Wednesday 3 August 2016

Meal prep


Last night's tea was venision burgers (yep reduced and in my freezer!) turned into meatballs, served with a quick chunky tomato sauce (carton of chopped tomatoes, onion, carrot, garlic and a squeeze of ketchup) and GF pasta.  2 burgers made 16 mini meatballs. One portion for tea and the other meatball with sauce portion went in the freezer.

Part of trying to be more organised before going back to school involves me trying to prepare meals to put in the freezer for me (and No1 son).  Saving money and having healthy food already prepared is a no brainer.  I've been watching a few meal prep videos on Youtube lately for inspiration.  These guys have a series of meal ideas and suggestions on how to store them.  Don't be put off by the macros talk, that's just info for those who need it.  There are 11 videos full of good suggestions plus they've got loads of other ones including one pot meals and snacky stuff.


Tonight's meal was a kinda tandoori chicken thing.  I very nearly picked up a jar of tandoori sauce paste in the supermarket.  It was £2.  I looked at the ingredients and thought 'I've got most of them in the cupboard at home!'  Saved myself £2!! I mixed 1 tsp each of cumin, coriander, ginger and paprika into a couple of big dollops of yoghurt (sheep's yoghurt actually, very creamy) with some garlic paste and a wee squirt of honey.  It wasn't 'red' enough so I added another tsp of paprika.  I marinated 3 large chicken breasts (chopped into chunks) in the mixture and left them in the fridge all day while I painted yet another coat of white emulsion on my utility room walls.  I baked them in a very hot oven for 25 mins.


 I served it with coconut rice (recipe here), mango chutney and broccoli.  YUM!!!


But then I put the second portion (a la Youtube chefs) into one of my new freezer containers :-) 


I popped the lid on and then it went into the freezer.  I suspect the rice might be mushy on reheating but worth the time (and money) saved to have a meal ready.

ETA I got the containers from here  They do 1 and 2 compartment versions as well.  I also got an invite with them to join their free VIP club which gives you more meal ideas.

8 comments:

  1. Those freezer containers are brilliant.....is it a recycled one or did you buy them (and where, if you did?).

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    1. Sadly not recycled but they have a lifetime guarantee. I'll add the link to my post

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  2. I find rice freezes pretty well so, fingers crossed, it won't be mushy!

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  3. That looks really lovely, and that freezer tub is brilliant.x

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  4. If I'm revoking rice, I take the amount required out the pot jut before it's cooked, before it gets soft. When you heat it up, and it must get very hot before you eat it. This way my rice is not overcooked

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    1. Great idea, I never thought about it. It is true too that rice must be cooked again properly as apparently it is dangerous to eat it when it is not sufficiently reheated ...

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  5. Yes, rice has to be reheated thoroughly. I did a Food Safety and Hygiene course a few years ago. The rice you get in ready meals has been basically nuked to sterilise it which is why it has a longer shelf life than the 2 days maximum you should keep cooked rice in the fridge.

    Will undercook the rice next time I'm freezing it

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  6. Saved yourself £2 on that jar of sauce AND a whole host of additives, colourings, salt and sugar. Your sauce sounds so much better than anything you would find in a jar. I love the sound of creamy sheeps yoghurt.

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