I do love to cook and as I have told you before (and Husband will agree if he knows what’s good for him) I am awesome at it.
One thing I do struggle with, though, is portion control, and I am quite often prepared for the local rugby team to turn up and be fed a three-courser! This leaves me with two options: 1) feed the neighbours or 2) freeze it. So, imagine my horror when hungry neighbour had the cheek to go on holiday and I found the freezer full to bursting point. Enough is enough. No more. It is time to take control.
So with this in mind, I have banned myself from all but essential purchases. Whilst I am not a hoarder, I do love a two for one / three for two / BOGOF offer. This has resulted in a number of duplications within my few but oh so full cupboards. With that in mind, I have extended my new found ‘make do and use up’ attitude to the bathroom cupboard and store/pantry cupboard.
Last week I had a good clear-out of all cleaning products and, even if I offer to do the carpets of Buckingham Palace, I doubt I’ll ever run out of those fabric cleaning bottles with the plastic brush on top. (Husband and I both saw the offer at Aldi and thought it too good to miss. But really, six bottles has got to be overkill in anyone’s book.) All tins, bags of pasta, sachets and cooking sauces (emergencies only you understand) have been paired and matched and now stand eagerly awaiting tonight’s menu choices. I am systematically emptying all suspicious packages from the freezer which is like Ready Steady Cook with a blindfold on. Last week’s excitement was waiting to find out whether what I was defrosting was cod loin or apple sauce – incidentally, in case you were wondering, cod doesn’t go with pork. Also, FYI, hash browns go with everything and if you are stuck with what to do with half a pound of mince I am currently on my 23rd recipe.
Finally to the bathroom. In my make-up bag I have three identical eyeliners, all an inch and a half long but useable none the less, three mascaras – only one of any good – and four different shades of ‘must have’ foundations (none of which are even close to my skin tone) and, finally, an exciting £4.37. All those shower gels, moisturisers, cleansing lotions, shampoos and hair products that were on offer, or smellies that you have been given over the years – time to use them up. As for the bowl of miniatures stolen from various hotels they’ll do for at least six months!
My cupboards are emptying slowly and my bank balance is still in the black at the end of the month. Admittedly my hair looks like I’ve been plugged in and then back-combed but at least as it stands aloft you can see me smiling smugly as I discover yet another frozen delicacy.
Cod crumble anyone?