A new Empty the Storecupboard Challenge for 2017
I’m doing a new Empty the Storecupboard Challenge to use up older stored foods, and hopefully save some money. It’s a great way to prevent food waste, and if you plan well it can cut your grocery bills too. Do you want to join in?
You can keep up with all the posts in the Storecupboard Challenge section of this site.
The Empty the Storecupboard Challenge rules
It’s a very simple challenge, in theory. You make a list of the food stocks that you need to use up, and then all you have to do is make at least three meals a week from them until the food is gone. If possible, try to get some variety into your meals and aim to make them tasty and (ideally) healthy.
My personal challenge this time around has an extra requirement, because I’m trying to have at least six portions of fruit and vegetables every day. If I can’t make the main meals healthy then I’ll have to add vegetable side dishes or fruit-based desserts to keep the count up.
My Spring 2017 list of storecupboard stock
There’s plenty of old stock to use up, so here we go:
250gÂ125g brown basmati rice500g400g300g200g100g cous cous400g300g200g100g penne pasta100g fusilli pasta500g450g400gÂ350g300g250g200g150g100g50g oats100g quinoa
carton of black beans1 can butter beanspacket of falafel mix500g yellow split peas
4321 small cans sweetcorn1 tin of chopped tomatoes12/31/3 tube of tomato puree21 small tins mandarin segments in juice1 tin sliced peaches in juice1 large tin of prunes200g160g140g120g90g60g30g seedless raisins
1 sachet miso soup paste1 small jar coconut curry paste100g75g50g25g custard powder21 tins tagine chickpeas & vegetables1 tin spicy pinto beans in sauce
150g100g50g dried breadcrumbs63 papads / poppadums75g50g25g15g unsalted pistachios (in shells)
I’ll be crossing the list above off as we cook and eat each ingredient.
The first evening meal has already been made: falafel with yogurt and mint sauce, and couscous with salad leaves, beetroot, mandarin segments, sliced apple and chopped pistachios. It was eaten very quickly because it looked so tasty, so unfortunately I forgot to take a photo.
Look out for a few other pics – if I remember – on social media with the #EmptyTheSC hashtag, and please share your own storecupboard dishes and recipes too.