Meal Planning Monday - Rummage in the Freezer

Sunday 9 June 2013
I've got a huge chest freezer in our garage which is great as it means I can stock up, bulk buy and take advantage of any yellow sticky bargains. However it also means that I don't always quite know exactly what's in there. It's full to the gunnels at the moment and was in dire need of a good sort out so this weeks #mealplanningmonday is based on what I've found languishing at the bottom. 
Last week's meal plan kicked off using some of the fantastic fish I'd bought at Taste of GrampianCrab, Smoked Haddock, Leek and Parmesan Tart to start the week. After my success with Nigel Slater's peppered pastry I added a teaspoonful of coarse black pepper to the Parmesan pastry in this. Really good and great cold too. Fish two nights on the trot much to girl's disgust with some experimental coating of fishcakes in Panko. This worked really well. I used hot honey smoked salmon and natural smoked haddock.
Was cooking with frozen pork meatballs for kids for a blogging challenge but they didn't go down at all well so no point in linking them up. Even girl turned her nose up at them and their rather odd smooth texture. Will continue to make my own or use proper minced beef ones for my next meatball sub.The Haggis toasties were however a huge hit with us all. Will definitely be making these again and again. Granary bread, MacSween haggis, mustard, Lockerbie Cheddar, rocket and caramelised onions.
Made my first ever attempt at Gluten free baking last week to take to a friend's house for lunch where one of the guests has an intolerance. It was rather heavy and crusty and much more scone-like than bread-like but it was edible. L took the rest home and said it was great toasted and the last of it she made into an apricot bread and butter pudding.
And so to this week's #mealplanningmonday

Monday - Chicken Curry
Some rather freezer burned chicken thighs, half a bag of chopped skinned tomatoes, a plastic tub of tomato puree and the same of coconut milk.

Tuesday - Savoury Croissants

There appears to be a bakery's worth of croissants at the bottom of my freezer so will use up four filled with a cheesy white sauce and pancetta cubes combo.

Wednesday - Cod & Corn Chowder
Frosty fish fit only for soup. Not sure I'll need both huge bags of sweetcorn I found. Will add cream, bacon, chives, potatoes and smoked sweet paprika.

Thursday - Keema Mince & Peas
Ice encrusted mince will be spiced up and served with frozen stuffed paratha which I do vaguely recall buying in an Indian mini market.

Friday - Brinner
Sausages, Black Pudding, and Bacon from the freezer will be supplemented with eggs, mushrooms, tattie scones and beans.


Weekend - BBQ at friend's on Saturday which I'm going to make a Mango and Passion Fruit Pavlova for. Sunday we are heading to Crail Food Festival. Really looking forward to this with the promise of a lobster shack, locally freshly dressed crab, smoked fish, butchers’ burgers, venison, pies and mussels. I'm sure boy and girl will enjoy indulging in real hot chocolate, waffles and ice cream. We're also booked in for a Costal Foraging walk with Mark Williams of Galloway Wild Foods. On our return Chef Paul Wedgwood from Wedgwood The Restaurant in Edinburgh will be cooking up what we've gathered. Anyone for seaweed?

 

12 comments

  1. So glad to see my freezer isn't the only one with dubious things at the bottom. But you've just jogged my memory - we're having a mixed grill tonight and I think there are a couple of slices of black pudding lurking in the depths, must dive in there and see if I can catch them. (Hand-dived black pudding - could that be the next trend?)

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    1. There were some things that headed straight for the bin. Hand dived dubious frostiness.

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  2. I have a few things in the freezer that I am not entirely sure what they are, I know they are soup, but not what flavour. Hee, to the seaweed. I hope you find more than just that.

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    1. Soup is always a tricky one to distinguish when frozen. Looking forward to the seaweed and whatever else we find.

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  3. Nice menu this week to say it's using up freezer produce. Quite fancy a fish chowder this week especially as the weather is on the turn. I love clearing out the freezer and getting all those bits and pieces used up.

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    1. Glad to provide you with some chowder inspiration.

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  4. Reading your Meal plan always makes me feel so hungry!!
    Everything sounds delicious!!

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  5. It sounds so delish, especially the chicken curry

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    1. The curry was amazingly good. No way I'd be able to create it exactly the same again though. Total bucket chemistry cooking.

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  6. I've never thought of having savoury croissants before! Yours sound lovely. I keep a freezer inventory which is very organised but otherwise I'd just keep filling it and not eating anything!

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    1. A freezer inventory sounds very sensible. Savoury Croissants are fantastic. Give them a try.

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