Delicious and healthy dinner from the freezer...

[Pineapple27]

We are trying to eat things from the freezer, so we've had some interesting combinations. Tonights was a success! Quite high in calories (748 cals) for a small plate, but very filling. And apart from this I've had bean soup for lunch and 5 walnuts, so within my calorie quota.

You are seeing lentil meatballs (305 calories for those three!), cauliflower cheese made in my "new and easier to make and far more delicious" style (see the recipe under "Healthy Recipes") - 346 cals, and home grown roasted tomatoes (96 cals) - roasted in olive oil and herbs and then laid on a baking sheet and frozen. Last of our crop from the end of the summer.

If you want the lentil meatball recipe, let me know!

I have to say, we use another meatball recipe that uses grated carrot and lentils. They are much more moist. These are quite dry and crispy on the outside, so best eaten with plenty of tomato sauce!

Bet this picture gets Tiggerr salivating!

[lucigret]

Looks yummy Pineapple27 , I'm ashamed to say I have never cooked with lentils, they never appeal, but if you put the recipe up for the ones with grated carrot I'll give it a go.

[Pineapple27 in reply to lucigret]

There are many to choose from. I think I've tried this one before and it worked well. It's a Jamie Oliver:

jamieoliver.com/recipes/mem...

[lucigret in reply to Pineapple27]

That looks a really tasty recipe Pineapple27 , but I see no lentils in it. I will give a go though as sounds so good. Take a look at the recipe above Tiggerr , looks lush.

[Pineapple27 in reply to lucigret]

Ah! I wasn't sure you wanted one with lentils.... from your post! But here's the recipe I used to make mine:

naturallyella.com/lentil-me...

[lucigret in reply to Pineapple27]

I'll give most things a go. This recipe sounds as though the texture would be quite crunchy. I will bookmark and try it out thank you.

Tiggerr the recipe above uses green lentils

[Tiggerr in reply to lucigret]

Somehow I missed some of the posts in this post lucigret. I like the sound of both of the recipes and I may be a numpty but I would have thought you could swap some of the lamb for lentils in the first recipe.

I'm loving trying new things. Lol, I always thought I'd eaten just about everything... I was so wrong... but then, that just makes this new phase in my life even more interesting.

[lucigret in reply to Tiggerr]

I'm sure you could. I haven't tried any of these yet. To be honest I forgot! Trouble is there are so many recipes I see and think I will try and unless I remember to bookmark them, I can't find them.

I would just like a bit more time to spend in my kitchen, just not enough hours in the day

[Tiggerr in reply to lucigret]

My problem is that I do remember but that I make everything in bulk. I'm generally eating out of the freezer but its filling up even faster. I've still got another 8 portions of that chilli to go

I find it amusing when people say they're bored. Good luck finding more time, we all seem to be time poor nowadays.

[Hidden in reply to Pineapple27]

I used to love lentils then I discovered the orange ones give me horrendous reflux; I like them, just not on repeat!

The green ones are better but I'm a bit wary.

Oddly, when I try to move around this site I can't scroll through the page; weird.

I am a great believer in 'using up'. We have shocking amounts of stuff in there. I've just got out a pack of turkey thigh mince; going to do this

thekitchn.com/recipe-nigell...

[Pineapple27 in reply to Hidden]

MMmmm, that looks nice. Sadly hubbie not a fan of (1) mince (2) turkey (3) thai spices and coconut! So I'll just have to enjoy you describing how delicious they are another day!

[Pineapple27 in reply to Hidden]

As per this post, we are STILL going through the freezer and trying to use up some of the things in there - some are one portion "left overs" of healthy meals I've previously cooked, so we may find ourselves eating different thinks, eg, one eating a casserole and the other eating curry!

Yesterday I made up a dish of my cauliflower cheese healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh... as there was half a cauliflower and some cream cheese about to "turn" in the fridge. Took me just a few minutes to prepare (cut cauliflower into florets, steam in microwave for 10 mins, mix with cream cheese when cool, place in ovenproof dish, cover in some grated cheese). That will be great one evening, I'll just remove from freezer, add the penko breadcrumbs and cook! I hate wasting food!

[Ceals in reply to lucigret]

Oh lucigret lentils are just the most amazing things. I love them, I am sure you will become a convert.

[Ceals in reply to lucigret]

lucigret this is a super tasty lentil recipe: telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrin... I have his book Light and Easy which has some really good recipes in. But then I have so many cookery books, I would rather read them than a novel!

[lucigret in reply to Ceals]

Thank you Ceals will book mark this one as well. Had hoped to get into town today, but not feeling well at all. Hubbie has decided to share his bugs, isn't he kind! I may well look through my recipe books and find some new things to try. Have a good day.

[Hidden in reply to lucigret]

Oh I struggled with lentils too! But discovered a great recipe from a friend.

