JANUARY PANTRY CHALLENGE

purpleivy

Parents here for a few days, been feeding us from the freezer.  I got frustrated as I cleared some ends of packets from the cupboard/fridge/freezer, but the things weren't on the inventory, so I couldn't have the pleasure of crossing them off.  

We have had to have a few fresh things.  Used chicken and veg from the freezer to make a nice suet crust topped pie.  A load of mince from the freezer to do mince and veg.  They enjoyed both those and I gave them some to take home.  3 pots of each and half a dozen pots of soup.  Biscuits, sponge cake with icing out of the freezer. We had a sponge pud with freezer plums underneath.  Extremely dried out dates made into sticky tofffee pud.  Made pastry with odds and ends of fats from freezer, then into a mince pie with half a jar of mincemeat. 

So things are going well but still some way to go!

Brie

semi pantry challenge clearance.......all the bird seed and fat balls are out of the garage.  They've been there for at least a year and the only ones getting the benefit are some very fat mice.  There were about 20 fat balls left and I've just put them in the garden near where all the birds tend to nest - just on the ground so they might be eaten by foxes or slugs or more fat mice.  But they are gone.

purpleivy

Still making progress. I cancelled all my Ocado orders for the month but I reinstated as daughter needed a few things.  Then I spotted chicken thighs on 40% off. I won't use till March - promise!  

Getting low on UHT milk and have no lactose free, a few other things I regularly get at Morrisons on offer so getting those too.  Other than that, still been sticking to fruit/veg/dairy purchases and using more meals from the freezer.  Am very pleased with how I have done so far.  We are going into a heavy spend period so think I need to maybe try and reduce food spend further, maybe till end March?  

A real win is that I have made some gluten free bread. And it was in my breadmaker too!  Win win!  I had bought all the flours some time ago and not done it.  The purchased ones I get are £2.40-£3/ pack.   Planning to work out the cost to make it myself. 

All for now. How are you all doing? 

After thought. I wonder if next year I should add a financial goal as to maximum spend each week during my challenge?  

Also, I do a bit of a mini challenge in the autumn, to empty the freezer a bit and make more room for Xmas baking. 

Brie

OH has unearthed a big bag of raisins and another of sultanas.  And wondered why I had bought them.  Given that they're not something I normally eat, would never add to cereal or baking (or even peanut butter sandwiches like my dad used to do) I was a bit hard put not to point out it must have been him.  And it would have been several months back as they are just about at there best before.  And of course he had to open both so I can't even give one away....

grrrrr.....

YorksLass

@Brie - You could give them to the birds but would need to soak them (the fruit, not the birds) overnight first.  I gather blackbirds, robins and song thrushes are especially partial to them.

Brie

@YorksLass
I already am good at soaking the birds!!!   

I've had a large plant saucer in the middle of the lawn since about November and make sure it's full of water.  The birds love to drink and flutter in it - no different to a bird bath really but I've not found a bird bath I like.  Occasionally there will be a pigeon sitting in it looking stupid, not really knowing what to do next.  

I'll find a smaller saucer to put nearby with some raisins, well soaked. 

purpleivy

Brie said:

OH has unearthed a big bag of raisins and another of sultanas.  And wondered why I had bought them.  Given that they're not something I normally eat, would never add to cereal or baking (or even peanut butter sandwiches like my dad used to do) I was a bit hard put not to point out it must have been him.  And it would have been several months back as they are just about at there best before.  And of course he had to open both so I can't even give one away....

grrrrr.....

Husband rarely purchases anything unless instructed.   Unless he finds his way up the beer aisle in Morrisons or Aldi!

purpleivy

I'm so pleased with progress. I know it was a January challenge, but I was on hol for 2w, so extended to end Feb, more or less extended to now.  We had people over for dinner last weekend and I pulled most stuff out of the freezer for that. Dairy and veg purchased.  Only meat gone in freezer has been special offer chicken. 

Now my parents have come to visit so I'm doing my best to use stuff from the freezer.  Tonight is the rest of the mince/veg/gravy I made last time they were here.  Pud is treacle tart (pastry made when they were here last time, over purchased golden syrup from the cupboard and breadcrumbs from the freezer).  Pastry case made for a Bakewell.    End of a jar of mincemeat has made a pasty with the end of the pastry. There will be plenty to send home with Mum and Dad too,  I also made 3x my banana and choc chip recipe, made a load of muffins then put the rest of the mix in a 9x13 tray as couldn't be bothered with loaf tins. Will take some next door.  Some in freezer for Mum and Dad.  Some for them to take home this time.  

Freezers are starting to look a bit better.  I'm pleased about this. Still got a number of items to use up.