New to OS, need help!

niccy_ulverston

Hello fellow Money-Savers. I'm an OS novice and could really do with some advice, especially regarding meal plans and cleaning...

problem 1...
I'm a 23 y/o vegetarian engaged to a Police Officer, and we have a ten month old baby girl. She is feeding very well, LOVES her food, but I struggle to find time to do a lot of home-cooking due to my partners stupid shifts. I have to make double of everything as he won't eat meat substitutes (quorn/vege mince etc) and it costs me a ruddy fortune. I lack inspiration with meal ideas and tend to stick to the few things I know... and I hate that my little one has fish fingers so often!
I've trawled through menu plans on here, but they don't really fit the 3 of us, due to reheating thing for him due to work patterns, or things I can't adapt for myself being veggie or the little one with spices/seafood.

please can someone offer advice where to start? I'm lost!!

secondly, i'd love to save a few pennies by oldstyle cleaning. we have a particular problem with our shower- the silicone and inbetween tiles is black and disgusting, i hate washing in there as it looks so dirty but nothing i try shifts it? i've even tried replacing all the sealing but it's come back in no time.

any tips on cleaning this?

thanks in advance,
niccy.

nimbo

niccy_ulverston wrote: »

Hello fellow Money-Savers. I'm an OS novice and could really do with some advice, especially regarding meal plans and cleaning...

problem 1...
I'm a 23 y/o vegetarian engaged to a Police Officer, and we have a ten month old baby girl. She is feeding very well, LOVES her food, but I struggle to find time to do a lot of home-cooking due to my partners stupid shifts. I have to make double of everything as he won't eat meat substitutes (quorn/vege mince etc) and it costs me a ruddy fortune. I lack inspiration with meal ideas and tend to stick to the few things I know... and I hate that my little one has fish fingers so often!
I've trawled through menu plans on here, but they don't really fit the 3 of us, due to reheating thing for him due to work patterns, or things I can't adapt for myself being veggie or the little one with spices/seafood.

please can someone offer advice where to start? I'm lost!!


thanks in advance,
niccy.

would he ever consider eating a vegetarian option of anything??????

because proper vegetable lasagne can be awesome.... and no quorn in sight....

i had a fella who didn't realise i was feeding him Quorn, could you make a deal with him that he did half and half.... Quorn tomato pasta would be really good reheated...

if he still stays resolute, make him cook for the three of you, to illustrste how time consuming it can be...

would he eat Macaroni Cheese as this again would be good reheated (and also not pretend meat)...

if you made him a giant meat lasagne, could you freeze seperate portions, and then he could have that in the freezer for days that you had been manic... stick a but of salad/some veges on the side, and bob's your Auntie's brother...

same again with bolognaise sauce, cook your self pasta, save some plain and then add a frozen portion, this wiuld alos work if you did mash for yourself, and your little girl....

could they both have fish pie together? agian this would freeze well, and be like home made ready meals...

OOOOOh fajhitas.... do vege ones, and then of he insists cook seperate chicken, then the next day you could have vege enchiladas..... mmmmmm

sorry i'm not the most inventive, but good luck, and i am waiting for the solution to the sealant, as i have the same problem...

niccy_ulverston

thanks for your reply nimbo.
he'll eat very little vegetarian food. i've made vegetable lasagne in the past, but he just picks at it because it hasn't got it's 'usual taste' when i've asked him to try vege mince etc in the past he expects it to have to have the exact same texture/taste as meat and obviously it doesnt, and it's not really meant to!
if i ask him to cook the only options we have are pasta bake (which is one of the only veggie things he WILL eat...) pizza, or chinese takeaway (!)... i want us to eat healthy and with some variety, so it's easier to do it myself. (not to mention it'll take him an hour and half to cook something that the packet says will be done in 20 minutes... i don't know how he does it.)

i'll try the maccy cheese- not something i've ever tried to cook so could be a disaster, but the little one should enjoy it.

the lasagne idea is a great one, thanks. do you know where i could get hold of suitable 'freezing' tubs? we'be had tons of takeaway ones in the past but somehow have ended up with a drawer full of lids and no tubs to match, do you know if they sell these anywhere? htey'd be easily stacked and labelled which would be ideal.

thanks again.

Zazen999

Is it because you are TELLING him that it is veggie; veggie mince has very nearly the same texture and if you make out it is meat he might never know.

