Meal Planning Monday 3rd February 2014

It's February. How on earth did that happen? Last week was a busy one and this will be no different. Just when you thought there couldn't possibly be any more Haggis we had another Burns Supper to attend. Great start to the night with a Red, Red Rose Corsage and a glass of Prosecco.

There was a fantastic choice on the menu for the event which was held at The Stage Door. Really difficult to choose from a fantastic selection of Scottish fare. There were Haggis Bon Bons as canapes on arrival so despite not opting for the great chieftain during the meal I still got my fill.

Pan Fried Scallops with baby Stornoway black pudding, pommes puree and grain mustard cream.

Chargrilled medallions of Highland Venison with pommes Anna, parsnip puree, game jus and redcurrants.

Selection of Scottish Cheese, biscuits, fruit chutney and quince jelly.

Much excitement when boy won a #soyselfie competition on Twitter run by Kikkoman. His prize was a signed copy of Lisa Faulkner's "The Way I Cook..." Lots of recipes have been bookmarked and his favourite has gone on the meal plan for this week.

The Choc Chip Chilli with Cornbread Crust on last weeks meal plan was a bit of a mixed bag. The chilli itself was far too sweet and chocolatey - even for sweet toothed girl. However the cornbread crust was lovely so will definitely do it again on a more traditional chilli. Boy took control of making the Zesty Chicken Pasta and my Mum served up a lovely dish of Gnocchi with cream, mushrooms and chicken. Not bad for her first time cooking with it.

The weekend saw me heading north to spend the night with my folks in The Black Isle before a trip to Kingussie for the Food on Film Festival. We first visited the Pitstop Cafe back in October on my #HighlandFoodieRoadTrip. This time round it provided a perfect stopping off point for Brunch enroute. £5 for the full breakfast and 60p for an accompanying cup of tea. Can't be beaten.

Had a great time at Kingussie Food On Film Festival with my partner in crime Michelle from Snow Marketing. Bloggage to follow later in the week. Lots of food, fun, film, gin and dancing girls.

Without further ado here's my #MealPlaningMonday. A couple of oriental inspired dishes as we missed out on celebrating Chinese New Year last week.

Poppa Wan's Simple Soy Glazed Chicken

Mushroom & Chestnut Filo Pie (Delicious Magazine Feb 2014)

Spaghetti alle Vongole (Lisa Faulkner - The Way I Cook...)

Honey Kikkoman Pork Chops

Honey & Mustard Toad in the Holes (Delicious Magazine Feb 2014)

In addition to the above I'm at the Grampian Food Forum Dining Club, a night out with friends to celebrate Foodie Loon's birthday where we'll be eating at Aberdeen's newest Waggamama in the Academy and I need to rustle up something romantic for the Pinnies & Petticoats Valentine meet.

If you missed the post about my fishy food education work with the STAR Flat - Community Cookery Classes in Aberdeen do take a look. Its something I'm really passionate about. This week we'll be making seafood pizzas. Enjoy your week whatever is on the menu.

Meal Planning Monday 27th January 2014

Last week was all about the haggis. Do catch up on my Burns blogs if you missed them. Countdown to Burns Night and #InspiredByBurns. A couple of amendments to last weeks meal plan due to last minute changes of plans. and a couple of dishes bumped to this week. On Wednesday night Foodie Loon was out for an impromptu Curry and girl was on a playdate so boy made sushi for us both. He was rightly proud of his efforts.

The Lemon Sole Meuniere didn't go quite to plan as no capers to be found in the fridge.  Still tasted good. Nigella's Pea & Pancetta Pasta Risotto is unbelievably quick and so tasty. Give Orzo a go in a risotto, you won't be dissapointed. Lamb and Apricot Pilaf was great. I sometimes forget how much I love lamb steak. Sunday nights tea was takeway Fish & Chips, perfect for any fragile feelings after Burns Night.

Our Burns Night soiree on Saturday night was great fun. I'll let the pictures tell the story. A braw time indeed was had.

Scottish Drinks Cabinet

Table set with a Touch of Tartan

Haggis Crisps, Oatcakes with Cheese, Smoked Salmon & Venison Pate

Scottish Wine

Cullen Skink

Haggis Oatcakes

Boy in full flow Addressing the Haggis

Clootie Dumpling made by Heather

Cranachan Cream

Only three days of meal planning this week. We are at a Burns Supper on Thursday night and then I'm heading to Kingussie for the Food on Film Festival. Foodie Loon and the kids will have to fend for themselves.

Smoked Haddock & Parsley Flan

Choc Chip Chilli & Cornbread Crust

Zesty Chicken Pasta

Enjoy your week!

