Store cupboard challenge

Penelope_Penguin

As this has fallen from the front page of OS, I'll add it to the existing Store Cupboard Challenge thread

Penny. x

purpleivy

Loadsabob wrote: »

Hello Princess Lou, interested to see how the two weeks eating out of the freezer goes. It's a trap for food, I find - I often eat the things I most recently put in there, and am always meaning to keep a proper freezer checklist. I did once, for a while!...

I always seem to lack space in the freezer. But I'm thinking that the boxes I got for freezing soup, are too big. They take up lots more room than the soup inside them, but I didn't want to keep using freezer bags :-( Will work on that.

Thank you for sharing the tip on freezing made sandwiches and rolls. I freeze HM rolls all the time, but never thought about freezing them made. With something like cheese and pickle I guess they will thaw fine :-)

I've started to be a bit more pro-active in using up bread before it goes off/dry, rather than thinking about what to do with crumbs all the time. If I realise that I have more bread than we need I just bung a bit of cheese and pickle in it and put in a bag in an assigned box at the top of the freezer. Then when I don't have anything fresh for ds for his packed lunch then I fish something out. The other way round works as well, If it's the last slice of meat or something, then I make it into a one or two slice sandwich , depending on size and bag up for a packed lunch. I try and do these things before the item is on its last day. ALso stops the people who go and hoover round the fridge nicking stuff!

purpleivy

Loadsabob wrote: »

I always seem to lack space in the freezer. But I'm thinking that the boxes I got for freezing soup, are too big. They take up lots more room than the soup inside them, but I didn't want to keep using freezer bags :-( Will work on that.

QUOTE]

I froze a lot of soup for when we had 17 of us for lunch last Saturday. In each case I made the soup with only half the amount of water/milk etc, so that it a) didn't take up as much room in the freezer and b) so that it didn't take as much defrosting.

HTH

CCP

Hello Lou!

The freezer makeover sounds like a very useful thing to have won - I did an inventory of my freezer by myself a few months ago, but I would probably have done better at using up the contents if I'd had some professional help!

Have you received the the meal suggestions yet? I would be very interested to know what they came up with, and if the ideas are at all similar to what people on this thread have suggested.

My own ideas would be:

princess_lou wrote: »

FREEZER LIST

2 Steaks - it depends what kind of steaks they are. They might be nice turned into stroganoff or, if they're braising-type steaks, you could cook them with onions, mushrooms and gravy (one of my favourites! :drool:)
1 Chicken/ Bacon Wrap - a quick lunch - perfect over Christmas!
1lb Stewing Steak - steak casserole, as a couple of people have already suggested. Or you could stick a pastry lid on the cooked steak and have a pie.
2 Sirloin Steaks - a steak dinner for you and OH, with chips and peas?
Lamb Shank
Chicken Nuggets
Duck
Chopped Onions - very useful, in all sorts of things. Add to the steak casserole/pie, or use to make onion gravy to go with something.
Peas
Courgettes - . Sorry, I can't be helpful here - I keep ending up with loads of courgettes and I've never been able to think of anything interesting to do with them. The best use I've found is to grate them and mix them into something spicy, like chilli, as then I can't taste the courgettes! :rolleyes::o
French Beans
White Beans
Spinach - as an accompaniment to something else, or turn into a spinach and cheese lasagne (which is about the only way I like spinach - fussy, aren't I?!)
Mixed Veg - add to casseroles, or turn into a mixed veg soup.
Casserole Mix - same as above.
Carrots
Exotic Mushrooms - depending on what kinds of mushrooms are in the mix, they might be good in soup, cooked with garlic, stock and a splash of cream. The same thing, with a bit less stock, makes a nice pasta sauce. If they're more oriental-type mushrooms, they'd probably be good in a stirfry.
Bananas - banana cake or muffins. I've only just started using frozen bananas in cakes, and I've been surprised how well it works.
Blackberries - muffins again, or serve with porridge or cereal for breakfast.
Mini Sausage Rolls - another quick lunch, with some veg. Or send them my way - I lurve sausage rolls!
2 Toad in the Holes
Roast Potatoes
Bread
8 Muffins - English muffins, rather than American ones, I assume? If so, you could turn them into mini pizzas, topped with some tomato puree, a bit of grated cheese, add whatever other toppings you fancy, then grill until golden. Surprisingly tasty!

I hope that's of some help!

princess_lou

Thanku everyone for ur replys. I havnt had the plan bk yet but will post it up when I do get it. I have decided to go ahead for this weeks shopping anyway & I will edit my original post to show my shopping list/ bill, Meal Plan & will cross things off as I use them up.
Had a look through some ideas u have all posted & they look great. I will be adding ur ideas onto next weeks meal plan. I have duck this week( only cooked it once before & really enjoyed it so I bought another one and been sitting in freezer since( couple mnths)
Anyway, off I go to edit first post.

Lou x x

hotcookie101

I'm desperately trying to think of ways to use up the stuff in my fridge!
Have leftover lamb leg, which am going to make into stovies for tonight and retro curry for tomorrow. But also have smoked salmon, brie, oxford blue cheese, M&S party hamburgers and brie and cranberry parcels......
There is just 2 of us but OH has a LARGE appetite. I'm off work today and tomorrow, but working NYE, and on duty so don't have a large amount of time to make dinner that night, but could be quiet so have loads. We are then both off on Friday but OH working night shifts at weekend
I had done a meal plan but it doesn't seem to fit with my ingredients... and I can't think of ways to use brie, smoked salmon and blue cheese together!
Was thinking pork chops with blue cheese one night, a brie and potato tartiflette another, but blanking on salmon (I just love it on soda bread with lemon, but can't think when we could eat it!)
We can snack on m&s stuff on friday I guess, or at the weekend.
Can anyone recommend anything? I have loads of storecupboard stuff, general veg, and a freezer full of meat! (well actually 2:o)

hotcookie101

Oh and I have grated monteray jack cheese too.... and creme fraiche and double cream and sour cream! and Philly-plain, garlic and herb and basil
HELP!

ChloeBo

Why not whizz up the smoked salmon with the philly and you've got yourself a little starter for NYE or have it for lunch in a sandwhich or put a blob of cream cheese and wrap it in salmon for a starter.
You can also make a cheesey topping for veg/potato similar to caluflower cheese with the other cheeses and cream.

poppy-glos

ummm,

salmon and blue cheese souffle?

salmon fishcakes?

i read earlier that if food was ok to eat it is ok to freeze, so maybe freeze some of it til you get inspiration or the right ingredients?

blue cheese and veg soup

good luck with your cooking

x

radiohelen

You could try pasta with herby philly and smoked salmon or creme fraiche and smoked salmon. Both work well and it's dead fast - you can do it hot or cold too.
Smoked salmon and scrambled eggs for breakfast one day?
Smoked salmon and broccoli quiche?

Hope it helps.....