An Easy Weeknight Meal Plan, Edition 4

I planned your week for you, with a printable menu + shopping list inside.

Jan 17, 2026

While heavy snow covers much of Europe and parts of the United States, we will be cooking some of the most comforting dishes from my collection. There will be a bonus at the end to teach you how to use up leftovers to make an easy and tasty pie.

The menu includes the best fried chicken drumsticks I have ever tasted, my secret pasta sauce, “lazy” tennis-ball-sized burgers, and, of course, my favorite creamy one-pot steak and mushroom dish, as well as some other delicious food.

I’m especially proud of the mini collage I made for the printable menu, which features a goose, a deer, some birds and a snow angel. The snow is lovely, and even though it sometimes causes traffic problems, it provides an alternative way of getting around. For example, we were in Prague the other day and I realized that my shoes, which slide over snow quite easily, could be used like ice skates on those narrow, gorgeous streets. :) Wishing you all a fantastic week ahead! If you’re in a snowy part of the world, don’t forget to go sledging and make a wish by throwing a snowball at the tallest tree!

Lots of love,
Sophie

Printable Menu Card (PDF):

Menucard Collection 4

746KB ∙ PDF file

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THE SHOPPING LIST

This week’s shopping list is organized in one simple PDF you can download and print.

Each ingredient has a small emoji next to it so you instantly know which recipe it belongs to.

The plan serves 3–4 people, but feel free to scale up or down.

Download the list, print it, or keep it on your phone while shopping. I hope it makes your week feel lighter and your dinners easier.

Printable shopping list (PDF):

Mid January Meal Plan Shopping List

102KB ∙ PDF file

Download

MONDAY: Fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy

Here it is: the best fried chicken ever, closely replicating KFC’s special blend of spices — and it’s all natural! The recipe recommends serving it with mashed potatoes and gravy, but it also goes well with a simple salad, couscous, rice, pasta, or on its own.

TUESDAY: “Lazy” burgers with cabbage

These are very hearty meatballs, one of my sons’ favorite dishes. The cabbage makes them incredibly moist.

WEDNESDAY: Salmon with Cherry Tomatoes, Cream, and Herbs

This is a very easy, light and beautiful salmon recipe with a vibrant cherry tomato and silky cream sauce.

THURSDAY: Burrata & Cherry Tomatoes Spaghetti

Blended with burrata cheese and basil, the tomatoes are transformed into a truly delicious pasta sauce. It’s a great way to share one or two balls of burrata with the whole family!

FRIDAY: One-Pan Creamy Steak and Mushrooms

Treat yourself at the end of the week with this simple one-pan steak! Make sure you have some nice bread ready to mop up all the delicious sauce.

Bonus recipe for using up leftovers at the weekend: Impossibly Easy Pie

Although the recipe calls for minced meat, you can use any leftovers you have as a filling, such as salmon, “lazy” meatballs or steak.

Preparations

To make the weekday cooking process smoother, you can prepare delicious dinners in advance:

Make a spice blend for fried chicken. All you need to do is coat the chicken in the mixture, fry it and serve immediately. You can also cook the gravy in advance and refrigerate it for up to three days or freeze it for up to two to three months.
“Lazy” burgers can be prepared and stored in the freezer once they have been baked in the first stage. They can then be kept in the fridge for up to three days or in the freezer for up to two months. To serve, warm them up, spread the mayonnaise and cheese mixture on top, then put them in the oven for 5–7 minutes to finish.
Burrata sauce can be made in advance in any quantity and refrigerated or frozen. If frozen, thaw it and gently bring it to the simmer in a pan.
As for the Bisquick mix, I recommend making your own (mix ½ cup of flour, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, ½ teaspoon of salt and 2 tablespoons of cold butter with the dry ingredients until they are crumbly).
Whenever you want to make a pie, just mix the home-made Bisquick with 2 eggs and 1/2 cup (120 ml) of milk to create the perfect batter for your cake. For example, if you have some salmon (or other) leftovers, put them in the bottom of a greased cake tin, add some grated cheese if you like, and pour your batter mixture over the top. You will then have the perfect pie for Saturday lunch!