Category: Menu planning

Here’s the menu at Casa Copenhagen this week! If you haven’t menu planned before: K.I.S.S. Keep it simple, Sweetie! I stick to trusted family favourites plus one “new” recipe. (No particular day assigned to our meals, we leave it flexible.)

• Spanish tortilla (potato omelet – a Basque friend taught me how to make this over 25 years ago) plus some chorizo sausage/Manchego cheese to nibble on (here’s a similar recipe)
• a traditional Danish dish – stegt flæsk med persillesovs – fried strips of pork belly served with parsley sauce, baby potatoes and carrots
• homemade quiche – the filling will be goat’s cheese and celery because I’ve got celery left over from last week’s Jambalaya (quiche is inspired by this Swedish recipe)
• our DD20 (dear daughter, aged 20) is here for a couple of days and I’m making one of her favourites, chicken parmesan in a tomato sauce with tagliatelle this recipe is very similar to what I make
• I’ve got some leftover slices of roast beef in the freezer and will serve it with oven-baked ratatouille. Oven-roasting the veggies really brings out the flavour: I prefer it to stove-cooked versions which can be soggy. Chop courgettte, aubergine, tomatoes, onion, red peppers, a little garlic and basil. Salt and pepper. Toss in olive oil and roast in a hot oven for about 30 minutes or until the veggies are soft. Taste great cold too!
• as was the case before both of our kids moved out into their own flats, one day of the week for us is usually leftovers, a frittata/quiche made with any veggies which need using up, risotto (see my Instant Pot recipe here) or Danish smørrebrød (rye bread open sandwiches with various toppings) or the very occasional takeaway
• and a Danish classic, boller i karry! Which is basically meatballs in a mild curry and apple sauce. On the table in 15 minutes. Photos above and recipe below!

Remember when planning menus to K.I.S.S. – Keep it simple, Sweetie! Check what you have in your fridge, freezer and pantry before you shop. And don’t let anyone leave the kitchen after dinner until everything is cleared up and put away…

Need more menu planning inspiration? I have lots of easy recipes and crafts. Many of them only take a few minutes, and the kids can help too! See my full recipes and crafts playlist here… https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxIYCyTLBED8ZP5_UDGRXUAvbPiuxOh95

Want help building daily routines which will simplify your life? See my Flylady Refresher Course!

LLAP! Hugs! Diane

Autumn is definitely making its mark with chilly mornings and cobwebs everywhere, eek! Plus the nights are drawing in…so our menu this week is definitely heading towards “comfort food”! If you haven’t menu planned before: K.I.S.S. Keep it simple, Sweetie! I stick to trusted family favourites plus one “new” recipe. (No particular day assigned to our meals, we leave it flexible.) Here’s the menu at Casa Copenhagen this week!

• an old Delia Smith recipe which I’ve never tried before, Paprika Chicken! (Recipe link here) will serve with noodles
• beef steak with Bulgogi dipping sauce (good basic recipe here), salad and rice
• Danish medister sausage with potatoes, pickled red cabbage and mushrooms
• the new Jambalaya recipe I tested a couple of weeks ago was really good so we’re having it again! (Here’s the recipe link)
• spicy chops with creamy spinach and rösti potatoes
• Massaman curry – a firm favourite, takes 5 minutes to prepare, 20 minutes to cook! (Mae Ploy have a cute video on YouTube with instructions) this time we’re making it with potatoes and prawns
• as was the case before both of our kids moved out into their own flats, one day of the week for us is usually leftovers, a frittata/quiche made with any veggies which need using up, risotto (see my Instant Pot recipe here) or Danish smørrebrød (rye bread open sandwiches with various toppings) or the very occasional takeaway
• and if you want something a little fancier, or a dish for dinner guests, I can highly recommend my hubby’s signature dish…creamy baked salmon. Just four ingredients! If you don’t believe me, read the rave reviews on YouTube!

Remember when planning menus to K.I.S.S. – Keep it simple, Sweetie! Check what you have in your fridge, freezer and pantry before you shop. And don’t let anyone leave the kitchen after dinner until everything is cleared up and put away…

Need more menu planning inspiration? I have lots of easy recipes and crafts. Many of them only take a few minutes, and the kids can help too! See my full recipes and crafts playlist here… https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxIYCyTLBED8ZP5_UDGRXUAvbPiuxOh95

Want help building daily routines which will simplify your life? See my Flylady Refresher Course!

LLAP! Hugs! Diane

Woo hoo, this week’s menu plan is ready! I keep my menu planning very simple – tried and trusted family favourites (most of them can be made with 5-10 minutes’ work), plus one new recipe that I find on the internet. (There is no particular day assigned to our meals, we leave it flexible.) Here’s the menu at Casa Copenhagen this week!

