It’s Friday Guys and it’s time for No Waste Tastes Great
Click here to find out more about my Friday Routine
Simply Being Mum’s Friday Fridge
From top to bottom…
Top Shelf – Spreads and Chilli’s in blue pot (all in date)
Top Middle Shelf – Cheese, Lemon, Cucumber and Onion
Bottom Middle Shelf – Dan’s lunch – Yorkshire Pud and Veggies (leftovers)
Bottom Shelf – Chicken and Peppers thawing out after I removed them from the freezer last night.
Door – 2 Large Eggs, Milk and an unopened carton of OJ (more on the OJ later)
Okay so I’ve redeemed myself after last Friday’s misadventure with the spooky jar of pickled beetroot.
Everything in the fridge has a purpose and place. This Friday I am actually going to ‘entertain’ with what I have left…anyone think I’m getting a little too confident? 🙂
A friend is joining me for lunch so I am hand-making bread rolls, and at the same time putting some dough aside for the Kid’s tea tonight. They are having home-made pizza with tomato puree and cheese on top, and cucumber on the side.
For lunch we are having cheese and onion rolls with cucumber (my friend’s vegetarian) and potato chips (crisps) on the side. I am making a lemon drizzle cake with the two eggs and lemon left over. I may add some ice-cream on the side. Dan’s having yorkie pud and veggie leftovers from last night with a spot of gravy.
That just leaves approx 3/4 of an onion, and the thawing chicken and peppers that I took out of the freezer last night. Friday Night is Date Night at Chez Wright, and we have been indulging in a takeaway. However my taste for takeaways has been diminishing, particularly since my cooking from scratch experiment. So the chicken, onion and peppers will be slow cooked with canned tomatoes and curry paste to make a tasty Balti.
So that’s the plan! There’ll be very little left in the fridge for my grocery shop tomorrow.
This Friday I’ve also photographed what general supplies I have left over as I plan on posting Monday further information on my grocery shop and meal plan. I thought it would be good to see where I am starting from as I plan for the week! (plus I quite like photographing my cupboards – is that slightly odd?)
Among this lot I have two and a half bottles of red wine. Which is pretty impressive considering I didn’t purchase a bottle last week at all. Two bottles were a gift as a thank you for a favour I did, and the half bottle (half of which we drank last night) has a story behind it. I’ll come back to this and the OJ next week sometime.
Above is the entire contents of my freezer!
So that’s where I’m at… how’s your Fridge looking this Friday? Has everything got a purpose and place, or is some of it heading for the compost heap?
Off to start making that lemon cake, and to lick the mixing bowl – naughty I know but I’m prepared to take my chances… The cake will be making an appearance on my Facebook page later!
(Thanking The Frugal Girl as always for her constant inspiration and Food Waste Friday)
Well done!
I think I’m going to fail this week. Waitrose is my downfall, I always overbuy all of their yummy produce when I go there. So in the fridge is leftover apple crumble (made from last week’s leftover apples), two eggs, two yoghurts, even more apples, a couple of pears, lemons, carrots, a massive cos lettuce, a pack of stir-fry vegetables, two garlic bulbs plus a tub of salad veg (mostly gone) and a smaller tub of fruit salad. I can serve the fruit salad and yoghurts as tonight’s pudding, and the salad veg and pears as snacks over the weekend. I think I will stew then freeze the apples to have with things like rice pudding, but they might still be ok for snacks next week. Need to make a birthday cake this weekend, so will make it lemon to use those and the eggs. Carrots and garlic will definitely be fine for next week, but might peel and freeze the garlic to be on the safe side.
So that leaves the lettuce and stir-fry veg. That’s actually not as bad as I thought it would be! If the veg is still ok, I might make a chicken stir fry tonight. The lettuce may not find enough purpose though. 🙁
I loved reading your comment as it quite literally was your train of thought of how to use the stuff up! Which is the whole point of NWTG – taking an inventory and seeing what you can do with what you have rather than letting it go to waste! Fantastic effort Lauren! Mind you, you always come up with the goods 🙂
I rarely (never!) buy lettuce… I just don’t ‘get’ it 😉 it seems to wilt so quickly and is unfreezable. Don’t you have to eat about your body weight in the stuff to get one of your five a day? haha!
