Sorry this meal planning post is a little late. I was hesitating thinking, is there a point in me writing a meal plan? There is no knowing what will be available to buy food wise at the moment. Plus I am only cooking for one most of the time, as Mr S is staying with his elderly mum.
However, of course it is worth planning. I don’t actually want to go shopping unless I really need to. The fewer trips I make to the shops the better, for obvious reasons. So making the best of what is in the house is a no brainer really.
I am planning a trip on Monday morning to the farm shop for fresh fruit and vegetables, meat and eggs, but my plan is not dependant on what I pick up and I can chop and change as necessary.
For those of you with families at home, making a meal plan is even more important that usual, so that you can stretch what you have and ensure nothing is wasted.
Puppy love
I’m not entirely cooking just for myself actually. Mr S is calling in three times a week when he drops his mum off at the dialysis unit. We aren’t going anywhere near each other though!
His mum is very vulnerable so they are sticking to their own company. I am making dinner for the three of us on those days and he is taking two meals home. They will zap the meals in the microwave before they eat them so should be safe.
I am so thankful for our little puppy, Archie, who is keeping me company whilst all this madness is going on. He also gives me a good reason to get out for a walk.
So it is worth making a meal plan, and here is this week’s.
This week’s meal plan
Saturday
Chicken casserole, with chicken from the freezer. I will use the last of the fresh carrots in this, with celery, tinned tomatoes, peppers and a splash of red wine. We have a bottle open and I won’t drink it.
Mr S will take a couple of portions of this and do potatoes for him and his mum. I don’t have many left so will have rice with mine.
Sunday
Chick pea curry and rice. As it’s just me, I am using this pack of ready made I bought a while ago. I have had this before, and it’s delicious! Wish I had bought a few more packets for my stores now.
Monday
I still have some blocks of halloumi in the fridge from when I was doing the keto diet. It is so nice really simply grilled so I will have that with some winter carrot salad and shredded lettuce – assuming I can get fresh carrots when I go to the farm shop.
If not, I will crack open a can of sweetcorn!
Tuesday and Wednesday
Pasta Bolognese, with more of the carrot salad/lettuce/sweetcorn.
I will stretch the Bolognese by adding lots of peppers and a can of aduki beans. This way, Mr S can take two meals and there will still be enough left for me to have on Wednesday.
I never mind eating the same thing two days in a row. In fact, I always think things taste better on day two.
Thursday
Today’s meal will depend on what I manage to pick up at the farm shop. My plan is to get some of their delicious sausages and have them with mash and broccoli.
However, if I can’t get hold of any, I will either do something with the chicken breasts that I have in the freezer or crack open a tin of stewing steak. I will pad it out with some veg! Never actually tried tinned stewing steak before!
Friday
A superfood veggie burger from the freezer, with chips and peas. These have been in there for ages as I didn’t fancy them, but had one for lunch the other day and it was very nice.
Other stuff
I made a big load of soup the other day as I had veg that needed using, so this will be good for a few lunches. Other lunch ideas will be based around eggs, or something on toast such as sardines.
I also saved a loaf of mouldy bread from my daughter. She was given it but doesn’t eat much bread and couldn’t squeeze it in her freezer.
I made some delicious bread pudding. It was so nice! I froze two more lots of the bread specifically to make a couple more batches. Mr S took half and I scoffed the rest. Definitely making more this week.
I don’t have much fresh fruit in the house – just half a melon. But I do have frozen berries and tinned peaches, so will make sure I have one portion every day. Hopefully they will have some fresh in the farm shop, in which case I will eat that first.
I think it is time I went through all my food stores to remind myself of what we have. Regular readers will know that I was already prepping in case Brexit created food shortages, so I actually have quite a lot of canned stuff. It’s all under the bed though and I have forgotten what is actually there!
I am quite enjoying being even more frugal than usual and being creative with what I have. But I think making a meal plan is a good idea to make the best of my supplies.
What are you eating this week?
