A Family Feast with Bella Italia

We eat out quite regularly as a family but I'd never thought about going to Bella Italia until an invitation to do so popped up in my email account. There isn't one that locally to us and I certainly wasn't aware that they had such an amazing children's menu as they do - you can have a smaller portion of an adults meal which is ideal for Minxy and Jamster as they generally eat the same as we do.

We were invited to the Milton Keynes restaurant on Savoy Crescent where nearby parking after 6pm is free. We were the only people there when we arrived so we could take our pick from the tables but by the time we left, an hour and half later, staff were turning people away as it was fully booked! This was proof that the food and  service were really good, especially for a Monday. It's definitely wise to book in advance like we did.

Valentine's Day Menu: Easy Peasy Carbonara

Although France is generally seen as the country of love, I adore Italian food. Some of my fondest memories with the Mr took place at our favourite restaurants; Papa Cino's, Prezzo and Pizza Express.

This quick and easy carbonara is a great idea for a Valentine's Day meal and although it won't guarantee romance this February, or a Lady and the Tramp meatball sharing moment, it is definitely a delicious pasta dish to dive into.

Ingredients 

(Serves 2. Approx 520 calories per portion)

A Family Feast with Frankie & Benny's

Frankie & Benny's is a place where we have enjoyed dining at several times over the past few years. It has a large menu with dishes to suit most tastes and a lovely relaxed atmosphere; it's somewhere you can take young children and enjoy a family meal comfortably with reasonable prices.

We were pleased to be invited back recently to try the updated menu and I quickly set a time and date for our booking, as I was eager for a night away from the kitchen (and dishwasher) and some delicious food.

Meal Planning Monday

What a beautiful weekend; meals alfresco, lots of family fun and glorious sunshine!
It always goes a little too quickly though and here we are on Monday again, planning for the working week ahead... and it's July!

 

This weeks menu

Eating at Buddies with the extended family
Toad in the hole with mashed potatoes and vegetables
Enchiladas
Cod in cheese and parsley sauce with jacket potatoes and vegetables
Spaghetti bolognese with garlic bread


I'm on a countdown until my holiday and also my brothers wedding in September so I'll be making extra effort to cut out junk, eat lots of fruit and veg and to exercise more frequently so I can shift a few pounds. 50 minutes of Zumba followed by a 20 min boxing/toning session is on the agenda this morning, Wednesday and Friday - I feel tired just writing about it!
 

 

What's on your menu this week?

I'm linking this over with At Home With Mrs M.

Meal Planning Monday

Today the Mini Mes head back to school for the final term of the academic year and the countdown to the summer holiday begins - woohoo!!

 

Along with our summer bucket list the preparations have begun for what will hopefully be the best summer holiday ever. I'm booking tickets, arranging days out and stocking up the arts and crafts for a fun packed family time. I've also set myself a goal of 1 stone to lose by 23rd July, end of term, so I'll be enjoying a lot more salad and healthier options in the meantime.

This weeks menu...

Sweet and sour Quorn with noodles

Beef cannelloni with garlic ciabatta and salad

Lamb moussaka

Jacket potatoes with tuna/beans

Brinner

We have a child-free weekend ahead and the Mr has a school reunion Saturday night so I'll probably cook some pasta for then and have roast gammon Sunday with lots of veg - or a BBQ if the weather remains beautiful.

 

 

What's on your menu this week?

I'm linking this over with At Home With Mrs M.

Meal Planning Monday

I had a great evening out Friday for my work Christmas party and I enjoyed parsnip soup followed by roast turkey and strawberry cheesecake. The portions were huge so I felt rather stuffed after several vodkas and wine too.
Well, it is Christmas!

Saturday we had our Mexican night which was a success (yay) and everyone complimented the food; fajitas, enchiladas, chilli and nachos plus several desserts too.

This weeks planner...

Pizza and garlic bread
Reviewing a restaurant so dinner out and for FREE!
Salmon and gnocchi bake
Lasagne
Kievs, mash and veg

I am still on Jenny Craig and pretty much will be until the new year now. I can't wait to start 2013 a few pounds lighter and to continue eating less and better. I'm leaving the weekend free as I have no idea as yet what we will be up to but the Mini Mes will be with their dad.

What's on your menu?

I'm linking this over with At Home With Mrs M.

Meal Planning Monday

I'm still plodding along with my meal replacement "paks" for breakfast and lunch (I weighed myself Saturday and had lost 3lb yay) but I'm joining in with the evening meals now. I was having bad migraines and I couldn't concentrate properly which isn't wise with two children and work to think about!

So here is this weeks planner...

Monday - Sausage pasta bake (I will have sausages with salad though to avoid carbs)

Tuesday - Mozzarella and tomato kievs with vegetables

Wednesday - Peppered steak with chips and salad

Thursday - Slow cooked curry 

Friday - Undecided, will choose on the day.

Saturday - Out for a meal for the Mr's dads birthday

Sunday - Salmon and gnocchi bake

I'm going to be baking some yummy treats too for lunch boxes!

What's on your menu this week?

You can link up your own post or read others over with At Home With Mrs M

Meal Planning Monday

I really enjoyed a few days away camping last week and some delicious food. Friday we had a BBQ consisting of tandoori shish kebabs and burgers with some fresh salad from Morrison's deli counter - yum! Upon returning home Saturday we headed to one of our favourite Italian restaurants Papa Cino's with my parents for a great meal too. I had my usual stromboli and carbonara but skipped dessert as I was stuffed!

For the next two weeks I won't be eating the same as the Mr and the Mini Mes. I'm reviewing a meal replacement plan from today and hoping to lose some weight! I'm hoping it gives me a boost and a kick start into eating better. I snack way too much! However the family must still eat normally and here is what's on the agenda for them....

