What Are We Eating Tonight?

For most of my adult life, I have made careful menu plans for the week. In the early days of marriage, when we were saving hard for college, then living on a very low income, this was as much about budgets as diets. 
When the girls came along and we were fitting in their after school activities and part-time jobs, evening meetings at church, and other stuff, it was really useful to have the list of meals pinned up in the kitchen. I am so grateful that everyone helped - either by setting the table, switching on the oven, getting things out of the freezer, preparing veg etc. [even as very young children, the girls prepared their school packed lunches each evening, and made a note when we were running low on anything] Thank you Bob, Liz, Steph for that help.
But I confess that in the last few years I have been much more relaxed about meal planning. I may buy a chicken, intending to have a roast on Sunday - and then to strip the carcase to get meat for other meals, and a batch of stock . But I won't be quite as specific as I used to about deciding the 'Dish of the Day' beforehand. Often I prepare and freeze meals so there is always something ready to thaw, or deliberately double portions and we have the same 'main' two days running, but with different accompaniments.
But to be honest, at the moment I just want to get a meal on the table which is easy to prepare, tasty to eat, and kind to the budget. 
I recently borrowed two library books for inspiration.

Rachel Allen's Easy Meals was great. I like RA's style of writing [and her TV shows] although she is developing a Nigella-type-grin when she is cooking! This book has 6 sections
Store Cupboard, DFast and Fabulous, 5 Ingredients or Less, One Pot, No Cook,Fuss Free Extras and Sides. These really are easy to produce, nourishing family meals. 99% of the time I am just cooking for two - but these are great dishes for couples, families, and guests.
I like the way she suggests variations on a theme, and whilst there is nothing particularly new, the instructions and accompanying photographs are an incentive to make something a little more exciting with the sausages and potatoes than just quotidian bangers and mash. *****
I plan to try her Quick Pepper & Pesto Focaccia  sometime soon. It is a cross between Italian olive oil bread and Irish Soda bread!

The 5 O'Clock Apron, by Claire Thomson is a very different kettle of fish. This is the first book by a chef from Bristol who is also a mum of 3 daughters.  This is aimed at busy Mums with hungry children - but definitely comes in the "World Cuisine" section. Claire grew up in Africa, has a Chinese stepmother, Scottish grandparents and a Kiwi husband - and has travelled all over the place. Lots of recipes with names I have never heard of - Kushari Rice from Egypt, Turlu Turlu from Turkey [it means hotchpotch and is similar to ratatouille] Spaetzle [a sort of pasta pushed through a potato ricer into boiling water] and Lahmacun [Turkish Pizza]
I have already tried one of her recipes- Pangrattato  aka Poor Man's Parmesan - which is a [non cheesy] way of using up breadcrumbs. 
This book is subtitled "Proper Food for Modern Families" - It is a fun read, but I am not sure it is a book I would use a lot. Maybe if it had been around 30 years ago... ****                            

Finally I must mention a blog I have been dipping into a lot recently.  Everyday Cooks by Susie Collings. I must thank my good friend Peter for telling me about this blog. Lots of everyday recipes which don't require complicated skills or obscure ingredients. Bright and cheerful, with a section on everyday tips and techniques.
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Have you read any good cookbooks recently?