Category: Menu planning

Happy Tuesday! It’s the day I plan my menu…and I also make sure to plan some “play”. We all need something to look forward to and, if I don’t get some “in person” social connection during these long dark weeks of autumn and winter, my mood slides downhill fast. So I’m reaching out to a couple of friends today, and we shall find a date in our diaries to connect before Christmas. But back to the food…here’s what’s on the menu this week at Casa Copenhagen!

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• Spanish tortilla (potato omelette) with chorizo sausage and salad
• an old favourite, Korean Bibimbap (I make a variation of this recipe), always tasty!
• homemade Chicken Parmesan (breaded chicken fillets with parmesan, baked in the oven on a bed of tomato sauce) with tagliatelle and spinach
• It’s Mortens Aften on 10 November so we shall be having the traditional Danish meal of duck (for us: confit de canard from a tin) with red cabbage, potatoes and gravy. Yum!
• homemade build-your-own-beef-burgers with oven baked potato wedges and salad
• roast pork with baby potatoes and steamed buttered carrots
• Instant Pot Spaghetti Bolognese (I tried this out a few weeks ago and it worked really well – everything is cooked at the same time, you switch on the pot and walk away – simple!), it’s a brilliant way to cook a meal for two
• 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 or Danish smørrebrød (rye bread open sandwiches with various toppings) or the very occasional takeaway
• and the first dish that my hubby cooked for me, when we were dating…Beef in a Bowl! Definitely not one to serve for guests but a great standby, and kids love it!

Remember to K.I.S.S. – Keep it simple, Sweetie! And remember when you’re planning your menu this week to plan a little bit of fun for yourself and your family!

LLAP! Hugs! Diane

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

Happy Tuesday! The day I do a spot of “plan and play”. Plan our week’s menu and plan a little bit of fun for the future! Last week I met up with my friend Susanne for a cup of tea in one of Copenhagen’s cafés. Nice to catch up with her and chat about work, family and Dressing Your Truth! (Susanne is a type 4/1 and I’m a 1/4!)

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But, without further ado, here’s what’s on the menu this week at Casa Copenhagen!

• roast lamb with roast potatoes (all done in the oven together) and stir-fried veggies
• I’m out to dinner one night this week with my good friend, Anne-Marie, and we’ll be having cocktails and Italian food, woo hoo! (I planned this a couple of Tuesdays ago, on “plan and play” day…)
• Swedish cheese pie Västerbottenpaj (we had it a few weeks back, I froze half to eat later) served warm with smoked salmon, dill, crème fraîche, chopped red onion and Danish caviar (lump-fish roe). The Swedish Västerbotten cheese is quite similar in flavour to parmesan (you can read about the cheese here)

• potato gnocchi with in a creamy garlic, mushroom, spinach and bacon sauce, lots of parmesan on top
• smoked haddock fillets cooked in milk/cream and light curry, and served with baby potatoes and carrots
• 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 or Danish smørrebrød (rye bread open sandwiches with various toppings) or the very occasional takeaway
• and at this time of the year, comfort food is always welcome! Have you ever tried Burning Love?! Brændende Kærlighed – a Danish classic…

Remember to K.I.S.S. – Keep it simple, Sweetie! And remember when you’re planning your menu this week to plan a little bit of fun for yourself and your family!

LLAP! Hugs! Diane

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

Happy Wednesday! I hope your week is off to a great start…I can’t believe how fast the days are passing by, and how very dark it is these mornings in Copenhagen! But, hey ho, my menu plan is written so it’s all good! If you’re new to menu planning, then don’t go overboard… If you eat a lot of take out and ready-meals then just start by adding one or two days a week where you cook from scratch. I cook most of our meals but “plan” for a takeaway or restaurant visit once every couple of weeks. Keeps the cost down and makes it more of a treat. Last week we meet up with our kids and went to the cinema (saw “The Royal Game”, a German movie based on the novella by Stefan Zweig) and then ate dinner at a vegan restaurant in the city’s Latin Quarter. Very hygge!

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But, without further ado, here’s what we’ll be eating this week at Casa Copenhagen!

