OUR FAMILY MEAL PLAN FOR WEEK OF 05/03/18 - £61

Last week was a very challenging week for us.  11yo and 3yo were very poorly, it turns out they have had Scarlet Fever which became apparent on Thursday night when the rash developed.  I knew instantly that's what it was. Thankfully, we were able to get a GP appointment on Friday to confirm the Scarlet Fever diagnosis and antibiotics were prescribed.  Both are now on the mend.  

I was grateful for easy and filling dinners last week, as well as flask lunches.  School for our 14yo was closed early, and then closed completely, late last week so I had almost all of our children at home.  Eldest was still able to get to college and back safely, despite the subzero temperatures and decent snowfall.

Our usual grocery delivery won't be coming, all the weekend slots were booked out from Thursday onwards and we don't have a car.  I'll be visiting the supermarket on Monday morning with a friend who has offered me a lift.  It's a good opportunity for us to use up some store cupboard items and freezer meals over the weekend.  

Breakfasts will be porridge again this week, with homemade fruit compote.  My lot aren't getting bored of it yet, we might have toast and/or cereal next week.  On the weekend we'll have our usual pancakes and perhaps waffles or homemade teacakes instead of crumpets.

Packed lunches will be Cheese and Vegetable Puffs or Mini Frittatas with a piece or two of fruit, and a baked treat.  Snacks will be popcorn and homemade rice pudding. 

Cauliflower and Cheese Pasta Bake

2 cloves of garlic, minced
50g butter or dairy-free spread
50g plain flour
600ml milk, or non dairy alternative
500g frozen cauliflower
150g mature cheddar cheese, or non dairy alternative, finely grated
500g wholewheat pasta

Preheat your oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4.

Put the garlic into a large saucepan over a medium heat with the butter. Once the butter has melted, stir in the flour for a minute to make a paste, cook for a minute or so. Gradually add the milk, whisking constantly, until you have a smooth sauce.

Add the broccoli and simmer, covered, for around 20 minutes, or until the cauliflower is cooked through. Blend until smooth with a stick blender then stir through half of the cheese.

Cook the pasta according to packet instructions. Mix the cooked, drained pasta with the cauliflower and cheese sauce until well combined. Pour everything into an oven proof dish and sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top. Bake for 30 minutes then serve with steamed mixed vegetables.

Homemade Pizzas

Spicy Cauliflower with a double batch of Vegetable Masala and homemade Naan Breads

Oven Baked Risotto

Roast Chicken with roast vegetables and Yorkshire puddings

Chicken and Roast Vegetable Pasties

Chicken Stir Fry with Noodles

Shopping List

35 items: £61.37

Tins, Jars and Packets

2x   ASDA Smartprice Chopped Tomatoes in Tomato Juice (400g)              58p

2x   ASDA Smartprice Sweetcorn in Water (326g)                                       70p

1x   ASDA Smartprice Strawberry Jam (454g)                                            28p

1x   ASDA Smartprice Lemon Curd (411g)                                                  39p

Dairy and Eggs

4x   ASDA British Whole Milk 6 Pints (3.41L)                                              £5.92

1x   ASDA Smartprice Low Fat Natural Yogurt (500g)                                 45p

1x   ASDA Free Range Mixed Weight Eggs (15)                                         £2.00

1x   ASDA Butter - Unsalted (250g)                                                            £1.45

1x   ASDA Smartprice Mature White Cheddar (830g)                                  £3.69

Packets and Cereals

1x   Silver Spoon Granulated Sugar (1Kg)                                                  64p

1x   Jus Rol Shortcrust Pastry Block (500g)                                               £1.00

1x   ASDA Arborio Risotto Rice (500g)                                                       £1.25

1x   ASDA Wholewheat Penne (500g)                                                         65p

1x   ASDA Pudding Rice (500g)                                                                 97p

1x   ASDA Great to Bake Golden Syrup (750g)                                           £1.28

2x   ASDA Straight to Wok Wholewheat Noodles (300g)                              £1.80

1x   Tropical Sun Popcorn (500g)                                                               60p

2x   ASDA Scottish Porridge Oats (1Kg)                                                     £1.98

Fruit and Vegetables

30   ASDA Grower's Selection Bananas by Weight (200g)                           £3.00

2x   ASDA Grower's Selection Carrots (1Kg)                                              £1.20

3     ASDA Grower's Selection Sweet Potatoes by Weight (500g)                 £1.80

2x   ASDA Grower's Selection Courgettes (3)                                             £2.40

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection Garlic (3)                                                     60p

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection Oranges Extra Juicy (2Kg)                           £2.00

2x   ASDA Grower's Selection Apples (1.2Kg)                                             £3.00

4x   ASDA Farm Stores Pears (500g)                                                         £2.80

2x   ASDA Vegetable Stir Fry (650g)                                                          £3.00

2x   ASDA Grower's Selection Plums (750g)                                               £2.50

1x   ASDA Farm Stores Brown Onions (1Kg)                                              59p

1x   ASDA Farm Stores White Potatoes (2.5Kg)                                          £1.15

2x   ASDA Farm Stores Mixed Peppers (3)                                                 £1.98

Frozen

1x   ASDA Frozen for Freshness Cauliflower Florets (1Kg)                          £1.10

1x   ASDA Frozen for Freshness Berry Medley (1Kg)                                  £2.75

Meat, Fish and Poultry

1x   ASDA Danish Pepperoni (150g)                                                           £1.00

1     ASDA Butcher's Selection Free Range Whole Chicken (1.5Kg)             £4.87

I've compiled my shopping list using My Supermarket but will be going to the supermarket tomorrow instead of ordering online as I usually do.

My lovely blogging buddy Ciara from My Fussy Eater has created a fab Meal Planning Facebook Group so we can inspire each other.

And Katykicker, and Naomi from The Organised Life Project have a Meal Planning Linky full of fabulous Meal Planning posts with lots of tasty ideas.