Tired of not knowing what to make or buy

Buttercup.x

LOL thats funny about your MIL

Its the shopping list i have ready to be delivered on Fri

Larumbelle

Cool. It's you, OH and 2 daughters, right? How old are the daughters?

What are your least busy days?

Buttercup.x

Yes its me My two DD they are 4 & 7 and my OH my least busiest days are prob Weds Thurs and Friday

Larumbelle

Oke koke. Let me have a little think, I'll post back either in a few hours or in the morning x

Buttercup.x

Thanks, for helping me out i feel like im going around in circles

Larumbelle

Do you have a slow cooker?
A breadmaker?

There doesn't seem to be much veg or milk on your list, or any eggs. Do you have these?

Lol sorry for the 20 questions!

gunsandbanjos

Is that a typical weeks meals you have posted, there is a lot of pasta on it! There used to be a weekly meal plans thread on OS but icant find it just now. It was very good for inspiration.
What about chicken fajitas? They are a firm favourite in my house, we just had toad in the hole tonight which went down well with mash, peas and gravy.
What do you like, then we can start from there:D

Larumbelle

This is all just off the top of my head, so apologies if it’s not what you like! I’m sure others here have lots of ideas for you too; I have my own likes, dislikes and loathes to deal with! x

There doesn’t seem to be much milk or veg on your list, or any eggs, so you might have to get a few bits in. If this looks hideously complicated, DON’T WORRY! It’s quite manageable once it’s broken down into little chunks. Read through it to be aware of what you’ll use when. This will help you to freeze and defrost things as necessary, and you’ll know if you have leftovers for things like sandwiches. You might need to tweak amounts here and there; you’ll know your family’s appetites better than I will. This isn't really intended as a literal meal plan, but it shows how a mix of 'easy' and 'busy' days could fit your schedule - if you started this plan on a friday it would fit right in.

Also I don’t ‘do’ puds, my other half makes them as he loves to! But puds are a definite good idea, they help to fill people up if they’re still hungry. You could bake a cake while the chicken cooks, then serve yoghurt and fruit for other days?

Day 1 (Friday evening?) ROAST DINNER – BUSY DAY
Roast the chicken in the oven: if you aren’t sure, follow the packet guidelines. I usually cook in my non-fan oven at 190 for 1 ½ - 2 hrs depending on the size. Before you put it into the oven, rub a little butter, salt and pepper into the skin. You don’t have to do anything to it while it is cooking; catch up on something else, have a bath, read a book, play with the kids or whatever! So although it takes a few hours to cook, you are only spending maybe five minutes of that time ‘cooking’.

Once the chicken is in, make a batter for yorkie puds. Yorkie puds are a godsend for moneysavers – I think they were originally served to make the meat go further, or something. Anyway, the recipe:
4oz plain flour, 2 eggs, ½ pint milk made from powder, pinch of salt, teeny bit of oil. Make DOUBLE QUANTITIES – you’re going to use some tomorrow. Mix everything together – if you’ve got a food processor, so much the better, but if not, a quick whisk will do it. While you want to get some air in there, you don’t need to over-beat it. Leave it to stand.

Once the chicken is cooked, give it ten minutes or so to cool, then strip every part of the meat away from the carcass. Take the meat off the legs and thighs rather than leaving them whole, else it is tempting to serve out portions that are too big! This is a good job to delegate to the other half as long as he promises not to pick at it! Or maybe elder DD if she is responsible and sensible enough.
While your helper (hopefully) strips the carcass, turn your attention to other things.

Turn the oven up to 220oC or gas mark 7. Heat some oil in an oven dish until it is really, really hot. Pour in half of the batter from earlier – it will hopefully sizzle. Close the door, turn down to 200oC / gas mark 6 and resist all temptation to peek! It will take about 20-25 mins.
Also put your chosen veg on. Keep your veggie water.

While that’s cooking, make your gravy. Again, we’re going to make double and use some tomorrow. Chop an onion finely. Fry it until lightly browned – if you like really brown gravy, add a little sugar so the onion caramelises. Add 2 tbsp cornflour (if you like really brown gravy you can let the flour colour, but don’t burn it). Then add the juices from your chicken. Mix around. Add the veggie water and some plain hot water until it gets to ‘gravy’ consistency. Season. If you want a nich ‘sheen’, add a little butter just before serving.

