Store cupboard challenge

FZwanab

Count me in too. I bought a lot of meat in January and have to start using it up from the freezer. I normally buy a lot in bulk, so I'd better get around to start using it. I wonder would it be a good idea to list some of our store cupboard stuff so others could give us ideas of what to make with it? instead of the same old dinners that our families have got used to?? That way it would make the May storecupboard challenge more interesting.

sophiesmum_2

That sounds like a good idea.I had already decided to try and use slow cooker three days a week,and try out a recipe for one meal a week.I have a compulsion for buying recipe books,and DH has put his foot down and said I can't buy any more until he sees some evidence of me actually making something from them...lol.
Bought another whilst out shopping today which I will just have to hide in the wardrobe until a future date.......:rolleyes: :rolleyes: However it was about slow cooker recipes so I am justifying it as research..;)
sophiesmum

Lillibet_2

OK, have done a cupboard & freezer inventory. Shockingley I have come up with 23 meals out of what's in the freezer alone!! And that isn't accounting for leftovers! Trouble is, a lot of what's in my freezer is meat which I would cook to get several meals out of, freezing some of them. So as fast as I get something out I could be putting more meals back in! I should certanily be able to get by with just buuying my fortnightly fruit & veg boxes, extra bananas, baby stuff & drinks. Oh, ok, and maybe garlic bread ingredients, 'cos I love it with anything.

I know it isn't quite May yet but I'm starting.....

I have a list of meals that are all ready to go from the freezer (mostly frozen leftovers as I tend to batch bake, but some supermarket stuff too:o) plus I have a list of raw ingeriedents with which I will have to concoct some kind of nightly fare:p I will go in 3 day spurts for now, until I'm fully back on the wagon when I'll get back to weekly & then fortnightly planning

Tonight is salmon in some kind of sauce with lemon & corriander cous-cous.
Tomorrow is Chinese ribs, oriental duck & rice
Monday is beef burginion (sp?)

Just for a laugh, I also found in my freezer :

3 stray bulldog clips (I use them for keeping bags of veggies etc shut)
4 cartons of breast milk!!!
8 packs of x6 pitta breads & 3 small/medium portions of 7 bird roast with stuffing, leftover from Spud's baptism last week.
The obligatory tupperware box with mystery contents....possibly more beef burginion, lamb casserole or maybe prepared mince for a Mexican casserole?

Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can make with
2 very very salty haddock fillets? (I have 6 but have planned ot use the other 4 up by mixing with other fish in fish pies. It is far too salty to eat on it's own (and I won't be buying it again))
Medium size pack chicken liver. We don't like it on it's own, think I bought it when I was weanng Spud onto solid foods.
Leftover cooked 7 bird roast with stuffing? I am thinking of turing it into pies with some kind of soup-sauce but other suggestions welcome.
Any other uses for pitta bread apart from sandwiches?
Cup-a-soup when you don't like it? I think it would work as sauces/casserole mix?

MushyPeas

Thanks for starting this thread. I'm hoping to move soon (yippee) and want to stick to my current store-cupboard challenge and this will motivate me

I'm also doing a 'bathroom cupboard challenge' and using up the endless bottles of half finished moisturiser etc. that I have. It's been quite fun as it means I do take time to moisturise my feet, hands, body ever day (I normally don't have time in the morning) and I am loverly and soft as a result :T

P.S. Have also amended my signature to two lines

sophiesmum_2

Hi Lillibet
How about using the salty fish up in a kedgeree or other rice dish where it is cut into small pieces and diluted with other ingredients.You could even cook the fish pieces in with the rice,would salt the rice and hopefully lessen saltiness of the fish.
sophiesmum

annie-c

I'd like to join in too, please - this is something I've kept 'meaning to get round to' for ages.... so I'm really pleased someone else has started it!

I've done a small shop today, so am going to aim to stop supermarket shopping, except for milk, bread and fruit/veg, until the end of May.
An exception is that I am already on a year-long cookery course, which involves a different recipe every week during college term time. I really enjoy that so will still buy the ingredients where needed, as a treat. But otherwise, I will make an inventory of the cupboards and fridge/freezer tonight and start some meal planning.

I'm quite good at this sort of thing when I get going (my problem is with keeping going!)- last weekend I cooked lots of home-made 'ready meals' and froze sandwiches for the week at work (I thought the sandwiches would be vile and only tried it because I'm too lazy to make them daily in advance... but they were actually absolutely fine, so I'm going to do the same this week, maybe with a bit of home-made hummous and salad on one or two days to give a bit of variety).

I'm also going to tey the bathroom cupboard use-up too.... rather than seeing it as being deprived from browsing in Boots, I am going to use it as an opportunity to have a good clear out of my cupboards and pamper myself with whatever I find!

jaybee

Oh - I have got soooo much bathroom stuff too. I shouldn't need to buy anything for months (but I know I will).

Bunnyinthelights

I've been doing this gradually since NewYear but my aim is to get rid of the freezer in the garage-save money on electricity and use up the odd bits I have!
Re. salty smoked haddock-it's lovely poached in mild them put in the bottom of a medium ramekin dish-put mashed cheesy potatoes on top and have it as a starter! YUM!

Im doing the bathroom challenge as well-at the expense of my hair-it doesn't like the naff shampoo I bought BOGOF!

I have to do a shop tomorrow and will be doing an ALDI run-I think their quality is amazing. (on most things, lol) and I love to use my slow cooker-any recipes greatly appreciated! DD3 isn't keen on most things I do in slow cooker but then, I tend to stick to beef stew-she would most like eat chicken based things...

Is there a slow cooker reciepe thread anywhere?
Bunny

annie-c

Oh, this is where we miss Squeaky!!!

If I've got the link right, it's http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=131302

henhog

[Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can make with
2 very very salty haddock fillets? (I have 6 but have planned ot use the other 4 up by mixing with other fish in fish pies. It is far too salty to eat on it's own (and I won't be buying it again))
Medium size pack chicken liver. We don't like it on it's own, think I bought it when I was weanng Spud onto solid foods.
Leftover cooked 7 bird roast with stuffing? I am thinking of turing it into pies with some kind of soup-sauce but other suggestions welcome.
Any other uses for pitta bread apart from sandwiches?
Cup-a-soup when you don't like it? I think it would work as sauces/casserole mix?[/QUOTE]

You could make chicken liver pate with the chicken livers - it's easy and tasty. If you defrost the pitta breads and then bake them in the oven they make tortilla chips - sort of! I would try putting cup a soup in casseroles - it could only add to the flavour and thicken it up a little.

My freezer sounds like yours - apart from the breastmilk LOL, I also need to go through it and write out meal plans for the next week. :rolleyes: