Empty freezers and starting fresh

[chinupoldchap]

Hi all, I wondered if anyone would be interested in starting a thread with me about using all the food in the house and starting from scratch with meal planning/ food prep?

With the cost of EVERYTHING rising i would like to use up everything I've got (time to start being very inventive) and only buying what I need.
I currently meal plan but I avoid the deep freezer of doom!

I'm going to start by taking an inventory of what I've got and then attempt to make meals from it with minimal shopping.

First meal is chicken and chickpea curry using frozen chicken breasts

Me !

I have lots of things to use up !

Starting tomorrow

I've been doing similar, not trying to empty it, but at least using up bits that have been in there ages as it had got to the point I couldn't even get to the back!

Last night I used a small tub of homemade bean chilli in wraps with salad/cheese/salsa/guacamole.

Tonight I have a random slice of lorne sausage and two potato croquettes which will be part of a fry up.

I need to do this too! We have an upright freezer and a chest freezer full! We tend to batch cook and there's 5 of us so we do use the space but for me it's more a case of freezer management!

Well I braved it and defrosted both the deep freeze and small upright freezer!
There wasn't as much as I thought in there, mostly build up ice
Tomorrow will be turkey and ham pie, using Xmas turkey and ham and some random freezer veg. I'm hoping it's a hit since I have 3x the stuff!

@hashbrownsandwich

I need to do this too! We have an upright freezer and a chest freezer full! We tend to batch cook and there's 5 of us so we do use the space but for me it's more a case of freezer management!

Would love some freezer batch recipes, I'm thinking of prepping 2/3 days on a Sunday for nights where we have clubs etc.

I batch cook too, in my slow cooker, I'm not a big recipe follower though I'm afraid.
I live on my own so luckily I can cook whatever I like.

I tend to cook big batches every time, usually enough for at least 10 portions a time. Currently in the freezer there is:

Bolagnaise
Veggie bolagnaise
Chilli
Veggie chill
Spinach and chickpea curry
Paneer curry
Lentil dhal
Spinach and ricotta cannelloni
Meatballs (and veggie)
Lots of basic tomato and basil sauce
Scruffy lasagne (Jamie Oliver recipe)

I read a great tip once, if you meal plan. Plan for one meal less than you need, there will always be something to pull together from the fridge/freezer/store cupboard.

I do freezer of food meals at least twice a week

Last week
Cod fillets, marinaded them in miso and ginger garlic
Pan fried them and popped them in top of packet noodles

This week
Loaded chips with chilli (actually a bolognese) but will spice it up and add tin of black beans

Sunday
Shoulder of lamb
Found a gratin and Yorkshire's

I've got a load of squid to cook next
Any ideas for that? 😆

@NothingButADreamerOhNo

I read a great tip once, if you meal plan. Plan for one meal less than you need, there will always be something to pull together from the fridge/freezer/store cupboard.

Yep we usually have at least one freezer meal a week!

Love the ideas, turkey, ham and veg is in the slower for my pie filling.
I have a lot of fish fillets in the freezer so I'm thinking half battered homemade chip shop style and the other half fish parcels with roasted (frozen) veg.

I love chilli cheese fries, that's a hit here!

I also have small amounts of different potato shapes that need using

I have veg curry to that I think I'm going to have with jacket potato for lunch

@NothingButADreamerOhNo

I read a great tip once, if you meal plan. Plan for one meal less than you need, there will always be something to pull together from the fridge/freezer/store cupboard.

I love that tip.

Have you discovered the batch lady yet? I love some of her recipes.