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

Lurking. I am so bored of my menu

This is just what I need. I'm all over the shop. Working hours and a young fussy family means we're relying on convenience much more than I would like.

I think I'll put together a plan for next week. Does anyone get 2 supermarket deliveries a week?

I'm thinking that to start it might be easier to plan for half the week.

Your BBQ sides sound amazing!

Tonight it was bhaji burgers. Total winners in my house, thanks for.the suggestion!

this week

Friday: pasta of some description
Saturday: chipotle portabello tacos
Sunday: veggie sausage stew
Monday: tomato and basil soup and sourdough
Tuesday: Jamaican black eyed pea curry
Wednesday: Bruschetta
Thursday: thai noodle soup

I ended up making a proper Lorna sauce on Tuesday evening while I worked at home, so it was easy to reheat and throw in defrosted prawns on Wednesday while I cooked some rice.

Event cancelled last night so I did the steak with some parmentier type potato cubes and courgettes baked with lemony Parmesan breadcrumbs.

I got chicken wings in proper buffalo sauce out for tonight, with oven chips. I must try and get some blue cheese for a dip when out later.

Tomorrow will depend on what's good in the shop in the morning.

Weekend plans have changed a bit:

Tonight: Tarragon chicken, green beans and new potatoes
Tomorrow: Peinirli with salad
Sunday: Mediterreanan chicken and rice
Monday: Chorizo and olive pasta bake
Tuesday: Late work event which will be catered.

Wednesday: Chicken escalope, new potatoes and veg
Thursday: Aubergine curry
Friday: Mushroom ramen and gyoza

Yesterday I made my 'puff pastry something'. I used a sheet of puff pastry, smothered it with tomato puree, some pesto, tore up a mozzarella ball, put a few stalks of asparagus on. Popped in the oven, towards the end I chucked a few bits of grana padano on. Served with leaves in a vinaigrette. It was delicious despite all the ingredients being the cheapest own brand. And ready in 20 minutes, tops.

Last night, I got some nice lamb chops which I had with garlic roasted baby potatoes and a tomato/onion/garlic/balsamic vinegar mix chucked in the oven.

Tonight, I am having garlic and herb roasted baby potatoes (using a mix, last night was just garlic oil), roasted chicken thighs and a veg mix (onion, garic, tomatoes, peppers, courgette and mushrooms) with Italian type herbs roasted off...leftover veg will be used with pasta.

Tomorrow I am out with a couple of colleagues.
Tuesday I am out with a different big group of colleagues.
Wednesday I am out with a smaller group of different colleagues.

Thursday will probably be wine and "platter" (Parma ham, salami, olives, cheese, hummus and breadsticks) or the 4 cheese pizza....and lots of wine!

I'll cook proper food on Friday but no idea what yet.

This week:
Tomorrow: miso and spring vegetable risotto
Saturday:out
Sunday: white bean caponata and sourdough
Monday: mushroom stroganoff
Tuesday: Gochujang tofu
Wednesday: chickpea tagine and flatbread
Thursday: pasta with homemade pea and rocket pesto

Tomorrow: Gnocchi, broccoli and cheese bake
Sunday: Mediterranean chicken (not the same one as last weekend but I do have a craving for these flavours at the moment)
Monday: Chorizo broccoli pasta
Tuesday: Tuscan butterbean bake
Wednesday: Mushroom and tarragon omlettes with roast veg
Thursday: Veggie chilli
Friday: Out for a curry

@HalloumiFries could you give me the recipe for the gnocchi broccoli cheese bake please?

@MissyB1 Yes, of course. It's a new one for me so I can't vouch for it at this point but certainly looks nice and I thought it would be ideal for Saturday night in front of the footie. It's from the Slimming Foodie One Pot book, which I picked up in a charity shop a few days ago - this was one of the recipes which jumped out at me.

Can't find a link online so will copy it out later.

(The chicken and Tuscan beans are from the same book. I tend to go hard with new books 😂)

The Tuscan bean bake sounds amazing

I made this earlier this week https://www.gousto.co.uk/cookbook/recipes/korean-fried-chicken-with-yang-nyum-sauce it may have been recommended on here actually but it was so good!

Managed to get to this quicker than I expected.

Gnocchi, Broccoli Cheese Bake

Serves 4

500ml semi-skimmed milk
500g gnocchi
400g can of haricot beans, drained and rinsed
100g light cream cheese
250ml veg stock
½ teaspoon onion granules
½ teaspoon garlic granules
Florets from a head of broccoli, broken into bite sized pieces
120g grated mature cheddar
Salt and pepper

1. Preheat oven to 220C/200C fan/Gas 7
2. Pour the milk into a deep flameproof casserole dish and bring it to a simmer
3. Add the gnocchi and beans and simmer for 2 mins. Stir in the cream cheese and simmer for a further 5 minutes, stirring constantly
4. Add the stock, onion and garlic granules, broccoli and about half the cheddar and stir it all together. Bring to the boil then remove from the heat and sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top.
5. Pop the pot into the over and bake for 20 mins, or until the cheese on top is browning and bubbling.

Further tips are: adding a can of drained tuna; adding chilli flakes; adding a mix of broccoli and cauliflower.

Also, if anyone is interested, I've copied the Tuscan Bean recipe too.

