Eating out of the freezer and cupboards challenge - part two

Hopeless_Case

mrssd wrote: »

I've got a slight problem hopeless case. The runner bean guy says I can have a couple of bagsful in exchange for some piccalilli and chutney. Now, my problem is this...
Do I take the beans and put them into the freezer, thus taking up space I have created, or do I just give him the goods free, gratis and for nothing? I love runner beans, but I am trying to create space - not fill it up. I suppose I could always make runner bean chutney for future bartering...:undecided

caronc wrote: »

Personally I'd take the beans - I love runners and they are so expensive to buy and such a short season. I grow my own (though they are sluggish this year due to the heat) and always try and freeze some to enjoy throughout the year. I don't blanch them just chop & freeze in bags and they are so much tastier than the commercial frozen ones:D

I would take them too, and freeze them - this is the dilemna I found myself in, once you start taking stuff out of the freezer, and feel like that is your target, it starts to feel wrong to be putting stuff back in, then I started questioning what my aim was and if I even wanted a freezer at all,:rotfl:, but the runner beans would definitely be 'good' freezing, using and managing your freezer, and as caronc says, it's a short season and he'll be gaining from the swap

dannie wrote: »

Finished 1 from 3 of the batched cooked recipes that I am trying to have by the end of Saturday. Don't think I will manage them all.


This month so far, received an online (food) grocery delivery which had one fridge and one freezer item missing. However, purchased more "yellow-stickers" beforehand, elsewhere. Balanced things out a little (regarding space) but a reminder of how I can be!

How annoying - have you queried the missing items? Will they replace them

In: Nothing
Out: Bagel and 2 pitta breads
Used up: fennel bulbs which I bought and then didn't use a couple of weeks ago

maisymoo5

Mrsd, I freeze all cheese but tend to find the harder cheeses get a bit more crumbly when defrosted but still better than wasting them. Soft cheeses freeze very well and defrost perfectly.

As for the beans, whilst I appreciate you goal is to cut down on buying items when you already have so many, they would effectively be a swapsie - trading something you have a glut of for something you don't but like. I say yes to the beans, bung them in the freezer and keep bartering while you can. Continue to eat through your stockpile and then when the allotment picking are over in the winter, you will still have lots of lovely produce to eat and won't need to buy more.:j

as for my progress (very little I am afraid)
In
nothing

Out
two mini pizzas

tootallulah

Currently virtually housebound with sciatica so eating out of the freezer is going very well, I can see a bit of space but mostly everything doesn't fall out when I open the door now! I have frozen a lot of raspberries but what is left on the canes now will be bird food as I cannot pick! The freezer food is a God send at the moment, I am pleased to have enough to last for a while more as carrying shopping doesn't look doable in the near future.

mrssd

Thanks, caronc. After a quick look online this morning and seeing how expensive they are, I decided to take the beans - and very nice beans they are, too! I've stringed and chopped them (they weren't to stringy) and put them into the freezer in suitable sized portions. Never thought of doing that before without blanching them. Didn't barter anything this as there weren't many gardeners around, but tomorrow might be better. Apparently, most of them play bowls on a Thursday!

mrssd

Yes - I took the beans.
Thinking of putting the OH's name down for an allotment. Don't think he'll thank me, though!

mrssd

Ouch! Sciatica is horrible. A GP once told me the best thing to "cure" it was to hang from a bar attached across a doorframe. Haha - I doubt our doorframes could stand the strain - even if I could get up there. I still get attacks - especially in the summer months, but that has been overtaken by rheumatoid arthritis, which didn't bother me too much in the past, but is now accelerating with a vengeance: another reason to clear all the clutter and get my house in order before I can no longer manage everyday things.

caronc

Ouch on the sciatica, less dramatic than hanging from a door is to stand against said door as straight as you can with shoulder blades, buttocks and the back of your head touching it. Clench your bottom and hold for up to a minute. Relax & repeat x 5. Do a few times a day. It's sore at the time but does help (got this tip at physio). If you have access a jacuzzi or hot tub it can really help but float, don't sit in it and pedal your legs gently. Hope it clears up soon.


In: tiger loaf, peri peri marinade
Out: HM swedish meatballs, cream sauce, chicken wings, spaghetti
Used up: carrots, green beans

Hopeless_Case

Out: Whole YS tortilla, pack of casserole beef, small pack of blanched and chopped YS carrots, some more out of big kale pack, 2 more pitta breads

In: Nothing

mrssd

Thanks for the tip on sciatica: I'll certainly give it a go next time I have a flair up, as it has to be worth it to cut the pain. Luckily, I don't get it too often, so I really feel for anyone who has it constantly.

OK. The prepped pastrami is now in slow cooking away for the next 6 hours - one for us to start tonight and the other for son to take away.

Out: lamb mince to make a moussaka for tomorrow. Tinned toms and tom puree for same.
Veggie friend coming today, so more tinned toms and puree to use up with a load of (nearly) fresh salad veg from the fridge and make some gazpacho to have for lunch, together with a ciabatta from the freezer and some raspberries to puree and serve with rest of the macarons.

Tin of corned beef and box of a certain brand of tea bags for bartering purposes this morning. OH is fussy about his tea and won't drink these and I don't drink black tea. Hoping to swap for some fresh salad stuff for the weekend.

mrssd

I missed out the duck legs! For some reason known only to me, I bought 4 packs in a flash sale online. As per, I stuck them in the freezer (out of sight and all that...) until I could decide what to do with them. They're ALL in the oven now with the slow cooking pastrami and I'll make a duck confit. Also used a couple of tins of goose fat leftover from a few Christmas's back. I've not been able to find them since and the clearing of the food mountain revealed these also. I'll bottle them when cooked and they can do for a cassoulet (or three) later in the year.