I'm eating out of the freezer and cupboards challenge

Edwardia

I roast butternut squash in chunks and scatter fresh grated Parmesan over the top and sometimes a bit of sage. Also, make soup with cumin.

Brunch: Two grilled Young's haddock fillet fish fingers (offer, ASDA) Morrisons breakfast mushrooms (£1 yesterday) sauteed in extra virgin oilve oil (tasteless rubbery mushrooms eww), two free range eggs from local shop, fried in extra virgin olive oil.

Snack if I get hungry: carrot batons, cottage cheese, cherry tomato or two.

Dinner: undecided but involves a whole jointed wild rabbit Stew with dumplings for OH ?

canspendnomore

kezlehan wrote: »

New to this, but as I do all the cooking for myself and my parents, I'm really trying to lower our costs.
I'm taking it slowly week by week, and did my first week meal plan last night.
As we aren't used to stocking up the freezer and cupboards, we had to buy pretty much everything for all the meals. However, I shopped around and really did save money.
For example, we needed Oregano and Marjoram. Realised Holland and Barrett are still doing the penny sale, so I bought 1 for £1.79 and got the other for 1p. I'd have spent £3 ish for both in tesco. So really chuffed there.
Also, we bought loads of frozen veg that I can use in soups, and also just to serve with the plentiful amount of Quorn we bought. Planning on making a carrot and coriander soup over the weekend which lasts 2 meals. Also making a tomato sauce which serves 8. So plenty left over.
Also got a bargain of 5 frozen fish fillets for £2.79 from Jack Fultons, which will last more than one meal, and just as good as fresh in my opinion really. Bought 2 packs.
In total we spent £30 on a week and a halfs worth of meals plus having loads of stuff left over. We won't use all the veg, Quorn mince lasts us 2 meals, the herbs will last ages, frozen onions lasts us over a month, packet of pasta does a good handful of meals, and we have enough fish to feed a small army!
Really proud of myself that I actually took the time to sit down and calculate where everything was cheaper, and to actually plan meals, rather than just buying what we fancy on the day, which can sometimes end up at over £10 a meal!
I know it's not as good as most of you, but it's a start! And can't wait to see next weeks shop be even cheaper as we'll have stuff left over!
Nearly everything we got is freezable, our freezer is full! So exciting! Definitely eating out of the freezer this week!

Well done on making a start. You'll be amazed at how quickly you'll get used to doing things differently. Then you'll be busy like the rest of us trying to cram one extra bargain into your freezer and pulling your hair out!!

Welcome to the club!

vintage43

Everything is coming out of the freezer, slowly but surely
Breakfast Crumpets and jam
lunch - chicken pieces , broccolli, peas, carrots, sprouts, cheese sauce all from freezer potatoes are fresh but need using
Dinner - tuna on frozen tiger rolls. ice lollies!

actually sounds really yummy, nearly got two empty drawers now xx:j:j:j

Kirri

^^ I fancy crumpets now.. wonder if I could make them from cupboard stocks?

Well done on the almost 2 empty drawers!! Mine is still heaving but each time I cook from store cupboards I end up having a lot to freeze..

vintage43

Kirri wrote: »

^^ I fancy crumpets now.. wonder if I could make them from cupboard stocks?

Well done on the almost 2 empty drawers!! Mine is still heaving but each time I cook from store cupboards I end up having a lot to freeze..

I know, me too! but it really needs emptying, the drawers are getting broken as they are so difficult to open and the top two have frozen closed completely, so i need to empty the rest then put it on defrost, if theres anything that I can batch cook in the top two drawers then it will go back in, just looked on ebay for new freezer drawers £30.00!!!!! think it will be duck tape for mine:rotfl::rotfl:
If you make crumpets then put the recipe on here, we have not tried making them, usually get them when they are reduced and you guessed it, bung them in the freezer:rotfl::rotfl:

Kirri

I've found a recipe, it's just like a bread mix but with a lot more water/milk so a thick batter, I have all the ingredients but no crumpet rings, pah didn't think of that! I might buy some though.

Lynsey

Popped into Sainsbury's to get some Coke for my brother and had a little look at the reduced stuff, but a pretty poor display!!
Needed milk, so had to pay £1.18 for 4 pints (forgot yesterday) - hate paying more than £1 for 4 pints!! Picked up a packet of Leerdammer cheese slices on offer for just £1 and bought another pack of frozen jumbo king prawns for £2.50 - total spend £4.68 (ouch).
Just snacking today, couldn't be bothered to cook the beef, but will do soon for tomorrow's lunch.

I'm with vintage43 regarding crumpets, buy and freeze when reduced. Good luck Kirri, see how it goes.

Hi and welcome to Mrs Vimes and blackandwhitebunny, think it's the weather for 'full meal' soups!!

No plans and no budget for this week, what happens, happens. Fully expecting this to be my highest spending week so far of the year, even though the freezers are full. Been too frugal of late and due a wee slip - I'll blame the weather!! Still pleased with the 1st 5 weeks total of £60.69 though, very pleased in fact...........didn't think I was capable. lol

Lynsey

Kirri

You sound like you're having food bargain withdrawl symptoms, Lynsey!

Re the crumpets I usually buy when reduced too but do find them a bit salty and don't like the extra additives - so I'll give it a go once I've found some crumpet rings, got a feeling they might be difficult to get right though..

Had lazy dinner same as yesterday: allotment pink fir wedges, garlic mayo and pasty from the freezer. Garlic mayo almost gone and I want to replace it even though I've got other stuff to use.. trying to justify it by the fact I have more potatoes stored needing using!!

bramble1

Hey guys,

FIL is doing okay, spent two hours with him Today which was nice, they have confirmed it was a heart attack. Doing something tomorrow which should make him feel better and hopefully they will let him home towards the end of the week.

Didn't go to lidl at all this weekend, so will try and live off our stocks this week! Roast for dinner tonight, beef from OHs mum. meal planned for the week am determined to stay out the shops till next weekend!

Lynsey

Kirri wrote: »

You sound like you're having food bargain withdrawl symptoms, Lynsey!

Is that bad?? Any medication I can take?? Is there a helpline??
I think I have been pushing it though and getting the bargains has been a bit of an obsession, problem being I know the bargains are out there!!
I'm actually terrified, or was terrified of failing an annual budget challenge, so I'm trying extra hard in the 1st quarter to take any pressure off. If I can get to the end of June with a half year spend of £600, then the 2nd half should be a cinch. £900 for 6 months...................God, I'll be able to splash out on full price bread.
The spirit and motivation from you Guys has been an enormous help though and also the "silent thanks" form monks (please join this thread monks). It great to see others joining on a weekly basis, what we are doing is not that daft!!

Bramble1, glad that your FIL is being well looked after and will be back home soon. My hubby's uncle had maybe something similar a while back (blocked arteries) and had to have stents put in - all fine now though.

Lynsey