April Menu Plan

(with guest chef Sheryl O'Connell!)

Mar 30, 2026

∙ Paid

Hello from sunny Southern California! If you like tacos, kimchi, seasonal produce, and bright flavors, you’re in the right place.

Every Friday, we chat about California Cuisine recipes that will inspire you, no matter where you live in the world.

Today’s newsletter is the April installment of the 2026 monthly menu plans! Although it is a feature for paid subscribers, the introductory outline is available to all and gives a peek into what the monthly menu plan looks like.

The goal: to provide you with a dinner roadmap each month, taking a little guesswork out of what to cook.

There’s a common misconception that we should focus only on recipes that are easy! Quick! Under 20 minutes! But in reality, I’ve found that what really helps consistently get dinner on the table is a plan.

Being prepared is the key. And that’s what this monthly menu plan offers. Use the plan as needed, dipping in and out to suit your unique schedule.

The monthly menu plan might not be a great fit for you. And that’s totally okay. It’s not for everyone.

But! You may discover that it is exactly the inspiration you’re looking for this year!

I hope that’s the case, and if it is, I look forward to welcoming you as a new paid subscriber.

What to Expect

The monthly plan is divided into four weeks and includes these sections:

Sunday 1 Hour Prep

Nothing takes more than an hour, and things can even be prepared simultaneously. All we are doing is pulling together a few things that you can keep in the fridge and nosh on during the week: dips, sauces, breakfast items, or snacks. This one hour of prep will make your week go so much smoother, at least in the kitchen.

Weekly 4 Dinner Recipes

I don’t cook every single night and don’t expect that you do either. Just four dinner recipes means there is wiggle room for leftovers, nights out, and too-exhausted-to-cook-it’s-cereal-for-dinner evenings.

Weekend Extras

A dessert and fun drinkie recipe (I’m currently on a zero-proof mocktail kick, so I’m sharing all mocktails this month!).

Featured Cook

Because I am a fan of so many talented food writers, each month I’m including recipes from a Featured Cook. For April, it’s the flavor queen, Sheryl O'Connell! She is a recipe developer and food writer who shares globally-inspired food in her popular newsletter Just Really Good Recipes. You’ll see some of her incredible dishes in this month’s menu plan.

Plus, Sheryl and I have collaborated on a California casual dinner party menu for the paid subscriber post later this month. The menu is perfect for an easygoing meal at home with a few friends! What’s included? Coordinated recipes, fun questions to get the conversation started, and a Spotify playlist! Look for that in a couple of weeks.