What's lurking at the back of your cupboard?

[Rossa]

Had a go at some early spring cleaning and found a bottle of Pomegranate Molasses at the back of the cupboard. Outta sight, top shelf, lurking in the corner.

What on earth did I buy that for? Can't even remember. Think it might have been some obscure recipe for a curry or something. Bit like tamarind paste, can't see the point of it personally. I bought that as a block and threw most of it away. And in a plastic box in the garage is a whole load of Japanese ingredients like pickled pink ginger, dried seaweed, tamari sauce etc that I really ought to sort out. Been there since we moved here 3 years ago.

Anyway what's lurking in your cupboard? Have you ever bought an ingredient for a recipe, used it once and hidden it away til it emerges 3 years past its use by date?

Or is it just me

"... I went from adolescence to senility, trying to bypass maturity ..." - Tom Lehrer
Earth Wind and Fire

[Brengirl]

I know just what you mean. I regularly check my cupboards and select anything obscure or out of date. And, then put it back again, just in case.

[Pumpkin Becki]

My OH bought some of that nasty Chicory coffee substitute, tried it once and hasn't touched it since!!

Goodness knows what the expiry date is!!

[Rossa]

I know just what you mean. I regularly check my cupboards and select anything obscure or out of date. And, then put it back again, just in case.

Me too! At least on the BBC's recipe database you can put in an ingredient and it will give you all the recipes that have that in them. 15 for pomegranate molasses though not sure any appeal. Might try the duck one as it is sort of sweet and sour.

BBC - Food - Recipes

It's fun trying out obscure things to see what it comes up with like smoked paprika (and yes I have 2 tins in the cupboard).

"... I went from adolescence to senility, trying to bypass maturity ..." - Tom Lehrer
Earth Wind and Fire

[Bren In Pots]

Mines usually a spice bought for a certain recipe then never used again.

[Creemteez]

When I first moved in with Mr Teez, I had a big sort out of the food cupboards in order to get them into my prefered "Sleeping With the Enemy" state of orderliness.
I must have thrown out a dozen or more 'way out of date' items but the top prize went to a tin of blackcurrant fruit pie filling - dangerously bulging and rusted - circa 1982!

[rustylady]

I daren't check my cupboards though I really should. Don't have that many (very small Kitchen). My daughters take care of throwing out stuff that is out of date (usually when I was planning to have it for dinner when I get in from work)

[harrybrew69]

last clean out we had turned up a jar of bovril best before 2005..........tasted alright though!

[Jeanied]

I'll never forget Mother trying to get us to eat 10 years out of date Uncle Ben's rice - it tasted foul, and then we found out why when we located the box in the bin!

[binley100]

hmm it's usually a box of suet (only used for the stuffing at christmas) or a tin of black treacle (only comes out for the christmas cake)

[Creemteez]

hmm it's usually a box of suet (only used for the stuffing at christmas) or a tin of black treacle (only comes out for the christmas cake)

You should try Gary Rhodes' Chocolate Treacle Sponge! Light as a feather, stays nice and moist. I go through quite a bit of black treacle.....

[Rossa]

You should try Gary Rhodes' Chocolate Treacle Sponge! Light as a feather, stays nice and moist. I go through quite a bit of black treacle.....

Gotta try that one! May I have the recipe, please. Googled it but couldn't find one.

[Pumpkin Becki]

hmm it's usually a box of suet

I only buy suet to feed to the wild birds .

[broadway]

My wife

I only let her out at the weekend

[Rhona]

Had a go at some early spring cleaning and found a bottle of Pomegranate Molasses... Bit like tamarind paste, can't see the point of it personally. I bought that as a block and threw most of it away. And in a plastic box in the garage is a whole load of Japanese ingredients like pickled pink ginger, dried seaweed, tamari sauce etc...

"... I went from adolescence to senility, trying to bypass maturity ..." - Tom Lehrer
Earth Wind and Fire

Lol. I have all of these things and use them all the time. I love tamarind and think it adds a wonderful note to all sorts of things. I tend to use it as a thick paste though.

I'm always searching for Pomegranate Molasses as it seems a bit harder to get hold of, but have 2 terrific Chinese markets with Japanese sections for the other things. I often buy a whole fish and roast it with ginger, soy and mirin etc. Serve it with plain rice - very nice.

But to answer your question, Mr R loves cleaning the cupboards so don't have many lurkers. There's a stash of Portuguese anchovies and sardines as I love the tins. Oh and condensed milk for those moments when I think I can make fudge (I can't, despite Janeyo's many attempts to help me ). And a pot of bee pollen that I haven't worked out how to use yet.