YOUR MISSION:
To create your own favourite collection of go-to meals.
CHALLENGE DATE:
Whenever You are Ready!
HOW TO JOIN:
Watch the videos below and complete each daily action.
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DAY 1. VIDEO
DAY 1. Action
Leave a comment below sharing your current favourite go-to meals.
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Day 2. VIDEO
DAY 2. Action
1. See the Go-To Meals Challenge Recipe Collection here.
2. Click on ‘Save to My Collections’ (below the list).
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Day 3. VIDEO
DAY 3. Action
1. Go to the My New Favourites page.
2. Find the Go-To Dinners Challenge Collection (see Day 2 action)
3. Choose Edit the saved collection. Change the name to ‘My Go-To Dinners’.
4. Open the ‘My Go-To Dinners’ Collection.
5. Delete recipes until you have 5-10 that you can’t wait to try.
NOTE: If you delete a recipe and change your mind you can always add it back in by choosing the ‘Add Item’ option at the bottom.
– – – –
Day 4. VIDEO
DAY 4. Action
1. Choose 1 recipe to try first.
2. Decide when you will make it.
3. Leave a comment below sharing what you will make and when.
– – – –
Day 5. VIDEO
DAY 5. Action
Make a plan to repeat your chosen go-to meal (if you loved it). Or choose another one to try next week.
– – – –
RESOURCES:
– – – –
How did you find the challenge?
Was it helpful?
Any ideas to make it better?
Want to do it for lunches?
Or breakfasts?
Leave a comment below and let me know.
Thank you for being a part of the challenge!
With love,
Jules x
PS. If you have any questions or need help, leave a comment below.
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I just could not get with this challenge. I basically forgot about it, and when I did try to watch the videos, my hearing impairment made it difficult for me to get anything out of them. For the record, I would love it if you could have transcripts of the videos available for things like this challenge. I did discover that quite a few of the recipes on your list are part of my regular rotation. And I came up with my own list of recipes for which I should always have the ingredients on hand, in case of emergency. I would also love to see a challenge for breakfasts – ones that are low carb and don’t involve a lot of eggs… or too many veggies (don’t deal well with those in the morning). I may not have done well with this challenge, but I have always been good about cooking my own meals, and am a really big fan of your simple recipes.
Sorry you had problems with the challenge Susan!
I think this is the first time I’ve done video-only for anything, So a good reminder to include a written option as well.
BUT if you came up with your own ‘in case of emergency’ recipes, that’s exactly the goal of the challenge so you got there on your own! Well done.
And thanks for letting me know about breakfasts. Will keep in mind for a future challenge.
IN the mean time, there’s a breakfast week in the Low Carb Love program to get you started https://simplemealplans.mystagingwebsite.com/day-4-24-low-carb-breakfasts/
Hi Jules. I find the idea of go to breakfasts & lunches super helpful. So I’m interested in that. Actually, I already have 2 go to breakfasts that I have been having for years, and a couple of go to lunches that I also have been having for years (particularly when going to work). I actually think for most people breakfast & lunch is where it’s more helpful to have ‘go to meals’ as that’s when people are busiest… while with dinner there’s a bit more scope (some of the time) to experiment a bit and try new things.
Thanks for the challenge, I’ll definitely use the tag ‘go to meals’ in my own collection of recipes (on Evernote) to remind myself of these options
Yes I agree Maria – go-to meals are essential for breakfasts + lunches.
But they’re also super important for dinners after a long hard day.
Good idea to include a tag in your recipes 🙂
I really enjoy the recipes also! This challenge has helped me navigate the meal plan better and I would like to do some lunch recipes that are easy to pack for work and/ school.
Thanks Jules!
Great Shelley!
And good to know you’re up for a lunch challenge 🙂
In the mean time, there are a heap of lunch ideas over here: https://simplemealplans.mystagingwebsite.com/day-8-lunches/
Tried the Tuna Fried Rice last night – another winner! Again, my husband and I both thought it was great. And enough for leftovers for me today – even better! I am so enjoying these recipes. Thanks 🙂
Thanks for being a part of the challenge Karen!
So glad you enjoyed the rice 🙂
I’ve chosen Buy Nothing New Curry for my new go to.
Should be great for using leftovers plus good for lunch options.
Thanks for the challenge Jules!
Good choice Norma – curries are so versatile.
Thanks for being a part of the challenge!
It was helpful to see your favorite go-to meals. Even more helpful that I made the time to make collections my own–with the clear directions provided. Thanks.
Thanks for the feedback and thanks for participating Debbie!
