Store cupboard challenge

415SanFran

Well, here I am joining again. :j
As I still have that walk in pantry FULL of dried beans, lentils, pulses of every description, and a few no-one has ever heard of.
Plus i am also living only off whoopsied fruit and veg as a personal challenge for the next year. So hoping to spend very little this year.
Chick pea curry anyone? *again* :rolleyes:

nicki_2

I'm going to having a go at this sort of... I've just been through my fridge & cupboards chucking anything that was past its BB date or I didn't know how long it had been open for. Now before you shout at me for wasting food, its mainly been mayo/herbs/spices which I rarely use and have sat there since last Xmas un-used :o I noticed alot of stuff needed using up this year so I've made a note of them and this is what I'm planning to use up without having to chuck it away ( - means I'd like some ideas please!) :

• Jan:
  • Soya mince (BB Dec 09 but in a sealed container)
  • Red Lentils (Open since sometime during the summer)
  • 1kg Cous Cous (plain)
  • Packet of custard (plan on using this up with a sponge cake of some sort)
• Feb:
  • Jar of custard
  • Olive oil spray (or will this be okay to be used after date?)
• Mar:
  • Lasagne sheets
  • Evaporated milk
• Apr:
  • Roasted Veg cous cous
• May
  • Corriander & lemon flavoured Cous cous
• Aug
  • Spring roll wrappers

I have other things, but its stuff like spread and milk or puddings which will get used up anyway I haven't ventured into the freezer but I know there's lots of fish so DD has been told she WILL have a fishermans pie in keeping with her NYR to be more co-operative on the moneysaving/food front (on the promise that she'll get a weekend in London as soon as I can afford it )

Ladygrim

Hi Nicki,

Just wanted to say what a brilliant idea. I have yet to go through my fridge/freezer and cupboards, but will certainly note the BB date so I include it in the menu plan.

I tend to panic and try to use everything in the first few days, then get bored and fall behind again. Knowing the BB date means I can plan more effectively.

Thankyou for this simple but effective idea.

Ladygrim

hotcookie101

Well, I made a list of everything in my cupboard and freezers yesterday, and am quite shocked by just how much there is, not quite sure why I need 4 jars of wholegrain mustard but hey ho, thats whats is there.

The freezers are packed full mainly of meat, so have managed to do a meal plan for the whole of january involving only those. The only problem is as there is so much, and no fresh/frozen fish we are heavy on the meat and light on the old fish and veggie options-but we are having 1 fish and 1 meat free night per week (now occasionally the meat free night might have a couple of rashers or a touch of chorizo, but its the only way I can persuade my OH to eat pulses I obviously wouldn't feed those to a veggie, its more of a meat is not the main event type meat free night )

I can list the contents if anyone is interested but I think they would take up the whole page! Shopping list for this week is looking lovely and lean though :D Just some milk, spuds, onions and sour cream

skaps

I have some white stilton with apricots and some cheese with cranberries left over from christmas, apart from having them with crackers has anyone got any ideas what i can do with them?

Shortie

skaps wrote: »

I have some white stilton with apricots and some cheese with cranberries left over from christmas, apart from having them with crackers has anyone got any ideas what i can do with them?

Ooo I'd be interested in the cheese with cranberries as we've got a lump of this too in our fridge

We ventured into Freezerland today and Mr Shortie came with me. He was shocked how much meat we have down there and realised why I've been saying we don't need any meat for a while :rotfl:

So today's venture pulled out...
- Misc meat for a roast tomorrow (goodness knows, we think it's belly of lamb from a whole lamb we bought a while back . I'm sure it'll taste nice with the Freezerland roasties, stuffing and veg.
- Pork ribs, to be marinated and pulled out some frozen rice for Monday
- Mince meat - to make a Shepherd's pie, plus one for the freezer (I know, I know.. but if I can stretch it to two meals, why not..?

