FREE Food Bank Haul! What I Got Given In A Three Month Food Bank Hamper In Australia - November 2023
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- Опубліковано 28 вер 2024
- We're an Aussie family of 4 doing our best to make ends meet with the rising costs of living. We are very thankful for this local food pantry and their help to our family. Every 90 days, those who qualify are able to access a free hamper of groceries to help feed their families. Check out what I received in the 3 month food hamper this past Monday (27th of November 2023) in Australia.
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Making Ends Meet😊
Yes, I agree, the tinned corn can be drained, patted dry and frozen. I would open freeze it on a baking tray/trays so that it will be free flowing when you need it. All the veg looks beautifully fresh, doesn't it. 😊
When my kids were young one of their favourite meals when they came back from school was baked beans on toast. It really helped to fill them up.
The contents of the cool bag looked good too, and I imagine you will be able to re use the little containers for something like leftovers.
Have a great week, my friend ❤x
Hey Angie😊💕 Thanks, that's a good idea to freeze the corn flat first. Getting some extra veggies is wonderful. Those two heads of broccoli are perfect! Yes my kids (actually all of us!) love baked beans on toast. It's a great filling meal or snack isn't it? And yes those sticky date puddings were really delicious, the containers will be handy for sure too. Hope you have a fantastic week over there as well. Take care xx
Definitely make zoodles with that zucchini! Yum!
Drain it, portion it out and freeze it, it will be just fine.
I am so happy for you. You have gotten a very good selection. When I get bread on sale, I take however many pieces I think I am going to use and freeze them in bunches. That way you don't have to take the whole loaf out each day to make sandwiches. Have a great week.
Thanks so much Debbie😊 That's a great tip with the bread! Have a fantastic week too💕
when I worked in a hotel kitchen, we would take left over cold vegetables, like the baby corn, peppers, cauliflower ,broccoli,green onions, grape tomatoes, small onions,leeks,cucumbers, baby carrots etc. we would also add diced ham.diced cheese. what ever left over vegs and meats and cheese. then we added Italian dressing and mix well. It makes for a great salad. We would also served this as bar food. I made it for out family picnic. It does not last!
Ooh thanks for the idea, that sounds delicious!
If you freeze corn in freezer on a cookie sheet it won't clump together in a solid ice log
So glad you got all those beans. Protein in a can. Have a good week.
Thanks Kathleen, that's a good tip! Yes love it when we get beans, always so helpful. Hope you have a nice week too😊
What a wonderful haul 👌 Blessings Mem 😊
Thanks so much Sally😊💕 Blessings to you too my friend!
the corn would be good in stir frys, chili and soups. I am sure it will freeze fine. You received loads of good food.
Thanks so much Maria😊 Yes it's a great help. Stir fries and soups will be on the menu for sure!
Great haul❣️ you’ve got a fantastic selection of food. Have a great week❣️😘😘😘
Thank you Patti 😊 Have a wonderful week too my friend💕
Hey! I am stopping by from Canadian Family Life. This was a great video! I enjoyed watching this. Thanks for sharing!!
G'day over there Rhea! Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks so much for watching and taking the time to comment😊💕
It was indeed my pleasure! Your channel looks great too. I can't wait to grow my channel is well as you have. Nice job!@@makingendsmeet
Oh thanks so much! Best wishes with your channel Rhea😊
Thank you so much!@@makingendsmeet
What an awesome haul!!!❤❤❤❤❤
Thanks Evelyn😊💕 It's an awesome help indeed!
Good haul . I always enjoy your videos.
Oh thanks so much Gwen😊
What a helpful box of goodies! Baked beans are great "cold" when the temps rise🌞🌈
Hey Jenelle😊 Thanks, is very helpful indeed! Yes sometimes I put 'cold' baked beans on sandwiches for the kids if we run out of other spreads, (and they quite like it)!
The baby corn can also go in salads.
