Wednesday 6 August 2014

Cobbled together meals

I've been thinking I ought to go shopping, then I keep putting it off, can't be bothered, I'll eat something out of the freezer. Although the fridge is bare, I've surely got loads of other food, and yes I have. Sometimes you think you have nothing then when you look more closely, you have plenty. It doesn't matter if it might not be what you fancy, but hey, you paid for it and it is waiting to be eaten. 
Yesterday I cooked up half a large courgette and an onion in a pan with a drop of oil and spices. Then made up some cous cous. I emptied what was left in the bag into a pan of water, always guess how much water and usually get it wrong. I had to add some more as it was a bit dry. Of course it swells to three times the amount, I ended up with too much, not to worry, it will get eaten. Lunch today was exactly the same as dinner last night. Cous cous, courgette and onion.  
I have now resorted to knocking on doors to ask if anyone wants a large courgette. The family up the road said, oooh lovely, I'll make a curry with it, and a friend across the road said that will come in handy we have guests coming for a meal. The friend who gave me the crumble put an order in for another one at the weekend. 
Tonights dinner you will be surprised to know doesn't include courgettes, I'm having a break, ha ha. It's a bit of a mish mash, something cobbled together. I changed my mind several times before I decided what to have. It took very little cooking, first put two Quorn sausages under the grill. Chop up the last bit of the iceberg lettuce that's been hanging around for nearly two weeks. It's amazing how it stays crispy in the fridge. Open a jar of pickled onions and a jar of beetroot, always good to have this on standby to bulk a meal up a bit. Put the last bit of the cous cous in a dish with some frozen peas and zap in the microwave. Cut the sausages into pieces. I always cut my food up into bite size pieces in the kitchen then I don't have to bother with a knife. I am eating it as I type this. Multi tasking, ha ha. 
I might go shopping tomorrow, if I can be bothered. Could do with some eggs, bananas, cheese and yogurt. No weekly shopping expeditions here, I wait till I need to go. I know some of you from your comments are expert at making food go a long way. Are you able to resist going to the shops unless you absolutely have to? I think it might be difficult for those with families, especially teenagers who turn their nose up at certain foods and say they don't like whatever you serve up. I know in our house I had to eat whatever mum gave us, there was no choosing. It might not be like that now.

Well, I'm feeling stuffed, that was pretty darn good, for a cobbled together meal. Have a nice evening.
Toodle pip

10 comments:

  1. It looks really tasty; healthy, too. Very sensible to shop only when you need to, there are far more enjoyable ways of spending our time - while saving our money! It was the same in our house - eat what you're given. Same in my husband's too, fortunately, so there are no complaints from him!

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  2. It all sound good to me, I eat cous cous with just about anything including stewed fruit, after all it is pasta and most of us have had sweet macaroni pudding at some time. Tonight I had stir fried veg with some coked brown rice and nearly half a pineapple. Not quite sweet and sour but very tasty.

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  3. My children and fosterlings all ate what I put in front of them. I shop when I have to as I have always hated it.Was horridfied by a fellow dog walker today who was going to throw a complete pack of bacon out as it use by date was today. told her off. surgested she used it today and/or pack it singually into the freezer.Is this normal?

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  4. When my kids were growing up (1970s/80s) my stock response to fussy eaters was "I'm not running a restaurant. You don't have to eat it but there's nothing else on offer".

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  5. ha I have two teens, and they are pretty good about eating whatever I cook. They aren't too picky, and I am thankful. My boy goes through spells though where I can't fill him up, so I'm guessing a growth spurt.
    Thanks for posting your meals; they help give me some ideas.

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  6. I am a coupon, once a week shopper. I try to get everything I might need to prepare meals, in general, and then some more specific. What happens, however, is that we get invited out or just decide to go out to grab a bite, then I have stuff left over at the end of the week. Retirement changes things a bit!

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  7. There are two choices on our menu; take it or leave it! Mostly my teenagers take, although the second son wouldn't thank you for cous cous!

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  8. Teenagers are fine here, it's the grown man that is the problem - fussy beyond belief and panicking if the fridge isn't full (I think it must be animal instincts). I would happily go to the shops as and when we need things but having a family I need to keep everything replenished. We throw very little away and I am a demon at using up and frugal cookery. I am like you, I can eat pretty much anything as long as it gives me fuel. I think it is my childhood where we ate everything on our plate (because we were hungry), cooking for pleasure never really came in to it. We weren't foodies, my mum was just pleased if her family had full tummies at the end of the day. She didn't stress over nutrition - filling up was the only thing that concerned her. Anyway, your meals always look lovely, so colourful. Debbie.

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  9. I find the more I put off shopping, the more inventive my meals are!

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  10. Wjat I've learned about standing at the open cupboard (or fridge or freezer) thinking, "Nothing appeals to me," is this: I am Not Hungry. As soon as I am Truly Hungry, every single unmatched bit of provender becomes mouth-wateringly appealing! True fact. :)

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