FOLLOW US

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • About
    • PRs Work With Us
  • MEDIA
  • DIRECTORS CUT
  • Contact Us
Joleisa logo
  • Frugal living
  • Eat for less
  • Start a blog
  • Recommendations

Great Meal Planning – Very Little Cooking

This post may contain affiliate links

This has been such a great week with lots of family fun. Time spent together as a family is vitally important. It certainly helps with the creation of long-lasting memories and also gives the children insights into how to treat their family later on. This week we were privileged to spend more time together and less time sweating in the kitchen. If you haven’t tried out meal planning yet, you need to. You will see just how much you are saving, how you can make your own takeaway style meals, and how you can spend more time creating special memories with your family.

I’m so grateful to Katy and Naomi for leading the way and also allowing us to link up with them each week.

On Sunday, I spent the longest time in the kitchen, but even then it was not too long. So after a lie in and late breakfast, we went out to get some essentials for the week ahead (including ingredients for a practical lesson at school – the product of which would feature later in the week as part of our meal planning.) By the way, when the kids insist on a lie in, so long as it is not a school morning they are allowed. (It works for our frugal lifestyle perfectly! They wake so late, we get to miss either breakfast or lunch!

When we returned home, I set about making dinner which was a traditional British Sunday roast consisting of roast chicken, roast potatoes, broccoli, carrots, Yorkshire pudding, stuffing, and gravy. It was absolutely delicious! I am saying so myself!

The leftovers were served on Monday with a fresh vegetable salad.

Fast forward to Tuesday! Shrove Tuesday, and it couldn’t come fast enough. Traditionally we make our own pancakes and the kids couldn’t wait! We used THE BEST EVER PANCAKE RECIPE. The kids took turns making their own and topping them with an assortment of berries, golden syrup, cinnamon sugar and lemon. We had a good laugh together as this year they tried coloring the mixture and making various designs, most of which did not turn out as intended.

You will find an easy pancake recipe here. I call them the best ever homemade pancakes because they are. Save and share the recipe and it will become a family favourite recipe.

Love is in the air!

Wednesday was Valentine’s day and we did promise that we would make a meal of it! So we did! We made a Jamaican style curry chicken which we had with rice and peas, mashed potatoes and a crispy salad. For pudding, we had peanut caramel slices which were made in the Food lesson using the ingredients we had bought on Sunday! That too was very tasty. We then spent the rest of the evening liking our gifts and saying thanks, followed by a few games.

 

On Thursday, we only had to cater for 2 as everyone else was out for the evening. So movie night it was! The two of us who stayed home had cubes of cheese and raisins added to the leftover salad. That’s it! Dinner sorted. Then we sat down with our popcorn and pop for the movie.

 

The week is almost done and I don’t feel like I have been in the kitchen much at all. Next week, we have a few meals ready prepared and in the freezer. We are looking forward to the fish pies and jerk chicken left.

 

Grammarly

Share this:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • More
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email

Related

Filed Under: Frugal

About Joleisa

« Spreading the Love even though I’m Frugal
Frugal Things We’ve Done This Week- Pancakes and Valentines »

Comments

  1. Trish says

    February 16, 2018 at 2:20 pm

    The pancakes sound like so much fun! It’s a great way to celebrate valentine’s day.

    Reply
  2. Kim says

    February 16, 2018 at 2:32 pm

    It’s so nice to have a break from the kitchen and still eat at home!

    Reply
  3. Katy Stevens says

    February 17, 2018 at 12:55 pm

    Sounds like your meal on Wednesday was absolutely delicious! Loving your photographs this week and thanks for linking up!

    Reply
  4. Louise Fairweather says

    February 18, 2018 at 6:32 pm

    I have decided after pancake day that we need to eat more of them! I want go give savoury ones a go.

    Reply
  5. Diane Price says

    February 17, 2021 at 2:29 am

    Eating at home is my favorite! Those pancakes sound fun.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Hey guys and gals!

Hi, we're Jo and Leisa, twin sisters and authors of Joleisa.com. Originally from the sandy beaches of Jamaica we now reside in England where we followed our calling to teach. But sometimes that call changes and our new passion is writing. We're here to give the ups and downs of it all with our lifestyle tips and tricks to help you avoid the sour lemons that can get in our way of frugal budgeting, intentional living and happiness. Join us and learn more about how we found the simplest ways to achieve easy living. Read More…

AS SEEN ON CHANNEL 5’S

We are Sociable

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Recent Posts

  • Our Word of the Week is Break
  • Easter is our Word of the Week
  • Our Word of the Week is Grateful
  • Adjust is my Word of the Week
  • Hyperkalemia is my Word of the Week

MOST POPULAR POSTS

Why we left teaching

  • Be your own boss
  • Set up a blog
  • Making money from your blog
  • Using Pinterest to help your blog
  • Fixing sleep problems
  • Frugal family fun at half term
  • Having to plan a funeral!
  • Let’s show you how we save money on food
  • Our time on Channel 5’s Shop Smart, Save Money
HIBS100 Index of Home and Interior Blogs HIBS100

Copyright © 2025 · Tasteful theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2025 ·Tasteful Theme · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · WordPress · Log in

YOUR PRIVACY

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Reject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
 

Loading Comments...