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

carinjo

Big thank you @DawnW, the book about jam and preserves finally on it's way from the BiG River (waited till had enough in my basket for free postage)

Wraithlady

In: 2 loaves of bread (YS from T*sco), wraps

Out: Pork chops, salmon, sweet chilli hummus, cavelo nero, goats cheese, chilli, steak for stir-fry

Cherryfudge

I've really got out of the swing of tracking what food's going in and what's being finished (family wedding, busy at work).

This evening I did the shopping for the weekend plus a little extra as DH has got Covid and I wanted a small extra stock in case I get it too: DS1 who could normally be asked to help out with shopping is away and while I could do an online order, I wanted to make sure we are all right for fresh stuff.

Out: ends of bags of potatoes, fish from freezer, butternut squash.

In: vegan cheese, lard, fizzy drink, fruit, rusk-type things that DH likes, bacon, 2 large peanut butters (currently cheaper per 100g than the el cheapo one I usually get), chicken, pastries.

Cherryfudge

I was feeling proud of myself for defrosting a packet of liver and creating a bit of freezer space ( it was eaten with fried onions and green pepper, baked beans, smoked bacon and new potatoes - yummy!) then I went down to Lidl to take advantage of the evening discount on pastries and spent £13.

Not all pastries: I got a bag of six salmon fillets at a third off, two days left on the date so dinner tomorrow and two meals' worth to go in the freezer. I needed potatoes and was low onions but noticed they had veggies boxes. These are supposed to be first come first served in the morning but our store seems to do them in the evening and there were about seven left near the end of the day. I put back the £1.25 bag of baking potatoes and bought a box containing 2kg red potatoes, 500g miniature potatoes, 4 baking potatoes, 3 leeks, 5 vine tomatoes, a banana, a small orange and four Conference pears for £1.50.

I think leek and potato soup is in the offing, it's a good job I have a day off tomorrow to make plans and get cooking!

Cherryfudge

The salmon was very nice with baked potato for DH and roast carrots and tomatoes for both of us. I felt a bit off colour and couldn't face potato but I baked all of them and will chill the rest down then freeze them for another day.

The leeks are standing in water to keep them as fresh as possible till I feel up to soup making, and the other salmon pieces are now in the freezer.

Nothing actually used up today, but nothing bought either.

Wraithlady

In: hummus, meatballs, chicken legs, courgettes, spanish tortilla with bacon and chorizo (T*scos were selling them for 50p each reduced from £4.99) - I'm not counting the fish fingers as they replaced a box we'd finished up

Out: bread, cheese, fish, sausages

carinjo

Things have gone a bit haywire here. The kitchen freezer is a case of: open it, get a fright and close it again. The shed freezer got leftover painting and decorating stuff blocking it. 
In the meantime have loads of fresh produce from either allotment or L1dl boxes that needs preparing for freezer. Due to circumstances that not happening and living of ready meals. 
Normal service will hopefully resume shortly.
@Wraithlady, how do you prep your courgette for freezer?
@Cherryfudge i like your idea of standing leeks in water. Just a bit i assume? I've been wrapping things in damp kitchencloth in fridge to make it last. 
In: large pack pork chops portioned, pack frozen broadbeans, tinned tomatoes, pickling spice.
Out: 0

Cherryfudge

carinjo said:

Things have gone a bit haywire here. The kitchen freezer is a case of: open it, get a fright and close it again. The shed freezer got leftover painting and decorating stuff blocking it. 
...
@Cherryfudge i like your idea of standing leeks in water. Just a bit i assume? I've been wrapping things in damp kitchencloth in fridge to make it last. 

The advantage of the way you use your freezers is that minimal cold escapes, thus saving on energy bills. There's always a silver lining. Of course, you are paying to store things ad infinitum, but we won't go there. (In my case, I'm already there).

Leeks in water... you've had me googling and apparently your method is the recommended one. I tend to pop things in water to keep them alive. Some benefit more than others - I bought beetroot with drooping leaves a couple of times and once the leaves had perked up I could roast them (recipes on the internet - I love them) and have the actual beetroot on another occasion. Celery of course stays crisper but it might if wrapped in damp tissue or foil and stored in the fridge. Carrots and parsnips revive a bit but soon go over so it's definitely a short term measure for them. Fresh herbs, of course, like a drink.

I fell asleep after work so we ate from the freezer today. I had a veggie curry and DH had a fishcake. We've used up the tomatoes and bananas and I've run out of cappuccinos, but I'm going out to get more this evening because I 'need' my morning cappuccino.  

Wraithlady

carinjo said:

@Wraithlady, how do you prep your courgette for freezer?

To be honest, I just chop them into thinnish quartered slices and freeze - then add to stews/stir-fries etc from frozen

carinjo

Thanks @Wraithlady!