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

CCW007

Out yesterday: rather old pack of couscous, various old veg made into a stew
Out today: veggie burger for me, regular burger for OH, two burger buns
In: Protein powder, protein bars, few tins and jars etc from Approved Foods, weekly Mr M shop 

bargainbetty

I had a moment at 5.00pm when I realised that I had nothing defrosted for dinner. I remembered a new bag of pork and chilli gyoza that can cook from frozen, and have shredded up the last of a slightly sad cabbage and half an onion that were lurking in the fridge ready to be thrown away tomorrow. Am making a soup base with a stock cube, garlic chilli sauce and a bit of soy, with a bundle of rice noodles tossed on top once the gyoza are cooked. 

My evening is improving already.

carinjo

Out: hm pulled pork. Added to olio from yesterday to make a Ginormeous french baton sandwich for dinner. Garam Masala, lemon juice, with the previous roasted marrow for a lunchtime snack. 
In:  the Olio food hero asked if i wanted whatever was leftover, so got mashed potatoes, pittas, 3x katsu curry sauce (not freezable, but who cares, in it goes). 4 large french batons to be sliced and frozen to be used as soup toppings. 

joedenise

in:  0
Out:  savoury mince for dinner tonight; sausages for breakfast tomorrow

Happy_Sloth

hey there,  

Can anyone help my with some soup mix?   I've got a packet of vegetable soup mix with pasta, so it's got lentils, split pea's, macaroni etc in it.  

I've also going about 1/2 a chicken leftover from last night...   I was thinking popping chicken stock, the mix, chicken, carrots, onions etc in a pot and cooking it as a soup?  Will this work?  anything i should know of is it just a question of dumping things in and hoping for the best? 

joedenise

That should work.  Only thing is I'd check that the soup mix isn't one that needs soaking overnight before use - most of them are OK just to add but it's worth checking.

I don't think you need to add quite as much chicken though - you should be able to pull or cut some of the meat off the chicken to make another meal.  Don't know how many you're cooking for but if there isn't enough chicken for a meal for you all then you can use the chicken in something like chicken & chorizo jambalaya (https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/chicken-chorizo-jambalaya) - just don't add the chicken until near the end as it will just need warming through not cooking.

CCW007

Was thinking I needed to make soup for lunches when I remembered I canned some leek and potato soup.  So that will be lunch with a roll and some hummus from the freezer.  Dinner is LO stew and couscous from Wednesday.

Happy_Sloth

joedenise said:

That should work.  Only thing is I'd check that the soup mix isn't one that needs soaking overnight before use - most of them are OK just to add but it's worth checking.

I don't think you need to add quite as much chicken though - you should be able to pull or cut some of the meat off the chicken to make another meal.  Don't know how many you're cooking for but if there isn't enough chicken for a meal for you all then you can use the chicken in something like chicken & chorizo jambalaya (https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/chicken-chorizo-jambalaya) - just don't add the chicken until near the end as it will just need warming through not cooking.

No the packet says if doesn't need pre-soaking, i always buy these and then never have much luck making something edible i always end up with bland sludge. 

Great idea on the Jambalaya, i have a chorizo frozen in the freezer onions, peppers and a ton of rice so that should be easy to make.  

joedenise

If you find you always end up with something bland then it sounds as though you need to add some herbs or spices to increase the flavour.  Personally I prefer a bit of kick to my soup so usually add some curry powder and/or chilli flakes!  If you don't want spicy then perhaps something like mixed herbs and/or tarragon which goes well with chicken.

I always keep chorizo in the freezer!  It's so easy to use a small piece to add lots of flavour to rice dishes.

Cherryfudge

joedenise said:

@Cherryfudge - I find frozen fruit far better than fresh in overnight oats; the liquid from the defrosting fruit helps to stop it being claggy.  I've always found it very claggy with fresh fruit and/or not enough yoghurt!

I like frozen fruit in my overnight oats too! The banana is sweetness, bulk and potassium but it goes well with chips of stem ginger (not exactly frozen fruit, I know) and blueberries or raspberries. The favourite when there are no bananas is frozen cherries - the end result is practically ice cream!

I do add a splash of milk to let it down a bit or, as you say, it's claggy.

Do you find the texture is very different depending whether you use live or 'ordinary' yogurt? I much prefer live though don't usually splash out (and haven't mastered making my own).

In: precooked chicken slices, Eccles cakes.
Out: hot cross buns, half jar of red pesto.