Store cupboard challenge

jenster

Spendless wrote: »

God mrsE how big is your freezer? :eek: BTW I didn't even realise you could freeze cooked meats that you buy for sandwiches.


I'm unsure why I didn't realise this as I am perfectly aware if I cook it, I can freeze it and also that you can freeze sandwiches. I'm always running out of 'sandwich ham' for packed lunches...now I know what to do!

im always buying packed ham chicken corned beef for sandwiches when on "woopsies" straight in freezer and then use up as and when - perfectly safe
i agree thats what freezers are for LOL

PS does remind me though not too long to xmas so i too now the kids are back at school will sort out see what we got and use up before we do a big xmas shop

valk_scot

I make a point of dragging everything out the freezer twice a year, defrosting it and tidying it up. When I've finished I'll keep the stuff I want to use up first in a plastic mesh basket at the top and make a point of using that up first, whatever it is! Like most folk here I buy a lot of whoopsied meat but while using up the chickens and joints and beef mince isn't a problem I have to make more of an effort to think of uses for some of the other bits and bobs.

I don't like the freezer silting up tbh. Six months worth of anything is enough! I go through the larder in much the same way twice a year too and pull everything that needs using up to the front as well. Between the two I usually get a week or two's worth of "free" meals and I put the money saved these weeks aside to use for stocking up onb things I do use a lot (flour, t-bags, sugar etc) when i see them on a good offer.

Penelope_Penguin

As this has fallen from the front page of OS, I'll add it to the existing Storecupboard Challenge thread (which includes lots of people, such as me decluttering their freezers).

Penny-Pincher!!

Today I have used 2 packets of Ainsleys couscous (out of date Jan 10) and have fried half an onion needing using, few frozen peas and a little bit of mince to add extra protein and enough for another lunch.

OH made a soup from a leftover parsnip, 2 carrots, onion and 2 stock cubes.

We have runner beans needing using from the garden and carrots and peas. When we do the mash later, will add the rest of the Roule to it to make garlic mash.

We must do a freezer inventory as I havent a clue whats outside in the big freezer.

PP
xx

MrsE_2

Penelope_Penguin wrote: »

As this has fallen from the front page of OS, I'll add it to the existing Storecupboard Challenge thread (which includes lots of people, such as me decluttering their freezers).

Is a freezer a storecupboard then?

Would it not be a good idea to have one for the freezer & one for cupboards?

Penelope_Penguin

I've taken some broken tortillas from the freezer. I'm going to match the largest pieces, fill them with cheese and parma ham, and dry fry to make lunch

Half french stick from the freezer to make garlic bread for supper.

Olives from freezer to go in tonight's chicken casserole.

Sausages and beans from freezer to make sausage casserole for tomorrow

2 portions of "freezer roulette" for my work lunches

pink_numbers

I have a large upright freezer.

I have a love and hate relationship with the said freezer. I love the fact that I can freeze so much food and it lets me be so thrifty in cooking. I hate the fact that in the last few months, every time I go out to get some food out of it, it screams at me to defrost the whole thing.

I keep the freezer pretty full all the time, so I've been putting defrosting it for few months, telling myself that I'll do it when I've run the stock down... then I find yet another good bargain, and stuff the poor freezer back up to full.

I want to get my freezer empty, OS style. Even in this predicament, when eating up the contents is much more important, I am still not going to stop bulking out my mince with veg and lentils

Here are the goals:

1. Empty the freezer by the end of October so I can defrost the poor thing.
2. At the end of it, I can keep a plastic bag full of freezer stuff to keep in my neighbour's freezer while my freezer defrosts.
3. I cannot put anything new into the freezer during that time, unless it's made from what's already in the freezer (e.g. mince in to a chilli then freezing chilli)

Does anyone else's freezer need defrosting soon?

pink_numbers

Original Stock (SF = sugar free)

• Gammon (1kg) x 2
• Bag of peas
• Bag of sweet corn
• Oven Chips
• Butter x 12
• Rice portions x 2
• Seekh kebab x 1
• Fritata making material x 1
• Apple sauce x 8
• Sauted leeks x 10
• Sauted onion x 3
• Mixed peppers x 1
• Grated cheese x 9
• Pumpkin soup x 1
• Sauted mushrooms x 7
• pizza sauce x 16
• Strawberry comport (SF) x 6
• Cubed ham x 9
• Green beans x 8
• Pumpkin puree x 9
• 300g minced pork x 2
• Pea soup x 3
• Minced edamame (soy beans) x 8
• Mince mix (precooked in slow cooker with lots of veg & lentils) x 4
• Tomato sauce (from home grown tomatoes) x 6
• Elderflower cordial (SF) x 15

Tasks

• [STRIKE]Do a stock check of the freezer[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Plan how much of each thing I need to use up each week[/STRIKE]

Make (things set aside from stock already)

• Cook gammon, cube then freeze x 2
• Make mince mix (slow cooker with veg and lentils) then freeze (3 portions of edamame, all of the pork mince, 6 pizza sauce)
• 6 portions of ham & cheese buns (1 a week @ 1 portion each of ham and grated cheese each)
• [STRIKE]Mix peas and sweetcorn, portion it off into 6 portions[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Leek and potato soup (3 x onion, 6x leek[/STRIKE]s)

