On the menu...

I'm linking up once again with the Menu Planning Challenge hosted by Laura from Mommy Run Fast and Jill from Fitness, Health & Happiness.

We did pretty good sticking to last week's plan. Once we got going with our week I realised I didn't have all the ingredients for my previously planned Crockpot Veggie Lasagna. Instead of popping to the shops I dug around in the freezer for a leftovers meal to sub and have now slipped the lasagna into this weeks plan. I did manage to resist going to the shops this week - which was big - because you never just buy what you went in for, right?!

There's a couple of recipes here I've pinned to my Pinterest board in the past - the Taco Casserole I've already tried before and was a total hit. The Pumpkin Pasta bake is going to be a new one. At this time of year, when the evenings are longer I like to try a new recipe every week or two.

This week has only six meals planned. I'm being realistic here people - we go out quite often, so I usually only plan 6 meals for a week long period ;-)

Apples are in season! So for snacks right now we've got wonderful fresh local apples (love that I live surrounded by apple orchards! - the smell on my morning runs is just lush!).

Who knew that there were so many different varieties of apples?! - so many grocery stores stock the same 4-5 varieties year round. Here in the Okanagan you do NOT buy apples from the grocery store at this time of year!! I pass about 6 farm stalls (they're not even shops - just a table in their driveway or field!) on my way to work. One is actually situated within our subdivision and each year they post the varieties they're selling on a board at the end of the driveway. The varieties start getting posted up in September, 1 or 2 to start then a couple more...we eagerly wait for the sign for 'Ambrosia' Apples - they're a little later than Macs, Spartans, Gala, Granny Smith, etc. They are my absolute favourite apple to eat - it's a local variety we 'discovered' a couple of years back - they are so delicious - crispy and quite sweet. I've also discovered that 'Honey Crisp' are super-good for making apple sauce (they break down good, and don't go brown much!)