Store cupboard challenge

kunekune

Do you really need to use it all up? I know it's a couple of boxes that have to be moved, but it's also there when you get to the other place and want things easy for a bit. Perhaps think about using half and saving half?

seductivesmile

OK! Hey Guys!

I have been referred over here to clear the MOUNTAIN of food i have, so, hopefully we can reinvigourate this thread and motivate some of us from the GC to shimmy on over here at times too...
OK - my flat is jam packed with things i have stockpiled. i dont know why i did it, but it seems to have happened since i moved in, and well to be frank... i'm bored of falling over things or having to move loads of stuff to find something! (if i remember it is there) so here is the start of the mountain. . .

Under bed Boxes

Teabags 160's
Instant Hot Chocolate
Sugar Cubes
Coffee
Decaf Teabags
Hot Choc (milk made)
Mayonaise x2
Salad Cream
Ketchup
Marmalade
Golden Syrup
Oxo Beef 12's x2
Veg Oil
Digestives
Bourbons
Custard Creams
Foxes Classics 16s
Penguins 9
Popping Corn
Shortcrust Pastry Mix
Bread Mix x2
Plain Flour
Self Raising Flour
Caster Sugar
Icing Sugar
Crackerbread x3
Ryvita
Cream Crackers
Fairy Non Bio Gel (28wash) x3
Surf Small and Mighty (42 wash)
Fabric Conditioner x2

Under Kitchen Sink
Chopped Tomatoes x9
Plum Tomatoes x1
Kidney Beans x3
Ratatouille x2
Chick Peas x3
Sliced Carrots x2
Garden Peas x2
Tuna x13
Pink Salmon x1
Sweetcorn x5
Corned Beef x1
Spaghetti x4
Ravioli x2
Baked Beans x13
Hotdogs x1
Ham x2
Sandwich filler x2
Custard x6
Evaporated Milk x2
Sponge Pud x1
Peach Slices x4
Fruit Salad x2
Raspberries x1
Pineapple x4
Rhubarb x1
Manderins x4
Strawberries x3
Pear halves x2
Summer Fruit x1

3kg Pasta Twists
1kg Pasta Shells

Baking Cupboard
Plain Flour ~3kg
Self Raising Flour ~ 2.5kg
Caster Sugar ~250g
Icing Sugar ~200g
Sultanas ~450g
Golden Syrup ~50ml
Cooking Choc ~100g
Demera Sugar ~350g
Orange and Lemon Sweet Slices ~3/4 pk
Mini Jelly beans ~3/4pk
Mini White Choc Stars ~1/2pk
Marzipan 200g
Mini Choc Beans
Choc Stars
Glace Cherries
Mixed Peel
Mincemeat x2
Writing Icing
Food colourings
Mini Jams x3
Dessicated Coconut x1
Sultanas 500g x1
Raisins 500g x2
Staples Cupboard - mostly in large storage jars

Pasta Shapes ~1kg
Oats ~750g
Noodles ~ 300g
Brown Rice ~1.5kg
White Rice ~1.75kg
Soya Mince ~500g
Risotto Rice ~1kg
Lentils ~900g
Couscous ~ 1kg
Smash
Gnocchi ~ 500g
Lasange Sheets
Spaghetti ~500g
Popping Corn ~750g
Dried Chick Peas ~500g
Pudding Rice ~500g
Soup Mix ~ 300g

Pasta Sauce x2
Pasta Bake x1
Chilli Sauce jar x1
Beef in Ale x1
Sundried Tomatoes in oil
Bread Mix x2
Cous Cous Flavoured x2
Croutons x1
Shortcrust pastry Mix x1
Puff Pastry Mix x1
Pizza Base Mix x1
Stuffing Mix x1
Balsamic Vinegar
Olive OIl
Sunflower Oil
Pickled Eggs
Milkshake Mix
Perculator Coffee
Cordial x3
Ice Cream Cornets
Cornflakes
Rice Crispies
Cuppa Soups x3

Drinks Cupboard (in the lounge)
Coke (Cans) x24
Various fizzy drinks 1ltr x4
Caffeine Free Diet Cola x 2
Lemonade x1
Orange Squash x 3
Vimto x 3
Apple Juice 1ltr x3
Orange Juice 1ltr x2
UHT Milk 1ltr x2
Bottle Beer x5

