June use your pantry, freezer, fridge, cabinets Challenge

[Amys1st]

Its June starting Sunday. Instead of the typical Pantry Challenge we do, lets do an all challenge!

I have a full fridge of stuff, my pantry needs that declutter and use look (changing seasons does it everytime!) and its high time to check out how the freezers look!

So, make up your own rules, you can shop or not, shop for ingredients to use for using something up, share recipes for items that show up in your supplies, whatever you need to do.

If you want to cut your grocery/supply bill this month, we can help. If you need some creativity to use up stuff, we can help. If you need to make it thru the month on little or no money, we can help.

So lets do it and let the challenge begin!!

[mommy2abigail]

I'm in!!! My goal is to use what we have FIRST, and spend $ on milk and eggs for dd, and fresh fruits and veggies only. I'm going to the Farmers Market on Saturday, so I should be able to stock up on fresh stuff for cheap. Plus we got our new freezer (YEA!!) so I will be buying a little extra from the FM and freezing it. So, for this month, my goals are:

1. Buy fruits and veggies from the farmers market. It's fresh, organic (some is), local, and CHEAP!
2. Use the grains/pasta/frozen things we have on hand.
3. Buy ONE little container of plain yogurt as a starter to make my own!!
4. Also make my own bread and mayo.
5. Keep weekly grocery bill to $50. This is not including paper goods, but I am trying to cut back on those as well, especially on paper towels (dh isn't too keen on family cloth for TP yet, even though dd and I are using it!).

[hlkm2e]

I'm in! I have a pretty much stocked freezer and pantry. I will need to buy some chicken at the farmers market, but probably only once. I need to do this challenge for 2 reasons, first I feel like I'm bleeding money here since the twins were born. I'm having to supplement and preemie formula is $$$. And the cloth diapers are just not happening right now with 3 in diapers and that is $$$ also. It seems like everytime I turn around I'm plunking down $100. Second is, my mom is leaving in a couple weeks. So there will be no runs to the grocery store with 4 kids 4 and under if I can help it!

I will need milk weekly. And whatever extra produce and perishables we use up. I usually get my eggs at the farmers market along with chicken and I can probably get away with just one trip in the middle of the month since I went last Saturday. My CSA starts this tuesday, so that will be veggies and berries. I'm guessing lettuces and maybe broccoli, cabbage and peas and strawberries at least.

And if I can get it together, make bread. My dh loves my homemade bread, but I just keep forgetting to get it going in time.

[HydeParkB]

I'm in again! We need to clear the freezer for this summer's produce. And I still have those odd "what-am-i-gonna-do-with-this" cans in my pantry.

Today I'm making a lasagna with some homemade sausage, zucchini, tomato sauce (freezer), noodles (pantry), and spinach (garden).

[Amys1st]

one thing I have to do, chop up some veggies I get delivered and freeze.
I mean how many organic turnips do you need??? I am eating lettuce salads at least once a day but they keep sending that yikes!

[hlkm2e]

Make turnip soup? I seem to turn all extra veggies into soup these days, LOL.

[1growingsprout]

I have some non-food items to use up, meaning all those open bottles in the shower. Things like that.
I want to clear them out so i can take a good iventory of what i have and where i need to add more.

Also while not 'pantry' per se I need to sort out the kids clothes and see where we stand on those as well.

[my2girlz]

I'm in. My goal is to just cut my $400 grocery budget in half. I'm also experimenting in how I grocery shop. I'm going to try shopping for 2 weeks at a time. Once a week I can get fresh fruits and veggies and milk as needed. I currently shop 1x a week and basically buy the same things week after week. I've got a pretty good idea what I need.

[sweetfeet]

I'd like to do this as well. I have a bunch of stuff in my cabinets but keep 'forgetting' about them and buying new stuff. So I'll use it up. I already took inventory of half of the stuff, I'm taking a break while the baby naps on me and then I'll do the fridge and the last cabinet. My goal is to spend $100 on the next 2 weeks worth of food. We've been blowing a lot on groceries lately. Like more than double that last pay period.

