September Pantry Challenge?

[SaraCate]

Hi,

The previous pantry challenge thread is getting long-ish, so I thought I'd start a new one...I'm focussing more on getting back into the swing of cooking - *really* cooking - at home, but wouldn't mind making some space in the freezer as well!

Last night we had salmon patties for dinner (pnatry ingredients), brown rice (from freezer), peas, and LO Greek salad.

Tonight looks like enchiladas, with rice from last night (mexi-seasoned), and sauteed bell peppers that need used up!

Tomorrow - don't know yet...maybe pad thai, w/ LO chicken?? I think we have everything on hand except cilantro.

[BetsyS]

I'm in--we're moving at the end of the month, so I need to eat down the pantry/freezer in a major way.

[Alyantavid]

I'm in too.

Our freezers are full and we butchered a cow last week so that'll have to go somewhere. I've froze as much of my garden as I possibly can so we're eating everything straight out of the garden right now.

Tonight's dinner is cabbage (from the garden) and sausage (trying to use up the last of the pork we raised) stir fry.

[frugalmama]

I'm in. Our freezers are overflowing as our our pantries. I'd like to eat both down and make room in our house again. We plan on buying some case lots of meat from Sam's Club next month as well, so I need to make room for those too.

I do have a month-long shopping deal to do however{it's a money maker with coupons}, and WIC items to get.


I'm going to try to neaten up said pantries today and take stock of what really needs used up.

[Amys1st]

thanks for starting a new one! I am also doing home cooking challenge.

[frugalmama]

did a partial inventory of my pantries - does anyone have ideas to use up the following items?

canned pumpkin {preferably without baking - it's upper 90's here}
salad dressings
jello powder of varying flavors {I have a LOT of this thanks to a free after coupon sale}
link breakfast sausage
frozen broccoli {green giant steamers}
small cans of tomato sauce
liquid flavored coffee creamer {again - tons thanks to sale}

[nadia105]

Originally Posted by frugalmama

did a partial inventory of my pantries - does anyone have ideas to use up the following items?

canned pumpkin {preferably without baking - it's upper 90's here}
salad dressings
jello powder of varying flavors {I have a LOT of this thanks to a free after coupon sale}
link breakfast sausage
frozen broccoli {green giant steamers}
small cans of tomato sauce
liquid flavored coffee creamer {again - tons thanks to sale}

For the jello, add in the boiling water like normal, but instead of the cold water, stir in vanilla ice cream. It separates into layers as it chills, and it's super yummy!

Small cans of tomato sauce can be a good size for homemade pizza, just add some italian seasoning and a little garlic.

You can use the liquid coffee creamer in scones in place of heavy cream. International Delights works really well, there was one I tried that had a more chemically taste, maybe it was Coffeemate?

[SaraCate]

Originally Posted by frugalmama

did a partial inventory of my pantries - does anyone have ideas to use up the following items?

canned pumpkin {preferably without baking - it's upper 90's here}
salad dressings
jello powder of varying flavors {I have a LOT of this thanks to a free after coupon sale}
link breakfast sausage
frozen broccoli {green giant steamers}
small cans of tomato sauce
liquid flavored coffee creamer {again - tons thanks to sale}

What about a pumpkin soup? We like squash-type soups colds here, and if you have a slow-cooker, you could do it in that to avoid heating the kitchen much.

Depending on your salad dressing flavors, what about a dressing for beans or cold veggies? Marinade for meat or tofu?

We'd probably put link sausage into a breakfast casserole...

[Keeta]

I have a really good recipe for pumpkin curry using canned pumpkin, red lentils, coconut milk...it makes a TON. It's out of The Vegan Table, so if you're in a hurry you can search Amazon for it and "look inside" to see if you can see the recipe.

[dagny.galt]

I'm in, though I'm not sure how often I'll remember to post.

I'm trying to hit a goal of pantry cooking for at least the next two weeks with minimal to no outlay on groceries at all, and then stretching that as far as I can after while still emptying my freezer. At the end of the month we'll be getting a 1/2 order of beef to split with family, so I need to have some room cleared.

I'm mostly trying to work with the idea of "evolving leftovers". Tonight's dinner is a beef pot pie made from leftover-roast-turned-stew-with-noodles and some refrigerator crescent rolls, plus some extra veggies. Any leftovers will be lunch tomorrow. Then we'll have fried rice for dinner to use the rest of the diced veggies, and leftover fried rice for Friday lunch with the addition of some diced chicken or pork.

My biggest challenge is figuring out how to use up a bunch of bags of fruit & veggie salsa that's been sitting my deep freeze for months. It's basically just diced pineapple, mango, kiwi, red onion, and bell pepper. I was thinking of mixing a bag with a soy/honey/pineapple juice based "marinade" and using it on a pork shoulder roast, but I'm not sure. Any ideas?

[Turquesa]

Could somebody explain to me, more or less, what the "rules" are? Is the idea just to use up what you've got as much as humanly possible in order to buy minimal groceries? And then post here?

