Special dinner with what I've got in?

FairyPrincessk

Hi,

Things in the FPK house have been pretty stressful lately. OH is in a full time placement and applying for jobs and revising for a big exam so he is working 6am to 11:30pm almost every day. I'm still plodding along with my writing, but I've also taken over the household things for the moment so he can put everything into these applicatations. However, he has evenings off this weekend and we've agreed to put the radiator on in the lounge tonight and enjoy some time off:D:D

I'd like to make us a nice dinner and I've got lots of bits and pieces to work with but struggling a bit.

I've got hm meatballs, pre-cooked shredded beef roast, and one serving a salmon in the freezer. OH isn't fond of Salmon so leaning towards one of the beef options.

I've got cream and half a bottle of red wine that, frankly isn't worth the units to drink (someone brought it to a party) which I'm happy to use in cooking. I've got different types of mustard, pasta, rice (brown and white) probably some spuds knocking about, but don't think it is many, onions, tinned tomatoes most herbs, spices, flours etc. Plenty of eggs, butter and the like. I also have salad things in, a few carrots going bendy but still ok and I think that is it on the veg front...we shop on Sundays. Also have some tinned kidney beans, but out of chickpeas and blackbeans. Plenty of lentils in.

I've got my fridge bread ready to bake, so we'll have fresh bread, and I'm thinking an apple crumble with hm custard for pudding as I've got all the bits for that and OH loves it--but not sure what to do with my beef options. I think I may have a few too many options IYSWIM. Any brilliant ideas? I was thinking maybe some sort of beef in red wine or perhaps meatball subs? OH liked both of those ideas, but I'm in the mood to cook while he works on applications this afternoon, so if anyone has any other suggestions would love to hear them.

Tenyearstogo

I'd make a beef in red wine casserole, with some dumplings ( preferably cheesy ones ).

I'm just off to make an apple pie myself. I haven't got the inclination really but have got so many apples.

FairyPrincessk

Oh, will begin googling cheesy dumplings now, that sounds lush:)

Emm-in-a-pickle

Have you got tinned tomatoes? I was thinking kidney beans, make a chilli sauce & break up the meatballs in it - with rice & a bit of salad?

Meadows

As the Beef is already cooked why not use some of the cream to add to the red wine and softened onions to make a reduced pour over sauce, gently re heat the beef. Make a mustard mash.

Kidney Bean salad starter.
Shredded Beef with Red wine, cream & onion sauce served with mustard mash and carrots, with herby Yorkshire puddings.
Crumble & custard or cream dessert.

quintwins

I'd go for spagetti and meatballs but my hubby loves meatballs

FairyPrincessk

Yes--OH loves meatballs as well. I make them up in big batches with bulk packs of mince at the beginning of each term and then bag in small portions. We get around 10 meals out of one pack of beef mince and one small pack of pork with all the veg and seasonings added. Ends up not being so expensive:)

Love the ideas thus far:) Better got an pull some meat out of freezer and then get things tidied up--We've both cheered right up at the prospect of a nice evening.

asparagus1968

FairyPrincessk wrote: »

Yes--OH loves meatballs as well. I make them up in big batches with bulk packs of mince at the beginning of each term and then bag in small portions. We get around 10 meals out of one pack of beef mince and one small pack of pork with all the veg and seasonings added. Ends up not being so expensive:)

Love the ideas thus far:) Better got an pull some meat out of freezer and then get things tidied up--We've both cheered right up at the prospect of a nice evening.

have a lovely evening:)

gingin_2

I do a tomato sauce with paprika and red wine for a bit of richness and serve that with meatballs with greek roasted potatoes (I read the recipe on here a few years ago, they are lush) and salad. That would be my choice.

FairyPrincessk

Poking around in the freezer I discovered some HM beef broth, so decided to use that with the redwine and cream for a sauce. Also discovered that my spuds seem to be growing quite long legs so will sort those out and use up. Some really lovely ideas here, I shall file them away! Also like the paprika idea--yum! Might have a go at those cheesy dumplings anyway even if they aren't necessary with bread and spuds:)



And thank you Asparagus:)