Pantry Challenge? - Page 2

[Mom2SammyJoe]

If I join do I have to stop shopping?
Is it a bad thing to look forward to weekly grocery shopping as an outing/recreation?
Anyway, I have been sale shopping and couponing a lot lately, and we are well-stocked. But we are moving in a few weeks (as soon as the house is done) and it will be work to move groceries! I have tons of my home canning to move, and that is fine. I just love having a stocked house!
I shopped yesterday, and will just try to really cut back how much I get each week. I will still get any super good deals. And I'll need WW flour.
I have 2 weeks of dinners planned now. I am going to focus on using what we have. I plan on five dinners a week and pick each day what to make from them depending on time and desire.

tonight-beef and bean tacos on homemade tortillas (this thread inspired me to finally try making tortillas. yum!) sliced apples and pears
lentil and veg soup with dumplings (Hillbilly Housewife)
salmon patties, creamy mac and cheese (heavenlyhomemakers.com), veg
pot roast, potatoes, carrots
beef stew with leftover roast, rolls
smoked sausage with vegetables and rice (one dish meal)

chicken noodle soup and soft pretzels
meatloaf, mashed potatoes and corn
homemade pizza, carrot sticks
cheesy beans and rice, tortilla chips, salad
pork chops, fried potatoes and onion, applesauce, green beans

[Norasmomma]

Originally Posted by Mom2SammyJoe

If I join do I have to stop shopping?
Is it a bad thing to look forward to weekly grocery shopping as an outing/recreation?

Some do keep out of stores, some buy only perishables, some(like myself) are attempting to use some of the odds and ends we have. I'm trying to clear out some of my freezer stuff, but I am also stocking up on things.

Tonights tacos were amazingly great, cabbage salad, pico de gallo, refried beans it was awesome.

I did shop yesterday at the baking sale at my local store, I bought butter, brown sugar and powdered sugar.

I'm just gonna keep on going and planning around my little extras.

[Alyantavid]

Originally Posted by Mom2SammyJoe

If I join do I have to stop shopping?
Is it a bad thing to look forward to weekly grocery shopping as an outing/recreation?

I normally shop sale items and stock up and then cook from what we've got in the house. So no, you don't have to stop shopping.

I am trying to cut back because we do have tons of food in the house, but it's really hard to resist a great price on something you use.

Tonight we're having leftovers: steak sandwiches, lasagna or spaghettios.

[Norasmomma]

Alyantavid-what's this vegan spaghettios recipe, I'm interested.

[Alyantavid]

I'll have to post it later, it's at home. It's very simple though and tastes just like the canned version. The only trouble is finding circle-ish pasta.

[Alyantavid]

The Vegan Spaghettios

1/2 lb small pasta (I used the radiator ones, I couldn't find anything closer)
6 oz tomato paste
1 cup vegetable stock
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
2 1/2 tbsp agave nectar or honey
1/4 cup nutritional yeast

Boil pasta, drain and set aside. Combine tomato pasta, vegetable stock, onion powder, garlic powder and sweetner. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat and, stirring occassionally, cook for about 5 minutes or until heated through and well combined. Stir in nutritional yeast then combine with cooked pasta. Mix well and serve.

[Alyantavid]

I made this this weekend. It was ok, not spectacular, so I think I'll keep to my regular mac and cheese recipe.

We had alot of leftovers over the weekend and didn't cook alot but my fridge is still pretty full! We're going to my mom's for dinner tonight. Tomorrow we're having some kind of chicken casserole, but I'm not sure what yet. Casseroles are a little harder now that one of us is dairy free. I hate to always make him something different.

[Amys1st]

Originally Posted by Mom2SammyJoe

If I join do I have to stop shopping?
Is it a bad thing to look forward to weekly grocery shopping as an outing/recreation?

first, Welcome!

Second, looking over your planned meals, can I come too? YUM!

I still shop and receive my produce/dairy delivery. Sometimes I cut back just to use up, make room for new things. Also, its a great way to keep your budget open so you can take advantage of some of the great sales coming up over the next 8 weeks or so. With holidays approaching, baking supplies are on sale, turkeys, etc.

and no, grocery shopping can be recreation. Esp if you are able to save money, really stretch your dollar etc.

