Store cupboard challenge

NualaBuala

remmie wrote: »

Wel I have started today very positive, have made a list of the contents of the freezer and I think theres enough in there for 22ish days, (not bad for 2 drawers).

DH is working everyday until next Tuesday so is using the car and our nearest supermarket is 4 miles away so that will help keep me on track!

You're super organised!:T That's impressive - 22 days will see you well into November! I'm aiming for 63 days to see me up till the weekend before Christmas as that's when I'll probably be doing a big shop.

NualaBuala

Magpie. wrote: »

Great thread, I've been telling myself that I need to use up my cupboard and freezer contents too before the big xmas shop.

I'll list it all tonight and try some sort of plan for the next few weeks. I must be able to just buy meat, milk and a few fresh bits until xmas and save some €'s

Great!:j Good luck with making your list tonight. Here's to lots of savings!:beer:

NualaBuala

LizzieB wrote: »

so I thought a veggie chilli tonight and then bean and tuna salad for lunch tomorrow. Hubby and I (both teachers) have got an open evening tomorrow so we'll take the two 'emergency' pot noodles I've got with us as a snack (well, I have got to use everything up...!;))

I think I'll do a veggie chilli some day as well. I've got soya mince in the freezer and a tin of kidney beans. Do you have a nice recipe Lizzie? It's not for today - more risotto tonight

NualaBuala

misscousinitt wrote: »

I'm trying to empty the freezer too - needs defrosting! Also I'm doing a buffet on 7th Nov (our 1st paying customer) and I need room for frozen stuff. So I think I am going to use what I can and not do my meat shopping till after the buffet has been and gone and the freezer has been defrosted.

Another poor soul with a freezer to defrost! Good luck with the emptying and defrosting.:T That's fab that you've a buffet that you're getting paid to do - are you a caterer? Would love to be good at cooking - can just about manage to feed myself - the idea of cooking for more than 4 people would terrify me! Best of luck for the 7th November.:j

NualaBuala

415SanFran wrote: »

I also have a really bad habit of buying in bulk when I can, and the local Asian shop sells beans/pulses and the like in 5kilo bags, so when I say I have every bean or pulse I am talks lots of them.

Aw, hope you guys are over the flu - that's nasty. Thanks for posting your slow cooker recipe. I must the only person on OS without one but the recipe sounds lovely and I'm sure I could do it in the oven or on the hob.

I admit to feeling quite excited at the thought of all your beans and pulses :rotfl: My first thought was - ooh, I must go to the Asia Market and stock up! I'm trying to eat more vegetarian and vegan food so they would be perfect. Normally I like to buy in bulk too (if it's cheaper) but I'll probably buy a small pack first to see if I like them. I was thinking of getting some mung beans so I can sprout them. *goes off to fantasise about a pantry filled with beans*

415SanFran

When I am feeling up to it I will post you an idea of what my stores look like.
I do not have that much variety to be truthfull, it will look something like.

dried onions 8
green lentils 10 kilos
rice 25 kilos
maggie stock cubes 500:o (they come in packs of 100 so I buy them and end up losing the bag so buy more)
pinto beans 10 kilos.
coconut milk 10 cans.
Are you seeing the problem here?
I think I am going to be at this a long time, but my personal challenge is to carry it on till C...... (can't say it yet:D)
We cannot eat dairy or eggs so that keeps the weekly money down as well, but I would like to think that we could do this on say 15 pounds for me and two big teenagers that eat like men, never out of the fridge.

Yes the lentil stew thing is fine on the hob, I just do not feel like watching it, as I have a date with the bath, and some eucalyptus oil !

taplady

its great to see so much interest in this thread:T I noticed a couple of you having mushroom risotto - got any really easy recipes anyone? as I've got some risotto rice and mushrooms - the rice has been in the cupboard since I tried a slimmingworld recipe that was yuk with it:D I could have this for my tea today!

mollythewestie

Can I join in too please?

I read this thread yesterday with great interest and after mentioning it to DH, we are going to try it too as we have overflowing cupboards and freezer.
We are allowing ourselves £10 per week of groceries (Excluding baby formula and dog food).

We are guilty of overbuying BOGOFS or Reduced items in the supermarket. But recently we have started shopping locally, in butchers, greengrocers etc, we have found that we save so much money and buy just what we need i.e 4 rashers of bacon rather than a huge pack or 1 Red pepper instead of a pack of 3.

I have started an inventory of the cupboards (currently 2 pages long!:eek:). and will start on the freezer tonight, I can then write some meal plans to see how long we can do this for, we are hoping for at least 4 weeks, but will try to last until Christmas.

NualaBuala

415SanFran wrote: »

When I am feeling up to it I will post you an idea of what my stores look like.
I do not have that much variety to be truthfull, it will look something like.

dried onions 8
green lentils 10 kilos
rice 25 kilos
maggie stock cubes 500:o (they come in packs of 100 so I buy them and end up losing the bag so buy more)
pinto beans 10 kilos.
coconut milk 10 cans.
Are you seeing the problem here?
I think I am going to be at this a long time, but my personal challenge is to carry it on till C...... (can't say it yet:D)
We cannot eat dairy or eggs so that keeps the weekly money down as well, but I would like to think that we could do this on say 15 pounds for me and two big teenagers that eat like men, never out of the fridge.

Yes the lentil stew thing is fine on the hob, I just do not feel like watching it, as I have a date with the bath, and some eucalyptus oil !

Thanks SanFran, will pencil in the lentil stew in the meal plan. Sounds scrummy and healthy too. You've got loads of healthy stuff in - I'm trying to eat more healthily and include more vegan and vegetarian meals so I hope you'll be a good influence on me!

I have a bit of a problem with "the C word" too but the guy behind the till in Penneys (Primark) looked aghast when I expressed surprise that the store was so busy and was full of tinsel and baubles. I'm very late starting my shopping, he told me. :rotfl:

£15 sounds terrific especially when you've 2 hungry teenagers to feed - best of luck. :T

I'm coming down with something (been fighting it off for a week now) and I think I'll have a bath later - thanks for the idea. I don't have pure eucalyptus oil but have some Olbas which will be nice.

NualaBuala

taplady wrote: »

its great to see so much interest in this thread:T I noticed a couple of you having mushroom risotto - got any really easy recipes anyone? as I've got some risotto rice and mushrooms - the rice has been in the cupboard since I tried a slimmingworld recipe that was yuk with it:D I could have this for my tea today!

This is the one I used except I didn't follow it exactly - just used what I had.
Mine would go something like this:
250g of gone off mushrooms on the verge of becoming slimey
2 cups of long grain rice that have been hidden in the cupboard for so long that I don't actually remember buying it
A lump of mouldy cheddar with the mould trimmed off and washed,dried and grated
A bit of celery
2 vegetable stock cubes
black pepper, herbs
splash of rapeseed oil
a few small sprouting onions and a clove or two of sprouting garlic

Sounds appetising doesn't it?:rotfl:
I used the same method as on the link I posted except I crumbled the stock cubes in and then topped up with hot water from the kettle as the rice absorbed it.

Also, after I had the first portion I thought it could do with some salt as my stock cubes were low-salt. So I added a bit of soya sauce to the risotto left in the pan - easier to mix in than salt. Gave it a good stir and then portioned out the leftovers. The soya sauce was really nice in it - will use that again.