Freezer (part of fridge freezer)
Onions Rings
Fish in white sauce x2
HM Salami Risotto x2
Shredded Chicken x3
HM Cauliflower and Chickpea curry x 3
Chow Mein x1
HM Chicken Goujons x3ptns
HM Chicken and Chick Pea Curry x1
HM Beef Stew x2
HM Steak and Mushroom Pie Filler x2
HM Bolognese x4
HM Chilli x1
HM Chicken and Veg Pie Filler x1
Chicken Sweet and Sour Spring Rolls (4) x2
Mince Turkey ~150g
Salmon Fillets x10
Beef Mince ~200g x3
Chicken Breast x6
Sausages (3pk) x 3
Sausages (2pk) x3
River Cobbler x1
White Fish Fillets x3
Diced Turkey ~200g x1
Steak x4
Lamb Chop x1
Gammon x2
Grated Carrot ~100g x2
Fried onions ~100g x4

Freezer 2
Boiled Potatoes x4
Potato Wedges x 6
Mash Potato x3
Roast Potatoes x4
Chicken Stock ~500ml x1
Ice Cream x4
Shortcrust Pastry
Apple Pie Individual x1
Stewed Apples x 6
Stewed Plums x6
Garlic Bread x2
HG Sliced Carrots ~1kg
HG Peas ~300g
HG Green Beans ~500g
HG Cauliflower ~500g
HG Broccoli ~500g
HG Cabbage ~300g

Fridge
Pickled Onions
Pickled Beetroot x2
Pickled Cabbage
Marg x 2 1/2
Cooking butter x1
Balti Paste
Ketchup
Salad Cream
400g Dairy Milk
Vinagrette
Cherry Jam
Lime Marmalade
Pickle
Mayo
10eggs
Beer
400g Cheese
200g Cheese
Salami
SIngle Cream
Pate
Philly
Celery
Cucumber
Cherry Toms
Red Pepper
HM Cous cous
HM Steak and Mush Pie (defrosted)
HM Cauli and Chick Pea Curry (defrosted)
HM Mash (defrosted)
HM Chicken Soup
Apple Juice
Milk
Satsumas
Pears
Apples
Plums
Yoghurts x3

Fresh
6 Slices thick bread
Flat breads x2
Ryvita
Crispbread
HM Sultana Cake
Ginger Biscuits
Potatoes x3
Onions x4
Savoy Cabbage 1/2
Hula Hoops x3
Crisps x 3
Grapes
Bananas
Satsumas
Plums
Pears
Cheerios
Special K
Instant Oats
Phew....
I think that is the list of the food in my flat, and there is just me eating it!
My aim is to try and throw out the smaller freezer as it is munching its way thru electric and i should be able to live with just one!
Meals for the next few days inc:

Friday: Lunch = Cous cous stuffed pepper & Fruit
Dinner = Cauli and Chick Pea curry, rice and flat bread
Saturday: Lunch = Chicken Soup and Bread & Fruit
Dinner = Steak and Mush Pie Filling and Mash
Sunday: Lunch = Salami Risotto
Dinner = Gammon, Potato Wedges, Peas, Egg and Pineapple


OK, then i will devise a meal plan starting monday for the week and try my hardest not to be tempted, tho i do have a weakness for pastries, but if i have no need to go to a SM i shouldnt buy any...

Wish me luck as i am a confessed grocery shopping addict. . . I follow mums footsteps - food in belly = love in the heart.

SS xx

pink_numbers

WE DEFROSTED OUR FREEZER TODAY!!!!

:j:T:j:T:j:T:j:T:j:T:j:T:j:T:j:T

I never thought it was possible to clear out my huge freezer in 5 weeks, but thanks to this thread, we managed to eat everything. PHEW! Thank you for all your support, you guys really had kept my motivation up to keep at it.

Now I can go do a huge shop on Monday and fill it all up again, but this time, I'm planning the using up of the food much better.

Breaking what to use up from the freezer in a week by week 'ration' style really did make the job so much easier and I would recommend it to anyone who see a huge list of food and don't know where to start.

