Happy Tuesday from cold (and occasionally snowy) Copenhagen, Denmark! A quick check in with this week’s menu at Casa Copenhagen! Remember to K.I.S.S. – Keep it simple, Sweetie!

• pork chops, rösti potatoes and stir fried veggies (courgette, red pepper, spinach)
• Pad See Ew (we have a recipe we normally use but will try this one for a change https://rasamalaysia.com/pad-see-ew/)
• a hearty Salade Nicoise
• Build Your Own Burgers (homemade burgers on buns with fries and salad)
• Okonomiyaki (a type of Japanese pancake made with lots of cabbage and spring onions) topped with bacon
• 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)
• and an old family favourite that I can almost make with my eyes closed! Swedish Sausage Stew, or Svensk Pølsegryde as we call it in Danish. On the table in 15 minutes. My “how to” video is here …

Don’t forget to clean up as you go along, and “close” the kitchen when you have finished eating dinner. It’s so nice to wake up the next day and be greeted by your efforts!

Hope you have a wonderful Tuesday!

LLAP! May the Danish hygge be with you! Hugs!

Diane

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

Happy Tuesday! In yesterday’s video I was talking about Plan and Play day, and a simple routine to keep paper clutter from piling up! So here I am, sitting at my desk, timer set for 15 minutes, going through papers, looking at my diary and menu planning. Here’s this week’s menu at Casa Copenhagen! Remember to K.I.S.S. – Keep it simple, Sweetie!

• Danish “tarteletter” – delicate pastry cases filled with chicken and asparagus, with potatoe and carrots on the side
• chicken stiry fry with cauliflower “rice”
• Scottish stovies made in my Instant Pot on the slow cooker function (I’ll be adding a jar of duck rillettes to it, to add a wee bit more flavour) and plenty of beetroot on the side
• tortillas with kebab and a fresh salad (red pepper, cucumber, tomato, shallot)
• Risotto (made in my Instant Pot on high pressure setting) with asparagus, lemon and parmesan cheese, crusty bread on the side
• 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)
• and an old family favourite – my Dearly-Departed-Mother-in-Law’s “Thai Rejer” which you can see me demonstrating here …

Don’t forget to clean up as you go along, and “close” the kitchen when you have finished eating dinner. It’s so nice to wake up the next day and be greeted by your efforts!

Hope you have a wonderful Tuesday!

LLAP! May the Danish hygge be with you! Hugs!

Diane

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

Happy Tuesday! If Christmas, New Year/the holidays has thrown you for a loop, it’s time to get some sanity back in the house and menu plan! Here’s this week’s menu at Casa Copenhagen! Remember to K.I.S.S. – Keep it simple, Sweetie!

• tortellini with spinach and peas
• Haggis Pie (using canned Haggis from my pantry): haggis topped with mashed carrots and mashed potatoes
• my son is staying with us for a few days and will make Vietnamese Beef Pho
• hearty homemade leek and bacon quiche with a fresh, crunchy salad and pickled beetroot from a jar
• we will be having a takeaway meal this week to celebrate my husband’s birthday! (our restaurants are closed due to the Lockdown)
• 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)
• An old family favourite – A Twist on Shepherd’s Pie – minced lamb in a creamy Philadelphia and tomato sauce topped with sliced potatoes. Fast, easy, tasty! My YouTube video showing how I make it is below…

Don’t forget to clean up as you go along, and “close” the kitchen when you have finished eating dinner. It’s so nice to wake up the next day and be greeted by your efforts!

Hope you have a wonderful Tuesday!

LLAP! May the Danish hygge be with you! Hugs!

Diane

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

Happy Tuesday! Less than two weeks til Christmas, woo hoo! Not quite into full festive fayre yet, still keeping things simple with family favourites. Here’s this week’s menu at Casa Copenhagen!

