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Reverse Meal Planning

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  • itsthelittlethings
    itsthelittlethings Posts: 2,393 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Second Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper

    I also have a carton of soup and some tray carrots I bought on a whim as an Easter special that I can roast and make into a soup.

    I am legend.

  • EssexHebridean
    EssexHebridean Posts: 25,979 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic

    Love when a plan comes together and you suddenly realise yo have all the right ingredients for something tasty!

    Our oven/hob was busy on Sunday as we had a day of negative pricing on Agile - so the lamb was slow-roasted, plus roast potatoes and parsnips for sunday lunch, 8 heads of Al's 8p garlic were separated out into cloves and roasted, and a full (reduced price) family pack of mushrooms also roasted. Over on the hob I cooked a pan of pasta and a cauliflower, and a big pan of cheese sauce, and some chorizo cubed up, and made two double portions of cauli pasta cheese bake, and had enough sauce for a tub to go to the freezer as well which was an absolute win as making cheese sauce is very not my favourite thing. MrEH has dealt with another smaller pack of mushrooms during a negative pricing patch today too.

    Couscous this evening with leftover roast lamb, some of the mushrooms, some chickpeas and whatever form of other veg is lurking in the fridge looking like it needs used I should imagine! I've got fruit compote that I got out of the freezer intending to make into a crumble but never got around to it, so that will do pudding with some greek yogurt.

    🎉 MORTGAGE FREE (First time!) 30/09/2016 🎉 And now we go again…New mortgage taken 01/09/23 🏡
    Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00 Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
    Balance as at 31/08/24 = £105,400.00 Balance as at 31/12/24 = £102,500.00
    £100k barrier broken 1/4/25
    Balance as at 31/08/25 = £ 95,450.00. Balance as at 31/12/25 = £ 91,100.00
    SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculator
    she/her
  • fionaandphil
    fionaandphil Posts: 583 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper

    We are also using up leftover lamb today. Lamb biryani cooking as I wrote this. While it's cooking I've also prepped lamb burrito filling for freezer or later this week. Just need to get cracking on the Easter veg now!!

    Interest beater challenge £365 for 2026 £180.01/£365

  • Suffolk_lass
    Suffolk_lass Posts: 11,112 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic

    Using up leftover roast chicken here - stock then soup and salad - keeping it simple as I have bee inspecting to do today

    Save £12k in 2026 #2 I have banked £9004.48 so far, against a £10k target The 2026 Save £12k in 2026 thread is here
    OS Grocery Challenge in 2026 I am sticking with a £3000 annual budget for 2026 - currently £1111.79 and most of my May purchasing made
    I also Reverse Meal Plan on that thread and grow much of our own premium price fruit and veg, joining in on the grow your own in 2026 discussion thread
    My keep within our budget diary is here
  • EssexHebridean
    EssexHebridean Posts: 25,979 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic

    Well our half-shoulder having fed us well on Sunday has also given enough meat for last night and for another tub in the freezer as well, so it's earning its keep! I added in the last of a pack of green beans that were in a Lil's green box from the other week - those have done rather well lasting that long.

    The roasted mushrooms from yesterday have also been split between last night and the freezer. Must make a note not to buy mushrooms next week!

    We're not at home for tea tonight, and tomorrow is already sorted in the form of the other pasta bake I made at the weekend - I'll do some form of additional veg with it as well - most likely beans from the freezer.

    MrEH is out on Friday evening so I need to come up with something for myself. I may end up being a combination of odds and ends from the freezer, allowing that there is a lot in there to be used, but most of the things are inevitably geared up for two of us. I'll have a dig around, and a think…

    🎉 MORTGAGE FREE (First time!) 30/09/2016 🎉 And now we go again…New mortgage taken 01/09/23 🏡
    Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00 Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
    Balance as at 31/08/24 = £105,400.00 Balance as at 31/12/24 = £102,500.00
    £100k barrier broken 1/4/25
    Balance as at 31/08/25 = £ 95,450.00. Balance as at 31/12/25 = £ 91,100.00
    SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculator
    she/her
  • rtandon27
    rtandon27 Posts: 6,749 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic

    Today's dinner was a lovely stir-fry cobble together from leftover pork roast, leftover rice and the ends of several veggies lurking in the fridge! I'd forgotten how nice that particular use it up meal is!

    4 YEARS 10 MONTHS DEBT FREE!!! (24 OCT 2016)
    (With heartfelt thanks to those who have gone before us & their indubitable generosity.)
    ...and now I have a mortgage! (23 AUG 2021)
    Original End Date - Sept 2041 New projection - Sep 2038 (reduced by 3 years)
  • EssexHebridean
    EssexHebridean Posts: 25,979 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic

    This week is going to be full on reverse-planned as we were away over the weekend and the only shopping that I intend to do immediately is what I can fit in my work backpack this evening - apples, citrus fruit and probably a pack of peppers, plus Mr EH will get bananas and his milk tomorrow. Freezer-raiding will be the order of the day!

    This evening I've got a pack of sausages out - will do mash and baked beans alongside I think as an easy monday night offering.

    Tomorrow - couscous with chickpeas from the freezer and a pepper probably, plus maybe some sweetcorn (freezer)

    Wednesday can be the breaded fish fillets I've got in the freezer, plus probably something potato based and some veg. Might even use the last of the potato waffles and some additional chips (I know there are only 3 waffles left in the box) and make it a full freezer-fest!

    Thursday…hmmm…good question, but probably a cheaty byriani with some leftover roast lamb chunks from the freezer, a sachet of indian style rice and assorted veg.

    🎉 MORTGAGE FREE (First time!) 30/09/2016 🎉 And now we go again…New mortgage taken 01/09/23 🏡
    Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00 Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
    Balance as at 31/08/24 = £105,400.00 Balance as at 31/12/24 = £102,500.00
    £100k barrier broken 1/4/25
    Balance as at 31/08/25 = £ 95,450.00. Balance as at 31/12/25 = £ 91,100.00
    SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculator
    she/her
  • rtandon27
    rtandon27 Posts: 6,749 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic

    @EssexHebridean - I love a cheaty biryani - and also a fake 'special' fried rice in the microwave - it's amazing how even leftovers can become fake-away dishes with very little effort and very little time invested!

    4 YEARS 10 MONTHS DEBT FREE!!! (24 OCT 2016)
    (With heartfelt thanks to those who have gone before us & their indubitable generosity.)
    ...and now I have a mortgage! (23 AUG 2021)
    Original End Date - Sept 2041 New projection - Sep 2038 (reduced by 3 years)
  • EssexHebridean
    EssexHebridean Posts: 25,979 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic

    Ooh I'm reminded that I bought a pack of paneer the other week - better have a think about how to use it. That could well be Friday's tea!

    Nabbed a family pack of mushrooms at 30% off last night so those made it to the purchases for this week - MrEH has prepped them and stuck them in the oven this afternoon while the electric prices are super low. Some will get added in with the couscous this evening I think.

    🎉 MORTGAGE FREE (First time!) 30/09/2016 🎉 And now we go again…New mortgage taken 01/09/23 🏡
    Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00 Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
    Balance as at 31/08/24 = £105,400.00 Balance as at 31/12/24 = £102,500.00
    £100k barrier broken 1/4/25
    Balance as at 31/08/25 = £ 95,450.00. Balance as at 31/12/25 = £ 91,100.00
    SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculator
    she/her
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