Extreme Frugality Don't Waste Food - Time for a Stocktake
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- Опубликовано: 28 апр 2022
- It's time for me to take stock & plan the weeks meals.
I show you my stock and what we've had to eat this week.
Frugal Queen in France
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We are a British couple living in Brittany on a budget.
Frugal recipes, days out, home renovations and day to day making do in France.
We’ll give you hints, tips, advice and an insight into our life in France.
Website www.frugalqueeninfrance.com/
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I'm in the US...prices are horrible especially eggs. I do use every morsel/scrap of food to extend meals and broths. I also have cut considerably down on meats but I do insist on cooking 1 whole chicken weekly for multiple meals and making broth. Guess I may start clucking soon!
I’ve cut my shopping trips down to once every 10 days instead of weekly. I plan for 8 days and then I have to get inventive with what’s left. It saves me money and uses everything up. Two recent successes were potato, cheese and onion bake with frozen peas and sweet corn and butter bean loaf (butter beans, breadcrumbs, an egg, some cheese and herbs) I haven’t got caught out yet with nothing to left to eat!!!
This is a really good idea.
Great tips! Well done - I’m really trying. I’ve got cupboards full of stuff. Including those expensive rehydrated Huel bags I was suckered into buying. Gonna try some of your ideas 🤗
I think rising food prices are actually making me eat more healthily. I chose nutritious but cheap seasonal fruit and veg over junky snack food now and I make sure we eat it all .
That’s a positive
I scrape all my pots, pans and bowls when preparing food, too. I paid for all those bits and they are going into our bellies 😅
I roast a whole Chicken in my Dutch Oven, then use the meat. That makes meals for 7 days (I live alone). And I make Broth from the chicken bones. I find this is very cost effective for me. I also do Beef Stew. That's my 2 best frugal menus. Love watching your menus Jane, to get new ideas.
Very creativ and frugal👍
I do a whole chicken weekly..makes multiple meals but I really like making that good broth!
I do that too. I had chicken tacos, chicken salad, etc, etc, so many uses for the chicken.
I put new groceries behind old groceries in the pantry, fridge and freezer when I put them away. So, I'm always eating the oldest first.
I make do with what I've got instead of going out to buy more when I'm out of an ingredient.
I have always struggled with zero food waste, even with planning. I now put all my “must use now” foods on the main shelf of my fridge so I see it front and center every time I open the fridge. My inside freezer holds everything frozen I need to use up that month. Then move food from my outside freezer to the inside fridge freezer at the beginning of each month. I also quit buying bagged fruits and instead buy just what I’m going to eat that week. I never could eat fruit fast enough before they started to go bad. This has helped immensely to cut down on waste.
That’s such a good idea
I love how honest you are about losing your cooking mojo at times. I feel this! But you have a great alternative which is freezing meals ahead of time to just thaw and warm on those days. So helpful!
Thanks Stacey, there are days when I can’t be bothered.
I really do too! Freezer can be our go-to takeaway or fakeaway 🤗
Yes, I too lose me mojo. Especially when I've had a physically hard day. So grateful for the previously cooked frozen meals and soups.
Yes, it sure is a time for stocking up on affordable food items. We need to get them quick, before the prices increase even more. We are always looking at store flyers now, to see where the best deal and cheapest price for the value is. 🌷Sam and Pedro 🇨🇦
I’ve been going through the cupboards at the moment taking out stuff that will go out of date soon, June or July. I leave them out on the counter where they annoy me so much that I have to use them up. On my counter this week, fruit tea bags, bread flour, golden syrup, I would much rather use them up than throw them out.
Great idea Michala, I have an inventory on the inside of my pantry door but I will try your trick next time I empty my cupboard, a job I do about twice a month when I shop.
Well done Michaela
yes great idea. I do same.once a month l go through my pantry & take out any items that has soon to be expiry dates.l keep a wicker basket for them on my counter too. Iv got tinned fruit, tinned custard, packet suet & jars of jam, all expiry date May.