Meal Planning Monday - 20th January 2014

Its Burns Night this week so I'm hoping to see lots of Haggis on Meal Plans. We've already been indulging in the wee beastie and there's lots more to come. Last week's meals went according to plan with the only change being Chicken Fricassee replacing Chicken Risotto. Boy made Mussels and Chorizo which was a big success. Although we had to visit 4 fishmongers before we found any mollusks. We adapted the recipe replacing the white wine with cider and adding a splash of single cream at the end.

Another big hit this week was Nigella's Broccoli and Stilton Soup. I asked for recommendations on twitter for how to use up leftover blue cheese from Christmas. Can't remember who suggested this but it was really good and very quick and easy. I used Danish Blue in place of stilton, didn't add any thyme and used regular onion in place of spring onions. The frozen broccoli worked really well. 

Pasta bake is a great comfort food and Simon Hopkinson's Baked Pappardelle with Pancetta and Porcini is always a winner. Moving swiftly on to the first of the Haggis. The lovely people at MacSweens had sent me a selection to try. We thoroughly enjoyed both of their limited edition varieties. Three Bird (Grouse, Duck and Pheasant) and Venison. Girl stuck to traditional. As always I accompanied it with Whisky Glazed Neeps. 

Sunday Dinner was lamb shanks done in the slow cooker served with mash, cabbage and root veg in a mint gravy. Completely melt in the mouth. Even tastier as they came from the yellow stickied section. Love a bargain.

Had a thoroughly enjoyable trip with Girl to see Scotish Ballet's Hansel & Gretel at His Majesty's Theatre. Particularly loved the dance of the McEwans Export and the dance of the Mothers Pride Loaf. However their Gingerbread house wasn't a patch on ours.

Without further ado here's this week's #MealPlanningMonday

Lemon Sole Meuniere

Lamb and Apricot Pilaf

Choc Chip Chilli with Cornbread Crust

Pea & Pancetta Pasta Risotto

Smoked Haddock & Parsley Flan

We're having friends round on Saturday night for a Burns Night soiree. Out of six of us four play in the local pipe band. We'll have 2 pipers and 2 tennor drummers, plus boy who's learning the snare drum and girl on the chanter. On the menu is 

Cullen Skink & Haggis Oatcakes

Haggis, Whisky Neeps and Dauphinoise Potatoes - veggie haggis for the squeamish ;-)

Clootie Dumpling & Crannachan Cream

Enjoy your week. I won't accept any excuses for haggis not being on your menu ;-)

Meal Planning Monday 13th Jan 2014

We're still slowly getting back into routine after the festivities. Its certainly been great to get back to eating real food. Meat and two veg has been a very welcome change to constant grazing on party food. Last week's meal plan was stuck to with the exception of the mussels which have been bumped to this week.

Boy minced the meat for the Beef and Potato pies. But it was a team effort as girl chose the recipe and they both worked on the pastry decorations. Guinness shamrock for Dad, Queen's crown for Mum, Gingerbread Man for boy and Princess crown for girl.

The Pork Shoulder and Pearl Barley Stew from the January Delicious Magazine was a big hit and I would definitely make it again. Perfect comfort food. 

Friday night was Foodie Loon's work Annual Dinner and Dance. The food and setting at The Marcliffe was wonderful as always. There was a Movies theme to the proceedings with Hollywood icons adorning the wall and celebrity cardboard cutouts providing plenty of photo opportunities. Britain's Got Talent finalists Faces of Disco provided the after dinner entertainment but the highlight of the evening was when we discovered that a stash of dressing up costumes had been hidden under each table. Cue Pink Ladies, T-Birds, Shrek, Pirates of the Caribbean, Indiana Jones and many more. Oscars required for the organisers.

Feeling somewhat fragile the morning after the night before I was delighted when my BFF turned up on my doorstep with a food parcel. As a native of Forfar she knew that an iconic Bridie would hit the spot.

Boy and myself enjoyed Japanese afternoon tea at Oryza Hotpot on Saturday. Girl had given him a voucher for this for his Birthday and he took me along as his plus one. We'll definitely be making a return visit to try out the Hotpot.

Without further ado, here's this weeks #MealPlanningMonday

Haggis, Neeps and Tatties

Mussels with Chorizo

Slow Cooked Lamb Shanks

Orange & Lemon Chicken

Baked Pappardelle with Pancetta and Porcini

Broccoli & Danish Blue Soup

Chicken Risotto

Also this week I've got the first Pinnies & Petticoats meet of 2014. The theme is Back to Basics and I'm going to attempt to bake my first ever Oatcakes. I've had my Mum scouring old recipe books and dripping and oatmeal have been purchased. Off to the ballet on Thursday night with girl. Will be interested to see Hansel & Gretel's Gingerbread House. I've always got one eye on the food.

Enjoy your week whatever is on the menu.