NickJW

Blimey seductivesmile! You certainly do have a lot of food!

I would look at the fresh food which is due to expire/on the turn, and then try and use them up first (or batch cook to put in the freezer if possible).
I guess the sandwich filler, eggs, cream and fresh veg are amongst those.

Based on this I can think of

'Mock' Spaghetti Carbonara w/salami (should be bacon but I can't see it on your list)
Boil some spaghetti. If you have an onion, fry this with the salami for a few minutes. Once the pasta has boiled, add an egg, stir through, toss with onion, salami and a bit of cream. Grate a bit of cheese on top, and serve with a 'Greek salad' (finely chopped tomotoes and cucumber) if you want to up the healthiness.

Omelette, Chips, and Salad - not very creative, but says it all and you can add what you like to the omelette

Fish Curry - http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/4666/superquick-fish-curry - you can use the balti paste instead, some of your fish (I've been known to use the 'Mr S basics white frozen fish' before) and you don't have to add garlic if you don't want to.

I noticed that there are no onions - is this because you don't like them? So many of my meals require one onion, so I think it would be useful to get a bag if you want to get the most out of a lot of meals.

There are LOADS more I can see, but I'm at work at the moment, so can't post too much. I'm not sure if those meals are really your sort of 'thing' as well, because I know everyone's taste buds are different. I'm very much a 'go by the recipe' sort of person, but I will amend slightly if I think I can (and it means I don't need to go to the shops).

I have to say that my cupboards are nowhere near as full as yours :rotfl: I reckon you could seriously limit yourself to no more than £20 for the next month (or maybe a few months!) based on what's in!

[Deleted User]

seductivesmile stop shopping this minute you have stacks of food, and like me you have suddenly realised that it is cold hard cash sitting in the cupboard.
Last week I did a week of 'a pound a day' to spend and at the end of it by using what I had indoors instead of buying more by the end of the week I had spent £5.70 all told.This month having done that, I have cut right back on my shopping and am getting through the stuff in the freezer and cupboards instead.
I bought it to eat in the first place so why wasn't I eating it.I think it was habit more than anything as a walk across to the shops and a wander around was almost a daily thing.I would go out for one or two things and come home with a bagful. Now I am only buying stuff as I run out of it and apart from fresh veg and milk my shopping bill has more than halved.I normall have £120.00 per month in my food purse and this month I have a great deal more left in there than usual simply by actually just not shopping I now turn right at my gate and walk to the library or park if I need a bit of fresh air and not left to walk across to the shops.It doesn't help that my house is only three minutes walk from a shopping precinct but I have become quite iron willed this month and suprised myself at how much even on my small budget I have saved in the past three weeks . I have one more shoping day to go till the end of the month but it won't be until probably wednesday or Thursday of next week.

XSpender

Hi seductivesmile

What a lot of yummy food you have in your flat. I see that you have HM meals there so assume you can cook and that it is just using it and to stop shopping you want help with. I agree with NickJW that you need to see what is going to go off if not eaten or has short BBE dates and use this first.

I would also meal plan for the month and allow yourself a very small budget as suggested by JackieO for fresh milk when you have used your UHT up then for fresh fruit and veg when you have used up your tins and frozen and juice.

Like you, I think there is a reason I like to go supermarket shopping and buy food; not sure what my reason is but I think been concious of why you want to buy stuff when you are in the shop should help. Today I put back several items because I did not need them for the meal plan where I would have bought them without thinking before.

I will be back on later tonight to list my own stocks. I think having to come back and show you all that I have used stuff by crossing it off will help me.

XSpender

Hello

Here is this list of my cupboards, fridge and freezer. I am amazed it all fit on one post!

