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

RHemmings

oceandreamer said:

Hi can I join you please? I have a ridiculous amount of food in the freezer and pantry although I'm not too sure what there actually is.  I'm usually fairly frugal so most of it is yellow stickered meat which I can never resist plus some of the cheap joints that were on offer before Christmas. It is ridiculous how much stuff there is though and I don't actually know what's in there.  Tomorrow I'm going to start an inventory (I say start because it looks like a very big job) and some menu planning. I've challenged myself to see if I can eat main meals out of stores for the whole month.  I will have to buy milk, bread and fruit and veg but that should be it.  I'll let you know how I go on.  Tonight I had pasta with left over mushrooms, broccoli and red pepper in a garlic and chilli sauce made with left over creme fraise, with some left over cheese (I have quite a cheese mountain going on) grated over.  Tbh it was nice to eat something simple after all the holiday food.

I was in that position. Eat what is on top and see what is revealed. 

carinjo

@oceandreamer i recommend when you make a list, instead of writing 2x chickpea tins, write 11, that way can cross out what you use. When i finish something i will write it at bottom of list and try and substitute before replacing.
Good luck!
Out: jar olives, tin guava. 
Btw, L1dl doing a vegan promotion

Cherryfudge

Out: some yellow peppers, couple of pieces of salmon. Somehow we have worked through fridge stuff so I can now find things, and eaten enough freezer stuff that there was some space - which I've now filled.

There were some good half price discounts yesterday so I've stocked up:
gammon joint, 9 chicken breasts, 3 tubs of extra thick cream (I will make butter later today), lots of onions, more peppers, tomatoes, broccoli.

There are some sweet potatoes to use up, and lots of cheese that I'm steadily eating my way through (DH can't eat it).

oceandreamer

Thanks for the tips @RHemmings and @carinjo.  I've made a start - oh my! I've only done the pantry and I'm off to buy some storage boxes to keep all herbs, spices, packets, baking ingredients etc together.  I'm buying them out of my grocery budget for this month from the hopeful savings using up what I have.

Cherryfudge

oceandreamer said:

Thanks for the tips @RHemmings and @carinjo.  I've made a start - oh my! I've only done the pantry and I'm off to buy some storage boxes to keep all herbs, spices, packets, baking ingredients etc together.  I'm buying them out of my grocery budget for this month from the hopeful savings using up what I have.

A few years ago we shared our house with adult children and amalgamating our stuff in a tiny kitchen was a challenge! We managed, and one of the valuable lessons learned was dedicating a kitchen drawer for spices. I label the tops of jars so I can see what's there. They are therefore in the dark, so they keep better. There's still a small spice rack for jars that are too tall for the drawer.

oceandreamer

List done, all cupboards, drawers, fridge and freezer decluttered and two large binbags of severely out of date or almost empty and dried up jars and packets to go to the recycling.  Tomorrow I will have a go at meal planning for next week.  Today I have found a packet of sausages and made a celeriac gratin (of sorts) to go with it to use up the rest of the left over creme fraiche.  There's some sorry looking broccoli  to have with it and I might make some onion gravy.  The herbs and spices are safely away in their boxes, I hadn't thought of the added advantage of them keeping longer in the dark, thanks @Cherryfudge

Cherryfudge

You must have worked your socks off, @oceandreamer! I'm impressed. Enjoy the fresh start!

oceandreamer

Using up the last of the Christmas frozen prawns and some spinach to make a curry tonight.  Haven't had to buy anything for it at all, even have rice and naan in hand.  Have made a menu plan for teas for the coming week and a shopping list with a whole 8 items on.  The next challenge is to only buy what is on that list and not give in to any temptations.

Cairnpapple

Tentatively sticking my head in,  hi everyone! I've been too ill to cook for months which is doing my head in, but I've had some slightly better days recently so I'm hoping to help spouse (who is doing all the cooking) by doing some meal planning. Turning round the cupboards and freezers to find the lurkers is something I usually do regularly but I haven't been on top of it for 18 months. Spouse has kept the freezers under control but the stockpile cupboard may be a bit of an adventure. 

Out today: homemade bolognese, some garlic bread slices from a packet that has been open for who knows how long (they were ok though). Gooseberries stewed and served with squirty cream from Christmas which I'm determined to use up before it goes off.

Plan for tomorrow is a sad veg curry with whatever is on its way out.

Frugalistamama

My using up mojo is getting better, I made a curry with some leftover roast meat, a really nice salad with left over ingredients from the bottom of the fridge. Added some fried up ham that was nearing the end, seeds and sun-dried tomato that's been in the cupboard a while. It was delicious, still lots more tomatoes in the jar though. Ate the salad on the side of the curry for lunch today. Weird? Probably but no-one complained, they are probably used to my strange concoctions 😆

Just made a quick soup with some cabbage leaves which were past their best added onions and potatoes. Will probably be for lunch tomorrow.

Tonight will be an HFresh meal, pasta and meatball.