But golden syrup doesn't go out of date if a bit crystallised you can just stand tin in hot water for a few minutes
Yes sometimes I lose my cooking mojo trying to think of different things my husband is a bit fussy
It’s useful to freeze leftover herbs in ice- cube trays to freeze then use a measured amount as required! Love new recipe ideas!
I bulk cook for two or preferably more meals at the one sitting. I like to 'change up' meals so we are not eating the same all week and I portion and freeze for next time. I can go entire week without cooking when I plan well. Leftover bolognaise, chicken or vegetarian curry often turn into pies or are 'stretched' with beans, grains or lentils and turned into something 'different'. Lunch is always leftovers or a version of leftovers. Today I will use up a ham bone to add flavour to a simple dish of barley, carrot and onion called Rice or Jesprejn. I love searching for easy to make traditional recipes from all over the world.
You are an exceptional couple . Thank You for sharing I appreciate you.
That’s very kind
I am in Australia food prices are high gass and electricity thank you for your tips and friendship your my role model learner so much from you thank you xxx
Last week I bought 2 packs of an item and when I asked was told there was no more I paid 87p each for them today the same item was 99p each. I don’t usually shop every week but this last month I have been and every time I go I look at the items I usually buy and every week more than 50% of the items have gone up most of them by at least 10p. The small tins of mushrooms I buy have gone up every week for the last 3 weeks in total they have gone up 27p in 3 weeks and that’s an item that costs less than a pound. I am not at the stage where I am having to go hungry but I am on a fixed pension income. I really feel for younger people with children to feed. At the end of the day even though all the people on her practice frugality there is a limit as to how much any of us can stretch the budget.
Good grief, please please look for community pantry’s in your area. As you say, there’s a limit. Are you on a UK state pension only Pat?
Hi Jane yes I am in the Uk but thankfully because I have always worked I have a full state pension and also an occupational pension. Like your selves I have paid cash for my property and my car, I have always lived frugally and have savings. I have always had am emergency fund and thanks to finding your channel I now have fully funded sinking funds. This make me feel safe and secure but as I said I feel for others who sadly are not in as good a financal position. I find it very sad when we all live in what are suppose to be rich countries than people are having to rely on food banks but thank goodness there are such things that people can rely on. In the past I though it was poor people in third world countries where mothers and in some cases fathers were going hungry to feed there children now we are finding it on our door steps. Every day I am thankful that I have always been healthy enough to work earn and save to put me in the position I am in today. This doesn’t stop me thinking where is this all going to end.
U most fortunate my dear...in S.A if you receive a pension from your employer, no matter how small, you will not receive state aid.
Here in the Uk we pay towards our state pension through the tax system you have no choice about contributing it is taken out of your wages before you get it. The number of full years you work dictates how much state pension you receive. We also pay into our occupational pensions but you are allowed to opt out of paying that if you so choose. Something that in my opinion is a foolish thing to do because if you pay in your company also pay in and you also get tax relief on those payments going in all of which go towards growing your occupational pension.
Everything looks scrumptious. Blessings to all ❤
Visiting fam the past two weeks . Was able to help a little. Such different lifestyles ! I will be busy next week bringing back home to order.
Well you got me to inventory my refrigerator freezer, which is packed to the gills with all kinds of containers! I live alone and am always freezing portions of food for lunch or dinner as usually what I cook is too much for just once. Wow! I found lots of stuff I didn't know was even in the freezer! I have enough, I think, to last me a whole month without cooking at all! Time to start eating it up! You are so practical and many of your dishes look delicious! Continue to inspire us!
I’ve been eating leftovers for breakfast. Saves $$, reduces waste, and they’re usually more nutritious than boxed breakfast cereals.
Hi lately I have been able to stock. up on whole chicken and sausage at a decent price. This week our grocery store had ham on clearance I to was able to pick up a ham. I picked up a bag of potatoes for $2.99, and a nice size bags of rice. I put my meats into my freezer right away when I got home from the grocery store.
Great work Dawn.
