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

Frugalistamama

 I've got some leftovers to use up so lunch will be chicken and rice and dinner will be a mix of homemade pizza and freezer pizza as there is not enough for all of us, probably served with some salad and garlic bread i got with a meal deal in my supermarket order.

I'm going to make some Dahl for my lunches next week using lentils that need using  and I will put some spinach in it that needs using up. 

I might also make some more of those oat and coconut cookies to use up that old coconut. Might get the kids to do that one with me!!

Cherryfudge

Glad you mentioned Dhal, @Frugalistamama, I have loads of lentils, we also have spinach to use up and we like something with some Indian spices in, so I could get inventive.  

The great using-up-ery hasn't progressed far this week. I don't expect massive cheers for using up a tub of cream cheese, but I'm fairly pleased I didn't have to throw any out, and have start another block of cheese from the freezer. We are also onto another jar of greengage jam - still loads to go but most is in the freezer.

I also bought a large tub of peanut butter then discovered a nearly full jar in the cupboard, BB end October so that will get used first. I don't think I've cleared that cupboard in a while, as I also found three part-jars of honey. It's the cheapest so I melted it down into one jar, and it shouldn't affect the quality.

Lunch today was supermarket fish (L1dl do a nice breaded haddock) with cous cous, peas and home grown tomatoes. I must grow those yellow cherry tomatoes again, they are delicious.

greent

Just finished up some leftover couscous  from the fridge for lunch (alongside a 20p pack of chicken tikka bites) Have pulled 3 bits of chicken from freezer for dinner- will serve with mini roasted potaroes and salad.

 Have used a few things from freezer this week - and found a couple of random things to take into work for lunches to get them used up. Need to create the space for fruit!!🍐🍏🍐🍎🍐

Cherryfudge

I made carrot cake muffins this evening, using up some oddments of carrots (but I still have an unopened bag in the fridge, they were a bargain... you know how it goes). I added some hazelnuts but still have a lot of those left over too. I chucked out a few walnuts that didn't smell right, and am gradually reducing some duplicates of things like flour.

Tomorrow dhal is on the menu, thanks to @Frugalistamama.  

Cherryfudge

This evening's dhal was based on an Australian recipe that I found on Instagram, but I ad libbed and added sweet potato, onion, spinach and carrot, plus a couple of tsp of garam masala. I liked it but Dh wasn't madly keen so guess what I'll be having for dinner on work days this week?

 I've washed and frozen the rest of the spinach - it was a big bag marked down to 40p from £1.65, so I couldn't let such a bargain be wasted, now could I? Of course, had I paid full price, I'd have had to have been even more careful. There was also a small amount of fresh coriander left so that will be in the freezer soon too.

Frugalistamama

@Cherryfudge I didn't get around to the Dahl but I think I will tomorrow now as I really craven it now I know you've got some!! 

My friend who is married to someone from India said she makes some with peas and halloumi added!! Sounds yummy.

I stopped in at Lidl on Saturday night and found chicken breast at 50% off so I got nearly 2kg (50g off 2 kg) for about £6.90! I know I'm not supposed to be stocking but really.... I couldn't leave it. 3 packs of 650g came home with me and is nicely tucked in the freezer. Plus my hubby paid...so not technically out of the food budget but guess I should add it.

Cherryfudge

That was definitely worth getting, @Frugalistamama. Our local Olio shows Iceland's discounts and I notice the chicken goes very quickly.

LotsOfTea

I'm still ploughing through all the veggie chilli and squash dal that I made at the back end of last week. We'll have the last tub of dal tonight for tea, possibly with some cavolo nero as I've got some that could do with being used and some leftover roast chicken for DH. That leaves one tub of the chilli and I might try and squeeze that in the freezer as I'm a bit bored now! 

I've dug out another ancient tin of fruit for my morning oats and yoghurt and this time it's apricots. They're pretty nice which is a good job as I've got another tin in stores that needs using.

Cherryfudge

I had the last of the dhal for dinner tonight, and DH finished up some Southern Fried chicken. However, the canteen at work brought excess sandwiches to his office so he brought me a couple home. I'm going to take the salad bits out and freeze them for when I'm in a hurry.

I also got half price milk yesterday, dated for today so I'm making a big batch of yogurt overnight to use it up. We did rather well out of Olio/Iceland yesterday, with milk, orange juice, cinnamon buns and Belgian buns all half price. No cinnamon buns left here now, funnily enough.

I also tossed some cubed veg (potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrot and swede) in garam masala and roasted them. That was really nice and a good variation on the Mediterranean-style roasted veg I've done before. We had it with chicken.

rtandon27

Free sandwiches from work is always one of my favorite perks - I do rather favour the ones with no salad and a bit of cheese.  We pop them into the toastie maker for a melty sandwich and have some soup alongside.