Store cupboard challenge

purpleivy

Don't seem to have much time to read/post here at the moment, but I seriously need to do a freezer inventory. Family is coming for Christmas (although not having Christmas dinner here - MIL doing that) so will need a bit of space organising in there.

Well, the other thing is that I would like to use up some of the freezer meals in there in order to try and stay within budget for this year. My food budget is a fairly approximate thing, a 'paper exercise' but it would be nice if I could stay within it all the same.

I have to pay for my 16kg bag of flour this week. dinner things mostly from the freezer for tonight, but cooked up a load of stuff from the fridge to avoid things going off while we're off for a couple of days.

Today made batch of sort of ratatouille - courgettes, toms, onions.
Cooked swede and carrot together and mashed with butter and pepper. both these are going in the freezer for midweek dinners for ds and me.

Made a HUGE pan of vegetable soup, using stock from the freezer (2 litres!) some nasty value corn from the freezer and all other veg from the fridge - leeks, onions, courgettes, sweet potato, carrots. Was really yummy. Scoffed loads and have enough for 3-4 for the freezer for lunches another time.

Lamb and spinach curry tonight. spinach from freezer. Cuc raita (aldi 20p super6 cuc). THis is from a new book (£2.99 at borders) called Fat free Indian cookery. Quite a nice paperback, I think. Cabbage with ginger will use the last little cabbage from mum's garden. Peas from the freezer.

I see I have most of the stuff (well, all the expensive bits, just need some good strong flour) to do a couple of stollen for Christmas. I'm visiting mum's this week, so could do that there.

I love writing here, it really orders my thoughts sometimes! freezer calling!

CCP

LizzieB wrote: »

CCP, I am looking forward to seeing your lists....

I wasn't actually planning on posting my lists for the time being - the freezer one alone takes up two A4 pages when printed out, and the cupboards will probably be much the same.

I am planning on running down the contents over the next few weeks, and will post my lists when they're a bit shorter (probably about when I start running out of ideas and need some inspiration from everyone!).

If you're really interested I'll PM you, but the list is honestly not that thrilling!

LizzieB

Hi Nicki, you sound really organised!!! I can appreciate the freezer thing too, I've had to take out two drawers which were 'warming up'. Fingers crossed, the remainder seem fine.

Hi CCP, I look forward to your diminishing (not literally!!) freezer/store cupboard posts. Half the fun is in being creative I think.

I am just about to creatively consume a home brewed beverage along with preparing a chow mein made from half price Mr S steak, part of the 44p peppers and 23p red onion whoopsie packs I got from the co-op along with 9p noodles and 29p blue dragon sauce from B&M.

nicki_2

Lizz - I'm like a swan - outwardly I seem calm & collected and organized, in reality & behind closed doors its chaotic like a swan paddling frantically under the water lol

taplady

Penelope_Penguin wrote: »

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

I have followed your recipe tonight and it was fab!:T I made 2 individual ones for myself as I dont eat meat(only fish) this is a definite winner for me! so thanks ever so much for the recipe!
Thats 2 great new recipes I've got from this thread this week:T

nopot2pin

LizzieB wrote: »

I am just about to creatively consume a home brewed beverage along with preparing a chow mein made from half price Mr S steak, part of the 44p peppers and 23p red onion whoopsie packs I got from the co-op along with 9p noodles and 29p blue dragon sauce from B&M.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

I have to swap the steak, for a bit of salmon...
But otherwise this is what I will be having for my dinner tomorrow

Well except for the home brew ... I will be waiting till I get home from work for that one :cool:

faithcecilia

And quite possibly nexy week too!

I checked my shelf in the freezer last night and I have:
2 portions veg curry (in one tub, so will be 2 nights running)
1 portion veg curry
2 portions veg hotpot (in one tub)
1 portion soya mince chilli
1 portion dahl
3 unidentified portions, individually frozen, for when I need some 'excitement':rotfl::rolleyes:

'Frandlord' is cooking veggie mince Lancashire hotpot, so no doubt at lease 2 portions to freeze afterwards.

I have apples and satsumas I got yesterday, then potatoes, brocolli, carrots and frozen peas, various cheeses, plus (shame I know:o) 2 frozen pizzas - whoopsied to 34p each, and about 8 veggie fingers and 5 quorn sausages. Thats LOTS of meals!

No shopping for me this week!

ceridwen

Errrr....<cough> - have you got in milk/drinks/bread as well? Just wondering whether you eat those too?

But will certainly save you money having that much stored food in....

Things are starting to come together now for you financially .....errr....whoops....a leetle thought just struck me....Faith may not have a bottle of wine in the larder (cue your original entrance onto the MSE "scene":D:rotfl:).

faithcecilia

ceridwen wrote: »

Errrr....<cough> - have you got in milk/drinks/bread as well? Just wondering whether you eat those too?

But will certainly save you money having that much stored food in....

Things are starting to come together now for you financially .....errr....whoops....a leetle thought just struck me....Faith may not have a bottle of wine in the larder (cue your original entrance onto the MSE "scene":D:rotfl:).

I eat very little bread so will probaly eat frandlord's! Milk, yep got yesterday with the fruit, drinks - tea, coffee yup. Wine? Sadly advised against it while having EMDR as it can cause distress, so sober for another few days...!

Woofles

:wave: Nice to see you back.

You need more tubs, I have loads of tubs, but can never find one the right size when I need it.

I threw some out , 'cos there is only so much time you can spend trying to get a warped lid onto a warped tub.

My motto this week is: you can never have too many tubs.