That's a great idea, thanks Sandi😊
Hi! For baby corn you can try a recipe from another country like humita empanadas.
G'day! Thanks for the great idea! I looked them up and they sound really tasty😊
I bet u could boil and blend that corn and make a chowder.
That sounds like a good idea, thanks Samantha!
I love putting the baby corn in my stir fry. I would keep the liquid in if freezing. Since this is the every 3 months very troubling that the amounts is down, it is really good you are so creative and can make something out of nothing. I meant to mention for your garden you need to find a long stick to gently lift up leaves where you can't see well to make sure there are no snakes, (I am scared of snakes) before getting your hands in your plants.
We have three monthly food pantries where I live Central Illinois USA we are getting less each month I believe it might be because more people are going to the food pantries. Our pantries don't charge anything and are run by Churches. The difference with ours is in November and December we usually get store gift cards with the food that is handed out those are very helpful. We do have one Church gives out frozen turkeys and the fixings separate from the regular food pantry in November and they will do this with hams in December.
@@debbieframpton3857 I have heard the food pantries here in the US is being used more by people and they are giving out less due to the high demand. I also had people tell me that a lot of fresh veggies was spoiled and it wasn't worth the 5 mile drive to get them. I don't really know much about what people get except what I am told.
@@donnadelong2781 ,
We don't get fresh vegetables now like we used to we get a lot of canned vegetables. One of the monthly pantries does have fresh fruit I always try to get apples. These three pantries are about 2 mi from where I live just in different directions. Even with getting less it's very much appreciated
Hi Donna😊 You are very astute to notice, we're very thankful for whatever we receive and it's all a big help... but yes you're right it does seem a little less this time compared to previous visits. The lady that usually looks after things was not there and someone else (not as experienced) was filling in, so that might've partially had something to do with the amount given perhaps?
Thanks so much for your reminder regarding snakes, I'm not a big fan either! Not to worry though, living in Australia and having grown up in the country teaches you to be super observant when outdoors, to the point where it's almost second nature to scan your surroundings at all times!
What a fantastic haul lots of yummy things 😊
Thanks Natasha😊 It's a fantastic help for my family indeed, always nice when they include a few yummy treats.
Amazing!!! I refreeze all the time from canned items.. also the potato and leek soup would be good in a bread bowl!! Blessings in Abundance 💞
Thanks so much Rhonda😊 That's good to know, don't think I've ever frozen any canned items before! But with all that baby corn, I'm not about to waste any! That's a great idea with the soup too, thanks😋 Blessings to you as well my friend💕
I’ve frozen baby corn before and it’s been fine when I used it again, you could make a chicken and baby corn soup also an extra link you could add to your description for a uk food bank is “the bread and butter thing” anyone can go to it who needs it
Hi Megan😊 Thanks, that's a great idea with the soup. That's good to know that the baby corn freezes well too.
Thanks heaps for letting me know about the organisation, 'The Bread And Butter Thing'... I've now added a link in my description box for anyone in the UK to help them search for low cost food parcels near them as well. Have an wonderful week over there!
You could take some of that baby corn and mix it with some sliced red onion then simmer up a pickling solution of vinegar and sugar and whole spices ( mustard seeds, peppercorns, coriander seeds) and make a refrigerator pickle out them.
Ooh that's a fantastic idea! That sounds delicious!!
