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

Frugalistamama

Last night I used up some chicken for dinner that would probably be destined for the bin today and a wilting broccoli.
Today I need to use up two pork loin slices, I think I'll make schnitzel. If I do it properly it should feed four and serve with mash and gravy. 

The AA come out again for the car, it's the clutch. Damn. They say it's not worth the cost as it's an old car and it will be at least £1k to fix! So I am officially car-less. So no big supermarket trips, I'll have to do little one bag shops or get delivery. I guess it will help with the impulse purchases. Silver lining.....

RHemmings

I was actually not that impressed by the red lentil tofu. It's OK, but it's not going to become a staple for me. I don't have an air fryer, but I plan to try baking some of the cubes to see if they firm up a bit. 

Similarly my attempt to make peanut milk didn't turn out well. Not a nice taste, and even chocolate milk made from it didn't work for me. The concept seems good and I wonder if I can make the milk out of roasted peanuts. It did look very convincingly like milk, however.

In both cases I think the experiment was worthwhile, and I don't regret doing so. If I keep trying things I'll discover more foods that work for me. Also, while I seemed to have loads of peanuts before I'm getting through them. I roasted another batch just to eat as normal peanuts, and there's perhaps one more such batch left. Still plenty of red lentils however. 

The pasta I made with a tin of baked beans and strongly flavoured cheese is OK. Nothing special, but it's edible. 

Breakfast this morning was bits that need to be eaten. A hot dog roll (bought in a pack used to clear out frozen hot dogs), with sweet potato pakora (from Aldi), and burger pickle sauce. Not bad, and I can imagine eating this again. Only one pakora left which probably won't last the morning, and that was the last hot dog roll. Half a jar of pickle sauce left which is getting used and should be gone before I go overseas. 

Just two things in the freezer apart from frozen home-cooked meals. One is a box of rocket lollies - this may be the wrong time of year. And, most of a bag of frozen mince. I have other things to make shepherds pie. Oh, and frozen peas. Three things. Four things as there is frozen ginger/garlic cubes. 

NB: Please insert 'vegan' in front of the names of various foods. 

BTW: I have packaged curries and packaged brown rice at work. I can use these for work lunches. Currently they are not being eaten as I'm bringing in frozen meals from home. The packaged food all has long best before/use by dates so they will last until I come back from overseas. 

I bought a glass storage box (plastic lid) from B&M. It is heavier than the plastic boxes, but it has some rice risotto in it (I found some arborio rice and used all of it). I'm going to take that to work today as in theory at least I can microwave up the rice in the glass box part and eat it straight out of there. Slightly less washing up to do. 

Frugalistamama

Tomorrow I'm going to use up some bratwurst sausage with some cabbage and carrot I need to use up, and will roast up so wrinkley parsnips and probably some wedges for the kids. 
@RHemmings you sound like you are doing very well using things up. It's inspiring me. 

RHemmings

Frugalistamama said:

Tomorrow I'm going to use up some bratwurst sausage with some cabbage and carrot I need to use up, and will roast up so wrinkley parsnips and probably some wedges for the kids. 
@RHemmings you sound like you are doing very well using things up. It's inspiring me. 

I'm trying, but I intended to visit the supermarket for just a loaf of bread and bought a few other things as well. 

Today I ate two meals from the freezer, and have just made a big batch of shepherd's pie for freezing, enough for four meals. I managed to use up the last of the mince, and a variety of vegetables. But, there is still a long way to go. 

Roast parsnips with gravy - yum!

EDIT: Just had a quick survey in my kitchen. Now I need to take aim at ... (ominous chords) ... the noodles. 

Frugalistamama

Last two nights dinner where I actually planned and cooked seems to have gone down rather well. Now the fresh stuff is running down a bit. I've got a whole load of fresh spinach and red peppers not sure what to make with that. I think maybe just a spinach side with garlic and another salad.... Hmm I might have to look in the freezer.

 I think it might be soup and then some thrown together something tomorrow!

Those noodles are looking good. I'd be planning some stir frys and ramen type soups with those! Yummy

RHemmings

@Frugalistamama - somewhere I have a recipe for pesto made from spinach and miso paste, as well as other more normal pesto things. 

I don't have it any book, but there's an Indian dish which is layers of different things, including rice and spinach layers. I'm trying to remember what it's called. 

Also, many curries are spinach based. If you like the spice. 

Frugalistamama

Had a bit of a bad day so did not do as I was planning. So it was freezer chips, Quorn nuggets for the kids, chicken mini fillets for us and some salad. All from what I already had in.

Went to Lidl after work to pick up some free items, free chocolate money, free yoghurt and free bakery item ( got a nice sourdough) so that was great. Also 25% off some Christmas goodies. Also picked up some mince and chicken (I don't have mince beef in and I really fancy a Bolognese I can throw in some of the bottom of the fridge veg) I don't have an excuse for the chicken, I shouldn't had bought it. I have chicken in the freezer.

Spent £20.05 but I had to go and get my freebies before the vouchers expired. The trick is to not buy other things!! 😣

RHemmings

@Frugalistamama - at present I'm receiving regular Tesco vouchers to get £ off if I spend more than ££££££££. But, I can't use them or I'll completely undo my reducing from the cupboards/fridge. 

I did buy some fake chicken today. I plan to use it with the noodles to make stir-fried noodles. But, only £3 something and I'm confident it will go. Only one more Greggs sausage roll to go. 

Cherryfudge

I'd forgotten the L!dl offers, @Frugalistamama. Thanks for the reminder. I used a couple last week but the weather has been so miserable today that I stayed in as much as possible. I'll probably try to get out and about tomorrow.

I raided the freezer and had cauliflower cheese for tea with a bit of wholegrain mustard and some red pepper mixed in. It worked! I have yogurt to use (familiar story) and I need to invent something quick and easy for dinner tomorrow, or at least something I can have ready in a small time frame as DH has too much to fit in!

RHemmings

Eating risotto for lunch. I found the risotto rice in the back of a cupboard and it made up three meals. The peas are frozen and I initially thought I'd have no way of getting through them before leaving the country Sunday week, but they are starting to reduce. Other than that, the fresh vegetables are to keep the consumption of fresh vegetables rolling so that I have those in my diet. I think that this might be the last of the risotto from the freezer: it made three meals. EDIT: Oh, and excessive amounts of dried herbs, as I have way too many.