Eating out of the freezer and cupboards challenge - part two

klbooth

Ginmonster wrote: »

I used up some old parsnips, a couple of wrinkly apples and the last of a packet of split chickpeas today to make some Dal/soup. I've chucked in a good dollop of some vindaloo paste that's sitting in the fridge so it's going to be a spicy one! We'll have this with some chapattis I found in my under-the-stairs stash of goodies I've bought from AF and forgotten about because they're under the stairs.

I used some of a huge bag of pizza dough mix from the same stash yesterday to make us all pizzas for lunch. There's still absolutely loads of it left though so I think we'll be having pizza a lot over the next few weeks. At least I'm making a start though. I've banned myself from even looking on the AF site until I've used up the stuff I've already got.

I totally sympathise with your AF issues. I have a caravan storage........ :eek:

dannie

Using up 2017 freezer stored batch cooked recipes = 16.

Thinking of another approach in order to use up "food stocks" next month.
The post Xmas/New Year season reductions and clearance products are more or less over at my local food store. This might help?

Ginmonster

klbooth wrote: »

I totally sympathise with your AF issues. I have a caravan storage........ :eek:

I'll be honest, I'm quite glad we don't have a garage.

[Deleted User]

Hi everyone, hope you are all good. I am going to do a store cupboard challenge, to really push myself, starting Feb (Thurs). I am going to allow myself to spend £7 a week on fridge stuff. Any monies left over, I will carry over to the next week. My intention is to not spend the first week, just meal plan out of stores, leaving £14 for the next week. Well, that's the plan. I too have some stuff from AF - some HUGH catering tins of beans, so instead of buying mini ones, hopefully I will be able to open these. I have a ton of 'posh spaghetti', charcoal, flower, pumpkin, to name a few, a bag each of brown/white rice, which I stopped eating, as I got put off by the arsenic content, but have since found out that soaking a few times before cooking, almost diminishes this, cous cous, bulgar wheat, etc. Anyway, if anyone wants to join me, please do, you can do your own budget, and one week, no need to do all.

caronc

Yesterday:
In-nothing
Out- turkey & gravy, tea bags
Used up- haggis, green beans

Today:
In - parsnip & chestnut soup, mash
Out - cooked stewing steak, spiced chicken & lentils, pepper stew, crusty roll, crab paste
Used up- bread, mash

ma-ri-ella

Save_Dosh wrote: »

Hi everyone, hope you are all good. I am going to do a store cupboard challenge, to really push myself, starting Feb (Thurs). I am going to allow myself to spend £7 a week on fridge stuff. Any monies left over, I will carry over to the next week. My intention is to not spend the first week, just meal plan out of stores, leaving £14 for the next week. Well, that's the plan. I too have some stuff from AF - some HUGH catering tins of beans, so instead of buying mini ones, hopefully I will be able to open these. I have a ton of 'posh spaghetti', charcoal, flower, pumpkin, to name a few, a bag each of brown/white rice, which I stopped eating, as I got put off by the arsenic content, but have since found out that soaking a few times before cooking, almost diminishes this, cous cous, bulgar wheat, etc. Anyway, if anyone wants to join me, please do, you can do your own budget, and one week, no need to do all.

tried this in January - didn't do to bad with the food side but went way over on other stuff . Trying a no spend February - not aiming dead strict i can buy reduced label if its really cheap because theres no point completely running down the cupboard then paying full price in march . I'm also trying to go with long life milk - slightly more expensive per litre than normal but I'm trying for 1 carton a week at 49p and if i run out that's tough.

Day 3 no spend . Use ups include casserole mix ,2 leeks ,2 parsnips - these will do tomorrows lunch aswell. total cost was 20p for all 3 packs reduced and will do 2 meals so 10p a meal. Will also have parsnips left over. also used some bread (weight watchers loaf 5p) and ate a muller yougurt (free) so cheap day

[Deleted User]

Ma ri ella Not wanting to go that far. I'm not looking to deprive myself, what I'm trying to do is force myself to be creative with stuff that I have in stores, so it gets used. I have lots of cupboard stores and plenty in the freezer, so just really need to get fresh veg/salad. I'm kind of becoming minimal, so running down my food stores is part of that. I absolutely hate waste. Good Luck to you. Keep posting, I would be interested to hear how you do.

klbooth

OUT: 2 packs sausages, corn, 1/2 risotto rice pack
IN: 5 fat balls

Well the risotto was a first for me and didn't go so well. I made way too much and put too much cheese in it so the family gave it the thumbs down, sigh, will be hard to get them to try it again but will leave it a month and maybe try again then.

So we are getting somewhere, with me being mindful of what I have in and trying to use up I noticed tonight that there is actual room in the fridge...... on the shelf and everything..... there is light to be seen here!

I am planning to change some of my cupboards around as I have grocery on both levels of a lower cupboard and I just can't get down to explore the depths of the cupboard easily or properly so am going to switch things about a bit and bring my grocery items more up to eye level so I can actually see what I have better and be better accessible and move larger mixing bowls etc into lower cupboards. Hopefully soon on this, need some adjustable shelves which are coming but hopefully next week will start the transition and will also be a time of stocktaking and working out what is in those murky parts.....

The freezer also seems to have some movement in it, not quite the battle to move stuff to find stuff. Still a bottom third of the freezer under ice and not sure of everything there, I think there might be fruit and soup though. I will keep chipping away at that, will be probably April time that I will be doing my next big chicken order and meal prep and really want to be in a position to have defrosted the freezer at that point, taking a few days off over the kids Easter holidays so will plan for during then I think.

[Deleted User]

klbooth I have found actually putting tinned stuff on the side in the kitchen to use it up helps yesterday I used up a tin of pilchards that was BBd 2015 and I am still here it was actually fine it had been kicking around my cupboards and just moved around when I wanted something else so I was determined to get it eaten:) I know the problem with freezers My top shelf has no drawer as I took it out because the ice build up was so much, and stuff is just laying on top of the ice now but I will get it sorted hopefully before easter as I too am aiming for a massive defrosting session.Today's I have dug out a lamb shank which has been in there far too long and once defrosted will go into a casserole with some veg for tomorrow nights dinner.I have a packet of casserole veg to use up as well that cost me pennies before Christmas so thats getting used also. Definitely only using food already in store for me for at least another month if not more and I am only buying fresh fruit and veg for the foreseeable few weeks.This food mountain must go :):)

Ginmonster

Save Dosh- I'll join you on your challenge for the first week at least. After that I'll start knocking into half term and it might get trickier.

I too have a big stash of posh pasta although not in exciting flavours (I did find myself thinking "ooh, they sound nice. I wonder if they've still got those in stock..") but things like extra long spaghetti which probably won't fit in any saucepan I own. Handy!