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

London_1

Freezer re organised and have enough main meals for the rest of this month in there ,plus a reasonable amount to make some more with once I use some of the batch cooked stuff up. Found 2x 500gm go ground beef plus 1x 1kg of ground beef hidden under some bread portions.So 2KG of beef four portions of fish of various sorts and 6 pasties I made before Christmas 2 cheese and leek, and two chicken and veg, and 2 beef and onion. Found a stack of chilli halloumi slices as well and a packet of beef skirt and three rib eye steaks along with the bottom basket full of ready meals I batch cooked recently.This months going to be quite a low food budget month I think. I will probably get what I need plus a very small restock on Tuesday as snow is expected at some point next week so I shan't be going far if it does.I use a stick to walk with and falling over and breaking something is not on my to-do list I have just done an inventory of stuff needed and with a few small extras I am hoping it will come to around £25-30 at most So far this month I've only spent £4.31 on a little F &V but if I can get the rest for the above amount then I will be more than happy. Fingers crossed using up a lot of bits from my over stocked cupboards has helped no end 

Onwards and upwards chums 

   JackieO xx

Cairnpapple

Well I can report that adding haggis bon bons to chickpea, carrot and orange pittas (Hugh F-W recipe) was an absolute triumph. Yum yum.

If anyone finds themselves with leftover haggis or cheap haggis later in the month, I can highly recommend haggis, tzatziki and salad pittas. A cafe in a Edinburgh used to serve them and we have eaten haggis that way ever since. 

Turns out spouse ate the last brownie today (excellent freezer clearing and gets me one of the best Tupperware back) so it'll be defrosted parkin tomorrow plus some homemade biscuits we were given for Christmas and forgot about (have been tested and still good!)

Milk is out of the freezer. Casserole will be cooked in the slow cooker overnight, and a spare small chicken fillet that wasn't used in yesterday's orange chicken is getting chucked in to bulk out the pork.

Cherryfudge

Oh I like haggis! My Scottish DiL's mum did us a proper haggis, neeps and tatties once and it was absolutely delicious. Thanks for the reminder to look out for them in the next week or so.

We've had more salmon out of the freezer today, and tomorrow there will be sausages to add variety to a big stew I made yesterday. I also have too much milk and eggs so I used some of the milk in an old Angel Delight that's been cluttering the place up for ages. The trouble is, I really enjoyed it. I will check for others before I buy new.

Frugalistamama

Made a Cuban rice and bean recipe to go along with the jerk chicken tonight instead of wedges. It called for green pepper but I subbed for red, black beans which I subbed for black eyed beans and then added some paprika to get more of the colour in the picture. It was blooming lovely! So this week I've discovered minestrone soup and Cuban rice and beans to add to the 'cheap eats' rotation. 😀

oceandreamer

I too like haggis although I'd never even though of having it in pitta bread - what a great idea, thanks!  I happen to know I have half a haggis lurking in the freezer so I'm going to try this.  Tea tonight is basically left over Xmas dinner reheated, nice and easy.  Can I ask what do people intend to do once they have run their freezer stocks down? Will you start refilling it with the same things or have you got a different plan?

Cairnpapple

Good question @oceandreamer! My first aim is to get the freezers down low enough to fit everything in the freestanding freezer so we can defrost and clean the small freezer (badly needed). This would also give more space for batch cooks which is important as spouse is working again after a period of unemployment and has less time to cook.

For the cupboards, clear out the crap that we don't use and restock with things we'll turn round regularly plus some emergency easy meals in case of illness.

Cherryfudge

oceandreamer said:

Can I ask what do people intend to do once they have run their freezer stocks down? Will you start refilling it with the same things or have you got a different plan?

Oh my goodness - I have no idea! Was there supposed to be a plan? I've never got that far.

Put more stuff in?

I suppose the idea is to have only things I'll really use - memo to self - nobody likes home frozen cruciferae round here. I've already given up making stock because I always ended up throwing it out, and it takes a lot of space. It's a shame as homemade stock is part of those skills that any self-respecting old-styler is supposed to have down to a fine art, but I have quite an aversion to anything with it in.

My ideally-stocked freezer has discounted chicken and fish, and frequently used veg like pes, sweetcorn and spinach. There's also a fruit drawer that's always got a massive backlog of homegrown blackberries and usually raspberries too - all we have to do is remember to defrost them. Perhaps a cupful each Monday morning till we get in the habit of adding them to things?

I often batch-cook potatoes and dried beans, so there are usually some of those there, and things like homemade curry or soup. There are still ice pops from the summer before last when it was really hot. There are often bought soft fruits as well but at the moment that includes pomegranate seeds that are so nice on a summer salad and not appetising at all at the moment. The other regulars are 'cooking' bacon, gammon or cooked chicken, cut up ready to add to pies, and odds and ends of fresh coriander or parsley. Oh, and yellow-stickered hummous. I know it says not to freeze it but I think that might be in case the texture changes as I've found it's fine.

London_1

My plan is to keep them fairly low as I shall hopefully be moving before summer so I definitely want to keep them fairly low I shall be leaving the fridge freezer and the washing machine to the new owners if they want them as I am moving in with my DD and son-in-law  so won't need two washing machines or two fridge freezer plus her chest freezer.
Hence why I am trying to use up as much stuff from the cupboards and f/freezer as possible less packing to do. I have decluttered four 'bags for life' full of books last week and today did another four bags to go to the CS , plus three black bags of rubbish to be removed next week.
I keep finding things I forgot I had i.e. a waffle maker, plus a doughnut maker, both of which will go to the CS as I don't use either of them.My DGS Jack will happily take the roadie maker as he is partial to a cheese roadie and I only originally bought it for him anyway.:) The other two DGS Ben & Henry who house share in north London have already taken and used my air fryer. DD and her OH already have all the gadgets they need.

But at least my local CS will be pleased with the extra stuff and it may help some folk out.

I'm off to DDs now for our Sunday scrabble session followed by dinner tonight made by my son-in-law as he always makes a super Sunday evening meal bless him.

Cheers chums

     JackieO xx 

Cherryfudge

I went hunting in the freezer for raspberries but we seem to have finished them. I put blackberries in strawberry jelly instead.

I've realised I also habitually have chorizo, pepperoni, chopped chillis and mushrooms in the freezer too. No wonder I'm short of space.

Frugalistamama

I plan to run it all down to make sure things aren't too old then stock back up and do it all again!

I have come to terms with the fact that I love a fully stocked kitchen and then like the challenge of running it down!! 🤣🤣

Used up 2 tins of tuna cooked up with onions and spices this evening to eat alongside leftovers for an easy dinner. About to do a few preps for the week ahead. Want to make some Dahl for my lunches