Ok so I think I have a 'slight' problem...help

HenrysMummy

So as part of my new years resolutions I thought I would try to get a handle on grocery shopping and join the monthly challenge. I've watched it for a while and thought new year, new start get involved.

I often see when reading other threads (I'm a lurker ) that when people say they have no money you guys ask them to list what's in their stock cupboard. Here's where the problem lies. I thought I'd make a list of mine to keep for when I go shopping so I don't buy stuff I don't need.

The thing is... and I'm actually quite ashamed to say this .. it took me ages to write my list down. I knew my compulsion to buy food shopping was bad, but this borders on slightly crazy / ridiculous. :embarasse

I was wondering if I posted on here what I have people could help me think up meals to use up all my stuff without having to buy new things (exceptions of fruit, veg and meat obviously). The thing is I like to cook (when I find a recipe I like the look of) but when I go to get the recipe books out to meal plan I find myself overwhelmed, not knowing where to start, hence then going to shops to get yet more things to make the meals I've decided on doing.

Anyone willing to help a hand getting as many meals as I can out of my stock pile (s) of food? I was thinking, depending on how long you guys could eek my stuff out for I would make a donation of some of the money I save from not keep going to the shops to local charity. Takers??

lostinrates

Go for it.

Some of the old stylers are brilliant at this.


I too am working on some of my 'pushed to the back' stuff, and I KNOW I will be asking for ideas on some of them, but the bigger the list the more fun can be had with it.

Especially knowing you like to cook.

Cheapskate

I know just what you mean - the last time I did a food stocktake (including listing each and every herb and spice!), I filled more than 3 sides of A4 paper!!! Tomorrow I will be doing the list again, but doing meal plans at the same time, to minimise my January spends.

A xo

Pitlanepiglet

If it makes you feel any better, we could survive for 8 weeks or more on the stocks I have, including making bread for that long (except yeast) and there are 3 of us, we'd need milk for one but I could make soya milk for the other two for that long.

I've got a new sack of potatoes and a big net of horse carrots so we'd have those for a good few weeks.

Post you list up and the clever folks will help

bluebag

You have to wear a hard hat to open my kitchen cupboards.

The freezer is like Tetris, no one else will get anything out of it, because they find it impossible to put everything back in so the lid shuts.

HenrysMummy

It has taken me all this time to type the list up. I am honestly really embarrassed about the amount of food we have in the house. There is only me, OH and DS (3) in the house, so lord only knows why I have this compulsion to hoard!!

The list fills 4 sheets on Microsoft word!!! :embarasse

You'll see to make me feel (slightly) better Ive put ys next to a few items and homemade next to a few others. I know it doesn't mean anything really if only that I really don't want to continue spending this stupid amount of money on things I don't need.

HenrysMummy

Dry Cupboard
2 x Pilaurice (2min micro kind)
1 x 8 pack poppadums’
2 x cansKindney beans
1 x canchickpeas
2 x canchopped tomatoes
1 xVegetable soup can
4 x bakedbeans
5 x tomatosoup
1 x tinpotatoes
1 x tincarrots
450gwholegrain brown rice
500g driedkidney beans
200g driedborlotti beans
350g driedchickpeas
300g pearlbarley
280grisotto rice
300g redsplit lentils
400gsultanas
1kg whiterice
250g driedapricots
250g smallpasta shells
125graisins
1 packdried lasagne sheets
400gpudding rice
1 jar goosefat
1 xciabatta loaf
4 x whitebaguettes
1 x tubmild curry powder Schwartz
12 xchicken stock cubes
170g clearrunny honey
Smalltagine spice mix tub
3 x fishstock pot (knorr)
1 x beefstock cube
15 x vegstock cubes
1kgspaghetti pasta
1kg passata
1 x reddolmio and 1 x white domiio lasagne sauce
2 x hoisinand garlic stir fry sauce
1 x periperi medium rub for chicken
1 x longgrain rice microwave sachet
1 x slowcooker chicken curry packet mix
3 x roastedveg couscous Ainsley harriot mix
1 x vegflavour instant noodles
1 x hollandaisesauce mix
1 x kidscheese and tom rice micro packet
1 x chickencasserole mix
3 x shepherdpie mix packets
1 x beefcasserole packet mix
1 x chickenand chorizo gratin packet mix
190g suet
2 x packetsstuffing mix
1 xsomerset pork packet mix
1.3kgcouscous
1 x chillicon carne mix packet
½ jarpataks tandoori paste
1 jar leviroots reggae reggae cooking sauce
1 x spagbol sauce
2 x goldensyrup jars
42 x icecream cones (1x choc, 1 x strawb sauce)
2 x Betty Crockerchoc fudge icing
Vanilla essence
Mini marshmallowsabout 100g
16 x 7gdried yeast sachets
6 x sachetsbicarb soda + 180g pot
160g bakingpowder
14 xmeringue nests
2kgporridge oats
1kg cornflakes
10 Weetabix
1kg catersugar
1.3kg self-raisingwhite flour
2.5kg plainflour
1.5kg stonegroundwholemeal bread flour
1.5kgstrong white bread flour
Chickengravy granules
Beef gravygranules
Balsamic vinegar
Olive oil
Groundnut oil
Chilli vinegar
Light soysauce
Sunflower oil
2 x sweetchilli dipping sauce jars
1 x cancondensed milk
1 xchocolate spread
Worcestershiresauce
1 x Bournevillecocoa powder

