Reverse Meal Planning

joedenise

Primrose said:

I find it hard to be enthusiastic about Pearl barley yet have an unopened pack to use up. Does anybody  have any favourite interesting ways of using it - perhaps with fruit for something different ?

Not tried anything sweet with pearl barley but a quick google and there are quite a few.  This is one of the first:

https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/baked-barley-pudding/

rtandon27

@joedenise - do you have a favorite recipe for barley & leek soup?  I've only ever thrown a handful into in the bottom of a pot roast to absorb the drippings & the added it to a mixed vegetable soup.  OH uses it for mushroom barley risotto but that is a about as creative as it gets!

joedenise

I use a recipe from the Slimming Eats website.  Link:

http://www.slimmingeats.com/blog/creamy-leek-and-barley-soup

I don't bother adding cream or coconut milk.  I did the first time I made it but actually didn't think it added anything to the finished soup.

Suffolk_lass

Primrose said:

I find it hard to be enthusiastic about Pearl barley yet have an unopened pack to use up. Does anybody  have any favourite interesting ways of using it - perhaps with fruit for something different ?

I have usually braised with pearl barley as it carries other flavour and is great for absorbing things like fat from Lamb but I'm going to try substituting it for rice in risotto and instead of quinoa in a salad - I might add some fruit to make this a bit different. I was browsing the Delicious magazine recipes and lots of (savoury) options there - I can't couch for them but I have liked their recipes in the past albeit I simplify a bit (for example I don't trim the skin off the underside of a chicken thigh before cooking it!)

joedenise

Have got chicken and passata out of the freezer today for butter chicken for dinner tonight.  Looking forward to that as not had it for a while.  Will have it with pilau rice probably.

Suffolk_lass

I'm getting the smallish slab of tuna out of the freezer today. Not sure what I will do with it but I fancy a red-hot stir-fry id DH is up for it!

greent

I've lifted some mince with onions/ carrots/ bns out of the freezer (ys from almost a year ago) to help DS3 make bolognaise for his cookery homework. Have also taken out of the freezer some grated courgette, finely diced carrot and passata with basil already in it (bargain buy in Tesc0 but I only used a part tub last time) The before photos will show a whole carrot and a tin of tomatoes, as that is what the recipe requires and past experience has shown they do not like much deviation... 🙄🙄 

No one except DS1 is really a fan of bolog, so it is likely to get frozen in portion sizes and he can take some back to uni next month. Doesn't help my freezer situation currently, but that will improve in a couple of weeks:) 

marionmgcars

I had a leftover meal of mashed potatoe, ham, mixed veg and mushroom.  After my brother mentioned fish and chips I nearly changed my mind.  However I set the table, poured a glass on wine, cooked it with love and thoroughly enjoyed it.  and it saved me a few pounds paying for the takeaway.  

Primrose

It,s always worth boiling extra potatoes to make spare mash. A combination of grated cheese, chopped ham or bacon, mushrooms & fried onions mixed together and fried as patties until crisp on both side always makes a tasty supper snack 

rtandon27

Pickity bits dinner for us tonight, Cheese, salami, crackers, grapes, melon & cherry tomoatoes - also some left over parsnip/potato tart cut into finger strips.  It's a help yourself & eat as much as you feel like kind of evening - OH has some red wine open & I'm drinking some posh tea, a blooming flower that was gifted to me from friends who travelled a lot, back when travelling was a thing!