Stocktake Time - Brexit Countdown

[AldiIsla]

Can't believe we might actually have a No Deal crash.

Anyone else finding it overwhelming doing usual Christmas stuff, the winter weather preparations and then Brexit and being ready for more coronavirus stuff?

I need to do a stock take of food and toiletries.

We've been life prepping so boiler has been serviced early, electrics have had an upgrade this year. Car getting serviced next month.

I can't be arsed.
I feel sick.

We've just stocked up with European things - Olive oil, passata, herbs & spices, pasta, plus tins & a massive bag of rice. The instant tubes of garlic, chilli & ginger, plus yeast & flour.
I'm more concerned with prices going up & the pound going down and wondering whether to order some cases of my favourite Aldi wines.

Is there ever a scenario where you'd not drink the wines eventually, @teta? We have about 80 bottles of wine in, plus Christmas drinks. It won't be wasted whatever happens, if they cancel the whole thing - party at mine.

Got more veg today. Both tinned and frozen. Consider myself lucky that all the kids eat veg fresh, frozen and from tins.

I have lots of cheese to add to that party.

I really really need to sort this food order out...

wish me luck.

oops, more cheese fell in the trolley.

Can't have too much cheese Blackeyed

Thank God for preppers.

Can anyone recommend cheese that doesn’t need to be stored in the fridge (given how it’s made there must be something) and if not in a fridge how best to store it?

Also Happy Prepmas (oh look I can weight down my Christmas tree pot with tons of carrots and cunningly disguise cake mix as decorative presents, and no that is not a string of onions, it’s a festive wreath of herbs and garden produce that just happens to be edible....

Tins of carrots autoconfusion Tins! 🙄

I think Morrisons do small cheese truckles that would be shelf stable. I'd ask at the deli counter. Don't have to say your prepping, say your fridge will be really full at Christmas.

Used cannelloni today that was nearly a year out of date, tasted fabulous! Also thinking of making Shepherd's pie on Monday with tinned veg, will let you know how I get on.

Ex has just tried the year out of date crunchy bars and taken them away to eat.

I may date to visit Aldi tomorrow.

I like your style with carrots weighing down the Christmas tree.

DS1 has come down with chicken pox and seriously disrupted my prepping and present wrapping schedule! I was hoping to pop to our nearby Lidl one day but will have to go one evening when DP is back reasonably early. Poor DS1 is so spotty I can't take him anywhere

Good shout about the European products @teta, I do need more olive oil, will buy some extra to keep in the cupboard. We do live near a good rapeseed oil producer but it is £££ unfortunately.

Formula, nappies and wipes all went out of stock round here too during the first lockdown. Thankfully mine are past that stage but if they weren't I'd definitely be stocking up/ finding a reliable supplier!

Made the Shepherd's Pie with tinned veg, kids didn't even notice and ate all the veg YAYY result! We can have Shepherd's Pie in Jan.

Shepherds pie sounds good, might do that tmrw. We don't have tinned veg as I wasn't sure it would get eaten but I usually add a tin of baked beans or frozen peas.

We had pasta pomodoro for lunch, used two tins of tomatoes, felt so decadent! I tell you what, a packet of spaghetti doesn't go very far does it?

Depends if you lay it out end to end or not...

Have you a recipe for the shepherd's pie marshmallow? Or did you throw everything in and hope for the best? Shepherd's pie with mashed cheesy cauliflower on top goes down well in this house. Good use for frozen cauli which in my experience is more watery than fresh if just boiled. We luurve the way the meat juices seep into it and make it chewy at the edges 😋

Nice one blackeyed

🤣 Blackeyed

According to Gino on breakfast telly 500 grams of pasta feeds 4 people. According to my family he’s a greedy chef and there’s always pasta left in the fridge if I use that amount.

I would say 100g per adult.

@nomorecrumbs Consider buying cartons and boxes instead of tins. Example is chick peas and butterbeans and tomatoes. If you buy the cartons you just stack them in the cupboards. No wasted space like with tins. Fit loads more in .Also think about the pasta shapes. Several packs of spagetti take up far less room than bags of shells or spirals. Tubes of garlic and puree easier to pack in a small space as opposed to jars. Stock cubes instead of powder or pots. Wasted airspace in boxes of cereal. Very often two packs can fit in one box. Bars of soap and shampo instead of liquid. I have a stack of microfiber cloths I use instead of kitchen paper towels (saves money and space). Buy big packs of mince, chicken etc. Take out of the original supermarket plastic and divide up putting freezer bags. Then squash flat and use the library system to store in the freezer. I just look at everything and see where i can reduce wasted airspace. Hope this helps

Remember that cartons aren't mouse-proof, though. I bought tins because I was storing them in my cellar.

lexloofah I added two tins of peas & carrots and a tin of mushrooms and into the meat I add a little salt, pepper & parsley and they loved it. Less left on the plates than when I used fresh veg! I find the kids tend to eat tinned veg when it is put into something like Shepherd's Pie & Tuna Pasta and sweetcorn bake. Saw these recipes on BBC Good food for tinned veg.
www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/canned-food-recipes

LadyofMisrule that is a very good point. Mine are just in a kitchen cupboard. I do envy you your celler though.
Lexloofah thanks for that very useful link. Had a good look and will certainly use some of those ideas.
I just love the info and advice I keep picking up on prepping and Brexit from all the lovely mumsnetters

Of course Whenwillow
Heat oil in frying pan (olive I use), and brown 500g mince. Add 400ml water and two stock cubes and good sprinkle of parsley. Simmer for 10 mins stirring occasionally. Add 2 tins of peas & carrots and one tin of mushrooms. Chop & add an onion but I use onion salt in case we can't get onions and cook for 15 mins. Stir in some squirts of tomato sauce and a little (2 big squirts of puree) and few dollops (technical term ) of Worcester sauce. Simmer for 10 mins stirring occasionally.
In a separate pan cook a pot of potatoes (some for topping & some for side if you want). After cooking drain & mash with salt, pepper, butter, mustard & cheese and also season mince.
Spoon mince mixture into overproof dish and top with mash and then grated cheese. Cook at 200C/gas mark 6 for 15-20 min and serve with tinned veg (I use beans) on side and enjoy.

Let me know how you get on please Whenwillow

@HelebethH those are great tips, thank you, especially the taking frozen goods out of original packaging - I need to buy more freezer bags!