Reverse Meal Planning

missmoneywatch

Tonight's dinner was a shepherds pie (bought ingredients but on plan) but made two at the time so a spare for freezer and didn't need the amount of mince I bought as bulked up with grated carrot and onion so a small pack of mince can go in freezer for another day win win.

joedenise

Picked up the magic bags from Morrisons and now have loads of potatoes, both bakers and normal Maris Pipers.  Also have quite a few peppers, a bag of spinach, a box of mushrooms, a box of grapes, 2 boxes of beetroot, a pack of asparagus, a couple of fennel bulbs, a bag of marmalade oranges and can't remember what else!

Potatoes, mushrooms and grapes were on the list for next time so that'll save a few £.  I usually buy peppers every week so again they won't be needed.  The beetroot I will pickle as there is too much to eat in one go so that will save them going to waste.

Asparagus will probably be used for dipping into boiled eggs instead of bread/toast "soldiers"!

Need to find a recipe to use up the fennel buns and it isn't something I've ever used before for some reason.

Not a bad haul for just over £6.

The only thing I won't be using is the bag of marmalade oranges!  We don't eat enough marmalade to make it worthwhile spending so much time to make a couple of jars of the stuff!

MissRikkiC

I love fennel @joedenise

There is a really lovely pasta dish my hub makes using fennel but I can’t for the life of me remember what else is in it! I’ll ask him tomorrow and post

MissRikkiC

Stir fried rice for dinner tonight using a few carrots, half a cabbage and a handful of spring onions I pulled up from the garden this morning with some bbq marinated tofu I seasoned Friday and was still in the fridge. 

Turkey curry for dinner tomorrow with flat breads was the meal plan but … we had rice instead of noodles tonight so would rather not have rice again. Plan was one bag of the turkey meat we have for this and the other for a pie but not sure if I’ll have the time to make the shortcrust! Any other ideas to use the turkey meat (from Christmas leftovers) welcome

Suffolk_lass

joedenise said:

The only thing I won't be using is the bag of marmalade oranges!  We don't eat enough marmalade to make it worthwhile spending so much time to make a couple of jars of the stuff!

Lots of other things you could use them for - a few suggestions are to make your own orange liqueur, orange meringue pie, sauce for fish dishes, or salad dressings, or candied peel. The juice could be squeezed and zest added then frozen to add instead of lemon for a tangy alternative. I've seen a loaf recipe too but not sure you eat cake

Suffolk_lass

We had DS round yesterday evening but it made dinner much later than I expected. I put the pork (belly) in at about 1pm then slowed it down an hour later, expecting him by about five but at that point, moved it to the warming oven until he arrived just before 8pm. It was definitely pulled. Impossible to carve, it was falling apart. It was still a lovely roast dinner but DH prepped the veg and I think the carrots were out for too long as they almost had a skin on them, the potatoes were cut into long thin wedges that were almost hollow by the time we head roasted them and he didn't peel the tough outer skin off the (sad) broccoli stems. Ho hum. 

ruby_eskimo

Tonight we're having sweet and sour chicken to use up the rest of the meat leftover from the roast on Sunday and a couple of peppers from the fridge that I almost forgot about.  Already started on next week's meal plan and we're out for 2 nights so looks like a fairly cheap week for us 🤞

joedenise

Thanks @Suffolk_lass but unfortunately I don't eat any of those things!  Might see if I can find a cake recipe, preferably a loaf one which can be sliced and frozen, for DH (you're right I don't eat cake, or sweet things generally!).

Thanks @MissRikkiC that would be useful.  I'm using the oven tonight to make a toad in the whole with roasted veg so perhaps I'll add of the bulbs to the tray.

EssexHebridean

CCW007 said:

I've got mushrooms to use up so probably do mushroom and green lentil goulash tomorrow. I have an interview at lunchtime and I've joined a beginner's running club which is at 6.30 tomorrow evening so will try and find time tonight (after prepping for interview) to make ahead so I can eat early tomorrow.  That should make a couple of portions so probably one for the freezer as well.

You may already know but as a beginner runner don't risk eating closer than a couple of hours to when you run as you don't yet know what effect it will have on your digestion. There's not a runner out there who hasn't misjudged it at some stage and felt the beginning of the dreaded gurgling...!  

@joedenise remember if they are Seville oranges you'll likely need extra sugar to offset the bitterness.  Roasted fennel is gorgeous - we also often use it finely chopped in risotto too. 

Suffolk_lass

I have some frozen prepared seville oranges. I am very tempted to buy more at the market on Friday having seen this orange drizzle (loaf) recipe. I blame @joedenise for sowing that seed.

We still have plenty in store with the exception of bowl fruit. I will wait until Friday morning and we can do a market visit and then go for a naughty treat breakfast in the cafe