Are we up for the March Pantry Challenge?

[Rainbowbird]

I hope we all do this again. I spent about $40 on groceries last week. Tomorrow we are due for our big shop--a Peapod delivery that will be about $110.00. I am hoping to spend no more than $250 this month--a big savings over our usual $400 or more.

I made dinner out of the pantry last night--Spanish Rice with hamburger and assorted veggies. Leftovers tonight.

Anyone with me?

[Jennisee]

Oh my gosh, is it March already?! I love Pantry Challenge, so you KNOW I'm on board!

Last night was chicken noodle soup, and in true Amy1st fashion, I tripled it and made a huge pot so I can freeze the extras. This afternoon/evening, I am moderating a Scholastic Bowl meet for my little brother's junior high school, so it's "fend for yourself" night around here. :LOL Still gotta figure out the rest of the week. Unfortunately, I'm craving fried hot dog sandwiches, so that's all that sounds good right now. :

[Amys1st]

I'm with you guys!

I need a little pantry using to take a break from my freezer feeding frenzy

[hlkm2e]

I'm in. I didn't chime in much last month, but I'm re-energized for this month. I have an extra challenge for myself this month. We start Lent on the 14th and we fast vegetarian for the whole time. Being a meat kind of girl, I am pretty nervous. I have never cooked for the whole time. So, I will be looking for lots of vegetarian help that is carnivore friendly. I'm already wondering how to make a white chili that doesn't use chicken broth. Anyone?

[Nu_Mommy_2003]

I'm definitely on board I saved $147 last month.

I got 2 tubs of Ricotta cheese that's about to go bad, with no idea of what to do.

Have lasagna noodles but no spaghetti sauce (red sauce)
Have ziti and spinach noodles but no red sauce
Any ideas on what to do with ricotta cheese?

[hlkm2e]

there were a few recipes on allrecipes.com when I put in ricotta. I wasn't sure what other ingredients you had, though.

[~Megan~]

Originally Posted by Nu_Mommy_2003

I got 2 tubs of Ricotta cheese that's about to go bad, with no idea of what to do.

Have lasagna noodles but no spaghetti sauce (red sauce)
Have ziti and spinach noodles but no red sauce
Any ideas on what to do with ricotta cheese?

Do you have milk, butter, cream cheese, and parmesean? If so make an alfredo. Alfredo sauce lasagna is great. Use lots and lots of garlic though to give it good flavor.
I usually make mine with chicken and veggies or just straight veggies when I use alfredo.

[~Megan~]

I've never done it but I could try. How does this work?

[g&a]

Ricotta- I know you can stuff the big round pasta shells with a mix of ricotta, egg, and some spices (parsley). I bet you could do a casserole with your lasagna noodles and that kind of a mix for one layer. Spinach would make another good layer and top with mozzarella. Assuming, of course, that you have all that stuff and that you eat eggs.


anyone have any good ideas for molasses?? I bought it thinking "this stuff is good for you" but don't know what to do with it so it sits and collects dust.
Both me and baby (9 months) could use some more iron in our diets.

thanks.
gisele

[annettemarie]

Whoo hoo! Next week (payday) I will make my monthly trip to the Amish store (gotta love bread 2/$1, organic cereal for $1, and a box of 30 organic fruit leather for $2.69) I spend about $100 or so there, and another $40-50 at the grocery store each week.

[isosmom]

I'm in again
I went shopping at the grocery yesterday and went to the farmer's market today. We didn't shop at all last week and were really low on essentials. Now that ds is really eating, there's no stopping him!
Anyhoo, spent about $100, which was more than I anticipated, but not toomuch more.
My challenge for this month is to finish off what's left in the pantry from when we started this in Jan and really minimalize shopping. We're going away for 8 days toward the end of the month and I would really like to not have to do a shop before then except for milk, eggs, and fruit and veg. That's my goal.
Yesterday we had leftovers for dinner. Cleaned out the fridge from last week and had lentil soup, crispy rice noodles with ginger sauce, and mac n cheese. Also made some peanut butter cookies, not really cookies at all, but dd thinks they are delicious which is great because lately she eats like a bird. And it only used things I already had in my pantry. Would be happy to share the recipe if anyone is interested.
NuMommy - I've got a few recipes for ricotta if you're interested. Baked ricotta. Ricotta frittata. Ricotta and spinach fritters. Ricotta tart. Let me know if you want any of the recipes.

