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

Cherryfudge

carinjo said:

Ms C asked what i was planning on doing with the bits of bread in the freezer. Had a look, there was a LOT of bread ends! And already found 5 frozen bananas! Time for a tidy i think

Bread pudding or bread and butter pudding? Cheese soufflé?

With the infamous banana bread (didn't we live off that and sour dough during lockdown?) use up dried fruit, spices, berries, sliced apple... it's very forgiving and a useful way to use up oddments. The difficulty is when you accidentally hit on a really good combination and either haven't noted what went in or it means you have to replenish the flavouring just when you'd finally finished it up.

Cherryfudge

Out: sausages, roast butternut squash, various oddments, out of date soft drink that didn't look right.

In: blackberries.

Cherryfudge

In: casserole, chickpeas, peas.

Out: fish, butter. I kept forgetting I had a pack of butter in there. It's still okay though I thought it might have gone rancid. I'd had the foresight to subdivide it into small portions wrapped in greaseproof paper and that's made it easier to take out what I can use in a few days and keep the rest frozen.

Need to use up some puff pastry soon... perhaps the depths of the freezer will inspire me.

C_J

Frozen bananas make lovely instant ice cream!

Cherryfudge

Out: puff pastry, corned beef and oddments of veg (yes, a pie), one container of casserole and the remnants of a jar of mini-peppers.

carinjo

Out: Leg of lamb in the slow cooker at moment. 
Allotment garlic from freezer used in slow roasting allotment tomatoes (with balsamic).
Also sausages for a quick snack while watching rugby.
In: slow cooked aubergine. Dill and lemon butter (chilled in sausage shape and then sliced into rounds and frozen)

Cherryfudge

We have a mouse.

Not intentionally, and the humane trap is about to be baited with cream crackers as that's what the wee, sleeket, cowran, tim'rous beastie seems to have taken a fancy to, but for now it's somewhere on the loose.

Between admin jobs I'm cleaning out the cupboard, wiping things down with bleach, drying and replacing, and that's given me an overview of things that have slipped into obscurity. For instance I bought kidney beans the other day and there are several old tins lurking, some of which went past their best over the summer.

The freezer is fairly full again, too.

Now I need to plan something to use up things that need using up, so corned beef is out of the freezer and so is chicken for tomorrow.

I'm tempted to list what's been found in the cupboard but I won't. Stacking like items together is giving me an idea what I need not buy and what I could be using/replacing if it's something we get through lots of (still winter prepping).

I've just discovered that mixing the rest of a tin of tuna with tinned mixed beans, mayo and a teaspoon of curry powder is quite nice and very filling, and I need to buy potatoes.

How is everyone else doing?

cuddlymarm

Maybe until you catch your mouse Cherryfudge you put any open packets and cardboard packs like cereal in the fridge if you can.  Also I’m afraid mouses don’t tend to be loners and invite their friends and families along.
I am currently using up my older stocks and making room in the freezer for half a lamb I have ordered for next month. Also tins and packets down from two cupboards to one to allow space for Xmas stuff to live. The money I’m not spending is going on Xmas.
As I’ve more time on my hands I’ve actually got time to cook cheaper meals and bake at the moment. The medication OH has been put on means I need to be more aware of what he’s eating and as money is tight every penny counts.

Cherryfudge

Thanks @cuddlymarm, though all is quiet so far this evening in my vacuumed, bleached cupboard! Anything nibble-able from that cupboard is now in biscuit tins and the rest is tinned or jarred goods (all squeaky  clean). There are a few packets elsewhere but they're much higher up so I'm hoping they will hold out till Mickey relocates. the only available edible is the cream cracker crumbs in the humane mouse trap.

 I'm in awe of a freezer that has room for half a lamb! If you're Christmas cake eaters, is your baking going to include traditional cake and pudding? I love making those, and it's a good excuse to use up oddments of dried fruit and mixed spice, though this year's pudding was bought in the January sales and is busy maturing.

carinjo

Sorry to hear about your mouse problem @Cherryfudge. Makes me glad that ms marple (the cat) only brings in (mostly) dead ones from outside. 
I helped some friends sort out their freezers and cupboards last weekend. Ill health has taken a lot of things of their menu, so i got a freezer shelf full of vegan meals. It comes just in time for my night shifts, i take out a meal for breakfast and one for dinner.
Not sure if i mentioned before, but i now have a venison guy. So this weekend stocking up with burgers, sausages and cubes of meat for my sister.
I made 2 venison pies from slow roasted shoulder. Delish! 
This morning i'm blanching and freezing large bundles of chard we harvested from allotment, it was growing wild in one corner. Also the last of the tomato harvest made into a sauce for freezer.
@cuddlymarm, so jealous! I have got to ask: does the ½ lamb include the shank? I've heard it not always included.