It looks amazing and tasty and healthy at the same time! We have simular habits and menuplanning methodes. What do we not do to keep prices down? A lot of ways I guess. So we Eat vegetarian two nights a week from scratch of course. To nights of fillings soup, with some meat and quite of bits and pieces of vegetables ( I freeze raw veggies diced up for this purpose whenever there is or I plan: a stick of celery, celeriac, carrot, leek, courgette, corn, peppers, potato etc). I put thin slices cucumbers, carrots, cabbige or tiny cauliflower roses in a pickle jar remaining the original pickle liquid. We finish the pickles with in a week. Let your veg marinate for a couple of days to week in your fridge, and when you use clean knife, board and veggies and clean forks to take food out its fine 👌and tasty.
😊
I deal with parsley differently. I’ll pick a load of it, wash it and trim off the stems. Then I spread it in my 5 rack dehydrator and dry it until it’s crunchy. Then I crumble it into jars. Then I put in one of those dessicant packs we get in jars of vitamins. Then I store in a cool place. A friend did this but didn’t dry it enough and it went mouldy. If anything, I overdry it.
This is perfect for soups and casseroles when my plants are under snow.
Loved this video with all the helpful food saving tips and I love seeing what you’re eating and how you go about it. Thank you!
Thank you.
Thanks for sharing the delicious looking meals❤️
Thanks for watching
I pretty much make the same dish you call stuffed courgettes but I call them zucchini boats here in the US. When I need to use them up I do basically the same recipe except I sauté the onions and the scraped out zucchini and ground beef in marinara sauce then put them in the zucchini boat and top w/parmesan cheese and bake. Delicious 😋. But u gave me an idea. I think I’ll hold back some of the ground beef and make extra meatballs minus the marinara sauce. Thanks Jane 😀.
Thank you. Have a lovely weekend
My son is traveling in Europe. So on my own a rest from cooking large meals for 2 weeks.
I had no idea you can freeze parsley!
Thank you! I used to throw so much of it because it would quickly go bad.
Watching you cook this week, brings back memories of the foods I cooked when my children, were actual children and not adults. Stuffed Courgette BLAST FROM THE PAST.
Hi Jane and Mike great food vlog. There is nothing like a one pot meal and doing it for 2 days eating and the rest for freezing or lunches when the cooking is not really what you want to do. We all have those days and weeks. About your plate size my aubts in Coventry, Birmingham Belfast and London called that size plate a breakfast or a high tea plate. Hi tea was served on Sunday evenings when there would be open house and pot luck. They are great size plate I had them here for years and I am always looking for them everywhere I go. Nobody needs a huge plateful of food that will mostly go to waste. With regards to your Wednesday vlog seldom is wonderful and even more now. Prices wow less food in trolly cart but costing more to buy Anna. P.S. love the work you are doing in your garden.
Thank you
Such good and practical ideas Jane.
My top tip to stop food wastage is only buy the food you know you will eat. Sounds simple right? but too often in the past I have bought food on the recommendation that it is "healthier", "cheaper", "tastier", more glamourous, in bulk, on sale,....you get the picture....then I found out it wasn't to my taste, too complicated to make, went bad too quickly, didn't fit into my timelines....then the crows enjoyed it. I now have a core list of essential ingredients I use all the time. I have also compiled a collection of 10 fail proof recipes for each cookbook catergory ie mains, salads, vegetables, snacks and sweets with a special eye for seasonal specials. For example I only make my tomato & zucchini casserole and corn fritters in August when these veggies are at their cheapest and their best. Back in time I used to grow almost all my own veggies and fruit now that I am less mobile I support my local farms and use my energy instead to create healthy meals and to do some preserving.
I like to keep my grocery docket and cross off what l’ve used in that week. It’s amazing what you thought you needed but haven’t used.
Our goal is zero waste, and we really focus on what we have on hand. Fresh first, frozen second, and canning items and pantry third. Use up, rotate the oldest used next extra. Always checking dates on items.
Thanks very much for watching and commenting
Lovely video. Like you, I have a system for knowing what needs using first and prioritise that. Your meals always look delicious.