Beautiful broccoli with creamy tuna sauce made a quick and healthy lunch earlier this week.
It’s one of my all time faves Debbie 🙂
I made smoky roast mushroom bowls last night. Yum!
Oh yay for mushrooms Ginna!
Thanks. I found this really helpful in learning how to use the website to create my own meal plans and for learning some new easy recipes.
I don’t have a dishwasher but I do love how easy it is to clear up after only using a few ingredients and just one or two pans! That’s the main difference I have noticed with your recipes = less ingredients means less mess. Thank you.
Glad you found it helpful Sue – thanks for the feedback!
And yes less ingredients defintely = less mess!
I’m going to make the Japanese Omelette with Miso Mayo this Sunday
Enjoy Jessica!
I had the ingredients for the egg-fried cabbage so I made it for breakfast! I was happy with it. I think I could have cooked the cabbage a little longer.
(I had a ginormous cabbage, good thing you put in a weight as well as ‘half a cabbage’ as that was less than a 1/4 of this cabbage… and I still didn’t eat all of the serve!)
Breakfast of champions Allison!
Yes cabbages vary massively in side.
Shakshuka This is a simpler version of a recipe I have, and I have essentially all the ingredients required. I’ll aim to make it this weekend.
Good choice Mark 🙂
I will be making feta and meatballs next Tuesday!
Excellent Susan! I was thinking I need to make them again soon too 🙂
Today I am just getting ready to prepare the Cheesy Chicken! Looks super easy and yummy! BTW, I found smoked paprika a few months ago and really like it’s flavor.
Jules, for some reason I am no longer receiving your emails?
I love smoked paprika Shelley!
And I’ll get my assistant Caroline to help you with the emails 🙂
It’s Wednesday evening here. I will make the moussaka tomorrow evening but to eat on Saturday. Previous attempts at moussaka have failed so this will be interesting!
Curious to hear how you get on Sue!
Most Moussaka recipes have you frying the eggplant first which takes ages.
So am sure this simple one will work for you 🙂
We did eat this last night as well (couldn’t be bothered cooking a second meal). It took quite a long time to do but was really straightforward and tasted good (even though it was in the oven a bit too long).
Glad you enjoyed Sue!
It does take a while but the results are worth it 🙂
Go to meals – a new one is Jules’ Balsamic Cabbage and Sausage – delicious!
Other dinners – any kind of eggs, any kind of stir fry.
For lunch – avocado toast with hemp hearts, with or without a hard boiled egg on top.
oh yay for balsamic cabbage + sausages Karen!
And aren’t hemp hearts a wonderful ingredient – I love how nutty they taste. I’ve been using them instead of bulger wheat in tabbouleh – so good!
Breakfast- any green leafy veg sautéed w either garlic, voo s&p, chilli peppers, or coconut oil, ginger, onion, and soy sauce – sautéed real quick and then move over in the pan to quick fry a couple of eggs over easy.
Lunch: leftovers! (Whatever was left the night before overtop some sorry of salad or on the side)
Dinner: raw-ish zucchini noodles, w sauce made of browned ground chicken/turkey, sautéed onion, miso, coconut milk, Greek yogurt, and a bit of nutmeg. Add in baby spinach if I’ve got it on hand.
Dinner:
Ooh loving the sound of your zucchini noodles Lisanne – I’ve been salting mine and then just warming for 10 minutes in a very low oven (100C / 200F) so they’re still a little crunchy but not cold.
And your breakfast sounds really good too!
Baked Potatoes; Boiled eggs cut up on toast; Toasted Sandwiches; Potato wedges; Grilled cheese on toast … yeah lots of carbs here LOL – hoping to change that for lots of veg 🙂
Lots of opportunities for more veg Serena!
First one I’d recommend trying a low carb bread to sub in for your grilled cheese and boiled eggs.
My go-tos are almond bread and broccoli bread – I keep then in the freezer.
And instead of baked potato – try baked eggplant like this – you can top with the same things as you’d normally do for your spuds.
Tuna pilaf, which in the original is a bit light on for veg. I’ll try making it again tomorrow night with some tweaks, and see if adding frozen spinach works.
Like the sound of Tuna Pilaf Mark – amd sure frozen spinach will be a good addtion – just squeeze it dry first
Hi Jules,
I have bookmarked my prefered go-to dinners on the Stonesoup app, as I tend to use my iPad in the kitchen when I peruse the shelves.
I have a fondness for the Savoury Cheesecake and always get some feta when I shop, just in case… Not the quickest if you’re in a hurry to eat, but it comes together with no effort and hardly any input whilst it’s baking. And it’s delicious!