[~Megan~]

I would like to do this!

My pantry and fridge aren't too full right now but I just checked the Safeway ad and I see some pretty good deals that I will build upon.

For example $1 each for:
prebagged salads
applejuice
d'anjou pears (per lb)
oranges (per lb)
vidalia onions (per lb)
baby carrots in bags
eggs

and lots of B1G1s
tomato sauce
ketchup
graham crackers

and I'll even pick up some 2 litres for this weekend, we are doing a picnic for a family b-day, as they are 2 for $1

I'm using this as the basis for what I am bringing to the family potluck:
soda
pasta salad (mayo, salsa, spices, peas, finely diced onion, corn, and olives)
baked beans (I've got lots of dried beans so I'll use the on sale tomato sauce with other things I've got to make the sauce)
fruit

On Saturday I will take a short drive to the local farmer's market and see what they have. There is another larger one in the next town but I'm not sure its worth the gas unless we are doing it as an outing and for food shopping. I'll check out the local one first.

[Thystle]

I am in.


I need to finish DEEP cleaning every cabinet and drawer and using up all the old stockpile and weird odds and ends.


I want to stock up with "fresh" items we ACTUALLY use!



I also have some freezer stuff starting to get a wee tad freezer burnt that need to go too!




And I will be making a good donation to the local food bank (nothing expired).

[fanniefarkle]

I'm in! I have lots of dried beans, pasta, and canned goods that have been sitting in my pantry for too long, patiently waiting to be put to use! The freezer isn't as much of an issue, but I do have some beef that could be put in the crock pot.

[aeramom]

I would like to do this too -- I have been stocking up on things we use when they're on sale, so we are in pretty good shape as far as meat, canned goods, etc. I'd primarily like to cut down on the grocery spending for June (have been working on that, but would like to get it lower), and also have some things to use up. I'll still need to get milk and some fruits and veggies each week, but would otherwise like to cook most of our meals using things we have on hand. I'd also like to work on making more snack foods/baked goods from scratch this month so my kids (esp. the teenagers) won't be feeling too deprived! (Plus, I'll need to have some stuff on hand for them since school will be out next week.)

[Amys1st]

Originally Posted by Thystle

I am in.


I need to finish DEEP cleaning every cabinet and drawer and using up all the old stockpile and weird odds and ends.

I want to stock up with "fresh" items we ACTUALLY use!
I also have some freezer stuff starting to get a wee tad freezer burnt that need to go too!
And I will be making a good donation to the local food bank (nothing expired).

I never even thought of that! Its high time for me to do that as well!! I will clean out the snack and "stuff" cabinets and clean. Then do the fridge shelves as well.

I chopped up the turnips and froze them. I usually take a few, plus some potatoes, carrots, and onion or shallot and put some olive oil on and a few spices. Then grill or put in the oven. Grilled veggies are always yummy!

I also had 3 huge organic celery to use. On Sunday we have dd1's birthday so I can serve them w dip. But two, I chopped up and froze for when I need them to cook.

Pasta products have almost doubled in price along w the dairy items. So DH made fresh pasta the other night. YUM!!!! We froze some so I will have the remainder tonight with mushrooms and either chicken or shrimp.

Last night was gormet pizzas. DH took the leftover for lunch.

[HydeParkB]

I know it's still May, but I'm ready to get into this thread.

Tonight the chicken DH was making wasn't thawed, so he said "what should we do for dinner." Well, I knew where that was going - he wanted Chinese, I'd bet. So, I sat and thought about what we had, and came up with Spinach Quiche. Got an old frozen pie crust, 6 oz of frozen blue cheese, spinach, milk and eggs from the fridge, onion flakes from the pantry. I also had some leftover wonton wrappers in the fridge, so I made mini quiches with those - not so great!

