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

Cherryfudge

In: Fresh pineapple, strawberries, oranges, 'easy peelers' (now there's a bit of marketing for you), crispbreads, tuna, cream, celery

Can you tell I went in with a list but bought when the yellow stickers drew my attention? The original list was to take advantage of some offers while at the same time catering for some friends tomorrow, but one of us has to work so the event has been moved to next week. So I had my list, but no longer needed half the things on it and somehow all those fresh fruits called my name.

So now I need a plan. DH will get through all the oranges and most of the 'easy peelers' as well as all the crispbreads and much of the tuna, so I can miss them off the plan. He's not keen on strawberries except as jam, so I might treat myself to a few then jam the rest so they don't go over. We have bags of apples so DH has plenty for second courses, but I'll let the pineapple ripen a bit more then turn it into desserts - several of them for 39p. The cream was also marked down and could become either ice cream or butter. Celery would be nice with either peanut butter or cream cheese, neither of which I have and I don't fancy celery soup...

Out: two lots of chicken from the freezer and other ingredients to make chicken and chorizo pasta. Need to replenish red pesto and probably get some more chicken reasonably soon.

YorksLass

Out: Two small crispy rolls from the freezer to have with soup for lunch (a mixture of chunky veg and minestrone from the fridge) and a tub of chilli for tomorrow's tea.  A large Cornish pasty to share for tonight's tea along with baby potatoes and veg of some description.

In (freezer): Oven chips, jacket potatoes, fish fingers, choc ices, Cornettos, mini Yorkies, half of each of a wholemeal loaf and a white loaf, crumpets.

In (fridge): Butter, milk, fruit juice, pate, haddock loins, Red Leicester cheese, a swede, sprouts, peppered beef slices, two chilled syrup sponges.  I'll freeze half of the pate and the haddock loins since we'll not eat it all in one go.

In: (pantry): Butter beans, sardine & tomato paste, digestives, tomato soup, Swiss roll.

I forgot to order fresh tomatoes and carrots but can pick them up from the Co-op later this week.

Pollie

@Cherryfudge braised celery is delicious as a side dish or in a big bowl with crusty bread as a main meal.

Watty1

Bought a few bits of veg butter and Ryvita, just stuff that is used regularly by  me.

Particularly delighted with last nights dinner.  Fish pie mix that has been occupying freezer space for maybe 3 or 4 years was defrosted on Sunday but I couldn't face fish pie. Felt the same Monday evening and realised that whilst I maybe once enjoyed it all that white sauce it now was blech so I stir fried the fish with some garlic and chilli (both from freezer) and stirred into pasta.  Ate with a salad.  It was so delicious I felt like a kitchen goddess (very rare for me).  The VNM (Very Nice Man) was eating with me and he asked if I would cook it on a regular basis

LotsOfTea

I did a quick reorganisation of the fridge freezer today and now I can see what I've got which is a blessing. There are still a few unlabelled tubs in there which I'm not entirely sure what they are but I think at least one is rhubarb. Hopefully. 

I used up an unlabelled tub on Monday which thankfully turned out to be butternut squash soup and it was delicious. I added a handful of edamame from the freezer and a bit of smoked tofu that needed using from the fridge to make it a bit heartier and then drizzled some chilli oil on top for some pizzazz.

Today I hoiked a breaded haddock fillet out for DS 's tea and some vegan bacon which was dated 2020 so definitely needs using up. Not sure what I'm going to use it for yet but it'll definitely get worked into the plan in the next few days. I did also add some items to the chest freezer as I made a huge batch of cheese sauce and froze it all. I had a block of cheddar that had been accidentally left unwrapped and gone hard which I used and an excess of milk as DS has been eating toast for breakfast instead of cereal. I also chucked in a block of cheese that had added truffle which had been in the fridge since Christmas and amazingly was still absolutely fine. The resulting cheese sauce is mildly truffle flavoured so I think will go well with plenty of mushrooms when I use it. I froze the lot for now as I've got plenty of curry to use up for the next couple of days. I made a big pan full to use up a load of greenery so it's got pak choi, runner beans, leeks and cabbage in with plenty of spices, a few lentils and coconut milk. 