• “Ketchup Chicken” which is basically a stir fry of chicken, garlic, chili, ginger, lots of ketchup/water to make a sauce, served with rice and topped with chopped cashew nuts and spring onions
• homemade quiche with tomato and crab, salad on the side (this was on last week’s menu but didn’t happen)
• sausage rolls and salad and potatoes (sausage rolls are a must at Christmas in Britain…I make my own but will be cutting them larger, so they will be more “sausage pasties” size
• black bean burritos with all the usual sides: guacamole, salsa, cheese, crème fraîche
• Thai Larb (with minced chicken) made for us by my son – always so fresh and delicious! (I’m a huge fan of fresh mint and coriander together in the sweetly sour sauce)
• 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)
• My son’s favourite: Swedish Summerhouse Stew – so simple and only a few ingredients! You can easily change it up by adding small cocktail sausages, sliced mushrooms, etc. My YouTube video showing how I make it is below…

Don’t forget to clean up as you go along, and “close” the kitchen when you have finished eating dinner. It’s so nice to wake up the next day and be greeted by your efforts!

Hope you have a wonderful Tuesday! Remember to K.I.S.S. – Keep It Simple, Sweetie!

LLAP! May the Danish hygge be with you! Hugs!

Diane

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

Happy Tuesday! I know we’re all busy, busy, busy right now so I won’t hang about. Here’s what’s on the menu this week at Casa Copenhagen!

• Shakshuka with warm, crusty bread and butter
• homemade quiche with tomato and crab, salad on the side
• Mongolian beef (using minced beef) with stir fry veggies and rice
• Swedish meatball bake (tomato/basil sauce and mozzarella or cheddar cheese) with wholemeal pasta
• chops with ratatouille (I bake mine = easy and tasty!) and couscous
• baked ham (with brown sugar/mustard topping) with green beans and gratin dauphinois
• 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)
• And I have the ingredients in the fridge for Creamy Salmon Pasta…a great standby when plans suddenly change and you need dinner in a hurry! My YouTube video showing how I make it is below…

Don’t forget to clean up as you go along, and “close” the kitchen when you have finished eating dinner. It’s so nice to wake up the next day and be greeted by your efforts!

Hope you have a wonderful Tuesday! Remember to K.I.S.S. – Keep It Simple, Sweetie!

LLAP! May the Danish hygge be with you! Hugs!

Diane

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

Happy first of December! Busy day and busy week ahead – how about you? Remember to make sure that you are making time for breakfast right now… Usually we eat the same thing (porridge or hot rolls) but the past couple of weeks have been planning different things. Really helps to keep our spirits up when it is so darn dark and cold when we get out of bed. And so important in the busy run up to Christmas to have food in your tummy and not be running on empty! Today was waffles (other days we have had gypsy toast, pancakes, scrambled eggs and bacon). But enough of breakfast – here’s what’s on the menu this week at Casa Copenhagen!

• Spaghetti Bolognese with a bowl of fresh raw veggies on the side (I make the sauce in my Instant Pot on slow cook function: a jar of Dolmio sauce plus a frozen package of minced beef which has already been browned)
• veggie Thai yellow curry (tinned chickpeas, onion and fresh broccoli) made in my Instant Pot on slow cook function, served with jasmine rice made in my rice cooker
• filled gnocchi (pesto/mozzarella) with a rich tomato sauce, steamed broccoli
• red Thai chicken with green beans and bulgur (was going to make this last week but changed to something different when my son came to visit)
• panko breaded pork chops with potatoes and carrots
• 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)
• beef bourguignon made in my Instant Pot – a variation on my Mum’s Stew (I add half a cup of red wine, mushrooms, thyme, etc) My YouTube video showing how I make the basic version of Mum’s stew is below

Hope you have a wonderful Tuesday! Remember to K.I.S.S. – Keep It Simple, Sweetie!

LLAP! May the Danish hygge be with you! Hugs!

Diane

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

Another cold, dark, dreich week here in Copenhagen and we are all dragging our feet. Luckily we have the thought of Advent Sunday and the first of December to pull us through…and comfort food on the dinner table! Keeping it very simple this week before we launch into festive food. So here’s what’s on the menu at Casa Copenhagen!

• freezer ready meal (chicken pastry parcels) with sweetcorn, carrots and potatoes
• “luxury duck hash” – 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), a bit of salad on the side – (this was on last week’s menu but got scrubbed when our son came to visit)
• spaghetti carbonara with garlic bread and salad
• red Thai chicken with green beans and bulgur
• homemade burgers on homemade burger buns with potato wedges and salad
• 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)
• Swedish Sausage Stew (svensk pølsegryde) – great comfort food which I can make with my eyes closed – my YouTube video showing how I make it is below

Hope you have a wonderful Tuesday! Remember to K.I.S.S. – Keep It Simple, Sweetie!