I have seen pantry challenges where a few people are only using what they have on hand and limiting their grocery runs to milk, eggs and some fresh ingredients.

[Mom2SammyJoe]

This is what I made for supper last night. I have been making this since we were first married 6 years ago. I like this recipe because you can use whatever veggies are on hand. I had chopped peppers in the freezer from MIL's garden, and those worked great in this. I have tried this with brown rice, but then the veggies are way overcooked, so usually I use white for this recipe.
http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/C...usage--N--Rice

Tonight will be salmon patties, which I have never made before and I don't even know if anyone will eat them. I won't know if I don't try!
We will also have this mac and cheese, which is very good and very easy!
http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/high-f...mac-and-cheese

I have my grocery list ready for tomorrow with 9 items on it. We'll see how it goes! Since DD has a Dr. appt right before shopping, I should be ready to get out of there fast.

[Norasmomma]

Originally Posted by Alyantavid

The Vegan Spaghettios

1/2 lb small pasta (I used the radiator ones, I couldn't find anything closer)
6 oz tomato paste
1 cup vegetable stock
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
2 1/2 tbsp agave nectar or honey
1/4 cup nutritional yeast

Boil pasta, drain and set aside. Combine tomato pasta, vegetable stock, onion powder, garlic powder and sweetner. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat and, stirring occassionally, cook for about 5 minutes or until heated through and well combined. Stir in nutritional yeast then combine with cooked pasta. Mix well and serve.

Thanks

I'm doing well, but I can't help my stocking up mentality

The economy has put a major feast of famine mentality with me and my family. DH was laid off most of last year and so I just really want to make sure we are fully stocked up at all times. Yesterday I went to our nearest "big" town, and bought coffee, and some other things that are way cheaper there. Cali pizza Kitchen Pizzas were on sale and I had coupons so I had to buy frozen pizzas, it's just a one of those things we like to have in our freezer.

I changed my plan after I wrote it down the other day, we are trying to conserve in a few ways so I am trying to use my slow-cooker more often. I also found some country style pork ribs that needed to be cooked, so I decided to make Pineapple BBQ pork ribs, and ranch pasta salad. I am accomplishing to things of course, clearing out pantry supplies that need to be used and the freezer. I had BBQ sauce, pineapple, onions, added some ginger and soy sauce and threw them in the slow-cooker. I also have an abundance of pasta, so I cooked some up added some grated carrots, tomatoes(still from the garden), chopped red onion and olives. Used a half bottle of ranch dressing and some leftover grated cheese and I have an awesome side. Whoo-hoo!

I am going to stock up on some turkey, ham, etc....my local store has a great deal on a turkey, ham, pumpkin pie, potatoes, and a couple other things for $20, I will be getting those again, last year it was a super great deal. The ham alone is a really good one and they are $14.

I'm so glad to be meal planning again, it is one of those things I just really enjoy when I have the time and effort to do it.

[my2girlz]

I would love to join! I'm going to use it as a way to prepare for the birth of our next baby (due in 3 weeks). I would love to use up the odds and ends in the house and feed the freezer with things I've made using them up.

Tonight dh will be making something with chicken, stuffing, and broccoli.

[Norasmomma]

Originally Posted by my2girlz

I would love to join! I'm going to use it as a way to prepare for the birth of our next baby (due in 3 weeks). I would love to use up the odds and ends in the house and feed the freezer with things I've made using them up.

Tonight dh will be making something with chicken, stuffing, and broccoli.

Welcome!

I have a bunch of recipes for feeding the freezer that are tried and true, I use for post-baby and for giving to friends. I'd love to share if you like. What kind of things do you like and have?

[Alyantavid]

My made up chicken casserole actually turned out pretty well. And of course since I made it dairy free, my dairy allergic 4 year old hated it.

I used a whole chicken breast, some turkey stock out of the freezer, zucchini from the freezer and some veggie out of the fridge. Oh and a bag of pasta that fil stocked up on while he was here in June.

