This month, we’re shopping our kitchen in order to use up what we have so we can save money and clear kitchen clutter.
Here we go with Day 10 of the Pantry Challenge!
Want to save this post?
Enter your email below and get it sent straight to your inbox. Plus, I’ll send you budget recipes and money-saving tips every week!
Even though we’re in a squishy month, not back into routine until spring semester starts at the end of January, it felt good to get back to my weekly ritual, my Rest Day Sabbath Prep.
One of the boys had friends over for brunch so I got the kitchen back in order while he worked on getting living spaces back to zero. I also did some food prep for Sunday. Feels good!
What We Ate
Breakfast – I found pretzel rolls on clearance at Ralphs so I made a yummy breakfast sandwich. Saturdays are generally fend-for-yourself for everyone else.
Lunch – Leftovers needed eating: pizza, grilled chicken.
Dinner – I thawed burgers that I had bought on clearance and we kept things simple.
How did Day 10 go for you?
Kathryn M
B – chex cereal
L -Pasta with alfredo sauce. I had cooked pasta and italian sausage that needed used up.I added spinach and parmesan into it.
D – fried egg, bacon, pumpkin muffin (I made a dozen and a half muffins and have been snacking on them all weekend)
Snacks – Halo orange, crackers.
Heather from Sacramento
B- coffee
L- I had an early lunch of salad with chicken, spring greens, Swiss cheese leftover from Christmas, walnuts and lemon dressing.
Snacks- I made the maple vanilla granola recipe. It was supposed to be for breakfast but I made it too late so I had to eat it a couple of hours after I made my lunch. It was so good. I ate it with Greek yogurt. I used so many pantry items making the granola. Thanks for the recipe idea.
D- I made scrambled eggs and ate an apple.
Maureen
I’ve been working on organizing my primary recipe book this week – it has gotten horrible over the last couple of years. While working on that I encountered our coffee cake recipe, so I baked one for breakfast. I haven’t made one in months, so everyone was pleased. We had leftovers for lunch and homemade pizza for dinner. I made one extra dough ball for another pizza early this week for DD. And there should be enough sauce and cheese for a naan pizza or two (naan is in the freezer). DD had finished off the hard boiled eggs and asked for more, to I also prepped those. I’m surprised at the amount of white space that I’m already seeing in the freezer.
Tasty
Great news on the white space Maureen.! I hear you on tidying up recipes.except those I have been tidying up are the ones on my lap top – those wonderful recipes I’ve seen and thought ‘ I must try that’. If I were to try a new recipe every day from now until I turn 100, I swearing would only make a dent in them – and I’m not well into my 90s. Hope you’re more successful with your recipes than I have been so far.
Lynn from NC Outer Banks
Yay for white space!
Erin in Ontario
We had the oven on self clean yesterday after a turkey juice incident (husband was cooking up the on-sale turkeys we had been keeping in bins outside until things started to thaw this week, and the roasting pans overflowed). The house was full of acrid smoke so we had to open all the windows and turn off the furnace for 4 hours.
Naturally, nobody wanted to spend any time in the kitchen, so a lot of grabbing of cereal and fruit in haste! No specific meals made at all, but we did finish off a bunch of bits and bobs of the cereal and fruit, so not altogether a disaster.
Heather M
Oh gosh the Jan 10 update isn’t great yet- the weather is really messing with things there! So sorry about the incident.
Allie from Ontario
What we ate on Jan 10
Brunch: I had my smoothie (emptying a mason jar of sliced strawberries from the freezer) & T had cereal. Later on, we finished off the soup from the other night.
Dinner: I made a “jalapeno popper” frittata using a mix of jalapenos from the freezer- diced, chopped roasted & a cube of roasted jalapeno pesto. It also had very soft cream cheese whisked into the eggs +shallots, garlic, cooked bacon & shredded cheddar. We ate this with home canned cherry tomato/chipotle relish + plus some frozen cubed potatoes that we seasoned & cooked til crispy in the air fryer. Dinner didn’t empty anything BUT dents were made! It was also very good 🙂
Tasty
Good is as important as emptying things, Allie (at least in my opinion).
Heather M
Oh my goodness that frittata sounds ridiculously amazing!!! Wow!!
Tasty
Jan 10
It was an easy day here. Between us, we finished off the pineapple I had picked up a couple of days ago on clearance. Some yogurt for both of us. Hubby had an oat bar and I had a muffin. Lunch was a condo pot luck brunch with a wonderful array of main course type goodies and scrumptious baking. By supper time neither of us was hungry bur knew we should probably eat something so hubby resorted to the fruit bowl and I scrounged some cheese and then we finished off the remaining Christmas cake.
