What’s the oldest thing you’ve found in your kitchen cupboards?

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I’ve been in decluttering mode while I’ve been shielding, I have a whole garage full of boxes from my Mum’s who died 5 years ago and I’ve had them for a year before she passed away as those were her instructions when she had to move into a nursing home as she intended to come out again. Three months after her death I had my cancer diagnosis, and decluttering of her things was the last thing on my mind. Then as I’ve been on treatment for such a long time it was always something that could be left but really should be done prior to much needed redecorating, I still haven’t tackled it I’ve used the kitchen as a distraction declutter. 

I received a magazine through the post the other day and in the top 12 things to do at home in lockdown was decluttering, it talked about Marie Condo and Mrs Hinch. The Netflix series “Tidying Up with Marie Condo” I’ve watch a bit of that over a year ago I think, nice sentiment of thanking each item for its use before deciding to keep, donate or chuck. Mrs Hinch I have not come across but apparently is a social media influencer Sophie Hinchcliffe, I am not on Instagram but she is ‘credited with changing the way we see our household chores’ according to the article. If anyone has seen Mrs Hinch do tell me more about it and if it was useful.

Now I can tell my whole street is decluttering, as (with the tips shut) every other post of my neighbour hood face book is giving away for free chairs, beds, buttons, bricks, paving slabs, bikes are a few I recall.  

I have changed the extractor fan filters, and found I still have spares for next time, deep cleaned the cupboards inside, outside and on top, changed the paper on the shelves and after watching a suggestion on TV have put paper on top of the cupboards to make it an easier job for next time. I had containers of icing sugar and sugar which were solid and chucked them away (I no longer eat and make sweet things although I have made come pumpkin seed flapjacks). I had no idea how long they had been there as they weren’t in their original packets. We have loads of different types of open fruit teas, and loads of empty Tupperware type containers so I condensed things into the airtight containers keeping the best before date and tea type visible. I’ve reorganised the freezer into date order, and the tinned goods, I am aware I am sounding a bit deranged now.

I came across some lasagne sheets, (gosh I haven’t made that for years I thought) the best before date was April 2015. While probably deciding to chuck, the decision became definite when a small dried up insect fell out of the packet !

I just wondered if you to were decluttering what was the oldest date that you found? 

  • Oooooo, those three items make a great base for a meal . Add in some cauliflower as the main element, and you're sorted!

    https://www.floatingkitchen.net/harissa-roasted-cauliflower-and-chickpeas-with-coconut-sauce/

    Where it says agave, you could sub in honey/golden syrup/maple syrup as those are affordable, and probably in a cupboard somewhere too! lol

    Lass

    xx

    I have no medical training, everything I post is an opinion or educated guess. It is not medical advice.

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to Lass

    Well if I’m being honest I would have kept them but my husband has ocd about dates, and I couldn’t be bothered to argue.

    Sometimes it’s easier to just go with the flow.

    thanks it’s the first of four sessions so after Tuesday only 3 more left,

    styay safe

    mimi121

  • Good luck for 5 May.

    The rest of you, how come you're still alive, after eating all those out of date things?!

    Must admit, I'm of the sniff it n see brigade, more than the "oh it's got yesterday's date on it" but even I baulk at some of your collective antics.

    Btw , what is leek flower paste?! Can you sub it for courgette flower paste? (I've heard of courgette flowers)

    Fear of the unknown is the worst thing. Once we know what we're facing, we find the strength to deal with it.
  • Hey Buttercup!

    First off, Lol! I eat lots of things past their date, but as someone mentioned above it very much depends on what it is, and what shape it's in. So generally, tins are good forever so long as they aren't dented or rusted. Dried things in packets might go stale, but generally won't go off - unless the packet is open. Jars are similar to tins where the contents might discolour but if unopened then they're generally fine. Your dodgy only really starts to happen with your fresh stuff.

    As for Leek Flower Paste...... Whenever I'm in a shop that sells things that aren't traditionally British, I like to try and buy a couple of things I've never seen before, take them home, and then experiment with them. So I have a LOT or really random things in my cupboards like dried soya chunks, tins of fake duck and fish, jars of various pastes, packets of.... well actually, some of the packets I've no idea what's in them as I can't read them! LOL. So the Leek Flower Paste was one of those purchases.

    When I got it home I had a google, and it seems like traditionally it's a condiment that you use on meat and veg after dunking them in hot broth to cook them. So a bit like a mint sauce on lamb. I've not tried it yet, but it says that it has an onion type taste.

    Courgette flowers though aren't usually turned into a paste. You usually make a mousse, scallop is the one I've seen the most, then either batter it and fry it, or roast it in a pan. I don't think I've seen it done any other way, but I've still not managed to try them yet! Might try and pick some from my plants this year if I remember!

    Lass

    xx

    I have no medical training, everything I post is an opinion or educated guess. It is not medical advice.

  • Hi , I'm a long- term veggie (;since 1976) but am a self- confessed unadventurous cook. Are they a  contradiction in terms?!

    Fear of the unknown is the worst thing. Once we know what we're facing, we find the strength to deal with it.
  • No, lots of older people aren't particularly adventurous when it comes to their diets, vegetarians or not.

    But I would definitely say to get out there, not literally at the moment though lol, and try some more things! There are so many new fruits and vegetables out there, and herbs and spices to do things with than there were. You could find all sorts of new things that you like!

    Why not start by buying a tin of jackfruit on your next shop, online or otherwise, and seeing what you can do with it for your main meal? With the rise of veganism, there are LOADS of recipes out there to play with. Slight smile

    Lass

    xx

    I have no medical training, everything I post is an opinion or educated guess. It is not medical advice.

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to Lass

    I'm also vegetarian and from the see how it looks and smells brigade. I remember as a child things never had best before dates on them and providing a can wasn't dented or bulging it was safe. Flour was the only suspect but my grandmother always told me to tip out the required quantity into a bowl, leave it and watch for any movement. If there was none it was safe to use, if there was it had weevils in and had to be thrown out. I have often eaten things past their date and am still here to tell the tale. My daughter on the other hand is a date fanatic and if it's one day over it gets chucked! Stay safe everyone. Love lamb.xx