I was really taken with Never To Olds' post about menu planning last week and it made me think that it might not be a bad idea to make a list of what's in my freezer too. Well, you would not believe what can be crammed into a teeny freezer..(I seem to be the complete opposite of those that keep nothing in the house) ..this is what I found:
8 little tubs of black olives (I bought a humungous one from Approved Food and froze in portions)
3 little tubs of home made green curry paste (so much nicer that the shop bought stuff)
1 tub shrimp paste
2 little tubs of blackberrys left over from the summer
1 portion of homemade leek & potato soup
Loads of root ginger (I keep it frozen and just grate as much as I need straight from the freezer)
3 Vegetable Curry & Rice home made ready meals
2 pots of home made Veg Curry
2 bags HM Felafel
1 tub tortellini in a creamy sauce ( left over from a previous meal)
1 Quorn Family Roast
12 Linda McCartney Sausage Rolls (nom nom nom)
1 pack of Quorn Chicken slices
9 Linda McCartney Veggie Sausages
A semi circle of Stilton that was marked down to a silly price after Xmas
2 packs of Quorn Mince
1 tub of Vegetable Chilli
Fresh Coriander (frozen)
2 stalks of lemon grass
Fresh Thyme (frozen)
1 bag of sloes (left over from making sloe gin)
1 whole mackerel
1 Admiral Crumble
1/2 a bag of frozen peas
2 baguettes
2 packs of mackerel fillets
1 pack of fishsticks
1 pack smoked salmon
2 Salmon fillets
2 smoked river cobbler
4 breaded haddock
1 breaded pollock
5 fish fingers
4 plain haddock fillets
3 white fish fillets
2 smoked mackerel fillets
4 lemon pepper sole fillets
1 bag of sweetcorn
I calculate that other than milk, eggs & veg,and cat food of course, I probably don't need to go shopping until April at least LOL ! (and I haven't even told you what's in the fridge, the cupboards, and my hoarding store cupboard that lives in my wardrobe upstairs!!)
Anyway , it's been a good exercise as it has highlighted that I perhaps take the being prepared food wise a little too far..I think I'm over compensating for a hungry childhood and I should bring it into line a bit...(on the plus side, if I got snowed in today, I'd be fine for 3 months haha!)
It's also good to have a list as a visual reminder for what needs using..as it's only me , I'm not putting together weekly meal plans, but I can look through my list and it's almost like choosing from a long menu (do you think I have enough choices of fish ? Joke!) Having said that, dinner this evening is a jacket potato and roasted veg so I didn't go near the freezer.
Oh, I've just though of another plus...if I don't go near any shops then think of the money I'll save on impulse buys - bonus!
Anyway, thankyou NTO, you spurred me into action :-) and sometimes I need that swift kick up the arse!! Let "Operation Use Up What I've Got" commence....
Hi Kitty, I have been doing this since the beginning of January and my freezer seems fuller than ever. Take out one bag of mince and replace with 6 other tubs of mince based meals LOL. I have 2 freezers 16 and 6 cubic foot so I guess I'll still be using up this time next year :-) Saves the £s though.
ReplyDeleteKaren
LOL Same as! I don't think I'd be able to keep track of 2 freezers (but oh the luxury of grabbing all those bargains and freezing those harvest gluts!!) You must save a small fortune:-)
DeleteActually two freezers is very easy Kitty. I have managed for years. One was a 'long-term' freeze and things in the other were for a quick turn-over (bread & things). Well, the small (quickie) one is very old, must have had it nearly 30 years, so, last January, I was at the Sales in Dixons and saw a 'display' freezer reduced by 50%. I bought it to replace this 'Olde Faithful' but I never got round to throwing out my still working 'old friend'.
ReplyDeleteYes, you've guessed, I've started filling up the new one as well! Luckily I have space in my kitchen utility room for all of them - so there they all sit. Buy one get one free is great for me, as is making soups. Home-made soups in the Winter are great: I eat one, freeze 5 nearly every week. All done in the SloCooker. :)
Nice to see you like Pollock. I usually get some (not breaded) every week from Sainsburys for my Friday Fish Pie. :)
Now I'm snowed up I can sit back and enjoy anything without a foot outside the door.
Oh I like all sorts of fish Bernard, but the supermarkets are quite restricted in what they offer (at least at the budget end of the scales) Is there a lot of snow round your way? those hills can be quite treacherous, staying snug & warm seems a good idea:-)
Deleteps - I'm writing on my other blogs at the moment. I was getting so far behind. See my profile if you're passing. Cheers....B
ReplyDeleteI shall do that Bernard...expect a new follower:-)
DeleteI did a freezer inventory before Christmas, but need to do it again. I'm not doing it yet It's way too cold, our freezer is in the out house outside.
ReplyDeleteI also keep root ginger in the freezer. It's so much easier to grate when frozen.
Carolx
I do an inventory every now and then. Usually when I get back from the supermarket and can't fit anything in the freezer. I'm trying to have a very frugal year.
ReplyDeleteAli x
PS Love the procrastination sign, me all over.
I don't make resolutions, but if I did it would have to be "I'll check what I have before I buy more"
ReplyDeleteRe sign...yeh me too!