Embrace the summer: Menu Plan and Morning Routine in Copenhagen

Good morning from wonderful Copenhagen where we’re enjoying life in the slow lane today – starting with a quick dip in my cold plunge pool in my She-Shack (the garden shed) and a spot of Tour de France on the telly later on! My morning routine is done and I am ready to fully enjoy the day!

A smiling woman with short, wavy hair holding a pink cup labeled 'KØBENHAVN', wearing a white robe, standing in a cozy kitchen environment decorated with Danish flags. — Good morning from Copenhagen

A smiling woman in a red and white striped shirt stands in a doorway, showcasing a cheerful appearance. — Good morning from Copenhagen

Summer’s here and whether you’re juggling holidays, travel plans, or kids home from school, now is the time to keep meals as simple as possible. A flexible weekly menu plan helps reduce stress, saves money, and means fewer last-minute dashes to the supermarket. Once again I’m focusing on easy, no-fuss meals this week—things that work whether I’m out all day or just trying to stay cool at home. Here’s how we’re keeping it simple at Casa Copenhagen!

A clean kitchen sink with a modern faucet, small bottles of dish soap, and a decorative vase with purple flowers on the countertop. — Hygge home

Potato gnocchi with mushrooms, sage and salsiccia. Hubby has been away travelling on business and I always dive straight into the freezer and eat whatever yummy leftovers are in there. A few weeks ago I made gnocchi for dinner (I always buy the De Cecco brand) and fried it up with mushrooms, fresh sage from the garden, and a packet of salsiccia sausage. Topped with lots of freshly grated parmesan. We ate most of it and I froze the leftovers, a single portion. I find the gnocchi reheats quite nicely after freezing – easy peasy dinner for one!

A package of potato gnocchi and a bag of minced meat labeled Grantoascana, placed on a kitchen countertop with fresh herbs in the background.

Spicy Asian beef bowl with rice – very quick and easy. I vary the veggies according to what I have in the fridge and start my rice in my beloved rice cooker before I begin cooking the beef. It all comes together in about 20-25 minutes. Kitchen Sanctuary has a basic, easy recipe Vietnamese-style Caramelized Minced Beef Rice Bowls for inspiration.

A blue bowl filled with Vietnamese-style caramelized minced beef, rice, fresh vegetables including carrot and onion, and garnished with cilantro and sesame seeds. — Asian beef bowl – with lots of coriander for me!

Meat pie with new potatoes, beetroot and salad. A Wild Kiwi pie (from a New Zealand pie shop here in Copenhagen) served with potatoes, pickled beetroot from a jar and a mixed green salad. Are you a pie fan? I’m from Scotland, we eat a lot of sausage rolls and pies. I had no idea that they were a big thing in New Zealand too! My favourite from the Wild Kiwi Pie store is their Huntsman pie which is beef with cheddar cheese. Ever seen the TV show Brokenwood? It’s one of my favourites. And pies featured heavily – if I remember rightly – in a Christmas episode where a half-eaten pie is found beside a murdered Santa Claus, ha ha!

Display of various savory pies in a bakery case, labeled with their names and ingredients. — Wild Kiwi pie store here in Valby, Copenhagen

A chalkboard sign outside Wild Kiwi Pies listing food items such as pies, sausage rolls, coffee, bakery, and milkshakes. — Wild Kiwi pie store here in Valby, Copenhagen

At the weekend: hubby’s signature dish of Creamy Baked Salmon. Just four ingredients and takes 30 minutes from start to finish. You would think it would be too simple to taste so good but it gets rave reviews every time! This time I’m substituting courgette for leek because that’s what I have on hand.

Chocolate brownie dessert. And also a wee dessert treat at the weekend: slices of shop-bought chocolate brownie with a scoop of vanilla icecream, fresh strawberries from our garden plus squirty cream on the top. Yum!

A slice of chocolate brownie topped with whipped cream and fresh strawberries, served alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream. — Chocolate brownie dessert

Build-your-own-burgers. Wagyu burgers (which I buy frozen when on offer) on wholemeal burger buns with fried onions, a mixed salad and homemade fries made in my little airfryer. Regular potatoes for hubby, sweet potato for me. Perhaps adding a slice of cheese, ketchup or barbecue sauce – what do you like on your burger?

A package of wholemeal burger buns labeled 'Fuldkorn Burger' on a wooden surface in a kitchen setting.

Tarteletter A classic Danish dish of ready-made puff pastry tart cases, filled with pieces of chicken (great way to use up leftover chicken) and veggies (often asparagus, peas or carrot) in a simple homemade bechamel sauce. Served with boiled new potatoes and a tomato salad. Tarteletter are often served as part of our Easter and Christmas lunches.

A plate of Danish tarteletter filled with creamy chicken and vegetables, garnished with fresh parsley. — Tarteletter at Christmas

A table set with red and white checkered tablecloth featuring a plate of puff pastry cups with a creamy filling, a glass of red wine, a pitcher of water, and a salad in the background. — Tarteletter at Christmas

And when life is extra crazy, we resort to Danish smørrebrød (open sandwiches on rye bread with various toppings). This is what we eat daily for lunch and you’ll see on the menu in Danish lunch restaurants. A great meal when you are too tired or too hot to cook! Though the ones we eat at home aren’t quite as fancy as these…