Haha, it was very much trying to figure it out! Normally there’s less in there though, so it’s not quite so rambling.
I usually only buy lettuce if I have a specific use in mind for it. My thought was BLT sandwiches, then a side salad with a meal through the week. Neither happened. Oops! It was such a beautiful lettuce though, I couldn’t leave it in the shop. Darn Waitrose. 😉
Darn Waitrose indeed!!!!;)
Well done!
I think I’m going to fail this week. Waitrose is my downfall, I always overbuy all of their yummy produce when I go there. So in the fridge is leftover apple crumble (made from last week’s leftover apples), two eggs, two yoghurts, even more apples, a couple of pears, lemons, carrots, a massive cos lettuce, a pack of stir-fry vegetables, two garlic bulbs plus a tub of salad veg (mostly gone) and a smaller tub of fruit salad. I can serve the fruit salad and yoghurts as tonight’s pudding, and the salad veg and pears as snacks over the weekend. I think I will stew then freeze the apples to have with things like rice pudding, but they might still be ok for snacks next week. Need to make a birthday cake this weekend, so will make it lemon to use those and the eggs. Carrots and garlic will definitely be fine for next week, but might peel and freeze the garlic to be on the safe side.
So that leaves the lettuce and stir-fry veg. That’s actually not as bad as I thought it would be! If the veg is still ok, I might make a chicken stir fry tonight. The lettuce may not find enough purpose though. 🙁
I loved reading your comment as it quite literally was your train of thought of how to use the stuff up! Which is the whole point of NWTG – taking an inventory and seeing what you can do with what you have rather than letting it go to waste! Fantastic effort Lauren! Mind you, you always come up with the goods 🙂
I rarely (never!) buy lettuce… I just don’t ‘get’ it 😉 it seems to wilt so quickly and is unfreezable. Don’t you have to eat about your body weight in the stuff to get one of your five a day? haha!
Haha, it was very much trying to figure it out! Normally there’s less in there though, so it’s not quite so rambling.
I usually only buy lettuce if I have a specific use in mind for it. My thought was BLT sandwiches, then a side salad with a meal through the week. Neither happened. Oops! It was such a beautiful lettuce though, I couldn’t leave it in the shop. Darn Waitrose. 😉
Darn Waitrose indeed!!!!;)
Well done!
I think I’m going to fail this week. Waitrose is my downfall, I always overbuy all of their yummy produce when I go there. So in the fridge is leftover apple crumble (made from last week’s leftover apples), two eggs, two yoghurts, even more apples, a couple of pears, lemons, carrots, a massive cos lettuce, a pack of stir-fry vegetables, two garlic bulbs plus a tub of salad veg (mostly gone) and a smaller tub of fruit salad. I can serve the fruit salad and yoghurts as tonight’s pudding, and the salad veg and pears as snacks over the weekend. I think I will stew then freeze the apples to have with things like rice pudding, but they might still be ok for snacks next week. Need to make a birthday cake this weekend, so will make it lemon to use those and the eggs. Carrots and garlic will definitely be fine for next week, but might peel and freeze the garlic to be on the safe side.
So that leaves the lettuce and stir-fry veg. That’s actually not as bad as I thought it would be! If the veg is still ok, I might make a chicken stir fry tonight. The lettuce may not find enough purpose though. 🙁
I loved reading your comment as it quite literally was your train of thought of how to use the stuff up! Which is the whole point of NWTG – taking an inventory and seeing what you can do with what you have rather than letting it go to waste! Fantastic effort Lauren! Mind you, you always come up with the goods 🙂
I rarely (never!) buy lettuce… I just don’t ‘get’ it 😉 it seems to wilt so quickly and is unfreezable. Don’t you have to eat about your body weight in the stuff to get one of your five a day? haha!
