OUR FAMILY MEAL PLAN FOR WEEK OF 25/06/18 - £70

Apologies for the lack of Meal Plan last week, I was totally floored by the worst migraine I've had in ages, and then the spare laptop died so my laptop was taken over by 15yo for homework and GCSE revision, and 11yo for her homework. 

I'm very glad to see the back of last week.  We had some really challenging news but I'm sure everything will work out fine in the end.  As I say to my girls it's how we rise above, and work through, challenges that counts.  I'm hoping to get another laptop sorted out this week so I can have mine back and get on with blogging whilst our girls can use the new(ish) one.

The weather forecast is for quite a warm week here so I am planning really easy dinners and packed lunches which will be OK in warmer temperatures.  Our garden is now providing delicious raspberries, strawberries, chard, kale, lettuces, rocket, and fresh herbs in abundance.  Such a good time of year for growing our own food, there's tasty crops to reward us for our gardening work.

Meal Plan

Breakfasts will be granola with yoghurt and fresh fruit, with pancakes on the weekend.

Packed lunches will be Wholemeal Savoury Swirls with crudites and fresh fruit salad, with a baked treat for afters.  Weekend lunches will be Homemade Pizzas and Traffic Light Rice and Beans.

Dinners

Orzo and Chickpea One Pot

1 Tblsp oil
1 onion, diced
2 peppers, diced
500g dried orzo pasta
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 litre/4 cups vegetable stock
2 x 400g tins chopped tomatoes
2 x tins chickpeas, drained and rinsed
75g finely grated Parmesan/hard cheese, plus more for serving

Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat, add the onion and pepper then sauté until softened but not coloured. Add the orzo and garlic, cook for around a minute, stirring constantly.

Pour in the stock and tomatoes then bring to a boil. Cover, reduce the heat so the mixture simmers. Cook, stirring frequently, until the liquid has been absorbed and the pasta is cooked. If the pasta isn’t completely cooked when most of the liquid has been absorbed, add half a cup of stock or water and continue to simmer and stir until the pasta is cooked to your liking. Stir through the Parmesan/hard cheese. Season to taste then serve with steamed mixed vegetables/greens and more grated cheese. 

Summer Vegetable and Rice One Pot

2 Tblsp oil

1 onion, finely diced

2 peppers, finely diced

3 courgettes, diced

1 aubergine, diced

1 Tblsp ground cumin

1 Tblsp ground coriander

1/2 tsp chilli powder (or more, to taste)

2 x 400g tins chopped tomatoes

2 x 400g tins mixed beans, I used kidney beans and haricot beans

3 Tblsp soy sauce

1 Tblsp Worcestershire sauce

1 Tblsp garam masala

300g brown rice

1 litre/4 cups vegetable stock

Heat the oil in a very large heavy based pan and add the vegetables and cook, stirring, until softened.  Add the spices and cook until fragrant, only a couple of minutes.  Pour in the tinned tomatoes, soy and Worcestershire sauces and garam masala.  

Add the rice and stock, stir to combine everything then bring to a strong boil.  Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover with a lid and cook for about 40 minutes or so until the rice is tender.  Sprinkle over chopped fresh coriander to serve. 

Quick and Easy Nachos

Roast Vegetable, Lentil, and Halloumi Bake

2 peppers, deseeded and roughly diced
1 aubergine, cut into 2.5cm/1 inch dice
2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 2.5cm/1 inch dice
2 courgettes, thickly sliced
2 Tblsp olive oil

1 tsp dried mixed herbs
400g tin lentils, drained
250g pack Halloumi, thickly sliced
Large handful fresh curly parsley, finely chopped

Preheat oven to 200˚C/180˚C Fan/Gas Mark 6.   Put the vegetables into a large roasting tin, drizzle over the oil, sprinkle over the herbs, and season well. Mix everything together until coated with the herbs and oil.

Roast the vegetables for 25 minutes until they are almost tender. Sprinkle over the lentils and mix through the vegetables.  Lay the halloumi slices on top of the vegetables and lentils then roast for another 15 minutes until the vegetables are tender and the halloumi is golden.  Sprinkle over the parsley and serve with fresh flatbreads and a drizzle of natural yoghurt or lemon dressing.

Bacon and Egg Pie

Chorizo, Butterbean and Pasta Bake

500g pasta
1 onion, finely sliced
2 peppers, finely diced
200g chorizo, diced
3 cloves of garlic, mashed
400g tin chopped tomatoes
500g carton passata
400g tin butterbeans, drained
100g cheddar cheese, grated

Gently cook the onion, peppers and chorizo in a large frying pan over a moderate heat until the vegetables have softened and the chorizo is cooked through.  Add the garlic and cook for another couple of minutes.  Pour in the tomatoes, passata and butterbeans.  Cover and leave to simmer whilst the pasta cooks.

