Please help me make the food in my cupboards last as long as possible.

Readytomakechanges

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaXtnAfb9rk&list=PLAk5jrBqNCWzrH-kT_5wWTBUFFwEBbu1d&index=109

Made this for tonight and it was delicious and easy and didn't make much mess. Think I may use the same recipe next week with sweet potato instead of lamb.

Thank you so much for all of the ideas so far.

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

Just buy what you need, not what you want

samanthaneww2d

you could if the sausages are not too tiny defrost cut the skin squeeze and roll the meat from inside into tiny balls the size of cherry tomatoes. gently fry put to one side. make a tomato based sauce bulking out with grated carrot and courgette or whatever you have and then adding your sausage cooking through and serve with pasta of some kind.

make a stir fry with your rice add a small amount of finely sliced chicken from one of the bits in your freezer.

samanthaneww2d

i have seen a soup with frozen peas ( and not a lot else) recipe somewhere in one of my books. i'll dig it out and post tomorrow,

also you could use the red lentils for bolognese sauce and serve with pasta very filling and protein packed.

grandma247

http://www.slowcookercentral.com/category/eggs/

There are some unusual recipes on this site that might give you some ideas. Quiche is an easy one to use up different veggies. Just use what you have.

http://www.slowcookercentral.com/recipe/lentil-split-pea-dhal/
Add sliced hot dogs to this after it is cooked.

You might want to look at making what they call dump bags (as in bag it, freeze it, thaw and dump in the slow cooker) for the future. Also known as crock pot freezer meals. There are loads of recipes out there. You could double up 14 days of your favourites and have almost a months worth of food for just a few hours of work,
less time if your Dh helps with the prep.

Butterfly_Brain

Sausage ideassausage casserole
6 cooked sausages sliced into chunks, veggies of choice a tin of baked beans and tomatoes add herbs of choice

Sausage pasta or sausage rice
6 cooked sausages sliced into chunks add diced veggies of choice and pasta sauce serve with pasta or rice

Toad in the hole slice or quarter the sausages instead of putting them in whole

Sausage meatballs in tomato sauce with herby rice
6 sausages
oil
1 onion
2 garlic cloves or to taste
1 tsp paprika
2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes
300g rice
Handful fresh coriander or parsley leaves – chopped

Remove the skins from the sausages then break each sausage into thirds. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan and, when hot, add the sausages. Brown all over, then remove and set aside. Chop the onion, crush the garlic, then add to the pan with paprika and a splash more oil. Reduce the heat and fry gently for 5-6 minutes until the onion is translucent
Add the chopped tomatoes and bring to a gentle simmer. Return the sausages to the pan and cook, stirring frequently, until the sauce reduces and thickens. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
Meanwhile cook the rice and then stir in the coriander or parsley along with some seasoning

Sausage plait

Sausage pasta bake
6 pork sausages, cut into chunks
Jar of pasta sauce
350g dried pasta shapes
Handful torn fresh basil leaves, or dried basil plus extra to serve
150g mozzarella ball, drained and diced

Heat a frying pan over a medium-high heat. Add the sausages and cook for 4-5 minutes, until browned.
Add the pasta sauce, half-fill the jar with water and rinse out into the pan. Simmer for 5 minutes, until the sausages are cooked – it will be quite saucy. Season.
Meanwhile, preheat the grill to high. Cook the pasta shapes in a large saucepan of boiling water for 10 minutes or until al dente. Drain and return to the pan.
Add the sausage mix and a handful torn fresh basil leaves. Stir, then tip into a large deep ovenproof dish. Dot with mozzarella then grill for 3-4 minutes to melt the cheese. Scatter with basil leaves and serve with garlic bread.

