How to Make the Most Out of the Upcoming Cheap Christmas Veg

TheEmerald

JingsMyBucket said:

Does anyone know if leeks are on sale at Aldi or Lidl as well? I’m thinking of making a batch of potato and leek soup for the freezer. 

No leeks in Lidl or Asda on offer today.

JIL

I was thinking about what could be made with the cheap veg, I know it will store well, but sometimes it's nice just to get something out of the freezer.
I do trays of root mash, this freezes well and also it's good to add to soup. Carrots, potatoes, swede and parsnips.
Bubble and squeak with brussel sprouts, shallots and potatoes.
Rumbledethump, fabulous underrated dish.
Delia's red cabbage 


Anyone else?

FrugaiMacDugal

Remember, a sprout is not just for Christmas.

Try one raw, sprinkle of black pepper, then enjoy the crunch.

RAS

Don't know about anyone else's area but my evening visits indicate

Aldi, masses of broccoli left over both evenings, and some sprouts yesterday. They did have bags of bargain potatoes alongside the bakers in the main section at intervals. Otherwise get there early.

Lidl, masses of carrots, some parsnips and there were a few shallots left. A lot of the parsnips have some frost or processing damage. Select the least damaged bags and then select the damaged ones to use promptly.

So you can guess what will be reduced.

also Waitrose, 30p veg.

Katiehound

My friend went to her local Lidl yesterday afternoon- all that was left were the shallots spread over all the other empty containers! (She had already stocked up!)

WickedLady4

We went to our local Lidl late this morning and got potatoes, shallots and masses of carrots, some of which will go to the horse. 
Needless to say we also then bought wine and other bits, totalling just over £16. Their loss leader policy worked on us!

annieb64

I spent 40p on veg in Aldi - plus a bottle of rum, stewing beef etc- then went to the greengrocers for apples and and cauliflower which cost £ 4 in total. DD2 says she is bringing sprouts as they have a glut this year but I got an 8p packet just in case she forgets. There will be room in the freezer after tomorrow so can freeze any excess. I got a white cabbage from Aldi but not a red as we already have braised red cabbage in the freezer. 

FrugaiMacDugal

Sounds as though that's you sorted.

littlemoney

RAS said:

Keeping depends on how hot/warm your house is? If you've an unheated rodent-proof porch, cellar or store, most will keep well whole for a while as long as they are removed from their supermarket plastic. The ones to use quickly are broccoli and to a less extent sprouts. 

Start by picking plainly dry and undamaged veggies. Wet, broken parsnips and carrots in plastic will go nasty before Christmas.

With cabbage the outer leaves will desiccate and seal in the heart. It's once cut that they go off fast. I get round this (as a solo eater) by removing any damaged leaves and then unpeeling the cabbage layer by layer as I need it. Once it's small enough I use it "as normal". Or make sauerkraut?

If you've got sand or potting compost, layer dry undamaged carrots and parsnips, not touching, in a breathable container with the mix between the roots and each layer. Will certainly keep a month or so. Swede aren't bomb proof so after a month use any space in your container for remaining swede.

For potatoes a frost free cool space out of the light into two brown paper carrier bags. Under the sink could be fine.  Depending on the spring these might start sprouting in late February, so inspect and rub off the sprouts when they are tiny. Later, it's amazing how much a slightly wrinkly potato will recover if steeped in water for an hour, although better for mash or soup than plain boiled potatoes. Plant any enthusiasts in pots or the ground. A single tatty near the bottom of a large pot, or even an old compost bag, will sprout. Just keep topping up the soil as it grows to protect it from frost and encourage more roots and you'll have a harvest in May. 

I have been storing the cheap vegetables in a lidded plastic box with potting compost in my garage for years. The updated version of the gardeners clamp where root veg were dug up and covered with soil.

Broccoli will keep in the fridge if you treat it like a flower and cut  bottom of stalk and stand in a cup of water.

twopenny

Just picked up some veg, reduced even more in Tescos.

Had some chopped lamb in the freezer for a while so perfect opportunity to make some tasty pasties