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2025 Meal Planners!

988 replies

Citygirlrurallife · 01/01/2025 18:47

Here it is - all welcome, long termers and newbies, I imagine this week is leftovers leftovers leftovers and kicking off from Thursday onwards.

ive gone back to Oddbox and our deliveries now come on Friday nights so I’m going to try to force my brain to meal plan Thursday-Thursday and have delivery on Thursdays to make it happen. Won’t happen this week but hopefully from next

OP posts:
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Makelikeatreeandleaf · 05/04/2025 10:09

Remus - do you make or buy the black bean sauce? I am obsessed with tofu in bbs and it's been my standard Chinese order for ever, but I've not found a good one for home (not tried for a while mind, I gave up). TIA.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 05/04/2025 10:19

Makelikeatreeandleaf · 05/04/2025 10:09

Remus - do you make or buy the black bean sauce? I am obsessed with tofu in bbs and it's been my standard Chinese order for ever, but I've not found a good one for home (not tried for a while mind, I gave up). TIA.

It’s a recipe using the fermented, salted black beans but if I haven’t got them, I just use the Blue Dragon sauce. I haven’t tried the dish in a restaurant so no idea how it compares, sorry.

Makelikeatreeandleaf · 05/04/2025 10:23

Great, thank you.

IDareSay · 05/04/2025 12:57

For those who asked for a pic...dogs not dinner 😍
Our two little ladies.

2025 Meal Planners!
RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 05/04/2025 13:19

😍😍😍

SpaceOP · 05/04/2025 18:37

So cute!!!!!

Just did a quick plan as I needed to do a shop for basics so will think about additional meals for the rest of the week later.

Sausage and spinach creamy gnocchi
Steak with aubergine and mozarrella salad and bread
Spaghetti bolognaise
Chicken taco bows.

Crummles · 06/04/2025 16:56

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie and @Makelikeatreeandleaf

Lee Kum Kee sauces (the ones in jars) are so much better than Blue Dragon imo. But I haven't tried the black bean sauce one tbh

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 06/04/2025 17:55

Thanks. I’ll look out for them. In the meantime, even with the Blue Dragon sauce it’s a recipe we all enjoy.

Craftymam · 07/04/2025 17:10

Super chuffed with this week! 8 main meals for £55!

My best week yet

Craftymam · 07/04/2025 17:10

Forgot to attach…

2025 Meal Planners!
MotherofPearl · 07/04/2025 17:41

Craftymam · 07/04/2025 17:10

Forgot to attach…

Please tell me about ‘bland pasta’. I’m intrigued. I’m not immediately tempted, I must admit.

Craftymam · 07/04/2025 18:14

MotherofPearl · 07/04/2025 17:41

Please tell me about ‘bland pasta’. I’m intrigued. I’m not immediately tempted, I must admit.

Lol 😂 it’s DPs name for it.

Basically it’s

  1. cook penne
  2. cook lots of crispy bacon pieces
  3. meanwhile prepare tomato into reasonable thick slices halved. Bathe in salt pepper and olive oil
  4. combine bacon (including fat) and penne and half a block of cheddar cheese
  5. microwave for 1 minute so the cheddar gets melty and stringy
  6. Pour in the tomato olive mixture. Stir. Throw in a generous handful of basil. Stir again.
  7. Then either serve here or optional step is add juice of a lemon. That turns it from stringy cheddar to curds a bit like poutine but fresh and lemony.
MotherofPearl · 07/04/2025 18:16

Craftymam · 07/04/2025 18:14

Lol 😂 it’s DPs name for it.

Basically it’s

  1. cook penne
  2. cook lots of crispy bacon pieces
  3. meanwhile prepare tomato into reasonable thick slices halved. Bathe in salt pepper and olive oil
  4. combine bacon (including fat) and penne and half a block of cheddar cheese
  5. microwave for 1 minute so the cheddar gets melty and stringy
  6. Pour in the tomato olive mixture. Stir. Throw in a generous handful of basil. Stir again.
  7. Then either serve here or optional step is add juice of a lemon. That turns it from stringy cheddar to curds a bit like poutine but fresh and lemony.

Okay, phew, that sounds a lot better than I expected. Actually sounds delicious - especially all that bacon and cheese. 😋

Craftymam · 07/04/2025 18:31

MotherofPearl · 07/04/2025 18:16

Okay, phew, that sounds a lot better than I expected. Actually sounds delicious - especially all that bacon and cheese. 😋

Well I love it. It’s one of my quick weekday ‘nothing in’ go to’s. It’s all about the generosity and quality of ingredients. Good olive oil and naice tomatoes. 🍅 Personally I go for large plums if they are out of season.