Hey there, MEM 👋🥰 Monday evening here and I'm just now seeing this. Somehow my notifications were turned off?? Glad I checked to see and cut it back on. Great variety of things you were blessed with in this haul. The Campbell's chunky soup is so good over rice and nice crusty bread! Very filling. When my daughter and her 3 teenage boys were living with me and my ex husband I had to get very creative to stretch the meals. A big can of soup, a pot of rice, a loaf of french bread or rolls and they would be fed and full. You could even add the can of mixed veg to it or diced tomatoes etc...to stretch it even further. Turns out more like a stew rather than soup. Was happy to see lots of useful items! Things are getting harder by the day with grocery prices sky rocketing! Keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers. Take care and I'll see you next time, my friend 🥰
Hey Tammy🥰 Thanks so much my friend. Oh that's a great idea with the soup over the rice, bet it would be very tasty and filling like that - I might have to give that a go sometime! Isn't it amazing how, that with a little imagination, you can stretch a can or two to feed many?! Yes the grocery prices over here are getting to be increasingly ridiculous unfortunately. Hope you have a good week. Take care xx
You can blend it up and sneak it into the pasta sauce
Yes good idea! Hidden veggies for the kids!😉
Hi Mem, this was a huge food haul with a lot of different produce this time. You are so lucky and blessed to live near several Food Panty's. Of course, my eyes were drawn to the lovely fresh broccoli and beans... I see a stir fry there! I was a little disappointed that there was not a huge pile of purslane, but then I realised that you have some growing in your garden... LOL! 🤣 Mem, do you have to pay for this 3rd monthly food hamper? I am sure your family will love everything in this hamper, and I imagine that you can get creative in the kitchen. I know nothing about the huge tin of corn you received, but you can add some into that stir fry!
Mem, I hope you have a wonderful and blessed week. 💖
Hey Gloria😊 Yes we're very fortunate to have such wonderful food banks and pantries where we live. No I didn't have to pay for this 3 month food hamper, getting it is a huge blessing indeed. I think stir fry will be featured a lot on the menu lately! I will be adding some fresh purslane to my lunches too hehe! Hope you have a fantastic week as well💕
Yes. I agree. Drain the baby corn and freeze in desired portions.
Ps. Frozen broccoli is cheaper than fresh. 😊
Hey Robyn😊Thanks, yes that's good to remember about the frozen broccoli.
😀🥰
Hey Mate👋 Hope you're going good down there🥰
What a great haul, I am local to Brisbane are you able to provide the name of this food bank as we struggle to find places that can accomodate food issues. Thankyou!
Hi Chyna😊 Thank you, it's a big help. We actually live rurally, about an hour away from Brisbane. If you're looking for a cheap food parcel (some may be free also) nearby to you there in Brisbane please try this link: www.foodbank.org.au Try clicking the "Find Food" button where you can put in your postcode to hopefully find one nearest to you. These websites might also help: secondbite.org/food-finder/ and www.ozharvest.org/food/receive-food-individuals/
(Sometimes though not all church food pantries are listed I've noticed, so contacting local churches in your area directly or looking up their details online may be useful too. Some only advertise on Facebook).
I have heard of Kings Church on the southside of Brisbane (Logan Village, Reedy Creek, Pimpama) that offer entirely free hampers usually once a month too... not sure if they're close by to you, but here's their details: www.kingscommunity.care/?v=6cc98ba2045f
Also Lighthouse Care in Brisbane have $25 discount trolleys and low price groceries in their stores too: lighthousecare.org.au/
A4 Community Care has $40 food parcels: www.a4food.org/
and Loaves and Fishes have $50 food parcels too: loavesandfishes.org.au/
If you have specific dietary needs, (for example if you have Celiac disease and need to eat gluten free food) I would advise to ring/message prior to going to let them know and most times (at least in my experience, I've seen happen for others at food banks I've been to in the past) they will usually try to accommodate you the best they can if you let them know beforehand.
Hope that helps. Take care and thanks so much for watching😊
I think that you can freeze baby corn, regular canned corn works to freeze so guess the baby corn will work too. It is worth trying. Have some for like two nights and freeze the rest. That way you at least got to eat some of it if the freezing doesn't work.
Hey Elin👋 Good idea, you're very wise my friend😊
I like your music for your introduction. I hear rent is paid by the week and is very expensive there.
Thanks so much Ashley😊 Yes the cost of housing here in Australia is increasingly expensive!
