Living out of my store cupboard & freezer, how little can I spend to feed my family?

missymoo81

big5 wrote: »

You've got all the ingredients there for chocolate avocado mousse too (another way to use up ripe avocados). I made some last week, it was lovely.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Chocolate-avocado-mousse/

Omg this is fab thanks so much, littlies will love this!!!!!!

missymoo81

Have two bowls of left over porridge this morning too. Have just found an amazing recipe though by Jack Monroe, cooking on a bootstrap for porridge pancakes!!! Perfect! Waste not want not! That can be the littlies breakfast for tomorrow!!!

Have found Jack monroes books super helpful! In ideas for using up stuff!

missymoo81

Oooh I've made bread and cauliflower soup!!

WantToBeSE

Hi Missy

Bread and cauli soup sounds lovely!

I am trying to decide what to use 2 tins of butter beans for! The mixed bean goulash in Jack Monroes 1st book is so yummy, but my boys don't like beans, so thats not an option.
Maybe i could use some of the small pasta shapes i have, and make a soup for lunch tomorrow.

beedeedee

Also if you wrap fresh veg like cucumber, courgettes etc tightly in foil, they will last for 2 - 3 weeks, keep apples in the fridge for weeks, and stand lettuce in a little water containing a spoonful of sugar, replacing every couple of days...it all helps to make what you already have stay fresh and last much longer. Don't forget dreaded portion control either, cooked rice can be frozen in small dessert pots for single servings, as can many other ingredients. You've got a great store cupboard there, now concentrate on making it go as far as possible.....

missymoo81

Ok, so I made my cauli soup, with a whole cauli, 3 stock cubes, some corriander, and some onions and celery, along with some spices and salt and pepper. It is really lovely, I had some for lunch, although littlies won't touch it I also made some bread, it is very dense, the taste is good though, think I should have kneaded it more and let it prove more.... But you live and learn. I've ladled the soup into old Chinese takeaway tubs and have got 6 portions in the freezer! A friend treated us to fish and chips out for tea so that's a nothing to count.

mollymunchkin

You can finely chop cauliflower to make a tasty low carb rice. Almond milk is great in smoothies, as is spinach.

missymoo81

Thanks mollymunchkin, yes I had some in my smoothie this morning.

milasavesmoney

Another out of the freezer-pantry dinner today...and in the crock pot!
Money saving me!
Taco Soup:
Freezer- sale hamburger I think you call this mince?
Pantry- canned white beans, chili beans and kidney beans dumped in with the juice and all. You can
use other types of beans.
Taco seasoning in pkt
Ranch dressing dry mix. ( is this something you guys use? I haven't seen it mentioned
anywhere)
Chopped onion
Hot chilies chopped:eek::eek: These could be left out and it will still taste great.
Canned diced tomatoes
Canned corn with it's juice
2 cups water
1 tsp each Cumin, salt, garlic powder (more to taste)
Cook on low 8 or so hrs. On high about 4 hrs.

I live in the desert SW of the US and we love our Mexican food!!

FrugalWorker

Quinoa makes a great salad - if you're not used to cooking it make sure to rinse it well first. when cooked, make sure all the liquid is evaporated. I find I like a lemony dressing and veg and a little dried fruit. Use it as you would couscous. I make a big batch up for the next 4 days and saves me time.

I'd keep the unopened almond milk for if you don't have enough to buy more milk. If you need milk in tea/coffee this will do at a push, leaving you to keep dairy for children. Maybe it's just me - but there's a level of caffeine I need for everything else to go well

Start checking for bendy fruit / veg and process this (make soup/stews/etc...) You've lots of food - just start going through it in order of what needs to be used first. Use your freezer so you're not throwing anything out and it will be fine. When the avocados are ripe put them in the fridge - you get a few more days out of them.

Look up savory flap jacks to help fill up those hollow legs. Extra veg in to children, you have lots of eggs and oats.

Post if there are specific things to be used up and we'll help come up with ideas - e.g. those tins of tuna can become fish cakes! You can clearly cook, you know your way around the freezer/kitchen. Just treat it like a challenge / game and you'll have fun (in as much as you can when low on money)