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

Rosetta92

Hello everyone,
I’ve been working through all the posts here from the beginning and I’m very impressed. Cherryfudge Imhave a couple of suggestions for you

Cherryfudge said:

Still to eat up or find new homes for:
carrots, lots of yogurt, bacon, half a cucumber, couscous, some of today's casserole, beetroot, feta, cheddar, eggs, lemons.

For your cucumber and some of the yogurt you could make raita https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/cucumberandmintraita_67787

I also sometimes make cornbread with a recipe from the old Good Food cookbook which uses yoghurt. Perhaps your DH could tolerate yoghurt when it’s baked into something? I’ve also seen cornbread recipes with cheese added although I’ve not tried this. And if it’s only you eating dairy would a supply of grated cheese in the freezer be handy so you can dig it out in wee bits just for you? 

Frugalistamama

I haven't posted in a while as things have been so busy with the move and with end of school. So crazy.

I've had a good last week and managed to not buy too much. I've made a vague meal plan using what I have for about 4 weeks so I'm only buying fresh ingredients that I need. Honestly I think I have enough to keep us going for months! I'm starting to avoid all the bargains and ask myself if I really need that to fill and sit in my cupboard as I don't want to move all this stuff! Honestly right now a bargain is not a bargain if it's just going to sit for months in the cupboard or freezer.... Just wasting my money. That's how I'm trying to look at it.

Now I'm at home for the next 6 weeks I feel like I have more of a handle on the kitchen. I've started to only cook dinner in the evening and use the leftovers for lunch the next day. It's working out really well.  I've been going through the fridge and sadly had to throw away a few things. I need to get better at using things up before they go bad.

Xx

Cherryfudge

@Rosetta92, I've only just seen your post, sorry. I still have lots of yogurt, but not cucumber. I had thought of doing some baking with yogurt; you are right, it's easier to tolerate dairy in the form of yogurt and DH finds cooked dairy better than 'as it comes'. I've never tried cornbread, I need to look into that.

Grated cheese in the freezer is a really god idea, thanks.

@Frugalistamama, it sounds as though you're making progress! Well done. how long till you move?

I've just thought of a new game for you. When you use something from stores, note down what it would have cost (you can use a bit of artistic licence and guess if you don't want to get bogged down). See if you can save X amount a week.  

I'm back from a week away, ate out rather a lot and had far too many nice cafe coffees, so I have to start being good again.

Frugalistamama

@Cherryfudge that's funny because I have started that challenge except I'm actually really putting the money aside! So far (about 3 days) I have about £12! Great minds. I'm moving in about 2 months.

You'll never guess but a friend is leaving the country and literally given me the contents of her kitchen cupboards. I couldn't say no as I hate food waste and it would have ended up in the skip.  Probably about 4 full Tesco bags of pantry goods 😱 

Looking at my outline four week meal plan and making the next week's more structured meal plan and shopping list today.

I just took out some sausages and ham from the freezer for the next few days breakfast/ lunch (£3) and will be having freezer pizzas and salad, maybe some air fryer chips for the kids for our fun movie night meal. Looking forward to that.

Cherryfudge

Frugalistamama said:

@Cherryfudge that's funny because I have started that challenge except I'm actually really putting the money aside! So far (about 3 days) I have about £12!

That's such a strange coincidence! £12 is very encouraging, I wonder how much I'd get if I tried it?

It was nice of your friend to pass all that on to you, though a couple of months is both a short time (in my terms) to use things up and a long time to stick to a plan. There aren't any actual rules, though, are there? All progress counts.

I need to go out and buy fresh stuff today but I think we have enough otherwise. Some carrots and tomatoes have lasted since we went away a week ago and we've brought baking potatoes and onions back with us from the self catering bits of the holiday.

This is what I'm trying today: Chickpea tikka masala | Healthy Recipe | WW UK (weightwatchers.com), as recommended by @Sun_Addict who makes a lot of nice recipes!  I need garam marsala and coconut milk, and I'll use brown rice in place of cauliflower.

Frugalistamama

Today
Out: 
2 pizzas
Pack of sausages
Ham
Bake your own croissants

@Cherryfudge I don't think I'm going to make too much of a dent in two months but I'll give it a good go!

applepad

I was looking in my cupboard at packet mixes I had, some out of date, so they are now at the front, 
Yesterday we had Thai Green Curry, it said for 2 but bulked out with a side of steamed broccoli which needed eating- with chicken from the freezer.
Tonight it’s a Mexican packet mix, cheap from BM’s - but it was a short date- must remember to check dates in there!
More chicken from freezer for this.

Frugalistamama

@applepad I don't pay much attention on best before dates on packets, tins and dried goods. I've eaten things years out of date and never had a problem. You obviously need to look and smell it! 

Today I'm going to make some Dahl to start using the mountain is lentils I have. Family don't like it that much so it'll be like a side dish for some sausages 

carinjo

@Frugalista, you could always share on Olio when it gets near moving time and you don't want to take your and your friends pantry stock with you! 
@applepad i also stick the short date stuff in the front. Except for yeast or baking powder for baking, i tend to not worry too much about the dates though. I went to BM this week to get bedding for guinea pigs, was very impressed with the selection of tinned and packaged options they have. The prices not always cheapest (compared to say l1dl), but ended up stocking up the cupboards! 
@Cherryfudge i'm going to have a go at the game too, i'm still trying to work the freezers down, ms C and I have been working our way through tubs of soup... in summer!

I would like to share a recipe that used recently using frozen butternut from 2 seasons ago! Done well in freezer and with defrosting afterwards. Just remove the spaces: 
https://realfood .tesco.com/recipes/j amies-squash-and-harissa-r olls.html

Cherryfudge

Oh, I have butternut squash waiting to be used! In fact I have all the ingredients except spring onions. Must be meant to be.