Haha, it was very much trying to figure it out! Normally there’s less in there though, so it’s not quite so rambling.
I usually only buy lettuce if I have a specific use in mind for it. My thought was BLT sandwiches, then a side salad with a meal through the week. Neither happened. Oops! It was such a beautiful lettuce though, I couldn’t leave it in the shop. Darn Waitrose. 😉
Darn Waitrose indeed!!!!;)
I think I need to join your friday fridge routine! Such a great idea. I HATE cleaning my fridge, but if I did it every friday, it probably wouldn’t be so bad!
Oh please do – the more the merrier! I did have a widget on my site that meant you could plug your blog in if you were taking part but I haven’t been using it – I may put it back up!
Hand on heart since starting NWTG my habits have improved and improved – it is knowing that the fridge is getting photographed on a Friday that keeps my head in the game. In fact I’d love to start showing other fridges also – Hmmm that’s given me an idea!
I think I need to join your friday fridge routine! Such a great idea. I HATE cleaning my fridge, but if I did it every friday, it probably wouldn’t be so bad!
Oh please do – the more the merrier! I did have a widget on my site that meant you could plug your blog in if you were taking part but I haven’t been using it – I may put it back up!
Hand on heart since starting NWTG my habits have improved and improved – it is knowing that the fridge is getting photographed on a Friday that keeps my head in the game. In fact I’d love to start showing other fridges also – Hmmm that’s given me an idea!
I think I need to join your friday fridge routine! Such a great idea. I HATE cleaning my fridge, but if I did it every friday, it probably wouldn’t be so bad!
Oh please do – the more the merrier! I did have a widget on my site that meant you could plug your blog in if you were taking part but I haven’t been using it – I may put it back up!
Hand on heart since starting NWTG my habits have improved and improved – it is knowing that the fridge is getting photographed on a Friday that keeps my head in the game. In fact I’d love to start showing other fridges also – Hmmm that’s given me an idea!
Very impressive fridge clean-out! I wish I could do this every week – but my husband rather loves having a fully-stocked fridge at all times (I don’t, but we’re working on this!).
I don’t know about anyone else, but I would love to see your recipe for the Balti you plan on cooking, sounds both delicious and simple!
Hi Clara – lovely to see you here! The Balti was fab – so very simple. I will post the recipe soon 🙂
ps – I’m trying to wean my Hubby off a few items – same as you, work in progress…
Very impressive fridge clean-out! I wish I could do this every week – but my husband rather loves having a fully-stocked fridge at all times (I don’t, but we’re working on this!).
I don’t know about anyone else, but I would love to see your recipe for the Balti you plan on cooking, sounds both delicious and simple!
Hi Clara – lovely to see you here! The Balti was fab – so very simple. I will post the recipe soon 🙂
ps – I’m trying to wean my Hubby off a few items – same as you, work in progress…
Very impressive fridge clean-out! I wish I could do this every week – but my husband rather loves having a fully-stocked fridge at all times (I don’t, but we’re working on this!).
I don’t know about anyone else, but I would love to see your recipe for the Balti you plan on cooking, sounds both delicious and simple!
Hi Clara – lovely to see you here! The Balti was fab – so very simple. I will post the recipe soon 🙂
ps – I’m trying to wean my Hubby off a few items – same as you, work in progress…
Hi!! Found you from Kristen’s Frugal Girl! I adore how organized your fridge is – even when mine is empty its not that organized! LOL
Hi Tamika – It was Food Waste Friday that inspired me initially to run down my fridge stocks in this way. You should see it this evening – there’s nothing in there… in fact I may post on facebook a photo. So glad you popped over from Kristens!
Hi!! Found you from Kristen’s Frugal Girl! I adore how organized your fridge is – even when mine is empty its not that organized! LOL
Hi Tamika – It was Food Waste Friday that inspired me initially to run down my fridge stocks in this way. You should see it this evening – there’s nothing in there… in fact I may post on facebook a photo. So glad you popped over from Kristens!
