Summer Solstice Meal Plan
Your dinners planned for the week, with a printable menu + shopping list inside.
The days are much longer than the nights now. On 21 June, Midsummer is widely celebrated around the world. It has always seemed like a mystical time to me, and I have always felt like I should make a wish when the Northern Hemisphere is most open to the sun. And it always works! Many years ago, I wished that I could cook professionally and share my culinary insights and ideas with people. There was no plan, but a few months later, the idea for my video blog came to us, and my husband and I started working on the first videos.
If you feel like cooking for the week ahead during this long, light-filled weekend, here is my new Midsummer meal plan. On Monday, I suggest a new version of macaroni cheese with fajita sauce, followed by one-pot cabbage and mince fry. Since you’ll still have some cabbage left over, on Wednesday we’ll cook a delicious vegetarian cabbage gratin. On Thursday, you can look forward to some very tender chicken breasts after work, and on Friday treat yourself to some delicious and unusual surf and turf: shrimp and smoked sausage orzo.
Have a beautiful week ahead!
Printable Menu Card (PDF):
Printable 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):
THE MEAL PLAN
Monday: Easy Mac & Cheese with Fajita spice
This is the Mexican edition of my kids’ favorite “cheesy pasta”. It’s perfect for making in advance and freezing or refrigerating.
Tuesday: Quick one-pot cabbage and minced meat fry
A deconstructed version of my favourite childhood dish! It’s also great for preparing in advance and serving with a bowl of fresh rice.
Wednesday: Creamy Garlic Butter Cabbage Gratin
This is a cabbage variation of the famous French dish, gratin d’endives. This method can be used to cook practically any vegetable in a delicious way. It’s especially great if you have vegetable skeptics in your family!
Thursday: Chicken breasts & a simple, velvety sauce
If you’re looking for a way to cook chicken breasts that will keep them moist, try this recipe. It goes very well with mashed potatoes or your favourite vegetables.
Friday: Creamy Cajun Shrimp & Sausage Orzo
This is my newest recipe, combining seafood and meat to create a tasty, creamy orzo dish. This one-pot recipe is perfect for marking a special occasion and treating your guests.
Bonus for a weekend brunch: Healthy Homemade Fries, Poached Eggs & Utah’s Fry Sauce
If you’re planning a movie night or a late Sunday brunch this weekend, try serving these homemade fries with poached eggs and Utah sauce.
Preparations
Easy macaroni cheese with fajita spice, creamy garlic butter cabbage gratin, creamy Cajun shrimp and sausage orzo, chicken breasts with a simple, velvety sauce, and quick one-pot cabbage and minced meat stir-fry can be cooked in advance and then frozen or refrigerated. In the fridge, the dishes will keep for up to 3 days. To retain all the nutrients, it’s best to freeze them for no longer than 2 months. When thawed, reheat gently on the hob or in the oven.
If you use shop-bought ketchup and mayonnaise, the Utah sauce can be prepared in advance and stored in the fridge for up to a month. The fries for brunch can also be prepared 2–3 days prior and then warmed up in the oven.
Enjoy your cooking!
Lots of love,
Sophie xx
You make it so easy with the shopping list! Such an amazing preparation for all of us to enjoy!! THANK YOU!!! 🙏 🙌🫵🏆