What's for Dinner?

Well last night's plan for dinner went out the window. I had planned on making the feta sandwiches but had to work late and said "feck it!" we're ordering pizza. Superman to cryptonite is me to pizza. Awesome.

I don't like to cook on the weekend. It's my time off and that means the Husband and I rely on take out and frozen foods. Awesome.

However, I like to plan next week's dinners in advance and therefore we do our weekly shopping based on that. It's a good way to save money. I try and make sure that I don't buy too much- for example: if I am buying a loaf of bread for one meal, I try and use the bread for another meal that same week. It cuts down on waste.. Here's the plan for next week:

Monday- Linguine with homemade pesto (see recipe below)
Tuesday- Pitas with sliced chicken breast with veggies and a cream sauce (see recipe below)
Wednesday- Asian stir fry
Thursday- homemade Kebab with tzatziki and pitas

I try and aim to spend a maximum of 60 Euros for a whole week of shopping- including toilet paper, cleaning products etc.

Pesto Recipe

1 bunch of fresh basil
3 cloves of garlic
A handful of pine nuts
Half a cup of freshly grated parmesan
3 tbsp of olive oil

I don't have a mortar thingy (I want one) but I chop up the pine nuts and basil, crush the garlic and put all the above ingredients into a ziploc bag. I leave it slightly open and using a rolling pin, roll it back and forth over the bag until all the ingredients are blended. You might have to add more olive oil if the mixture is too dry. The pesto lasts a couple of days but is oh so good on fresh pasta! You can also substitute sage for the basil.

Chicken in a Cream and Vegetable Sauce

2 chicken breasts
a small box of frozen peas, carrots and corn (or whatever veg you like)
2 cloves of garlic
olive oil
Chicken stock liquid (one cup)
half a cup cream
splash of white or red wine (depending on what colour you want the sauce and to taste)
salt and pepper

Heat up olive oil with the crushed garlic, add chicken breasts slices (the Husband is the meat cutter in the family. I hate hate hate raw chicken). Cook until the breasts are almost fully cooked. Add chicken stock, wine and frozen veg. Simmer on medium heat until the veggies are cooked. Put on low heat and add cream and salt and pepper to taste. Let it cook for a few minutes.

There are different ways to serve it: over pasta, in a pita, or for a nice dinner: fill a filo pastry cup with the chicken and serve with a side of homemade sweet potato croquettes. It's a simple meal but the variations are endless.

Now leave me alone. I have work to do...

Bon Apetit!