[Amys1st]

Originally Posted by isosmom

I'm in again
Also made some peanut butter cookies, not really cookies at all, but dd thinks they are delicious which is great because lately she eats like a bird. And it only used things I already had in my pantry. Would be happy to share the recipe if anyone is interested.
.

I'm needing a good peanut butter cookie recipe!

[Amys1st]

Originally Posted by Nu_Mommy_2003

I'm definitely on board I saved $147 last month.

I got 2 tubs of Ricotta cheese that's about to go bad, with no idea of what to do.

Have lasagna noodles but no spaghetti sauce (red sauce)
Have ziti and spinach noodles but no red sauce
Any ideas on what to do with ricotta cheese?

Make a white lasagna- make up a alfredo sauce instead of red sauce and add shredded chicken.

Also my favorite comfort food my mom makes- speggetti and ricotta sauce.

Also stuffed shells are yummy- but instead of buying more pasta, boil the lasagna spread ricotta (mixed w 2 eggs, oregano salt/pepper and milk) on the noodle and roll it. These can be frozen individul and take out what you need.
Bake them for 20 minutes at 350. So its a lasagna roll up. Serve later on w sauce or the alfredo.

[isosmom]

Originally Posted by amarasmom

I've never done it but I could try. How does this work?

Here's a link to the January challenge which explains what it exactly is we do here. Love to have youhttp://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=233821
Allright Amy, I told you it wasn't really a cookie recipe, but it's still good.
P-nut butter chewies
In a small bowl combine 1/4 c granola, 1 T honey or syrup, 1/4 c sunflower seeds, 1/4 c raisins, 1/4 c finely grated carrots and 1 T wheat germ. Stir in 3/4 c peanut (or other nut) butter. Form into small balls. Store in the fridge whatever you don't eat.

[leomom]

I'm in. I'm running really low on stuff, but my pantry isn't completely bare, so I'm hoping to make it until April....

I do have to get some milk, bread, and deli meat, though!

[Rainbowbird]

Ok, it's March 1st and tonight I did my shopping. I stopped at the store to get a couple of organic items and some yeast, total $15.00. Then I did my Peapod order tonight, a total of $118.00. All grocery (food) items, plus toilet paper. I've decided to make the extra trip to the dollar store for any other household items this month. A hassle but should save a lot of money. That brings me up to 133.00. Hoping next week will just be little things. I was spending $400 a month or more so if it comes in under that I'll be happy. I am hoping way under, though--like $250 would be nice.

Does anyone know where the cheapest place to buy yeast is? I bought a jar rather than the packets, which is cheaper, but wondering where it can be found in bulk?

Ricotta is a great dessert with cinnamon sugar sprinkled on it, btw!

[isosmom]

I had an awesome dinner tonight. Heated some oil up, added a few cloves of garlic, added chopped greens, carrots, broccoli, celery, and asparagus. Added soy sauce and salt. Let it cook down a bit, added some water because the pan was getting dry. When it was all tender I added about a T of tahini and mixed it all up. Off the heat I added some Bragg's. Wrapped it up in a Ezekial tortilla with cheddar and then ate the rest as is I love the farmer's market, and springy veggies are coming up in CA

[EmsMom]

Originally Posted by g&a

anyone have any good ideas for molasses?? I bought it thinking "this stuff is good for you" but don't know what to do with it so it sits and collects dust.
Both me and baby (9 months) could use some more iron in our diets.

I use a quick recipe for beans that uses molasses. three cans of beans (or equivelent dry). Saute a sliced onion. Add the beans, about a tbsp of molasses, 1-1/2 tsp mustard, 1/3 cup ketchup, tbsp maple syrup, tsp ginger, tsp paprika. Cook for about 15 minutes. This would probably be good with lentils too.- I forgot -- you need to add three tbsp water to this.

[edamommy]

Originally Posted by Nu_Mommy_2003

I'm definitely on board I saved $147 last month.

I got 2 tubs of Ricotta cheese that's about to go bad, with no idea of what to do.

Have lasagna noodles but no spaghetti sauce (red sauce)
Have ziti and spinach noodles but no red sauce
Any ideas on what to do with ricotta cheese?

squeeze out frozen but thawed spinach, quick cook some garlic put that, spinach, ricotta s/p in a food proccessor and blend to smooth. Yum

[opally]

Rainbowbird - you can get bulk yeast at your local HFS - I've found it for about $2.99/lb - or try Costco, where I get mine, a massive amount (like 2-3 lbs in a vacuum-pack brick) for $3.99.