Weekly Menu Ideas: 01-09

The Food Truck Festival

For the love of getting out of the house - this weekend we tried the Food Truck Festival in the Hague. It is always interesting for me to try new foods, this is what I live for. The problem is that each unique cuisine is changed to suit the flavor of where you are. In the Netherlands, the food often tastes like the ingredients and does not even have seasoning. I say this because in South Africa - we are spicy people we eat for the flavor. I mean if you ever had a doubt about this ask yourself why we all so fond of the masala pineapple.

That being said - it was still interesting to try new delicacies some for the better and some really not. To be fair - not all continents and cultures had a food truck so we kept within the range of the things that looked most appealing.

Mac & Cheese Food Truck at the Trek Food Festival

We tried our usual favorites - Korean fried chicken and sushi of course. We also tried Argentinean Empanadas for the first time - this was so disappointing to say the least. It was a pie with a slightly thicker and much less buttery dough. Perhaps just not prepared properly.

The highlight of my adventure was the Mac & Cheese Food Truck. Everything was excellent from the start to the finish. It was literally the first time in my life I have seen Mac & Cheese prepared with a cheese wheel melted and then dumbed on top of the mac in white sauce topped with crumbed onions and spring onions. That being said I realized that sometimes seeing something you love in a whole new way is often the best way to live.

This week marks the beginning of the school year in the Netherlands and therefore back to the usual routine for me. Back to school lunches and back to a weekly planner so you can expect weekly updates.

Weekly Menu - 01 September

Monday

School Lunch: Pizza Wheels

Dinner: Butter Chicken

Tips for this idea:

For the pizza wheel - I have saved an easy recipe to make the mornings much easier.

Butter chicken is a recipe I absolutely love, because it tastes like it took hours to make but in reality it is a meal that can be prepared in 30 minutes.

Tuesday:

School Lunch: Chicken Nuggets

Dinner: Spaghetti Bolognese

Tips for this idea:

Spaghetti bolognese is an easy meal for hectic week nights especially if you buy the pre-made sauce. It is also a nice meal that can be easily changed from a meat lovers by adding in brown lentils. My go-to is braising the mince meat and then topping it off with the pre-made sauce and then adding it to some boiled spaghetti.

Wednesday:

School Lunch: Savory Muffins

Dinner: Mash Potato with grilled chicken and green beans.

Tips for this idea:

The kids have now started the sport season again - this means that I need to start incorporating many more meals with steamed vegetables that is generally more wholesome. Fresh green beans can be prepared in many ways, fried in butter and garlic or even adding some soy sauce can make it an excellent addition. For us though we need to keep sodium low so it will be boiled and served.

Thursday:

School Lunch: Quesadillas

Dinner: Thai Inspired Poached Fish

Tips for this idea:

I saw this Thai inspired recipe online and the reason I loved it was because it is literally a one pot meal. While each video differed slightly the concept was the same.

The recipe idea was as follows:

• 1 table spoon of oil (any oil of your choice)

• 1/2 onion

• 1 teaspoon of garlic

• 1/2 teaspoon of chili flakes

• 1 teaspoon of ginger

• 500 ml coconut milk

• 1 stem of spring onion (optional)

• 1 lemon/lime

• coriander to taste

• Fish fillets

• Saffron threads

Start off the recipe by browning your onions in oil. Once they look slightly brown add in your garlic and chili flakes cook this for 2 minutes and then add in your coconut milk. Add in some water or broth depending on how thick you want your sauce to be. Thereafter add in your spring onion and the grate the skin of your lemon into the sauce. Stir this well and then add in your fish, let this look until the fish is fully cooked. I think this is best served with rice, but it is also an option to eat it as a soup.

Friday:

School Lunch: Wrap Roll Ups

Dinner: Burritos & Wedges

Tips for this idea:

Burritos is a great meal if you want to sneak loads of vegetables in your kids diets and also great for a friday night. Burritos are a mexican dish that can be made with any protein of your choice, from black beans to mince meat or even chicken or even a mixture of all proteins. Added to a wrap with rice and vegetables of your choice it is quite a great way to end off the week.

Saturday:

Lunch: Mac & Cheese

Dinner: Sloppy Joes

Tips for this idea:

Post the food truck festival, I would like to replicate the Mac & Cheese that stole my heart so in addition to the box Mac & cheese recipe I have posted, I will attempt to heat and dump additional cheese in the bowl and add extra toppings.

Sloppy joes are a lazy night favorite for me, basically soft burger buns filled with a mince curry (which can be the spice level of your choice).

Sunday:

Lunch/Supper: Chicken Curry & Rice

Tips for this idea:

The summer months have been great in the Netherlands, but I am sure my family has missed a good old fashioned chicken curry and rice. Curry is one of those meals that is made for everyone individually - I prefer my mom's style curry but I know this is not the only way to make curry. Either way, a great Sunday treat!

I hope this makes this week easier for you. If you feel like you this is something you need for the weeks ahead, please subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Please feel free to share your thoughts and ideas for next week. ♥️