Will then venture back down there on Tuesday for the second half of the week if we're not eating rubber lamb still :rolleyes:

hotcookie101

OOPS! I just went to waitrose to get the spuds, eggs, milk and yogurts that I needed, and 5 packets of whoopsied free range sausages jumped in my trolley
To be fair they are the yummy free range Hampshire pig, or duchy originals ones, which at 99p a pack, I couldn't resist. Oh well....
Will not change Jan meal plan though-most of the meat has been in there a LONG time

Tashja

Hi all

We need some help :rolleyes:

This month is being a bit of a tough month a and it looks like we need to rely on the store cupboard.

We have some bits in there though that are going to be helpful if we now what we can do with them :-

Lentils
Quinoa
Split yellow peas
Pearl barley

Have a few other bits in like tins, herbs, spices and have enough to get to wednesday when I should have a bit of money for fresh stuff.

Does anyone have any ideas please ?:A

T xx

sunshine6650

Hello Guys.

PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!

Well i spent 2 hours this morning clearing cupboards in kitchen. To be honest a big shock & kick up the bum, i threw away prob 60% if not more of Out of date etc..i have teeny kitchen with floor space of prob double bed size, about 4 cupboards!!

i have 2 slow cookers, steamer etc, plan to make from scratch & start making soups etc..

Sauces
Jamie Oliver garlic & chilli pesto
large sweet chilli & garlic sauce
Crushed tom & basil sauce
red lasagna sauce
spicey tom pasta bake
3 x soffitto red chilli base sauce (to be added to stuff)
chicken & leek bake mix
chilli mix
rogan josh paste
tikka masala paste - these are OOD dec 09, but could be made & frozen.
cheese sauce mix
sauage cass mix

Tins
veg gravy
gravy
chicken soup
tom soup
sweetcorn
butter beans
hot dogs
sweet & sour chicken
indian style beans
mushy peas
6 x tuna
chopped toms

extras
stuffing mix
custard mix
crumble mix
small amount red lentils
poppadoms
fajita kit
chick peas
nuts (left over from xmas)
popcorn
biscuits
rice
pasta
lasagna sheets
cinnamon sticks, whole cumin, crushed chillies,garam masala,dried mixed herbs,salt,origano,rosemary,black pepper,
olive oil
balsamic vinegar
ketchup, brown sauce,salad cream
tabasco sauce

freezer
2 x chinese turkey steak
2 x ostrich burgers
1 portion chicken breasts
3x small lamb braising chops
3 x namn breads
1xready spag carbanara
1xchciken tika masala
4xbags bacon
2xcurry
lots turkey slices from christmas!
2xrasberries
2xham- left over from xmas!
3xfozen mash- left over from xmas
frozen sliced mushrooms
frsh broccoli
1 bag cooked carrots-left from xmas!
peas
peppers
sweetcorn
frozen roast-left over from xmas!
veg mix
cooked butter nut squash -left from xmas!
stuffing
pork loin joint
chips

fridge

whole chillis
frsh garlic
sun dried tom

usual- milk, butter etc!

This isnt everything but the majority, have pop,squash,wine,beer etc..

I have more ideas even looking at the list bu ive put in red anything i need major help with but i could do with recipes for any of it!

We are just 2 adults, like most things (can adapt most as OH hates fish!)
we love take aways & eating out but want to have these as treats!

I know i have to buy the ususal, yogs,bread etc
Dont mind buying chicken breasts & staple things to hold it all together!!

Im determined this year ill eat healthy,save money & be happy!

Thank you all so much.
x

wigglebeena

Tashja wrote: »

Hi all

We need some help :rolleyes:

This month is being a bit of a tough month a and it looks like we need to rely on the store cupboard.

We have some bits in there though that are going to be helpful if we now what we can do with them :-

Lentils
Quinoa
Split yellow peas
Pearl barley

Have a few other bits in like tins, herbs, spices and have enough to get to wednesday when I should have a bit of money for fresh stuff.

Does anyone have any ideas please ?:A

T xx

Whole lotta soup I guess!