Hi!! Found you from Kristen’s Frugal Girl! I adore how organized your fridge is – even when mine is empty its not that organized! LOL
Hi Tamika – It was Food Waste Friday that inspired me initially to run down my fridge stocks in this way. You should see it this evening – there’s nothing in there… in fact I may post on facebook a photo. So glad you popped over from Kristens!
My food shopping has been done and replenished for £58, so first week’s meal plan is
Stir fry noodles-fri
Chicken, chips & peas- sat
Roast gammon, all the trimminings -sun
Spag bol- Mon
Sausages, mash &beans-Tue
Hm pizza & chips-wed
Thursday is use up whatever. Lunches are packed lunches for the kids and leftovers for me and hubs (he’s home from work @1p.m). The sticking point is Snacks, we don’t snack a lot but the older 2 boys (16&15) do. I told them last night that if they wanted any snacks aka crap they would have to go and buy it themselves. They are in too much of a habit of snacking on biscuits, crisps etc that have no nutritional value. With my temporary budjet of £60 a week, i have to only buy good food. I probably won’t be popular as i have also downgraded the catfood 🙂
I too like photographing things so your in good company, and well done Jo on having bottles of wine and resisting temptation, you must be an angel. I usually buy a bottle of red and a bottle of white a week (none this week tho!), they never make it to monday!!
Sharron x
So glad you came in UNDER budget yay! On the point of snacks – we really have reduced and it’s no bad thing. Snacks can seriously increase your spend!
As for being an Angel – we are now down to two bottles and envisage another will be drunk tomorrow – we’ll be lucky to see the weekend out with any left 🙂
Enjoy your weekend – and just to say I resent your details today…
My food shopping has been done and replenished for £58, so first week’s meal plan is
Stir fry noodles-fri
Chicken, chips & peas- sat
Roast gammon, all the trimminings -sun
Spag bol- Mon
Sausages, mash &beans-Tue
Hm pizza & chips-wed
Thursday is use up whatever. Lunches are packed lunches for the kids and leftovers for me and hubs (he’s home from work @1p.m). The sticking point is Snacks, we don’t snack a lot but the older 2 boys (16&15) do. I told them last night that if they wanted any snacks aka crap they would have to go and buy it themselves. They are in too much of a habit of snacking on biscuits, crisps etc that have no nutritional value. With my temporary budjet of £60 a week, i have to only buy good food. I probably won’t be popular as i have also downgraded the catfood 🙂
I too like photographing things so your in good company, and well done Jo on having bottles of wine and resisting temptation, you must be an angel. I usually buy a bottle of red and a bottle of white a week (none this week tho!), they never make it to monday!!
Sharron x
So glad you came in UNDER budget yay! On the point of snacks – we really have reduced and it’s no bad thing. Snacks can seriously increase your spend!
As for being an Angel – we are now down to two bottles and envisage another will be drunk tomorrow – we’ll be lucky to see the weekend out with any left 🙂
Enjoy your weekend – and just to say I resent your details today…
My food shopping has been done and replenished for £58, so first week’s meal plan is
Stir fry noodles-fri
Chicken, chips & peas- sat
Roast gammon, all the trimminings -sun
Spag bol- Mon
Sausages, mash &beans-Tue
Hm pizza & chips-wed
Thursday is use up whatever. Lunches are packed lunches for the kids and leftovers for me and hubs (he’s home from work @1p.m). The sticking point is Snacks, we don’t snack a lot but the older 2 boys (16&15) do. I told them last night that if they wanted any snacks aka crap they would have to go and buy it themselves. They are in too much of a habit of snacking on biscuits, crisps etc that have no nutritional value. With my temporary budjet of £60 a week, i have to only buy good food. I probably won’t be popular as i have also downgraded the catfood 🙂
I too like photographing things so your in good company, and well done Jo on having bottles of wine and resisting temptation, you must be an angel. I usually buy a bottle of red and a bottle of white a week (none this week tho!), they never make it to monday!!
Sharron x
So glad you came in UNDER budget yay! On the point of snacks – we really have reduced and it’s no bad thing. Snacks can seriously increase your spend!