If you’re happy with the app that’s great. – It doesn’t have all the recipes in the list above – but am sure you’ll find some that work.
Glad you like the savouy cheesecake – I did consider adding it to the list but it does take a little too long to cook 🙂
Fried rice, with or without whatever veggie / meat is on hand. A favorite is garlic fried rice topped with a fried egg.
My boys love fried rice too Sherrill!
One way I make it healthier for them is to cook rice in a big batch and then I freeze in meal sized portions.
This makes it quicker AND healthier – cooking and cooling the rice converts some of the starch into fiber – so it’s better for your gut and less digestible carbs.
The other thing I do is I’ve been adding more egg and less rice to the mix – so I fry the rice (about 2 cups) in a little oil and then add 3 eggs and stir the eggs into the rice so they cook and scramble. Then remove from the heat and add some soy sauce to season.
It ends up being a cross between scrambled eggs and fried rice but they still love it and it’s much higher protein / lower carb than the less eggy option.
Am sure will find you a new non-rice option too 😉
Thank you, Jules! Great suggestions, and I didn’t know that cooking and cooling converts some of the starch into fiber. That’s great! Does rinsing the rice before cooking reduce the starch?
The cooking + cooling trick works for all carbs Sherrill – and the type of fiber is called resistant starch and it’s especially good for feeding your gut microbes.
Rinsing would probably remove some Sherrill but I don’t bother. I just boil my rice for 11 minutes and drain – like cooking pasta
My go to meals are Jules’ Mexican Beef and Refried Beans, Jules’ Udon Noodle Soup with Spinach and Tofu, or weekend breakfast for dinner (poached eggs, Greek yogurt, whatever veg we have on hand)
oh wow Katherine! Those are really old recipes – Excited to find some new healthier ones for you this week 😉
My go to meals are usually pasta or frozen pizza ☹️
Spaghetti doesn’t take long to make. I really am looking forward to healthier choices
Excellent Shelley!
It’s funny people think pasta is quick and easy but it takes at least 15 minutes to boil the water and cook the spaghetti. And you have to make the sauce as well.
Am sure you’ll find something even easier AND way more healthy this week.
Look forward to hearing what you decided to try first 🙂
I love the idea of this challenge! Current go-to meals:
– frozen broccoli with tonnato sauce or a can of smoked oysters
– miso-butter chicken thighs (NYT recipe)
– can of lentil veg soup with hot sauce
– veggie burger with salad
– frozen indian food from trader joe’s
– smoked salmon on avocado toast
– rotisserie chicken from the super market with steamed broccolini
Looking forward to learning some new/easy go-to meals!
p.s. I did join the Telegram group but didn’t see a way to comment?
Wow you’re all over the go-to meals Elizabeth!
I’ve been working on a new miso-ginger butter to serve with fish – would love to see your miso-butter chicken recipe!
Have you thought of making almond bread or broccoli bread (and keeping it in the freezer) to make your smoked salmon + avo toast lower carb?
I love a rotisserie chicken too 🙂
And thanks for letting me know about Telegram – It’s not working how I would like! I should have kept things simple and stuck to just doing the challenge here on this website page. Ahh technology!
My go tos definitely involve eggs. Anything sauteed with an egg added. Anything vegetable-y with an egg on top.
Breakfast go-tos are make ahead and pretty simple – I prepare them all at once for the week. About 1/4 c of chia seeds with lots of cinnamon and a little turmeric, then nuts, a little dried fruit. On the day of the breakfast, I add fresh or frozen fruit, hot water enough to make a porridge, and stir well. After it sits for about 5 minutes, it makes a great breakfast full of fiber if you can handle the texture. It’s very filling.
I am a fan of Madhur Jaffrey’s Hyderabadi lentils, but I think I will be adding a new favorite – the oozy red wine lentils I made last week!
Should have said I make 4-5 chia seed breakfasts at a time in pint jars.
I’m with you on the anything with eggs Ginna!
And glad to hear you’re a fan of the oozy lentils.
Excited for you to add another new go-to meal to your repertoire this week 🙂
OMG Ginna, you just reminded me of Deborah Madison’s wine-glazed lentils. Lentils are one of my fave foods. I’ve got Madhur Jaffrey on my list to check out so will hunt for that recipe. Thanks!
Hi Ginna. I am adding oozy red lentils to my favourite list as well – they are amazing!
I have 2 favorite go-to meals, both are carb-y and I hope to work on that but my first would be cheese toast with sliced fresh tomato and fried egg, and my second is quinoa with avocado, feta cheese and Italian dressing
Have you thought of using a lower carb bread for your cheese on toast?
