what do you have in your fridge?

loobyx

Hi, i am trying to cut out all the rubbish that we eat as a family and really just want to buy the basics foodwise. There are four of us, two adults and two young kids. I keep wasting money on "treats" and never having enough proper food in. Just curious to know what everybody else classes as "basics" that they keep in their fridge. Really want to have a bit of everything that is included in a balanced diet, save money and wean us all of cheap and handy food made of additives. Also any ideas on cheap, filling breakfasts, lunches and dinners that don't cost a lot.

Thanks in advance

tanith

In my fridge I keep eggs , cheese, milk, tomatoes, bacon, lettuce, cucumber, carrots, swede, parsnips,brocilli, sprouts, various fruits, yoghurts, fats for cooking and spreading, suet, jams and pickles... it varies of course from week to week... and have various different meat depending on what I am cooking .always have sausages, mince, braising steak, chicken breasts and some type of white fish in the freezer...

Porage is the cheapest and most satisfying breakfast you can have and its soooooooo good for you...

newlywed

My fridge contents are generally:
Milk, cheese, ham, marge, salad creme, branston
Carrots, any other root veg, salad, cherry toms
Jam, mustard, lemon juice, lazy garlic, tom puree

And then anything that's defrosting for tea

yasmin05

I have lots of fresh fruit and vegtables bought from the farmer, eggs from the farmer and this week rabbit, chicken, bream, salmon fillets and braising steak chipolatas and bacon from the butcher. I am fortunate that I live in the country though only moved recently. I make all my own sauces which are incredibly easy really and save a fortune. They also taste better. We get washing powder, tins shampoos olives etc from Aldi which also do nice Brie, extra mature cheddar and parmesan cheese much cheaper than the top supermarkets. Also have Lettuce tomatoes garlic, chillis, onions potatoes and fresh herbs if you can like basil, corriander and mint. They can be used in salads or cooking to liven it up.

You need to learn to cook properly first to save money on food which has the added benefit of being more healthy. I got a book by Delia Smith when I first got started but my mum and dad are great cooks too so I guess I learned most from them.

You can make a gravy type sauce from flour and water and just add stock, few drops soy sauce for colour, one drop balsamic vinegar. You can jazz it up with garlic, mint or horseradish sauce depending on the meat. You can use this type sauce for roasts, casseroles or pies.

For currys coat meat in part curry powder (strength to suit) flour and cummin and fry. Add tin of tomatoes fresh garlic and grated ginger. Salt pepper and a touch of stock if needed. Finish by stirring greek yogurt through and chopped coriander.

Thai you can get powered coconut which is great to have in the cupboard. Get a small jar of either green or red thai paste lasts for ages and just add water and the powered coconut for a very quick easy meal. Goes well with prawns or chicken. You can make your own green paste with coriander 2 limes ginger garlic and chilli blend fry fish or meat in and add water and powered coconut. Add some chopped coriander at the end and you can also chop up some spring onions to sprinkle on top.

The other really useful sauce is bechamel which is flour milk salt and pepper. It makes a creamy white sauce and you can add cheese for dishes such as cauliflower cheese or stock to make something like chicken supreme.

It might take some time to stock up the cupboards but if you why a couple of things a week you will soon get there. It is just as easy cooking from scratch and a lot more satisfying it is much easier and takes less time than people think.

Tomatoe sauce - tin or 2 of tomatoes, few drops balsamic vinegar, dru oregano or fresh basil, pepper salt, small pinch of sugar, chopped onions, garlic to suit, couple drops of worchester sauce. This makes a good basic sauce. For a hotter sauce add a chili or for something more luxerious grate in some parmesan and some double cream.

Have fun

yasmin05

I have lots of fresh fruit and vegtables bought from the farmer, eggs from the farmer and this week rabbit, chicken, bream, salmon fillets and braising steak chipolatas and bacon from the butcher. I am fortunate that I live in the country though only moved recently. I make all my own sauces which are incredibly easy really and save a fortune. They also taste better. We get washing powder, tins shampoos olives etc from Aldi which also do nice Brie, extra mature cheddar and parmesan cheese much cheaper than the top supermarkets. Also have Lettuce tomatoes garlic, chillis, onions potatoes and fresh herbs if you can like basil, corriander and mint. They can be used in salads or cooking to liven it up.

