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

Thanks @BiddyPop I'm not sure I have it in me to cook the pasta and the sauce together like a risotto, but I'm doing it tonight. Plan is to roast the butternut but quite small chunks with some chilli. Then I'm going to cook some garlic and sage and add the butternut which I'll sort of squish up and stir around with a bit of pasta water. I have some cream so if I think it will add value, I might add some, but I'm not sure. Then I'm going to mix that all with the pasta and toast the walnuts separately to sprinkle on top with chunks of the gorgonzola.

I did wonder if I should saute some onion as well but have decided in the interests of not making a full blown sauce that it's not worth it.

Thanks @Citygirlrurallife Looks lovely.

Welcome @RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie we had it last night and it was lovely

@BiddyPop the butternut pasta was a triumph. So much so that while I was putting DD to bed, I think Ds helped himself to a large part of DH's portion that was in the pan for when he got home from his late shift! I'm glad to have found a version of butternut that works for him and to have added another good, relatively easy vegetarian option to our selection.

I'm planning leek and potato soup tonight but it won't be enough. Not sure what to do to make it more so. I have some par baked bread which will be lovely, but... maybe I should do cheese and tomato toasties? is that too much dairy/richness? Maybe tuna melts alongside would be better?

And now that I've eeked out things, I have to start meal planning and shopping again. It's exhausting!

Just did a small shop - insanely expensive still though!? Is anyone else noticing that? But am up to the weekend now:
Soup and toasties tonight
Tomorrow everyone is out
Friday - sweet and sour chicken
Saturday - freezer raid as we're all in and out at different times
Sunday - pork schnitzel

Glad it worked @SpaceOP ! 😁

Last night, I defrosted chicken wings to have with chips, but they were still frozen when I got in from the drinks thing. So I took out a back of cooked "mushrooms" as I fried off lardons and boiled pasta (chucked the sealed frozen bag into pasta water to defrost in a hurry) - turns out it was chicken and mushrooms - so that was tasty!

Tonight - chicken wings and oven chips with blue cheese dip (blue cheese, Mayo, yoghurt, black pepper).

Tomorrow I'm out.

Friday - based on what's still edible in fridge, possibly defrost the last piece of salmon to have with wilted spinach. Or defrost a chilli con carne.

Saturday I want easy but decent as I have a lot of jobs to get done - possibly chicken thighs on roasted veg if I have 1 portions of veg still in freezer.

Sunday possibly a mushroom risotto as I have a lot of frozen chicken stock and mushrooms are fab here at this time of year.

And I am hoping that next week slows down a bit so I can cook proper meals again. (And sleep!)

Yep @SpaceOP i did a tiny shop in Sainsbury's recently and it was nearly £20 for virtually nothing. I was shocked.

Anyway
Tomorrow: out
Saturday: gnocchi bake
Sunday: West African peanut stew
Monday: Chana saag
Tuesday: jerk tofu with rice and peas
Wednesday: veggie meatball subs
Thursday: nacho fries

Friday - Mushroom stroganoff with rice and broccoli
Saturday- Chicken fajitas with all the fixings
Sunday- Beef goulash, mash and veg
Monday- Chicken Adobo with rice
Tuesday - Veggie chilli loaded jacket potato
Wednesday - Daal and naan
Thursday - Char Sui pork noodles with crispy kale

Our food budget just goes up
snd up

Agree with the rising food prices. It's eye-watering and gets worse every week. I'm dreading the christmas dinner shop - particularly as we've just had an extra three guests invite themselves.

This week hasn't gone to plan at all. Monday and Tuesday were fine but then other things got in the way, after the food shop was already done so that resulted in changes as follows:

Wednesday: Chicken, butterbean and carrot casserole ❌ Ended up at impromptu after work drinks and didn't have time to make this so it was a quicker dinner of pasta, pesto and mushrooms.
Thursday: Pasta with butternut squash and red onions ❌Got invited to DS flat for dinner.
Friday: Butternut squash and chickpea tagine with rice ❌Totally forgot we are out at a gig tonight.
Saturday: Sausage casserole ❌Will be at home but will leave the sausages in the freezer and will start using up the veg bought earlier in the week so butternut and pancetta risotto is now planned.
Sunday: Roast chicken ✅ Still doing this. Nothing getting in the way of my roast chook!

Then..

Monday: Butternut and chickpea tagine
Tuesday: Christmas meal out with friends
Wednesday: Chicken, butterbean and carrot casserole
Thursday: Pasta, pesto and roast vegetables
Friday: Something with remaining cabbage - possibly a noodle dish

well, I'm glad it's not just me noticing the bills going up but it's not great is it? Probaly good for encouraging creativity though I guess and I've definitely got good at finding ways to bulk meals out to reduce the ratio of meat to cheaper ingredients so I guess that's a win!

The biggest change for me is that my freezer is full of yellow-stickers so my meal plans have become focused on ways of using up things I have, rather than looking through cookbooks and deciding I'm going to make a particular dish.

Normally at this time of year I'd be all over the Nigel Slater threads and cooking my way through loads of recipes from the christmas chronicles but I haven't done a single thing from there yet.

Oh yes, I know what you mean. I'm not doing a lot of going out and buying all new for anything these days.

I've been ill, so this week didn't quite work out.

