"Shopping" from our freezer

Winchester

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Rick and I went down to the freezers last night to look around and see what all is down there. We keep meats in my mom's freezer and veggies and leftovers in the other one. We wanted to see how much garden produce we've used up and how much meat we've used. I do keep track with lists on our fridge in the kitchen, but I'm not sure how accurate that list has been lately. (Our son hasn't been up lately either, so there's more stuff in the freezer than normal.....he likes to come up and visit and then he has a tendency to "shop" from the freezer. He'll take split pea soup, lasagna, pasta sauce, things like that. And baked goods.)

Anyway, there's enough stuff down there that we're going to eat strictly from the freezers for at least the next two months, maybe right into August. I figure we should have them pretty much cleaned out by then that we can wash them down and then start over with our 2013 garden produce.

This will help our grocery bill a little bit. All we'll really need are some personal products from time to time, cat supplies, some dairy products, things like that. I hope our bill will decrease for awhile! We've agreed that, unless there's a gigantic sale at the grocery store, we are simply not buying much of anything until we get everything cleaned out again.
 

ritz

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On the Washington Post in the Food section, some people talk about going on 'fasts':  they make a commitment not to buy anything at the grocery store until they use up everything in their freeze/cupboards.  Then they write in and ask the food columnist, "I have x, y and z, and am on a "fast", what can I make with these ingredients?"

Sort of like the tv show "Chopped".

One of the reasons I'd like to get a small freezer is so I can take advantage of the sales.  I eat pretty much the same thing day in/day out, including frozen foods, so this could save me a lot of money.

Right now I'm doing a 'fast' on Ritz' food:  using up the frozen food I have for her before I make another batch.  (I fed raw.)
 
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Winchester

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I didn't know about fasting from buying groceries, but yes, I guess that's exactly what we're doing.
 I think there are some websites out there, too, where you can say, "I have x,y, and z." And they'll help you figure out what to make.

I don't really have a problem figuring out what to make with what I have on hand because I can substitute for almost anything and Rick will eat pretty much whatever I make.
 

natalie_ca

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I went grocery shopping on the weekend and didn't buy any meats or frozen veggies. I have a deep freezer that I know has meat in it, but have been too lazy to take out and thaw.  I've decided that I'm not buying meat until I get through all that I have in the freezer.  Plus it needs to be cleaned out anyway.  So rather than stock it up, I'll just gradually empty it and then clean it before refilling again.
 
 

MoochNNoodles

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Wow!  I'd love a freezer to store things up like that!  We'd have to find space in our garage though.  I try not to buy much meat at once.  If I freeze it I forget about it and it gets wasted.  But I'd love to put up fruits and veggies!  My Grandpa still keeps a large freezer and an extra refrigerator down in his basement.  I remember when he and Gram would clean that out every year!  I think that freezer may be older than me.  Or close to my age at least!  My favorite shelf was the strawberry shelf.  Mmmm!

Or I guess I could learn to can! 
  DH always asks if I've looked through the pantry when I make our weekly shopping list.  Some weeks I do well out of what I've stocked up on.  I like to keep things in case I have a last minute change of plans with meals.  
 
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Winchester

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We've had a large chest freezer forever. When mom passed away, we took her upright freezer as it wasn't very old. It works out well because we can stock up a bit when the grocery store sales are good. And we can freeze the veggies without worrying about running out of room.
 

goonie

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when i worked in the book store we had a cookbook titled  "what to cook if there's nothing in the house to eat" by Arthur Schwartz. i never really checked it out but the title stuck in my mind 
 

AbbysMom

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I haven't been completely working through the freezer, but in the past four months or so I've really cut back n what we have in there. I need a few good sales now. :lol3:
 

dejolane

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It is just my husband and I here and I'm think about going to Krogers fo a small freezer they are 150.00. They way I can go to the meat shop and buy meat packages and make room in the top freezer..
 

mani

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Great idea!

 I think I'd have to supplement with some fresh fruit and veggies though.

I just can't fit a freezer in anywhere


All I have is the tiny one in the fridge.
 

pushylady

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This is something I've been meaning to do for ages. Every time the freezer gets low though, I find a good sale on and fill it up. I have to be more determined about it I suppose. It's just so hard to resist a good sale though.
 

feralvr

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We did that before we moved!! I didn't buy any groceries and we ate our way through the freezer items, canned goods, etc. I couldn't believe how much money we saved by not going grocery shopping. It also surprised me at how many meals I concocted with those items that have been sitting for awhile. I had bags of frozen fruit that I have in my downstairs freezer. We ate a TON of fruit/vege smoothies. We alsol ost some weight during that time! :lol3: I think that is a great idea and you will be set for summer meals and will have extra cash for some special plans ( or dinner's out );)!!! :D :clap::clap::clap::clap:
 
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