I also do the fridge rotation of food, so newest to the bottom of the pile. Keep my eye on dates and anything about to go over is frozen if possible or baked/cooked/made into soup. Those stuffed courgettes look amazing, haven't had stuffed veg in years, must do again soon.
Thank you for this excellent video. I get so disgusted with wasting food, but I am getting better by having a plan. I invested in a Zwilling food saver system with a vacuum sealer. I think it will be great. I cook 2 dinner meals per week and eat them over 4-5 days. If I get tired of something, I throw it in the freezer for a week. After watching you I learned that I must take everything out and write it down before shopping. I have never done that before. You two are the real deal Jane and Mike. Thank you!
I have added batch cooking even though I live alone. This morning whilst listening to your videos, I made a month's supple of pancakes, a pint of homemade syrup and a huge vat of pasta to be frozen for various dishes. As soon as the dew dries off, I'll spend the rest of the morning working on my yard and garden. Then later in the afternoon, I'll bake bread for the week. See how you inspire me!
Thanks for sharing Janet
Here in the U.S. we have something called "Green Bags" that you can put your produce into and it keeps it fresh for close to a month. Now, I waste very, very little produce because I always have an opportunity to use it all up. Great topic today!
Those stuffed courgettes look delicious! Great encouragement not to waste anything too. I made corned beef and cabbage hash today with home made chips, delicious and cheap.
I really enjoy your videos! The meals you prepare always look so delicious and nutritious!
Thanks very much
Great video! I have been trying very hard not to buy too much fresh veg. Hate throwing out good intentions. I also have two guinea pigs who love a good bit of the end of a cucumber or other scraps. My youngest daughter comes home with a half eaten apple in her lunch bag-I slice off the ‘good’ bit, cut up into bits and the Guinea pigs have a snack. Helps me save money on their food. I also have a dog who loves any and all scraps. If it’s something not too salty she may get a scrap too. Not that you want all your food going to the animals, but I’d rather there than in the trash can!
Yes… guinea pigs rule😀 mine now the lawn, eat raw kitchen scraps and their hutch clearing provides wonderful material for the compost heap.
@@janenewley6539 we are waiting for it to be just a bit warmer to put ours on the lawn too! :)
I like your "small" fridge. What is the brand, please?
Looks delicious 😋
Why i love this channel
Since watching your channel, I am much better at shopping my fridge/freezer and pantry before meal planning. I also buy chicken and other meat with the bone in and then save the bones to make stock. I can control the amount of salt and other things in the stock easily and then I freeze it. Often meat and chicken etc are a bit cheaper with the bone in.
Do you know, I did a comparison. I bought the chicken on the bone, removed the skin and bones then weighed it again and there wasn’t much left.
Thank u
Thanks for the tip on freezing parsley. I do struggle using it up before it spoils, now I will freeze it. 😉
I love that tip too! I’m always learning new food tips even at 63!
👍👍👍
Hope you are both well jane.food looked lovely.any veg fruit i have thats going to go off i wash dry and freeze it to make breakfast smoothies even lettice leaves in my green smoothies .you can even wash dry potato peelings put can put bit of olive oil on them and flavourings and bake them in the oven till they go crisp then we use them in dips .also use banana skins wipe all over your face leave to dry ten mins then rince off the banana is realy good for your skin snd it feels amazeing x
We don't call them leftovers - they're "planned overs!"
Oooh, I’m pinching that!
Jane, you are so right it’s all about being creative. Tescos this week are doing a 2 for £8 deal on meat. I’ve bought 2 gammon joints (normal price £5.50). One for the freezer and one for next week. As it’s just the 2 of us I have planned ham, egg and chips, ham and cheese pizzas on English muffins and leek and ham pie (leeks are half price). That’s 5 evening meals (or 10 portions) for £4 of ham x
That's exactly how to do it..sounds delicious
I like to cook on Sunday with leftovers on Monday, too.
We recently gutted our back garden and my rosemary plant went with it. A few small sprigs of rosemary costs 🇦🇺AUD$3 in Woolworths. A friend has told me where there is a huge rosemary bush in a carpark near the supermarket. Free rosemary forever! 😀🌿
Such beautiful meals!
