After a couple of weeks off, I’m back to meal planning – I enjoyed the freedom for a bit but then it got back to being frustrating having to think up a meal last minute and shopping without a plan is useless. I spend just as much money and never seem to manage to buy anything. I don’t understand.

Ah well, this week’s challenge is doing the food shop in person with The Smalls in tow and not losing anyone/leaving a child in the store/having a public melt down. I have written my list and done the kids a list each too, in the hope that having things to look for with make them feel useful/keep them distracted and occupied enough to make the whole thing bearable.

Monday: Mince Beef Minchi

A simple Chinese peasant dish of mince, rice and potatoes topped off with a fried egg. This is a new one for us but I’m quite looking forward to it.

Tuesday: Risi E Bisi

Or ‘Rice and Peas’ in English. Somewhere between soup and risotto, we’ve had this before and it goes down well.

Wednesday: Slow Cooked Boston Baked Beans With Pork 3 Ways

This sounds so swish and complicated but it is actually more of a slow cooker lob-it-all-in jobby. The three ways of pork are bacon, pork belly and sausages if anyone is wondering.

Thursday: Salmon, Courgette & Tomato Linguine

Does what it says on the tin – will probably be served with a mountain of cheese!

Friday: Fish & Chips

Out of the freezer, not the chip shop.

Saturday: Tartiflette

Potatoes, cheese, bacon, onions… baked together into loveliness. This is one of my favourites.

Sunday: Leftovers

There are always leftovers come Sunday, so this week I’m planning in the eating of them for a change!

Of course, all of this is subject to change because it is still the Easter holidays and our plans are… vague at best, so we might change our minds at any given moment.