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Pantry Challenge

post #1 of 292
6/25/10 at 4:09pm
Thread Starter 
Ahhh, we have a million things breaking right now and have depleted our savings. So, I need to cut the grocery budget big-time for July. Anyone up for a pantry challenge?

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post #2 of 292
6/25/10 at 4:32pm
Do you mean a challenge of making meals out of our already stockpiled pantry, or the building of a great pantry?
post #3 of 292
6/25/10 at 4:48pm
Thread Starter 
Using what we already have...

We've never been much for stockpiling food & toiletries, but I do have a good bit of stuff just sitting that we haven't used. My pasta seems to grow exponentially.
post #4 of 292
6/25/10 at 7:52pm
Pantry challenges are great. Depending on what you need to do, it works out well. Some people do it because they need to declutter their pantry and use up, eat up etc. Others need to trim some money costs this month so they are going thru the pantry, freezer etc and eating what they have. Whatever the reason, its always a great way to eat what you have on hand.

Some people try to stretch out grocery trips. I have seen others trying to use up beef, pork etc before their annual stock comes in and they need the space.
One person who always joins only buys things like eggs, milk etc and stretches out with what is on hand.

I have a blast seeing what people are making. It ranges from zuccini breads, bannana bread, roast beef, stew, pancakes for dinner you name it.

I even remember a recipe using up saltine crackers. LOL

So get your crock pot, cook books and get started.
post #5 of 292
6/25/10 at 7:55pm
i was wondering if someone could help me by building a great pantry?? any help would be greatly appreciated
post #6 of 292
6/25/10 at 8:47pm
I'm in! I'm trying to whittle down the astronomical amount we pay for groceries. So far my solution has been to send my teenagers with cash and a list. Less impulse buying!
post #7 of 292
6/25/10 at 9:25pm
I am definitely in! Anyone have a use for canned green beans, peas, carrots and candied yams? I went to the local food pantry a few times over the past year and thought I would keep them on hand in case I ever really needed them. I just can't bring myself to use them, even when I am starving...
post #8 of 292
6/25/10 at 10:27pm
I'm in! We've been building up our pantry, so we have a LOT of dried beans, various kinds of rice, and oatmeal to work with. Also some canned beans, tomato products, canned pumpkin and pumpkin pie mix. Tons of frozen corn and peas. We're vegetarian. We also belong to a CSA that's coming about every other week right now. I'm trying not to shop as much as possible! Trying to rely mostly on our once-a-month Azure Standard order for bulk dry goods, the CSA and the farmer's market and only go to a real grocery store when absolutely necessary.
post #9 of 292
6/25/10 at 10:28pm
Oh and a TON of frozen shredded zucchini from last summer's garden! Really need to get through some of that and make way in the freezer.
post #10 of 292
6/25/10 at 10:58pm
I'm in too. I decided today that I am not buying food in July. Except maybe cherries, they're in season and local. I started out thinking I'd just buy meat, eggs, and milk. But I can do without those. I have enough dried beans and bacon fat to feed an army, as well as rice, tomato sauce, green avocados (they won't last all month, but it should be a few days before they can be used), a little produce, a lb of frozen bacon, canned fruit, tuna, bread making supplies, lots of steel cut oats, peanut butter. And cheese! I forgot about the cheese, I got a good deal at the grocery outlet on organic grassfed cheddar. And my garden is just about to start throwing out zucchini.

So yeah, no need to buy food, I have food! Just need to get creative.
post #11 of 292
6/25/10 at 11:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Keeta View Post
Oh and a TON of frozen shredded zucchini from last summer's garden! Really need to get through some of that and make way in the freezer.
we turned all our zuchinni into muffins and put what wasn't eaten the first couple days into the freezer. mmmm.
post #12 of 292
6/26/10 at 12:28pm
OK, I'm joining too. I have $50 to last me 2 more weeks, and a garden that is only giving spinach at the moment, plus a CSA that we get once a week. We have a fully stocked pantry, the only things I really need to buy is coffee creamer and bread (though I could try to make my own).
post #13 of 292
6/26/10 at 7:33pm
I'm in! How do we play? Should I list what I have? I need to do very minimal shopping for the next two weeks (that's when we get food stamps again). We have a decent pantry, but I'm always up for new ideas so we don't get bored and eat the same old, same old.
post #14 of 292
6/26/10 at 9:12pm
We got some broccoli in the CSA today (among other things) and so I am making this Whole-Wheat Spaghetti with Broccoli, Chickpeas, and Garlic. I have the rest of the ingredients in the pantry! (Pasta, garlic, EVOO, red pepper flakes, and chickpeas). I'll probably add in some extra spinach since we have plenty. On the side some bread and a salad.
post #15 of 292
6/26/10 at 9:34pm
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...rybugs/047.jpg


breakfast for dinner tonight. homemade bread turned into french toast with fresh wild blackberries we picked tonight and butter and syrup and lemonade. Was DELICIOUS! The kids ate about half the blackberries on the way up and down the trail but we did bring home a large bowl full that fed us tonight and will go great in our homemade yogurt tomorrow for breakfast!
post #16 of 292
6/27/10 at 4:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by justmama View Post
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...rybugs/047.jpg


breakfast for dinner tonight. homemade bread turned into french toast with fresh wild blackberries we picked tonight and butter and syrup and lemonade. Was DELICIOUS! The kids ate about half the blackberries on the way up and down the trail but we did bring home a large bowl full that fed us tonight and will go great in our homemade yogurt tomorrow for breakfast!
YUM! We have raspberries that are pretty prolific right now - need to make some muffins or pancakes with them!
post #17 of 292
6/27/10 at 4:41pm
Bought the cookbook Ad Hoc at Home. Using my beef short ribs in the freezer to make a beef for strogenoff this week. Great way to use these up.

I also need to make beef stock with the soup bones sitting in the freezer.
post #18 of 292
6/27/10 at 4:57pm
I'm in - July we won't get any food stamps so I'm trying to not spend any out of pocket if we don't have to.

We do get WIC, and I have our farmer's market vouchers from WIC {$10} as well so we have a little there.
post #19 of 292
6/27/10 at 8:35pm
I;m in I also need to organize the pantry... starting monday am. thats my project
post #20 of 292
6/27/10 at 9:00pm
We've been running a pantry challenge for about a month now, thanks to medical bills, so we're getting down there, but we're still in! We're really trying to keep our recipes fresh and different, despite using the same basic ingredients so many times.

Tonight dh had the idea to make sweet potato enchiladas. We used up the last three tortilla wraps in the frig, rice (a pantry staple), sweet potatoes, and some fresh garden peas. For the sauce, he mixed cumin, cinnamon, garlic, sauteed onions, and a handful of slightly-stale chocolate chips. (The grown-ups added some cayenne and smoked chipotle to theirs.) It came out reeeeeeally good.

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