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?
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.
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.
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!
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...
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.
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.
Originally Posted by Keeta
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.
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).
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
Last minute dinner tonight, DH is making tofu stir fry from tofu that was on clearance (a few days from exp), CSA veggies and freezer veggies, with rice.
Milk and cereal for breakfast {WIC} or perhaps the breakfast tacos in the freezer {clearance item}
Lunch is soup made from leftovers for everyone but me, I'll have a TV dinner from the freezer
Dinner is poached chicken breasts with rice, chicken gravy, and veggies. Cheesecake for dessert made from a tub of ready-made cheesecake {clearance a while back and couponed - I have 15 tubs to use up} and sugar cookie crust {free after coupon on clearance}
Tomorrow I'm thinking of making crock pot lasagna - I've not tried it before but I've got everything to make it with.
I'm in! I need to use what we have on hand so I can get the pantry organized better. Trying to cut costs too so I really want to lower the grocery bill. We should have enough here that I can make all the meals for July from the pantry with maybe a few fresh items to supplement. I'm going to sort through the pantry for an inventory list and work out a menu. I'll be back later.
Originally Posted by ilovermybabies
i was wondering if someone could help me by building a great pantry?? any help would be greatly appreciated
I'm not a "pro" or anything.. but for my pantry, I usually just buy my staples that I use often in bulk. So for me those are: sugar, canned and dry beans, rice, coffee, flour, canned veggies, peanut butter, oatmeal, pasta, canned tomatoes, and lots of spices. I'm sure I'm missing something, but that is usually what I always try to have lots of on hand, then add whatever veggies I got for a good deal (or from WIC) into dinners.
Lunch yesterday was gluten-free biscuits (homemade flour mix) with leftover white-beans-turned-into-gravy and braised greens that were on the verge of going bad. Just for clarity, DH is sensitive to wheat, but DS and I are not.
Dinner was leftovers.
Breakfast today was overnight steel cut oats with homemade raspberry coulis (raspberries from our backyard and agave), with almond butter and cinnamon.
Need to make bread today (I do th dough in the bread machine and then bake in the oven).
Dinner tonight will be mexican fiesta - thawed corn tortillas, homemade black beans in the pressure cooker, lettuce, a little bit of shredded cheese, avocado, and sauteed mushrooms and sweet potato.
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