Meal Planning Monday - Freezer Restock

Remember how we ate out of our freezer for the whole of February?

Well now it's pretty empty and although it's nice to be able to find things, it's not so nice not being able to grab a quick meal top heat through.

So this week, I'm batch cooking all day Monday (I know how to enjoy a bank holiday :s) to restock.

I spent Saturday looking for meat deals to keep the cost down as a big cook like this can be expensive otherwise.

So this is what we're on...

Monday: potato hash (aka pie filling)
Tuesday: Potato, spinach and Chicken Curry
Wednesday: meat and potato pie and peas
Thursday: enchiladas and potato wedges
Friday: Chilli Con Carne and rice
Saturday: Take away
Sunday: Steak and Ale Casserole

I'll cook four portions of each meal and have the slow cooker going for the potato hash as its the least fragrant!

The enchiladas and curry will both be wok cooked and the two big pans will be on for the chilli and steak casserole.

I freeze everything in either Pyrex or disposable foil trays so there's no faffing around with plastic bags, I can just bung things in the oven or leave them out to defrost.

This post is linked up with Meal Planning Monday on At Home With Mrs M where there's loads of different meal plans. Go and have a look

Have a fab week!

Claire

Project Life for Meal Planning

Project Life by Becky Higgins is a system designed for scrapbookers who don't have the time to do layouts but want to record their lives in a quick and easy way.

Segmented plastic pockets are filled with pictures and pre-designed journalling cards which give a large layout where the elements just slot in and all the pockets are held in a lovely padded ringbinder.

It just doesn't work for me though.  I like simple scrapbook layouts but I don't like my layouts when I do them in the Project Life style.  So after investing in the cards, the pockets and the binder, I need to find an alternative use and that is...

To do my meal planning!

I've been meaning to make a meal planning board for ages but haven't got around to it.  I want a card system where I can categorise meals into types of meat, sides and carbs and I figured my project life binder is ideal for this!  I can even write recipes on the backs of the cards.

I have a lot of meals to write up and add to my binder but this is my starting point.

The boys can even have a browse through when they don't know what they fancy.  It'll be like a menu for them.  They'll love it!  They have waiter service, why not have a menu too!

What do you think? 

Would this system work for you?

Have you any alternative uses for the Project Life Materials?

This is not a sponsored post, it is me making a craft project out of an investment that is sat there gathering dust.  Although, I would love to do a sponsored post if Becky or her team are reading?!

Meal Planning Monday - Freezer February Week Three!!

If you've read my previous freezer February posts you'll know I'm trying to empty the freezer because it is chokka full of bits and pieces.

Each drawer is STILL about half full and I need to get creative with the contents now. It's half term now so I'm hoping I can get some lunches out of it and get it emptied!!!

This is this week's plan

Monday: fish pie made of the mystery fish I forgot to label

Tuesday: mince plate pie and boiled potatoes

Wednesday: potato and chicken curry

Thursday: tacos with chilli

Friday: toad in the hole and mash

Saturday: take away

Sunday: mystery beef steak with peppercorn sauce

There's loads more meal plans over at Mrs Ms Blog.  There's some amazing plans on a tight budget

Have a good week!

Meal Planning Monday - Freezer February Week 1

I've got a seriously overflowing freezer and a serious organising project going on so this week were eating frozen.

 

Things have got disorganised over Christmas and it really needs reining back on to save my sanity, I dint even know what is in the freezer!!

 

So we'll take it from the top!  The top drawer that is and eat down.

 

Monday - lasagne
Tuesday - cod in parsley sauce with mash
Wednesday - chicken tikka masala and rice
Thursday - cola ham and chips
Friday - broccoli cheese and chicken pasta bake
Saturday - take away
Sunday - Full English

 

This should also have the added benefit of saving us at least £50 from not having to shop all I'll allocate that to this month's money saving project - the holiday fund 2014.

 

There's loads more planning over At Home With Mrs M

 

Hope you have a good week!

Claire :-)

Meal Planning Monday - I'm Pinching Your Meal Plan!!

I've been reading all your lovely meal plans and I think it's about time I tried some of your recipes (hint, hint barenakedmummy re nutella muffins!!)

 

Monday

Chicken Pasta Bake from Utterly Scrummy Food For Families Blog

 

Tuesday

Potato Cakes, Beans and Sausage

 

Wednesday

Crustless Quiche also from Utterly Scrummy Food For Families Blog

 

Thursday

Quick Quesadillas from The Five F's Blog

 

Friday
Fish Fingers, Chips and Mushy Peas (yes possibly from the chippy!)

