it egg noodles, but it's basically grated lightly cooked veg and cooked noodles, in an omelet.

For quick lunches, hummous makes a great little spread or dip, and I find it freezes fine, too.

[Frangipani Lou]

Mylitta one of my favourite quick meals that freezes really well is pasta and meetballs. I buy chevaps(Greek skinless low fat sausages) from the supermarket and Pan fry them. when cooked I cut them up and add mushrooms and some pasta sauce and simmer with a sprinkle of oregano for 10-20 minutes while the pasta is cooking. Add pasta to sauce and serve. Also works well with added veg that has cooked in the sauce. I like it with Parmesan on the top and DH loves lots of pepper on it.
An alternative to the chevaps would be bought Mini meatballs.

Another favourite is soft tacos using burrito wraps and turkey mince instead of beef. It's more tender, flavoursome and cheeper. Available from the supermarket too.

We also like big plates of steamed veg with cheese sauce(and I love steamed tofu with it too)

Tandoori chicken works well too. Mix tandoori paste with plain yoghurt and let marinate in the fridge while u go about your Buzy day. Pan fry or bake on a rack until done. Serve with rice and steamed veg. Great for sandwiches with lettuce and mayo.
Btw- did your friends and family initially bring food and it's stopped now? I wonder could they make u some meals to freeze?