Weezl and friends Phase 2 -giving it a whirl for Shirl! Testing meal plan for a month

Murrell

As requested Weezl, tested and yummy. There was slightly more mung beans than chickpeas, so I guess the dry/cooked conversion isn't exact. Still it made 40 this time. Because there was more, the recipe could of definately taken more chilli and garlic, either that or i've got used to it and now need a bit more! I never used chilli before! I did try to load up my picture, but it was far too big, yet its tiny on my site!

Mung Bean Savoury Bites

150g hot oaty cereal
50g plain flour
40g tom puree
120g mung beans cooked (I soaked for 24 hours and then cooked for 20 mins, but I don't think I needed to soak these, but found out after doing it!) I guess they might take longer to cook if not soaked
100ml water
5g garlic
half tspn chilli (they could take more)
60g oil (original recipe had 140g)
1 tsp yeast extract
Put mung beans into bowl and mash, mix in all other ingredients, place dessertspoon blobs onto 2 baking trays and flatten down and cook at gas 6 for 20-30 mins or until the top looks a little crispy and browned at the edge. Made 40.

Sandra
x

Murrell

I didn't get to make the risi e bisi and I soaked too many peas, 500g! I only wanted to make it for me and my dad. So I will hopefully make it on Saturday and i've stuck some peas in the freezer. I left 500g cooked peas in the fridge, I didn't have the comp on at the time, so I realise this is too many, never mind. Do I serve this with anything or is it just flavoured peas, onion and rice? I personally would, even if it meant halving the recipe and adding in more veg. But I was just curious for the planner, not that you need to change anything.

Thanks to whoever suggested I could use red wine vinegar boiled down. In the end I decided to buy balsamic vinegar when I was in home bargains today, as it was only 99p which I think is the price on the plan.

I've never used dried peas before, would I be able to make the rest into mushy peas, or is it not marrowfats you use for that and if so does anyone know what I would need to do? Thanks in advance

Sandra
x

Allegra

weezl74 wrote: »

I eat more when my DH goes away I think it's a comforty thing

Yep, spot on, Weezl.

Arty, enjoy your wine, sounds like you need it tonight ! I'll be joining in soon with a lightweight's half-glass of my own. (Can't risk any after effects the next day, not when I'm on my own with DD !).

Sandra, all you need to do is pop your soaked peas into a pot, cover with cold water, bring to the boil and then simmer until they go all mushy. Season with salt and pepper at the end of cooking - and if you wish, you can add a bit of butter/spread/oil or a bit o chopped mint for smoother texture/minty taste.

Hope no one is getting covered by volcanic ash tonight....

shanks77

Had the risi e bisi tonight but again with sweetcorn so I prob need to call it something different. (not a planner change Weezl) Again delicious, filling and enjoyed by both. Think ex has got the hang of this, realises its only for a month is liking the food and has stopped moaning as much about the lack of meat. Doing the cottage pie tomorrow with a bit of trepidation as he hates the sp mince so will see how it goes. Hope this is not like the chilli and goes all sweet on me but will report on that.
Took some of the nut butter and bean pate to a friend at work and if she could cook she would try it cause she thought it was nomnom and i can bring in more things for her to taste test she is a willing guinea pig
Ps folks got the job should start on the 31st May dont know if i am happy or not. Glad to be getting away from where i am but hate change and dont like being the new girl _pale_

Allegra

shanks77 wrote: »

Ps folks got the job should start on the 31st May dont know if i am happy or not. Glad to be getting away from where i am but hate change and dont like being the new girl _pale_

Be happy, Shanks If the new job wasn't ultimately a happy thing, you'd not have gone through the rigmarole of applying and interviewing for it, now would you ?

But I know what you mean about change and being the new girl - when I last changed jobs I was leaving a job I hated and going to one I wanted for years and years, yet I still felt the same. I hate not knowing what I'm doing - which is odd cos I ought to be used to it by now, that being my default setting - but it passes. Nerve-racking at first, but it settles in the end and then you are not the new girl any longer So congratulations are in order ! :beer:

kezlou

poohbear59 wrote: »

My kids were bullied at school for not having chocolate biscuits in wrappers, for goodness sake!! I can imagine what could happen with green nut butter sandwiches.

I am lucky that mine are older now and have sensible heads on their shoulders, most of the time.

Unfortunately my children picked on a bit for not having the above, as my youngest has only just turned 6 he gets quite upset about it. My 9 yr old is more who cares but he still get emotional. Its a shame really, try to eat healthily and look what happens.

Murrell wrote: »

I've never used dried peas before, would I be able to make the rest into mushy peas, or is it not marrowfats you use for that and if so does anyone know what I would need to do? Thanks in advance
Sandra
x

Just leave the peas to cook for longer and they go really mushy.
When i was vegan i used to use mushy peas as gravy .

We had the carbonara again tonight, as OH wanted to get a takeaway i said give me 20mins and i'll have ready. Voila carbonara, weezl, again :T:T:T.
He loved it but unfortunately it didn't fill him so had ice cream for afters.