 

Saturday
Steak in Brandy and Peppercorn Sauce

 

Sunday

Slow Cooker Sunday Chinese Beef and Greens from Mediocre Mum's Blog

 

If it wasn't for Mrs M's Meal Planning Monday Movement I seriously would be eating rubbish all week, so thanks and please do take a look at everyone elses delicious ideas.

 

Oh...!  And thanks to all those who have been leaving comments for me, I have been trying to reply but Disqus just isn't working, so when I get a mo, I will be sorting/working it out

 

 

Meal Planning Monday - Raid the Freeezer Week

Well, after my success of following my clear out meal plan last week in an attempt to save £80 for a trip to the Christmas Markets, I'm glad to say is was a success with £70 saved!!

Unfortunately, I then realised I need to pay the next installment for a school trip so here we go again trying to save the shopping budget by eating through the freezer.  it needs emptying anyway in time for Christmas!



Meal Planning Ideas

So, looking at my list of what is in the black hole I call the freezer, we are on...

Monday
Hairy Dieters Steak and Ale Pie over a Jacket Potato

Tuesday:
Levi Roots Carribean Curry
(I froze this to not waste some chicken and to use the cook in sauce I got for £1 with a coupon!)

Wednesday:
Fish Cakes, Chips and Peas

Thursday:
Meatballs and spaghetti in home made pasta sauce

Friday:
Bangers and Mash

Saturday:
Takeaway

Sunday:
Fish pie made from the Haddock and Salmon lingering in the bottom drawer


So hopefully all I need to buy this week is fresh veg, milk, bread and potatoes.  Everything else I should have tucked away.  I've saved a small fortune using up baking supplies and dried fruit on packed lunches too.

I'm liking the saving element of this way of meal planning but I feel/fear a really big stock up shop coming.

There's loads more meal plans over At Home With Mrs M - and quite frankly they will be better and more tastier!!

Enjoy your week and let me know how much you save by eating through your stockpile!

Meal Planning Monday - clear out week

Christmas is coming and I want to spend a small fortune at the Manchester Christmas markets so something's got to give and that something is food!!

 

 

 

The freezer is rammed and the fridge needs cleaning so it's killing three birds with one stone.  Here's what we're on for the coming week...

 

Monday
Pizza and frozen chips

 

Tuesday

Spag Bol (from the freezer)

 

Wednesday
Jacket Potatoes, beans and cheese

 

Thursday
Beef curry from frozen stewing steak and a jar from the lurking place in the cupboard

 

Friday
Fish cakes, frozen chips and peas

 

Saturday
Baked Gluten Free chilli con carne (frozen in a tray and defrosted in a low oven - nicer than nuked or heated in a pan)

 

Sundays
Bangers and mash

 

I know there's no take away in there but I've eaten it so much that I really have gone off it, although we are dying to sample the fayre at Micheals Indian Restaurant in Blackpool.  It looks gorgeous from the outside and the take away we had was gourmet. 

 

There's loads more meal plans over at At Home With Mrs M so meal planning does not need to be a chore, let someone else do the work, some even have shopping lists for petes sake!!  It can't be easier!  Shop Smart - Save Money Time and Waste!

 

So how much could you save if you ate up your stored food?  And what would you do with the spare cash?  Yes, as I thought you would spend it at a Christmas Market, wouldn't you?!

Meal Planning Monday - 28th January 2013

Well it's that tone of year when something has to be done about the tight clothes.  We turns not to start a diet at the very beginning of January so we've a better chance of sticking to it.

This week, The Hairy Dieters book is getting a hammering.  I've made several dishes from this before and they've ask been well received by both the kids and ourselves.  Most recipes are vegetable packed so great for children.

So this is the plan...

Monday - Hairy Dieters Shepherds Pie

Tuesday - Hairy Dieters Thai Green Curry with Pad Thai

Wednesday - Rogan josh Chicken and saag aloo

Thursday - hairy dieters Cassoulet

Friday - Chicken Dinner

Saturday - garlic mushrooms

Sunday - Shepherds Burritos

There's loads more meal plans over at At Home With Mrs M

Have a fab week!

Meal Planning Monday - 21St January 2013

This week I really need to stock up the freezer again and get some batch cooking done.  Unfortunately, having a teeny tiny freezer means we have to eat a portion on the day so can end up eating mince all week.

