Is there a shop your cupboards thread?

[Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain]

As per title. I keep finding things in my cupboards like pasta (spinach pasta, red pasta, chickpeas, mixed wild grain rice, roasted chestnut puree, pesto).

I’d love to find ways of using things up.

Have used almost all of my different sugars apart from icing sugar in cakes which I’m so pleased about.

Ideas please!

So you're specifically looking for ideas to use up chickpeas and spinach pasta, roasted chestnut puree etc?

I don't know what spinach pasta is but surely you could just use it as normal pasta with some kind of sauce?

I chuck chickpeas in stews and casseroles. or, drain them and dry them well. As much as possible, remove the outer skins. Leave to dry. Then rub in some olive oil and seasoning of your choice (I like salt, paprika and cumin) and roast until golden and toasty as a nice snack.

Or, use the chickpeas with your wild rice: Roast carrots with a bit of oil, honey and cumin. Meanwhile, saute some chopped onion until soft. Add garlic, mustard seeds and maybe a few fennel seeds). Then add the cooked rice (i'm assuming it's a packet - if not, cook it earlier in the day) and the drained chickpeas and stir through to heat. Make a honey, mustard and lemon dressing then serve the carrots on top of the rice with the dressing and some feta cheese if you have it. Some chopped dill goes very nicely as well.

I hate chestnuts so I've got nothing for you on that.

On a separate note - I'm interested in why you want to use up your sugars? I have about 5 different sugars in my cupboard for different types of recipes and baking. When I get low on one, I immediately add that type to my shopping list. There's nothing more annoying than not having the right sugar when you're baking. Or is that just me?

I have a subscription to eatyourbooks.com that is useful (among other things) for finding recipes to use up ingredients bought for one specific recipe - such as kecap manis, preserved lemons etc.

I think Google is your best bet, or perhaps https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes where you can search per ingredient.

BTW, I've not seen spinach lasagne in any shop for ages. Where did you get yours ?

Have you tried ChatGBT? Surprisingly good for recipe ideas using specific ingredients.

Chestnut purée is THE BEST topping for a pancake! You only need a thin layer so sadly this won't help you use it up speedily.

You can also make muffins or cupcakes with an oozy chestnut filling; there is a hummingbird bakery recipe (among others, no doubt.)

I generally just type the ingredient into google, say 'chestnut puree recipes' and lots comes up! Its lovely sweetened (with icing sugar 😁) and put into tart cases.

or if you have 2 ingredients then just put in 'chickpeas and wild grain rice recipes'. I've never needed a specific site- just google.