Reverse Meal Planning

Suffolk_lass

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81943681#Comment_81943681

Lol. Christmas veg gone just in time for 4p Easter veg for carrots and parsnips at Morries (I presume all the others too).

I've started running out of things (mind you, went to Scotland on my own and left Mr Sl to sort himself out so no lists have been updated 😲). Leftover homemade curry tonight with bought naan breads and popadoms

EssexHebridean

Haha - another one here intending to make the most of the cheap veg over the next week! Started off with 4 heads of the XL garlic in Al's today - and am swerving by Lil's on the way home (I have a 50% coupon for the crisps we like) so will try and pick up a few packs of shallots as well.

Last night was a lovely simple salmon, jacket potatoes and a big pile of salad.

Tonight is going to be a couscous bowl I think - with some of the roast pork, and some of the veggies I cooked on Sunday. Tomorrow is almost certain to be a stir-fry as that will suit the pork well - whatever is left of it after that will get stashed in the freezer. I must find space for that ham in there tonight as well…

StickyTheStickInsect

I brought the cheaper Christmas veg but it didn't last anywhere as long as some of yours seem to have done. Any tips for how to make my Easter veg last longer.

Thank you!

Suffolk_lass

@StickyTheStickInsect - I'm pretty sure it was here or the GC thread that reported keeping the Christmas Veg outside - I have had a box outside the back door on the bee table but the weather has become too variable for some of it (wrinkly carrots this week. I don't know for Easter as I think the warming up starts Saturday here so I may have to use my second fridge or a cold chest.

Brussels Sprouts are excellent if you blanch then freeze them, but you need to balance the cost of storing them compared to the purchase price and how quickly you will use them.

fionaandphil

@StickyTheStickInsect it really helps if you have a cold outside space to store them. I unpack as soon as they come home and make sure they are dry, if they are moist they will go mouldy. For carrots and parsnips I have had them hanging up in vegetable nets in the garage and for potatoes brown bags, other people have mentioned cardboard boxes lined with newspapers. I would say, you need to keep checking them once a week or so or you may get some that have gone off damaging others. I use garage like a shop and just pop out and bring some in and put in the fridge at least once a week.

At this time of year, I wouldn't expect it to last more than about 3 -4 weeks unless you have space in the fridge or freezer to store it. Still makes the veg cheap for April and hopefully by May we will all be on salad for summer 😄

EssexHebridean

Ours all went into the shed double wrapped in brown paper (I use the brown paper bags you sometimes get bread etc in, and the large envelopes that Amazon deliveries arrive in). In really cold weather I sit it on a pile of newspaper to insulate it a bit, and fold more newspapers over and around it for the same reason - that also helps ensure that absolutely no light gets to it as well.

Nabbed three bags of shallots and three of parsnips last night, and will likely head back to Lil's tomorrow evening as we've a couple of useful coupons to use (and may hopefully have some more when the weekly ones are released tomorrow). The shallots are in the shed, and the parsnips in a stay fresh bag in the fridge.

joedenise

I've picked up potatoes, onions and carrots but think I may pick up a couple of swede and parsnips and make up some stew packs for the freezer but will only have enough space if I can't get a leg of lamb - couldn't get one yesterday when I went shopping - tried 2 Morrisons, Lidl and Aldi! I should be a bit earlier shopping tomorrow as I'll be on my own and not with DH!

Suffolk_lass

We will have fish today, as it is Good Friday. From the freezer unless I go into town this morning to the market. I don't need anything. I shall blanch and freeze the Brussels after using some when DS&P come for roast on Monday. I might turn the aga off on Monday night as Mr Sl bought a new (spare) gas bottle refill for the house summer kitchen, so we won't run out mid cooking now. It's always a bit of a nightmare, trying to remember to preheat the oven once the aga is off, but the electricity consumption will drop right down.

itsthelittlethings

I have some fresh tagliatelle, fresh tortellini, Familglia Rana gnocchi, tinned toms, baby aubergines.

I don’t usually buy prepared food like that but I’m having a week off.

I will make a tomato sauce tomorrow. I need an onion. Hmmm. I also have the makings of macaroni cheese but I cannot even. Plus all that cheese isn’t too healthy. I have a block of cheddar and a block of Red Leicester in the fridge.

I am very short of vegetables.

itsthelittlethings

Ooooh. I have a butternut squash and a tin of red kidney beans. I also have a tin of lentils. I could make a bean and squash salad for lunch on 3 days and freeze the bagels. That would be vegetable like in nutrients.