LLAP! May the Danish hygge be with you! Hugs!

Diane

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

It’s getting colder here in Copenhagen and we are turning to heavier foods to keep us warm! Did I also mention that the days are getting shorter? Dark by 4pm in the afternoon and light again around 7.45am… I like to eat my breakfast by candlelight – gives me a gentle start to a dark day. Without further ado, here’s what’s on the menu this week at Casa Copenhagen…

• teriyaki/sesame baked salmon with sugarsnap peas and rice (I make the rice in my ricecooker and steam the peas on top)
• “luxury duck hash” – 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), a bit of salad on the side
• chicken parmesan with pasta
• nasi goreng (fried rice with vegetables)
• my husband will be cooking lasagne for us, yum! Served with a mixed salad (was on last week’s menu plan but we ended up using some leftovers from the freezer instead)
• Danish flæskesteg (roast pork) with potatoes, carrots and creamy gravy
• 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)

Hope you have a wonderful Tuesday! Remember to K.I.S.S. – Keep It Simple, Sweetie!

LLAP! May the Danish hygge be with you! Hugs!

Diane

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

It’s Tuesday which means? Menu Plan! Set your timer for 10 minutes, grab a cup of coffee or glass of water, check what activities are on your calendar this week, see what needs using up in the fridge or what is soon going to expire in your pantry and make a rough plan. Ask the family what they would like to cook. Keep it simple, Sweetie! Don’t make something new or complicated on a day when you have a lot going on. Quite a few family favourites on our menu plan this week because they are quick and easy…essential right now because my energy levels drop as soon as it is dark here, which at the moment is just after 4pm. (If you need help with creating a daily focus for yourself, see my Flylady videos here “Plan and Play day” ) Without further ado, here’s what’s on the menu this week at Casa Copenhagen…

• chicken and veggie stir fry with couscous
• out to dinner in Copenhagen city with my friend, Kathryn (she’s originally from Wellington, New Zealand and I’ve known her for about 15 years, our kids went to school together). Woo hoo, there may also be cocktails involved! The family will be fending for themselves with Danish biksemad (beef “hash” topped with a fried egg and served with beetroot and ketchup)
• it’s Mortens Aften (“Morten’s Eve”) on 10 November! If you want to know more about that particular Danish tradition and how we celebrate, see my old blogpost here https://dianedenmark.com/tag/mortensaften-mortens-evening/ We’ll be eating in our dining room and our son will be joining us for the traditional dinner of duck with pickled red cabbage and potatoes. It’s like a mini run through of the Danish Christmas Dinner.
• Breakfast for Dinner – some kind of eggs (scrambled, omelette, fried), sausages or bacon, pancakes or waffles, fruit or veggies. Orange juice to drink.
• my husband will be cooking lasagne for us, yum! Served with a mixed salad.
• one day of the week for us is usually leftovers, a frittata/quiche made with any veggies which need using up, risotto (see above) or Danish smørrebrød (rye bread open sandwiches with various toppings)
• Boller i karry (“meatballs in a curry sauce” with rice- another Danish classic, real comfort food and so quick and easy on a busy night. You can see how I make it below…

Hope you have a wonderful Tuesday! Remember to K.I.S.S. – Keep It Simple, Sweetie! And don’t forget to clean up your kitchen as soon as you have finished eating!

LLAP! May the Danish hygge be with you! Hugs!