• I got a good deal on cubed beef so a quick stir fry, Mongolian Beef (this recipe is similar to one we use) with rice made in my beloved rice cooked and steamed broccoli (steamed on top of the rice)
• spaghetti bolognese (known by Danish kids as pasta med kødsovs) with a simple salad
• we didn’t make the “build-your-own-beef burgers with homemade fries and a spinach/tomato salad” as planned last week so they have been moved forward to this week
• potato gnocchi with mushrooms and spinach in a creamy garlic white wine sauce, lots of shaved parmesan on top (good simple recipe here https://simplyhomecooked.com/creamy-mushroom-gnocchi/ )
• the new recipe I’m trying this week is an Instant Pot version of Jambalaya – here’s the recipe link, cross your fingers that it’s good!
• as was the case before both of our kids moved out into their own flats, one day of the week for us is usually leftovers, a frittata/quiche made with any veggies which need using up, risotto (see my Instant Pot recipe here) or Danish smørrebrød (rye bread open sandwiches with various toppings) or the very occasional takeaway
• and if courgettes /zucchini are in season where you are right now (perhaps you grow your own?), this ‘skoosh-skoosh’ pie is delicious and quick!

Remember when planning menus to K.I.S.S. – Keep it simple, Sweetie! Check what you have in your fridge, freezer and pantry before you shop. And don’t let anyone leave the kitchen after dinner until everything is cleared up and put away…

Need more menu planning inspiration? I have lots of easy recipes and crafts. Many of them only take a few minutes, and the kids can help too! See my full recipes and crafts playlist here… https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxIYCyTLBED8ZP5_UDGRXUAvbPiuxOh95

Want help building daily routines which will simplify your life? See my Flylady Refresher Course!

LLAP! Hugs! Diane

Feeling hot, hot, hot? Heatwave has returned to Copenhagen so we are sitting outside on the back deck for our meals, swatting away the first of the summer wasps, and enjoying the late summer heat while it lasts! In other news, it’s Tuesday and time to menu plan (see last week’s post for tips). Here’s the menu at Casa Copenhagen this week! (There is no particular day assigned to our meals, we leave it flexible.)

• chili con carne from the freezer (I usually make a double portion and freeze for later use) with rice and lots of toppings: tortilla chips, salsa, sour cream, cheese, coriander, etc
• a very simple sweet and sour chicken in the Instant Pot, will do the rice using the Pot in Pot method so everything is cooked at the same time – simple!
• build-your-own-beef burgers with homemade fries and a spinach/tomato salad
• we didn’t make Thai Larb as planned last week so it’s on the menu again for this week (we usually use a recipe from one of our favourite cookbooks, Jennifer Joyce, “My Asian Kitchen” and substitute fresh mango for pineapple)

• butter roasted Thai chicken (mix equal parts butter/red Thai curry paste and smear over chicken and bake) with a mixed salad and baby potatoes
• one night this week I’m out to leaving drinks for a dear friend who is leaving Copenhagen (boo hoo!) and another night hubby and I are going to a Silver Wedding party, so on those nights I’ll eat a sandwich, a banana and some cheese before heading out
• as was the case before both of our kids moved out into their own flats, one day of the week for us is usually leftovers, a frittata/quiche made with any veggies which need using up, risotto (see my Instant Pot recipe here) or Danish smørrebrød (rye bread open sandwiches with various toppings) or the very occasional takeaway
• and a super simple dish, ready in 5 minutes and great for these warm summer evenings when you don’t have much of an appetite and it’s too hot to cook – a British curried chicken salad a.k.a. Coronation Chicken!

Remember when planning menus to K.I.S.S. – Keep it simple, Sweetie! Check what you have in your fridge, freezer and pantry before you shop. And don’t let anyone leave the kitchen after dinner until everything is cleared up and put away…

Need more menu planning inspiration? See my full recipes and crafts playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxIYCyTLBED8ZP5_UDGRXUAvbPiuxOh95

Want help building daily routines which will simplify your life? See my Flylady Refresher Course!

LLAP! Hugs! Diane

Happy Tuesday! Time to menu plan…the easiest way to cut out the stress come dinner time! Plus it saves us money and stops food waste. What more could you want? Not sure where to start? Sit down with a cup of tea or glass of cold water and jot down a few ideas – what are the meals you can make with your eyes closed, family favourites, a frittata or soup to use up what you already have in the fridge. Need inspiration? Pick a different theme for each night: Italian, Korean, TexMex, Indian… Or: pasta, vegetarian, straight-from-the-freezer, barbecue, soup/sandwich.  Here’s the menu at Casa Copenhagen this week! (There is no particular day assigned to our meals, we leave it flexible.)

