Spring Cleaning the Freezers - 52 days on £70

Suffolk_lass

Mrs_Cheshire wrote: »

I'm planning on doing some baking tomorrow, but will need to get some more sugar I think unless I use the light soft brown that really needs using. Think I'll do some mincemeat muffins as they went down well last time. some flapjacks and I've got some salted caramel dessert sauce to use up so might do a steamed pudding of sorts with that in the bottom.
I've done lots of baking though and never made a steamed pudding before, anyone got any good recipes.

Do you want a recipe for a steamed suet pudding or a steamed sponge?

I will assume sponge - you can use soft brown instead of caster sugar and substitute the salted caramel sauce for the golden syrup in this recipe (very easy) https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/steamed_syrup_sponge_86564

My favourite sweet steamed suet pudding is similar to this one https://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/collections/hot-puddings/old-english-apple-hat but I put soft brown sugar in the bowl around the buttered sides and a little pile of "droppings" of the same in the bottom, with some chopped up pecans before putting the suet crust in the bowl (you could sub your dessert sauce if you wish) and I then use less sugar in the apples and don't use cloves - your choice. We call it toffee apple pudding in our house

Mrs_Cheshire

JingsMyBucket wrote: »

Instead of doing spaghetti bolognese, you can cook up polenta and serve the sauce over that. It also works well as a base for any kind sauced greens and/or saut!ed mushrooms. One of my favourite restaurants serves it with a poached egg, greens and bacon crumbled on top as a breakfast dish. It’s absolutely delicious. Polenta was a poor man’s food so it’s extremely versatile.

Thank you, I saw a chip recipe that I was going to try but didn't get round to it today. I really need a day when I've got someone here to watch the kids, when I'm trying new things.

Suffolk_lass wrote: »

Do you want a recipe for a steamed suet pudding or a steamed sponge?

I will assume sponge - you can use soft brown instead of caster sugar and substitute the salted caramel sauce for the golden syrup in this recipe (very easy) https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/steamed_syrup_sponge_86564

My favourite sweet steamed suet pudding is similar to this one https://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/collections/hot-puddings/old-english-apple-hat but I put soft brown sugar in the bowl around the buttered sides and a little pile of "droppings" of the same in the bottom, with some chopped up pecans before putting the suet crust in the bowl (you could sub your dessert sauce if you wish) and I then use less sugar in the apples and don't use cloves - your choice. We call it toffee apple pudding in our house

You guessed right! It was a steamed sponge I was looking for, but will check out both the recipes you've shared as they'd probably both go down well in our house. I also have suet and bramley apples in the house.

shanks77

Hi having trouble getting into my laptop where the Weetabix receipe is stored but will try to get it posted tomorrow. Just wanted to let you know I hadn't forgotten or ignored you

XSpender

Hi All

I have been MIA as have had a few days away with work and have come home to no internet:eek: I have managed to update the lists at the fronmt of the thread which are still massive!

Not much has been used up since I was away but DH has eaten the meals I made using cupbaord/freezer ingredients last week. I was also able to use some of my dinner allowance to get a couple of items and some fruit to eat at home which has saved some of my £70. This week's food shop came to under a fiver

It is DH turn to be away this week for a couple of days so I will definitely be living out of the freezer/cupboards and will make the BNS and chickpea curry for the freezer and finally make some GF bread. The other item I am going to attempt to make from stores is some museli for easy breakfasts. I say museli but as it will have almonds, raisins and oats as I cant think what else I can put in it I may be pushing it a bit

Mrs Cheshire - gram flour can be used as an egg subsitute in recipes

Did anyone notice that the thread got a mention in Martin's email? We are famous at last :D

ETA: I found the chorizo in the freezer, we hadn't eaten it after all

Mrs_Cheshire

Loving all the tips in this thread.
I'm currently filling my freezer with bargains picked up today, managed to get £32.50 worth of deli and chilled food items for £2.41. I've worked out that it will do 3 main meals for the 5 of us, dinner for the 3 kids twice, sandwiches for lunch 3 times for the 5 of us and once for the 3 kids, snacks for the kids twice and once for hubby.
I've also found out the kids like haslet, it cost 6p for around 9 slices, so didn't really matter if they didn't like it. Will definitely keep my eye on the reduced priced items again.

XSpender

Fantastic bargins Mrs C.

I made museli this morning for breakfast using oats, raisins, coconut flakes and a mixture of almonds and the pecans that were at the bottom of the almond jar. It was very nice so I will make up a batch of that this evening for quick and easy breakfasts.

DH and DS are both away overnight tonight so I will spend some time in the kitchen. DH is getting concerned aout his weight so will be swapping from sandwiches to HM SW friendly ready meals for work which is good as there is no bread left :rotfl: I am planning to make:

http://thelittleplantation.co.uk/blog/colombian-black-bean-stew - from TOPM DFW diary
A pasta dish using SW chorizo sausages and a jar of sauce
BNS and chickpea curry as posted by Suffolk lass

All with rice or pasta from the cupboard.

The cupboards are definitely looking emptier than when I started and DH commented on how much space there was in the freezer at the weekend so the food mountain must be going down a bit.

XSpender

I've made the curry and the stew so have a further 7 lunches for DH in the freezer.

DH has requested houmous. I have found a recipe for a slimming world syn free houmous so will give that a go replacing the fresh pepper with one from a jar of roasted red peppers I have in that were bought for a SW sweet and sour that never got made

https://www.slimmingworld.co.uk/recipes/houmous-dip.aspx

He has also requested celery with it and has some aldee ryvita in the cupboard.

I only have 1 tin of beans and 1 tin of tomatoes left :eek:

Cherryfudge

XSpender wrote: »

I only have 1 tin of beans and 1 tin of tomatoes left :eek:

I would be panicking if I were you.

Don't worry though - loads of meal prep done so you aren't going to go hungry.
What ever did we do before tinned tomatoes?

I have to confess I now have two bags of lemons... :eek: Some may end up in the freezer. I was away a few days last week and working over the weekend and when I looked in the fridge it's packed with goodness-knows-what so I think I need to dive in and start making plans.

phizzimum

That’s a good recipe XSpender, red pepper instead of oil, wonder how it tastes?

How many days into your challenge are you? Ive lost track

XSpender

phizzimum wrote: »

That’s a good recipe XSpender, red pepper instead of oil, wonder how it tastes?

How many days into your challenge are you? Ive lost track

14 days including today phizz. DH is away tonight so I am going to crunch the numbers. I think I still have £50 ish left but will confirm later tonight

Gin and Tonic fo the lemons Cherryfudge?