Herbs andspices: oregano, cumin, mild chilli powder, ginger, crushed chillies, parsley, cinnamon,mixed herbs, ground coriander, black pepper, star anise fruits, turmeric,ground cloves, bouquet garni, thyme, tarragon, cayenne pepper, ground nutmeg,whole cumin seeds, paprika, garam masala.

1kg goldengranulate sugar
1.3kg Demerarasugar
500g lightbrown soft sugar
200g icingsugar

Freezer
20 fishfingers
48 minihomemade mince pies
1kg choppedonion
600g wintervegetable mix
Herbs and spices in freezer – garlic, ginger, mint, jalapenos,coriander, parsley.
1 x sainscod and chorizo potatos bravas (ys –thankfully)
1 packroasted butter parsnips (ys)
800g petitepois
1.4kgsweetcorn
1 x beef inblack bean sauce ready meal
1 x Thai redchicken curry ready meal
500g mince
8 x chickenbreasts
2 x pizzassloppy Giuseppe (ys)
16 x minisausages in bacon (ys)
1 x cheeseand garlic bread pizza bread
450g roastpotatoes (home made)
8 x pork sausages
6 meat freesoya sausages
20 meatfree soya sausage rolls
2 ½ garlicbread baguettes
4 x Yorkshirepuddings (homemade)
2 x plainnaan breads
1kgsouthern fries
3 x focacciabread
4 x Pollackfishcakes
Packet ofking prawns
1 ½ blockspuff pastry
2 skinlessand boneless haddock fillets

Fridge
1 x tubphilladelphia
100gpancetta
1 x backbacon pack
1 x pizzaexpress salad dressing
1 x squirtycream
Butter
Eggs
Milk
Red chillies
Red +yellow peppers (3)
4 lemons +4 limes
Garlic bulbs(3)
Chatennay carrots
4 x bakingpotatoes
Seafood sauce(6 weeks until no good)
Mayo (1month)
200gcranberry sauce (homemade)
½ jarstrawberry jam
½ jar mangochutney
Jar ofwholegrain mustard
Jar Dijonmustard
1 x roll shortcrust pastry
Maple syrup
Hot peppersauce

I'm just off to hide at that omission of food volume. The other reason I find it so bizarre is in every other room of the house Im a nightmare for throwing things out / charity shop / regifting - my hubby moans about the fact he can never find things as I have found new homes for them. Im the same at work too, if it isn't used in 12 months it goes. So why do I feel the need to hoard food?

crafty_witch

Henrys Mummy you aren't alone in this compulsion, my list would be pretty similar to yours. If anything it's worse.

I feel the need to be able to produce 2-3 days worth of meals out of the store cupboard in case of illness or weather but frankly I could probably feed us for a month or more.

Following this thread as I too want to reduce the stock pile:)

I have a TINY kitchen and a small fridge freezer so I often have trouble when I get home from the sm finding space to put it as the cupboards are already full! Mad or what?

calicocat

Well, I have to say that I have different things obviously, but bet I could have a list that long, if not longer(especially freezer), and there is only me!!

Last count I had 17 packs of smoked salmon alone, and that's in half of ONE of the 7 freezer drawers...and i'm amazing at cramming stuff in.

Dozey_crow

Yep dont feel bad.. My list would also be very similar! I am to tired to think tonight but I will come back tomorrow,

HenrysMummy

Thank you both for making me feel a little less odd