Eggs can be used in a egg and potato curry

Egg and chips

Omelettes

Fritatta

quiche

Cheese and onion pie

scallops are simply flash fried, do not overcook or they will be tough

We had chicken crumble tonight which was lovely I only used a small amount of chicken, the rest was lots of lovely roasted root veg, parsnips, carrots, red onion in a white sauce topped with HM crumble

Tuna Fish cakes

Tuna pasta

Tuna and wedges melt

Use the salmon in a Coulibiac

http://www.jusrol.co.uk/pastry-recipes/salmon-coulibiac

Pea and ham risotto

HM pizza

Tuna and roasted veg cous cous

suki1964

I too hate the mess that cooking can create so I tend to cook all at once

Thursday is bake day I will literally have flour everywhere, bread being made there, cakes/ biscuits there and pastry over there lol. But it's an hour or two work and that's it for the week

Same with cooking for the week. If I'm making curry for example, I make up for 10 portions, then no curry needs to be made for the next month, just get the frozen portions from the freezer

This also transfers to casseroles, mince dishes etc, just double up and freeze the extra

Makes life a lot easier esp for those days when you are tired and stressed, dinner already cooked, just need the side dish ( rice and potatoes can also be pre cooked and frozen in portions)

We eat meat free at least once a week which helps on cost and we also have easy cook tea as well, something like egg chips and beans

Most meat dishes can be converted to veggie, as already said use lentils instead of mince for spaghetti Bol , any veg will take a curry

Use the tinned salmon or tuna with mashed potato for fish cakes - great with the mushy peas and sweet potato wedges

Salmon or tuna with the spinach and recotta sauce stirred into pasta

Cut the chicken fillet through the middle to get two portions, breadcrumb, fry and serve with sweetcorn fritters ( don't waste an egg for the wash, mix a bit of flour and water together with some herb of choice to season)

Hope the month gets better for you. Keep an eye on the feed a family for £20 thread. Great ideas there

thegreenone

Cajun spiced chicken (if you haven't used the chicken!)
5tsp cumin, 4tsp paprika, 2tsp thyme, 2tsp oregano, 2tsp black pepper, ½tsp cayenne, 1tsp salt. You haven't got quite enough of everything, according to your list but don't worry bung it all in a jar, put lid on a shake until mixed. Slice chicken thinly and massage spices in. Do this the night before together with making potato wedges, par boiled. Cover the chicken and put in fridge. Let the wedges cool and put in fridge. Hairy Bikers recipe.

For dinner, stir fry the chicken whilst cooking the wedges in the oven.
Boil some frozen veg or make some flatbread for fajitas. Totally agree with Mallygirl here.

Savoury pancakes are a favourite in this house. Mix up a normal pancake recipe, cook pancakes and leave, covered in fridge overnight. Get the family to choose their fillings - ham, cheese, tuna, tinned salmon, tomatoes, whatever you have. Roll up, put in a non-stick dish, in the oven for 10 mins for cheese to melt. These are very filling. Any batter left over can make sweet ones for dessert.

Others have already mentioned sausage meatballs. Another quick easy favourite. Buy cheaper sausages, or less, grate apple and add thyme to the squished out meat, roll into balls and fridge overnight to add to some HM pasta sauce and spaghetti.



I love my slow cooker and use it to make pasta sauces - bung it all in and freeze into bags when cool.

Readytomakechanges

Some great ideas that I never would have thought of. Thank you.

I'm really looking forward to salmon fishcakes with mushy peas and sweet potato wedges, yum.

Intrigued by egg and potato curry - how would I go about making that?

craigywv

hi,your saying you eat out or take aways a lot,why don't you take the money that you would spend for this and go and buy just meat and veg go to your butcher and get some chops,a chicken and mince with these 3 items you would get for under a tenner you could do a chicken dinner for the 4 of you one night,strip the bones and do sandwiches or chicken fried rice or chicken omelette another night saving on dishes etc for to dirty your kitchen.fry and slice the chopsinto thin pieces make stir fry or just a dinner with potatoes and veg,with the mince well theres burgers,spag bol,chilli meatballs,loads can be made I agree you have lots in your stocks but I would have to go and make a meat parcel purchase to get it used up and to make dinners from it especially if you are meat eaters good luck you have plenty of grub in to help you get started xxx