Use part of them in a salad, use some in stir fry and some in soup
Oh yum, lentils!
One of our favorite meals is "cheesy mustard lentils" - take lentils (we usually cook dried ones), drain, do not rinse or allow to cool, add mustard (any kind but honey mustard has worked for us), add cheese (any kind you've got), mix well. Add well-chopped onion if you've got it. Serve with rice. Enjoy!
Oh yum! That sounds delicious (and super easy)! Thanks for the recipe idea Molly, I'll have to try that!
I buy tinned corn as it’s cheaper per kg than frozen so once I opened the tin I portion it out and freeze it! You can also freeze the zucchini if you don’t use it all, just blanch first then freeze on a tray then into a bag. I got a 750gm pack of odd bunch zucchini for $0.58 at woolies this week. I’ve also got the leek 2pack for $1.10 before, also froze that!
Wow that's some fantastic markdown deals at Woolies! And awesome work freezing it so it doesn't go to waste. That's interesting about the corn too - I've never thought to compare the stuff in the can to frozen corn, that's good to know! Thanks for the tips on freezing zucchini as well, the one I received is enormous😄
@makingendsmeet I try to be a frugal Shopper! I freeze alot when it's on special! Sweet potato and broccoli also should be blanched then can be frozen. Pumpkin I just chop up and put in the freezer in portion bags. Try to only buy fruit and veg on sale. I looked as the cost of frozen corn keeps going up!! Used to be $2ish for a kg! I've also started to use dried beans and lentils as they are cheaper than tinned but they are a little more work! I'm also in qld!
Yes dried beans and lentils are definitely the best value for your money, it's just remembering to soak them ahead of time that's the hard part! Have a good week😊
@makingendsmeet thank you! Hope you and you family also.have a great week! 💜
Will you be getting a Christmas toy hamper
Hey Tahnee😊 No, as far as I know my regular food pantry (the one that I go to usually on Fridays) has a Christmas hamper with mostly food items that is gifted (closer to Christmas).
Maybe some corn soup
Yes, think I might have to!
Chicken vegetable soup
Sounds perfect, thanks Maria😊 Definitely would have all the ingredients for that!
Not sure how spicy you like your noodles, but when those spice packets are too hot I save them for a whole stir fry vegetable night and use bullion in the noodles instead. Or make the noodles plain to go along with the not quite so spicy vegetables. Just a suggestion if you’re not as spice loving as some.
Hey Christine😊 Thanks, yes I do that sometimes too, especially when it's for the kids. Some of the seasoning packets that come with the noodles can be way too hot and spicy can't they?!
You could make some corn chowder. I know it’s the wrong time of year for chowder but it would be delicious. 🇨🇦
Thanks for the yummy suggestion Tory😊
I make tempura and dip baby corn into it and fry it. How come they only allow you to go once every 3 months?
Hi Melissa😊 Mmm yum! That's a tasty idea for the baby corn, thanks. That's a good question, I'm not entirely sure why their grocery parcels (with pantry items) are limited to once every 90 days as you do have to qualify for them to start with to get the help. Maybe it has something to do with donations received and making sure there is enough to go around? They do allow you to come (each day if you needed to) on week days to still get free bread and fruit and veggies outside of when you get the 3 month hamper however this isn't always feasible for us to do this with petrol prices and a limited income. Fortunately there is other food banks closer to where we live too, as 90 days between food hampers is a long time when you have a family.
Why don't you make up some thing and freeze what you cook or drain the liquid out of it and freeze the corn separately
Sounds like a good plan!
This a wonderful thing, the 3 month, especially for people who have trouble getting places.
Thanks Margaret, yes it's most definitely worth the car trip to get the 3 month food parcel. It's a big help!
Hello MEM. Wow, you have got a really nice haul there. Once open, the baby corn will keep well in airtight containers for several days in the fridge. I know you can also freeze them, I am not sure if you have to do anything special to them first, but I am sure it would be easy enough to find out, maybe a viewer will have done it themselves and be able to tell you.
