Meal Planning - how do you do it?

[Deleted User]

As a single, I love batch cooking exspecially in slo clooker, my problem is freezer space. I have lots in there and instead of eating it, I cook and freeze more !!!! Have had to start buying tinned foods. Yes, I do a menu plan but just love to cook. Note to self -- Must Get Organised.

Loadsabob

Buddingblonde wrote: »

Over this weekend I have made a huge portion of mash (half in the fridge and half frozen in portions)

That's one thing I've never thought to do - batch cook mash. I mash with butter, salt and pepper and milk - does it thaw and heat through to have the same good consistency? Sounds like a daft question. I cook up extra mashed swede when I have that...

Stingy Rach, I'm looking forward to hearing how you got on with this! Sounds brilliant! I've not been a month organised before, but I love the idea of it...having so little cooking for the rest of the month, longer evenings... :cool:

nimbo

Loadsabob wrote: »

That's one thing I've never thought to do - batch cook mash. I mash with butter, salt and pepper and milk - does it thaw and heat through to have the same good consistency? Sounds like a daft question. I cook up extra mashed swede when I have that...

it comes out a tiny bit bland, just defrost, taste, and add some extra seasoning.... herbs pepper, (salt if that's your thing)...

ubamother

I find frozen mash perfectly fine, as long as I give it a good beating once it's defrosted.

sassyblue

MrsBartolozzi wrote: »

Were you planning to freeze and reheat the prawns? Normally I'd not have a problem - once cooked they are "bacteria free" and so will be fine to freeze but they can be a bit overcooked and tough when reheated. Maybe you could make the sauce and cook the prawns when you heat it up as they don't take long?

I love prawns but always overcook them until they're quite curly (if you know what l mean) they are tougher but l'm petrified l'm going to get food poisoning :eek:

Good ideas for meals on this thread

itsybitsygoth

This sounds like a great idea!

Me and my OH are moving in together in June and I was already considering how i'm going to manage the food shop, since neither of us drive.

What I decided was to do a 'big shop' every 2 weeks and get it delivered then just top it up with milk bread etc throughout the week. Meal planning sounds like a good idea as we'll be on a tight budget, I've estimated a weekly food bill of £40 for the 2 of us, whether I can stick to that is another thing!

I'm no stranger to batch cooking certain foods though, I make a huge vat of bolognese sauce every 6 weeks or so, since it can either be eaten with pasta or made into a lasagne. The same goes for soup, I always make double what I need and freeze the rest. The only problem is we have a small freezer between 3 of us and my 2 housemates make and freeze a lot of food too. On the bright side though if we ever got snowed in we wouldn't starve!

TheCheapFashionista

MrsFraggle wrote: »

I do exactly the same thing

I do a meal plan for the month on a spreadsheet,

MrsFraggle,

Would you mind sharing your spreadsheet, I tried to do one but got horrendously confused so gave up.

Also looking for some more inspiration on meals!

thanks!

:A

lilac_lady

Maybe life would be easier if we reverted to the old ways.....if it's Monday it'll be mince etc. On second thoughts...

sassyblue

lilac_lady wrote: »

Maybe life would be easier if we reverted to the old ways.....if it's Monday it'll be mince etc. On second thoughts...

God no...... l worked with a woman once who ate like that she drove me mental with her pernickity ways - she was so stuck in the 70's with what she ate too, spam and salad one night, fray bentos pie the next :eek:

lbt_2

I love this - I only normally do a monthly shop (because i don't like paying the delivery charge!!!). One question though ... have you factored in lunches? Not sure whether anyone is home at that time or whether you take lunch to work but thought I'd mention it.

Also, do you have a recipe for your pork and mushroom pie please? That's the only danger of posting on here .... we will all pick your brains too!!!

P.S I am ashamed to admit that I love Fray Bentos pies (blush)