Reverse Meal Planning

ariarnia

i remember there used to be a weekly meal planning thread (a few years ago) but I can't see one now. hopefully no one minds me posting my scribblings here so i get that feeling of accountability as i try to get back into the habit of mindful spending/cooking/eating starting monday? 

things i need to factor in include that we've got some building work going on in the house now for the next 6 weeks or so so my cooking can only use an elderly remoska, microwave, kettle and i can only get at the fridge/freezer and one of my cupboards. and it's cold we might not have heating all the time and OH is working his socks off so we really need 'not fussy' hot and filling comforting food but here goes nothing (mon-friday evening meals only as we normally grab breakfast and lunch at different times and it's often leftovers and we go to the in laws for dinner on Saturday with sunday being an eat up day) 

Monday - corned beef hash (corned beef, potatos, onion, carrot, tinned spinach, beans, a poached egg, pickled red cabbage for those who like it)  

Tuesday - pasta bake (tins of tuna, mackerel and maybe sardines, pasta, tinned tomato, onions, frozen peppers and maybe sweetcorn, some cheese on top)

Wednesday - calzone (pick your own fillings. ham, tuna, frozen mushrooms, frozen peppers, tinned tomato, cheese, BBQ sauce, sweet chilli sauce)

Thursday - 'Quichzza' (left over pizza dough, eggs, cheese, bacon, onion, beans) 

Friday - lancashire hotpot (bacon, potato, onion, cheese, beans, random green veg from the freezer)
    

ruby_eskimo

Still on easy meals over here due to sickness over the last few days and have planned out the rest of the week until we can get to the supermarket on Sunday.  So tonight is veggie stew from the freezer with some rice.

CCW007

Having burger night tonight as a treat so will save leftover stew for tomorrow's dinner.   

EssexHebridean

Last night saw the remainder of the chicken sausages chucked into the risotto with the prepped squash. Very tasty but with hindsight I probably should have added some additional veg to it as well. There seemed like quit a bit of squash but didn't look as much once it was plated up. 

Tonight is - I think - going to be sardine & butterbean pasta - having mentioned it the other day I quite fancy it now! 

QueenJess

My veg/fruit box arrived today, so I am spoiled for choice again.  My frozen veg stores are nearly non existent!

So lunch today is spicy parsnip soup with fairy cakes for pudding (just off to ice them...). Dinner will need to use up the remainder of the "emergency" tin of sweetcorn I keep in the cupboard.  So it will be smoked mackerel kedgeree cheat version (i.e. tip veg rice packet, chopped onion, sweetcorn, frozen peas and smoked mackerel into a frying pan/wok and cook until hot.  Done!).  Might add a boiled egg if I can be bothered!

Suffolk_lass

Sadly my TGTG bag did not exist. It was my first purchase, from my regular Morries and I was there at maybe 17.15 for a 17.00-21.00 window. There were two other people in the queue at customer services when she called me from where I was waiting, to say there aren't any. Well that was a ten mile round trip. The man two behind me in the queue said it has happened to him before at that store. I have reported it and asked for a refund. It's not worth saving food if it costs the diesel to make the trip. The chap said it is better from the one in the other direction. I said I thought that was a Daily and he said yes, it is mostly bread and pastries there. Not really what I was hoping for.

I did a quick scoot round the store and all the things I have seen you report were there so I wonder if they just did not have the staff available to make them up.

I bought the things I know we need (potatoes after my "illegal" roast), bowl fruit and also the two packs 4 £1 custard tarts as I suggested to DH that they might feature. I also bought the seafood and treats for Saturday's dinner party and made sure my total was just over £40 which included £6.50 for some premium dry cat kibble to try and wean our Stealth Cat off the wet stuff (as she only eats the jelly!). I did save £2.83 filling the car up this morning, but that was at the other store, more like 9 miles each way. We were over that way anyway, retrieving the moho from the garage, after three months.

EssexHebridean

That's really disappointing that they offer bags that they then can't fulfill SL - not surprised you were a bit peeved! 

joedenise

That happened to me once but the assistant just grabbed a bag and went and took stuff of the shelves for me!  Most of it was in date apart from one pack of peppers which were use by that day but there was absolutely nothing wrong with them.  I also had mushrooms, spinach and a couple of other things which I can't remember.  Oh and there were also a pack of long rolls which were out of date and rock hard and inedible but certainly had more than my £3.09's worth.

I've had one bag cancelled a couple of hours before I was due to pick it up and got a refund without asking.

I would just complain SL to TGTG.  They will definitely refund you and will also contact the store.  Be sure to mention that someone else told you that it had happened to them previously.  No one should get to store to be told there isn't a bag available when it's been paid for.  That's awful, particularly as they didn't do what my local store did and just make a bag up.

Paspatur

Suffolk_lass said:

Sadly my TGTG bag did not exist. It was my first purchase

Same thing happened to me today. I decided after all the chat about TGTG that I would check it out.
So last night I purchased a bag from my local bakery 3 minutes walk round the corner
Supposed to be £9 worth for £3
It was risky as I am not a cake person at all but it said it may include savoury items and any bread or rolls could have gone in the freezer for the grandkids
Pick up was from 15:15 today, I received a message at 13:30 that my order was cancelled due to no surplus being available
A few minutes ago it popped up with the same offer for tomorrow but I am not going to bother as I don't want to base my day around being here for 15:15 for it to be cancelled at 13:30 again
An offer from Costalot Coffee (within the nearest Tesco) popped up for collection this afternoon but a round trip of one and a half miles walking in squally weather did not appeal, especially as I have never set foot in a Costalot so have no idea what it may have included
I will keep checking and may try the baker again at some point but certainly no fruit and veg or real food available around here

joedenise

Costalot bags tend to contain loads of cakes and/or cookies!  DH has had a couple of bags from there but said he wouldn't bother again.  Same with Greggs.  The Costalot bags round here are pick up between 8-9pm so really late but they usually have loads.  If they're your sort of thing then they are very good value.  I think the last bag had about £12-£13 worth of cakes and cookies in it.