Reverse Meal Planning

joedenise

It's forward planning at the moment for me as I'm away in the motorhome so not much storage.  Have made the turkey mince ragu from this month's Tesco magazine and it makes a massive amount - it says it's for 6 portions but I think there is more like 8, or even 10 depending on how you use it.

I'm planning on using it in the 3 ways suggested:  stuffed peppers (which we've had tonight); keema curry (tomorrow night) and a pizza topping (Saturday night's dinner).  If there is any left then it will be frozen - I'm certain there's going to be a good 2-4 portions left over so might be another 2 meals.  The stuffed peppers certainly didn't use a third of the mix.

Suffolk_lass

We are off in our motorhome too next week - not sure which day yet but booked for Friday, Saturday and Sunday and we might do two nights before or after. Got two parts on order, hopefully for delivery on Tuesday but it depends when as to when we fit first then leave. Fortunately DS is very flexible about cat sitting. I just need to be organised about food really. It might be an ideal time to take some of the take-away boxes of leftovers with us (ha!).

We had leftovers on Friday (out for a ploughman's at lunch time) and then out drinking on our community field until half past eight so just a bit of pate and some crackers for me (DH grazed the fridge). Last night we had cauliflower cheese with pumpernickel bread (the latter bought and frozen) and jolly nice it was too. Not sure about tonight as DH is out for the day and I am processing food (crabapple jelly under way, loads of butternut squash to peel, chop and freeze, and I might need to get a vat of (frozen) tomatoes underway to make passata just to make some more room (now my litre kilner (mason) jars have been delivered!). Happy days

joedenise

We go away for a month at a time a couple of times a year - was going to be 3 times this year but CV19 got in the way!  We were in France in March but had to come home early, we should have been there in June but obviously couldn't go so during July and August we've just had a few weekends away and now away for September, just glad the weather is nice.

There is enough of the turkey ragu left to do another pizza but that's about all so it's been frozen and we'll probably have another pizza next Friday or Saturday.

I tend to bring away a few HM ready meals but only those done in bags not boxes as just haven't got the storage for boxes!  Only bring 2 boxes - one for cheese and one for bacon.  DH also have a couple of screw top jars which he uses for cheese biscuits (like cheap cheddars!) but they store in one of the living area lockers not the kitchen!

I'm making some sweet chilli noodles for lunch today.  Have already cooked the noodles, will add some chopped up salady bits - cucumber, tomato, celery etc and then stir through some sweet chilli sauce.  It's always really tasty and cheap and easy to do.

rtandon27

Last week was mostly forward planned and used fresh items from our grocery delivery - the only bits from the freezer were some leftover tinned mushroom and grated cheese to pimp up a boring pizza!

Today is a store cupboard staple lentil and vegetable casserole topped with panko crumbs and feta. We also had toast and eggs for brunch and a ham wrap around 3 - cobbled together from what's already in the fridge!

Those noodles sound good joedenise! Might just steal that idea for lunch tomorrow!

joedenise

Hope you enjoy it @rtandon27!  We have it quite often, both at home and in the motorhome as it's a quick and easy lunch.

Suffolk_lass

I'm adding a pack of egg noodles to the box of store-cupboard things for the motorhome too!

rtandon27

Well we wanted to have noodles - but for the life of me I could not find the sweet chili sauce!  I know there are two unopened bottles in the storecupboard but they seem to have gone for a wander! 🤣🤣🤣

Instead we had a simple rice stir-fry - used up the purple kale along with ginger/garlic/chili, soy sauce some smoked tofu, a packet of micro-rice & a fried egg on top.  I doctored mine with black toasted sesame seeds & some shichimi togarashi (japansese 7 spice flavouring).  Such a budget meal - I love anything that is under a pound a head - always feels so virtuous!

joedenise

I sometimes make my own sweet chilli sauce if I run out.  It's quite an easy recipe.  I use this one from Pinch of Nom

https://pinchofnom.com/recipes/sweet-chilli-sauce/

rtandon27

Last night's dinner was all from the stores!  Toad in the hole with flour/eggs/milk from the cupboard & sausages from the freezer.  Had steamed carrots from the veg box on the side.  Mmmmm - puffy batter is such a tasty treat!

ETA - didn't even realize that sweet chili sauce was something that could be made from scratch!  - LOL - shall bookmark that!

joedenise

I should warn you @rtandon27 that it doesn't make very much and that it thickens really, really quickly so you need to keep your eye on it!