• I’m testing out cooking smaller meals (hubby and I are empty nesters so it’s just the two of us now): pasta in the Instant Pot (all in one pot method) with Danish frikadeller (meatballs)
• hubby is out to dinner one night this week, so I will be the Queen of the Remote Control and will enjoy something straight from the freezer, hooray!
• herby karbonader (Danish pork patties) in a creamy sauce with cranberries and baby onions, served with homemade fries (and homemade sweet potato fries for me)
• beef stroganoff with mushrooms (made in my Instant Pot using the slow cooker function) with buttered mash
• pork chops with rösti potatoes and a mixed 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 or Danish smørrebrød (rye bread open sandwiches with various toppings) or the very occasional takeaway
• and a very old favourite which the kids always loved and which is great for a very speedy supper – Swedish Sausage Stew (Svensk pølsegryde) served with rice…

Remember to K.I.S.S. – Keep it simple, Sweetie! And enjoy a little of what you fancy! My son came round to visit last weekend and we bought a delicious chocolate cake from a local baker…

Hope you have a wonderful day. Remember when you are planning your menu to plan a little bit of fun for yourself!

LLAP! Hugs! Diane

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

Good morning from wet and grey Copenhagen where I’ve been down at the sea for my usual skinnydip seaswim (sea temperature has now fallen to 10c/50f). Keep warm out there! Tuesday is “Plan and Play” in Flyland Land and I’m doing a spot of planning (deskwork) and have been in touch with a friend to organise some “play” for next week. We all need something to look forward to! Tuesday is also the time I plan our weekly menu. Here’s what we’ll be eating this week at Casa Copenhagen!

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• Instant Pot Risotto – easier than standing stirring risotto on the stove! I fry up an onion and some garlic, add about 300 grammes of Arborio rice and 850 mls of hot stock. (Sometimes I add a half cup of white wine and 750 mls of stock.) Cook on high pressure for 6 minutes, allow to stand for a couple of minutes and then do a quick pressure release. At that point I stir in fresh herbs and any ingredients which just need to be warmed through: spinach, sliced sugar snap peas, asparagus, fresh/frozen peas, leftover cooked chicken or ham, fried bacon. Serve with plenty of parmesan cheese! This week we’ll be having a wild mushroom risotto (we can buy bags of frozen mixed wild mushrooms at the supermarket, which are great to have on hand)
• we’re going to the cinema this week (probably to see “The Royal Game”, hubby and daughter enjoyed reading the novella by Stefan Zweig) and might grab a bite to eat in the city beforehand or afterwards
• an old favourite – Murgh Makhani – Indian butter chicken with rice which is so soothing on these dark, grey days! We use this recipe, easy and fast and eat with basmati rice and hot naan bread
• small steaks with homemade French fries (sweet potato ones for me), béarnaise sauce, fried onions and mushrooms
• Vitello Tonnato (a “takeaway” from the delicatessen at our supermarket: cold sliced veal topped with a creamy tuna sauce and capers, sounds weird but works well) with fries and salad

• I made Australian meat pie a couple of weeks ago (recipe is here, just be warned that it is rather salty so I would reduce the number of stock cubes next time) and hubby and I ate half of it. I froze the other half – so we will be having that reheated with potatoes, broccoli and pickled beetroot
• dining at our daughter’s flat for the very first time – woo hoo! She has invited us over for homemade lasagne and homemade brownies
• 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 or Danish smørrebrød (rye bread open sandwiches with various toppings) or the very occasional takeaway
• we still have cooking apples on the tree in our garden and I feel a cake coming on! Here’s a simple and tasty one which I’ve been making for over 10 years…

Remember to K.I.S.S. – Keep it simple, Sweetie! And don’t leave the kitchen until you’re Evening Routine is done. Perhaps you can add a little seasonal hygge to keep you motivated”

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Hope you have a wonderful day and remember to plan a bit of fun for yourself!

LLAP! Hugs! Diane

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

Happy Tuesday! Time to grab your diary/notebook, pour yourself a glass of water or mug of hot coffee, set your timer and do a bit of planning or deskwork… It doesn’t have to be Tuesday, just pick a day of the week that works for you. Check your diary to see what is coming up, do you need to pencil in appointments, send a greetings card, plan a vacation? I plan our weekly menu on Tuesdays. Remember to plan some fun for yourself too! But without further ado, here’s what we’ll be eating this week at Casa Copenhagen!

