We all tend to eat the same foods week after week for most of the time, so really you only need a few weeks’ worth of menu plans to get you going. The secret to the success of menu planning is your ability to plan ahead, thus saving you time and money. If you take a few minutes to plan ahead, you will find that you cut down on waste dramatically. I urge you to use your freezer – if you don’t have a freezer, invest in one as you will find it invaluable. In my kitchen, I have an undercounter freezer where I keep everyday items. I also have a small chest freezer in my garage for bulk storage.
In this section I am giving you the freedom to choose certain elements. On pages 256–63 I have provided a Quick Reference Guide to help you find the recipes you need quickly and easily. These pages are all broken down into the way the food is cooked (Slow cooker, Hob and Grill, Oven-cook) and also show those recipes that can be frozen. I have added some ideas for packed lunches. These items are not exclusively for packed lunches – they can, of course, form part of a meal or everyday cakes and snacks but they are provided to give you some ideas. In the menu planner, if I suggest a meal for the oven, I will also suggest that you choose something else to cook to fill the oven space – this is where the packed lunch section can be worthwhile.
I cannot emphasise this enough – double up and freezing has got to be part of your everyday cooking – it will revolutionise your time in the kitchen, enabling you to have more free time, less waste and home-cooked meals at your convenience. It really takes little time to double up a recipe and make two or three meals instead of one. Remember to label everything before you put it in the freezer. Refer back to the Making the Most of Your Freezer section (pages 7–17) for more information.
This is a really simple concept. Put aside a few hours a week to have a batch cooking session. This will fill your freezer with homemade ready meals, leaving you more time to spend with your family after a busy day. To do this, decide on your main ingredient and plan your recipes. If there are favourite foods your family likes week after week, there is nothing wrong with just doing one recipe and making three or four meals. Remember the golden rule, label and date everything as you don’t want to end up with meals that stay in the freezer for months. Below is an example.
Go to the mince chapter (pages 123–134) and you will see a variety of family dishes that you can make with mince. You might also want to add a few of your own. List what you are going to make and the ingredients you need. Mince is an easy one as most dishes follow the same opening principles of onion, garlic and mince before adding your additional ingredients. I usually do this first step in a very large stock pot and then decide what I am going to make from there.
Make sure you have the containers ready with the labels and everything you need.
Within an hour or two you will have several meals prepared.
You can do the same for chicken dishes and work through the same principles as above. Chicken and mince are my favourites – you will also find that most supermarkets do great deals on buying three chicken or mince combinations so you can save additional cash. Speak to your butcher as he/she can often sell you larger quantities for a better price.
On the pages that follow you will find a suggested menu plan. Follow this to the letter if you like, but it is good if you can make your own plan to suit your family’s requirements. Most families tend to stick to the same meals and just rotate them so you will find it is far easier to put this together than you might think. Try to follow a pattern to make the most of any leftovers as well as your time and remember the golden rules of doubling up and freezing, allowing you to get ahead. I keep saying the same thing but really, it takes no more time to double up and saves you significant time and money in the long term.