Lastqueenofscotland2 · 10/04/2025 08:22

a weird one this week as very busy

friday: Mexican loaded fries
saturday: lemony ricotta pasta
sunday: jerk roasted veg with rice and peas
monday: harissa vegetable salad
tuesday: veggie meatball sub
wednesday: falafel and hallumi salad
Thursday: veggie sausage and mash

IDareSay · 10/04/2025 09:36

Still a bit all over the place here, but meal planning means one less thing for me to think about so, better late than never!

Monday: Burgers and salad
Tuesday: Lunch out while dogs were having surgery, snacks when we got home.
Wednesday: Roast beef and all the trimmings
Thursday: Chicken curry of some sort
Friday: Turkey fajitas
Saturday: Salmon and broccoli
Sunday: Lamb keema

APurpleSquirrel · 10/04/2025 18:17

Our house has now got its second bout of chickenpox, so all plans to be out & about for Easter holidays are out the window, so here’s our menu for the week:

Today: Chicken fajitas
Friday: Pasta bolognese
Saturday: Hot Smoked Salmon Salad
Sunday: Toad in the Hole
Monday: Chicken Jollof style rice
Tuesday: Takeaway
Wednesday: Paella

Custardandcreams · 10/04/2025 21:42

Anyone any ideas i can do for bbq food in a caravan, trying to get away from the usual burger and sausages!!

SpaceOP · 10/04/2025 23:57

Custardandcreams · 10/04/2025 21:42

Anyone any ideas i can do for bbq food in a caravan, trying to get away from the usual burger and sausages!!

I am not sure how the caravan is specifically relevant so apologies if these ideas do not work due to any restrictions:

Lamb is brilliant on bbq. Lamb chops (buy the thinner flatter ones and cook quickly at high temp). I usually marinade in oil, lemon, garlic, rosemary and thyme.

Or do Lamb and veggie skewers - i like Lamb neck for this. Also marinade in oil, lemon, garlic, rosemary and thyme. Cut into chunks then add to skewers with med style veg - cherry/plum tomatoes, chunks of aubergine and/or courgette, chunks of red onion and peppers. Brush the veg with the marinade too. Cook on fairly hot heat but not wxcessively so - you want it to cook fast and get some char on - but not TOO hot because you want the veggies to have time to soften. Serve as is or make up some couscous, remove the meat and veg from skewers and stir through. Tatzkki and/or hummus on the side or drizzled over adds value! You can do this with halloumi instead of.lamb if you prefer.

Wrap slices of asparagus in parma ham and grill. Serve with cream cheese which, if you want, you can flavour with a bit of garlic or garlic oil.

Deboned chicken thighs are good (at home I do with bone and pre cook in oven but I assume that's not practical). Marinade in a mix of ketchup, splash of plive/rapeseed oil, splash of sherry or balsamic vinegar, fennel seeds, Chinese five spice, oregano, garlic and salt. The cook, turning frequently. It will get a bit charred due to the ketchup but that is part of the deliciousness. This one tends to be especially popular with kids.

I like to make grilled aubergine "salad". Slice aubergine, brush with oil and grill over bbq until nicely coloured and soft. Make a dressing of olive oil, sherry vinegar, garlic and chilli. Aubergine in a bowl, dressing poured over, topped with buffalo mozzarella and scatter chopped mint. If you have a cash bbq or one with a lid, those par-cooked ciabattas can be thrown in for 5-6 minutes and this works as a meal by itself, or with Lamb chops.

Those are some of my favourites. Flat mushrooms also bbq well and with griddled aubergine, a bit of goats cheese and some.honey make excellent stacks for eating alone or in a burger bun. Or small mushrooms wrapped in bacon slices then added to a skewer make a great "waiting to eat snack".

This year I plan to do a bit more experimenting with fish and prawns.

I love a bbq. Can you tell? 😀😀

Custardandcreams · 11/04/2025 09:31

SpaceOP · 10/04/2025 23:57

I am not sure how the caravan is specifically relevant so apologies if these ideas do not work due to any restrictions:

Lamb is brilliant on bbq. Lamb chops (buy the thinner flatter ones and cook quickly at high temp). I usually marinade in oil, lemon, garlic, rosemary and thyme.

Or do Lamb and veggie skewers - i like Lamb neck for this. Also marinade in oil, lemon, garlic, rosemary and thyme. Cut into chunks then add to skewers with med style veg - cherry/plum tomatoes, chunks of aubergine and/or courgette, chunks of red onion and peppers. Brush the veg with the marinade too. Cook on fairly hot heat but not wxcessively so - you want it to cook fast and get some char on - but not TOO hot because you want the veggies to have time to soften. Serve as is or make up some couscous, remove the meat and veg from skewers and stir through. Tatzkki and/or hummus on the side or drizzled over adds value! You can do this with halloumi instead of.lamb if you prefer.