Stephanie M
Saturday, January 10, 2026
B – I had my usual cereal fruit and nuts. Paul had a slice of banana bread from the freezer and mixed fruit.
L – Paul had the last of the chicken tenders from the freezer and some onion rings. I had 1/2 whole wheat bagel with chive cream cheese and ham. I also had some olives and grape tomatoes, a hard boiled egg and an apple.
D – I had two freezer bags of tomato sauce that I made a few weeks ago and in one of them was two chicken sausages. Then I always keep a Tupperware filled with uncooked meatballs that I make and freeze for when I make a pot of sauce. I took all of the remaining meatballs and cooked them and then added them to the sauce. We had that over ravioli. There is enough for tomorrow (Sunday). So today I was able to get a bag of chicken tenders out of the freezer, a large container that had meatballs in it, two bags of tomato sauce and the last bagel for Paul’s breakfast tomorrow. I buy myself Thomas whole wheat bagels. Paul likes those too but the ones from the freezer are from New Jersey. Every time we go up there to visit our other daughter and our grandsons we go to one of the many bagel stores to bring back bagels. We love Virginia but there’s nothing like the bagels in New Jersey and New York.
So yesterday after my new fridge was cold enough to start putting things in there I started bringing in everything that was stored in my fridge in the garage. I went to home goods and bought some nice glass containers to put in my deli drawer and I picked up a shelf liner so they don’t scratch it. lol. I’m very protective of it. lol.
I never had a fridge with a wide deli drawer so this is really nice. It’s a matt stainless steel to match all of the other appliances which we needed to buy all new ones when we moved in. So I’m a happy girl. Now we’re waiting for the carpet installation. Our house is only five years old but we still did quite a bit of work since we moved in and we are just about done. We just want to finish the bigger things before Paul retires in June.
Heather M
There really is nothing like bagels for NY/NJ. We always always get them for a meal or two when coding! But rarely bring them home. Maybe I should sometime! Enjoy the new fridge!!
Karen J
1/10
breakfast-bacon, cheese, and egg McMuffin made at home
lunch-some leftover lasagna-the rest went into the freezer
dinner-Two grandkids are spending the night so they helped prep the chicken tacos we had. One cut lettuce while the other sliced the last of the fresh tomatoes. It’s nice that they are at the ages where I don’t fret about them using knives-although I still supervise. I used rotisserie chicken from the freezer and Jessica’s taco seasoning. We had cookies for dessert.
The kids brought their dog to spend the night too. That was unexpected. Our cats are not thrilled. At least they didn’t bring their new bunny.
Lynn from NC Outer Banks
1/10/26
Jessica, that sandwich looks delicious! Yum.
B: Greek yogurt with add ins (chia seeds, walnuts, honey) and coffee for both of us
L: we had workers in the house and rather than get in their way, DH picked up a sandwich that we shared on the porch with our warm weather
D: DH wanted “game day food” for watching football and basketball games today. His previously requested meal of sausage with peppers, onions and sauerkraut on buns fit the bill, all of which I already had. I added baked apples and the rest of a jar of pickled beets.
S: I had some unfrosted cupcakes in the freezer and some LO frosting, so I used up the frosting and 2of the 3 cupcakes.
Carol
Lunch: had friends over to lunch. Used up the ends of 2 packages of red lentils in soup. Finished half a pomegranate and last orange in a lettuce salad.
Made cornbread from mix in pantry.
B ate bagel and smoked salmon from frig.
Supper: Snowday so more soup: hamburger from frig , mixed veg from freezer.
Danielle Zecher
Breakfast: McDonald’s.
Lunch: Nick had a (homemade) burrito from the freezer. I had stuffed chicken breast from the freezer.
Dinner: Baked spaghetti.
Tasty
Day 10
B: the usual
L: Tomato soup – freezer
S: a pasta – less chicken parm with salad. Chicken from the freezer, sauce and cheese from the fridge.
I also went shopping yesterday. A total of a obout $60 but that included $25 I spent on stuff for the condo soup lunch this coming week.. For home it was a mix of fruit, veggies and dairy.. The bag of frozen berries I buy each week is $14 so that’s a noticeable chunk before I start. I also made some bread for us in the afternoon.