Cook the pasta in a large pan of boiling water according to packet instructions.   Drain the pasta then add the sauce and stir until combined.  Pour in to a large oven proof dish, level the top and sprinkle over the grated cheese.  

Bake for 20 minutes in an oven preheated to 200C/180C Fan/Gas Mark 6 until heated through and the cheese is golden and bubbling.  Serve with steamed greens or mixed vegetables.

Tuna Fritters with Sweet Potato Wedges

Shopping List

52 items: £70.03

Frozen

1x   ASDA Frozen for Freshness Mixed Vegetables (1Kg)              85p

1x   ASDA Smartprice Peas (1Kg)                                                 76p

1x   ASDA Frozen for Freshness Sweetcorn (1Kg)                         85p

Tins, Jars and Cooking

5x   ASDA Smartprice Chopped Tomatoes (400g)                          £1.45

1x   ASDA Butter Beans in Water (400g)                                       39p

1x   ASDA Smartprice Red Kidney Beans in Water (400g)              30p

1x   Rajah Garam Masala (100g)                                                   50p

1x   Rajah Jeera Ground Cumin (100g)                                          50p

2x   ASDA Chick Peas in Water (400g)                                          66p

1x   ASDA Double Concentrated Tomato Puree (200g)                   37p

1x   East End Ground Coriander (100g)                                         £1.15

1x   ASDA Smartprice Passata (500g)                                           35p

1x   Merchant Gourmet Ready to Eat Puy Lentils (250g)                £2.00

1x   Caribbean Choice Coconut Milk (400ml)                                  63p

1x   ASDA Tuna Chunks in Spring Water (4x160g)                        £2.84

1x   ASDA Borlotti Beans in Water (400g)                                      55p

1x   ASDA Chilli Beans in Chilli Sauce (390g)                                65p

1x   ASDA Haricot Beans in Water (400g)                                      55p

Dairy and Eggs

2x   ASDA Semi Skimmed Milk 6 Pints (3.41L)                              £2.96

5x   ASDA Smartprice Low Fat Natural Yogurt (500g)                    £2.25

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

1x   ASDA Mature Cheddar Cheese - Light (750g)                         £3.65

1x   Yamas! Halloumi (250g)                                                         £1.70

Packets and Cereals

1x   ASDA Strong White Bread Flour (1.5Kg)                                 69p

1x   ASDA Wholemeal Bread Flour (1.5Kg)                                    69p

1x   ASDA Smartprice Self Raising Flour (1.5Kg)                           45p

1x   ASDA Easy Cook Long Grain Brown Rice (1Kg)                      £1.17

1x   ASDA Smartprice Long Grain Rice (1Kg)                                45p

1x   ASDA Orzo Pasta (500g)                                                        65p

1x   ASDA Easy Bake Yeast (6 per pack - 42g)                             59p

1x   ASDA Wholewheat Penne (500g)                                            45p

2x   ASDA Scottish Porridge Oats (1Kg)                                        £1.78

1x   ASDA Ready to Roll Puff Pastry (500g)                                  £1.00

Meat, Fish and Poultry

1x   ASDA Farm Stores Cooking Bacon (500g)                              57p

1x   ASDA Extra Special Chorizo Casero Sausage (225g)              £1.85

Fruit and Vegetables

25   ASDA Grower's Selection Bananas                                         £3.00

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection Watermelon                                    £2.50

25   ASDA Grower's Selection Royal Gala Apples                          £4.56

3x   ASDA Grower's Selection Carrots (1Kg)                                 £1.50

4x   ASDA Grower's Selection Whole Cucumber                            £2.00

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

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection Garlic (3)                                        55p

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection Spring Onions                                 55p

2x   ASDA Grower's Selection Sweet Potatoes (1Kg)                     £2.00

2x   ASDA Grower's Selection Satsumas (600g)                            £2.00

4x   ASDA Farm Stores Pears (500g)                                            £3.20

1x   ASDA Farm Stores Brown Onions (1Kg)                                 55p

5x   ASDA Farm Stores Cherry Tomatoes (250g)                           £2.50

2x   ASDA Aubergine                                                                    £1.40

1x   ASDA Farm Stores White Mushrooms (300g)                          68p

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

Snacks and Sweets

1x   ASDA Smartprice Tortilla Chips - Lightly Salted (180g)           41p

We purchased our groceries from Asda online via My Supermarket and our shopping cost £70.03, had we purchased our items elsewhere our shopping list would've cost:

£81.66 from Morrisons

£81.75 from Sainsbury's

£82.94 from Tesco

£93.69 from Ocado

£96.96 from Waitrose

My lovely blogging buddy Ciara from My Fussy Eater has created a fab Meal Planning Facebook Group so we can inspire each other. She also has a book, I have a copy and it is fab. You can order a copy for yourself here. 

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.