Le Petit Meal Plan #11
My mood-boosting recipe collection with a downloadable shopping list to simplify your meal prep.
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When February feels a bit dreary, these recipes are my secret weapons for bringing warmth and colour to the kitchen. From a freshly baked loaf that'll fragrance your home with comfort to a vibrant soup and fuss-free tray bake, each dish transforms whatever ingredients you have on hand into something rather special. It's my Feel Good February philosophy—simple cooking that nourishes both body and spirit.
Download the shopping list for all the ingredients below.
MEAL #1 - Colour therapy {v, nf, pb*,df*,gf}
Guest Recipe: Sue Quinn's Lettuce, Herb & Pea Soup
{no paywall} Nothing quite beats a brightly coloured soup to cheer oneself up, especially when the ingredients are things you probably already have at home and making it requires little effort.
MEAL #2 - Make double, you’ll thank me later {pb, gf}
Guest Recipe: Sanjana Modha's Burnt Aubergine and Spinach Curry
{no paywall} I made a version of this and it was devoured by the whole family minus one. I adapted it slightly by blitzing up the aubergines which made for a creamy rich sauce but you still got that wonderful smokey flavour. P.S. Don't worry if you don't have gas to char the aubergine, I used my oven grill and it worked too.
MEAL #3 - A different kind of roast {pb, nf, gf}
Recipe: Roasted Root Veg Salad with Lemon Garlic Mayonnaise
Colour, crunch and creamy. This dish ticks all the boxes when it comes to flavour and texture. It also helps that it requires minimum amount of work with everything being thrown into a tray and roasted. The lemon garlic mayonnaise only a blitz away of being made. You can eat both hot or cold (leftovers are excellent).
MEAL #4 - Oh so moreish {v, nf}
Guest Recipe: Alissa Timoshkina's Cabbage, Pea and Dill Fritters
I have a fondness for fritters partly because they are so adaptable (you could easily replace some of the cabbage for a forgotten sad carrot or courgette - just make sure to squeeze out any excess liquid). The cool creamy sour cream on the side is a must though!
MEAL #5 - A simple sarnie {v, nf}
Recipe: Pain de mie
The joy of a freshly baked piece of bread has to be one of the simplest pleasures. I would quite happily savour a sandwich for breakfast, lunch or dinner, provided the bread is good and it's slathered in butter. The softest and bounciest French white loaf—something to make for the weekend. If you don't devour the whole loaf in one day, simply pre-slice and freeze (place pieces of baking paper between each slice so they don't stick together). Then pop into the toaster whenever your heart desires.
Something for your sweet tooth… {v, nf}
Recipe: Crème Brûlée Toast
If you have a few slices of pain de mie leftover that need a second lease on life, this is perfect. Though if you're really short on time, store-bought brioche and custard work just as well...
Abbreviations:
v- vegetarian, pb - plant based, gf - gluten free, nf - nut free, df - dairy free.