Monday - Posh Hotdogs and potato wedges

Tuesday - spaghetti Bolognese

Wednesday - Quesedillas

Thursday - Chicken and Quinoa Curry

Friday - Fish Pie

Saturday - Vegetable Chilli Tacos and rice

Sunday - Roast Beef Dinner

There's more meal plans on At Home With.Mrs M and for those who use their slow cooker there's recipes galore on Mediocre Mums blog.

And finally, here's the shopping list.

Ciabata
Large frankfurters
Cherry tomatoes
3 Onions
Gherkins
Potatoes
1.5kg mince
4 tins chopped tomatoes
2 tins plum tomatoes
Famiy sized Punnet of mushrooms
Garlic puree
Knorr beef stockpots
Corn tortillas
6 chicken breasts (quesedillas and curry)
Packet of old el paso quesedilla spice mix
Cheese
Refried beans
Sour cream
250g quinoa (not the flaked variety)
Balti paste
2 sweet potatoes
Spinach
Fish pie mix
Milk
Bay leaves
Eggs
Small Aubergine
1 tbsp vegetable or sunflower oil
2 medium courgettes
200g mushrooms
2 carrots
1 yellow pepper
1 orange pepper
200g green beans
1 tbsp garlic paste (or a clove)
500g passatta
1 400g tin red kidney beans
1 400g tin cannelloni beans
250ml vegetable stock
2 tbsp Mild chilli powder (or to your own taste)
Roast beef joint
Sprouts
Yorkshire puds
Taco shells
Rice

Meal Planning Monday - 14th January 2013

Given last weeks news if how much food is wasted, I typically throw out at least half a carrier bag of untouched food from the fridge when I'm putting away my new haul of goodies.

So, I need to change.  Its a waste of money, our bins are too small and its just wasteful.

So here's my plan for this week and I will be strictly only buying what I need and using any leftover bits.

Monday - Roast beef dinner

Tuesday - Leftover Roast Dinner Pie

Wednesday -Toad in the hole with mash

Thursday - Crispy Chicken Strips, rice & peas and Dips

Friday - Steak and Chips with button mushrooms

Saturday - Quiche, beans and boiled potatoes

Sunday - Lean Fry Up

There's loads more meal plans on Mrs M's blog and if you're a slow cooker fan, check out Mediocre Mum's Slow Cooker Sunday.

What do you do with your leftovers? Have you any recipes? Leave a link below.

-I-

This weeks shopping list

Bacon -2 packs
Eggs - 12
Sausages - 2 packs
Tomatoes
Black pudding
Button mushrooms - 2 packs
Beans - 2 tinS
Ready made quiche case
Steak
Potatoes
Chicken mini fillets
Natural breadcrumbs
Aromat seasoning
Rice
Peas
Milk
Roast beef joint
Broccoli
Sprouts
Carrots
Parsnips
Goose fat

Meal Planning Monday - New Years Eve 2012

Given that I'm currently being eaten out of house and home, I'm going for a bit of a freezer clear out this week with filling family meals. 

Monday - Shepherds Pie

Tuesday - Meat pie and boiled potatoes

Wednesday - Chilli Con Carne (this is gluten free chilli con carne)

Thursday - Bangers and Mash

Friday - Roast Beef with all the trimmings

Saturday - One Pan Vegetable Biriyani

Sunday - Slow cooker Italian beef roast (recipe scheduled to be posted on Sunday)

If you need more inspiration, there's loads of links to other meal plans over at At Home With Mrs M.

To make the above, here's this weeks shopping list...

2.5kg Mince (this does a big batch of slow cooked Chilli Con Carne, 1 family sized shepherds pie and 2 meat plate pies)
Celery
2lb carrots
Beef stock cubes or stock pots
Worcester Sauce
Roast Beef Joint (Aldi is the best value for this) (get one which can be cut in half for Tuesday's roast and Sunday's slow cooker)
Fresh Yorkshire Puddings
Peas
Cauliflower
3 tins plum tomatoes
1 tin of chopped tomatoes
Carton of passatta
2 tins red kidney beans
1 tin borlotti beans
Mild chilli powder
4 sheets of ready rolled short crust pastry
5lb potatoes
Packet of rice
4 chicken breasts
1 jar of balti paste
Green beans
1 jar of sundried tomatoes
Tube of garlic paste
Extra virgin olive oil

Meal Planning Monday - 7th January 2013

We've a jar of red pesto to be used up this week from yesterdays Slow Cooked Italian Beef so there's a bit of a theme this week!

