Store cupboard challenge

gizmo111

Dug out a potato dauphinose from freezer to go with last nights tea - similar thing left over cream from some festivity through the year (easter I think), was lovelym had some prok and stiltion sauges with it that were on offer last week. Need milk, veg and loo roll this week, will buy as much veg as can and cook on sat (hangover permitting:p) and freeze leftovers for a quick roast through Jan weekdays. Loads of flour etc to make bread.

motherhen2234

One of my favorite store cupboard recipes is spicy one pot rice.

To serve me when hungry:-

Tablespoon of curry paste (normally lurks in our fridge)
Enough rice for one (what ever is in)
1/2 tin chickpeas
Handful frozen spinach (defrosted)
Stock cube / water

Toast off the curry paste is a little oil, coat the rice and add the chickpeas. Add enough stock to cook the rice. Once the rice is virtually cooked and the liquid has nearly gone add the spinach an cook for another few minutes.

Stick in a bowl and enjoy. A great quick veggie supper

cheerfulness4

Okay I'm in too!
We're just waiting for our moving date so I'm thinking that running the stocks down in my cupboards and emptying the freezers will be a good idea as we'll be staying with my parents for a few weeks after the move.

Best get some menu planning done while I'm sitting watching a bit of telly.

The mention of pudding above got me thinking. Have just finished reading the second of the Nella Last diaries and was intrigued by the fact that she made good but very different meals. Always a little soup, small main and a pudding or cake/biscuit. It was so homely and always made them feel well fed during rationing. Food for thought.

suzybloo

Its quite common here to stew beef and sausages in the same pan (think the kids got the sausages and the grown ups got the steak!!!~) Lovely with a thick onion gravy, dumplings, peas and roasties

skintbint_2

was just gonna post the same thing Suzy - made like a steak pie we usually have it on new years day in our house

janeawej

No problem , either bung it all together as an extra hearty stew with dumplings or be sophisticated by offering a choice, a winner either way Mardathar

janeawej

Well I have to say the Cauliflower cheese wasnt a great success! Perfectly edible but apparently not as good as I usually make, still we are all full and one tub of creme fraiche, a cauliflower and some left over cheese was used up, so in its own way a good result! Found some chippolatas lurking in the bottom of the freezer and some spuds I didnt know I had so sausage mash, sprouts and mushy peas with onion gravy tomorrow!

gizmo111

janeawej wrote: »

Well I have to say the Cauliflower cheese wasnt a great success! Perfectly edible but apparently not as good as I usually make, still we are all full and one tub of creme fraiche, a cauliflower and some left over cheese was used up, so in its own way a good result! Found some chippolatas lurking in the bottom of the freezer and some spuds I didnt know I had so sausage mash, sprouts and mushy peas with onion gravy tomorrow!

Well done, sausage mash and gravy my favourite:D

I think the one thing I learnt from last year was not to skimp on the quality of the food just to save a bit - recycling the leftovers can be done in so many different ways and it needs to be a fun for the whole family rather than a chore to eat things you don't like. I know it taught my girls many different ways of economising and stretching the food they enjoy, you'd be amazed how my 17 yr old now views a tin of tuna when before it was one sandwich it is now 3 favouite meals.

mardatha

Brilliant, many thanks all!

craftycrofty

Where to find a thread? A while ago I remember reading a thread which had been started by someone who decided to use up all their groceries before buying anything else (it was in the days where the postal strikes were on and I think her partner was a postie). I can't remember the name of the OP but I do remember she said she had stock piles of flour, sugar etc which she was going to try and use up. She carried it on for quite a long time. I have been trying to find it for the last couple of days - with no luck!