In your situation, I'd batch make meals for him and defrost them when he is ready, and just do the sides [potatoes, rice, pasta] and serve up/mix in at serving time.

Or you could make a batch of onion and mince cooked down, and freeze that in batches; and separate out sauces/dishes into yours and his and just add the meat to his. This would work with pasta, chillies, bolognese etc; and do the same with some onion and chicken, and this would work in pasta, curries etc. Make sure it is heated up in a pan separately, and then pour the veggie sauce over and serve.

Wilkos and most supermarkets have foil freezer tubs and they are pretty cheap these days.

niccy_ulverston

nah zazen, i've tried sneaking bits of quorn chicken into meals and he's pulled it out, and really isn't a fan of the mince, but i'm sure if he were starving enough he'd eat it lol.
think i'll have to cook ahead of time like you're suggesting though, it's just costing me a fortune having to buy both vege + meat, although half the time i just have the sauces plain to save a little money here and there, which makes for pretty dull and unfiling meals
will have to check in wilkos for the tubs, cheers

angelavdavis

Another idea is to ask on freecycle if anyone has any takeaway plastic containers they are giving away?

The best way to buy good value meat is to look at the reduced and special offer stuff. I also buy turkey legs and remove the meat off these - cheap, tasty and ideal for curry and stews. Meat will go further if chopped up.

Personally, I would cook sauces such as the base for bolognaise but using more choice of veg but minus the meat, then as Zazen999 suggests, have some pre-cooked mince and onion separated into small portions for him that you can then add to the sauce base.

Other ideas

Easy Pasta:
Cook some pasta, drain and put back into the saucepan, pour two whisked eggs and some grated cheese on top of the pasta stir thoroughly (the heat of the pasta cooks the egg), add seasoning then add some sauteed sliced mushrooms and onion to the pasta. Separate one portion for your OH and add sauteed chopped bacon.
Stew:
Sweat some onions, carrots, celery with a little oil in a pan until soft, add pearl barley, chopped potatoes and bay leaves into the pan. Add some vegetable stock to cover. Bring to boil then lower to slow simmer. Stir frequently. Cook until all the vegetables are soft. In another dish, saute some turkey meat or chicken meat. Once the stew is cooked, add the meat to one portion for OH. If wanted, you can bulk out the meal by adding some dumplings made of flour, water, salt and pepper, and even some chopped herbs, dropped into the stew when you bring to boil.
Curry:
Sweat some onions, carrots, celery with a little oil in a pan until soft. Add chopped potatoes, cauliflower and any other veg you like. Add some turmeric, coriander, cumin and fry the spices slightly, mixing well with the vegetables. Add some vegetable stock to cover. Remove some for OH and add shredded pre-cooked chicken or beef or defrosted prawns. Ensure the meat is heated through before serving. Serve with rice and/or naan. You can always add curry powder as liked to some after removing a portion for the little one.

None of the meals above will suffer if reheated.

The trick is whenever you make a meal, make more than required so you have the option of freezing some portions of meat meals and vegetarian meals. This will give you some nights where you aren't cooking from scratch.

Freeze precooked meat in small portions (such as chicken portions, cubed turkey, thinly sliced beef, mince) and then defrost as required so you can add these to base sauces when necessary.

niccy_ulverston

brill suggestions there angela. i'm going to have to have a cooking day when we actually get a day off together! thanks for your help x

nimbo

niccy_ulverston wrote: »

t


the lasagne idea is a great one, thanks. do you know where i could get hold of suitable 'freezing' tubs? we'be had tons of takeaway ones in the past but somehow have ended up with a drawer full of lids and no tubs to match, do you know if they sell these anywhere? htey'd be easily stacked and labelled which would be ideal.

thanks again.

i get these tubs in the pound shop 10 for £1...

they have them in wilkos, and other places, but some places kind of rip you off and will only have 4 or 5 for the same price...

also i ahev a friend who lines them with freezer bags, and then when they are frozen shge stacks them in the freezer without the boxes... i have always though this would be a bit faffy....

sheperds pie is good frozen, just add a bit of gravy...

past a doesn't freeze too well, but sauces do...

urm, portions of rice would freeze...

when i sugguested vegetable lasagne i meant no vege mince but actual vegetables... my mum makes it and it's awesome...