2024 meal planning

[Lastqueenofscotland2]

Anyone else starting to think about getting their arses back in gear?!
Mine for the next week
Tomorrow: baked Camembert with nice bread (not quite over Christmas yet!)
Saturday: Thai green veggie curry
Sunday: NYE - will be sitting in with a dog terrified of fire works, might just order a pizza
Monday: Tuscan bean stew and sourdough
Tuesday: west African peanut stew
Wednesday: some sort of pie with all the leftover veg
Thursday: gochujang tofu

@HalloumiFries out of interest, how much of your mezze will you make yourself vs buy in? I can't make dolmades (well, maybe I could but I haven't got a clue) but there's a really great van at our local market that sells them - more expensive than bloody caviar though. I do amazing tzatziki so would always do my own. Baba ganoush is always a bit of a "shall I, shan't I" thing for me - I do think there's a lot to be said for making it yourself, fresh, and serving it before it's been in the fridge for days but it is a bit of a faff....

But I do like the idea of this sort of mezze and I often do this kind of thing when entertaining instead of a starter so just wondering how you find it....

Hi @SpaceOP - firstly, a confession, my dad is Cypriot so techically I can and should make all of this myself.

I can make dolmades but it's a faff and they take forever so I tend to only do this if I'm showing off/entertaining other people. This weekend I'll buy them in. Tzatziki is always home-made and I've yet to find a commercial offering that's half as good as my own. On the other hand, I can make a passable baba ganoush but it's no better or worse than a decent commercial brand, or the tubs sold in the middle eastern deli near me (which is where I buy the dolmades) so I'll buy or make, depending on time available and whether I'm showing off. This weekend I'm making it as the deli didn't have any availble this morning, plus it feels wrong to buy in both this and the dolmades. As baba ganoush isn't actually Greek/Cypriot though, I can justify the occassional tub of sabra. I do prefer BG to melitzansalata.

Pitta breads have been smuggled from a bakery in Cyprus during a recent visit to family - Cypriot pittas are so pillowy and delicious. I can make a passable version myslef though, when I haven't been lucky enough to have the real thing in my freezer.

This is my favourite type of meal, especially in spring/summer. The dips take a wee bit of time the night before, along with marinating the chicken but then the whole thing can be brought together quickly before eating - the chicken only needs 20-25 mins in the oven. Obviously this varies, depending what is on offer - it's not always this exact combination. It can be scaled up if entertaining and always yields lots of leftovers for similar dinners over the following days.

We have been off the meal planning lately - DP has been working away and I tend to eat a lot of scrambled eggs on toast and M&S oven things if I am home alone.

He’s back tonight so let’s go:

Tonight - creamy leek and Parma ham pasta
Saturday - chilli nachos with dips
Sunday - chicken satay curry with rice and naan
Monday - satay again
Tuesday - lasagne (from M&S), peas, garlic bread
Wednesday - chorizo Mexican rice with fried eggs and avocado
Thursday - quiche out of the freezer, jacket potato, salad

I am not sure I knew sabra did a baba ganoush. Will check that one out as the supermarket ones I have tried arent great. I admit- I never make pitas! I do occasionally make a flatbread type thing but only when I have nothing in! I ches actually and when doing mezze type meals or entertaining usually do breads like baguettes or ciabattas that are par cooked and I just have to heat through.

I also like a lamb skewer made with lamb neck and Mediterranean vegetables.

DH is of Geek heritage but growing up it was only his gran who did this sort of food and neither his mother or sister cook much. So hilariously its me who is most likely to pull together any sort of mezze. Mil is visiting in a few weeks and I think I will go this route one day . I tend to just do aspects rather than full blown usually but younhave inspired me! If I feel really inspired i will do stuffed peppers too from a recipe my Greek friend gave me - easy and delicious but a bit if a faff!

Ooh, those lamb skewers sound good, as do stuffed peppers- I also like a stuffed beefsteak tomato. Funnily enough, I have a similar situation with DH's family who have Italian heritage but have never had any interest in cooking.

Sabra is definitely better than supermarket own brand baba ganoush (although still slightly on the thin side for me - good smoky flavour though). It is hard to find - Sainsbury's always had it but seem to have stopped stocking it. Can often find it in Morrisons though.

Tonight's mezze was lush- and lots of dolmades left over 😋

We did mezze yesterday as well and I did mushroom shawarma for the first time - it was Delicious. DH also made pita for the first time and they were a triumph (he usually makes flatbreads)

I've only got four night planned so far:

Monday: Sausage and Mash and Yorkshire pudding
Tuesday: Pesto Lasagne
Wednesday: Crispy Chilli Turkey Noodles
Thursday: Pulled chicken & black bean chilli

@Citygirlrurallife How did you do your mushroom shawarma? Sounds delicious.

DP has made a veggie curry which is currently simmering away and smells delicious.

Tomorrow is dc birthday, so Chinese takeaway has been requested.

Wednesday is noodles with egg, broccoli, mushrooms, beansprouts, cashews and a sauce made from chilli sauce/peanut butter/soy/honey/crispy chilli oil with peanuts.