• crockpot pizza (will probably do a combo of pepperoni and green pepper)
• pasta with salsiccia sausage, cream, mushrooms and cranberries
• Danish frikadeller (meat patties) with potato/leek terrines (both straight from the freezer) with warm red pickled cabbage (from a jar)
• Thai Larb (we usually use a recipe from one of our favourite cookbooks, Jennifer Joyce, “My Asian Kitchen” and substitute fresh mango for pineapple)

• I have a packet mix of quiche base to use up so will probably do a simple mustard/tomato tart and serve it with salad and parma ham
• as was the case before both of our kids moved out into their own flats, one day of the week for us is usually leftovers, a frittata/quiche made with any veggies which need using up, risotto (see my Instant Pot recipe here) or Danish smørrebrød (rye bread open sandwiches with various toppings) or the very occasional takeaway
• and an old favourite, super simple and very tasty: a twist on Shepherd’s Pie!

Remember when planning menus to K.I.S.S. – Keep it simple, Sweetie! Check what you have in your fridge, freezer and pantry before you shop. And don’t let anyone leave the kitchen after dinner until everything is cleared up and put away…

Need more menu planning inspiration? See my full recipes and crafts playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxIYCyTLBED8ZP5_UDGRXUAvbPiuxOh95

Want help building daily routines which will simplify your life? See my Flylady Refresher Course!

LLAP! Hugs! Diane

Here we go again, a bit of Tuesday planning to stop the stress! Summer is here and if you saw my Summer Thrive or Survive video, you’ll know that I keep our meals super simple at this time of year. Make sure to stock up on ready-meals and freezer items. When it’s too hot to cook or your plans change at the last minute, it’s nice to have food on hand instead of buying takeout! Here’s the menu at Casa Copenhagen this week! (There is no particular day assigned to our meals, we leave it flexible.)

• homemade beef burgers with homemade potato wedges (sweet potato wedges for me)
• smoked salmon with cold potato salad and a tomato/red onion/garden chives salad
• one night I will be out to dinner and a concert with hubby, woo hoo!
• a quick stir fry of Mongolian Beef (this recipe is similar to one we use) with rice made in my beloved rice cooked and steamed broccoli (steamed on top of the rice)
• vegetarian (using black lentils I have in the store cupboard) “Shepherd’s Pie” (will be trying this recipe from the BBC Good Food website)
• as was the case before both of our kids moved out into their own flats, one day of the week for us is usually leftovers, a frittata/quiche made with any veggies which need using up, risotto (see my Instant Pot recipe here) or Danish smørrebrød (rye bread open sandwiches with various toppings) or the very occasional takeaway
• and an easy peasy very tasty supper dish which always gets rave reviews on my YouTube channel = Thai Prawns! A recipe handed down to me from my Dearly-Departed-Danish-Mother-in-Law…

Remember when planning menus to K.I.S.S. – Keep it simple, Sweetie! Check what you have in your fridge, freezer and pantry before you shop. And don’t let anyone leave the kitchen after dinner until everything is cleared up and put away…

Need more menu planning inspiration? See my full recipes and crafts playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxIYCyTLBED8ZP5_UDGRXUAvbPiuxOh95

Want help building daily routines which will simplify your life? See my Flylady Refresher Course!

LLAP! Hugs! Diane

How’s the month of June for you? For me it’s as busy as December with end-of-term celebrations, graduation parties and my birthday: so much going on! If you’re in the same boat, make sure to stock up on ready-meals and items for the freezer. When your energy is low, you don’t have much time or plans change at the last minute, you can still feed yourself/the family without resorting to takeaway! For example, my Coronation Chicken (a dish created for Queen Elizabeth II coronation in 1953), can be on the table in 5 minutes (see my YouTube video later in the post). Without further ado, here’s the menu at Casa Copenhagen this week!

• spaghetti carbonara (great standby dish: pasta, eggs, parmesan, cream, bacon)
• smoked salmon with new baby potatoes and a mixed salad
• hubby will be making a classic lasagne when my daughter comes to visit
• Croque Madame (a toasted cheese and ham sandwich topped with a fried egg, see photos above) with a side salad
• fried pork sausages with grated carrot/cashew nut salad and readymade potato salad
• as was the case before both of our kids moved out into their own flats, one day of the week for us is usually leftovers, a frittata/quiche made with any veggies which need using up, risotto (see my Instant Pot recipe here) or Danish smørrebrød (rye bread open sandwiches with various toppings) or the very occasional takeaway
• and as I mentioned above, Coronation Chicken, a recipe to mark Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation in 1953 (history of the dish is here). I keep bags of cooked shredded/diced chicken in the freezer and remove a bag in the morning, ready to make dinner in under 5 minutes in the evening…

Remember when planning menus to K.I.S.S. – Keep it simple, Sweetie! Check what you have in your fridge, freezer and pantry before you shop. And don’t let anyone leave the kitchen after dinner until everything is cleared up and put away…

Need more menu planning inspiration? See my full recipes and crafts playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxIYCyTLBED8ZP5_UDGRXUAvbPiuxOh95

Want help building daily routines which will simplify your life? See my Flylady Refresher Course!

