For the “Team Bahay” this 2025 Holy Week break, presenting to you a low-budget meal plan that is not just affordable but nutritious, relatively easy to prepare, and yummy! I tried my best to choose dishes both adults and children will love. And since it is start of the summer vacation, it will also have “bakasyon” feels.
Yes, it has been a while since my last meal plan post, and I hope you can forgive your favorite meal plan writer 🙂 Anyhow, the dishes that I will be suggesting are mostly in everyone’s cooking repertoire. Nevertheless, I will be providing links to tried and tested recipes some of which I personally uploaded in this website.
So, without further ado here is our meal plan for this Holy Week break:
Thursday meals are a bit easy, and can be easier. For instance, the champorado can be replaced with oatmeal champorado. Just use choco-flavored instant oatmeal or add cocoa or milo to your instant oats. If you do not have tuyo or dilis at home you can use bottled tuyo to satisfy your cravings.
The Talibobong Bangus is easy to cook because you do not have to grill it anymore! Just cook it in your oven for 25-30 minutes. Check out this recipe https://youtu.be/uevynQjQc0c?si=mqWaOgvVC4oiEIiW uploaded by Chef RV. Now I partnered it with Tofu and Tausi because us moms really have our own version of this recipe for this. Of course the Sinigang na Hipon and Mais Con Hielo are in every mom’s arsenal so no need to explain.
As for Friday, I suggested Daing na Espada because it is not as salty as other types of dried fishes. I suggest that you give it a try if you haven’t. Cooking tip: fry it in ultra hot cooking oil for a crunchier outcome.
Crispy Tilapia is always partnered with a ginataang gulay dish, and so I am suggesting my children’s favorite dish: ginataang kalabasa and sitaw. Here is my recipe. https://happypinaymommy.com/homemaking/cooking-recipes/easy-ginataang-sitaw-at-kalabasa-recipe/
Ginataang Bilo-bilo or Binignit is a mainstay meryenda during lent, and so I am suggesting this dish to you. Easy to prepare, and you can even ask your kids to help out with making those malagkit (glutinous) rice balls – chich you can also color with purple or green food coloring. Here is my own recipe. https://happypinaymommy.com/homemaking/cooking-recipes/easy-ginataang-sitaw-at-kalabasa-recipe/
For dinner, Steamed Pompano is in line. Easy to cook, and yummy to eat, even for kids. It does not have much fish bones too so it is easy to himay for the kids. Try my go-to recipe for this dish here. https://happypinaymommy.com/homemaking/cooking-recipes/quick-and-easy-ulam-idea-steamed-soy-ginger-pompano/
For Saturday, Moms like us should have it easy. We can just make pancake either from scratch or out of the box, take out all the spreads in the ref and slice fresh fruits 🙂 For lunch let us just make some Adobong Pusit, and if we happen to be in the market that same morning then why not make Halaan or Tinolang Tahong soup?
For Meryenda, Saging Con Hielo is a smarter and more pocket-friendly alternative to succumbing to milk tea or ice cream cravings. For Dinner, we should make something special – UK-Style Fish and Chips. We can use whatever fish fillet that is available to us. For us though parrot fish is ideal compared to the frozen ones (Pangasius) in the supermarket. Just ask your fish vendor to debone it for you.
If you wish to make a side dish for it, then you can go for Putanesca Pasta which is meatless and easy to cook.
The Sunday dish suggestions need no explanation. They are yummy, delicious, a bit pricey but will certainly be enjoyed by everyone and more importantly fit for the occasion! We commemorate Jesus’ victory and resurrection, the best thing that ever happened to us all, so let’s celebrate! Happy Easter in advance everyone.