Monday - Fajitas

Tuesday - Lasagne

Wednesday - Pizza, salad and garlic bread 

Thursday - Fish, wedges and veg

Friday - Toad in the hole with veg

We don't currently have plans for the weekend as yet so there will probably be a roast chicken involved and a buffet style dinner, although this may change if we go out (I'll still have my "Paks" to eat).

What is on your menu this week?

You can add your planner or view more for inspiration over with At Home With Mrs M

Have a good week!!

Meal Planning Monday

Pah! What happened to all of the glorious sunshine? Last weeks weather was appalling and it really changed my eating habits. When it's warm I generally don't eat a lot but the constant rain meant I ended up snacking a lot mainly through boredom and being stuck inside, bad times!

We were out a lot of the weekend shopping, visiting family and sitting in the pub (the wonders of child free time) so this weeks planner was chosen late yesterday afternoon, based on what popped into my mind first really!

Monday - Lasagne, salad and garlic bread (my family are over for dinner and lasagne is always a hit). I'm also making homemade mint choc ice cream and flap jacks.

Tuesday - Sweet and sour chicken with noodles.

Wednesday - Fish in parsley sauce with jacket potatoes and veg.

Thursday - Tomato and mozzarella kievs with wedges and veg.

Friday - Pizza (we are having a family movie night with popcorn and pick 'n' mix too).

Saturday and Sunday I am leaving free as no doubt we will be out and about and packing for our holiday!

What's on your menu this week?

You can head over to At Home With Mrs M to link up or to view other planners.

Turkey and Bacon Lasagne

This is a traditional Italian meal with a twist. It's still packed with flavour but as turkey is a more lean and less expensive meat generally, I like to use it as an alternative to both beef and chicken from time to time.

Ingredients
500g Turkey
4 rashers of unsmoked bacon
1/2 tsp garlic puree or 1 crushed clove
1 onion
1 red pepper
1 tbsp tomato puree
1 400g tin of chopped tomatoes
1 tsp basil
1 tsp thyme
Fresh lasagne sheets (or make your own)
Cheese

Bechamel Sauce
50g butter
50g plain flour
1 pint of milk

Method

• Dice the onion and brown on a low heat.
• Dice the turkey and bacon and add to the pan.
• Add the tomato puree and garlic puree and coat the meat as it cooks.
• Once cooked thoroughly add the pepper, tinned tomatoes and herbs.
• Add half the mixture into an oven proof dish, layer lasagne on top and pour on half of the belchamel sauce. Repeat and then top with cheese and place in the oven for around 30 minutes on 180 degrees.
• (Make the bechamel sauce by combining the butter and flour to make a paste and slowly adding the milk in. Stir continously for a few minutes to create a sauce)

We enjoy this with some thick crunchy bread or garlic ciabatta and salad.

I am entering this into the Britmums Lean on Turkey competiiton sponsored by www.leanonturkey.co.uk

Meal Planning Monday

The Mr and I are child-free from Tuesday this week until Sunday evening, the longest time I've ever spent without the Mini Mes *boohoo*. They are going to their dads for the majority of half term as he is off work, so this weeks meals should be a lot cheaper with only needing to buy half of the usual ingredients and no lunch box items for school!

So, what's on the menu...

Monday - Spaghetti and meatballs

Tuesday - Fish cakes, new potatoes and veg

Wednesday -Turkey and Bacon Lasagne (recipe coming later this week)

Thursday - Pizza

Friday - We will probably be eating out as my family return from Canada and we will need a catch up... possibly at the pub!

The weekends meals will vary depending upon where we are but I imagine roast lamb or chicken will be involved at some point - yummy!

Next week I'm hoping to use some recipes from my Slimming World books to try to shift some weight!

What is on your planner this week?

You can see what's on other peoples menus this week or link up your own meal planner with At Home With Mrs M.

Meal Planning Monday

Last weeks meat free week was reasonably successful, although with the beautiful weather we had family over at the weekend where we all enjoyed a variety of caramelised onion and jalapeno burgers, sausages and chinese style pork... nomnom! We did well otherwise and the kids enjoyed helping to make the spinach and ricotta cannelloni in particular.

This week with the weather remaining hot and a loss of appetite due to the heat we are cooking meals that are lighter and more snack-like.

Monday - Pizza and salad (in the garden)

Tuesday - Fish, new potatoes and veg

Wednesday - Lamb moussaka

Thursday - Fajitas

Friday - Salmon and gnocchi bake

At the weekend we are heading to Hyde Park for the Sainsburys Jubilee event so we will have a picnic lunch and probably pick dinner up on the way home. Sunday will be a roast chicken but without all the trimmings, more of a buffet/salad meal.

What's on your menu this week? Do you lose your appetite when it's hot?

You can link up your own meal planner or view some others over with At Home With Mrs M.

Project 366, 145/366 - Cannelloni

With it being National Vegetarian week we as a family have tried to get involved a little by cooking some meat free dishes. The kids really enjoyed helping to make this delicious spinach and ricotta cannelloni for dinner tonight. This pic was taken just before we popped it into the oven. (Can you tell I LOVE cheese?)

Meal Planning Monday - Vegetarian Edition

It's National Vegetarian Week and to get involved we have decided to meal plan meat free - much to the Mr's disappointment!

Monday - Vegetarian sausage pasta bake
Tuesday - Quorn fajitas
Wednesday - Mousakka
Thursday - Spinach and ricotta canneloni
Friday - Jacket potatoes with salad

The weekend coming is a child-free one so we will probably eat while out and about or grab something fresh on the day but I'm going to stick with vegetarian options.

If you want to link up your own meal planner or view some more you can head over to At Home with Mrs M!