Food – looking for inspiration….?

I’ve noticed of late that I’m eating pretty much the same stuff on a 2/3 week cycle

Combination of batch cooking, expediency and laziness I guess.

After a conversation with a friend last night “what other things do you eat”, I decided to do something about it.

Over the years I’ve acquired about a dozen cookbooks, however they tend to spend most of their life on the bookcase, waiting for me to need them for 1 recipe before being put back.

So I sat myself down last night with them all and a several sheets of A4 paper and started to flick through…looking for ideas

Basis:

I had to fancy eating it
Most of the ingredients had to be either in my cupboard or part of my weekly shop
Ideally I could batch cook and freeze (less important)

I wrote down…

Broad “type” of dish
Name, including a “hint” as to what was in it
Name of cookbook
Page number…

After I’d finished (3 hours later)..

I typed it all out and grouped each dish according to type.

It’s now printed out and on the kitchen noticed board, so the next time I need some ideas, or am about to prepare my shopping list, I’ve got 70 odd alternative dishes to add to my mundane diet.

Not sure if this is me trying to “teach my grandparents how to suck eggs” as upon reflection it’s an obvious thing to do, but just thought I’d mention it…

List enclosed (please forgive the spelling, was done in a bit of a hurry)

Dish
Beef & Tomato Stroganoff
Savory Beef Rolls
Roast Beef turnovers
Spicy Cajun Steaks
Beef & Veg Stir Fry
Mexican Meatballs
Beef olives
Steak & Stilton Parcels
Chicken Cordon Bleu
Cheesy Chicken with Mustard
Chicken with Rosemary
Sesame Chicken Nuggets
St Davids Chicken
Cheesy Chicken Breasts
Chicken with Spring Onion
Chicken with tarragon
Shredded Chicken (Walnuts)
thai Green Curry
Red Thai Curry - Chicken
Fish with mushroom sauce
Moules Mariniere
Fish Kebabs
Tuna Fish Cakes
Baked Cod Provencale
Shrimp Jambalaya
Goujons of Plaice
Scallops & Bacon
Spinich & Seafood Pasties
halibut in paper parcels
Red Thai Curry - Prawn
Grilled Scallop
Lemon Lamb Chops
Cheesy Chicken Pasta
Creamy Chicken Pasta
Pasta with Chicken and Mushrooms
Macaroni Chicken
Saucy Pasta Twirls
Broccoli Gratin
Vegetable Lasagne
Spinish Cannelloni
Saffron Bows
Pork with mushroom Sauce
Spiced pork with lemon
Pork in herby cream sauce
Pork with mustard
Italian Pork chops
Milanese Pork chops
Bavarian Pork Chops
Foil Pork Parcels
Golden Grilled Pork Steaks
Pork with Rosemary and fennel
Pork Stroganoff with 3 mustards
Pork Chops with lemon
French Onion Soup
Italian Tomato Soup
Cream of Mushroom
Potato & Onion
Leek and pasta Soup
Chilli Beef Noodle Soup
Vegetable Miso Broth
Spicy Potato
Rosti
Garlic Mushroom Potatoes
Potato Pancakes
Cheese Baked Leeks
Vegetable Curry
Cheese & Herb Potatoes
Courgettes with chillies
Sformata di ricotta

And that's without starting on the mega indexed thread..... :)

Dont bother wasting your time on people who dont like you

Comments

  • Wow, what a fantastic idea! And I bet it was quite satisfying when you finished the list! I often find that I have to buy all these ingredients for one bloomin dish so I like your criteria of chosing only what you have got in or bought anyway. Beautiful. I am off to do the same (and have endless cookbooks as had heaps given to me!)
    Three years, six months, three weeks, 13 hours, 48 minutes and 30 seconds. 26011 cigarettes not smoked, saving $11,704.80. Life saved: 12 weeks, 6 days, 7 hours, 35 minutes.
  • honey
    honey Posts: 703
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    That is a great idea - I was writing our menu plan last night and getting really grumpy because I seem to be always following the same old recipies.

    I'm going to browse through my many cookbooks this weekend and do the same :)
  • Bunnie1982
    Bunnie1982 Posts: 1,671 Forumite
    That is a fantastic ideas, however have not got many cook books so will raid my Mums when I go down on Saturday.

    Have just listed all the things you mentioned that I thought sounded yummy and am about to research them on the Internet
  • dell_2
    dell_2 Posts: 4,089 Forumite
    Bunnie1982 wrote:
    That is a fantastic ideas, however have not got many cook books so will raid my Mums when I go down on Saturday.

    Have just listed all the things you mentioned that I thought sounded yummy and am about to research them on the Internet

    if you really want to know what any are then give me a shout.

    thanks for your kind words..

    Dont bother wasting your time on people who dont like you
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