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

Viking_mfw

Oh dear, made the decision yesterday to use up some of the homemade jam (I love making it, rarely eat it) rather than buying more of the favourite strawberry for the DSs. Found a jar of raspberry jam in the cupboard dated 2017, which I am fairly sure was made by a dead grandparent. Put that in the fridge to use. THEN I found a jar of pear and ginger jam I had made TEN YEARS AGO!!! Anyway, we shall be seeing if 'preserves' live up to their name! 

LotsOfTea

@Viking_mfw you need to find a friend who is like me, likes eating homemade jam but too lazy to make it. 

My freezer use-up is going well so far. OH and I had a lovely been Thai green curry from there on Monday and he added some cooked chicken bits that needed using. Last night we had one of the random surprise tubs which turned out to be a spicy peanut/ turmeric type veg & kidney bean stew which I have zero recollection of ever making. Also managed to use up a stick of garlic bread to mop it up with. DS has been delighted to get bacon butties for his tea after school for the last couple of days and tonight we'll all be having burgers now I've bought some baps.

The list of what's in the freezer and what shelf it's on is proving invaluable. I'm really glad I made the effort and endured the freezing fingers to make it.

Viking_mfw

Pleased to report the 2017 raspberry jam is absolutely fine - younger DS has a jam sandwich in his packed lunch. Husband tested it as he was more suspicious than me!

C_J

Cairnpapple said:

Pollie said:

You can also make gram flour flatbreads . Just whisk 150g gram flour, salt, pepper and 200ml cold water. Leave for 30 mins. Oil a 14cm frying pan and pour in enough batter to make thin flatbread. Cook a few mins until golden brown, turn over and cook the other side.

that sounds easy, thanks!

I use gram flour to make onion bhajis : https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/onion-bhajis-raita

London_1

Just had a quarter of the steak pie I got earlier this month that was reduced and I quartered up and froze and its delicious, had it with frozen cauliflower, broccoli and mash very tasty and all from existing stock in the freezer. Followed up with a small slice of warmed through jam sponge cake and a couple of ice cream scoops so full up now, and a light tea about six

I think perhaps beans on cheese on toast will do me nicely then its feet up and some catch up tv for me along with some knitting Its one mad whirl of excitement when you're my age  

 JackieO xx

Cairnpapple

ha @London_1 I'm watching BigJetTV and contemplating whether I can be bothered doing my new quad stretches for my messed up knees, chronic illness is also a thrill a minute!

Out: very last of the sad veg curry from last month, something frozen for me tonight that I haven't decided yet but probably pork and cider or bolognese. Keeping on with the frozen cherries but really need to get through the last of the gooseberries, they're just more work since they were frozen directly from the plant and need topped and tailed. 

Spouse is gradually working down the rices and pastas that I couldn't face planning for, so there has been a bit of cupboard improvement, still a way to go there though!

Cherryfudge

DH finished up the chicken and chorizo pasta this evening and I made Coronation chick peas with a jacket potato for myself. Half the chickpeas are left for tomorrow but It's used up one tin of them, one jar of mayo, some curry powder, sultanas and a potato so no shopping needed.

LotsOfTea

OH and I had some lovely beetroot, lime & coconut soup from the freezer yesterday for lunch with pikelets (also from the freezer). Tea was chicken nuggets chips & bran6d for DS and burgers and chips for the adults. There's starting to be actual room in the freezer!

Cherryfudge

Beetroot, lime and coconut sounds amazing, @LotsOfTea.

I've been shopping today and my freezer is now full to bursting again - a nice problem to have but I need to make a plan to work through some of it. New items include sweetcorn (the only planned addition) and corned beef, and there are about four portions of salmon which I added the other day, too. Tomorrow we might have salmon and potato wedges or chips, and we could also have corned beef hash while the potatoes are fresh. I notice there are green beans not getting eaten so I can add those to the salmon, and there are always peas and sweetcorn as well as an overbuy of cherry tomatoes. I managed to talk myself out of buying discounted large eggs as we already have a box full.

I also succumbed to end of day reductions so I have lots of ham trimmings and coleslaw - that's my lunches for a few days then.

I also bought coconut rice milk to try but it's not inspiring me. Any good ideas what to do with it please?

LotsOfTea

Well done for resisting the discounted eggs @Cherryfudge. I struggle to resist a bargain even if I don't really need it so it deserves a pat on the back.

I'm still continuing the freezer use up and I cooked up a big bag of frozen mixed berries with some brown sugar to make a lovely compote. I've had it with Greek yogurt and oats for breakfast a couple of times and there's loads left. It had been in the freezer so long it was one big lump so I had to bash it with the rolling pin to break it up and get it in the pan - definitely time it was used up. I've vowed to myself that anything new going into the freezer is having the date marked on it in permanent marker so I won't end up having to plough through loads of ancient stuff again.