When I saw the broccoli with the big stems, I was thinking what a great soup you could make with it and the other veggies. A lot of people throw the stems of the broccoli, but if you grate it and cook it well with other grated veg, it adds lots of vitamin C and K as well as fibre and potassium, plus kids are more likely to eat it like that. As you only have a small turnip and swede it would also be a good way of using them. The other thing you could do with the swede is cook it with potato and then mash them together. My late mum would often add swede to the mashed potato, as it not only bulks up the amount of potato if you don't have very many, it is also pretty high in vitamin C and potassium, and it also makes the mash go a yellow-ish colour, which as a child (many, MANY years ago) I thought was rather fun.
I am watching this at almost 11pm on Sunday, and now fancy some veg soup, oh well, maybe tomorrow.
I hope you and the family have a really good week, stay safe and well.
Much love and respect as always. Jo. xxxx
Hi Jo😊 Thanks so much. Yes it'll be a really great help, was so nice to get a few different vegetables, especially the broccoli. I love broccoli stems (and so does the rest of my family) so they never get wasted... I just peel them and dice them up to go with the rest of the broccoli usually. Sometimes I grate the stem too to go in zucchini or corn fritters. Veggie soup is on the menu this week for sure! It's been awhile since I've had a swede so will be nice to have some again - in mash sounds like a good idea, yum!
Hope you have a good week too. Take care💕
Grate broccoli st and make broccoli cheddar soup.
You can definitely freeze the baby corn, I would keep the liquid with it. Keep some out and pop it into a coleslaw with that cabbage, some red onion, some grated carrot and thinly sliced oranges, if you have any.
That's a great variety of food for sure😁
Thanks so much Heather😊 That's some great suggestions! Coleslaw is a fantastic idea😋
Would say you can freeze the corn, I would ( lol ). I freeze most things, sure some of them I'm not meant to; still here !
Spring onions you can pop into a glass with water, leave on the window sill/ledge, they will grow back.
Thanks Irene for the tips😊 Yes freezing is a very useful means of preserving all sorts of foods isn't it?!
You could try corn fritters if you blend the baby corn up!
That's an excellent idea, thanks Rebecca😊 Corn fritters are usually very popular in our house!
Drain, chop and then freeze the baby corn 🌽 into individual/family portions, use in the slow cooker.
Lovely selection of store cupboard and fresh ingredients👍
Enjoy🎉
Thanks my friend😊 Great tips!
Corn chowder.
Ooh great idea! Thanks Mary😊
Just a sidenote to let you know how to regrow more spring onions even without soil, just a glas of water will work: cut off 1 inch above the white and use the main green part for cooking. Put the rest (roots, white part and 1 inch of the green part) in a glass of water, the water should cover only the roots and the white part. Change water daily and put the glass on a spot where it catches sunlight. Feel free to harvest when the amount of regrown green works for you.
You can even put the roots and white part into soil if available. This will also work for onions you "forgot" and already started sprouting, the green on top needs to be still alive 😉. Same routine: roots and the onion needs to be covered, this time by soil. The growing green will turn out not that hot as the original ordinary onion. Amazingly tasty to use in salads or sauces.
Greetings from Berlin Germany 👍💖
G'day Manuela! Thanks so much for sharing your tips on how to regrow spring onions, they're a great vegetable to be able to harvest time and time again aren't they?! Hope you're having a good week over there😊💕
Now that is quite a haul! With the vege and rice you have the making of a good stir fry, a vege and rice soup. Maybe add a little of the chicken to each?
Thanks so much, yes is a wonderful help with the meals. Stir fry and soup will be on the menu this week for sure!