Kitchen Freezer
[STRIKE]2 beef burgers - 1 chilli 1 caramlised onion[/STRIKE]
Quorn pieces – ½ bag
Quorn Dippers x 4
[STRIKE] Roast pots – ½ bag[/STRIKE]
Chicken breasts x 3
[STRIKE]Yorkshire pud x 2[/STRIKE]
Blackberries
Sweetcorn
[STRIKE]Pork saus x 3[/STRIKE]
Italian Veg soup x 4
Pasta sauce x2
Glamorgan sausages x 2
Chives
Mixed peppers
Shepherds pie x 1
Red/yellow peppers - 2 boxes
Golden onion soup
Beans – ½ tin
Naan Bread x1
[STRIKE] Quorn fillets x 1[/STRIKE]
Vege meatballs x6
Sage
Fish in batter x6
Green beans
Mushrooms - 1/4 bag and 1 box
Vanilla ice cream
Raspberry ripple ice cream
Grated mild cheddar x 2 boxes
Italian sausages x2
Veg stock 1 &1/2 pts
White muffins x 4
Tom & lentil soup
Leek, potato and onion soup - lots
Quorn saus x 2
Quorn mince ½ bag
[STRIKE]Garlic bread slices x 9[/STRIKE]
Mixed veg – not much
Pork chop x 1
Quorn mince – 2 lge bags
Vege mince
Green pepper
Mashed swede – 8 portions
[STRIKE]Wholemeal bread x 1[/STRIKE]
Peas
[STRIKE]White finger rolls[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Leeks, 3[/STRIKE]
Veggie burgers - 6
[STRIKE]Veggie hotdogs - 4[/STRIKE]

Outside Freezer

Large pork joint - for Christmas probably
Medium whole chicken
Pork shoulder steaks
Lamb leg steaks
Chicken breasts
Chicken breaded steaks
Cheese pizza – individual x 4
Peperoni pizza – individual x1
Runners pie x 1
Chilli x 1
[STRIKE]Shepherd’s pie x 2[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Quorn pastie x 1
4 large white bread rolls[/STRIKE]
2 duck spring rolls
3 vegtable spring rolls
5 pieces of prawn toast
Margaritta Pizza
Oven chips - 1/2 bag
1 white finger roll
3 small white rolls

Cupboards

Leek & mustard sausage mix
Slow cooker sausage casserole mix
Custard powder 1 ½
Sugar free lime jelly x 2
Beef Bourginion Mix
Chicken Chasseur mix
Brown rice
White rice
Lasagne sheets – 3 boxes
White pasta
Brown Pasta
Small white pasta
Brown Spaghetti – not much
Value noodles x 3 now 1
Arborio Rice
Dried split green peas
Red lentils
Macaroni
Multigrain bread mix
Cheese and onion bread mix
[STRIKE]Chilli sauce jar x1[/STRIKE]
Pasta bake jar x 2 now 1
Tinned organic toms x6
Carton chopped toms BBE 2/10
Baked beans x [STRIKE]25[/STRIKE] 24
Kidney beans x1
Cannellini beans x 1
Beans and veggie saus x 1
HM mincemeat x 3
Flageolet Beans x 2
Black eyed beans x 5 - have been given some nice recipes for these
Passata BBE 12/09
Apple juice
Orange juice
[STRIKE]Sliced carrots[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Whole carrots[/STRIKE]
Pineapple rings x 2
Tuna x 5 now 3
Curry sauce tin
Butter beans x 1
Apricot halves
Grapefruit segs x 2
Mushy peas x [STRIKE]2[/STRIKE] 1
Sml kidney beans
Sml sweetcorn
Red lasagne sauce
Original pasta sauce
5 bean salad
Madras paste
Balti paste
Tandoori paste
Korma paste

Every type of flour and sugar:o
Lots of other baking ingredients
Herbs & spices
Sauces, vinegars, condiments, jam etc. - too many to list:o