Here it is 👍🏼

I use 2 packets of ready cooked organic lentils in cartons from Sainsbury's (drained) 400 kcal

80g of bacon lardons (cooked & cooled) 208 kcal

1/2 pack of feta cheese crumbled 276 kcal

1 pack of parsley finely chopped

Grind of pepper

30 ml of Sainsbury's TTD French dressing 136 kcal

Mix everything together

This obviously makes a big batch at 1020 kcal

But I make up on a Sunday night and have it with fish or chicken at dinner time or for lunch and the whole family likes it.

I divide it up into 8 portions and it works out at 128 kcal per serving.

I have a picture of it as there's some in the fridge now but I can't figure out how to post it 🙄

[lucigret in reply to Hidden]

can this be frozen?

[Hidden in reply to lucigret]

I should think so, if you leave out the dressing and feta.....not sure if feta freezes well. I will pop some in tonight and leave it for a day or so and let you know.

[lucigret in reply to Hidden]

thank you Willpower

[Tiggerr]

Myself and partner can vouch for Pineapple's cauliflower recipe. Very easy to make and super delicious, then taken to another level with the Panko bread crumbs.

I'm with lucigret on the lentil front. I dug a packet of green lentils out of the cupboard two weeks ago (don't know how they got there) and they've been sat on the side whilst I try and find something appealing to do with them (maybe carrot and lentil!?!).

[Pineapple27 in reply to Tiggerr]

Ok, so that's your challenge for this week

Maybe introduce them slowly, so add to something you cook to bulk it out - maybe a casserole, stew, bolognese, chilli?

They are dirt cheap and also super healthy and packed with protein.... so good for you, especially if wanting to lose weight.

Hubbie does a fantastic lentil and carrot bolognese. The carrot and lentil absorb the other flavours (tomato, garlic, etc). I'll see if I can dig out the recipe and share

[Pineapple27 in reply to Pineapple27]

taste.com.au/recipes/lentil...

May look interesting if using green lentils,,,

[Tiggerr in reply to Pineapple27]

I'm happy to give that a go (that's next w/e sorted). I make a fair few meat free sauces for spaghetti, I've just never used lentils.

[lucigret in reply to Pineapple27]

so if you add lentils to, say a bolognese,, would you, put in less meat than usual?

[Pineapple27 in reply to lucigret]

Definitely.... especially if you are wanting to get used to the texture and flavour. Lentils have quite a floury texture. They bulk out meals really well (and swell when cooked, if you use dried lentils). Just try adding a couple of tablespoons to your usual quantities for for two and you'll see you probably get 3 servings I always make things like that in bulk (5/6 servings) and freeze leftovers in plastic tubs or bags for another day when we don't have time to cook from scratch.... which is how come we had the lentil meatballs tonight

[lucigret in reply to Pineapple27]

I like to have backups in the freezer as well. I shall give this a go

[Tiggerr in reply to Pineapple27]

I made 9 servings of chilli today, all destined for the freezer as we had roast planned. I didn't knock back the beef mince but did add 200g dried green lentils which I pre-cooked first.

Tasted great. I know you said to reduce the meat but I'll take it in baby steps and up the proportion of lentils next time.

Cheers!

[lucigret in reply to Tiggerr]

I added some to a bolognese sauce last week, it was really nice, I didn't cook them first though! Will try in a chilli next time I make one. Glad I have been introduced to them. Makes the food go further as well😀

[Tiggerr in reply to Pineapple27]

I didn't meet your challenge of eating them within a week but I finally had one of my chilli with green lentils and I'm still alive

Just as nice, healthier than without and less calories. Win, win, win!

Now I know how to cook them (sort of), I feel confident about experimenting with them.

Cheers Pineapple

[Tiggerr in reply to Pineapple27]

I like your idea of adding them to things I like. I'm a chilli head so that would be my first port of call.

[Mammou]

This look like an absolute feasty smorgasboard!! Yum-yum, you are so lucky you to have these in your freezer Pineapple27 I also have to sometimes clear the freezer, but mine normally works out to the most unusual tastes put together which of course gets me a few funny looks from hubby, but he eats it in any case as he is well trained after 43 years

[suige]

Lentil meat balls sound great I really like what you have done with the tomatoes will be trying it thanks for the ideas

[Hidden]

It looks yummy!

[lucigret]

Pineapple27 I have just done your cauliflower cheese for tea, all I can say is it's the best cauliflower cheese I have ever tasted and so easy, my husband loved it too. We will be having a lot more of that. Thank you for sharing the recipe

[Pineapple27 in reply to lucigret]

Glad you enjoyed it! Much easier too isn't it? And less washing up!

Tonight I had a lovely stir-fried cabbage and minced beef dish - you mix it all together and cover with grated cheese and bake in the oven. Flavoured with finely diced carrot, onion, garlic and celery, half a tin (70g) of tomato puree and 35ml of double cream....

[lucigret in reply to Pineapple27]

I liked it because you don't get too much 'sauce'.

I make what I call savoury mince, just mince stir fried with loads of vegetables, onion, garlic and passata, resembles a stew I suppose and we grate cheese on it as I serve. Very satisfying,