Reverse Meal Planning

CCW007

What a great thread, going to have a look back over to get some ideas.  I've been given 4 bags of new potatoes today, the type with butter and herbs that you microwave.  They are dated today and the pack says they can't be frozen.  I'm thinking maybe of cooking them up and having them cold / mashing them / freezing them cooked.  Any ideas?

ruby_eskimo

CCW007 said:

What a great thread, going to have a look back over to get some ideas.  I've been given 4 bags of new potatoes today, the type with butter and herbs that you microwave.  They are dated today and the pack says they can't be frozen.  I'm thinking maybe of cooking them up and having them cold / mashing them / freezing them cooked.  Any ideas?

I'd cook them up and do exactly what you've said with them - I'm going to assume the reason it says they can't be frozen as is, is because they're raw and the reason they have to be used today is the butter in the coating.  One way I like to use up cold cooked new potatoes is smashed potatoes - you press down on them with a potato masher so they're...smashed a bit and then throw in the oven so the edges get all crispy 😋

ruby_eskimo

Morning all - made some Mediterranean meatballs at the weekend with cous cous and there were lots of leftovers so that was lunch yesterday and now today.  Have a courgette from the garden and half an onion sitting in the fridge so think I might make some soybean stew for dinner with rice as I have soybean paste in the fridge and some tofu in the cupboard also.

CCW007

ruby_eskimo said:

CCW007 said:

What a great thread, going to have a look back over to get some ideas.  I've been given 4 bags of new potatoes today, the type with butter and herbs that you microwave.  They are dated today and the pack says they can't be frozen.  I'm thinking maybe of cooking them up and having them cold / mashing them / freezing them cooked.  Any ideas?

I'd cook them up and do exactly what you've said with them - I'm going to assume the reason it says they can't be frozen as is, is because they're raw and the reason they have to be used today is the butter in the coating.  One way I like to use up cold cooked new potatoes is smashed potatoes - you press down on them with a potato masher so they're...smashed a bit and then throw in the oven so the edges get all crispy 😋

That sounds good, will cook some today and give that a go. 

Also making fakeaway tonight and planning on doing saag aloo so will use a pack for that as well.

Breakfast this morning will be a smoothie with some YS strawberries I froze and some spinach I got free. 

I'm involved with a charity which distributes leftover food from supermarkets to those in need.  Once the food boxes are made up, if there is more than can realistically be used by the families, anything left over is offered out to others (a bit like Olio) so I do get a random assortment of food to use up.

Suffolk_lass

CCW007 said:

ruby_eskimo said:

CCW007 said:

What a great thread, going to have a look back over to get some ideas.  I've been given 4 bags of new potatoes today, the type with butter and herbs that you microwave.  They are dated today and the pack says they can't be frozen.  I'm thinking maybe of cooking them up and having them cold / mashing them / freezing them cooked.  Any ideas?

I'd cook them up and do exactly what you've said with them - I'm going to assume the reason it says they can't be frozen as is, is because they're raw and the reason they have to be used today is the butter in the coating.  One way I like to use up cold cooked new potatoes is smashed potatoes - you press down on them with a potato masher so they're...smashed a bit and then throw in the oven so the edges get all crispy 😋

That sounds good, will cook some today and give that a go. 

Also making fakeaway tonight and planning on doing saag aloo so will use a pack for that as well.

Breakfast this morning will be a smoothie with some YS strawberries I froze and some spinach I got free. 

I'm involved with a charity which distributes leftover food from supermarkets to those in need.  Once the food boxes are made up, if there is more than can realistically be used by the families, anything left over is offered out to others (a bit like Olio) so I do get a random assortment of food to use up.

Welcome to the thread - lots of helpful ideas here - I was thinking of suggesting to Martin that some of the make do/substitute recipes could be compiled into an MSE booklet to go out with nearly end-dated food to those in need - do you think that might work with your charity? - I know with my garden, the seasonal thing goes bonkers (I am in courgette-a-geddon at the moment), so I'm guessing some of the same with the supermarkets

Suffolk_lass

Oh yes, we finally finished the takeaway last night - all except the prawn crackers but I expect DH pinkered (aka fat-necked) them while loading the dishwasher last night

CCW007

One pack of potatoes cooked to make smash as ruby_eskimo suggested, one pack cooked for saag aloo tonight (with leftovers for tomorrow). Think I'll cook another to make potato salad tomorrow and the last one will go into a slow cooker curry with a freebie cauliflower and spinach (for the freezer).

Also got four aubergines so planning on making slow cooker ratatouille for the freezer to use up some past their best courgettes and peppers.  

New veg box delivery on Friday so need to clear out the veg drawer of the fridge so may be looking for inspiration shortly!

rtandon27

Last night's dinner was a quick fakeaway katsu chicken & chinese style rice & pak choi.  Only 25 minutes for it to be on the table Love a quick win after a long work day in the city.

Today we have groceries arriving - fingers crossed we get all of it this week and get to have salmon & new potatoes & spinach for dinner tonight.  Lunch will be using up the leftover risotto from Sunday - mainly because there is not a lot left in the house! - LOL

rtandon27

Ladies - a random question for you...

...do you ever tally up price per head or per meal?

I was thinking of recreating some of the takeaway cafe box meals I have at work for the days when I have to work from home... but on the surface it appears I'd be paying more for ingredients than it costs to purchase the same box from the cafe.

Think we will be sticking to soup and toasties 😉 when eating at home!

CCW007

It's funny but if I take lunch to work or eat at home it seems like it's free as I haven't had to specifically pay out for that meal whereas buying a sandwich / soup when at work feels really expensive.

Slow cooker on with potato, cauliflower and spinach curry cooking to portion up for freezer.  Dinner will be leftover chana dal with saag aloo and pilau rice.  At some point I need to use up a microwave Mediterranean grains pouch which one of the cats thought was Felix and decide to try and open! Not sure what I will have that with though.