Hope you're all well. Could you make some sort of soup with the corn and freeze it? It's been snowing in the night and a hard frost on other days -4 one morning, a couple of days until we fly, looking forward to the sunshine. Have a good week. X
Hey Al😊 We're well thanks. Yes soup would be a great idea.
Brrr! That sounds freezing over there! Hope you're keeping warm.
Hope you have a fantastic week too. Not long now!! Safe travels my friend, enjoy that sunshine!😎 Take care xx
Stir fry and add the baby corn
Hey Rosemarie😊 Yes I think the baby corn would be perfect for that!
wow thats a great hamper ❤
Thanks Marie😊💕 It certainly is a great help at the moment.
What a great haul you received. As far as the corn goes, you can definitely freeze it. Drain, dry, lay out on a sheet pan if you have room in your freezer, then bag once frozen. It’ll make it easier to use portions of so they won’t be stuck in a clump!
Hey my friend! Hope you're going good over there😊 Thanks so much, it's a great help. That's good to know with the corn, that sounds like the way to go!
Back again ❤.
Hey Nina😊💕
Great selection of food. Have a great day, watching in Ireland .
G'day over there! Thank you. Hope you have a nice night over there too Teresa😊
This is a great haul! I hope it eases things for you!
Hey my friend! Thanks so much😊 Yes definitely is a really wonderful help for our family at the moment, makes a big difference.
You are right...those cookies look delicious 😋
Enjoy with a cuppa tea 😊
Thanks Jeanne😊 They will be very much appreciated!
You can absolutely drain and freeze. Drain well and let it dry a little and put in Ziplocs or little containers. Definitely stir fry.
Sounds like the way to go! Thanks Gloria😊
You have the makings of several awesome stir-fry dinners!
Thanks, yes for sure! Will be a wonderful help with meals.
Corn casserole make and freeze.
Hey Lydia😊 Thanks for the suggestion. I had to look up a recipe for corn casserole to see what it was all about... it looks delicious! Definitely worth considering!
@@makingendsmeet you can make elote or street corn from canned corn. I am now craving some.
🌽😋
I have frozen the corn we love it in stir fry
Yes I think it would be perfect for that too😊
Start a public Amazon order page. You can make it where you pick things out, people can go in and purchase stuff they want to for you and Amazon wont give your address but people can pay and it will ship to you. We have a friend page or a giving page for diffrent people. That way people all over could send you and your family helpful stuff. God Bless
Oh thanks Lois😊 You'll find the link to my Amazon Wishlist here: amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1FZMQN5OH8KD2?ref_=wl_share
Two ideas....drain ur canned fruit cocktail, add cool whip and coconut, a lovely desert. Also use that salsa on top of cooked. chicken or pork, add shredded cheese on top of salsa. Cover to let melt cheese. Serve with rice. Its yummy.
Also u can add ur baby canned corn to that ramen. And u can add to stir fry
Thanks so much for those recipe ideas Anita😊 They both sound delicious, yum!! Good idea with the baby corn too - I think a few stir fries will be on the menu!
Yummy treats and such a variety. What a blessing. Have a cuppa for me and many blessings. 😊😊😊❤
Hey Judy😊Thanks my friend. Blessings indeed! And blessings to you too!😊💕☕
That is a nice quarterly haul there. Could you make a corn chowder with some of the baby cobs? I've only ever had the baby corn in oriental stir fries.
Thanks so much Roberta. Yes I've only ever used them in stir fries too, but corn chowder sounds like a good idea as well😊
Baby corn is lovely sliced up in a salad or dipped in tomato salsa. It can be stir-fried, grilled, roasted with other vegetables or barbecued. You can even dip it in batter and deep fry it to make fritters. And it freezes well too.
Thanks so much for all of the tasty tips! Battered in fritters sounds delicious to me😋
What a fantastic haul I see soup ! stir fry ! and salads
Thanks so much😊 Yes I'll be able to make quite a few nice meals with all the ingredients I think! Was wonderful to get some extra veggies like the broccoli!