My favourites are these little almond breads or this broccoli bread.
You can make big batches and keep them in the freezer.
For the quinoa have you thought of trying cooked or canned lentils or chickpeas instead?
Or using cooked veg instead of quinoa?
Some quickly steamed greens or frozen spinach would be lovely with the avocado, feta and dressing or some beautiful broccoli.
Or roast cauliflower. So many ideas!
What do you think?
My favorite quick goto meal is Greek yogurt with berries and nuts.
Yum Deb!
When I am short on time the go to is butcher bought chicken schnitzel. 🙁 Schnitzel is a family favourite and I usually make my own but the butcher version saves a lot of time. Knowing everyone likes it and I can make it in large quantities to cater for the hungry adults in my house (with left overs for lunch) makes it the go. However it’s not low carb or the healthiest option
Wow Sharon, I’m surprised you find schnitzel easy to cook in large quantities – I would find pan frying lots of chicken hard work 🙂
But if you do love it and it’s easy for you, I’d look at what you’re serving the schniztel with to make it healthier – having it with salad or veggies would be very different to serving with chips or mashed potato 🙂
What are you currently serving it with?
The fam loves their chips, so it’s oven fries (it’s quicker that making my own) and salad. Yes, it does take time to cook at least 12 large snitzels, but buying it ready made is so much quicker than making my own. Having said that, they are loving the Stonesoup meals so I haven’t actually cooked snitzel for 3 weeks now. Yeah!
Excellent Sharon!
You know the chips are the least healthy part of that meal – so I wouldn’t worry about the schnitzel 😉
Two go-to-meals:
Scrambled eggs & fresh fruit
Spinach mushroom egg bake which takes longer but I always have the ingredients & makes great leftovers!
Missed Day 1 but my meals are mostly from Stonesoup!
Green chicken bowl, Japanese burgers, spinach & feta frittata, minute steak with feta & olives. Of course, a quick ribeye off the bar-b is a special go-to.
My go-to meals when tired or running low on supplies are a tin of luncheon size (95 g) tuna with homegrown and/or store bought salad leaves drizzled with evoo & ACV or anything with egg; fried, poached, scrambled or made into an omelette on toast or wilted greens. No thinking required!
Yay for eggs Joie!
Hello Jules! Hope you’re well. What a lovely challenge, I’ll enjoy following it
My go to meals are:
rice and yoghurt (for when I need comfort)
orzo with tomato sauce & feta (as above)
poached eggs sometimes with toast or on spinach
frittata / omelettes
salad with beans (this is my go to packed lunch)
or your peas with smoked salmon & feta bowl (packed lunch)
Would love to discover some more ideas!
Lovely to hear from you Maria!
Glad to hear the pea bowls are on your list.
You’re definitely in the right place for more ideas.
I’m wondering if the Parisian Lentils with yoghurt could be a healthier option than rice but still give the same comfort?
Great idea! So I’ll try the Parisian lentils with yoghurt for my ‘chosen’ recipe. Thanks for the tip.
I’d take lentils over rice any day Maria. Let me know how you get on 🙂
I guess I’m doing this challenge without the app. My go-to meals are scrambled eggs or soups made from what I have on hand/pantry items.
Great to do the challenge here Debbie!
I’ve been experimenting with adding big flavours to scrambled eggs lately. Trying a mushroom, tomato and goats cheese one tomorrow. 🙂
Sausages and balsamic cabbage is now one of my go to meals! Usually have sausages in the freezer and cabbage lasts for ages in the fridge.
Also my other go to meal is chopped Bacon or chorizo, left over cooked veg, frozen celeriac cubes, something green like chard, cabbage or kale all fried up and then Grated cheese on top.
My go to meals used to be pasta, pasta and pasta. Ut I’m and trying to be mostly low carb now.
We’ll definitely find some low carb pasta alternatives for you Sue 🙂
Yay for cabbage Sue!
And I’m loving the sound of your bacon / chorizo veggie hash. Yum
Hi Jules, I installed Telegram. Still try to find your group. The link is on the computer and the App on the phone….Any suggestions?
Question: What do you mean by “go to meals”? I thought it means going out for lunch/dinner? Or more: quick meals, easy to prepare?
Thanks, Christella
Sorry you’ve had problems with Telegram Christella – technology!
Probably best for you to follow along here, I’m posting the same things on this page and telegram.
Watch the first video (posted above) for an explanation of go-to meals >> it’s things that are quick and easy to prepare. Recipes you love and don’t have to think about 🙂
Hi Jules, I installed Telegram. Still try to find your group. The link is on the computer and the App on the phone….Any suggestions?