Thursday is either veggie sausage with sweet potato mash or tofu sweet and sour.

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie here you go https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/mushroom-recipes/crispy-mushroom-shawarma/

Thank you. I’ve got that book and was looking at this at the weekend. Will give it a try without the faffiness of his sides.

We are having a week of Nagi’s recipes from “Dinner”

tonight - broccoli fritters, with salads
tomorrow - Korean pancakes with dipping sauce
Thurs - chicken fricasse, mash, green beans
Friday - out
Saturday -Italian beef pilaf (like a bolognese risotto mash up)

Yeah to be honest I did the marinating (and added aubergine) overnight then just roasted that. We did other sides and I could be bothered with the kebabs but the marinating was excellent and def use oyster mushrooms

Time to get the head back in gear!
Tomorrow: vegetable korma
Saturday: gnocchi with walnut and rocket pesto
Sunday: nachos
Monday: harrissa chickpea and aubergine stew
Tuesday: Thai noodle soup
Wednesday: at a friends
Thursday: jambalaya

One of my DC is not eating at the moment- so trying to find comfort food to tempt them (teenager)

veggie meatballs with marinara sauce & pasta
baked potato cheese & beans
sweet potato & falafel traybake
tagliatelle carbinara with facon
salmon with greens & crème fraiche
veggie cottage pie
hot dog & fries

hope something appeals to her!

And I’ll copy the nacho idea for lunch! Thanks

@MrsBlueFly that's tricky. Do you know why - doesn't fancy the food or are you worried about something more serious? We've had a bit of both around here. For the former, I've found anything that smacks of takeaway style seems to work well - crumbed chicken steaks cooked as a burger (or actual burgers), or stir fries that seem vaguelly like what you'd get at the local chinese etc. DS favourite meal is what he refers to as "the unhealthy chicken stir fry" which is basically fried chicken with a few veg and spicey sauce!

For when he was hovering on the edge of a possible ED and we were really nervous, lots of food he could feel good about eating - lots of salads alongside fish/chicken/meat with potatoes/bread on the side. Or piles of steamed veggies and rice alongside salmon etc. Weirdly, he was always fine with pasta in almost any format so that was useful too.

I'm pretty sure it's anxiety and that's what's caused the lack of appetite, her stomach is in knots and sometimes burning chest pain - so I'm trying to think of things to tempt her. It's exam time do hopefully will not last forever

I recently started a new job and can absolutely relate to that knotted stomach, burning chest and lack of appetite - definitely anxiety symptoms as my first week approached and got underway but the did ebb as I started to settle in. Hope your dd is ok, @MrsBlueFly , and that the exams go well.

The week ahead for me looks like:

Tonight: Shakshuka
Tomorrow: Chicken, fennel and tomato traybake
Sunday: Beef rendang
Monday: Baked potato with tuna mayo
Tuesday: Fresh pasta, pesto and salad
Wednesday: Cheese and onion quiche and salad
Thursday: PiLs for dinner (probably Chinese takeaway)
Friday: Mushroom ramen

That's tough. Maybe more nibbly bits she can eat as she goes. Good luck with it!

I dont' seem to have done all the meals I planned. Can't quite work out why. One was because we had bolognaise instead of meatballs but not sure about the rest. But figure this can only work for me in terms of adding those to this week instead:

Chicken and orzo one pot (from insta)
Beef curry (last week)
Butternut risotto
Spaghetti and meatballs
Jamie Oliver pork belly and pineapple noodle salad
Aubergine curry
Fish of some sort.

I just can't think what to cook this weekend. I am lacking in both inspiration and motivation.

I’ve got adult dc and partners coming over on Sunday, I’m doing Lamb Tagine and couscous.

Tonight - homemade pizza and chips
Sunday - fresh pasta and sauce
Monday - breaded chicken/veggie burger in wraps with chips and veg
Tuesday - beef/jackfruit chilli with rice
Wednesday - halloumi wraps, peri peri rice, veg
Thursday - I’m out, leftover chilli with nachos for DP and picky bits for little ones
Friday - curried halloumi naan burgers, Bombay potatoes or saag aloo
Saturday - DP out, something easy for me and kids, maybe macaroni cheese or McDonald’s depending on how the day goes

Hi! Just found this thread and love some of the meals mentioned. Do you mind if I join in? I've just had shopping delivered, so it will help me focus!
Sunday: beef brisket, veg, roasts and yorkies
Monday : paneer curry
Tuesday : roast chicken, Bulgar wheat, veg
Wednesday : veg Thai green
Thursday : chicken, noodles and veg
Friday : left over wraps
Saturday: chicken curry
Sunday : stir-fry rice

Lunches are pittas, salads, cheese, chicken, ham, left overs, soup.

Hoping this week's shop will stretch into beginning/middle of next week As keen to save some money towards upcoming holiday.

@Seaside3 welcome!

@DocOck if it helps, I fancy a nice rib of beef myself. But served spring style with lovely fresh salads and new potatoes.

I am also probably going to do my spring chicken with orzo over the weekend rather than next week because it feels fresh.

I am also regretting forgetting to buy asparagus. Might pop out tomorrow.