• Chicken, Cumin and Harissa Soup
• Chunky Winter Vegetable and Lentil Hotpot
• Chunky Winter Vegetable and Lentil Soup
• Minestrone Soup
• Red Tomato, Pepper and Sweet Potato Soup
• Cajun Chicken Casserole
• Cheat’s Chicken Tikka
• Cheat’s Chicken and Vegetable Curry
• Chicken Vindaloo
• Coq au Vin
• Hearty Chicken Casserole
• Moroccan-style Chicken and Vegetable Tagine
• Simple Chicken Curry
• Beef and Ale Stew with Herb Dumplings
• Beef Bourguignon
• Ham Hock
• Healthy Beef Curry
• Irish Lamb Stew
• Lamb and Green Lentil Curry
• Lamb Shanks
• Spicy Beef and Bean Casserole
• Tunisian Lamb
• Wholesome Lamb and Vegetable Casserole
• Halibut, Chilli and Vegetable Casserole
• Italian Baked Cod
• Seafood Aljotta
• Moroccan-style Vegetable Tagine with Quinoa
• Vegetable Korma
• Cheese and Potato Puffs
• Cheese and Spring Onion Quiche
• Cheese and Vegetable Pasties
• Cheese Scones
• Corned Beef and Potato Tart
• Goats’ cheese and Red Onion Tarts
• Goats’ Cheese, Pesto and Cherry Tomato Tart
• Herby Sausage Rolls
• Homemade Pizza
• Homemade Potato Wedges
• Hot, Hot, Hot Sausage Rolls
• Mediterranean-style Tortilla
• Mozzarella and Cherry Tomato Tarts
• Pizza Puffs
• Puffed Sausage Rolls
• Quiche Lorraine
• Roasted Vegetables and Feta Tart
• Sausage and Herb En Croute
• Sausage in a Blanket
• Spinach and Feta Filo Pie
• Sun-dried Tomato and Goats Cheese Frittata
• Tofu and Spinach Quiche
• Traditional Cornish Pasties
• Tuna and Sweetcorn Puff Tarts
• Cheat’s Leftover Chicken Pie
• Homemade Chicken Nuggets
• Roasted Herby Vegetables and Chicken Breasts
• Roasted Squash One-Pot Chicken
• Spicy Chicken Wings
• Tandoori Chicken
• Bacon, Leek and Macaroni Cheese Bake
• Corned Beef Loaf
• Ham and Leek Cheesy Bake
• Roasted Cherry Tomato, Pancetta and Ricotta Pasta
• Stuffed Loin of Pork
• Toad in the Hole
• Lasagne
• Moussaka
• Shepherd’s and Cottage Pie
• Baked Herbie Salmon
• Cheesy Pollock Layer
• Cod and Cheese Gratin
• Creamy Baked Haddock
• Creamy Fish Pie
• Haddock, Egg and Gruyère Bake
• Haddock Florentine
• One-pot Roasted Fish, Fennel and Red Onion
• Salmon, Garlic and White Wine Parcels
• Salmon and Herb Butter Parcels
• Salmon with a Honey and Mustard Crust
• Salmon and Prawn Puff Pie
• Salmon, Ricotta and Cheese Cannelloni
• Smoked Mackerel and Leek Pie
• Thai Fish Bakes
• Tomato and Tuna Gratin
• Homemade Potato Weges
• Leek and Cheese Sausages
• Mushroom and Cashew Nut Roast
• Spicy Bean and Tomato Stuffed Butternut Squash
• Spinach and Ricotta Lasagne
• Vegetable and Bean Crumble
• Vegetable Mornay Bake
• Apple and Blackberry Pie
• Apple and Blackcurrant Crumble
• Apple and Blueberry Crumble
• Apple and Cinnamon Cobbler
• Apple and Date Bread and Butter Pudding
• Apple, Sultana and Cinnamon Pie
• Baked Bananas with Dark Chocolate Sauce
• Baked Cinnamon Apples
• Blackberry and Apple Crumble
• Cheat’s Ginger and Apple Layer
• Chocolate, Pear and Hazelnut Betty
• Chocolate Saucy Pudding
• Gooseberry and Elderflower Crumble
• Gooseberry Betty
• Lemon Saucy Pudding
• Pear and Dark Chocolate Granola Layer
• Pineapple Upside-down Cake