I also attempted ice cream with some half and half and whipping cream, but I don't thing it's turning out right. But I'll try another reciped next weekend.

[Hollysmom]

I'd love to join. I was just thinking that I really need to use up some of the food in this house. I will have to buy fresh produce and dairy and our monthly buying club order (which I am going to try and keep to a minimum).

[Norasmomma]

Well I will join in again, here's my deal I am heading into the month with a small amount of $$ as always, but last month I went huge buying extra food for awhile, so I have an enormous stash of food. I did go to the store today and bought only sale items, a bit of produce, a pack of steaks, some lemon lime soda, cheese and that's about it. I have a seriously stocked house, so I will be continuing meal planning and trying to save as much $$ as possible.

I will go to the store this week and use my last WIC check to get some milk, since I don't qualify anymore I won't be getting any "free" milk, but my plan is to utilize going to Costco more often, even if it is 1.5 hours away I can easily save the money, plus this month my best friend needs to go to get her supplies for her summer job, so I can get help with gas. Milk alone will be worth it. Last month I tried to freeze milk, my first gallon id in the fridge thawing and if it tastes worthy we will be on the hunt for another freezer, so I can go to Costco and buy at least 10 gallons, if not more. Or I will get it when it's on a smokin sale and freeze it.

My goals are as follows:

This first week I am not planning on going to the store except for my Wic stuff and *maybe* another block of cheese because it's on a really good sale and we have the space. Meal plan for this first week using what we have at home, period. I have enough food to easily accomplish this and eat really well.

Second I will be continuing my stock pile of certain things, I will probably buy a couple cases of canned goods we use often.

My main thing is to get through this first week, without having to do any major shopping, I know I can do it.

I've been stressing a bit when I do go to the store because it seems like I am spending more money, but I recently realized that I am only spending more at one time, I used to always go to our local little store for beer or chips and snacks, but the new owners are terrible, so I am only buying stuff at one time.

[heatherweh]

Happy JUNE!

My refrigerator, freezer, and pantry are fit to burst- I am so in! The plan for this month is to do all my meal planning around what I already have. If I can get by on produce from the farmer's market and basic items such as milk, bread, and flour from Aldi I might be able to save a lot of money ad empty out those cupboards. This should help keep the grocery bills low this month too, which will be fabulous. My alternate goal is to eat healthier this month, so no buying cookies or ice cream in moments of weakness, again this may help save money as well, so with a little help from my friends at MDC maybe I can make this work. :-)



Hopefully we can all stick to our goals and do awesome this month!

[mommaof3boz]

I'm in.

I have a ton of food on hand and the garden will be going strong before long.

Freezer:
1/2 homegrown, organic beef
Frozen veggies
frozen fruits
3 loaves of bread
spices
pasta

Pantry:
about everything under the sun

the only thing I am low on is white rice and evaporated milk

I intend to only buy:
stock up items from my weekly sale bill, only if I am low
fresh fruit and veggies
milk
butter
sour cream
juice

I stock up based on our two grocery stores weekly loss leader sales. I am a pro at buying nothing but those. I never take my kids with me or we'd end up with lots of expensive extras.

This is fun.

[hlkm2e]

Yesterday I did a ton of food prep from the pantry and freezer. I browned up 3lbs of ground beef on the stove top and seperated it into 5 - 2 cup portions. I put 3 whole split chicken breast/backs into the crockpot, cooked all day, deboned and got 5 -2cup portions. I put the broth in the fridge overnight and will skim the yuck off the top later today I also baked blueberry mini muffins and cornbread mini muffins for the freezer.

I'll make chicken noodle soup tonight or tomorrow, eat some this week and freeze the rest. Tonight for dinner we are going to have chicken casserole. I'll make 2 and freeze one. Tomorrow is our first CSA delivery of the season, so I'm going to hold off planning the rest of this weeks meals until I see what shows up on my doorstep.

My Mom ran to the store for me today and all we needed was apples, bananas, and tortilla chips.