Meal Planning Thread

[Thermomixer]

We are a bit the same ATM.  Need to get into the pantry on Sunday and really sort it out.  Started 3 weeks ago - but got cooking and ..... you know what happened.

[Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)]

We are overflowing with food too at the moment.  We have so much though because I am only doing the groceries and meat monthly now and I just did the huge shop earlier this week. I am determined not to set foot inside the awful supermarket until my next monthly shop.  I get my veg/fruit/milk/cream from my organic farm store and fruit and veg shop weekly.  In a couple of weeks time there might be some very interesting meals at my house - lot's of "making do"!!! 

[I Love Bimby!]

LOL 
Do you remember those cooking shows where a celebrity chef would arrive at someones home and prepare a meal out of what they had in their pantry and fridge?
Sounds like they'd be spoilt for choice in a few homes  (including my own!). I seem to "collect" ingredients I purchase for a specific meal but never get around to making it. Recently I had about 7 different types of rice!! 

[judydawn]

Yes, my pantry is as bad as my full freezers were   Going great guns in the freezers but I'm finding it harder to get the pantry items down since getting the TMX - in fact I think that has gotten fuller, buying items in advance for recipes I want to do and wanting to have everything on hand so that I can just go ahead and cook it. Because the meals I am cooking these days are so different to the old days, there are items in there now that probably are not going to get used at all.  Where's that charity bin for cans of food. Anyone know what I can do with a can of mushy peas - I obviously bought them for a particular recipe once as it is not an item I have ever bought before and like ILB, have forgotten what the recipe was   Should stick a note on things in future reminding me what they are to be used for.

[Thermomixer]

..... Anyone know what I can do with a can of mushy peas - ....

OMG - this from the capital of the pie floater !!!    - soup is simple - add some fresh mint.  Add to casseroles, .... just eat them with meat (steak) and potatoes,

[judydawn]

I knew someone would suggest a pie floater Thermomixer   Had one once 10.30 at night, made a special trip into town and took dearly departed MIL along - it is something you have to do before you die but one is enough to last a lifetime. At least I can say I have had one.  Soup sounds nice, thanks.  Wish I could remember what I bought it for though.

[Thermomixer]

Yeah - late at night, generally after the consumption of alcohol, makes them more appealing !! 

[Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)]

We are all so fortunate aren't we.  As I was trying to restack my canned food supply so that it would fit in the pantry I couldn't help but think of the many people throughout the world who would dearly love the "problem" of having too much food . . . . 

[judydawn]

Too true Chelsea. We certainly live in the lucky country.

[mama_bel]

Thanks Mr T for doing the links.  One's Jo's recipe and one's Karen's - both favourites here.

When our pantry and freezer are too full we have use-it-up weeks where I try to buy as few ingredients as possible and use up all the frozen meals and pantry goods.  I also do this before any bulk deliveries, where possible.  Makes for some cheap shopping weeks!

[Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)]

That is a really good idea Bel.  My problem has been that I get caught up in wanting to try all the great new recipes on the forum and end up changing my menu plan midweek and buying even more ingredients.  I am trying to be much more disciplined now and am keeping a folder of new recipes that I really want to try (to add into future menu plans). 

[Shayla]

Judydawn, mushy peas go with fish and chips - just heat and serve with a pickled onion on the side - the way it used to be in UK in the good old days! I have to go to a special shop to buy mine. Talking of overflowing pantries and freezers - I am one of the worst. I even have friends who come and look to see what I have in there......

[mama_bel]

Yes Chelsea, must admit that the use-it-up weeks are a bit boring.  Few new recipes...  Then again sometimes I'll look and say I have heaps of chickpeas, zucchini, tomatoes, etc etc and find recipes to suit.  So that's more fun than simply eating up the freezer meals.  Because we're always cooking for 8 or more people, it doesn't take long to have a good fridge/freezer/pantry clean up here!

I keep a little list of recipes I want to try with where to find them (F) = folder (of recipes printed from here and blogs), and with the books I write (E63) = Everyday Cookbook page 63 and so on - V for Vegetarian, C for Cyndi's, GF for Gluten Free etc.  Makes it easy for anyone in the family to find the recipe and start gathering ingredients at least, if I'm late milking the cow or something...

[judydawn]

Judydawn, mushy peas go with fish and chips - just heat and serve with a pickled onion on the side - the way it used to be in UK in the good old days! I have to go to a special shop to buy mine. Talking of overflowing pantries and freezers - I am one of the worst. I even have friends who come and look to see what I have in there......

Funny, the different things other countries serve up. On holiday in America we received a sour gherkin on a lot of the meals we received in restaurants.  I can remember when English friends of mine returned to Australia many years ago to live and stayed with us for a couple of weeks until they bought a house.  It was summer time and I served up T-bone steaks, chips, eggs and salad.  The look on the husbands face had me wondering what was wrong and then had it explained to me that they don't eat hot and cold food together. 

Thanks for the idea Shayla.

[cookie1]

I've found that since having my TMX I tend to use up most of the food I buy each week and nothing other than the staples get left in the pantry. But now the number of staples I need are much more! I don't really mind.