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

Wraithlady

Hi Zafiro, welcome to the thread!

Been on holiday round the end of October.

In: Chappattis, eggs from a friend, pork chops left over from our hol's, 3 teabreads from Bothams, granary loaf, veg box (with ANOTHER squash in it)
Out: Bacon, salmon, bendy carrots used up with the chops in a curry last night, frozen cherries, teabread from Bothams (from last time we went to Yorkshire)

Cherryfudge

@Frugalista, did you find a home for all the eggs? I felt very guilty this week when I found I had 9 out of date eggs. Three didn't float and went towards a salad nicoise, but I had to throw the others out as they were definitely buoyant.

Today I decided to go through the herbs and spices drawer - nearly everything was out of date and, with fewer people living here now the younger generation have their own places, they aren't realistically needed. I took a couple of photos which I'll post below as a lesson to us all.  

So, first of all, I saved everything that's still got time on the label. I'm not one for 'best before' dates, so I then went through everything else making judgements about freshness. Where there were duplicates, the freshest one was kept unless it no longer smelled okay. Then I threw out most of the pre-pandemic things! If I've not used them up in the last couple of years, there's a reason. I admit to keeping vanilla pods and saffron, because in my head these are expensive and need to be hoarded (I know, I know).

Here's what went: garam masala, caraway, ginger, mixed spice, ground cinnamon, ground coriander, coriander seeds, coriander leaf, turmeric, paprika, rosemary, oregano, garlic granules, crushed chillies, Tikka curry powder, 'Season All'. Two of some of them!

So now the 'worst offenders' have gone and everything that isn't too tall for the drawer fits in nicely. I have a sink full of empty spice jars and once they are washed I'll see what I want to refill and do that on an as-needed basis via the local no-packaging shop. Her spices are beautifully fresh and you don't have to buy more than you think you can use. They are also cheap because you don't pay for the weight of the glass.

I've also thrown out some mixed nuts and walnuts because they'd stopped smelling nice and they aren't going to get any fresher. That's sad but had to happen.

By the way, all the old spices and herbs went in the compost so it will probably smell amazing!

Cherryfudge

This is the collection of out of date items followed by what was actually in date! 🤣

Frugalista

@Cherryfudge - I ended up throwing around 8 away.  Fed some to the dogs (they were approached with great suspicion and mixed enthusiasm) and we had LOTS of egg sandwiches!!!  Still, a bargain is a bargain. LOL!

Cherryfudge

Frugalista said:

@Cherryfudge - I ended up throwing around 8 away.  Fed some to the dogs (they were approached with great suspicion and mixed enthusiasm) and we had LOTS of egg sandwiches!!!  Still, a bargain is a bargain. LOL!

Absolutely! I am going to be in a similar position if I'm not careful. I sked my husband to get us some eggs yesterday (thinking 6) and he came back with 15. Four will go into the Christmas cake and last night I came across my macaroons recipe which will use some more and also make good use of a packet of desiccated coconut that needs a use... not sure what will become of the other twelve! Definitely time to get pickling.  

carinjo

In: coriander pesto portions (from olio coriander pots), courgette and cheddar loaf, courgette drizzle loaf (from a big allotment courgette), 4 portions hm pea and ham soup (hm ham).
Still have not gotten around to doing inventory, hopefully sometime this week

carinjo

In: double batch of pumpkin pickle from an olio halloween pumpkin! Also the bits leftover from what i had to buy for the pickle: nigella seeds, mustard seeds, coriander seeds, tumeric. Leftover cooked chicken breasts from a roast.
Out: ready rolled puff pastry and some of the frozen coriander pesto for a veg tart. 
@Cherryfudge you inspired me to start looking at what's in and out of date and several spices and half pack of flour got binned. 

Cherryfudge

carinjo said:

@Cherryfudge you inspired me to start looking at what's in and out of date and several spices and half pack of flour got binned. 

I got talking to the lady I buy spices from. She told me her wholesaler told her the 'best before' dates on herbs and spices are just about arbitrary. They have to have a date, so they put something that sounds reasonable. I'm glad of that because most of mine are officially out of date, even after the purge, but they smell and look okay.

Mind you, some of the ones I got rid of were definitely past it and needed to go. They just didn't smell as nice as the others... just enough that the compost heap still smells vaguely curry-ish!

carinjo

I like doing the taste test, after a curry tasted definately not of curry! 
Out: cooked chicken breast, half a salmon wellington.
In: wholemeal flour

carinjo

Out: quinoa, frozen: beetroot, garden peas, cherry tomatoes. The first of the summer's bottled pears, custard. 
In: leftover quinoa, portioned.