What we actually eat in a week using our own beef as a family of four

As a very busy family of four, who try to avoid too much UPF and are definitely an 'ingredients household', here's what might eat on each day in a typical week. In reality, we wouldn't have beef every day, maybe two or three times a week.

Between work, school runs, the farm, extra-curricular activities and a house renovation, we eat meals which are quick, healthy and everyone will eat.

Monday - something using roast leftovers

We had slow roast silverside at the weekend, which means beef for sandwiches and leftover beef for dinner.

On this occasion, beef fried rice in the air fryer (stolen and adapted from Bored Of Lunch). Delish.

Wednesday - something out the freezer

Wednesday is hockey day, so quite often I'll get something out of the freezer to whack in the microwave when we get home.

You really can't go wrong with a chilli. I make it mild so the kids will eat it and bulk it out with red lentils so there's enough to go in the freezer for another day (like today). Winner!

Thursday - something in the slow cooker

Gymnastics after school means that Thursday is a slow cooker day. I love a beef ragu using braising steak or brisket. It's one of those sear it, chuck it in the slow cooker and let it do its thing all day kind of meals.

Friday - something that feels like an end of week treat

We'd normally do something like a fakeaway (Bored Of Lunch's Easy Garlic and Black Pepper beef is always a winner, or the Good Food Five-Spice Melting Brisket) or good old-fashioned beef burgers, served with bacon, cheese and chips!

Saturday - Steak night

We eat with the kids as much as possible, and so, as we're feeding four, would typically go with rump steaks for a steak night. But for me, this isn't just an economic decision. I genuinely believe that a rump steak cooked right outshines any other steak. Chips, tomatoes, onions rings, peppercorn sauce.

Sunday - Roast

We will have a roast religiously every Sunday (not always beef). Sam potters around in the kitchen with his Sunday sherry making cauli cheese and the kids always help to make the Yorkshire puddings.

For just a normal family Sunday roast, we'd go for a topside or silverside. If we're entertaining or it's a special occasion we might go for a sirloin or rib.

Why this works

There's nothing complicated here, just a selection of tried and tested recipes which take minimal prep time (bar the roast), and making the most of versatile and affordable cuts (like brisket, rump and mince).

Having quality and delicious beef in the freezer makes meal planning and cooking so much easier. No more 'what shall we have for dinner tonight' conversations.

This is exactly why we have put together our Feed The Family Beef Box in this way.

If you'd like to try it;

https://www.longbrookfarm.com/shop?scrollToProduct=feed-the-family-beef-box

Or drop me a message and I help you work out which of our boxes best suits you.