Fridge/Fresh

[STRIKE]Grated mozzarella - 3/4 of a catering size pack[/STRIKE]
Grated mild cheddar 1/3 of a catering size pack
[STRIKE]Grated mature cheddar – ¼ of a 500g pack[/STRIKE]
Cream cheese ¼ tub
[STRIKE]Pepperoni BBE 29.10[/STRIKE]
Goats cheese BBE 15/11
[STRIKE]Bacon – 6 slices[/STRIKE]
Large tub baking margarine
Parmesan
Butter 1[STRIKE] ½[/STRIKE] blocks
Halloumi
Feta x 2
[STRIKE] 8 beef burgers with chilli or caramelised onion [/STRIKE]
370g mature cheddar x2
Olive light spread
Eggs x 10 now 9
Trex
Tin coconut milk
Sun dried toms
Pesto
[STRIKE]Lettuce - 2
Cauliflower
Cherry toms[/STRIKE]
Tomatoes
[STRIKE]Carrots - loads[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Butternut squash[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Savoy cabbage now 1/2[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Spring onions[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Cucumber[/STRIKE]
New pots
[STRIKE]White pots - not many left[/STRIKE]
Onions - loads
Red onions (7)
Shallots
[STRIKE]Sweet potatoes[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]3 beetroot[/STRIKE]
Garlic 1 1/2 bulbs
Beer & wine & milk
[STRIKE]1 wholemeal bread roll[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]1 and a bit loaves of wholemeal bread[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Small amount of fried onions[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Iceberg lettuce[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]New York cheesecake[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Donuts[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Biscuits left over from builders[/STRIKE]

I have made a spreadsheet of all the above and the baking stuff and sauces. I had done a meal plan for the next three weeks but will tweak the last 2 weeks to see if I can use up more of this stuff. I have worked out that baby formula, milk, bread, dog food and fresh fruit will still cost me about £22/week and I will buy beer and stuff for our weekly 'world food' theme night. Makes a saturday night in with X Factor a bit more exciting:cool: I also get a veg box costing £18/week but will see about making this 2 weekly while I run the stocks down. I need the space (and the money!) for Christmas.

Any suggestions of how to stop me spending more than I should when I enter a supermarket gratefully received.

XS x

NickJW

I think you'll definitely manage XSpender!

Do you mind posting your 3 week meal plan so we can think about what to do with what's left?

seductivesmile

Yay!
Glad to see its not just me with a mountain to demolish, that sounds like a lot of good healthy meals in that lot!
I didnt make much of a dent in my mountain, after a really hard emotional day (i'm still sat here crying) i opted for roastie tatas an veg from the freezer with gravy. i think i managed about 3 mouthfuls.

Off topic here, but do u ever wish u had some truly amazing friends who would understand anything u say without getting angry? if so - where can i buy them? lol - spend all my grocery money on one right now :P

SS x

XSpender

Here you go NickJW. This is my meal plan for the next 3 weeks. I am veggie and my DH is not so that is why there are often 2 things on one day. For example when I make the pork and apple casserole I do 2 individual ones, one with pork and one with quorn. Lunches are sandwiches with leftover chicken or tuna, egg, cheese, or beans or egg on toast or soup. We don't have pudding as DH is trying to lose weight and I have loads of breakfast cereal/porridge in. Veg is a bit vague as it will depend on what I get in my veg box or what I fancy out of the freezer.

Sa 23 American Night with Friends – Burgers, HM Quorn Burgers, HM Potato Skins, Salad & Cheesecake
Su 24 Brother’s for lunch
Mo 25 Butternut squash, quorn and goats cheese tart, new pots and salad
Tu 26 Shepherds pie (mash from sat pot skins/sweet pot) cabbage and cauli
We 27 Pork/Quorn and apple casserole, mash, carrots and green beans
Th 28 Chicken steak/Quorn Dippers HM oven chips and beans
Fr 29 HM Pepperoni/cheese & tom pizza
Sa 30 Theme night – yet to be decided
Su 31 Roast chicken/quorn fillet, roast pots, yorkies and veg
Mo 1 Leek, mustard and sausage (using mix) mash & veg
Tu 2 Lamb steak/Halloumi cheese minted bean salad and roasted root veg
We 3 Pasta bake, garlic bread
Th 4 Omlettes, HM potato scallops and beans or peas
Fr 5 Bean chilli on tortillas using jar of sauce with cheese
Sa 6 Theme night – yet to be decided
Su 7 Lamb steak/Quorn sausages with mint and redcurrant sauce roast pots & veg
Mo 8 Black eyed bean pie with veg
Tu 9 Quorn curry and rice
We 10 Macaroni cheese surprise
Th 11 Quorn pastie/pork chop with mash and veg
Fr 12 HM Pepperoni/Cheese pizza
Sa 13 Theme night – to be decided
Su 14 Runners pie and veg

Thanks for your input

XS