Week 1 (20-26 Sept)

• [STRIKE]Ham and cheese buns x 1 batch[/STRIKE] (18/09)
• [STRIKE]Butter x 1[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Strawberry comport x 1[/STRIKE] (29/09)
• [STRIKE]Tomato sauce x 1[/STRIKE] (24/09)
• [STRIKE]Pizza sauce x 1[/STRIKE] (17/09)
• [STRIKE]Seekh kebab x 1[/STRIKE] (24/09)
• [STRIKE]Fritata making material x 1[/STRIKE] (17/09)
• [STRIKE]Pumpkin soup x 1[/STRIKE] (22/09)
• [STRIKE]Sauted mushrooms x 1[/STRIKE] (21/09)
• [STRIKE]Mixed peppers x 1[/STRIKE] (24/09)
• [STRIKE]Mince mix x 1[/STRIKE] (22/09)
• [STRIKE]Apple sauce x 1[/STRIKE] (28/09)
• [STRIKE]Cubed ham x 1[/STRIKE] (17/09)
• [STRIKE]Grated cheese x 1[/STRIKE] (17/09)
• [STRIKE]Pea and sweetcorn mix x 1[/STRIKE] (24/09)
• [STRIKE]Rice portion x 1[/STRIKE] (25/09)
• [STRIKE]Leek and potato soup x 1[/STRIKE] (25/09)

Week 2 (27 Sept -3 Oct)

• [STRIKE]Ham and cheese buns x 1 batch[/STRIKE] (22/09)
• Butter x 2
• [STRIKE]Strawberry comport x 1[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Tomato sauce x 1[/STRIKE] (06/10)
• [STRIKE]Pizza sauce x 1[/STRIKE] (21/09)
• [STRIKE]Sauted mushrooms x 1[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Minced edamame x 1[/STRIKE] (27/09)
• [STRIKE]Pea soup x 1[/STRIKE] (05/10)
• [STRIKE]Pumpkin puree x 1[/STRIKE] (06/10)
• [STRIKE]Mince mix x 1[/STRIKE] (06/10)
• [STRIKE]Apple sauce x 1[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Cubed ham x 1[/STRIKE] (17/09)
• [STRIKE]Grated cheese x 1[/STRIKE] (17/09)
• [STRIKE]Sauted leeks x 1[/STRIKE] (27/09)
• [STRIKE]Pea and sweetcorn mix x 1[/STRIKE] (06/10)
• Oven Chips
• Rice portion x 1
• [STRIKE]Leek and potato soup x 1[/STRIKE] (05/10)

Week 3 (4-10 Oct)

• [STRIKE]Ham and cheese buns x 1 batch[/STRIKE] (25/09)
• [STRIKE]Ham and cheese buns x 1 batch[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Butter x 2[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Strawberry comport x [/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Strawberry comport x 1[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Tomato sauce x 2[/STRIKE] (07/10)
• [STRIKE]Pizza sauce x 2[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Sauted mushrooms x 1[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Minced edamame x 1[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Pea soup x 1[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Pumpkin puree x 3[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Mince mix x 1[/STRIKE] (07/10)
• [STRIKE]Apple sauce x 1[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Apple sauce x 1[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Cubed ham x 1[/STRIKE] (17/09)
• [STRIKE]Grated cheese x 1[/STRIKE] (17/09)
• [STRIKE]Sauted leeks x 1[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Green beans x 2[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Pea and sweetcorn mix x 2[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Leek and potato soup x 1[/STRIKE]

Week 4 (11-17 Oct)

• Ham and cheese buns x 1 batch
• Butter x 2
• Strawberry comport x 4
• [STRIKE]Tomato sauce x 1[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Pizza sauce x 6[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Sauted mushrooms x 1[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Minced edamame x 2[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Pumpkin puree x 2[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Mince mix x 1[/STRIKE]
• Apple sauce x 1
• [STRIKE]Green beans x 2[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Prawns[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Pea and sweetcorn mix x 1[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Leek and potato soup x 1[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Spicy pumpkin soup x 1[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Garden soup x 1[/STRIKE]

Week 5 (18-24 Oct)

• Ham and cheese buns x 1 batch
• Butter x 4
• Strawberry comport x 5
• [STRIKE]Tomato sauce x 1[/STRIKE]
• Pizza sauce x 5
• [STRIKE]Sauted mushrooms x 1[/STRIKE]
• Sauted leeks x 1
• Minced edamame x 3
• [STRIKE]Pea soup x 1[/STRIKE]
• Pumpkin puree x 2
• Apple sauce x 2
• Green beans x 2
• Grated cheese x 1
• Pea and sweetcorn mix x 1
• [STRIKE]Garden soup x 1[/STRIKE]
• Vegitable chilli x 1

craftlady

I'm with you Pink_numbers!

I had to bang the ice at the top of my freezer with a hammer so I could close the lid properly:)

Said to my husband I have to use all the stuff in the freezer, I can't buy anything else, then I go out for a leek (vegetable:D) and come back with 2 pieces of pork! Well it was a bargain........:o.

pink_numbers

oh I totally know what you mean craftlady! It's just so hard to pass on a good deal just because you're wanting to defrost your freezer isn't it? My freezer is like a confort blanket, I think I'm going to feel very insecure until I have the thing defrosted and stocked up again!