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Food

Eking out the food

(141 Posts)
MamaCaz Sun 22-Mar-20 08:16:39

I still have nearly two weeks to wait for my online shopping delivery, and haven't been to a shop for a fortnight.
We are not really short of food, though some basics are now gone or running low, but DS will try to get a few bits for us if necessary,

Nevertheless, I am eking things out as best I can.
For example, the other day, when I had just one egg left, and a bit of tinned sweetcorn and three small, wrinkled mushrooms in the fridge that needed using, I decided to make some fritters with them. I served these up with a tin of mixed beans in spicy tomato sauce, and a few oven chips. They were lovely!

Are you being inventive with what limited supplies you might have available right now?

I thought it might be good to share some of our more frugal/inventive meal ideas.

Witzend Mon 23-Mar-20 09:54:34

Oh, thanks so much for the orzotto recipe - I have quite a lot of orzo!

Alexa Mon 23-Mar-20 10:04:12

Risotto made with whatever you have, or if you have no fruit or veg, just flavour it with olive oil, and a tin of tomatoes, and some wine, or even concentrated tinned soup, or Marmite.

It is spring and young delicate nettle leaves are becoming available, also very young rosebay willowherb will soon be up.

Concentrated tinned soup is also useful for a pasta sauce.

jaylucy Mon 23-Mar-20 10:45:48

When I worked full time including Saturday, Saturday evening was usually a "see what's in the fridge and what I fancy" meal when I got home.
It was often using up things - even though I had usually done a grocery shop on my day off, which was a Friday!
I was brought up not to waste food and some of the nicest meals I have had were often from the few veg, and an egg or pasta. Bit of a shame that I never had the same combination available so I could do a repeat dish!!

Nannan2 Mon 23-Mar-20 10:49:02

I have a very choosy teenager who only eats 'certain' things due to ASD /textures issues,so its very awkward stocking what he will eat if we can only buy 2/3 items at a time,but i dont want to risk shopping every few days as we're in high risk group.its a struggle.and theres only so much i can keep in freezer for him and still make use of it for food for other son and plus ive to get all lactose free for me.! Its a shopping nightmare.we very rarely can have all same meal.

polnan Mon 23-Mar-20 10:49:57

be thankful you have a delivery date

Sainsburys promised us self isolated a delivery,, sent me mail saying I could,, I did it, booked delivery,, not can`t complete the order, cos their website is overloaded.. they can`t cope with the promise they made...

so I have no idea when I can get a delivery.

pleased for you though

Laughterlines Mon 23-Mar-20 10:50:17

I am cupboard cleaning for something to do so will make a meal of anything that says

“use before 1999”LOL

Stay cool, we can do this x

Nannan2 Mon 23-Mar-20 10:50:22

Oh and other son refuses to eat leftovers also due to 'food issues'.

Aepgirl Mon 23-Mar-20 10:51:47

It’s amazing what is lurking in the backs of cupboards. I’ll eat anything (maybe not kippers and custard) to avoid starvation - just get inventive.

Jengra Mon 23-Mar-20 10:52:25

We have bought a box of emergency supplies and put it in the garage so that we don’t use it now. Lots of tinned and dried stuff. We can cook fresh at the moment but who knows what will happen eventually. Hopefully, we won’t need our emergency food.

Nannan2 Mon 23-Mar-20 10:53:21

Wouldnt get too excited,id a shopping delivery last wk,loads of stuff not available..went to sainsburys 15mins after opening sunday to make up difference- hardly anything in.so risked going out for not muchsad

Purpledaffodil Mon 23-Mar-20 10:55:38

If you bake bread MamaCaz, rice flour can be used to make a tiger bread type topping. Lovely with Marmite mixed in instead of salt.
Agree re online shopping. Nobody has slots and Sainsbury’s won’t take new registrations and mine has expired as so long since I used them. ?

MarciaB Mon 23-Mar-20 10:55:40

I hate waste at the best of times but it seems to be a bit like ready steady cook here until next order arrives.
Had a packet of puff pastry with an imminent use by date, a dish of cold mashed potato, a bit of manchego and a crust if Parmesan, 2 slices of streaky bacon. I reverted to making what I used make for my dad when I was in school “cheese and potato puffs” thoroughly enjoyed two for lunch with hubby and froze the other two.

SusieH Mon 23-Mar-20 10:56:32

I ate my last banana yesterday and it is another 10 days before my delivery. My little garden has so far been only for flowers and pretty plants. No veges, no fruit - big mistake I am thinking now! Will rectify that when I can. Strange meals to come as I am going through each cupboard in turn to see what can be used up and made into a meal. Some stale nuts, prunes etc will go into a casserole and should be OK. If my flour has not gained weevils then I will do some baking! Strange times - stay well everyone...

Ladypatti Mon 23-Mar-20 10:57:52

I’m on a war footing haha just used up some stale bread for nelson squares waste not want not as my dear mum would have said

Acer Mon 23-Mar-20 10:58:06

Loved today’s posts. You lots seem to have found new ways of entertaining yourselves and so inspirational ? thank you

trooper7133 Mon 23-Mar-20 10:59:04

I’m not a great cook but have bought things (tins, dried stuff etc) I wouldn’t usually due to nothing else being available. If I don’t have to use them, I will donate to a food bank when this is over.

Hattiehelga Mon 23-Mar-20 10:59:04

I had a brown seeded loaf with really thick slices so I made each sļice into two with the bread knife. A nice change to have thin sliced !!

Acer Mon 23-Mar-20 11:00:56

Bananas keep for ages if individually wrapped in newspaper and kept in fridge. Works a treat !

travelsafar Mon 23-Mar-20 11:02:45

We are having a 'proper' meal every other day. On the day we don't, we have egg or beans on toast. Not using much energy as not out and about so input needed is smaller foodwise. Tins of fruit in cupoard for when fresh supply runs out.

rowanflower0 Mon 23-Mar-20 11:02:52

Wish I could say I have a store cupboard full of tins - I would have had in the past - but my present partner eats everything I buy as soon as I put it in the cupboard or the freezer! I made and froze 8 portions of soup, on case we become too ill and can't cook - He said - good we've got some nice easy lunches now., and looked amazed when I said they were NOT to be used - were for of we became ill.
What do I do? - eat him?

Maremia Mon 23-Mar-20 11:05:02

Missfoodlove, do they deliver that specially shaped pasta in a brown paper bag?

chrisinnorfolk Mon 23-Mar-20 11:09:29

I have a recipe for a Victoria sandwich cake in a Hamlyn gluten free cook book, its delicious. I can't find it on-line but there are other similar recipes on-line, such as the BBC and others.

chrisinnorfolk Mon 23-Mar-20 11:09:58

Sorry, should have said it uses rice flour.

J52 Mon 23-Mar-20 11:15:57

Letter in today’s Times about eating vintage tins of Sardines.
I’m sure we’ve got some at the back of the larder!

gillyknits Mon 23-Mar-20 11:29:29

Our freezer was pretty well stocked before all this happened and, as we’re self isolating, we hope our daughter will be able to help us with shopping in two weeks!
I just know we’re going to get to the last dregs in the freezer and it will be things we don’t like much. But we’ll just have to be a bit innovative and eat them.