I made a huge pan of dahl the other day, I didn't mean for it to be as big a batch as it turned out ... no wonder my freezer is filling rather than emptying. I was very heavy handed tipping the red lentils in.
It was tasty though, and it made me realise how much I have missed having a meal of tasty but simple homemade dahl and rice, and yes there's lots of rice ... I like it that way. 😁
Now there's rather a lot of it in the freezer, because after three days of dahl for either my lunch or tea I decided that as well as the little pots, some of the larger container of it had to go into the freezer too.
Then in a bid to use up the carrots and some of the other vegetables in the fridge drawer I made a similarly large pan of vegetable soup. After two bowlfuls for myself and fobbing two big bowlfuls off on Alan, I only ended up putting this little glass container into the freezer.
I think April should be the month where I don't go shopping and instead go back to menu planning from the freezer, in a bid to make some space for anything else I decide to make too much of. 😄
But just in case I do decide to shop I have drawn this months £100 out of the bank and put it into my purse. The £42.17 that has been carried forward from the first two months of the year ( I went over in March) is in my little kitchen drawer, ready for any food emergencies that might arise ... which of course won't include buying any soup or dahl. 😄
Sue xx
< chuckle > in some ways we are very alike. I have, just half an hour ago, sorted out one of my baskets in the freezer (the chicken, pork and veggie one) and decided that there's no way I need to buy any meat products for April and probably not for May either (although I probably will because you do, don't you?).
ReplyDeleteBoth the soup and the dahl look delicious - great to have some tucked away for easy meals. xx
I've got another soup, seemingly made in December, thawing out for my lunch today. My freezer is a real mish mash of little plastic tubs and glass jars at the moment, something I hope to eat my way through over the next couple of weeks.
DeleteYum, you know how much I like dahl. I invested in a goodly number of the 400ml Stack A Boxes from Lakeland. They are perfect for one portion (no, I don't have 400g as a portion, the tubs are not completely full!) It freezes really well.
ReplyDeleteI seem to have ALL of my little plastic boxes out of action thanks to freezing so many single portions of things, it's crazy. But it's also a really cheap way of eating good homemade food isn't it.
DeleteDhal and rice is a classic combination!
ReplyDeleteIt really is, and absolutely delicious. :-)
DeleteDahl - so simple and so good x
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
It's just the easiest thing to make, and to vary the flavour of isn't it. :-)
DeleteWe've only just started cooking enough for a meal and one for the freezer and its working really well. So nice to come in from the garden and just heat something up from the freezer.
ReplyDeleteHomemade ready meals really are the best thing after a busy day aren't they. Shop bought ones seem good at first, but they are nowhere near as healthy or as satisfying.
DeleteJust found your blog and fishing it very uplifting- I am adjusting to life as a widow following the death of my husband last year - he was only 63. I need to take better care of myself and your blogs positivity is helping with that
ReplyDeleteSiobhan x
I'm so sorry to hear about your husband. I hope you are getting to a place where you can really start to look after yourself again and I am really pleased that you are finding something here that helps just a little bit.
DeleteI always try to be positive in life, there are more than enough Negative Nellies in the world. But on the whole the blogging community is a safe and friendly one, the few that try to spoil it for us soon get weeded out. You are very welcome here. xx
Me too Siobhan. And finding the self care quite a challenge, but trying hard to be interested in food again. I've never made Dahl. Maybe I should try.
ReplyDeleteI understand how hard those first few years after such a devastating loss are, but getting back to self-care is so important isn't it and finding the space to do it in your own way is the most important thing.
DeleteDahl really is so simple, basically just onions, spices and lentils. Cooked long and slow to let the flavours develop is the best way, and it freezes beautifully in little pots so you always have something nutritious at hand. Give it a go, when you have time. xx
I am still slowly working my way through the freezer, but things are definitely getting cleared out. I also like dahl and rice.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Freezers just seem to hide so much don't they. I usually astound myself that I manage to squeeze 'just one more thing' in after a shopping trip ... but somehow I manage it.
DeleteThe Dahl looks delicious and so good to eat in this miserable weather when I had hoped to be eating bright and tasty salads. Catriona
ReplyDeleteThe sun is trying desperately to come out today, but the big black clouds keep getting in her way. It doesn't feel much like Spring here this week.
DeleteDhal is one of my favourites, proper Indian comfort food. I've not made any in ages but it was a staple during lockdown (done in the slow cooker) and a backpacking favourite all over India, its especially good on the trains! xxx
ReplyDeleteI should imagine that a genuine Indian slow cooked dahl is like heaven compared to my simple offering. 🍛
DeleteI'll be more organised once hubby moves out. The freezer will get replaced with an upright one eventually and I'll only be cooking and budgeting for one. Like you I draw the cash out for food as it makes you think before you buy.
ReplyDeleteI've found that an upright freezer suits me so much better, no more rummaging around in the depths and not quite so many forgotten items ... although I do still bury the occasional thing. ;-)
DeleteI am really liking using cash, and I get a bit annoyed when the self service tills occasionally will only take cards.