The all new using what you have from your Freezer, Cupboard or Shed (Barn)

Cairnpapple

Out: packet of stir fry pork defrosting to make Vietnamese pork. Frozen cherries microwaved for breakfast. 
In: the sad veg curry, boxed into 6 portions.

Cherryfudge

I'm feeling a bit guilty for having to throw out milk and yogurt that went off.  

On a more positive note, I've finished the veggie chilli and started the mixed pack of Christmas cheeses. The use by date on the box is 15.1.24 but the individual cheeses have various dates, none as early as the one on the box. A bit of research seems to indicate I can use common sense on this as I'm not in a vulnerable group, but I've started on the Brie because it would be a shame it it started to go off and I'd not had any!

There are sausages defrosting for tonight and I'm making sauteed Mediterranean veg to to go with them, and some mash from the rest of the Christmas potatoes. One of the potatoes had the start of a vigorous sprout so I've cut a chunk out and will plant it! I always enjoy digging up potatoes we've grown from sprouted bits!  

Today was also supposed to be the end of the Christmas cake but the chunk DH left me will last me three days. That's nice as I adore Christmas cake.

DH went to A sda to restock tins as they seem to be cheaper there than elsewhere in town. Prices per tin here are chickpeas 45p, chopped tomatoes 35p, tinned peaches 34p, tinned pineapple 71p, tinned apples £1. So that's the emergency cupboard looking a bit more realistic.

Frugalistamama

I've annoying had to throw out a punnet of mushrooms that were given to me. I was about to chop them and put them in the freezer but there was some extra growths and slime.  I'm not that frugal! 

Leftovers for lunch today, the HFresh potluck meal that was also really nice just one more left.

I really really need to concentrate on using things up.  The problem I am having with being frugal with food is that it takes a long time to work through stores, plus I keep adding to it with the bargains!!

oceandreamer

Managed to use up some frozen beef slices from xmas in a sort of meat and potato pie without the pastry.  Also used some more of a huge but wrinkly swede mashed wit some carrots.

Frugalistamama

Made the last HFresh meal...it was so so.

Picked up a boxful of veg going on Olio so I've got a bit of a veg glut. So now the HFresh box has been used up I'm going to start using up what I have already and hopefully save myself some money!!

carinjo

For some reason the settings on my phone has been messing me around when i try and post. 
But i have done pork loin steaks with golden breadcrumbs, fakeaway southern style chicken pieces, have i mentioned the pork meatloaf? 
Tomorrow was supposed to be a trip to market but we decided on a last minute mini break this coming sunday, so will use up what we have instead. 
@Frugalistamama, i would to mention how "specials" are marketing designed to pull you in. 2for1 is about the only deal worth getting (using the mse mantra: do you need it)
My maths tutor had a lot of fun explaining to us that buy 2 get 1 free is only a 33% discount. On something that is £2.99, you'll pay £6 for 3 things which you might not need anyway. 
The L1dl offers are a classic example: this week's 15% gourmet coffee. Say if it is £4.99 for jar of posh coffee, you'll save 75p.
I am trying to help a couple of vegan friends with mealplanning. We went to L1dl on saturday and they were shocked at the difference in prices compared to their usual supermarket. So i have been doing menu writing and nutrition planning. It is quite fun because i am learning a lot too. 

I would lastly like to mention the free W@trose app. I can't afford to shop there and there not one near us. But i absolutely love their free magazine each month one can download. Such amazing recipes.

Frugalistamama

Yes @carinjo you make a good point. I need to look at those 'bargains' a little more closely.

Cherryfudge

carinjo said:

@Frugalistamama, i would to mention how "specials" are marketing designed to pull you in. 2for1 is about the only deal worth getting (using the mse mantra: do you need it)
My maths tutor had a lot of fun explaining to us that buy 2 get 1 free is only a 33% discount. On something that is £2.99, you'll pay £6 for 3 things which you might not need anyway. 
The L1dl offers are a classic example: this week's 15% gourmet coffee. Say if it is £4.99 for jar of posh coffee, you'll save 75p.
I am trying to help a couple of vegan friends with mealplanning. We went to L1dl on saturday and they were shocked at the difference in prices compared to their usual supermarket. So i have been doing menu writing and nutrition planning. It is quite fun because i am learning a lot too. 

I think it's something in the air... I was muttering about the L!dl offers yesterday. I'm sure I save quite a lot by shopping mostly at L!dl but their offers are rarely cheaper than some alternative on their shelves. I remember being very tempted by a giant jar of olives then noting the price per kilo and comparing it with the usual ones I buy there, which worked out much cheaper. That said, I did buy about three or four jars of the normal ones when I had a discount on them. They keep for ages.

I think it was Sun_Addict who said the 'prizes' for larger spending over the month are of less value for the higher spends: the best one seems to be that after spending £50 in a month you can get a free bakery item. If you want to do that, my recommendation is the ancient grains loaf which retails at about £1.89, rather than a 35p doughnut. It's really nice bread, too.

@carinjo, it would be interesting to hear your insights from the meal planning please!

We had tuna pasta for dinner today so not much using up has happened.

oceandreamer

I do think that if I didn't buy yellow stickered items that I don't really need and put them in the freezer I wouldn't now be having to eat a great number of random bits and pieces! Having said that we had some orzo with chicken and spinach with some leftover cream and tomato puree.  Also a bottom of the freezer garlic bread.  

Cherryfudge

That sounds really nice @oceandreamer, any left for hopeful-looking readers?