Question: What do you mean by “go to meals”? I thought it means going out for lunch/dinner? Or more: quick meals, easy to prepare?
Thanks, Chrissie
Hi Jules. Thanks for the first video! When you asked us to comment on what we like for go-to did you mean post comments here? I’m not seeing how to reply on your channel. But sometimes the most obvious tech doesn’t work for me …?
Oh Jane!
I hear you on the tech things 😉
Sorry it’s not straight forward.
You should be able to leave comments on the channel – there’s a little box at the bottom for you to type into.
But comments here are good too – and actually probably better.
Thanks for letting me know! I was wondering why no one had commented!
Hi Jules. I’ll post comments here then if that’s better
I saw on the AppStore screenshots for Telegram that there should be a box to type but I don’t get that. Also one of the shots shows ‘mute’ and ‘discuss’ as options beneath the text, but I only have ‘mute’ under mine. I wonder if that’s why there’s no text box and maybe a setting you could change at your end?
Thanks JAne!
I’ve been playing around but can’t figure out how to get the discussion open for everyone – must have been something in the way I setup the channel. The mute option only seems to work for me to mute and not get notifications.
I should have kept it simple and just run the challenge via this page and email – we live and learn!
Joined, but I thought that having something to make without having to shop or think about it too much was what I was accumulating a lit of pantry recipes for, e.g. Quick tuna ragu.
‘list’ …
That’s exactly it Mark! You’re probably ahead of the game on this – will add the tuna ragu to the list. If you think of any others I should include for everyone let me know
Certainly Tuna Fried Rice – I have a tin of corn kernels on hand for additional vegetable and Big Pea Bowls with Goats Cheese & Olives. I must try Chilli Con ‘Tuna’ with Lemon Tahini Sauce or mayo one of these days to see if it really qualifies too.
ooh good choices thanks Mark!
Has the comment section been changed to strip out HTML? I went to some trouble putting in links, but they’re gone.
Links are still there Mark – it’s just a spam filter thing that I need to approve comments with multiple links. Thanks for taking the time to think that through!
Downloaded the app and joined the challenge!
Excellent Sherrill!
I am curious about this challenge. Love a good go-to meal. The kind I can make without thinking too much, or if I’m tired. Unfortunately can’t add another comms app. Got too many already. I look forward to hearing how it goes.
I get it Sharon – you could just get it for the 5 days then delete after –
BUT I’ll also be posting the daily videos here on the smp.to website so you can follow along here if you prefer.
You won’t miss out!
Jx
I love a challenge! See you next week!
Me too Jennifer!
I would love to join but the link doesn’t work! What do I need to do?
Sorry Irina!
Did you have problems with the Telegram link? If you want to get the daily reminders – you can search for Telegram in the app store / google play. Download the telegram app then use this link to join the private Go-to Meals Chat Channel https://t.me/joinchat/AAAAAFOJMyn4uD37wb2a3w
If it doesn’t work, it’s OK – I’ll post the daily videos here on the website as well so you can just logon every day and watch here if that’s easier for you.
Does that sound OK?
Joined. I will be away on holiday next week but will still have access to a kitchen so lets see how this goes
It will be a perfect holiday project Martina! It’s mostly about planning rather than actual cooking. Enjoy your break!
I love go to meals. Mostly they are what I cook for my autist son with very limited diet. For me, they’ve always been pasta based. Using cabbage, zucchini or other veg as a replacement requires forethought and prep time. Any suggestions? But I already have 8 other communication apps, at least, for different projects and groups. Sorry, I’m not adding telegram extra for this one.
Totally understand not wanting to use another app Murphy! I’ll post the daily videos on this page as well so you can just check in here when you’re ready to do the challenge.
There will be lots of options in the challenge for healthier (and just as easy) alternatives to pasta.
Watch this space 😉
Yay! I’m in the same situation. Glad we’ll still be able to access on this page. Thanks for also posting the videos & resources here Jules, so we’ll have the option to check it out in our own time without missing out. :o)
oh great Amrita! I’ll send a reminder in the weekly emails to check back on this page.
Just make sure you take the time to do the exercises. It won’t take long but will make a huge difference 🙂
Ready for the challenge!
Good to have you on board Susan!
Signed up! ?
Fantastic Heather!
all set – ready for the challenge 🙂
Nice one Sharon!
All done. Ready to go on the 12th!
Excellent Zelie!
Joined 🙂
Excellent Ethel!
whoo hoo ~
excited. downloaded and ready to go
Excellent Hannah!