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

mumoftwo

Just been "clearing" out the fridge/freezer for the shopping to be delivered later. I found a sad looking bunch of spring onions, a big pot of low fat fromage frais, some lettuce, half a cucumber and some left over mashed potato, some defrosted chicken breasts and one lonely salmon steak in the freezer. I have made some salmon fishcakes with the salmon and mash and spring onions to have for lunch with some salad.

But what can I do with the fromage frais? it is a big pot, bf today, no idea why I bought it in the first place. Can you cook with it? I was thinking of making a chicken curry with the chicken breasts, can I add the fromage frais to that, like you do with yoghurt or would it split?

linzmac_2

Hi all!

This thread is truly inspirational! :T I have been following it for a few weeks now and it has really made a difference to what we (don't) throw out!

I have joined the grocery challenge this month as had my first baby 9 weeks ago and not planning to go back to work so have to reign in the spending a bit, and using up everything will really make a difference to what we spend on groceries too.

You are all doing amazingly well and I have picked up so many good ideas from reading your posts-thanks!

I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE making delicious meals out of random bits of things hanging around that would eventually have been thrown out in the past!:D

mumoftwo don't see why you couldn't use the fromage frais in your curry. And if you don't need it all I'm sure it would be fine for another couple of days yet to use for something else....maybe mix some of the cucumber into it for a dip/sauce type thing??

Linz

2cats1kid

Sorted out the kitchen yesterday and I have shuffled things around to make best use of awkward-to-reach places. I now have loads more cupboard space for basic provisions. Yay!

Outstanding things needing using up a packet of Ainsley Harriot mediterranean style couscous, a big tin and a little tin of chickpeas, some dried apricots, some sultanas, the last little bit of suet from Christmas and most of a packet of desiccated coconut.

So today my rubber chicken did a chicken pie with suet pastry (suet all gone now) and the pastry stretched to 2 little quiche type things using up the last little bit of ham from the fridge. So that's my lunch for tomorrow sorted too. I am thinking putting some chickpeas, chopped dried apricots and sultanas in with the Ainsley couscous might be nice - any thoughts? I'm wondering if it might be a bit dry though, so any ideas on what to moisten it up a bit would be good.

That chicken went a heck of a way this week - one roast dinner for 3 of us, chicken fajitas for 3 of us, chicken pie for 2 and plain chicken for one (DD doesn't like pies), and two lots of 2 x chicken soup. All from a £3.50 chicken. Yay me!

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

I love this thread it's realy made me stop and think and be more imaginative.I've also stopped spending so much on fresh foods that don't get eaten.The ideas you all post are realy helpful.Thanks everyone.

Claero

I agree. I'm beginning to set up a spreadsheet with my approaching sell by dates so they turn red when the date gets near and it needs using up!

pawpurrs

I have two overripe bannanas but no eggs to make banana bread any ideas?

ravylesley

make a banana milkshake

Lesleyxx

pawpurrs

thanks, done and drunk.

galadriel

Cooked dinner today with sprouting potatoes and a half-price cauli bought about three weeks ago, also used up some sausages I bought last weekend in Tesco and can't cram in the freezer. They only had two days before their date. I love sausage and mash.

Am doing really well monitoring my fridge and fruit bowl. My main problem now is DS is always opening jars of curry sauce etc, he never finishes one before opening the next. Have to nag him a bit more.

mumoftwo

Claero wrote: »

I agree. I'm beginning to set up a spreadsheet with my approaching sell by dates so they turn red when the date gets near and it needs using up!

Wow! That is what I call organised.. great idea, I could never be that organised, how do you do that, so it turns red?