1 red onion
1 red pepper, deseeded and finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
250g chestnut mushrooms, quartered
200g cherry tomatoes
1 tsp fennel seeds
2 tsp smoked paprika
2 tblsp Italian herb mix
2 x 400g butter beans
150ml water
3 tblsp tomato puree
1 tblsp balsamic vinegar
100g kale
30g parmesan (or parmesan-style vegetarian cheese)
150g mozzarella
Salt and pepper
Handful of parsley to serve

1. Preheat oven to 220C/200C fan/Gas 7
2. Spray a medium-large flameproof casserole dish with oil and fry the onion and pepper for 5 mins
3. Add the garlic, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes and fennel seeds and stir-fry for 5 more minutes. Spoon in the paprika and Italian herbs then season with salt and pepper. Tip in the butter beans, water, tomato puree and balsamic then stir in the kale and bring to a simmer.
4. Stir through the parmesan, then remove the dish from the heat, scatter the mozzarella over the top and place on the top shelf of the oven for 15 minutes until the cheese is bubbling and melting.
5. Grind some pepper over the bake and scatter with fresh parsley before serving.

Tips: Add a chopped red chilli to spice it up or fry some Italian sausage with the onion and pepper for a non-veggie version.

@HalloumiFries thank you both those sound great!

Thanks for the Tuscan bean bake recipe
looks great

Concur on Tuscan bean bake

I’m starting a vegan macro nutrition course thing so my meals for most of the next week are from that:

Sat: at 2 different bbq parties so whatever is served
Sun: tofu, wild rice and veggie bowl
Mon: blackened tofu and sweet potato salad
Tues: Sweet and Sour Tempeh
Weds: Tofu Scramble
Thurs: almond infused black beans
Fri: out for special treat afternoon tea with my bestie

Fri -turkey escalopes,new potatoes,salad and homemade coleslaw

Sat-leek and smoked mozzarella risotto

Sun-lamb koftas,dips ,flatbreads and salads

Monday- pasta bolognaise and garlic bread

Tuesday- cod wrapped in Parma ham with pesto,new roasted potatoes and asparagus

Wednesday- Tuscan chicken and rice

Thursday- homemade pizza and salad

I had a chicken Caesar salad, a Greek sharing meal and a clam spaghetti for my 3 meals out this week.

Last night, I made a tagliatelle gorgonzola with bacon.

Tonight I have a steak, baby garlic and rosemary prorated, and the first peas from my window box.

Tomorrow is a 4 cheese pizza that I hadn't used in emergencies.

I just got chicken thighs from freezer for Sunday, I'll probably roast them with feta and thyme but might do lemon and garlic.

The plan for next week probably looks like:

Korma (choice of chicken or prawn) - I have 2 other curries in the freezer but loads of korma

Tuscan sausage meatballs with roasted veggies in tomato sauce and pasta

Chicken fajitas

Mushroom risotto

Chicken and broccoli bake

And then definitely go shopping next weekend...

Hello! If you're looking for a bean recipe I made this last week. It was delicious.https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6MMkRqsmZA/?igsh=NHU2N2ltM2V2MXoy

I also made this, but adapted it with broad beans and frozen peas. And didn't have rye, so it went on a bake at home baguette. I added lemon to the ricotta and dill. https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7b9HhjsUxn/?igsh=MXh3NDV5azVic2c0dg==

Tea tonight was made from the famous roast potatoes. Fried with onions, spices, cauliflower, spinach. Served with an egg, chapattis, yogurt and mango chutney. Delicious.

Tomorrow spaghetti blog

Wednesday left over meats with chips and veg (we have 1 steak, some burgers, 2 pork chops to use)

Thursday chicken noodles soup

Friday undecided. Probably another curry type of night as some left over frozen bits n pieces to use up.

I really don’t know why I’m bothering as I’m so bloody busy this week so it’s so convenience heavy

Friday; out
Saturday: M&S mezze
Sunday: paneer jalfrezi
Monday: Jacket spuds with whatever is in the freezer
Tuesday: veggie burgers
Wednesday: M&S pasta meal deal
Thursday: out

I have been shite - and therefore absent! In my defense, I did eventually get through most things but it's been a lot less planned.

@Seaside3 I did a similar one, also from instagram, for beans a few weeks ago and it was DELICIOUS and easy - mine uses fresh tomatoes and cream cheese. I'm actually planning to do again this week and serve on jacket potatoes.

Rough plan for next week or so - dd is dairy intolerant AND a fussy eater but I'm really really trying to get her closer to the 30 plants a week thing so at least a couple of things where I can add hidden veg of different types.

On that note, for "main" veggies, she'll eat steamed carrots, broccoli, baby corn, peas or sweetcorn (sometimes). Does anyone have any ideas on what veggies she might be willing to try to add to this? These are all the sweeter/blander veg so others that are similar? I tried some cabbage - no. won't touch cauliflower or beans. She IS agreeing to eat small amounts of mixed lettuce leaves with some feta and olive oil alongside avocado and cucumber, so that's something and I add things like leeks, courgette, mushrooms, lentils, peppers and finely chopped aubergine to spaghetti bolognaise or meatballs. Any other ideas?

Flatbreads with halloumi, grilled greens and lemon/honey/garlic sauce.
Chicken tray bake
Steak ciabatta - probably with mushrooms and a slaw. (extra mushrooms for spag bol for DD another day....)
Spag bol
Mini BBQ (weather permitting) - exact menu to be confirmed but possibly lamb chops, griddled asparagus and/or aubergine in some kind of salad and BBQ corn for DD
Pork and pineapple noodle salad
Jacket potatoes with creamy beans with spinach.

My pizza was not an option in the end, so I had Gorgonzola pasta instead.
Lemon and garlic chicken on Sunday.
Chicken fajitas on Monday.
Chicken and leek and carrot pie on Tuesday. (I'd boiled up chick thighs with the veg on Sunday for cooked chick and stock, frozen stock and used the chicken and veg Mon/Tues).

Yesterday, I had a prawn and pea korma.

Tonight I am having the Tuscan sausage and veggies pasta bake.

Tomorrow I am torn, as I want something easy but also to use some freezer things - possibly lamb chops roasted on med veggies and baby potatoes.