I am back to talk (once more) about meal planning. It makes my life so much easier, so I want to spread the love! Let me tell you all about my most made and adored recipe oven roasted tomato sauce and how to plan your weekday meals with this incredibly flavorful and versatile sauce.
Meal planning: thinking about what to have for dinner in advance and to prepare key ingredients ahead of time. I know, it doesn’t sound sexy, but it sure makes you feel in control and less stressed out. I’ll sign up for that any day of the week. Let me tell you all about how I plan a week ahead around oven roasted tomato sauce.
Meal planning, what’s it all about?
- Make a weekday meal plan in the weekend so all your meals are planned ahead of time. Less stress, less to think about.
- Stock up on essentials/ kitchen staples so you never have to worry about those.
- Plan to make large batches of food you can freeze in batches exactly big enough for 1 meal for your family.
- Keep in mind: it isn’t a crime to eat the same thing twice a week!
- Get organized and plan ahead of time; make grocery lists. I generally make 1 for my big weekly shopping trip (essentials and everything I can buy ahead of time for that week) and smaller lists per day with things I have to buy fresh (and I call them Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, etc and stick them on the fridge to not forget about them).
These are some of the useful tips meal planning is all about. For more detailed insights continue reading here to become a meal plan queen or king!
Oven roasted tomato sauce
This sauce is so versatile and full of flavor. And it is simple to make; cut tomatoes in half, line them on a baking sheet, add balsamic vinegar and olive oil, slow roast in the oven and then blend into a smooth sauce.
It is our favorite pasta sauce as well as the base for (rainbow) lasagna. I also use it to make oven roasted tomato soup and as a sauce for vegan meatballs with mashed potatoes. You see, I have your weekday meals almost all planned for you already.
How I plan my weekday meals with oven roasted tomato sauce
What an ‘oven roasted tomato sauce meal planned week’ looks like:
- MONDAY: tortilla soup with all the toppings (or as many as you like)
- TUESDAY: (zucchini) noodles topped with oven roasted tomato soup
- WEDNESDAY: (vegan) meatballs in tomato sauce on a bed of creamy mashed potatoes
- THURSDAY: oven roasted tomato soup with pesto grilled cheese sandwiches
- FRIDAY: Friday night, caprese pizza night!
In the weekend
In the weekend I prepare my big grocery list and I buy most of the ingredients for my planned weekday meals. While I am at it, I check each weekday recipe and prepare a grocery list for each day of things I can only buy last minute, like fresh produce. This way I won’t forget and it clears my head. And I make some things ahead of time already after doing groceries, like a large batch of oven roasted tomato sauce.
My kitchen staples (essentials that I always have in my pantry) are: olive oil, balsamic vinegar, sea salt and black pepper, basic condiments like oregano and/or Italian seasoning, ground cumin, ground paprika, chili powder, bay leaves, (whole wheat) flour, quinoa, dry (red and/or black) beans, canned corn, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, yeast, whole wheat flour and (vegetable) stock for if I run out of homemade broth. If I’ve almost run out of them, I put them on my ‘big grocery list’.
My big grocery list will look like this: tomatoes, (red) onions, garlic, cheese (for pizza, tortilla soup, and grilled cheese sandwiches), (vegan) parmesan cheese and , tortillas, avocado, limes, jalapeños, chicken (for tortilla soup, or make it vegetarian and only use veggies), carrots, bell peppers, zucchini (to make zucchini noodles), potatoes (to make mashed potatoes) and pesto (or the ingredients to make it yourself).
Tip: buy potted plants in stead of bunches of herbs. They last longer and they brighten up your kitchen!
Usually on Sunday I make a large batch of oven roasted tomato sauce enough to make all my weekday meals. For this particular weekday menu I also make a double batch of beans and the mixture for the vegan meatballs so I only have to roll the balls on the day of and bake them. Once in a while I make a big jar of pesto. So if you want to make your own pesto, prep it on Sunday (it is so easy! everything in a blender and TA-DA!).
MONDAY – tortilla soup
On my grocery list I have only a few items; fresh produce like bell peppers, carrots and celery. I could have also put them on my big shopping list since I am making this soup on Monday (so close to the big shopping day).
I have already made oven roasted tomato sauce and beans on Sunday so all I have to do is sauté the veggies, add all the other ingredients to the large soup pot and simmer the soup. In the meantime I prep the toppings. Within half an hour dinner will be on the table. For detailed instructions click here.
TUESDAY – (zucchini) noodles topped with oven roasted tomato soup
On my grocery list I have only a few items; fresh herbs like basil, parsley and maybe cherry tomatoes for if I want to top the plates with some fresh cherry tomatoes.
I have already made oven roasted tomato sauce on Sunday so all I have to do is make the zucchini noodles with a mandoline (or grab some whole wheat spaghetti from my pantry), sauté the veggie noodles, add the sauce on top of the noodles and top with fresh basil, parmesan and maybe even some halved cherry tomatoes. That’s it! Dinner is ready! For detailed instructions click here.
WEDNESDAY: vegan meatballs in tomato sauce on a bed of creamy mashed potatoes
The only thing I need today is some fresh basil and parsley, which I probably have leftover from yesterday’s meal so no need to do groceries today!
I have already made oven roasted tomato sauce and mixture for the vegan meatballs. So all there is left to do is peel, boil and mash the potatoes. And roll the vegan meatballs and bake them in the oven. Within half an hour dinner will be on the table. For detailed instructions click here.
THURSDAY: oven roasted tomato soup with pesto grilled cheese sandwiches
If I still have some leftover bread and some fresh herbs to garnish the soup with, I don’t have to do any groceries today!
I have already made oven roasted tomato sauce. So all there is left to do is add vegetable broth to it and heat it up. In the meantime I make some grilled cheese pesto sandwiches by adding cheese and pesto to a slice of bread, top it with another slice and slide it into your panini maker/griddle or even in a skillet. Flip when golden brown on the bottom (if you use the skillet method). Within 20 MINUTES dinner will be on the table. For detailed instructions click here.
FRIDAY: caprese pizza
No need to do any groceries today! Just make pizza dough. While the dough is rising, prepare your toppings; marinate the cherry tomatoes, chop herbs, grated cheese and crumble parmesan.
Once the dough has risen, roll it out, spread oven roasted tomato sauce on it, cheese and cherry tomatoes. Bake the pizza and top with basil and/or arugula, parmesan and maybe a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. For a detailed how-to click here.
We are serious about healthy meal planning! It really makes life easier. Give it a go. Get started this one or make your own meal planning recipe list. For more inspiration, these are my 10 favorite family weekday meals which are all easily planned ahead of time!
Need help? I can help you out to get you started and create personalized meal plans for you. Just leave a message below!
WAS THIS BLOGPOST HELPFUL?
Let me know how you do. Have my tips been useful? Are you still struggling with it? Leave a comment and I will answer your question. If you like this blogpost, please consider rating it with the star rating system and leave a comment below – it’s so helpful for us and other readers. Thank you! And don’t forget to snap a picture if you make any of the recipes and tag @familicious.kitchen on Instagram and hashtag it #familicious. Awesome! You can also find us on Facebook and Pinterest.
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