As for being an Angel – we are now down to two bottles and envisage another will be drunk tomorrow – we’ll be lucky to see the weekend out with any left 🙂
Enjoy your weekend – and just to say I resent your details today…
I am trying to make sense of our fridge. We are a three generation household and my mother loves her condiments. The fridge is stuffed with them and it is so slow taking them all out and putting them back. I despise cleaning as a result.
More discipline shall be required. We seriously need to reign in the amount of stuff in the fridge and house.
Hi Suze! Lovely to see you here!
Firstly ref the condiments – what I do, and probably shouldn’t (maybe some scientific reasoning behind it) is I put them in the ‘crisper’ drawer at the bottom – check out photo. There is a sliding lid that comes across. In there I have maple syrup, ketchup, BBQ sauce, tomato puree, branston pickle, balti paste and jerk marinade. I don’t clean that each week.
If you don’t have a way of containing them built in then here’s a tip. This works for things in cupboards also – I do this in the bathroom cabinet – we all have our own basket with our toiletries in. Get a container (a low sided tupperware box/sandwich thing will do)or tray, stand all the condiments in so you can remove from fridge in one go and replace in one go – or two or three containers depending on how many condiments you have.
With the general stuff – keep going!! It gets easier and easier! It becomes a habit, just dispose of a couple of things a day, then a few more – I’m not naturally organised – It really is still a work in progress elsewhere in the house. I’ve conquered the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom zones. The playroom and office is next on the hit list!
🙂
I am trying to make sense of our fridge. We are a three generation household and my mother loves her condiments. The fridge is stuffed with them and it is so slow taking them all out and putting them back. I despise cleaning as a result.
More discipline shall be required. We seriously need to reign in the amount of stuff in the fridge and house.
Hi Suze! Lovely to see you here!
Firstly ref the condiments – what I do, and probably shouldn’t (maybe some scientific reasoning behind it) is I put them in the ‘crisper’ drawer at the bottom – check out photo. There is a sliding lid that comes across. In there I have maple syrup, ketchup, BBQ sauce, tomato puree, branston pickle, balti paste and jerk marinade. I don’t clean that each week.
If you don’t have a way of containing them built in then here’s a tip. This works for things in cupboards also – I do this in the bathroom cabinet – we all have our own basket with our toiletries in. Get a container (a low sided tupperware box/sandwich thing will do)or tray, stand all the condiments in so you can remove from fridge in one go and replace in one go – or two or three containers depending on how many condiments you have.
With the general stuff – keep going!! It gets easier and easier! It becomes a habit, just dispose of a couple of things a day, then a few more – I’m not naturally organised – It really is still a work in progress elsewhere in the house. I’ve conquered the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom zones. The playroom and office is next on the hit list!
🙂
I am trying to make sense of our fridge. We are a three generation household and my mother loves her condiments. The fridge is stuffed with them and it is so slow taking them all out and putting them back. I despise cleaning as a result.
More discipline shall be required. We seriously need to reign in the amount of stuff in the fridge and house.
Hi Suze! Lovely to see you here!
Firstly ref the condiments – what I do, and probably shouldn’t (maybe some scientific reasoning behind it) is I put them in the ‘crisper’ drawer at the bottom – check out photo. There is a sliding lid that comes across. In there I have maple syrup, ketchup, BBQ sauce, tomato puree, branston pickle, balti paste and jerk marinade. I don’t clean that each week.
If you don’t have a way of containing them built in then here’s a tip. This works for things in cupboards also – I do this in the bathroom cabinet – we all have our own basket with our toiletries in. Get a container (a low sided tupperware box/sandwich thing will do)or tray, stand all the condiments in so you can remove from fridge in one go and replace in one go – or two or three containers depending on how many condiments you have.
With the general stuff – keep going!! It gets easier and easier! It becomes a habit, just dispose of a couple of things a day, then a few more – I’m not naturally organised – It really is still a work in progress elsewhere in the house. I’ve conquered the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom zones. The playroom and office is next on the hit list!
🙂