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Yesterday people were offering me free food from all directions and it would be rude of me to refuse ! I made 3 collections this morning, including a £5 Pantry which included an extra box of veg and fruit. Somehow, I've ended up with 5 bags of sprouts and countless parsnips. Plus a cauli, broccoli, carrots, leeks, lettuce and cucumber. Raspberries, strawberries, pears, apples, lemon and satsumas. Four litres of milk and Yeo valley yogurt. A quiche, mini pizzas, lentil cottage pie, pork pie, KFC, lots of loaves and rolls, flapjacks, crisps and a bottle of Irn Bru!
One of the other collections was of vegan sushi, wraps, potato salad, coleslaw, couscous, and custard pastries.
Rather than taking all this food home, I called on my brother and managed to offload some of it although he refused to take any Brussels sprouts - wimp.
I'm back at the Pantry on Saturday for my Christmas hamper - better find ways of storing/using most of this stuff before then.

IN today came the Pantry Christmas hamper and a £5 pantry box.
Also IN came a cupboard clearout of tinned tomatoes, some with peppers or herbs for a change, some sachets of rice and couscous, custard powder and 2 tubs of "Parmesan" cheese. The donor gave me a box of chocolates too.
Also IN came a lovely Poinsettia from a lady who'd been given two. She said they always died on her so she wanted to give one away for someone else to care for (or kill). I'm expert at killing poinsettias.

IN today came the Pantry Christmas hamper and a £5 pantry box.
Also IN came a cupboard clearout of tinned tomatoes, some with peppers or herbs for a change, some sachets of rice and couscous, custard powder and 2 tubs of "Parmesan" cheese. The donor gave me a box of chocolates too.
Also IN came a lovely Poinsettia from a lady who'd been given two. She said they always died on her so she wanted to give one away for someone else to care for (or kill). I'm expert at killing poinsettias.

I wouldn't dare give away my cupboard clear out to anyone, it would be too embarrassing,  the BB dates would be ancient.

I try to ease their embarrassment by saying that the dates on their tins are new, compared to some of mine.
I'm amazed at how many tins of tomatoes people buy, then give away. Next most common item are peach slices.
I must have a look for recipes that need tinned tomatoes - I don't often use them either.

Collecting FREE food doesn't end over Christmas! The local OLIO lady picked up 100+ packets of sandwiches yesterday, most with a use by day of the 25th. I'm now the proud possessor of 14 packets, 4 loaves of bread, bread rolls, custard crowns and blueberry muffins. They'll make a change from beans on toast today!

I try to ease their embarrassment by saying that the dates on their tins are new, compared to some of mine.
I'm amazed at how many tins of tomatoes people buy, then give away. Next most common item are peach slices.
I must have a look for recipes that need tinned tomatoes - I don't often use them either.

Wish I was closer. I’d help you out with the tinned tomatoes.   . Use them at least twice a week. Because of the amount of chill, curry & spaghetti bologna’s we eat.   . All of which can be made very quickly and mild for those with low heat tolerance and all veggie     . Just chuck a load of veggies in a pan and your tin of tomatoes (chopped, if they’re not already) some spices a bit of veg stock. No need for measuring anything (wing it ) Leave it to simmer for half hour at least. Serve with rice, chips, jacket spud, any sort of flatbread. Done. Make big batch. Meal for several days. If you’ve got carried away with the spices add yogurt to cool it ( if your spaghetti bologna’s is spicy, you’ve done something wrong   )

I mix a tin of chick peas or other beans with a tin of tomatoes, onions, herbs and dried apricots (loosely based on a Moroccan meal I had once). Really quick.

The OLIO lady who had 100 packets of sandwiches contacted me - did I want some more sandwiches that had been in her freezer and some other odds and ends. Of course, I accepted.
She gave me about 20 packets of sandwiches, taramasalata x 3, seafood sticks, mixed veg, baking potatoes, corned beef rissoles, bread and rolls. I've spent most of this rainy day taking the chicken and ham out of the sandwiches for the dogs. Some of the sandwich bread has gone in the hotbin, most of it in the food waste. Freezing sandwiches that contain lettuce, cucumber and other greens is not a good idea!

IN today came 3 bags of parsnips - I turned down the offer of sprouts. Apparently Morrisons were giving away all their sprouts and parsnips the other day - probably Boxing Day when I went there for dog food and the parsnips were reduced to 10p. If only I'd been there later! Today's parsnips came from a friend who had acquired too many!

One of the OLIO collectors messaged and asked if I could use some "Use by date" food - delivered to my door! How could I refuse?
One banana box of veg and fruit including 6 bags of leeks and another box of chilled food - party food, pasta dishes, root veg mash and more.
I've given some to my 94 year old neighbour who was delighted.
Also IN came a bag of clothes although I'll only keep a couple of tops and some socks.
OUT will go an IKEA sliding shoe rack that, in my innocence I thought was freestanding but actually needs to be fitted inside an IKEA cupboard. No use to me!