• Queen of Puddings
• Rhubarb Crumble
• Rhubarb and Ginger Crumble
• Simple Cheating Eccles Cakes
• Spiced Apple Crumble
• Strawberry and Rhubarb Crumble
• Summer Fruit Crumble
• Apple and Date Muffins
• Banana and Chocolate Loaf Cake
• Blueberry Muffins
• Blueberry Scones
• Boiled Fruit Tea Loaf
• Cappuccino Cupcakes
• Carrot Cake Muffins with Vanilla Icing
• Chocolate and Date Fingers
• Chocolate Butterfly Cakes
•
• Chocolate Chip Cupcakes with Vanilla Icing
• Coconut and Fruit Flapjack
• Date and Walnut Slice
• Death by Chocolate Cake
• Easter Muffins
• Fruit Scones
• Lemon Cream Sponge
• Mum’s Lemon Curd Cupcakes
• Orange Loaf Cake
• Rhubarb Flapjack Bars
• Upside-down Blackberry and Apple Cake
• Viennese Whirls
• Bubble and Squeak Patties
• Carrot and Courgette Soup
• Pea and Ham Soup
• Red Pepper and Tomato Soup with Pesto Swirl
• Squash Soup with Spiced Yoghurt
• Tomato, Lentil and Carrot Soup
• Chicken and Mushroom Casserole
• Chicken, Bacon and Bean Casserole
• Chicken Burgers
• Chicken Chow Mien
• Chicken, Pepper and Tomato Pasta
• Spring Chicken Casserole
• Sticky Chicken Drumsticks
• Bacon and Mushroom Pasta
• Beef Stroganoff
• Quick and Easy Garlic, Mushroom and Ham Tagliatelle
• Sausage Casserole
• Spicy Moroccan-style Lamb Cutlets
• Sweet and Sour Pork
• Basic Mince Recipe
• Beef and Bacon Burgers
• Beefburgers
• Spicy Meatballs in Rich Tomato Sauce
• Fishburgers
• Prawn and Asparagus Pasta
• Salmon, Sweet Potato and Chilli Fish Cakes
• Smoked Haddock with Leek and Parsley Sauce
• Tomato, Prawn and Fish Stew
• Leek and Cheese Sausages
• Lentil Dahl
• Mushroom and Goats’ Cheese Bakes
• Mushroom Risotto
• Ratatouille
• Spicy Spinach and Potato
• Thai Bean Cakes
• Tofu and Chickpea Burgers
• Tuscan Tomato and Bean
• Vegetable Curry
• Butterscotch Sauce
• Fruit Compôte
• Homemade Custard
• No-messing Rice Pudding
• Summer Pudding
• Bubble and Squeak Patties
• Carrot and Courgette Soup
• Cheese and Potato Puffs
• Cheese and Spring Onion Quiche
• Cheese and Vegetable Pasties
• Cheese Scones
• Chicken, Cumin and Harissa Soup
• Chunky Winter Vegetable and Lentil Hotpot
• Chunky Winter Vegetable and Lentil Soup
• Corned Beef and Potato Tart
• Goats’ Cheese and Red Onion Tarts
• Goats’ Cheese, Pesto and Cherry Tomato Tart
• Herby Sausage Rolls
• Homemade Pizza
• Hot, Hot, Hot Sausage Rolls
• Minestrone Soup
• Pea and Ham Soup
• Puffed Sausage Rolls
• Red Pepper and Tomato Soup with Pesto Swirl
• Red Tomato, Pepper and Sweet Potato Soup
• Sausage and Herb En Croute
• Sausage in a Blanket
• Spinach and Feta Filo Pie
• Squash Soup with Spiced Yoghurt
• Tofu and Spinach Quiche
• Tomato, Lentil and Carrot Soup
• Traditional Cornish Pasties
• Cajun Chicken Casserole
• Cheat’s Chicken Tikka
• Cheat’s Chicken and Vegetable Curry
• Cheat’s Leftover Chicken Pie
• Chicken and Mushroom Casserole
• Chicken Burgers
• Chicken, Bacon and Bean Casserole
• Chicken Vindaloo
• Coq au Vin
• Basic Mince Recipe
• Beef and Bacon Burgers
• Beefburgers
• Lasagne
• Moussaka
• Shepherd’s and Cottage Pie
• Spicy Meatballs in Rich Tomato Sauce
