Use it up! Don't throw it in the bin!

Primrose

strawberry - If you've got some chicken stock, or veg or chicken stock cubes and some onion, fry the onion lightly in a saucepan and then add the frozen veg and chicken stock to make vegetable soup, If you've got a stick blender, you can then whizz it up to make it thicker.
Or if you've got some mince, you can brown it in a pan with fried onion and a little stock, and add the veggies to make a savoury mince stew.

strawberryberry

Thanks primrose i can do both of those as ive got lovely minced streak ( bought reduced in freezer )1 onion that needs using and some stock. This will make a good start to my eating for free and will probably see me through the weekend.
Onions seem to be the thing needed to make a good base for all these things dont want to use petrol to get any more though so i suppose i could chop the frozen leek up small and treat that as onion supplement ? .

strawberryberry

Found a freezer drawer full of frozen fish ( bought reduced) its been there ages as even though i couldnt reist a bargain didnt know what to do with it.
Ckecked out some suggestions but i dont think it will be any good for just poaching or grillng etc due to age. Looking for ideas without spending too much extra money - trying to 'eat for free ' for as long as poss whilst doing the great clear out.
Got
2 rainbow trout fillets
1/2 bag prawns
loads of cod and haddock
6 tuna steaks
poached salmon in bags its broken into small pieces.

(checked on various threads salmon fish cakes seem to be made of tinned salmon/tuna seems to be grilled so im stuck there)
Any other ideas please.

greenbee

FairyElephant wrote: »

Have a feeling there will be a lump of mature stilton going early next week though, as DH doesn't eat it and as I may be PG I daren't - will try to find someone to give it to!

You can freeze the stilton if you use it for cooking afterwards, or, if you're allowed it eat it cooked, it makes a very rich risotto (make risotto with chicken or veg stock, then stir in stilton at end) to which you can add peas, or have plain with a green salad. Or melt into cream for a pasta sauce (again, peas work well with it).

greenbee

strawberryberry wrote: »

Found a freezer drawer full of frozen fish ( bought reduced) its been there ages as even though i couldnt reist a bargain didnt know what to do with it.
Ckecked out some suggestions but i dont think it will be any good for just poaching or grillng etc due to age. Looking for ideas without spending too much extra money - trying to 'eat for free ' for as long as poss whilst doing the great clear out.
Got
2 rainbow trout fillets
1/2 bag prawns
loads of cod and haddock
6 tuna steaks
poached salmon in bags its broken into small pieces.

(checked on various threads salmon fish cakes seem to be made of tinned salmon/tuna seems to be grilled so im stuck there)
Any other ideas please.

ALL of this lot can be used to make fish pie, with either pastry or potato topping. If you're trying to make it last a while, take out a selection of bits and pieces at a time. Poach everything except prawns in water from frozen (so you don't lose the flavour). Keep the water (now stock!) to make a roux with (butter, flour & stock from fish), and mix the fish into this. You can also add green veg (blanch in hot water or sweat in a little butter first), then a few prawns.

If you don't like the idea of a roux sauce, mix in some tinned tomatoes, as you need some kind of sauce - but it would be a pity to waste the fish stock.

As the salmon is already cooked, you could adapt the fishcake recipes that use tinned fish and use this instead.

Sounds as if, with this and the veg, you'll be eating pretty well for the next few weeks! Good luck.

kippers

Fishcakes....what a good idea...i have some fish in my freezer that needs eating up!...Thanks

Pitlanepiglet

Tuna steaks are lovely defrosted then pan fried with some garlic and lemon...do defrost them first though as they tend to hold quite a bit of water and are better defrosted, drained and dried off.

The cod and haddock I'd poach in some milk, take the fish out and flake it in a bowl, add some flour to the poaching liquid to thicken it then throw the fish (you can add cheese as well) then add some prawns and some peas or green beans or whatever to it all, top with mash and sling it in the oven for 20 minutes or so (cheese on top of mash is nice if you have it). You could do the same with the salmon.

strawberryberry

Thanks for the tips with the fish
- ive used a lot of the vege up now - in fact i made so much soup and savory mince i invited my mum and dad for tea . I had frozen milk loads of it in the freezer so made rice pudding for afters, they thought it was all lovely and didnt realise it was stuff to use up out the freezer . Ive still got leeks left i think they will go well with fish pie - just got to get potatoes or mash i will see whats the cheapest.
Before i buy either can I use mash potatoes in the fish cakes or are real pots better ?

greenbee

I have to admit, it had never occurred to me to buy mash rather than potatoes... I don't eat much potato, but I always buy real ones. That way you can use them for lots of different things. (You could parboil them and slice them on top of your fish pie for a change instead of mashing them, for example).

strawberryberry

Got work today hooray!
Went to shops and someone introduced me to B & M bought mash from in there hope its ok.
What a shop had to run out before i bought loads of things trying to empty freezer/cupboards not restock . Got some organic vege stock 49p as i will need loads of that for these other recipes.
Going to start cooking now took fish out of freezer this morining.
Fingers crosed.