You need to learn to cook properly first to save money on food which has the added benefit of being more healthy. I got a book by Delia Smith when I first got started but my mum and dad are great cooks too so I guess I learned most from them.

You can make a gravy type sauce from flour and water and just add stock, few drops soy sauce for colour, one drop balsamic vinegar. You can jazz it up with garlic, mint or horseradish sauce depending on the meat. You can use this type sauce for roasts, casseroles or pies.

For currys coat meat in part curry powder (strength to suit) flour and cummin and fry. Add tin of tomatoes fresh garlic and grated ginger. Salt pepper and a touch of stock if needed. Finish by stirring greek yogurt through.

Thai you can get powered coconut which is great to have in the cupboard. Get a small jar of either green or red thai paste lasts for ages and just add water and the powered coconut for a very quick easy meal. Goes well with prawns or chicken. You can make your own green paste with coriander 2 limes ginger garlic and chilli blend fry fish or meat in and add water and powered coconut.

The other really useful sauce is bechamel which is flour milk salt and pepper. It makes a creamy white sauce and you can add cheese for dishes such as cauliflower cheese or stock to make something like chicken supreme.

It might take some time to stock up the cupboards but if you why a couple of things a week you will soon get there. It is just as easy cooking from scratch and a lot more satisfying it is much easier and takes less time than people think.

Tomatoe sauce - tin or 2 of tomatoes, few drops balsamic vinegar, dru oregano or fresh basil, pepper salt, small pinch of sugar, chopped onions, garlic to suit, couple drops of worchester sauce. This makes a good basic sauce. For a hotter sauce add a chili or for something more luxerious grate in some parmesan and some double cream.

Have fun

MRSMCAWBER

Hmmmm

my fridge always has:-

1. milk
2. cream cheese
3. extra mature cheddar
4. parmesan
5. sour cream or greek yogurt
6. butter and lard
7. salad stuff
8. cabbage, carrots, peppers, apples, oranges and various other fruits depending on whats on offer;) and i have to have it out of the fridge
9. yogurts
10. mayo and salad cream
11. yeast
12. salami -of one kind or another
13. tinned fruit -have to have it cold
14. tuna -again has to be cold

I keep most of my meat in portions in the freezer....

I don't keep in many ready made things -just a couple of whoopsed WW pizzas for if im ever ill -hubby can just grab 1 ...
but with the stuff i keep in the fridge and cupboards i know i can knock a meal together in minutes:D

pasta bakes are great cheap, tasty and filling -great for using up dribs n drabs of stuff lurking in the fridge-plus you can alter them to suit younger children

soappie

My fridge 'basics' (i.e. stuff that's always there) is butter, eggs, milk, bacon, carrots and other root veg, celery (goes in everything almost!), cheese, mayonnaise. wine , tomato ketchup, cucumber.

The rest just comes and goes on a whim. Most of my meat provisions (particularly towards the end of the week) come from the freezer.

angchris

at the moment my fridge is looking pretty sad! enough milk for maybe 3 cups of coffee, 1/2 doz cheese slices, half a red onion, 2 free range eggs and some really limp looking iceburg and a leftover slice of quiche that i made on mon :rolleyes: hmmm whats for tea tonight?

lilac_lady

My fridge has red leicester cheese, milk, butter, tinned fruit, carrots, tomato sauce, branston pickle, eggs, jam, cold meat, white wine, yoghurts, bottled water, tinned corned beef and mayonnaise. I could live out of for a week but the combination of foods would be very interesting.

maypole

Angchris

You could make an omelette with the eggs and onion and maybe the cheese, that is what we are having, though I have rather more than a lettuce for the side salad;)

morwenna

My fridge contains
A chicken, milk, bacon, eggs, butter, marge, stork,tom puree, english mustard, 1000 Island Dressing, Mayo, jelly pots (Jelly made up from value cubes & potted by me for DD2 packs) Elmlea x3, Mature Cheddar, ham, Bockwurst, salad stuff, apples, potatoes, carrots, sprouts, a swede, onions, white wine, lemons, lemon juice.

Items bought by (age 23) DS Blue WKD, San Miguel :rotfl:

Also: calamine lotion, eye mask (gel filled) nail polish and eye cream!!