I'm eating out of the freezer and cupboards challenge

dannie

Yes Frogletina, I am doing that too. Some of my storecupboard contents were purchased on usual ingredients that I felt would become more expensive. It will be a bit like gaining bank interest. Also when thinking about "overspends" this year, it might provide an interesting picture.

Lynsey, my "stash" is also helpful at the moment and will use it best I can these oncoming months.

quintwins

hi all usual toast and fruit for lunch, i really fancy a chippy lunch so i might go depends if i can bear to part with my money or not lol, dinner is mince and taties, i need to go buy some spuds or it will just be mince lol

bramble1

I managed a bagel for breakfast today dinner is the sausages i lifted out yesterday, have some jalapeno thingys i will cook to serve with and i fancy chips so will do jackets tomorrow with out chicken kievs.

My plan for the year ahead is much the same as Lynseys. £1500 budget, trying to take advantage of any fruit/veg/meat offers and make from scratch where possible. Make Lidl and possibly Aldi my main supermarkets.

Spent £1.80 in tescos on cucumber, melon and 2 x margs (£2 for 2 and i had a £2 off voucher )

cheerfulness4

I've realised that I find this thread so useful because others shop via the reduced sections and weekly offers in the same way I do. Then they incorporate those great buys with what they've stocked or bought in bulk from places such as AP foods in ingenius ways.

I like the sharing of daily meals to get inspiration and sometimes to make me think outside the box. ie, some veg burgers that the family thought so so were chopped up another day and popped in bolognaise sauce to make a lasagne the next week. This time round they woofed it down.

I like a thread that has much about how to use up these bargains that most of us are finding.
I'm just renewing my interest in coupon shopping and the helpful advice on how to include these bargains in day to day meals.

I do like meal planning quite far in advance, usually a month at least, but always do this in pencil and don't have all the slots filling in, just at least a weeks worth.
I have the reassurance of knowing that foods are there and waiting and don't need thinking about BUT each time I buy in bargains I relook at the list and, as its all in pencil, I can make changes based on the extra foods I've found. Then the original meal can be popped into a later slot. That way I dont' get lots of the same meal if I got a good deal on say mince or chicken. Works for us.

Lynsey

cheerfulness4 wrote: »

I can make changes based on the extra foods I've found.

Exactly.
I used to buy a reduced joint etc, go home and cook it immediately and have next day. Freeze the rest for another day.
Not planned at all and down to what was reduced, totally spontaneous. I don't think you need a massive amount of recipes, you need your favourites and simply tweak to what you fancy.
I don't really plan more than one day ahead, but maybe have in my head a meal I want that week (stir fry, spag bol, casserole etc., etc.).

Lynsey

canspendnomore

medsdemon wrote: »

Will try and meal plan for the next week before I go out this afternoon.

Probably it will be :
Saterday: Chicken Tikka masala and basmati rice with poppadoms
H/M sweet popcorn for xfactor watching
Sunday :Spicy Mushroom & Chickpea Burgers with Curried Rice salad & H/M Slaw
Fruit Cobbler & Custard
Monday :Spicy Bean & lentil Loaf with L/O salads
L/O Cobbler
Tuesday: L/O Bean & Lentil loaf with potatoes, veg and gravy
Oranges in syrup or just quartered oranges
Weds: Split Pea & Courgette Soup & H/M Onion Bhajis
Thursday: Spaghetti Bolognese (SC) and make a shepherds pie for freezer with the rest of meat sauce
Friday: Toasted sandwiches maybe with chips

So for this week will need to buy: Milk, potatoes mushrooms and eggs plus yoghurts, bleach and toilet rolls. I think that's it, fingers crossed and will use everything else from my storecupboard/fridge/freezer.

Have you got recipes for your bean and lentil loaf and also the split pea and courgette soup they sound really nice.

And I have 3 packs of split peas I have no idea what to do with.

Angela

bramble1

I found some chicken wings OH bought ages ago, have cooked some up for him to take in with his lunch, and realised i can strip the meat off them for chicken salads/chicken wraps too have 2.5kg bag so need to think of ways to eat them up!

Living_proof

I have come to the conclusion that I exist to shop. Not for clothes or other fripperies, but for basic foodstuffs. I must be one of the few people existing who like food shopping, for whom getting that bargain which will produce x portions of delicious meals, is totally fun and to be looked forward to. My freezers are full, my cupboards bending under the strain of goodies.

It has to stop.

I am trying to think how I could re-jig the GC and this one which would work for me and would actually be a challenge. It's not a gastric band I need, just a deterrent from food shopping. Maybe I am OCD with food shopping - what do you think? Might there be a cure?

Pentagon

There is some space! HURRAH!

I made a risotto this evening with half risotto rice and half buckwheat, scraps of roast lamb, left over gravy and the dregs of 3 packets of frozen veggies. Delicious

bramble1

Lifted out some bacon and will do carbonara for dinner. Just need to get cream and eggs I think!