Diane

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

Happy Tuesday – time to menu plan! We don’t always stick to the plan but having it written down and basic ingredients in the fridge/freezer/pantry keeps the stress away. Our plans change, we don’t feel like eating what we originally planned, there may be only two of us eating, our son suddenly pays a visit. We need to be flexible! Last week I had planned to make my Mum’s Beef Stew in my Instant Pot but decided on the day to make a Thai Beef Curry instead (also using the Instant Pot). Our menu plan isn’t set in stone, it’s a safety net! Don’t feel that you can’t change it along the way. (If you need help with creating a daily focus for yourself, see my Flylady videos here “Plan and Play day” ) Here’s what’s on the menu this week at Casa Copenhagen…

• Chicken (using leftover chicken from a roast) and vegetable risotto made in the Instant Pot – so easy and good!
• Build-your-own-burgers with homemade fries and salad
• Hearty salade nicoise (salad, tuna, egg, potatoes, tomatoes, cucumber, anchovies, olives) with croutons
• Spaghetti pesto with veggie meatballs
• Bibimbap – often on the menu here! We usually use this recipe for the sauce https://mykoreankitchen.com/bibimbap-korean-mixed-rice-with-meat-and-assorted-vegetables/#top
• The Danish classic Stegt flæsk med persillesovs (crispy fried belly pork with parsley sauce), served with carrots and potatoes (this was on last week’s menu but my son came to visit for the weekend so we celebrated with one of his favourite meals – beef steaks with béarnaise sauce, fries and a mixed salad)
• one day of the week for us is usually leftovers, a frittata/quiche made with any veggies which need using up, risotto (see above) or Danish smørrebrød (rye bread open sandwiches with various toppings)
• The first dish my husband cooked for me (when we were courting in Luxembourg in 1994!). Beef in a Bowl – yes, a rather silly name! See my YouTube video below for instructions and the story… Comfort food!

Hope you have a wonderful Tuesday! Remember to K.I.S.S. – Keep It Simple, Sweetie!

LLAP! May the Danish hygge be with you! Hugs!

Diane

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

Happy Tuesday from dreich Copenhagen where I’m enjoying the fact that my menu plan is done – a week of easy prep meals! We put our clocks back last weekend and the early onset of the evening darkness (around 5pm) leaves me feeling very lethargic – so I’m making sure that cooking is super simple this week. I menu plan to save stress and money – having my grocery list written out before I shop means I’m less tempted to buy things that we don’t need. (If you need help with creating a daily focus for yourself, see my Flylady videos here “Plan and Play day” ) Without further ado, here’s what’s on the menu this week at Casa Copenhagen…

• Black bean burritos with sour cream, guacamole and cheddar cheese
• Leek and bacon quiche served with salad and pickled beetroot
• Danish biksemad (hash) topped with a fried egg
• Baked gnocchi with sausage and peas in a herby tomato sauce
• A Danish classic Stegt flæsk med persillesovs (crispy fried belly pork with parsley sauce), served with carrots and potatoes
• one day of the week for us is usually leftovers, a frittata/quiche made with any veggies which need using up, or Danish smørrebrød (rye bread open sandwiches with various toppings)
• My Scottish Mum’s beef stew made in my Instant Pot – YouTube video with the recipe is below. All in one pot (the potatoes and carrots are steamed on the top), minimal prep. What’s not to love?!

Hope you have a wonderful Tuesday! And remember to K.I.S.S. – Keep It Simple, Sweetie!

LLAP! May the Danish hygge be with you! Hugs!

Diane

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

Happy Tuesday from rather grey and dull but still wonderful Copenhagen! We are back to taking inspiration from the Lifesum app for our menu planning this week. I menu plan once a week to save stress and money – having my grocery list written out before I shop means I’m less tempted to buy things that we don’t need. I don’t always feel like menu planning but I’m always relieved when it’s done! (If you need help with creating a daily focus for yourself, see my Flylady videos here “Plan and Play day” ) In other news, I’m slowing getting used to cooking for only three instead of four (our son now has his own appartment in Copenhagen city), but I do have to keep reminding myself that we don’t need to cook such large quantities of side dishes such as rice, potatoes, pasta, etc, anymore! Without further ado, here’s what’s on the menu at Casa Copenhagen…

• Tuna, tomato and basil spaghetti
• Beef steaks with mashed potatoes and sugar snap peas
• Mongolian stir fry beef and veggies
• Garlic roast lamb with gratin dauphinois and a tomato salad
• Chicken and sweetcorn pasta salad
• Saturday will be a takeaway (perhaps sushi) because it’ll be a busy day: I’m speaking at the Dressing Your Truth “2020 I Love my Life” virtual conference!
• one day of the week for us is usually leftovers, a frittata/quiche made with any veggies which need using up, or Danish smørrebrød (rye bread open sandwiches with various toppings)

And if you’re looking for a 5 minute meal, when you really can’t face cooking or things are busy, try Coronation Chicken – a British classic!

