Meals of the Week, May 3rd to May 9th, 2026

 

 Happy Sunday and welcome to my weekly, Meals of the Week post. On Sundays I like to share with my readers all of the main meals that I have enjoyed eating over the past seven days, along with any pertinent recipes and menu suggestions. I really like doing this and by all counts you like reading about them and seeing the food also. If you're happy I'm happy.  Its as simple as that.  It's also been a lot more fun for me lately as I have my daughter Eileen living with me temporarily.  As you all know a pleasure shared is a pleasure doubled!

These are only our main meals, and this does not include my breakfast meals or my supper meals. I say supper because normally I will eat my main meal around the middle of the day, or early afternoon. Unless I am eating with other people and then I will eat my meal whenever it is that they want to eat.

I usually have a simple breakfast. I will often make myself a protein shake and nurse it all morning, then have my main meal about one-ish.  Then later in the day I will enjoy something light, usually between five and six.  Perhaps a sandwich, or a salad.  Maybe a bowl of cereal or even some fruit.

Yes, occasionally if I have leftover pizza I will have that for my breakfast. When I do that however, I often find that I am full for most of the day, so I try not to do that on a regular basis.

For our main meals I try to choose things that are simple and yet delicious. I like, in the main, to do my own cooking.  I don't really like frozen meals or take aways.  I usually have Sunday dinner with my family every Sunday, either here or at my sister's. Usually it is at her place.

This week was highly unusual in that I actually ate out three times.  We enjoyed a delicious curry supper at my sister's on Sunday and then on Wednesday our usual night out together with my father and his friend Hazel. Then on Saturday Eileen wanted to take me out for supper for Mother's day. I have provided "like-recipes" for all of those meals so that you can cook what I ate if you so wish.

 

 

 

I try to always keep my cooking fairly healthy and within budget, but I am only human and do splurge every now and then and eat something naughty. My weakness is cake. 

And so without waffling on any further here are my meals of the week for the past seven days. I do hope you enjoy seeing them and that you will be inspired to want to cook some of them for yourself!  

 

 

 

 

 

SUNDAY, May 3rd - Sunday Dinner with Cindy and the family

Most Sundays I go to dinner at my sisters. There will be my father, Cindy, Dan and for the time being Eileen (my daughter) and myself. This week my sister really outdid herself by cooking us a delicious Chicken Biryani and a vegetable curry. Eileen and I were in seventh heaven!

In it's place I am sharing my recipe for Chicken Biryani. This Chicken Biryani is the kind of one‑pan wonder that fills your kitchen with the most irresistible aromas — warm cinnamon, fragrant cardamom, and the gentle heat of your chosen curry paste all blooming together as the rice steams to fluffy perfection. Tender cubes of chicken soak up those spices, while sweet little pops of raisin add a lovely fruity contrast that keeps every bite interesting. It’s hearty, comforting, and beautifully balanced — the sort of dish that feels special without asking much of you at all.

Toasted almonds bring a gorgeous crunch, fresh coriander brightens everything at the end, and the whole meal comes together quickly enough for a busy weeknight. We LOVE this!

 

MONDAY, May 4th - Honeyed Tomato Soup 

On Monday we had a simple supper of soup and a grilled cheese, but not just any soup and grilled cheese. A delicious Honeyed Tomato Soup with Cheese & Onion Marmalade Panini. The soup is rich, herby, and gently sweetened with honey — just enough to balance the acidity of the tomatoes without making it overly sweet . Made with good Italian tomatoes, herbs, and cream it is deliciously creamy and luxurious.

 Paired with a melty cheddar and red onion marmalade panini, grilled until oozing and golden, this simple meal becomes something truly special — the kind of cozy, rib‑sticking comfort food that brightens even the rainiest day. We both really enjoyed this very much.

TUESDAY, May 5th - Turkey Fajitas

Taco Tuesday and Cinco de Mayo rolled into one. We celebrated with some Fajitas!  These Turkey Fajitas are everything a quick weeknight supper should be — vibrant, spicy, and wonderfully fresh, all while keeping things light and wholesome. Thin strips of tender turkey breast sizzle away with sweet red onions and colorful peppers, soaking up a homemade fajita seasoning that’s smoky, warm, and completely free of the hidden sugars you find in packet mixes . Every bite is bright and satisfying, with just the right kick of heat.