Monday - Spaghetti Bolognaise

Tuesday - Cod with Red Pesto

Wednesday - Garlic Mushrooms with Garlic Bread with Tomato Pesto

Thursday - Macaroni Cheese

Friday - Chicken Stir Fry

Saturday - Vegetable Chilli

Sunday - Slow Cooked Country Chicken Stew

If you need more inspiration, there's loads of links to other meal plans over at At Home With Mrs M.

To make the above, here's this weeks shopping list...


(This will make a large batch of veg chilli and Bolognese for the freezer) 1kg minced beef (this is enough for about 12 portions of Bolognese) 3 tins choppedtomatoes 2 tins plum tomatoes Dried Italian herbs Knorr stockpot (beef) 3 medium onions 1.25 kg mushrooms (for Bolognese, vegetable chilli and garlic mushrooms) 2 cod fillets or loins 5 lb potatoes Green beans 10 Carrots 1/2 bottle of barefoot white zinfandel rose wine Garlic puree Natural breadcrumbs Golden breadcrumbs Butter Cheese Macaroni Milk Plain flour Ready made pizza base Sir fry mix 6 chicken breasts Tin of condensed cream of mushroom soup Cabbage Small Aubergine vegetable or sunflower oil 2 medium courgettes 1 yellow pepper 1 orange pepper 500g passatta 1 400g tin red kidney beans 1 400g tin cannellini beans vegetable stock Mild chilli powder (or to your own taste)

Meal Planning Monday - 10th September 2012

I'm quite astonished that I cooked all week last week! I got quite carried away on the lunch boxes (see how long that lasts!) and even made minestrone soup to avoid leftovers.

So in my new found Domestic Goddess role, here's what I'm planning for this week. As usual, there's batch cooking and defrosting involved.

Monday: Fish Pie

Tuesday: Vegetable Chilli Pasta Bake

Wednesday: Potato Hash

Thursday: Roast Chicken Dinner

Friday: Cowboy Casserole

Saturday: Hey, Hey it's Takeaway!!

Sunday: Steak & Kidney with Leeky Mash

There's loads more meal plans over at At Home With Mrs M.

Hope you have a fab week!

Claire

Meal Planning Monday - The Night After The Storm

That's an actual storm, not a metaphore for a stressful time or anything.  The dog was whining before the thunder cracked, then the lightening started, then the torrential rain.  Then the dog started barking at 3.52 AM!!!

So after a disturbed nights sleep and a pile of work after a week off, the slow cooker is out and things are being slung in it.  I may well come up with a fabulous creation during my sleep deprived state, although it's quite unlikely!!

So, there's no lunches planned this week, it will be whatever is easy but here's the dinners (or tea as it is oop here in t'wet north)

Monday: Slow cooker shepherds pie

Tuesday: Chicken dinner

Wednesday:  Chicken Fajitas with left over chicken

Thursday:  Italian Beef Casserole (in the slow cooker for the first time)

Friday: Chippy tea!  (not had one for ages!)

Saturday: More takeaway

Sunday: Steak and Chips

Not much going on really, I'll try and post the recipes for the Slow Cooked Shepherds Pie and Italian Beef Casserole once I've got through my mountain of work!

If you need more inspiration, and lets face it, I clearly need inspiration!!  Hop over to Mrs M's Blog and read the other meal plans on there.  There's some really tasty ones this week!

Meal Planning Monday - Meals on Foot

This week is a double challenge - I need to make an extra portion and provide meals on foot for an ailing relative AND constantly feed hungry boys.

So here's the plan...

Monday: One Pot Slow Cooked Beef (Gluten Free)

Tuesday: Baked Balsamic Salmon & Boiled Potatoes

Wednesday: Jacket Potatoes, Pizza Snails and Home Made Colslaw

Thursday:  Chicken Gougons and Potato Wedges

Friday: Olympic Buffet 

Saturday:  Hey, Hey Takeaway

Sunday: BBQ (optimistic, but it's been such a long time!!)

These are all things which its easy to make too much of and the Olympic Buffet is more olympic themed rather than size and will give us something to do during the day, rather than ask "is it starting yet" all day long.

If none of the above gets your mouth watering, hop on over to Mrs M's Blog where there's loads more meal plans on show!

Have a fab week!

Claire

Baked Balsamic Salmon

Really easy and really quick.

Serves 4 and costs £2.39 per portion

Ingredients:

4 Salmon Fillets

4 Spring Onions

8 Cherry tomatoes

Balsamic Vinegar

Aioli (spanish garllicy margarine type substance found in the chiller cabinet)

New Potatoes

Carrots

Green Beans

Method:

Place the green beans diagonally across the baking dish.