The first #MealPlanningMonday of 2014

The festivities are over for another year, kids are back to school and its definitely time to get back to proper eating and meal planning. I feel all I've been doing for the last fortnight is constant grazing. Some healthy meals, fruit and vegetables are definitely required. This weeks plan has been inspired by Christmas gifts. Boy received a better haul of foodie goodies than I did. His Mincer and Moules Pot will be put to good use this week.

Among my own foodie gifts was a subscription to Delicious magazine. A couple of dishes from the January issue are making an appearance this week. No cookbooks in my haul this year but I did get Mary Berry's Autobiography which I am thoroughly enjoying. Not quite done with the Christmas partying yet as we have the Annual Dinner Dance for Foodie Loon's work on Friday night at The Marcliffe Hotel. I fully expect the food there to be amazing as always. It might even be my final formal doo there as sadly it is scheduled to close later this year. A real loss for Aberdeen.

Without further ado here's this weeks Meal Plan

Baked Salmon with Grainy Mustard and Maple Syrup

Pork Shoulder and Pearl Barley Stew (Delicious Magazine Jan 2014)

Minced Beef and Potato Pies

Mussels with Chorizo

Baked Pasta with Mushrooms, White Wine and Cream (Delicious Magazine Jan 2014)

Roast Chicken Dinner

I've been joining in with Meal Planning Monday on Mrs M's blog for a whole year now. Do check out the linky for inspiration. I have a feeling there may be a bumper number of new year meal planners this week.

We caught up with friends at the weekend with a Christmas Leftovers Party. Ours and theirs. Despite everyone's best efforts I do still have a lot of cheese, sweets and biscuits left over. Made my third Sausage & Croissant Wreath to use up some Mulled Wine Sausages and a final appearance from a last batch of Tunnocks Teacakes Christmas Puddings. Soups of the day were Broccoli & Cauliflower Cheese, Sweet Potato and Lentil and Nigella's Black Bean and Coca Cola. Looks weird but tastes wonderful. Made from the liquor that I cooked my Christmas Ham in.

The leftover sweets from Gingerbread House building were utilised to decorate a train cake. My sister bought the tin to make this for us a number of Christmases back and when she was visiting asked if we had ever used it. Woops. Time to rectify. The choo choo was a big hit with both little and big kids. 

Enjoy your first full week of 2014 whether you are finishing off leftovers or embarking upon a healthy eating regime. We enjoyed a swinging Hogmanay in Stonehaven with Fireballs, Fizz and Fireworks. Hope you brought in the New Year in equal style.

Meal Planning for Christmas Week

Time for the meal plan that I've been building up to all year. Christmas Week. We'll have additions to our usual 4 with my Mum, Dad and Sister joining us for the duration meaning that the table will be set for 7. So here's what I've planned for them. Hopefully they will all muck in and lend a hand along the way...

Monday 23rd
Nigella Ham in Coke (no jokes please, I'm #TeamNigella all the way)
Potato Bundles
Stir Fried Greens and Soya Beans

Christmas Eve
Saffron Chicken with Chorizo and Butterbeans
Mashed Potato with Smoked Garlic and Smoked Rapeseed Oil

Cranachan Ice Cream, Raspberries in Mulled Wine, Meringues and Brandy Snaps
Biscuits & Cheese & Port

Christmas Day
Smoked Salmon & Scrambled Eggs
Croissants
Bucks Fizz with Grand Marnier

Roast Goose - my first time cooking goose. Any hints and tips most welcome.
Sausagemeat Stuffing Balls
Oatmeal Stuffing/Skirlie
Cranberry Sauce
Bread Sauce
Gratin of Sprouts
Parmesan Baked Sweet Potatoes & Parsnips
Roast Tatties in Goose Fat
Pigs In Blankets
Gravy
White Sauce

7 Cup Pudding (made by my Mum - it had better have charms in it!)
Ice Cream, Brandy Butter, Boozy Cream, Custard

Boxing Day
An attempt to recapture our Summer holiday in Tuscany...

Antipasto Platter - Italian Cheese, Bread, Salami and OlivesMushroom Risotto with Porcini and Truffle Oil

Pannetone Bread & Butter Pudding
Ricciarelli and Vin Santo
Limoncello & Amaretti Biscuits

Friday 27th
Eating out. Exactly where still to be decided. But I ain't cooking.

Saturday 28th
Black Bean Soup
Duck with Plums and Star Annise

Gingerbread House - this annual tradition will be made by boy, girl and my sister on Christmas Eve. Complete with sprout in the chimney.

Sunday 29th
Mulled Wine Sausages from Devenick Dairy
Yorkshire Puddings & Red Onion Gravy
Individual Sticky Toffee Puddings

Monday 30th
Hopefully they will all have gone home by now ;-)

Have an amazing Christmas whatever you are eating. 
Do check out my two Advent Calender Posts for further festive inspiration.

Advent Calendar Days 1-12
Advent Calendar Days 13-24