Eating out of the freezer and cupboards challenge - part two

zafiro1984

Thank you everybody for such kind words, I knew it was a good supportive thread and now you have confirmed it. DH spent yesterday afternoon extending the CCTV to cover outside the gates, fortunately we had all the bits needed, I just need to get a new money box and then I'll be up and running again (hopefully not to the gate, but if I am, I'll be carrying something weighty!!!!).

OUT
uncooked hobnob mixture
pack of sausages
rest from fridge and cupboards

IN
some casserole cooked yesterday just need to portion it first

I'm very slowly starting to see a difference to a couple of the freezers but there's a long long way to go.

Ginmonster

Used up more stuff yesterday making cookies with my boy, tagine and naan bread for lunch and finally a soft taco meal kit (approved food bargain - I have 2 more of them to go!)

I am starting to see a difference in the cupboards now as I can see what I've got. I think half of my problem was not realising I already had plenty of flour/lentils/pasta and buying more. The other problem I have is far too many varieties of what is essentially the same thing. Like sugar : I'm just using up what I've got now regardless of what a recipe calls for and it's been fine so far. Also, I've discovered that whizzing granulated in a food processor for a short time makes caster and for a bit longer makes icing. I reckon I can get it down to 1 bag of granulated and one of brown sugar and I'm sorted.

[Deleted User]

K9sandFelines wrote: »

I attempted to make some more seitan which was this time spot on.

I too would love your seitan recipe. I have made it before, but didn't have the proper flour, so ended up making my own, which blocked up the sinks - was a nightmare. I will buy the proper flour this time.

Nichelette wrote: »

In - Crusts of two loafs which I'll eat as toast (may become bread pudding if I accumulate too many), some chopped leeks & cabbage, cooked beef slices, stock

I make mini pizzas out of bread crusts, they taste really lovely. I freeze, then put them back in the bread packet.



Well, I did have a mini meltdown yesterday, as I bought stuff not needed, bit of an over reaction really, but hey. Bread bin - bought a pack of rolls, a loaf of bread, a pack of wraps, some breakfast muffins, & some hot crossed buns (whatever they are called), don't even like them, a couple of packs of biccies. !!!!!! - not sure what I was thinking. Freezer stuffed to the brim, so can't even freeze them. To be honest, most freezer items was from stuff I had cooked up from stores, but added a pack of veggie burgers, 2 packs of veggie fingers, a pack of linda Mc pies & 2 packs of her sausages, plus something else of hers, a plait something !!! and a pack of hash browns. Apart from a few salad bits and some dairy free cheese, I don't need anything and am going to try to stay out of the shops for a week (at least). Have a lovely w/e everyone. Oooohhh - just started snowing in London.

Zafiro - Sorry to hear that someone did that to you.

Ginmonster

Looks like it's bread in bread sauce with a side salad of bread for you for dinner Save Dosh. :-)

Nichelette

Zafiro - I'm so sorry to hear that. I try to have faith in people but that is terrible .

On the food front I'm not doing very well this week! Haven't completely stuck to the meal plan, have bought yet more food and OH didn't even eat dinner last night after I had defrosted it for him. He managed to sneak that past me because he bought me a bottle of cava and I managed to drink enough to forget I hadn't heated it up . He does a lot of sport and isn't a massive eater generally which sometimes messes up my planning. It was bolognaise that I defrosted but I'm not sure if it's meat or quorn mince so I'm making him eat it in case. In fact I had better do some pasta soon or he'll get away without eating it again :rotfl:.

I will do better next week! I haven't worked it out yet but I know I'll be a bit over my food budget for the month. I don't think it will be too terrible but I'll share once I've worked it out.

JensFeet

Had my planned spend at MrM this morning and stuck to my list - with additional allowed YS veg which will ALWAYS get used up. OH back from working away all week so beer bought for him too. I looked at getting the kids some half term holidays sweeties in but avoided buying any as recalled the plethora of items hidden away in the cellar from Christmas still.

Friday is normally DD's turn to cook but she is singing at a school choir event tonight and not getting picked up from school until 10.30pm so a change of meal plan. YS pizza and pepperoni used up from freezer.

In: cream x3, milk x4 litres, icing sugar, baking fat, margarine (DD doesn't like butter - can you imagine?!), eggs, beer, lettuce (£1.17 but I really fancied 'proper' lettuce with my salad teas the next 3 planned meals), veg, bread, crumpets, small baguette., 2 packs red chillis, 2 packs of brioche buns (long date but for Monday night meal)

Out: x2 cheese and tomato pizza (F), 1/2 pack pepperoni (F), brie, bacon, mushrooms

Should be able to get to Tuesday before needing fresh bread / milk - maybe even Wednesday but it's half term holidays so might all get used up faster.

Have a great weekend all... X

caronc

In: nothing
Out: 1/4 of stottie cake, 2 chicken thighs
Used up: small piece of elderly (not aged lol) cheddar, 1/2 a lurking lemon and LO coleslaw

dannie

No food groceries purchased since my last update (8/2/17). I have been in local (food) shops and despite their reductions, I was not interested in getting anything.

Yesterday felt good as I bought a (non-edible) item from the local charity shop which was only 50p. This was needed by somebody so gave it to them as a present. It seemed more pleasing than buying more food!

Ginmonster

Had a lovely breakfast this morning as hubby made pancakes for us all which we had with peanut butter and bananas - yum! It does mean we're nearly out of bananas now so I'll have to buy some more in the next couple of days but we're good for everything else. I might get some cream too for an indulgent dinner for valentine's, probs pasta with cream, garlic, wine and mushrooms. Mmmmmm....

Nichelette

That sounds very tasty Ginmonster! OH has just gone out to get some milk but I have managed to use up a couple of crumpets this morning, and two slices of bread from freezer which I toasted and forced OH to eat (also never eats breakfast - I won't eat really early in the morning but often he won't eat at all unless I make him). I do feel like I'm slightly drowning in bread products at the moment and they don't seem to go down very quickly as it's just the two of us. I'm definitely seeing a bread pudding being made soon..

I did my sums and my food spend is at £109 for the month against my target of £100. We're paid on the 15th so we go mid month to mid month. In my defense we were paid on the 13th and Jan is a long month so I'm not going to be too harsh on myself as long as I don't buy anything else as I certainly don't need it. I really need to start growing my own herbs. I have the pots I just need some soil and seeds. Maybe that is a job for tomorrow.. We live in a flat with no garden so sadly that's the extent of what I can grow. I'm hoping to get an allotment but I think I will see if I can maybe stick a couple of grow bags in the in-laws garden this year - I'm sure they won't mind .