[Madame Cholet]

Going to empty the bottom draw where the mystery objects lurk defrost one at a time and eat it whatever it is 

[chrissie B]

We did our freezers today we put the contence in a book so when its used it gets marked off and i can see at a glance what ive got and which draw its in., next is the cupboard under the stairs where i keep tins,jars and dried stuff it'll  take a while lucky for me hubby has navy efficiency .
chrissie b

[madcat]

I dont think I dare ....   

[Madame Cholet]

It would help if I labeled stuff

[chrissie B]

It has to be done ha ha .
chrissie b

[LotuSeed]

I never seem to use the bulk of my spices before their expiration date oi! I have loads of fruit in the freezer to use up before the next growing season, but that will likely go fast as it can be used for smoothies . I don't buy much canned stuff since I bottle so much of my own but I'm more likely to use my old bottled stuff than old tinned food from the store. I used some tomatoes from 2013 to make chili the other day. 😊

[chrissie B]

Were they ok some times they can be a bit tinny .
chrissie b

[sunshineband]

I am doing that now.  Scratting up ingredients but making some flavourful meals.  Getting a bit  sparse now though 

We only buy food for four days of the week and on the other three eat things from the freezer, store and cupboards. Means we look in them all every week so have an idea what is actually there. saves that 'pushed to the back' thing. Learned my lesson last year when I gutted all the cupboards and had to throw a lot away, which was awful 

[compostqueen]

I do my best work when I'm scratting up!    It makes you think so much more about your ingredients and how to get the best of out them. Makes you put your thinking cap on 

[LotuSeed]

Were they ok some times they can be a bit tinny .
chrissie b

They were fine. Bottled the season before last with water and lemon juice. Since they were in glass they didn't have any "tinny" taste to them at all.

[snowdrops]

I am doing that now.  Scratting up ingredients but making some flavourful meals.  Getting a bit  sparse now though 

We only buy food for four days of the week and on the other three eat things from the freezer, store and cupboards. Means we look in them all every week so have an idea what is actually there. saves that 'pushed to the back' thing. Learned my lesson last year when I gutted all the cupboards and had to throw a lot away, which was awful 

That's a really good idea Sunny. I try to check the cupboards & freezers & plan a menu using what we have & make a shopping list from there. I try to use the things in the freezers on my working days to save time, although sometimes they seem to be more difficult to sort,might need to label better

[sunshineband]

Labels are vital. I have found that stewed rhubarb a bit of a surprise when you are expecting chicken curry 

[New shoot]

     I know that feeling 

I do keep a written list of everything I put into the freezer, so I know what main meals are in there.  Whether it properly labelled and I grab what I think I am grabbing is another matter 

The component parts of meals are in a drawer together as well, so the cooked beans, stock, bits of cheese and whatever, are all in the same place for perusal   

I had been using up the cupboard contents all January, but the clear out did throw up some shockers    Late new years resolution is to keep pulses, flours and the like to a few bags at a time so they get used.  I did cook all the beans ready for meals, but some were pretty old and took a lot longer than they should of 

[sunshineband]

Those old beans can take forever to cook, even when you have soaked them overnight 

[Madame Cholet]

Any ideas about using up wheat flakes I don't eat muesli any more?