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

Cherryfudge

Lol to the hidden mustard, @C_J - I put mustard in cheese sauce (and cheese scones) too. In fact there was some in the dressing on the Buddha Bowl yesterday so I'm fairly sure DH had some, but he wouldn't add it for himself.

I do the same as you with freezing green leafy things and cherry tomatoes, in fact I prefer cherry tomatoes when they're roasted. Right now I need to eat myself a way into the freezer, though, so I'm looking to have some while they are fresh. I did use some more this evening, along with some of the fresh dressing I made yesterday, as a base for some southern fried chicken. It's just an oil and fresh lemon dressing but it's so wonderful that I wonder why I ever got shop-bought.

ETA: I thought I'd sent this yesterday but it was still waiting to go this morning, sorry.

rtandon27

Loving the covert mustard operations! 😉

DigForVictory

Youngest used Colmans mustard powder as a pigment in painting. (It makes his more valuable miniature figures a lot harder to steal, as the boardgame chairman's dog sneezes at the smell every time.)

greent

We're off to a (small-ish, local-ish) festival tomorrow in the motorhome. DH would happily eat all meals from the food vendors there!! 😱😱💶💰 Today I've cooked up some sausages from the freezer to eat in baguettes (much quicker to heat things up than cook from scratch) along with a tub of mushrooms (baked them) which would have gone to waste if I hadn't taken them. I've also cooked up some jersey royals (definitely needed using - had to throw a couple) and some spicy chicken burgers. Will take salad, a dressing and coleslaw, along with milk, teabags and a small amount of alcohol and some snacks. Have ham and cheese and butter and a can of beans and have baked 2 small seeded loaves. If I can keep him to one meal purchased/ day I will be very happy! We keep a small bottle of oil and sachets of condiments and salt and pepper in there.

No idea what dinner tonight will be - there's a pizza that needs eating, so maybe that.

Cherryfudge

We were away over the weekend, and bought salmon for tea last night. I was so tired on Monday that I don't remember what we ate! Probably pasta. Tonight was chicken and chorizo pasta, which finished up some chorizo from the fridge, and I've had to throw out some bacon that had been in there far too long.

Tomorrow I have a day off and I could really do with cleaning out the fridge. It's filling up with blackberries - about a pound and a half today! Then I need a good look at the freezer to eat stocks down a bit, but I have already got leftovers to eat up tomorrow and DH has a yellow-stickered bolognese.

greent

We didnt have pizza last night - I made chicken and rice for me, DH and DS1 - 1 huge chicken breast from the freezer, 3 shallots (from the cheap Easter veg!!), 3 leftover spring onions and a pack of tenderstem broccoli with some cooked basmati rice and 2 large eggs all stir fried together with lots of garlic and some soy sauce- used a few bits up and was tasty and filling. A small amount of plain boiled rice has gone into the freezer.

DH has already gone out for breakfast this morning whilst I was having a shower - we haven't even left for the festival yet - this does not bide well for the spends!🤦🏻‍♀️

Cherryfudge

How did the festival go, @greent ?

I had a fridge clear-out today - overdue, I'm afraid. I had to throw out half a jug of blackberries, a part-roll of pastry, some lard and cheese that had gone off and probably other stuff I don't remember. It's nice to have it clean and safe again, but I noticed it's just a year since I made a batch of greengage jam that's still in there! Now that the weather is a bit cooler I could do some baking in an effort to use more of it up - the first of this season's greengages are ready now.

I made a jar and a bit of blackberry curd (and gave some blackberries away). The curd is nice but doesn't keep long so there's no point making a lot. There are still plenty of blackberries to come and today we were gifted a big bag of apples, the first of the year.

While cleaning the fridge, I rescued what was still okay of a big bag of mixed peppers. They are diced up and frozen, which uses up most of what little space I had! I will also be trying to finish up a melon and some hummus over the next couple of days. I try so hard not to over-buy… I haven't got the knack of it, evidently. There are eggs to use up, too, also cottage cheese and yogurt.

greent

Festival was good, thanks @Cherryfudge . Managed to persuade Mr gt to just buy dinners there - still spent over £120 on food/ drink, though! (Only bought 2 pints in the festival, but several cups of tea, as you couldn't take them in)

Minimal shopping yesterday, but did include 2 x 50% off YS ready meals that ive thrown in the freezer for lunches. Should be minimal shopping today. Hoping to make some progress in the freezers over the next couple of weeks.

Cherryfudge

Festivals and the like really seems to have you where they want you when it comes to buying food and drink! I'm gladd you enjoyed yourselves though!

Dinner was chicken today, so there's quite a bit of that and some baking potatoes left over. I've still got one or two slices of melon: I wonder if it will finish before I do?

LotsOfTea

Now it's back to school time again I'm focusing on reducing the stores and hopefully saving a bit. 🤞

I made a sort-of stew thing ready for our tea tonight with onion, garlic, red pepper, a tin of potatoes (BB 2021!) and half a jar of tomato & olive tapenade that needed using up from the fridge. I've tasted it and it's perfectly good. I'll give DH & DS some hotdog sausages to go with it (from a similarly vintage tin) and I'll have it on its own. I've still got a stash of old tinned food that I'm working through but progress is at least being made.

The freezer is looking much better and is about 3/4 full now. I'm aiming to get it as near empty as possible for defrosting as it's not a frost-free one.