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• chili con carne made in my Instant Pot (using the slow cooker function) with all the toppings (salsa, grated cheese, crème fraîche, crushed tortilla chips) and rice made in my beloved rice cooker
• I’m going out with Vibeke one night this week (to a retro/vintage clothes shop event) so I’ll eat ryebread sandwiches (my go-to topping is leverpostej og rødbeder which is liverpâté and pickled beetroot) before I head out the door and hubby will probably have the leftover chili con carne
• Swedish cheese pie Västerbottenpaj served warm with smoked salmon, dill, crème fraîche, chopped red onion and Danish caviar (lump-fish roe). The Swedish Västerbotten cheese is quite similar in flavour to parmesan and you can read the backstory here

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• Pad See Ew – Thai Fried rice noodles with pork tenderloin and broccoli (from the Danish book Foodfanatic Thai by Nadia Mathiasen – recipe is here https://www.foodfanatic.dk/stegte-nudler-med-svinekoed-og-asiatisk-broccoli but just Google “pad see ew” to find recipes in English
• Danish biksemad – which is basically potato hash and leftover meat. I fry up cubes of potato, sliced onions and leek (or a mix of root vegetables) and add in a jar of French rillettes de canard (potted duck) at the end and heat through. Top with cubed pickled beetroot and a dash of ketchup or HP brown sauce.
• Croque Madame (toasted ham and cheese sandwich topped with a fried egg) and a mixed 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 or Danish smørrebrød (rye bread open sandwiches with various toppings) or the very occasional takeaway
• and it’s always good to be stocked up in case your plans change…here’s an old video with my easy ideas for last-minute meals which are also quick!

Remember to K.I.S.S. – Keep it simple, Sweetie! Hope you have a wonderful day and remember to plan a bit of fun for yourself!

LLAP! Hugs! Diane

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

Good morning from rather foggy and gloomy Copenhagen where it’s getting darker every morning…but our winterbathing (skinnydipping in the Danish sea, all year round) is keeping us revived and refreshed! It was rather breezy this morning…hold on to your hats!

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As the weather turns much cooler and wetter, we’re returning to more warming dishes…here’s this week’s menu at Casa Copenhagen!

• wholemeal pasta with homemade tomato sauce (anchovies, garlic, onions, tinned tomatoes, a wee bit of sugar, herbs) and mini Swedish meatballs, lots of parmesan and a spinach salad
• hubby is out with a friend so I’ll be enjoying a night in with a readymeal from the freezer, woo hoo!
• I’m out to dinner with my New Zealand friend, Kathryn, so no cooking for me that night either, double woo hoo!
• quick-fried Mongolian beef with steamed rice and red pepper, spring onions
• pork chops with mashed baby potatoes and stirfried cabbage and carrots
• didn’t make the vegetable gyoza last week so will do them this week in a ramen style soup with a boiled egg on the top etc
• 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 or Danish smørrebrød (rye bread open sandwiches with various toppings) or the very occasional takeaway
• and I’ll be making a big batch of my easy peasy no-knead, just stir and mix bread rolls on Friday night, ready to bake Saturday morning! My YouTube video is below

Remember to K.I.S.S. – Keep it simple, Sweetie! Hope you have a wonderful day and don’t forgot to leave the kitchen tidy when you leave it!

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LLAP! Hugs! Diane

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

Happy Tuesday from wonderful Copenhagen where we had torrential rain during the night (the kind that wakes you up) but we are currently sunny! Not going to beat around the bush (places to go, people to see!) so here’s this week’s menu at Casa Copenhagen!

• didn’t make Danish meatball, dumpling and carrot soup last week as our plans changed, so that’s been put forward to this week’s menu (in Denmark the dumplings/meatballs come frozen in bags)
• vegetable gyoza served with fried rice and Szechuan garlic green beans
• Massaman curry – a firm favourite and takes 5 minutes to prepare, 20 minutes to cook! Mae Ploy have a cute video on YouTube with instructions
• going to try making this Aussie Meat Pie which sounds very similar to a Scottish meat pie! Recipe link (from an Australian website) is here
• gnocchi with mushrooms, white wine, garlic, spinach, cream and parmesan (great recipe link here)
• 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 or Danish smørrebrød (rye bread open sandwiches with various toppings) or the very occasional takeaway
• …and an old, old, favourite – Swedish Sausage Stew – I can make it with my eyes closed! My YouTube video is below

Remember to K.I.S.S. – Keep it simple, Sweetie! Hope you have a wonderful day and don’t forgot to leave the kitchen tidy when you leave it!

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LLAP! Hugs! Diane

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