Store cupboard challenge

415SanFran · 18 November 2009 at 12:09PM

Hi,
I haven't been around for a while but still fallen off the wagon, if anyone remembers I have a mountain of assorted dried beans to use up.
Well this is what we had last night and I surprised myself, the left overs were even better.
You could jazz this up in any way, but EVERYTHING came from the cupboard which of course was the plan, (having only 75p left from the 15pound budget for the week helped)
Anyone reading my cooking please do not expect exact measurements or anything complicated!

1 cup of dried mung beans (soaked overnight)
a handfull of dried onions.
a handfull of dried mixed veg.
teaspoon of jarred garlic
teaspoon of jarred ginger
teaspoon of jarred celentro
cinnamon
turmeric
ground cumin.
I thew in a bag of fresh spinach at the last moment,

boil all this together for about 45 mins till the beans are cooked, do not add too much water.
while the beans are cooking peel and slice potatoes, on to boil.
when the bean mixture is cooked put in the bottom of a pyrex dish and layer the potatoes on the top, brush the to with oil, and put in the oven for about half an hour or till the top looks nice and crispy.
It really was a good meal and very filling, and as I have three pounds of the beans in the cupboard we shall be seeing this again very soon

redfraggle_2 · 18 November 2009 at 12:38PM

Hi, long-time lurker, first time poster on this thread (which I love BTW)

In terms of using up something lurking in my cupboard, I was wondering if I could use long-life milk for baking as a substitute for fresh?

Thanks!

zippychick · 18 November 2009 at 12:47PM

redfraggle wrote: »

Hi, long-time lurker, first time poster on this thread (which I love BTW)

In terms of using up something lurking in my cupboard, I was wondering if I could use long-life milk for baking as a substitute for fresh?

Thanks!

You sure can ! I have even used made up dried milk. :money:Welcome to the thread!x

I am going through a bit of a panic. I have almost em ptied my freezer out. I have had unexpected dinner guests lately a few times (my 6ft 4 brother), and I am finding between that and eating the food, I have very little in my freezer! I have two chicken carcasses waiting to be made into soup or stock, some bits of meat (chicken and sausages), small amount of frozen veg and a couple of ready meals. I normally have loads of whoopsied bread and loads of everything, i dont even have pizza corner at the mo ! :rotfl:

So i am on the restock this weekend! I need to get a load of ready meals in there as I feel very unsettled not having much food in there! isn't it crazy? Need to eat more veggie stuff too. I made some hoummus last night to go in, and froze the bottom of the juice from chicken (is that stock i had scraped the fat off. i just get confused now it is set what to do with it and i keep asking in here and keep forgetting ).

So am planning a batch cook weekend. Hmm i may be going against the grain of the thread here! :rotfl:

purpleivy · 18 November 2009 at 12:51PM

zippychick wrote: »

You sure can ! I have even used made up dried milk. :money:Welcome to the thread!x

I usually use dried milk for sauces, custard etc, as it's not detectable if done well and it's lighter to carry home from the shops. Presuming it's cheaper too.

zippychick · 18 November 2009 at 1:01PM

purpleivy wrote: »

I usually use dried milk for sauces, custard etc, as it's not detectable if done well and it's lighter to carry home from the shops. Presuming it's cheaper too.

Powdered milk is definitely cheaper. I always keep some in, then that's one less reason to "need" to go to the shops

ellemm · 18 November 2009 at 1:13PM

Enforced day off work today...tummy bug :eek: but otherwise feeling fine....;)

Have achieved quite a lot around the house too including baking low fat brownies entirely from storecupboard items. They are cooling at the moment but looking and smelling good. Recipe also says they can be frozen for a couple of months (not likely to last that long in this house!)

Recipe here:

http://joyofbaking.com/healthydesserts/LowFatBrownies.html

Edited to add - cooled enough to test....lovely, quite moist. I'm very pleased as not the best at baking normally!

huston_kw · 18 November 2009 at 1:38PM

Dinner today was a pasta dish, using up left over peppers that were chopped yesterday (for pizza topping), onion, garlic, tomatoes & herbs. I doing fish, potatoes & peas for tea so today used only stuff that we had in :j.

I need to update my food inventory as my oh likes to have mid-night snacks last night he ate a tin of tuna with vinegar, need to try to use up the mountains of pasta and rice that is taking up the best part of a cupboard.

jtb2412 · 18 November 2009 at 1:53PM

Did I hear someone say low fat brownies !!!???

Thanks for the recipe ellemm, will definitely be making those at some point! :beer:

Had some of the patty pan soup for lunch today (at work) so that's one less tub in the freezer.

Things seem to disappear in mine as I could have sworn I had 2 chicken breasts in there (want to use them for a stir fry tomorrow night) but I can't find them anywhere ! Must be hinding in amongst all the soup and runner beans :rotfl:.

I'm off home shortly and my plan for this afternoon is to make a Christmas Cake (donated to the Guide group that I help run for their winter fair) - it will also use up some of the odds and ends that I have in the cupboard (mixed fruit, mixed peel, glace cherries, brown sugar etc). Tomorrow afternoon will be spent making chutney (probably gooseberry) to try and free up another drawer in the small freezer (I have 3 btw :eek:

, 1 chest and 2 smaller ones) - I can't manage without them now we've got the allotment :rolleyes:.

Right home-time for me ...... catch up with you all a bit later xx

purpleivy · 18 November 2009 at 2:16PM

purpleivy wrote: »

Just got tomatoes to use up. Don't feel like they're telling me what I should make at the moment. Wotcha think?

Those tomatoes are sorted. I warmed a lurking helping of mash from the freezer and one of cabbage to make bubble and squeak. Tomatoes skinned and chopped and in with an onion fried in 1/2 tsp of olive oil. Added 1tsp of pesto from fridge and tbs of tomato puree. mixed herbs, salt and pepper. Poured it over the bubble and squeak and topped with another of those goat's cheese discs. It was sooo mmmmm real comfort food!

BUT I did add three helpings of chorizo and rice to the freezer last night, but they will be for dinner one night next week.

misscousinitt · 18 November 2009 at 2:32PM

Nothing used yesterday as went out for tea, but have taken a chicken out of the freezer for tonights tea and I know we have a couple of things lurking that will do for pudding (either lemon sorbet and raspberries or just plain old choc ice cream....).

There still doesn't seem to be much space in the freezer, but OH is hoping friends will come over for nibbles and drinks on Sat - in which case I have all this in the freezer - prawns in filo pastry, pizza, some kebab things left over from a BBQ which will go nicely with frozen pitta breads - got some left over fromage frais in the fridge too to make my HM Garlic & Onion Dip (low fat too!) and got some left over breadsticks and crisps from recent buffet - I think that lot should fill them up nicely! Only got to buy a bit of salad!

Got to make that HM Soup this week and the crumble for Sunday.

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Store cupboard challenge

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