Hope you have a wonderful Tuesday! And remember to K.I.S.S. – Keep It Simple, Sweetie!

LLAP! May the Danish hygge be with you! Hugs!

Diane

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

Another Tuesday, another menu plan! (“Plan and Play day” in Flylady Land) This week Danish schools and universities are closed for the autumn break – kartoffel ferie (“potato holiday”). It was traditionally the week that kids would be required to help harvest potatoes – those days are long gone but we still call it that! Here’s what’s on the menu at Casa Copenhagen…

• Warming gnocchi in a herby tomato and sausage sauce
• Homemade quiche with bacon and courgette, served with a salad
• spaghetti bolognese (I made a double portion of meat sauce last week and froze it)
• pork medallions in a creamy balsamic sauce with broccoli and roast potatoes
• one day of the week for us is usually leftovers, a frittata/quiche made with any veggies which need using up, or Danish smørrebrød (rye bread open sandwiches with various toppings)
• a takeaway or out to dinner to celebrate the holiday week
• Danish meatball, carrot and dumpling soup with homemade bread rolls (one of my bread roll recipes is below)

Hope you have a wonderful Tuesday! And remember to K.I.S.S. – Keep It Simple, Sweetie!

LLAP! May the Danish hygge be with you! Hugs!

Diane

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

Another Tuesday, another menu plan! (It’s “Plan and Play day” in Flylady Land) This week I’m going through what we have in the freezer and using that as our inspiration. It’s always good to do a declutter there from time to time. Our son (who now has his own flat in Copenhagen) will also be here for a couple of evenings, so we’ll have his favourites! Here’s what’s on the menu at Casa Copenhagen!

• Chicken, vegetable and red lentil soup with homemade bread rolls
• “Fish and chips” (breaded fish fillets from the freezer) with remoulade sauce, a big salad and French fries
• Spaghetti bolognese / pasta med kødsovs / spaghetti with meat sauce – a classic! With a mixed bean salad and breadsticks
• Pork chops with potato salad and glazed carrots
• Butter roasted Thai chicken (mix equal parts butter/red Thai curry paste and smear over chicken and bake) with a rucola salad and noodles
• one day of the week for us is usually leftovers, a frittata/quiche made with any veggies which need using up, or Danish smørrebrød (rye bread open sandwiches with various toppings)
• Swedish Summerhouse Stew (Lingongryta), a very simple dish which my son loves (and often cooks himself) served with rice. My YouTube video is below…

Hope you have a wonderful Tuesday! And remember to K.I.S.S. – Keep It Simple, Sweetie!

LLAP! May the Danish hygge be with you! Hugs!

Diane

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

It’s Tuesday which means it’s “Plan and Play day” in Flylady Land and I’m sitting here planning the week’s menu. Saves stress, time and money – what’s not to love? We are continuing to use the Lifesum app for our menu inspiration (one of my kids is using it to track exercise, water, etc). The recipes are very easy to put together but not always quite to our taste so we’re substituting ingredients and, of course, using vegetables which are in season here in Denmark right now. So let’s get straight to it – here’s what’s on the menu this week at Casa Copenhagen!

• Bacon and feta chicken with courgette
• Mongolian beef with rice (a repeat from a couple of weeks ago, very tasty)
• not from Lifesum but from our list of family favourites, my Twist on Shepherd’s Pie (YouTube video is below)

• Simple chicken curry with cucumber/mint raita (and my homemade naan bread)
• Pesto pasta with stir fried veggies
• Tandoori grilled fish with salad and coriander yoghurt dip
• one day of the week for us is usually leftovers, a frittata/quiche made with any veggies which need using up, or Danish smørrebrød (rye bread open sandwiches with various toppings)

Hope you have a wonderful Tuesday! And remember to K.I.S.S. – Keep It Simple, Sweetie!

LLAP! May the Danish hygge be with you! Hugs!

Diane

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