Time for a brew after all that organising!

Cherryfudge

I'd forgotten about braising celery, @Pollie! I used to love it. The poor celery is at the back of the fridge for now as the sore throat doesn't like anything fibrous.

@LotsOfTea, thanks to you I have made tiffin and my waistline is expanding as we speak! I think I've chosen too gooey a recipe (Mary B3rry's) as it's actually too sweet, but interesting as I included ginger nuts, digestive, sultanas and pecans.

I finished up my mushroom toast topping in some lentil pasta but it was more edible than inspiring, even with some Orkney cheddar on top (brought back from holiday - we didn't go to Orkney by several hundred miles but it's the thought that counts).

I can't remember where but I've already confessed to buying loads of groceries yesterday, quite a few of which were sheer indulgence. I managed not to go to any shops today and DH cooked us some of yesterday's salmon for tea. There is more salmon and some fishcakes, and still lots of fruit though that's going down.

Frugalistamama

Hi all, seems like you have been busy and doing really well! Really lost my cooking mojo over the last couple of weeks. Need to get that back and stop feeding everyone bung- in- the-oven food 🤣 also this is not helping reduce my stockpile.  

Totally ran out of mince a long time ago, it's a go to ingredient for me. I think I've been avoiding buying any as l*LD and Sainsbobs only vacuum pack and I absolutely hate cooking with it! It's horrible, not the same at all. So did a special trip to t*sco as they still don't do this. I understand the need to reduce waste, but for the love of god can't they flow wrap.... Is it just me throwing a tantrum here. Am I the only one?

Cherryfudge

No great inroads made into stores, and a few bits added. However, I've finally used up the pickled eggs I made and a bag of sour cherries from the freezer (I don't like sour cherries but I bought them so I wasn't going to throw them away!). I finished up an opened tin of tuna for lunch with mayo and the rest of a jar of dill pickles (try it - makes great sandwiches).

I defrosted one drawer of the freezer and inventoried it so now I need to concoct something wonderful containing lemon zest, cheese, mackerel, lamb and blackberries. This may take a while.

YorksLass

In: Nothing - so far.

Out: Beef casserole steak (for a curry later this week), x2 sausages, some bacon rashers, x2 pain au chocolate, half a wholemeal loaf, a h/m pork casserole (for today's dinner).

This morning for breakfast we had eggy bread because we have plenty of eggs to use up, it made a nice change.  I've started to have porridge now the weather is cooler and am currently using a carton of long life milk from the pantry for that.  I find it gives a creamier taste so I don't have to add sugar (sorry to those who make it the traditional Scottish way) and it's an opportunity to add pieces of fruit that might otherwise be wasted.

@Frugalistamama - No, you're not on your own.  I hate the vac packed mince but I doubt the SMs are bothered by customers' complaints about it.  I did manage to get some pork mince recently that was free-flow but am nearly out of that, just one pack left in the freezer.

wumph

Not been on for a while but needed a push.  Used frozen veggies- all small bags of fresh veg which were too big to eat in one serving - celery/cabbage/big onions/carrots + other things not sure of, and made soup for a few days. Also used a couple of stock cubes had ages. Had one today and put a blob of teriyaki sauce which made it very paletable.  Finished bag of frozen croissants as well as some not frozen but indiv wrapped over the last few days. Dont have very often so usually buy the prepacked ready cooked when on the YS. Had managed to find bit of room for some small slices Hovs bread but now used all up,  just have about 6 slices of white in there so will have to buy loaf some time this week. Finished box of burger patties, also last of frozen meatballs, and a portion of l/o chilli I made a few weeks ago.  Just had room for a small round bacon joint, did not need to go in freezer but fridge full, just fits in my small SC so will do for Xmas. Done other stuff but thats enough for now.