Shanks : - you'll be alright hun x

poohbear59

weezl74 wrote: »

:rotfl:

I'm not mad frankie

I've been a bit worried about something different though, so I thought I'd explain why and see if we could come up with a creative solution, as it's been preying on my mind and interfering with sleep a bit, which is not what you want as a new mum really

I'm worried about the veg that folk have bought, and how we keep it ok throughout the month. I'd be so gutted if potatoes carrot and onion went off and money was wasted. The apples are fine because applecurd keeps for a month in sterilised jars, so I'm happy about those. I've also finalised my lemon cordial recipe, so am happy about the lemons.

The way it worked for me when I tested a prototype the previous month worked because I started with a pretty empty freezer, but I know some of you didn't have chance to empty yours much before we began.

I wonder if the testers could have a look at their freezer space and their veg, and post any logistical issues you see, and we'll all put our heads together and work out ways that no-one lands up with rotten veg.

This may mean changing the order the meals are eaten in so I thought it was important we tackled it now.

I hope I've phrased my question clearly, if you're a tester and you've bought lots/everything on the list please pop on and answer my question, and then I'll be able to stop fretting

Thanks loads

weezl, please don't lose sleep. Everything is going well here.

I decided not to buy all the potatoes or carrots as they are the ones that tend to go off fastest. We have had potatoes from the co-op this week.

The onions are fine and will keep for a year, if kept cool and dry. We have a chest freezer and so I had plenty of room for the frozen things. I already buy my pulses and cook then freeze so there was no problem there.

The squash will last ages too.


The only problem is with the lemons. Two lemons have gone completely mouldy. I have checked my shopping list and think I may have bought lemon juice as the lemons might not last long:o

shanks, well done on the new job.I am sure it will be alright, but I know it can be a daunting thought, being new.

ETA We had the cottage pie tonight and I forgot to put the instant oats in. I ALWAYS put oats in and forgot today. The men are all full and me too.

DS3 has two days work in Liverpool so has hundreds of miles travelling each day. He came in late tonight and decided to make pasta and mayo for his lunch tomorrow as he was'starving' today.

nopot2pin

weezl74 wrote: »

hi potty, perhaps you guys need fewer calories, but as an evening meal it's just 645 cals in total, so I guess it depends what else you've eaten today, otherwise I'd say dividing it into 6, which is just 430 cals wouldn't be quite sustaining enough, but perhaps you have some scones or bread or carrot cake to fill up on

I'll stop being old mother hen ish now

Thanks Mother Weezl Hen

Ok.... My verdict, on the vegan risi e bisi
:drool:
It was lovely And veeeeeerrrry filling.
I served it with some rocket and tomatoes....
Now... I know, I should have not served it with anything, but I, like Murrell, felt that it needed a wee bit of extra veg
To be honest, I am not sure I could eat a full portion of it on its own.... as it would be waaaay too filling for me.
If I didn't eat it with the salad, I would have still be very full, but I like a little bit of greenery on my plate with such meals So there

More good news ... the biddies (my parents) also loved theirs :T
When I phoned my dad, he said my mum damn near licked the pattern off the plate
He served theirs with a few king prawns, that he gets from Lidl, each.

Murrell wrote: »

I've never used dried peas before, would I be able to make the rest into mushy peas, or is it not marrowfats you use for that and if so does anyone know what I would need to do? Thanks in advance

Sandra
x

:drool:
I lurrrrrve mushy peas
With vinegar :drool:
Lots of it... just normal vinegar
Reminds me of when I was a kid, and the fairground came to town, and you got a cup of mushy peas with vinegar :D

Just keep cooking the marrowfat dried peas, maybe about an hour ish, after the fast boil, and they should be quite mushy then

shanks77 wrote: »

Ps folks got the job should start on the 31st May dont know if i am happy or not. Glad to be getting away from where i am but hate change and dont like being the new girl _pale_

Well done Shanks :T
Everything happens for a reason

Ok beddy byes ... it was a gruelling shift tonight
Sleeps now

Edit... Poohbear... I sometimes freeze lemons...
Sometimes in slices, for G&T purposes ... ... a multitasking lemon, as it doubles as an ice cubes then.
And sometimes in wedges, thawed, to use in cooking
HTH

artybear

Grrrrr.....it's always when you are tired you can't sleep.
Shanks-I forgot to say well done on the job, you must have wowed them at the interview. I hate being the new girl too but maybe you could take some homemade frugal cake in on the first day and everyone will love you.

Sian-we need pictures of the pasta on the washing line!!!!!!
XXXXXXXX

weezl74

arty I'm sorry about your hard day and the carrots. I'm glad the potatoes and onions are fine though.

I've never had fresh carrots go off like that so I'm really surprised.

I'll send you some money for them. Sorry I didn't know more about everyone's living situation before the testing month.

Now Mr Arty is back how much freezer space do you have for the rest? And what paper or cardboard or cotton bag/box are they in? It might be a material that looks like cotton but is nylon? That's the only thing I can think of!

Does anyone else have any stock that looks like it's going off?

Well I guess we'd better get on with Lemon and orange cordials PDQ:

Multiply this up by however many lemons you have which might go off!

2 lemons whole, washed just the tiniest bit of top and tail removed, then cut up into eighths. Boiled in a pan with 100g sugar and 500ml water for approx 1 hr until very mushy and reduced down.

Then pulverise this. All of it, skin, pith, the lot.

dilute at a 1:4 ratio, should yield 20 servings.

Hope this helps. You can do it with oranges too but reduce the sugar.