As usual, I am linking up with Katy Kicker for her meal planning linky. For more of my frugal food ideas see here.
Vicki says
Thank you for continuing to blog and providing a level headed approach despite all the worry you , like most of us, are facing at the moment. I thought you might regret taking on the responsibility and cost of a dog recently but he seems to be paying his way by keeping you company! I imagine the position for the self employed and how to prove your earnings when you haven’t completed a full year will be something of a challenge. As you have always said, it shows how vital an emergency fund is.
Wishing you and your family all the very best in the weeks ahead.
Vicki
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
Thanks, Vicki. I am falling into a pit with the self employed thing because it only applies to those who became self employed before April 2019. I started in the May! Never mind, we are ok and definitely happy to have little Archie. He’s adorable!
ratnamurti says
I enjoy looking at your menus, it reminds me to be organised.
Pauline says
I have been making things like large pots of soup and houmous and sharing them with my neighbours. We have a low brick wall between our two houses and I leave my offerings for them there. The other day they made me Jamie Oliver’s Pea and Pesto Pasta. We text each other to say when we have left something for each other. We sometimes even have the luxury of a chat over the wall (at a good distance of course). They also kindly pick up any shopping I need by adding it to their click and collect (I live on my own, don’t have a car and I’m on day 12 of being inside the house) so it all works very well. I !feel very lucky and am so grateful that I know how to cook and live on a tight budget
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
Good neighbours are priceless. I saw Jamie do that pea pesto. Thanks for reminding me – will give it a go
Julia says
Being a bit of an planning freak, I went through my menus sorting into those with chickpeas, those with lentils etc and then colour-coded: green for plentiful stock, orange for ok, but could run out of main ingredient, and red for when it’s gone it’s gone, so I can see at a glance what to have and spread the orange and reds out throughout the month.
Like you, I had been stocking up both the cupboard and frozen veg for Brexit, so apart from bread and possibly some sandwich fillings, I should be ok not to need to go out for most of next month!! Of course the freezer will still empty of the kids prick & ping lunches, but I’m sure they’ll manage if forced to!
They are being remarkably good about conserving what we have though. I bought 3 packs of chocolate digestives in Aldi 9 days ago, (as I do every week) and noticed yesterday none have been touched yet!
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
You are so organised, Julia! I would have scoffed the biscuits myself
Judy says
We are in the same situation here in the U.S. My husband and I are in our seventies so we need to Be extra careful. Most grocery stores have separate shopping hour for seniors, which helps.. Grocery stores and Costco are limiting purchases on a lot of items like eggs, pasta, toilet paper, rice and beans etc. People have Been hoarding these items, and the stores are struggling to keep the shelves stocked. I was finally able to get some eggs when I was grocery shopping yesterday. Most other stores are closed as well as restaurants with some offering take out only, which is done in the parking lot aka car park. We have been watching YouTube and lots of movies to keep entertained. Plus we have two small dogs and a cat so they are great company. Your little dog Archie is so sweet. I love seeing photos of him. So I keep saying to myself this too shall pass.
Your blog helps too. I love your frugal tips and your care for the environment. I look forward to reading them.
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
Thanks, Judy. What a strange situation we find ourselves in. Having animals really is a blessing in these circumstances. You’re right. It will pass! Stay safe x
Eloise says
I also had a Brexit store in case of a no-deal, and I’m so glad I did. It’s really helping with not going shopping. I also had an Ocado delivery on order so I added some extras and that arrived last week. I’m trying to keep my son’s family topped up with a few bits as he is on immuno suppressant therapy so can’t go out. The less my daughter in law has to go out, the better.
I’m planning a few days ahead and I have plenty of cake making ingredients in, so that’s treats sorted.
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
What a worry about your son. He should be top of the list for an online service
julie king says
i just made broccoli and stilton soup to use up bits and pieces, it’s delicious, thanks for the recipe and all the useful advice you give x
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
You’re welcome! Yes, I love that recipe ❤️