Thank you
l love yr video's, they are so motivational. l watch one per day with a cuppa in the morning. Because of rising costs Iv made the decision to cut down on meat plus any possible junk foods . Meat bought sale price for Sundays from now on. but still fish on Fridays. I'm making myself search for veg soups, veg casseroles, savory veg filling recipes for pies, microwave savories, pasties, quiches etc. so can serve with salads or more steam veg in double saucepan. So l will do batch oven baking on Wednesdays using any left over meat plus use up left over veg in fridge ( our shop del is Thursdays) plus any veg/salad that may be seasonal grown on patio & our small raised beds. l will make sure all my once a week batch baking are freezable to cut down on oven use for rest of week.
We decided no bought cakes, fizzy pops, shop biscuits eaten from now on, only fresh fruit, if possible from garden. Will go back to making batch baking fruit pies for midweek desserts from freezer if we feel need for something sweet . We already only spend £1 per meal per person but l'm challenging myself to get it lower. By making food changes now it will lessen any real hardship that seems to be coming. Its a challenge but one step at a time.
Thanks Katie
I have my highschool grandson with me during the week and he eats! Working on transitioning from expensive cold cereal to hot breakfast ie: pancakes, homemade granola, even baked rice pudding or pumpkin custard......Cost of cold cereal increased here in Georgia 50% in 3 months unafordable.
Your meals look delicious
Could we see your garden and how you pick your veggies
I don’t have a garden
You are very well organized and disciplined. I saw a Doggie bowl there near the fridge on the floor, can you perhaps show us your furry friend, would be nice to see
Lovely video Jane thank you .the Spanish chicken looks wonderful .I've cooked it myself in the slow cooker .when I don't want to cook or I'm working it's the air fryer .can I ask if you recommend cooking with venison mince ? I was thinking of making my own venison burgers ?
Yes, it’s delicious
All of the meals look fabulous. Using all the food we purchase is very important. I don’t know about you in your area, but we are seeing some disturbing food trends in our markets. Trying to not spend too much energy worrying about the fact we may see food shortages in America. We are seeing what leadership can do to it’s people. Not the US I knew or was taught about. Thank you for doing what you do. Blessings on you and Michael.
We’ve no shortages but oil so far. Prices are high.
The United States, along with the entire world, have experienced more than two years of a global pandemic and the resulting supply chain issues. Now Russia has invaded Ukraine, which will also affect food and oil prices. But it seems you are saying this is all president Biden's fault. What!???
Interesting. I must try stuffed courgettes
I saw you throwing the inside of the courgettes you scooped out throw away. I always throw this in a freezerbag in the freezer and use it for when I make courgettesoup or as an extra in a vegetablesoup or just in any sauce. Shame to throw it away and you can never eat too much vegetables. Also for the carrot scrapings. I collect them in a seperate bag for scraps and put them in the freezer, also the outer leaves of onions etc I don't want to eat. When I have a full bag I make a vegetable broth of it. The flavours are all there.
👍🌹
Like how much veggies and salad you eat daily.
Can I come over for dinner? It looks tasty 🤤
I struggle with meal prep. .do you have a list of recipes you use? I always feel like I’m just winging it. Any suggestions?
There's lots of recipes on my website.
I would call them zucchini squash
Your pork mince looks much darker than what we get in the UK - does your have offal mixed in? It looks very good.
No just pork no Offal
Good inflation makes growing your own veg an even better idea😀
Vegetables are the same price.
What's your Spanish chicken recipe?
We call the plates. Breakfast plate …
I try not to let anything go to waste by freezing the leftovers for another day. If there is something that can’t be frozen or eaten before it spoils it gets fed to my chickens. Fresh eggs from the girls is a great way to not waste anything edible.
I’m going to have to try your Spanish chicken and rice dish, it looks delicious!
I was at Walmart yesterday and there was NO eggs
Set a food budget and stick to it
Cook creative dishes with leftovers