Wrap slices of asparagus in parma ham and grill. Serve with cream cheese which, if you want, you can flavour with a bit of garlic or garlic oil.

Deboned chicken thighs are good (at home I do with bone and pre cook in oven but I assume that's not practical). Marinade in a mix of ketchup, splash of plive/rapeseed oil, splash of sherry or balsamic vinegar, fennel seeds, Chinese five spice, oregano, garlic and salt. The cook, turning frequently. It will get a bit charred due to the ketchup but that is part of the deliciousness. This one tends to be especially popular with kids.

I like to make grilled aubergine "salad". Slice aubergine, brush with oil and grill over bbq until nicely coloured and soft. Make a dressing of olive oil, sherry vinegar, garlic and chilli. Aubergine in a bowl, dressing poured over, topped with buffalo mozzarella and scatter chopped mint. If you have a cash bbq or one with a lid, those par-cooked ciabattas can be thrown in for 5-6 minutes and this works as a meal by itself, or with Lamb chops.

Those are some of my favourites. Flat mushrooms also bbq well and with griddled aubergine, a bit of goats cheese and some.honey make excellent stacks for eating alone or in a burger bun. Or small mushrooms wrapped in bacon slices then added to a skewer make a great "waiting to eat snack".

This year I plan to do a bit more experimenting with fish and prawns.

I love a bbq. Can you tell? 😀😀

Wow Thank you some fab ideas, only mentioning caravan as I have limited fridge space, I have to take everything with us and not much room to prep everything🤦🏼‍♀️

SpaceOP · 11/04/2025 10:50

Custardandcreams · 11/04/2025 09:31

Wow Thank you some fab ideas, only mentioning caravan as I have limited fridge space, I have to take everything with us and not much room to prep everything🤦🏼‍♀️

Aah, got you. Then things like skewers or bacon/ham wrapped veg etc could be good - most veg don't have to refrigerated if only for a few days and you could save the fridge space for a couple of neck fillets or halloumi. I do recommend the chicken though if you can fit it in- it tends to be devoured by kids! I did a huge pile of drumstick ones last year that just disappeared! 😆

Sgtmajormummy · 11/04/2025 13:05

12- 18 April

Lunches are pasta, rice, soup or salad.

Dinners-all with appropriate veg.

Saturday: Jamie Oliver’s pork fillet wrapped with pesto and prosciutto.
Sunday: Pizza out.
Monday: Chicken Stroganoff.
Tuesday: Aubergine Parmigiana (my low-cal version) and buffalo mozzarella.
Wednesday: Spinach omelette and potato wedges
Thursday: Homemade Hamburger and chips (school breaks up).
Friday: Salmon, green beans and hot cross buns😇, brioche style.

SpaceOP · 11/04/2025 15:18

Right. Inspired by BBQ discussion:

Tonight: BBQ. Probably burgers and lamb
Then ,in no particular order:

Asparagus, parma ham and roasted tomatoes on pasta
Baked chicken and veg
Salmon with an orange, soy, sesame rice that I saw on Waitrose

I'm also going to see about a "summer" roast, depending on what looks good at the supermarket this afternoon. For us tha tmeans new potatoes, salads and a meat cooked and served at room temperature.

HalloumiFries · 11/04/2025 15:22

@Sgtmajormummy - would you be able to share your low cal aubergine parmigiana recipe please? It's one of my favorite things in the whole world but I rarely eat it because of the calorific value.

We're spending the weekend with friends in another city so tomorrow will be whatever they serve. I then have a loose plan which is entirely based around whatever happens on sunday so might be subject to change.

I have an insatiable craving at the moment, for rotisserie chicken. We'll ideally be able to pick one up on the way home on sunday and will serve with salad and new potatoes. A friend recently gave me a jar of avjar which I haven't had before but should go nicely here.

Assuming that goes to plan, I'm then thinking:

Monday: Sweet and sour rice pot with leftover chicken from the night before.
Tuesday: White pudding, eggs, chips and beans (nostalgia-fest. Haven't had white pudding for years but saw it at a farmers market recently)
Wednesday: Aubergine and butterbean stew, using the leftover avjar.
Thursday: Orzo and vegetable bake
Friday: Out for dinner (Italian)
Saturday: Lamb and aubergine curry
Sunday: Roast pork with cannellini beans and chard

If I can't get a chicken, I'll need to rethink Monday and Wednesday.