Store cupboard challenge

NualaBuala

patchwork_cat wrote: »

Buttermilk is quite hard to find around me, hit and miss. So I use milk with lemon juice as an alternative. Not sure how much buttermilk is likely to be locally to you, but if it is more than milk and you have lemon, then hey presto. http://frugalliving.about.com/od/condimentsandspices/r/Buttermilk_Sub.htm
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Hi patchwork cat, thanks for the link - that's a great website and I've bookmarked it. It's easy to get buttermilk here and it's cheaper than normal milk - Tesco's own is about 85c/L. Funny you should mention alternatives as I was looking into making my own version using up my skimmed milk powder and cream of tartar. Am still pondering whether it'd be yuk or not! Maybe I'll do a test run on a small batch so I don't waste flour if it turns out horrible.

Lizzie, that's a pretty impressive list! So many possibilities (including opening a small grocery store):D

Penelope_Penguin

taplady wrote: »

that sounds yummy PenPen:T I'm going too give it a go! - you did say frozen spinach didn't you if I remember rightly?

It was yummy and very easy :T Yes, I used frozen spinach; thawed and the moisture squeezed out.

The latest uses from the freezer:

• HG damsons for jam
• yoghurt starter and UHT milk for yoghurt
• cooked veg, gravy and leftover roast meat for tomorrow's stovies

Penny. x

LizzieB

Nuala, I see what you mean!

I was truthfully shocked when I saw the list. I've now given myself a mini goal. It's my mom's birthday next Sunday and I'm hosting the immediate family (8 people). I've worked out that with the store cupboard and freezer contents (plus, butter eggs and cheese in fridge) I can host the party for just the cost of salad and dips (max £5). OH has his first pay packet on 31st so he has said he'll buy the drinks. I'm planning on doing a hot dish (either spag bol or chilli) plus rice/pasta salads, garlic bread etc. I think i'll also do a trifle.

Penny, what are stovies please?!

Penelope_Penguin

LizzieB wrote: »

Penny, what are stovies please?!

Leftover roast meat and gravy, topped with sliced potatoes and baked I've found the cooked veg in the freezer, so I'll be adding that too :T

Penny. x

NualaBuala

Wow Lizzie - you're amazing to be able to cater for so many, I'd be terrified and would probably burn the trifle or something :rotfl:

It just goes to show the wisdom of keeping a good store cupboard that you can throw a party for so little (well your bit, maybe not your OH's drinks budget!).

CCP

Right, that's my freezer inventoried. I did it while the carrot cake was in the oven: my freezer is behind the kitchen door and I have to shut it to get at the freezer. On the plus side, that meant I didn't have to sit drooling over the smell of cooking carrot cake ; on the negative side, it meant I couldn't smell the cake burning, either. Hey ho, once I've cut off the burnt corner the rest of the cake will be fine! :rolleyes:

My final list isn't actually as bad as I had feared - the only real surprises were two bottles of frozen milk (I can't have normal milk and have used lactose-free stuff for over a year, so I hate to think how long they've been in there), a portion of mystery hm ready meal (it's either lasagne or moussaka, I think) and one tub of... err... something (it might be lentil soup. Or it might not.)

I'll do the cupboards tomorrow - the football's just started and I can't hear the radio from the kitchen - but it looks like I should be able to just buy fruit and veg, and some milk, for two or three weeks, and use my freezer for everything else.

nicki_2

DD has gone away for a week so there's only me to cook for now so I'm going to attempt to clear out some of the things that she isn't so keen on eating paying particular attention to the freezer I actually added some sausages to it the other day - but in my defence they're DD's favourite and quite versatile so I thought it would eek out a few days worth of meals

Right, as well as dessert things (jelly, custard) we have:
Editing as I go along this week crossing out what I've used
Freezer:
Puff Pastry (340g x 2)
Tofu - Firm silken style 349g x 3
Burnt Bread Rolls
Wholemeal Tortillas (8 pack)
Garlic Tortillas (8 pack)
Beef Mince - 907g
Pork fillet - 557g (have apple juice frozen to cook this in )
Breaded Cod Fillets x 4
Haddock fillets x 4
Tuna Steaks
Prawns 160g
King Prawns 160g
Chips - 1 meals worth
Chicken Breasts x 4
Sausage (full pack)
Cauliflower 907g
Chopped Cabbage 750g
Diced Onions <1kg
Sprouts
Chickpeas 500g
Peas <907g
Baby carrots <1kg
Sweetcorn <907g
Sliced Mushrooms <500g
Casserole mix (2 meals per bag)

Fridge:
[STRIKE]9[/STRIKE] 6 eggs
Pur!ed Garlic
Pur!ed Ginger
Pur!ed Chilli
Tomato Puree (jar)
Tuna Chunks in brine x 2 tins
Mustard
Mayo

Cupboard:
Mixed fruit
Pizza base mix
Red split lentils
Instant curry sauce
Fajitas sachet
Chicken Casserole mix
Chicken Chasseur mix
Instant Mash (2 meals worth)
New Potatoes 1 tin [STRIKE]& leftover in fridge[/STRIKE]
Baked Beans
Lasagne Sheets - 250g pack
Cous Cous Plain - 1kg
Soya Mince - 300g
Boil in the bag rice x6 packets
Kidney beans
Roast veg cous cous x 2 sachets
Coriander & lemon Cous cous x 2 sachets
Spring roll wrappers (12 sheets)
Chopped Tomatoes
Passata
Potatoes

I also have a selection of baking items, various herbs & spices including balsamic, red wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce

hmmm...off to look for tofu recipes

LizzieB

The stovies sound smashing. We love bubble and squeak and hotpots so I'm certainly going to try that. Thanks, Penny.

Nuala, you've been the inspiration for this thread - I don't think you would burn anything!!! However, I did burn blancmange once before when I was 'home entertaining with beverages' as 'officially approved' by shazzle and CCP. Boiling milk and a drop of the old russian water does not mix!!

CCP, I am looking forward to seeing your lists. I too am guilty of putting something in the freezer smugly 'knowing' i'll remember what it is, only to find the 'lentil soup' was the last of the glut of pureed apricots.... Hey hum :whistle:

LizzieB

Nicki, that is 'the perfect' store cupboard IMHO! Lots of staples plus some nice 'treat' bits and bobs (can't leave prawns and my OH together, it's dangerous!). The pork fillet and apple combo sounds great. How are you planning to finish it off?

Have you ever used tofu for thickening things? I often blitz some into thick veggie soups (potato and leek, tomato) for a bit of extra protein and caveman carnivore husband is none the wiser. If the soup is well seasoned, he cannot even taste it.

Cheers
LizzieB

nicki_2

Lizz - I'm running mine down as I'm ordering a new larder fridge & freezer as the ones I've got are 1) playing up and not keeping the food properly, and 2) not big enough even though there are only two of us. I can never get any whoopsie stuff from Asda or freeze my baking results as there just isn't enough room in the freezer. My fridge is never big enough either as I buy milk in bulk (home delivery ) and I keep my fruit in there to stop it going off so fast :rolleyes: I've got an Argos code for £10 off (just ordered DD some new bedroom furniture and a couple of bits I needed) and I'm hoping to place the order for the fridge then a seperate one for the freezer this weekend Then using the last £10 off code I should get, reserve the lamp/lampshade set DD wants from the clearance section and something else (xmas pressie) to make the £10 up :money: then go collect them via the shop where I buy material so I can recover DD's stool

I've got tofu out for tea - but what I'll do with it I don't know yet :rotfl: