Clearing the freezer for Christmas

tootallulah · 7 December 2014 at 7:13PM

I am resurrecting the eating from the freezer thread so that I make myself clear some space in my two freezers for the post Christmas bargains and to cut down on my food spending in December. I failed on this last year but am making a concerted effort this time.

Today I have removed from the freezer:1. tomatoes and chicken (lovely curry in the slow cooker ready for this evening) 2. hot cross buns for breakfast tomorrow 3. ham for sandwiches tomorrow.

Anybody else going to be having a lot of freezer surprise in the run up to Christmas?

lucyw88 · 7 December 2014 at 8:21PM

Me and my husband will be. Some of the casseroles and unmarked bags (my own foolish mistake) we have no idea what they are or when they're from...it should be interesting!
Our biggest problem is that we freeze bread and I won't eat the crusts (not very MSE) so we have plenty of frozen bread crusts but no idea how to use them!:(

shimmigirl · 7 December 2014 at 8:57PM

lucyw88 wrote: »

Me and my husband will be. Some of the casseroles and unmarked bags (my own foolish mistake) we have no idea what they are or when they're from...it should be interesting!
Our biggest problem is that we freeze bread and I won't eat the crusts (not very MSE) so we have plenty of frozen bread crusts but no idea how to use them!:(

How amount whizzing them up to make breadcrumbs - breadcrumb fish, chicken. I think you can toast some breadcrumbs and have them on some desserts - I can't recall what though

tomtombeanie · 7 December 2014 at 9:03PM

lucyw88 wrote: »

Me and my husband will be. Some of the casseroles and unmarked bags (my own foolish mistake) we have no idea what they are or when they're from...it should be interesting!
Our biggest problem is that we freeze bread and I won't eat the crusts (not very MSE) so we have plenty of frozen bread crusts but no idea how to use them!:(

Would you eat a bread & butter pud with the crusts (could do a sweet one or savoury like a strata)? Or blitz to breadcrumbs use for coating chicken, fish etc or making courgette fries. Or make Melba toast & eat with pate (or find someone who will!). Croutons? Or give to the ducks if all else fails?

I'm trying to use up all the odd meals this week - there are four of us, but we have single meals of things like chili & jambalaya so I have meal planned in a few "freezer surprise" evenings...

Cross posted with shimmigirl, but edited to add that something like a Betty or charlotte uses breadcrumbs (I think) or something like this...

http://authenticsimplicity.net/2010/03/something-from-nothing-or-from-humble-bread-crumbs-to-elegant-dessert/

quidsy · 7 December 2014 at 9:04PM

Bread crusts. Breadcrumbs for stuffing, croutons, bread and butter pudding, bread soup.

We've been slowly eating down the contents of our 2 freezers for a few weeks. I haven't bought any meat this week so we should clear the bulk of whats left. Some quorn chicken pieces, a pack of quorn mince, half a chicken, 2 battered fish and a venison steak.

WantToBeSE · 7 December 2014 at 9:17PM

I will be eating from the freezer too.
I will be stocking up again in January, so want to empty it as much as possible. I have lots of Chicken, from when I got 24 chicken thighs for £8 on a special deal from the butcher a few months back.
Lots of chicken based meals here!

I also have loads of bacon from another butchers deal, I think it was 2KG of bacon for £7.

So I am thinking that chicken, bacon and potato stew for dinner tomorrow! http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1977648/chicken-bacon-and-potato-stew

lucyw88 · 7 December 2014 at 9:22PM

Thanks for all the bread crumby suggestions; should they still be okay with brown bread? I know some recipes say white bread, otherwise I'd be using them to make bacon rolls before Christmas day (bacon rolls are like pigs in blankets on speed...)

sheeps68 · 7 December 2014 at 9:28PM

Me too. Mystery items are interesting when labels have come off. Got out what I thought was Bolognese sauce to discover a curry. At least I know I do not freeze sweet so can always be sure it will be a main savoury course. Helps out the finances too.

Hoipolloi · 8 December 2014 at 12:57AM

Breadcrumbs can be used in treacle tarts and meatloaf too.

auntymabel · 8 December 2014 at 1:51AM

I think you could make a summer pudding with crusts instead of slices.

lynnejk · 8 December 2014 at 2:15AM

lucyw88 wrote: »

Thanks for all the bread crumby suggestions; should they still be okay with brown bread? I know some recipes say white bread, otherwise I'd be using them to make bacon rolls before Christmas day (bacon rolls are like pigs in blankets on speed...)

I don't see why not. I do it all the time as we don't have white bread. Also you can stuff vegetables for a change - mushrooms, courgettes etc - with things like lo stilton ends, parmesan ends etc, add to chopped sauteed shallots, garlic and a drop of white wine and breadcrumbs. Stuff veggies and bake.

We are on a freezer clean-out run. Hope to empty them on Tuesday now they are down a bit, defrost, do inventory, repack and menu plan next couple of weeks to try to use up.

Then I can go out after Chrissy and buy all the lovely YS stuff in the Sms that they have got left with :T

Hope you all have a marvellous Monday
Lx

:xmassign:

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Clearing the freezer for Christmas

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