Ja-NEW-ary 2013 - Take your lunch to work thread

bargainbetty

I've definitely come over all frugal thanks to you lot! Last night, I got home and the flatmate had opened a pack of sausages to do breakfasts, and had two of the eight. I had some onions and mushrooms close to turning, so made a pan of mash, a pan of onion gravy, and did three portions. One for tea, and two for lunches. I've just used the bread from yesterday to mop up the last of the gravy... the pate just didn't stand a chance next to sausage and mash.

I've got plans to roast a chicken and do more mash for next week, and box up some hot lunches. This could save me even more money!

Thanks for all the ideas you're putting in... this is a cracking thread.

FatVonD

faithless wrote: »

A great sandwich filling that I always forget about is cooked chicken in a mix of pesto & mayo - makes a really tasty dressing, a good way to use up leftover roast chicken.

faithless wrote: »

brie, crushed walnuts, feta and rocket. Looked lovely but was expensive to buy, and the brie and walnut are stuff people may have lying around after Christmas cheeseboards and nuts!

I know what I'm having for lunches next week!

For today, however, it's another cheese toastie.

Happy Friday everyone and happy moneysaving too :T

Shortie

bargainbetty wrote: »

I've got plans to roast a chicken and do more mash for next week, and box up some hot lunches. This could save me even more money!

OOohhh now there's some inspiration that I wouldn't have thought of - thanks BB! We bought a reduced pre-cooked chook last night from Mr T. The sole intention for it was to strip down the meat to portion for meals as we had last night's dinner made already, and today's too.

Aaannnnyway - I can put aside some of the meat, chop it smaller and mix it in with/put to the side of, a take-away type box that has a dollop of mash potato that I can cook up tonight, add some frozen peas, mix up some gravy to drizzle over the top and then freeze the portions for lunches! A little meat will go a long way then, plus we'll have portions left to make up dinners with (eg curries, pasta bakes, tortillas...)

I'm sure Mr Shortie would quite like them for lunches too so I could make up a bigger batch. Aaaand theeenn (here I go eh...?) if we ever get caught out needing an super quick dinner, it's another option as long as I have enough aside for all of us!

Betty_Crumble

another ltw day today (knew that'd catch on the minute I read it)
got some reduced rolls when I went shopping earlier so they're tucked up in the freezer for next week.

and thanks faithless for the chicken mayo and pest suggestion I will add pasta when i do this it sounds yum

415SanFran

I heard somewhere that cheats coronation dressing was mayo with a small amount of curry powder, add a few raisins and the meat/quorn.

pavlovs_dog

FatVonD wrote: »

I *had* planned on value plum tomatoes on toast (inspired by someone on this thread :T ) until I discovered there's no tin opener. I'm trying to work out whether buying a cheap tin opener is an investment or just me looking for a shopping opportunity

only going to cost you a pound or two for a basic one. Better than getting to work and discovering you can't get access to half of your lunch

The mini character spaghetti tins I posted about (29p in home bargains) are ring pulls, so I don't need to worry about tin openers. Had 2 tins this week and they are fab (just the right size for topping two slices of toast). I'm going to stock up on the weekend. If they've run out, asda and tesco's own baked beans and spaghetti mini tins are only 30p, so won't break the bank and are convenient to keep a stash in the cupboard.


LOVE the idea of bombay mix on salad :j thanks Sarah :T

pavlovs_dog

forgot to say, I've managed 5/5 lunches this week, and really enjoyed them... more than can be said of dinners from the canteen. Had my cous-cous salad box twice, spaghetti on toast twice, and left overs once.

pavlovs_dog

365days wrote: »

Have you tried bacon and banana? My mum had it in South Africa where apparently it's pretty common. I took some convincing to try but it's lush.

Do you use greenish, firm bananas (which wouldn't be too dissimilar to plantain) or the bright yellow, banana-ry bananas?

mineallmine

No packed lunch the last 2 days. Just disorganised and too tired. But very pleased with the savings made so far in my sig :j

There's one rule more than anything for me. You have to be organised! I have ample stocks of ham, sliced chicken but bread at our local shops seems to run out all the time. I blame the threat of the forthcoming snow!

Anyway. So pleased kittie this made it to the weekly email. As this is a perfect example where many people spend without thinking and just look at some of the savings we've made :j

kobrakai

used up my last slice of ham today on my lovely lunch, enjoyed at my desk because we were insanely busy and I decided to work through my break, and added another £5 to my pot - £20 saved just this week!