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

Cherryfudge

Frugalistamama said:

That's a good point @Cherryfudge perhaps I am stress shopping. I do have a history of over stocking due to a period in the last financial crisis of 2008 where I could barely feed my family and didn't know any tricks of stretching food. Having food stored is like a safety net. I've learned a lot since then but still fall back into the old pattern of hoarding food 😏

I totally get freezer Tetris!!! 😂

That must have been awful, no wonder you try to guard against it. I'm not sure if it would help, but perhaps you could pack up a box of groceries as a gift to your future self, so that when you get to your new place it's ready to open with kettle, tea and biscuits, paper plates, baby wipes, and a voucher for a takeaway (or whatever works for you). 

Frugalistamama

Oh dear first confession already. Went to the shop to buy a couple of things I needed. The shop should have been £6.84 if I stuck to the list but some bargains and temptations got me and I ended up spending £14.77.  So £8 more. Not a catastrophe I know but I do this all the time and have been in the shops about 3 or four times a week for the last few weeks so it really adds up. I need to work on that! 

I like the idea of a grocery box for the new house. I could probably pack it now with all the food I have! 

Cherryfudge

Frugalistamama said:

Oh dear first confession already. Went to the shop to buy a couple of things I needed. The shop should have been £6.84 if I stuck to the list but some bargains and temptations got me and I ended up spending £14.77.  So £8 more. Not a catastrophe I know but I do this all the time and have been in the shops about 3 or four times a week for the last few weeks so it really adds up. I need to work on that! 

I like the idea of a grocery box for the new house. I could probably pack it now with all the food I have! 

Just start with where you are, don't beat yourself up about the past. If necessary, remember being a young child and playing shops with whatever you found in the kitchen cupboards - play shopping at home as an adult!

I read an Ellis Peters story once (Brother Cadfael) where the murder weapon was hidden in the larder. It explained really well that food stores were so valued that they were kept under lock and key, and the woman with the key was indeed powerful and respected in her community. I think we still have that instinct (not to hide murder weapons in the cornflakes, I hope, but to store up provisions against a day of shortage). It makes logical sense. My adult kids tell me they would shop for us if we broke a leg or got Covid or something, but in reality they could be unavailable and it makes sense to have a few extra tins and packets in case there's a shortage/illness/it's raining and we've run out of tuna...

Frugalistamama

Thank you,  I appreciate the understanding @Cherryfudge 😊 I will look up that story. It must be ingrained in us as providers.

So I just found that one of the things I picked up that I shouldn't have this morning I already had an unopened pack 😬 so annoying. 

I'm working from home today so decided after this mornings error I am going to try to see how long I can go without stepping in the shops. I don't expect it to be too long as the kids drink quite a bit of milk but I'll see if I can go a few days at least.

So today I did a bit of a cook between working. I cooked a curry with some lovely sauce that made it into my bag this morning. I figured I'd use it while I'm inspired or it'll just get thrown into the back of the cupboard. There is left over paste though....

So used some chicken from the freezer, a tin of chickpeas from the cupboard and a withering onion.  Will serve it with some premade rice lurking in the cupboard. 

I've also poached the rest of the chicken for my lunches during the week and use up the mountains if salad leaves I seem to have, with some tzatzki I need to use up.

I need to first clear a bit of space in the fridge.

Cherryfudge

I've been trying to work out which story it was: possibly The Sanctuary Sparrow, @Frugalistamama? I can't be absolutely sure.

Are your kids an age where you could ask them to do a Ready Steady Cook style menu out of stores? You've set a good example for them to follow!

I had lunch out today, and will be having pizza with my friends this evening then a buffet with another group tomorrow so it will be a few days before I face the freezer challenge again. I have to be careful not to add too much in the meantime.

Frugalistamama

Day 1 of successfully avoiding the shops!! Yay.

Used up a pack of mini chicken fillets which were a day part best, half a broccoli, some potatoes for mash and one leftover hotdog bun which was divided between the two kids to house the crispy fillets. 

I kept the water from the potatoes and broccoli and will use it to make a soup later on the week. 

Feeling positive 😁

Frugalistamama

@Cherryfudge yes! The kids are old enough to play that! What a good idea. I'm old enough to play it too! 

Cherryfudge

So much for eating our way through supplies. I took quiches to this evening's event and the remainder are now in the freezer. That will be very handy for lunches, provided I remember to defrost the night before... I've cleaned out the fridge too: some yogurt, a beetroot, the ends of a couple of cucumbers, a sad pumpkin-type vegetable and a slice of lemon have gone to the compost. Well, the yogurt went down the sink. There are both tuna and smoked salmon needing to be finished, so I'm not sure how I'll do that while they are fresh, as DH is away for a few days.

I succumbed to three packets of pepperoni that were reduced, with the idea of adding them to sandwiches but they are getting frozen for now.

It will be interesting to see what you and your children come up with, @Frugalistamama!

kboss2010

In the spirit of waste not, want not, lunch today was half a leftover small baguette with ham, cheese leftover from OH’s lunch on Monday and fridge mayo.  

Tomorrow’s lunch is two small leftover onion roti wraps with my homemade tomato & cucumber coronation salad, some ham and cheese and a sprinkle of pomegranate. 

Friday’s lunch will probably be a ham & cheese sandwich to use up the last of the ham and the rest of the tomato & cucumber salad.

Dinner tomorrow evening will be a bag of frozen stir fry veg, some frozen honey bbq chicken and noodles. 

Friday instead of a takeaway I’m going to defrost the leftover portion of takeaway curry in the freezer for OH and make some quick naan and cook the small bag of vegan kebab meat in the freezer for me. 

I also have a large tub of cherry tomatoes  and will have to think of a way to use them up.

Cherryfudge

kboss2010 said:

I also have a large tub of cherry tomatoes  and will have to think of a way to use them up.

If you like roast veg, add cherry tomatoes near the end of cooking - you can also freeze them whole or halved, then roast them. They go squishy either way but it looks deliberate if roasted.