LLAP! Hugs! Diane

Happy Tuesday from Copenhagen! Flylady Focus is Plan and Play and I’m spending 10-15 minutes on “desk work”. (I explain what I do on the different days of the Flylady Daily Focus in this video.) Remember some “play” for yourself – if you don’t plan it, it won’t happen! Arrange to meet with a friend for a walk, organise a lunch family, look into next summer’s vacation… But back to menu planning, here’s the menu at Casa Copenhagen this week!

• Indian Butter Chicken, Murgh Makhani, with basmati rice, one of our weeknight favourites (I use the recipe from this blog and double the spices as we like some oomph!)
• leftover homemade quiche from the freezer with a mixed salad and pickled beetroot (on a night when hubby is out)
• all-in-one-Instant-pot chorizo pasta or all-in-one-Instant-pot spaghetti bolognese (I love leaving the Instant Pot to take care of things while I go do something else plus there is less washing up!)
• salade nicoise (tuna, olives, anchovies, boiled eggs, etc) we usually add new potatoes to ours to bulk it out (BBC Good Food has a great basic recipe)
• chicken pastry parcels (straight from the freezer section of the supermarket) with new potatoes and carrots
• steak with béarnaise sauce, homemade fries and a tomato/onion salad
• as was the case before both of our kids moved out into their own flats, one day of the week for us is usually leftovers, a frittata/quiche made with any veggies which need using up, risotto (see my Instant Pot recipe here) or Danish smørrebrød (rye bread open sandwiches with various toppings) or the very occasional takeaway
• and finally…my hubby’s signature dish, Creamy Baked Salmon. Utterly delicious, so easy and only 4 ingredients! (Now that we are Empty Nesters, I use a smaller piece of salmon and halve the ingredients/use a smaller oven dish.)

Remember when planning menus to K.I.S.S. – Keep it simple, Sweetie! Check what you have in your fridge, freezer and pantry before you shop.

Need more menu planning inspiration? See my full recipes and crafts playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxIYCyTLBED8ZP5_UDGRXUAvbPiuxOh95

Want help building daily routines which will simplify your life? See my Flylady Refresher Course!

LLAP! Hugs! Diane

What’s for dinner? A question which used to cause me so much stress…scrambling at the last minute to find something to cook or resorting to takeaway. Enter Flylady menu planning to save the day…and reduce the stress and amount we spend on food! LOL! Happy Tuesday from Copenhagen where I’m spending 10/15 minutes on some “desk work”, including a rough menu plan for the week ahead! (I explain the Flylady Daily Focus in this video.) Here’s what we’re eating this week at Casa Copenhagen!

• beef burgers with slow-cooked onions, warm red cabbage and new potatoes
• Pad Thai (our son is visiting again this week and is a great chef!) using this recipe by Jennifer Joyce (we love her My Asian Cookbook)
• didn’t make Greek Moussaka last week due to a last-minute change of plans so it’s back on the menu (I’m using a shortcut Danish recipe moussaka)
• biksemad – Danish hash – which has starred many a time here on the menu plan. Cubed, fried meat, onions and potatoes, which you buy in bags from the supermarket freezer section. Topped with a fried egg or two and cold, pickled beetroot. Ketchup or brown sauce on the side – your choice!

• gnocchi (a great last-minute standby to have in your store cupboard) with chorizo, mushrooms, sundried tomatoes, tomato sauce, thyme and topped with lots of fresh mozzarella
• as was the case before both of our kids moved out into their own flats, one day of the week for us is usually leftovers, a frittata/quiche made with any veggies which need using up, risotto (see my Instant Pot recipe here) or Danish smørrebrød (rye bread open sandwiches with various toppings) or the very occasional takeaway
• and finally…boller i karry, a Danish classic, very popular with kids!

Remember when planning menus to K.I.S.S. – Keep it simple, Sweetie! Check what you have in your fridge, freezer and pantry before you shop.

Need more menu planning inspiration? See my full recipes and crafts playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxIYCyTLBED8ZP5_UDGRXUAvbPiuxOh95

Want help with your Flylady Routines? See my Flylady Refresher Course!

LLAP! Hugs! Diane