tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2608453858188924741.post510252680048537696..comments2023-10-23T13:20:21.000-07:00Comments on French Foodie Baby: A black bean bisque, and our weekly menuHelene @ French Foodie Babyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05662381249640845573noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2608453858188924741.post-3172939797275778642013-07-09T19:46:57.596-07:002013-07-09T19:46:57.596-07:00I plan our weekly menu the week before and then my...I plan our weekly menu the week before and then my husband does the marketing on the weekend (he's much better at sticking to the grocery list than I am). It's SUCH a time and brain saver - I can't imagine doing it any other way! Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03204502488698399384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2608453858188924741.post-55858765140654122902013-07-03T18:44:39.757-07:002013-07-03T18:44:39.757-07:00Hi Aida, great! So glad you liked it. I think it&#...Hi Aida, great! So glad you liked it. I think it's fine to keep the balls and sauce separate, and perhaps reheat on the stove over low heat. Microwave would probably work too though. You can definitely substitute the lamb with ground turkey or chicken with the same coconut milk sauce. I'm not sure about about beef though, worth a try... Have a great Fourth! Thanks for your feedback! :-)<br />Helene @ French Foodie Babyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05662381249640845573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2608453858188924741.post-85083934486829663092013-07-03T13:11:26.403-07:002013-07-03T13:11:26.403-07:00Hi, again, helene,
My daughters and I tried the la...Hi, again, helene,<br />My daughters and I tried the lamb meatballs today...YUM! Managed to save a few for daddy since he's at work. Is it fine to reheat them in the microwave? I saved the sauce separately. Also, do you think I could make chicken meatballs (or turkey, or beef) the same way? Or better to simmer in chicken broth instead of coconut milk? THanks again!<br />AídaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2608453858188924741.post-84162363845931972572013-07-02T12:10:29.431-07:002013-07-02T12:10:29.431-07:00Yes, they go through so many phases and transition...Yes, they go through so many phases and transitions...! It can be hard to keep up :-) Meal planning is a huge time/stress saver, I definitely recommend it. Let me know how you and your little ones like the lamb meatballs! :-)Helene @ French Foodie Babyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05662381249640845573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2608453858188924741.post-33046541814463026552013-07-02T11:39:15.902-07:002013-07-02T11:39:15.902-07:00Thank you so much for your lengthy response! I sho...Thank you so much for your lengthy response! I should have mentioned that I just never get around to planning in advance, and I think that's why now, more than ever before, feel overwhelmed. At 18 months, the twins seem to have made this change. (I think that my mom was visiting for a month in May didn't help that transition.) They were great at entertaining themselves, and often played together, while I cooked. Now, it's just "Mami, mami, mami," the whole time. So I think this is a good moment to implement the weekly menu, and plan ahead, just as you suggest. I plan to try the lamb meatballs tomorrow for lunch. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2608453858188924741.post-78377890765472024122013-07-02T11:18:56.008-07:002013-07-02T11:18:56.008-07:00Hi there! Well, I must admit you're faced with...Hi there! Well, I must admit you're faced with more of a logistical challenge than I am, being alone with 2 toddlers. I have only one toddler and I do have my mom's help, and my husband's help for dinner prep (he usually bathes Pablo while I prep dinner). That said, I think it's a matter of finding a good system that works for you. For lunch, we prepare it about 20 min prior to sitting down, dinner about 45 min-1hr prior (including cooking down time) depending on what we're making. When alone with Pablo for lunch for example, I try to keep him occupied with an activity in the kitchen (the toddler kitchen tower is great for that purpose), either play dough, or at the sink helping to wash vegetables or washing measuring cups, something like that. Stickers and magnets on the fridge work well too. I have always tried to nurture his ability to entertain himself (it is a work in progress, some days are more challenging than others!) and have a safe area for him to play freely so I can get stuff done. The other thing is since I do meal planning, I try to prepare some things one or two nights before, things like grated carrots, lentil salad, cooked green beans, cauliflower, potatoes, broccoli, to just toss into a salad with vinaigrette. That makes lunch prep much quicker. Also for lunch, if it's a very busy week, I do simple things like a slice of ham, or smoked salmon, or sardines, or quickly pan-fried meats that only take a few minutes prep. The eating in courses helps also: I put Pablo in his high chair and can get him started on the first vegetable course (like a vegetable salad for ex), and while he's working on that, I can go pan-fry the beef patty (we simply pan-fry it in a bit of olive oil). I also have an open kitchen looking out onto the dining area, so I can talk to him while prepping (and engage him about what he's about to eat and how I'm making it). You might check out my post called "Anatomy of the French four course meal", where I go over a lot of my logistics, see if that can be helpful, http://frenchfoodiebaby.blogspot.com/2012/10/anatomy-of-french-four-course-meal.html. <br />I hope this answers your question, let me know if you have more, happy to help if I can. :-)Helene @ French Foodie Babyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05662381249640845573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2608453858188924741.post-62753953065480536052013-07-02T10:48:32.861-07:002013-07-02T10:48:32.861-07:00This looks yummy! Thanks for sharing. Quick questi...This looks yummy! Thanks for sharing. Quick questions about your weekly menu: 1-how do you prepare your beef patties?, and 2-at what time do you prepare your lunch and dinner, meaning, how far before you sit down to eat, and what does Pablo do in the meantime? I'm home alone with my twin girls, and I find it so challenging to cook while they're running around. It's hard to get creative in my "american" (open) kitchen with two 19 month olds...Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com