Missy’s Surviving the storm so we can dance in the rain.

RelievedSheff

Always worth posting. Someone might be able to help you find ways to save a bit here and there.

missymoo81

Ok so meal plan:
1- Pasta bake
2- Bacon Stew
3- Bacon Stew, freeze some to make into a pie
4- Chilli & Rice
5- Chilli & Rice
6- Carbonara
7- Sausage, mash & Carrots
8- Omlette
9- Sweer Potato, lentil, Chickpea & spinach curry
10- Chicken tomato & Spinach Pasta
11- Shep Pie
12- Shep Pie
13- Burritos using left over chilli & rice
14- Risotto, Butternut & Pea (tiny bit chicken)
15- Jacket Potato & Beans & Cheese
16- Out for Roo’s Birthday
17- Chicken Stew
18- Chicken Stew save some to make into a pie
19- Chilli & Rice
20- Chilli & Rice
21- Chicken Pie, Mash & Carrots
22- Curry & Rice made using coconut milk
23- Tuna Pasta
24- Omelette
25- Jacket Potato & Cheese & Beans
26- Fajitas
27- Pizza & Wedges
28- Toad in the hole with mash & carrots
29- Risotto as before 
30- Spaghetti Bolognese (with lentils)
31- Pasta Bolognese
32- Jacket Potato & cheese & beans
33- Teryaki Chicken & noodles
34- Burritos using leftovers again
35- Cowboy Stew
36- Cowboy Stew 
37- Pizza & Wedges 

In the Freezer I have:

2 x 600g chicken breast
1.2kg chicken drumsticks
500g mince
1 x bag of frozen spinach
1/3 bag of peas

In the cupboard I have:

2 x tins of beans 
4 x tins of chopped tomatoes 
2 x packs of spaghetti
1 x bag of pasta
1 x bag of flour
1 x tin of coconut milk
1/2 tub gravy granules
1 x pack of stock cubes
1 x pack of suet
1 x pack of yeast
2 x Tins of chicken soup
2 x packs of noodles
2/3 bucket of peanut butter
1 x big bag of popcorn
1 x pasta sauce
1 x chicken tonight
1 x bottle of squash
1 x pack of lentils 

various bottles of sauces and spices


In the fridge:

sweet potatoes 
butternut squash 
onions
peppers

Any ideas on what to do with these to keep them fresh? Can I freeze them. If so should I blanch or just freeze? 

Other meals would be toast or porridge for breakfast. Or we have some frozen croissants someone gave us, which we’ll
save for Roos birthday.

Childrens packed lunches and snacks:

banana,
1/2 apple
banana bread
ham sandwiches
cheap yoghurts
2 x choc chip cookies
cherry tomatoes

Me and OH
ham or cheese toasties
crisps or choc biscuit
might see if I can make buns or flapjacks to bulk this.

snacks: rich tea or digestives

Will type up shopping list in a bit.

joedenise

No need for the butternut squash, onions and sweet potato to be in the fridge!  They will keep OK just stored in a cool, dry place.

The pepper I would chop and open freeze on a tray and once frozen tip into a freezer bag.  You can then just grab some to add to your stews or fry up in an omelette, perhaps with some chopped bacon and/or mushrooms.

You can stretch your tin of coconut milk by watering it down in a jug - add the tin of coconut milk and then add a can of water, stir.  You can then freeze in portions - I use a silicon muffin pan and freeze in 100g portions.  I use one frozen "puck" defrosted per 2 portions.

missymoo81

Thanks @joedenise it’s more because the butternut is a couple of weeks old already and I’m not going to be home to use it for another week. Should I blanch and freeze that long with the sweet potato? Or I might oven cook them. And make some banana muffins to use up the bananas before we go away. 

MsPennyMinder

@missymoo81 honestly butternut squash and sweet potato will keep for *months* if in a cool, dark place aka not your fridge or on your kitchen table. That's what they are known for. It will total be fine as long as it isn't bruised or scored and looks fine now. But also sweet potatoes cooked and mashes like... well potatoes ...freezes great too

greenbee

Or turn them into soup (really quick to do) and freeze in single portions for lunches. 

missymoo81

Thanks @MsPennyMinder I really appreciate your input. I might put them in the garage actually. And Will open freeze the peppers thanks @joedenise. Hey @greenbee I really like your soup idea. But no one really eats it here except me really.

Makingabobor2

Been reading your diary for a while & have finally de-lurked & subscribed to follow & cheer you on. Also sending hugs for all your recent problems, glad you're feeling a bit better from it all now. 

Agree that the butternut squash will keep for ages, one of my favourite veggies. 

@MsPennyMinder, never tried freezing mash sweet potato. Do you just M/wave it after? Sounds a great idea for batch cooking it. 

missymoo81

@Makingabobor2 thank you so much for popping along. I appreciate your encouragement thank you. 

A lot of keeping the costs down are from not having as much meat and shopping in separate supermarkets. Wherever things are cheapest. I have to drive past all 3 anyway. I’m going to bulk everything out as much as possible with lentils and veg. I’m doubling what I do with the mince so we’ll see how it bulks out!

joedenise

@missymoo81 if you use red lentils to bulk out the mince they will disappear into the mince and be almost indistinguishable but if you want more texture then green or brown lentils are better.  Finely chopped mushrooms are also good for bulking out mince.