• Cod and Cheese Gratin
• Creamy Fish Pie
• Fishburgers
• Halibut, Chilli and Vegetable Casserole
• Salmon and Prawn Puff Pie
• Salmon, Ricotta and Cheese Cannelloni
• Salmon, Sweet Potato and Chilli Fish Cakes
• Seafood Aljotta
• Smoked Mackerel and Leek Pie
• Thai Fish Bakes
• Leek and Cheese Sausages
• Lentil Dahl
• Moroccan-style Vegetable Tagine with Quinoa
• Mushroom and Cashew Nut Roast
• Ratatouille
• Spicy Spinach and Potato
• Spinach and Ricotta Lasagne
• Thai Bean Cakes
• Tofu and Chickpea Burgers
• Vegetable and Bean Crumble
• Vegetable Curry
• Vegetable Korma
• Vegetable Mornay Bake
• Apple and Blackberry Pie
• Apple and Blackcurrant Crumble
• Apple and Blueberry Crumble
• Apple and Date Bread and Butter Pudding
• Apple and Cinnamon Cobbler
• Apple, Sultana and Cinnamon Pie
• Blackberry and Apple Crumble
• Chocolate, Pear and Hazelnut Betty
• Fruit Compôte
• Gooseberry and Elderflower Crumble
• Gooseberry Betty
• Homemade Custard
• No-messing Rice Pudding
• Oaty Crumble Mix
• Pineapple Upside-down Cake
• Rhubarb and Ginger Crumble
• Rhubarb Crumble
• Simple Cheating Eccles Cakes
• Spiced Apple Crumble
• Strawberry and Rhubarb Crumble
• Summer Fruit Crumble
• Summer Pudding
• Apple and Date Muffins
• Banana and Chocolate Loaf Cake
• Blueberry Muffins
• Blueberry Scones
• Boiled Fruit Tea Loaf
• Cappuccino Cupcakes
• Carrot Cake Muffins with Vanilla Icing
• Chocolate and Date Fingers
• Chocolate Butterfly Cakes
• Chocolate Chip Cupcakes with Vanilla Icing
• Coconut and Fruit Flapjack
• Date and Walnut Slice
• Death by Chocolate Cake
• Easter Muffins
• Fruit Scones
• Lemon Cream Sponge
• Mum’s Lemon Curd Cupcakes
• Orange Loaf Cake
• Rhubarb Flapjack Bars
• Upside-down Blackberry and Apple Cake
• Viennese Whirls
• Bubble and Squeak Patties
• Cheese and Potato Puffs
• Cheese and Spring Onion Quiche
• Cheese and Vegetable Pasties
• Cheese Scones
• Corned Beef and Potato Tart
• Goats’ Cheese and Red Onion Tarts
• Goats’ Cheese, Pesto and Cherry Tomato Tart
• Herby Sausage Rolls
• Homemade Pizza
• Hot, Hot, Hot Sausage Rolls
• Mediterranean-style Tortilla
• Mozzarella and Cherry Tomato Tarts
• Pizza Puffs
• Puffed Sausage Rolls
• Quiche Lorraine
• Roasted Vegetables and Feta Tart
• Sausage and Herb En Croute
• Sausage in a Blanket
• Spinach and Feta Filo Pie
• Sun-dried Tomato and Goats’ Cheese Frittata
• Tofu and Spinach Quiche
• Traditional Cornish Pasties
• Tuna and Sweetcorn Puff Tarts
• Apple and Blackberry Pie
• Apple, Sultana and Cinnamon Pie
• Pineapple Upside-down Cake
• Simple Cheating Eccles Cakes
• Apple and Date Muffins
• Banana and Chocolate Loaf Cake
• Blueberry Muffins
• Blueberry Scones
• Boiled Fruit Tea Loaf
• Cappuccino Cupcakes
• Carrot Cake Muffins with Vanilla Icing
• Chocolate and Date Fingers
• Chocolate Butterfly Cakes
• Chocolate Chip Cupcakes with Vanilla Icing
• Coconut and Fruit Flapjack
• Date and Walnut Slice
• Death by Chocolate Cake
• Easter Muffins
• Fruit Scones
• Lemon Cream Sponge
• Mum’s Lemon Curd Cupcakes
• Orange Loaf Cake
• Rhubarb Flapjack Bars
• Upside-down Blackberry and Apple Cake