Tonight I think will be some kind of hamburger casserole and biscuits. And a veggie.

[justmama]

today's breakfast was oatmeal for one kid with brown sugar and strawberries on top and eggs and toast with strawberries for 2 kids.

Lunch was leftover chicken soup in the lunch box for one and half a ham/cheese sandwich for the other two with half a banana.

dinner is veggie chili I just made from freezer odds and ends(leftover half-can of green chiles, some diced tomatoes from our garden this summer, leftover green pepper from garden) and some black beans and onion and tvp and spices with some corn muffins and cheese on top. I might be a nice mama and cut up and bake some corn tortillas in the freezer to make tortilla chips if I am feelingn generous.

[Amys1st]

Yesterday made a large large vat of chicken stock. Used up some aging celery and DH dissected a few chickens while cutting them up in the past few months and stored them for me in the freezer. So I took 3 smaller cut up chicken bones and carcusses, added some celery, carrots, parsnips, radish, onion etc plus a handful of herbs. Filled it with water, boiled, then put on simmer and came back in 6 hours. Cooled for 2 hours while covered and then filled various sized containers. The layer of grease on top this morning of these in the fridge is not too bad. great taste but could be saltier I think.

Tonight, having some grilled chicken and some salad. With a pile up of eggs, thinking of making a egg dish of some sort. DH had eggs for breakfast today.

Our pork is arriving the first weekend in Nov so we will eat up the last of the pork chops Friday. Maybe a bacon cheeseburger on saturday- yummmmm.

Found one last pork roast, so making a mexican style pork taco meat. Or at least DH will be! If not, maybe some pulled pork. One of his personal favorites for he and his dad.

[Alyantavid]

We ended up eating out last night so we'll have the hamburger casserole tonight.

Dh and I are going out of town for a few days next week so I'm trying to come up with foods I can make in advance so my mom just has to heat them up for the kids (she's not a cook). So far, I've only got tacos and pizza.

[Paxjourney]

I'd like to join aswell.

We are moving in 7 weeks, 8 days before Christmas. Our new home is 5 hours away and DH is already there in a 1 bedroom apartment, We are moving into a larger 2 or 3 bedroom in December. I know that our moving company will move canned goods and boxed items. Somethings we will move ourselves but We have a stocked deep freeze and fridge. I'm committed to not stock up on parishables during the next 7 weeks, thought the odd loaf of bread might be purchased by DH when he is home every other weekend.

I do plan on Stocking up on Canned goods because this is the time of year they are CHEAP and I usually only buy them this time of year. Plus Starting in January we will be paying Rent and a Mortgage until our house sells.

Dinner last night was Brown Rice with Chicken and Gravy.
Breakfast was Oatmeal Apple Bake.

[Amys1st]

So stocked the stock (LOL) in the freezer. Also made some creamy potato and leek soup. Since I have a "soup pack" from the produce delivery, I added to the recipe a few fall veggies I normally do not and it gives it a lively taste.
We have some sharp white cheddar and bacon to top on the soup. Yum


Since I am eating out the fridge, its a great time this week to wash the shelves etc and do a throw out of out of date things etc that always seem to happen.

Thanksgiving is a few weeks away,so I am also making room to stock up on baking supplies in the pantry since they will be very much on sale.

[Paxjourney]

Breakfast: Cereal with Milk (powdered, I'm trying to use up the open box)

Snack: Apple oatmeal muffins

Lunch: Yogurt, carrot sticks and Grapes

Dinner: Will be Turkey burgers (pre cooked frozen ones) with cheese (have about 8 bags of cheese in the freezer) on organic whole wheat english muffins (freezer). With apple juice (using up some of our supply)

[my2girlz]

Originally Posted by Norasmomma

Welcome!

I have a bunch of recipes for feeding the freezer that are tried and true, I use for post-baby and for giving to friends. I'd love to share if you like. What kind of things do you like and have?

I'm open to anything except beans. The last thing I need is for the kids to pitching a fit about it right after I have a baby. DH is a big help in the kitchen if that makes a difference.