If so...tonight was tofu scramble with some vegan soyrizo that had been in the freezer for "a few" (ahem! ) months.

[MaddieMay]

I'm in! Our freezer looks really good, but our pantry is a giant mess. I've been pregnant and really, really sick this summer so there is stuff in there that would normally never be in our house. Things that I thought I could stomach at the time, ate one, and then to the pantry they went. Tons of cereal boxes half-eaten, applesauce cups, peppermints, etc. The plan is to get it cleared out in September, we'll vacation most of October, and then start stocking in November so that I can do freezer cooking for baby's January arrival.

[HappyMommy2]

Originally Posted by MaddieMay

... Tons of cereal boxes half-eaten, applesauce cups, peppermints, etc. ...

I make rice krispie treats with all types of leftover cereals and granola. I just add them all together, and add any leftover nuts when available. If your family would agree (mine won't) you could throw in dried cranberries or other fruit too. I also add flax seeds for protein.

I melt 1 cube of butter, add a bag of marshmallows and stir on low until melty. Then add six cups of cereal.

Apple sauce is great with pork. Cook it on the roast itself, or serve alongside pork on the plate. I make a crockpot pulled pork (a pork shoulder) with apple sauce, green salsa, and onion. yum!

[frugalmama]

Does the rice krispies work if the marshmallows are a bit old? I've got a ton of cereal and marshmallows, but the marshmallows are getting a little aged and tough.

Tonights meal for us is baked chicken thighs with mashed potatoes, cream gravy, veggies and warm delights for dessert. Trying to use ti all up!

[Alyantavid]

I'm off work today so I spent most of the morning inventorying my pantries and freezers. I ended up taking a bag of zucchini and cucumbers to work after I picked lots more from my garden. It's almost embarassing to see how much food we have.

I really think I won't be buying anything besides some perishables for the next several months. I did change my meal plan a little to help use up some of the beef we've got.

And after all that, I still don't know what we'll have for dinner tonight. I definitely have to work zucchini in there somewhere though. Maybe fried zucchini?

Decided on chicken sandwiches with pepperjack and the tomatoes I picked this morning and fried zucchini.

[frugalmama]

Originally Posted by Alyantavid

I'm off work today so I spent most of the morning inventorying my pantries and freezers. I ended up taking a bag of zucchini and cucumbers to work after I picked lots more from my garden. It's almost embarassing to see how much food we have.

I really think I won't be buying anything besides some perishables for the next several months. I did change my meal plan a little to help use up some of the beef we've got.

And after all that, I still don't know what we'll have for dinner tonight. I definitely have to work zucchini in there somewhere though. Maybe fried zucchini?

Decided on chicken sandwiches with pepperjack and the tomatoes I picked this morning and fried zucchini.

fried zukes are good - steamed is good too. I like zuke bread myself.

If you have room in the freezer I'm pretty sure you can freeze them too if you want to hold some for later in the year.

[Alyantavid]

Originally Posted by frugalmama

fried zukes are good - steamed is good too. I like zuke bread myself.

If you have room in the freezer I'm pretty sure you can freeze them too if you want to hold some for later in the year.

I've got 16 quart bags of shredded zucchini, 3 of cubed zucchini and 2 of zucchini/crookneck squash mix. I'm trying to just use up the rest of what my garden gives me fresh.

[Turquesa]

Bumping this up to keep it on the first page.

This afternoon, I pre-assembled a casserole with a layer of tortilla strips on the bottom, a layer of leftover pinto beans, a layer of leftover steamed veggies, pico de gallo, a mixed chipotle-rub spice, and shredded Monterey Jack. Then I just repeated and topped with the tortillas. This "recipe" will get rid of a lot of stuff that's been hanging around my cupboards and fridge.

I'm beginning to see that creativity is the secret to surviving the Pantry Challenge.

[frugalmama]

tonight is leftovers as our fridge is way too full.

I really need to go through and clean it out too - there is a lot of older stuff in there that needs tossed.

[SaraCate]

Fell of the 'pantry' part of the month already last night, but ate at home. Plans for reubens were dashed when I found the corned beef had gone funky, and DH after a long trying day didn't care for any of the already-in-the-house options I threw out. So I went across the street and we ended up with on-sale pocket sandwiches, and some fresh veg from the fridge. $6.00 for the sandwiches.

Breakfast was french toast using up some apple/pear spice bread that was on its last legs. DH took the last two slices for midafternoon at work.

DS and I had broccoli soup (From pantry) and grilled cheese for lunch.

Tonight was BBQ pockets - last minute change of plans from pot pie - just made up some ground beef BBQ (goround beef already in fridge) and used up some crescent roll dough for the outsides - customized everyone - cheese and olives for DS19mo and I, just cheese for DS14, and onionshot sauce for DH. Green peas on the side. Will eat the pot pie (ready to go in the fridge) tomorrow or Sunday.