I told DP yesterday that I was tired of always having to think, so he has to be in charge next week. He's chosen:
veggie sausages and sweet potato mash with roasted red onions, peas and gravy
mushroom omelettes
veggie chilli (he will make it)
dhal (he will make it)
vodka pasta (he will make it)

I had crisps and cheese for dinner on either Friday or yesterday (I can't remember which). But chicken, veg and potatoes as a traybake the other. And lamb chops, roasted med veg and roasted potatoes all done separately tonight. And all from freezer.

Tomorrow, I have taken out a steak and a portion of cauli cheese to defrost. I might add spuds if I am hungry.

Tuesday I am out.

Wednesday, I want to do a salmon and pea pasta dish.

Thursday, I want to do either piri piri chicken or a mushroom risotto.

Friday and Saturday I still have chicken, a steak, a duck breast, some cod and some more lamb chops in the freezer. I just need to inspire myself.

Sunday, DH is here. So it needs to be nice - but not too rich. Possibly some kind of seafood.

Dd arrives early the following week. So there will be a lot of chicken, turkey and fish going on. Quite possibly a roast turkey on 25 th if I can find one that doesn't cost €€€ - I saw a small one yesterday which was €51 in the ordinary supermarket!

Leftovers and freezer food for the win this week

mon: veg and bean soup (leftover from yesterday)
tues: lasagne (leftover from Friday)
weds: salmon, new potatoes and broccoli (freezer specials)
thurs: ramen (store cupboard win)
fri: being fed at a friend’s party
sat: eating out at Xmas market in london
sun: being fed again by friends

i might literally only have to buy fruit, milk and bread this week!

Order not cast in stone except for tonight: Fish and wedges with veg
Tues: Steak sandwiches, mushrooms, pickled onion with some salad
Wed: Paella
Thur: Butternut risotto, possibly with some chicken if there's left over from paella
Fri: Pork stir fry
Sat: Meatballs

Not really sure why I am bothering this week but
Tomorrow: pasta bake
Saturday: nice pizzas
Sunday: jacket spuds
Monday: Thai green veggie curry (antidote to all the stodge)
Tuesday: beige buffet
Wednesday: Christmas dinner
Thursday: leftovers

A pretty indulgent week before the inevitable January diet.

Tomorrow - Halal cart chicken bowls
Saturday - Chicken and leek risotto
Sunday- Lamb shank madras, mushroom rice and naan
Monday- Spicy tomato soup with Italian grinder subs
Tuesday - Traditional Chinese takeaway
Wednesday - Out
Thursday - Loaded Nacho's with lots of guacamole, buffalo chicken wings with blue cheese dip and some other picky bits.
Friday- Steak & chips with creamy peppercorn sauce, peas, mushrooms, tomato.

Just realised I've got rice 3 days in a row so I might swap the risotto for a chicken noodle dish

DP was supposed to be cooking dhal for tonight but decided he couldn’t be bothered, so has gone to fetch a takeaway. I’m a bit annoyed as I’m out tomorrow and out for lunch on Saturday, so had been hoping for something nutritious today, especially as I’m still full of cold.

He will have to make it on Sunday. On Monday I think I’ll do veggie spag bol, as we’ve not had it for ages and it’s a nice one for just some gentle kitchen pootling.

Tuesday - no idea

Christmas Eve- out for brunch / cheese board etc for tea

Christmas Day - Stilton and mushroom pie, dauphinois, sprouts, stuffing, carrots and whatever else I decide I fancy and can be bothered with

Boxing day - cheese etc

Beyond that, no plans but I will definitely cook a curry of some sort and maybe tacos with homemade refried beans

Not sure if it's worth updating this week as it's all the expected traditional food or using up leftovers.

Tonight: A sort of rice bowl concoction with pesto, bacon, shredded cabbage, maybe some other veggies.
Tomorrow: Coq au vin blanc
Sunday: Minestrone with cheese and onion "sausage rolls"
Monday: Out
Tuesday: Cheese and charcuterie
Wednesday: Traditional turkey dinner and trimmings
Thursday: Turkey curry
Friday: Tagliatelle with parsnips and pancetta
Saturday: Turkey broth and cheese

Today- stir fry noodles with veggies and teriyaki steak

Sat-chicken curry,rice,naan and poppadoms

Sun-gammon,eggs,chips and baked beans

Mon-out

Tuesday- charcuterie,artichoke and spinach hot dip,Mexican corn hot dip,tortillas and salad with s'mores on the fire pit to follow

Wed - canapés
smoked salmon platter
Followed by turkey dinner

Thurs- leftovers

Fri- whole glazed gammon,macaroni cheese and salads
( large family party)

I am in the process of finalising my christmas order, so having to think about food around Christmas week. I feel like I can't cope with both Christmas food shopping and normal food shopping! .

So far I've got chicken thighs which I'll bake and serve with rice/potatoes and veg so that's probably sunday.
M: leaning towards Jamie Oliver store cupboard fishcakes.
T: Pre-christmas with inlaws PLUS doing prep work for Christmas day where I'm bringing side dishes to our broader famiyl/friends event. We'll be having lamb shoulder with med style sides and flatbreads.
W: Christmas - not at home.
Th: I'm hoping there's leftover lamb to make curry. If not, I'll be scrambling around for some kind of tomato-based pasta.
Fri: Am toying with trying ONE MORE TIME to master Orzo with a beef stew and orzo. Dependcs on if I can get the beef on my online order!

My meal plan for the week goes:
Sunday: fish pie with celeriac topping
Monday: tofu stir-fry
Tuesday: lentil soup
Wednesday: Christmas dinner
Thursday-Saturday: leftovers and cheese and salad