I’m assuming ‘homestyle’ mash is the aunt bessies frozen type – if so, I’ve never cooked it, so cook it however it tells you to. Microwave I’m guessing? Incidentally, mash freezes and reheats quite well. When you get into the swing of things more you can make a mass-load all at the same time and freeze portions. So much cheaper and additive free!
That’s your roast dinner sorted.

After you’ve eaten let someone else wash and dry up! Put the leftover chicken, yorkie pud batter and gravy into the fridge.
Then bung the carcass of the chicken in your slow cooker or a big pan. Add a peeled and quartered onion, any leftover veg from dinner, and any sorry-looking veg from the back of the fridge. Top up with water to cover the carcass and season. Simmer gently for a few hours – this is dead easy with a slow cooker, with a normal hob just get the temperature right and keep an eye out every now and then. So long as you are ‘simmering’ and not ‘boiling’ you should be able to leave the pan. Leave it as long as you can, a few hours on the hob or overnight in the slow cooker. Then strain it using a muslin, an old (clean) pair of tights, an old (clean) rag or an old (clean) tea towel. Beware that it might stain the tea towel! Once the stock is cooled, put it in the fridge. There might be a little layer of fat developing on the surface; if so, leave it for now, it’ll help to keep the stock underneath fresh!

Now you’ll be tired out by now, but the good thing is you’ve cooked the lion’s share of three dinners, not one!


Day 2: TOAD IN THE HOLE – EASY DAY
First, catch a toad...

Sorry, couldn’t resist. Part-cook 10 sausages in a little oil in the oven at 200oC/Gas mark 6 for 10 minutes. Give them a shake. Add the leftover batter from yesterday, and cook for a further 20 minutes. Meanwhile cook the other bag of Mash potato, warm up the gravy, and cook some veg. Voila! Quick and easy toad in the hole!


Day 3: CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP (KINDA) – EASY DAY
Take your stock from the fridge and skim off any fat that’s floated to the surface. Warm up in a pan, adding a meal’s worth of pasta, some chopped spring onion, some peppers and some sweetcorn. Take the leftover chicken, dice it up finely, then divide it in two. Put half back in the fridge and add the other half to the pan just before the pasta is finished. Season to taste. Voila! Quick and Easy chicken noodle soup (kinda!)


Day 4: CHICKEN PILAF – EASY DAY
Not sure if the pilau rice is ready meal/frozen/sachet or what size it comes in. Anyhoo, cook the pilau rice according to packet instructions. Put a little oil in a frying pan and fry a diced onion until it starts to colour. Add some peppers, sweetcorn, any other veg that’s lying around, some tinned tomatoes, and the rest of the leftover chicken. Cook down until the liquid is gone. You might need to add a little coriander and cumin depending on how seasoned the pilau rice is.


Day 5: CHEATY LEMON MEATBALLS – EASY DAY
I know you don’t have a lemon on your list, but you should get one, this is a fab midweek meal!

Take the skin off the sausages. Add the zest of a lemon,, a finely diced onion, some ripped up coriander, and some ground pepper. Mix then shape into balls and fry or oven cook according to preference. Meanwhile cook some pasta. Add some veg of your choice towards the end of cooking time. Drain. Mix the juice of the lemon, some ground pepper and a few spoonfuls of olive oil. Dress the cooked pasta with this. Add the meatballs. Sprinkle with a little mature cheddar. Is it authentic? Nope. But it’s tasty, filling and very quick and easy to make!


Day 6: LASAGNE – BUSY DAY
I confess that as I am allergic to tomatoes I have never cooked a proper lasagne. But that’s okay, because you have, right?! And you have all the stuff on your list for it. So go forth and make it Make extra sauce for tomorrow and stick it in the fridge.


DAY 7: BAKED POTATO PIZZAS - EASY DAY, OR BUSY IF YOU GET A HEADSTART FOR NEXT WEEK
You have the sauce from yesterday, and the recipe as well. You also have loaaaaads of the stuff from your shopping left – do remember to freeze some, won’t you?! You could make some home-made ready meals while the oven is on

Penelope_Penguin

gunsandbanjos wrote: »

There used to be a weekly meal plans thread on OS but icant find it just now.

There still is - usually starting on a Thursday This week's is here.

Penny. x

Buttercup.x

silvercharming wrote: »

This is all just off the top of my head, so apologies if it’s not what you like!

wow thanks i have loads to go on from there! :j thank you!!