JANUARY PANTRY CHALLENGE

Black_Saturn

I have gone through two more cupboards, with one left to do. We have approx 30 bags of assorted pastas, some open, some still sealed, so there is no need to buy any more for a while, especially since our main carb of choice is rice. I will do a pasta dish today, a winter vegetable fusilli, I think. I have some broccoli in the freezer, so will also do a broccoli and apple soup for starters. 

I also have some packet mixes which have dried out, but I will try to salvage them by crushing the mix in the pestle and mortar to see if they can still be used.

WickedLady4

If the fridge can be included then I've realised I have a box of chilled pain au chocolat in there so will make a start on those today!

Chicken and veg soup to make for tonight; the chicken has come from the freezer and I already had all the veg. 

cheerfulness4

I had my calvolo nero, bacon and spaghetti for lunch today and it was really good so I shall have that again in a few days as I have plenty of kale and bacon left.  

DH experimented with making  a simple flat bread made from flour and greek yoghurt  in equal quantities with seasoning and it was lovely and fluffy.  Really went well with my pasta dish. DS tried a bit of my flat bread and has now asked for it when we have our next pasta dish. 

I really want to avoid buying lots of packets of this and that and try to make up things I'd usually buy (or wish to try) from basic ingredients, scratch made in the house.  The flat bread and potted cheese have been a great example of the type of thing I mean this week and we're really pleased with the results.

Got to search the cupboards now for something for tomorrows dinner but I'm thinking that it will be something simple like jacket potatoes, cottage cheese and salad as we have lots of 8p bags of potatoes and they've made great jackets.

purpleivy

WickedLady4 said:

If the fridge can be included then I've realised I have a box of chilled pain au chocolat in there so will make a start on those today!

Chicken and veg soup to make for tonight; the chicken has come from the freezer and I already had all the veg. 

Funny what you find when you get going!

purpleivy

Yesterday all went fine. Hub really enjoyed his pizza. He had some of the chillis on that he grew and I pickled!  Bit hot apparently!  I had the frittata which was good and a portion of sweet potato fries in the AF.  I am good about those. I used to just chuck some in, but these days I weigh a few portions out and use ONE!  Chocolate pudding from milkshakes was fine.   Blackcurrant cordial is really nice. 

I still have cupboards to inventory, just been topping up herbs and spices from the master box. 

Today will probably be jacket potatoes.  Next few days, need 4 dinners. MIL cooking Sun and we go Monday. 
- a new recipe which is garlic and parmesan white beans  Just caught my eye. 
-Chowder, not got any smoked cod or haddock, but do have some slightly smoked salmon in freezer which I'm sure will work just fine.  
- marinated chicken bits from freezer with whatever else I can lay my hands on.  Potato wedges maybe, 

Might need to make a bit more yogurt. 

C_J

@purpleivy : I assume you are looking for ways to organise a chest freezer rather than an upright one. When I used to have a chest freezer (which I hated!) I had a number of large plastic bags in different colours, and used to put meat in the red one, veg in the green one, bread and pastries in the yellow one etc. I have no idea where I got them from as it was decades ago, but maybe instead you could use a number of Aldi bags-for-life as they come in a good range of colours?

-taff

@purpleivy I have a small chest freezer and half the fridge freezer upright. I tend to put things either in takeaway containers or in ikea bags, I just write on them what it is and when it went in there and I try to flatten the bag so it freezes flat and can be stacked upright or on top of each other [ I freeze stock like this, chopped up fine celery with ndentations from a knife ot mke breaking pieces off easier, meat, spinach, chickpeas, beans etc...] Organising the chest freezer is a pain though, stuff still gets missed or difficult to get to. I'm thinking of just getting an upright one for the old kitchen when that's changed to a utility room.

purpleivy

C_J said:

@purpleivy : I assume you are looking for ways to organise a chest freezer rather than an upright one. When I used to have a chest freezer (which I hated!) I had a number of large plastic bags in different colours, and used to put meat in the red one, veg in the green one, bread and pastries in the yellow one etc. I have no idea where I got them from as it was decades ago, but maybe instead you could use a number of Aldi bags-for-life as they come in a good range of colours?

Years ago I had a set of plastic carriers in colours.  I'm guessing Lakeland would have been the source.   I think Aldi bags for life would be good. At present I have some large clear bags, but they aren't robust.  The Aldi ones a bit more shape to them so could be 'packed'. As I already have bags for life that would be a no spend option which in my book is ideal! 

ETA. I have a bit of a 'system' already, Bag for bread products, basket for misc (lemon and lime juice, buttermilk) bag for cake, bag for fish, meat in baskets at bottom, ready meals in a heap on one side.  Fruit in the bottom of the other one. I don't put the smoked salmon in the bag with the fish, as if hub twigged it would never be there when I want it. He regards it as an 'every day essential'.  Buys a pack when I am away, which I'm fine with.  

purpleivy

Well, been on a roll this morning!  I was saying earlier as I did inventory that I had a whole load of mincemeat, one HM from last year, one large jar from last year (12/24) and still got this year's.   I had half pack of GF almond pastry in the freezer left from making something for a party, so have lined an 8" tin and put mincemeat and frangipane on it. Used some OOD marge from the fridge which is good.  

What else? I got a started container of coconut milk drink out of the freezer and have started a sago pud. GOt a container of stewed blueberries/blackberries/apple out to go with it.  

The failure? Last night I woke at 3am and realised I had set up the IP for yogurt, inoculated and everything but not plugged in and switched on.  It didn't taste too bad this morning so got the pot warm and stuck it in. Nothing ventured nothing gained.  

Made 'White beans with garlic and parmesan' for dinner tonight, no white beans, pinto and lentils from freezer instead.  Parmesan from freezer, as was garlic and parsley.  Got some grated cheese in the fridge left from the other night instead of pecorino.  Good use ups! 

Husband having the last of the cranberrry/brie slice I did for the party and stuck in the freezer.  He forgot to put bread on so sorts out that problem. Also he's having some salsa and some crisps that are open.  

I have sorted out the last three avos in the fridge, one of remaining tomatoes, last 3 spring onions, lime juice and hot sauce in fridge to make some guac.  That feels like a win as well.  

Got all the sandwiches ready for daughter for while we are away. Now in the freezer at hers.  

I have inventoried one food cupboard so that feels good.   I still have more stuff to do. 

Ordered C&C for Sainsbury's yesterday for marmalade oranges, sugar and a few more bits. I make enough for a jar a week for my parents.  They emailed to say the order was picked but they had subbed sweet oranges. I rang up and cancelled. Not going out in this weather for stuff that isn't needed and stuff that is wrong!  

Brie

-taff said:

Or can you make some flatbreads? I usually keep some greek yoghurt in the fridge tomake them, it lasts for months unopened..I've used septembers date in december last year..

Equal quantities of flour to greek yoghurt, mix, it will look crumbly and like it won't go but keep working it and it will. Flour well to roll out, dry fry to cook. Place in a folded tea towel to keep warm and steam a bit. I usually add oregano and salt. they are much softer than ones made with water only. I normally measure 200 and 200 g then divide into four and really thinly roll so it covers a ten inch frying pan

Looking again at the soda bread suggested by JIL and your flatbreads.....you say equal quantities of flour to yoghurt but what does that mean - weight or volume?  I was raised with cooking by volume but can do it by weight but know I can't assume.