Put the salmon on top

Dollop a teaspoon of Aioli on top of the salmon

Cut the cherry tomatoes in half and place them around the edge of the salmon

Chop the spring onions and sprinkle over the salmon

Pour over 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar per salmon fillet

Cover with foil and leave for at least 30 minutes

After chilling, spoon the balsamic over the salmon again and re-cover

Bake in 180 degree oven for 12-15 minutes.

Serve with boiled new potatoes and carrots.

Meal Planning Monday

After last weeks carnivore red meat fest, I'm thinking we need to eat less red meat this week!


Again, I'm on a thrift drive and I'm shopping at Aldi.


So here's the plan for this week.  Any money left over from the food budget will be put towards Project Mortgage Payoff.  Incentive if ever I needed it to not overspend and stick to the plan.

Monday: Slow Cooker Chicken & Vegetables

Tuesday: Jacket Potatoes with Prawn Mayo and Garlic Bread

Wednesday: Chicken Quesadilla's

Thursday: Home Made Pizza

Friday: Gluten free Chicken & Mushroom Pie and mash

Saturday: Hey, Hey, Takeaway!!

Sunday: Macaroni Cheese

So hopefully this week will lower the cholesterol levels!!


There's loads more meal plans on Mrs M's Blog - At Home With Mrs M

Meal Planning Monday

Blimey! Another week has gone by already.

I slightly failed on the plan last week by having two takeaways but it was only one fail rather than the usual Wednesday abandonment.

Its a must that we stick to the plans from here on in to tie in with my Paying off The Mortgage Project.

So, I'm shopping at Aldi this week rather than Tesco to save almost £100 (yes, really!)

Monday: Cowboy Casserole & Champ

Tuesday: Smoked Haddock (frozen fillets from Aldi), Chips and Mushy Peas

Wednesday: Gluten Free Chilli Con Carne (from the freezer) and Rice

Thursday: Rump Steak, Chips, Peas & Mushrooms (oh yes, on a budget and affording steak! Aldi IS fab!)

Friday: A big greasy fry up!

Saturday: Takeaway

Sunday: Roast Chicken Dinner

Looking at that it seems a bit of a carnivore feast! Possibly because it's raining as I devise this plan! If we survive, I think I need to do a healthy plan next week!

There's loads more meal planning ideas on the blog At Home With Mrs M.  Well worth a visit!

Meal Planning Monday

I've had a right few mad weeks so meals have been grabbed on the hoof.

But I'm back to being organised this week. It's a new month and I'm determined this one won't get the better of me. I will be organised and thrifty to the end!!

So..here's what I am determined to feed the family this week...

Monday: Roast Beef dinner with Yorkshire Puds*

Tuesday: Shepherds pie made with leftovers from Mondays Roast (yes, I know it's actually cottage pie)

Wednesday: Basa fish** chips, peas & corn on the cob

Thursday: Spaghetti Bolognaise from the freezer

Friday: takeaway as I think Saturday is a Hockey night

Saturday: chicken & veg pasta bake

Sunday: Chips, Egg & Beans

So, the stars..

* I saw Lesley Garrat on the ITV Saturday Cooking thing with Nadia Swahalahalha and she used to have Yorkshire Puds with raspberry vinegar on as a desert!!

** Basa is a lovely soft fish, ideal for the kids and only £1 per fillet!!! I buy Youngs lightly dusted Basa from Morrisons and stock up as its not usually available. Another cheap, soft, boneless fish is Vietnamese River Cobbler. Tesco usually have this in.

More meal planning inspiration can be found on At Home With Mrs M

Meal Planning Monday: The Heatwave Edition

Whoa!  How Hot?!?!


Just a quick post today as its just too hot to be sat here typing!

My lot don't eat properly when its hot, I don't know if thats just us or if you suffer that too.  So most of the meals are what I call picky meals where they can graze and eat in the garden (or on the beach!!)

Here it is...

Monday
Quiche, beans and jacket potato

Tuesday
A big old fashioned salad.
(none of this cut up tiny and mixed in mayo mullarkey....
A dinner plate full of lettuce, raddish, tomato, beetroot, spring onions, cucumber, ham, cheese, chicken, picallili and proper pickles)

Wednesday
Beans on toast followed by a huuuuuge fruit salad

Thursday (Its supposed to rain here so...)
Bangers and mash with peas and onion gravy

Friday
Mini Food
Mini pizzas, mini sausages, mini scotch eggs, big bowl of salad, home made coleslaw, potato skins and dips

Saturday
BBQ!

Sunday
BBQ!