With the school half-term on the horizon at the end of May, parents across the land will probably find they have a brood of hungry mouths to feed. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and countless snacks in between will see most of us struggling to keep up with our offspring’s demands for ‘more food, please!’. So, let’s talk quick and easy family meals, that will fill up little (and large) tummies from dusk ‘til dawn, or at least until suppertime. Not forgetting that all-important Bank Holiday barbecue – now that guidelines have changed again, we just need to British summertime to make and appearance and it is game-on.
Barbecues
After months of Covid restrictions, family barbecues are now an option – with up to 30 people being able to mix outdoors and indoors the ‘Rule of Six’ or two households now applying. Given the amount of rain we’ve seen in May we have everything crossed that the first week of June will see the return of sunshine, so we can enjoy an ice-cold beer with a hot dog on the patio. Lakings has a selection of barbecue products, from classic burgers, sausages, ribs and steaks to beef and halloumi kebabs, Indian chicken skewers and lamb grillsticks. All of our barbecue packs can be found here and don’t forget we offer a next day delivery service Monday-Friday – our clever count down even lets you know how long you have left to order to secure next day delivery.
Beef Stroganoff
A much-underrated classic, our first suggestion is a throwback to a favourite on the 1970s dinner party circuit – Beef Stroganoff. This dish has its origins in the aristocratic kitchens of Imperial Russia. Originally, the dish consisted of finely sliced beef fillet and mushrooms slicked with sour cream. Slated to have been invented by Count Pavel Aleksandrovich Stroganoff in the mid-1800s, it was considered both expensive and delicious in equal measure.
To make a traditional Stroganoff you’ll need to use beef fillet (sirloin or tenderloin), mushrooms, soured cream, garlic and shallots but for a cheaper alternative, opt for stewing steak and use a slow cooker to tenderise the meat. You could also use chicken too if you don’t fancy a red meat-based meal – or to make it a little more wallet friendly.
Meatballs
Why not put an Italian twist on proceedings and make Spaghetti and meatballs? Moreish and simple to make, using Lakings’ beef mince mixed with cupboard staples like onions, breadcrumbs, garlic, egg, and seasonings, you can throw this meal together in 30-minutes. If you make your own sauce, you can hide extra veggies in there too and no one will ever know. We won’t tell if you won’t.
Make it one day, eat it the next
If things are getting a bit hectic – especially if you have some days out planned, why not make a curry, and store it in the fridge or cook it in the slow cooker, to save time? A mild chicken curry made with coconut milk, garam masala and Greek yogurt will appeal to adults and kids alike. You can easily turn it into a Friday Night Fake-away, too, by serving up sides such as Bombay potatoes, Lakings Indian Mystery Chicken kebabs and naan bread. We can even make your job that bit easier with our range of curry sauces you’ll find in the pantry – just add your meat of choice.
Mexican magic
No matter who is at the dinner table, fajitas are a crowd pleaser. Select your meat from Lakings’ counter and add your choice of spices at home. Sizzling beef, chicken, even pork work well in a floury tortilla wrap, just add a crisp salad, sour cream dressing and a sprinkling of cheese. And, if you have little people who are spice-averse, you can easily pull the cooked meat out of the pan before adding in the spices for everyone else. Ready-made fajitas are also a great addition to any picnic, hot or cold.
