Eating out of the freezer and cupboards challenge - part two

caronc

Zafiro - There's probably some time to talk hubby through some basics, but I'm assuming he might not have the time to do much by way of cooking. I'd concentrate on the main items and if need be buy ready made puddings, snacks etc. That way anything you prep is a bonus, I'd plan for two repeated four week menus with some "randoms" flung in to make it up to the 10 weeks. I'd also cook some trays of roast potatoes, sausages and baked spuds and make and portion loads of mash. Grate and freeze a load of cheese and either cook & portion rice or get some micro bags. "Google" dump cooking and it might give you some inspiration. Do you have a slow cooker? If so could hubby manage to "dump a prepped bag of ingredients from the freezer and let it cook. Lunches I'd stick to soup, "things" on toast! (Scrambled eggs, beans etc.)

Today:
In: turkey mince
Out: bagels, sausages
Used up: courgette, aubergine, cottage cheese

zafiro1984

Thanks Caronc and Primrose some really good and helpful ideas.
Caronc - I've never heard the word 'Dump meals' and have just googled it. I realise I've been doing it for years but never gave it a name. The bit that appeals is that it is cooked fresh - yes I'll certainly do some of that.

Primrose:- you are correct I've got to have open heart surgery in London with a fairly long recovery period afterwards.
Husband has not only to do what he does every day but also take on board what I do, both of us are involved with livestock of one sort or another so we can't put them on the backburner for a few weeks. Surgery has been organised to coincide with our quietest part of the year but from April onwards it becomes quite manic all over summer until Christmas. So I don't want him to worry about the house etc.

Don't laugh but I'm going to stick instructions on various machines like the dishwasher, and washer and write labels for the kitchen cupboards so he knows what is where.

The saddest thing is he won't be able to visit me because it's a two hour plus journey to London, then visiting, then going home is just too long to leave all the animals. The good news is that once this is all over I'll be like a Spring Chicken again something to look forward to :rotfl:

Primrose

Zafiro - that sounds like a big event hanging over you and yes, of course, with livestock they cant be left unattended.
It's sad he won,t be able to visit you but may I make a suggestion which helped us when my husband had to undergo major surgery under similar conditions not close to home. Get yourself an inexpensive iPad if you don,t have one, install Skype on it and take it to hospital with you, (complete with a charger). If you also install Skype on your home computer you'll be able to have video conversations with each other. Practice beforehand with each other from different rooms if you've never used the facility before and find out where on the iPad youlink into the hospital wi fi setting. This made a huge difference to my husband,s welfare in hospital and to my peace of mind too.

zafiro1984

Primrose wrote: »

Zafiro - that sounds like a big event hanging over you and yes, of course, with livestock they cant be left unattended.
It's sad he won,t be able to visit you but may I make a suggestion which helped us when my husband had to undergo major surgery under similar conditions not close to home. Get yourself an inexpensive iPad if you don,t have one, install Skype on it and take it to hospital with you, (complete with a charger). If you also install Skype on your home computer you'll be able to have video conversations with each other. Practice beforehand with each other from different rooms if you've never used the facility before and find out where on the iPad youlink into the hospital wi fi setting. This made a huge difference to my husband,s welfare in hospital and to my peace of mind too.

That is a great idea, we have skype on both computers but not on my iPad, so I'll look into installing it. Many many thanks :T:T

I spent the afternoon on youtube looking at dump meals and trying to organise what I need and trying also to incorporate what I already have.
I've decided to use up all the bulk meals I've already got in the freezers over the next month or two so that everything will be as 'fresh' as possible and well labelled - something I tend not to bother about too much. It will also give me an opportunity to organise the freezers more efficiently.

Today
Out:- 2 portions of cooked venison - to have mash on the top,
one tub of HM icecream, maybe ginger flavour, or lemon, or vanilla (no label and they all look the same colour)
Rest from fridge, store or veg plot.

I've son and d-in-law coming tomorrow so more opportunity to use something from freezers for lunch - I'll decide later.

caronc

Sounds as though you have a plan Zafiro!

In: nothing
Out: pitta bread, spinach

phizzimum

Used up some random frozen veg in a slow cooker casserole yesterday. Didn't taste great, but I'd had a long day so was glad to eat something and pleased I'd used some bits and bobs up.

I really want to use my s/c more but seem to have lost the knack

I'm going to try to base at least 2 meals a week on something from the freezer, and not buy things we won't eat just because they have yellow stickers

caronc

In: portion turkey mince & aubergine curry
Out: savoury mince, mash, kale, cooked rice, ham&leek pie (for tomorrow)
Used up: portion curry & cooked rice given to my Dad

zafiro1984

Son and d-in Law here today, It was lovely to see them.

Out of freezers, cupboards, fridge:
gammon, leeks pastry plus other bit and bobs for gammon and leek flan.
smoked salmon, asparagus and pastry plus bits for a sm salmon and asparagus flan.
a couple of my 'swiss roll' turkey (turkey wrapped in bacon with a stuffing - made one from apricot, chestnut and sausagemeat, the other one had sage, onion and sausgaemeat) salads.
IN:- absolutely nothing.

caronc

In: nothing
Out: oven chips
Used up: mushrooms

zafiro1984

Out:- 1.2kg mince, to turn into cottage pies to go back into freezer
carrots etc from fridge, potatoes from veg patch.
Also, 2 portions of already cooked venison,
veg and apples from store rest from fridge and cupboards