You can tuck this delicious filling into warm soft flour tortillas or you can enjoy it low carb rolled up in lettuce leaves.  I like to dress them with a cool creamy spoonful of Greek yogurt marbled with a splash of Green Tabasco which adds richness and zing. Fresh coriander and a squeeze of lime wake everything up beautifully!

WEDNESDAY, May 6th - Dinner out with the family

On Wednesdays we all go out to dinner with our Dad. He has been doing this for years and so long as he is with us, we will continue to go with him. We always go to the same place. Eileen loves doing this as well, so even after she gets her own place, I will continue to pick her up and bring her along!

This week Cindy and I each had fish and chips. Eileen had the spaghetti and meatballs with a side of Caesar salad. Dad had the hamburger steak dinner and Hazel had pan-fried haddock dinner. (She and dad really like that because it comes with a fresh roll. They get really annoyed if the roll is forgotten! ha ha)

This week I am sharing my recipe for Beer Battered Fish. This recipe is everything we all love about a proper chippy tea — light, crisp, golden batter that shatters at the touch of a fork, wrapped around tender, flaky white fish that steams beautifully inside its crunchy shell. It’s the kind of simple pleasure that never stops feeling special. The batter itself is wonderfully airy thanks to a splash of beer and a touch of baking soda, giving you that classic pub‑style finish without any heaviness at all

THURSDAY, May 7th - Easy Mango Chicken

Eileen and I didn't have enough curry at Cindy's on Sunday, lol, so on Thursday I made us Mary Berry's Easy Mango Chicken.  This was my first time making this and we were both really pleased with the results.  I did have to adapt the recipe a fair bit as I only had bone in, skin on chicken, but it worked out very well. It was quick, creamy, gently spiced, and packed with that gorgeous sweet‑savory mango flavor that makes every bite feel special.

The sauce was silky and rich without being heavy, the chicken beautifully tender, and the whole dish came together with just a handful of ingredients. It’s the kind of meal you can pop into the oven and trust to turn out perfectly every single time. We enjoyed this with some steamed rice and green beans on the side. It was really good.

FRIDAY, May 8th  - Inside Out Bacon Cheese Burgers

These Inside Out Bacon Cheeseburgers are the kind of indulgent, joy‑sparking burgers that make an ordinary weeknight feel like a celebration. Each patty starts with perfectly seasoned ground beef — paprika, garlic powder, Worcestershire, and plenty of black pepper — gently shaped into thin ovals so the meat stays tender and juicy. Then comes the magic: a generous mound of cheddar and Swiss tucked right inside the burger, creating a molten, savory center that melts beautifully as they grill.

As the patties sizzle, you grill the onions right alongside them, letting them soften and caramelize in all those flavorful juices . Once cooked, each burger is crowned with crisp, smoky streaky bacon, fresh tomato, lettuce, and any of your favorite condiments — all piled onto a toasted bun (cheese buns if you’re feeling extra indulgent) for the ultimate bite.

We were feeling really indulgent and wanted a treat. We enjoyed these burgers along with some oven chips (Eileen) and salad (both of us.) As always, delicious! 

SATURDAY, May 9th -  Mother's Day dinner treat from Eileen

Because Sunday is Mother's Day Eileen wanted to treat me to a dinner out. We chose Mary Brown's Fried Chicken with taters, biscuits and coleslaw.  Yum Yum!!  She knows what I like! Thank you Eileen!

In it's place I am sharing my recipe for Oven Fried Chicken with a Chive & Buttermilk Mash. This Oven Fried Chicken is everything we crave about classic fried chicken — crisp, golden skin, juicy meat, and that irresistible seasoned coating — but made easier, cleaner, and every bit as delicious. The magic starts with a pan of hot melted butter and oil that gives each piece its signature crunch as it bakes, no deep fryer needed. The chicken is rolled in that sizzling fat, then tossed in a simple but flavor‑packed mixture of flour, black pepper, garlic powder, salt, and your favorite mixed herbs for a coating that bakes up beautifully crisp and deeply savory.

Paired with your Chive & Buttermilk Mash, it becomes pure comfort on a plate — homely, hearty, and made with the kind of love only a well‑seasoned recipe can carry. All you need is a salad or vegetable on the side. Delicious!

And there you have it. My meals of the week for this the second week of May, 2026.  It was a hard week in many ways, but we got through it and we enjoyed our meals along the way. I hope you will be inspired to want to cook at least one or two of them!

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