Karen J
We actually had a bit of sunshine that took away some of the PNW dreariness.
B-rye toast with peach jam and coffee That delicious loaf of rye bread is now gone. Boo.
L-tomato basil soup and grilled cheese sandwiches
D-leftovers from the restaurant date after the theater
S-finished off the Oreo ice cream left from Christmas
I’m not seeing much white space yet in my freezer. It’s been a pretty social month so there have been more restaurants involved. Not complaining! I did take out proteins for the next three days to thaw in the refrigerator.
Laurie in TX
Where in Fresno did your friend get eggs? I’d like to pass info on to my daughter. I went to Costco in Georgetown, TX and not an egg to be had. Daughter said it was the same way in Fresno Costco.
I haven’t been tracking the last few days but we’re making progress on the freezers. I need tasty ideas on what to do with chicken mango meatballs. Didn’t really care for them and thinking maybe use in a soup. Please don’t suggest any ideas using coconut milk. Can’t stand the stuff.
Jessica Fisher
She bought them prior to the 4th, probably in Clovis.
Karen J
Maybe a sweet and sour sauce with your chicken mango meatballs? Add some green pepper (or red or yellow) to it and serve it over rice?
Heather M
Those meatballs would be good in teriyaki sauce, too.
Lynn from NC Outer Banks
1/10
B: LO breakfast casserole and coffee. DH had the same
L: I traveled the next county over to teach a workshop where they provided subs and chips at lunch. I kind of shopped my way back.
I found eggs at Publix for 2.79. Since my excess old eggs are taken care of, I grabbed 2 dozen at that great price. These are conventional eggs good til the end of February:)
I have several birthday celebrations next month-my amazing mother’s 94th and my granddaughter’s second. In anticipation of those, I found a great price on ribeyes, so I bought a family pack of those. I also bought Walkers shortbread 1/2 price which my Mother loves, so got 2 boxes of those. Found snacks for the GD who is milk free on sale and some sugar free snacks for DH for Valentines. All of that was 55.12 though some of it falls in the “gift” category but I’m going to include it. (Without these items, I spent only 10.60 for the eggs and bread) I need to go back to check but I think that gives me a total of about $100 with the extras-about $60 without. I’ll see how the rest of the month goes.
D: leftover Jambalaya on the leftover cauliflower and rice, with more apples and cukes.
Hope everyone is staying warm. No snow for us, but the prolonged cold snap (for us) is starting to freeze the sounds that surround us.
Tasty, this southern girl can’t imagine -20C. I’ve never felt minus anything as best I can recall. Single digits when I lived in another part of the state, but never below freezing. My teeth chatter just thinking about it!
Karen J
Lynn, you found some good deals-especially the eggs and ribeye! I buy steak seldom, but usually grab a pack of ribeye at Costco for Valentine’s Day (we gave up going to restaurants on VD years ago). On doing my January freezer inventory I found we have two pounds of hamburger and some meatballs so that’s it for beef at home this month. (which I am totally okay with, there are LOTS of other options in my freezer)
Lynn from NC Outer Banks
Karen J, we’re the same in not eating much beef. We don’t go out on VD either. Many of our restaurants aren’t even open on VD here, us being a summer tourist destination. The ones that are, are crowded and we’re just not interested in all that .
The boneless ribeyes were thin cut but 7.99# ! I thought that a great price since they had the regular price at 19.49 ?. They only had 1pack with a limit of 2. I really need at least one more steak so I got a rain check to get another pack later. My Mother’s birthday is the 16th so a late VD meal, which is fine with us!
I thought the steaks and eggs were great prices. Did have a frugal fail. When I checked my receipt (when I got home) I’d picked up the wrong type bread so I paid 4.99 instead of the half price variety. Sigh.
Heather M
Our VDay sounds similar! I usually make steaks of some kind, and we also don’t eat tons of red meat (much to my husband’s chagrin). I always cook some sort of steak dinner and he’s always so happy about it. 🙂
Tasty
Lynn, my teeth chatter when I’m out in it!!
Lynn from NC Outer Banks
I’ll BET!! Brrrr.
Maureen
Leftovers for lunch again. The good news is that I’ve kept up with them, so there aren’t many left. Time to wipe out the entire fridge. We were expecting snow in the afternoon/evening so DH left work a little early (probably had as much to do with it being a Friday and not having any meetings scheduled). We only ended up getting about 2 inches, but everything looks lovely this morning. DD begged to order pizza, so that’s what we did for dinner. We don’t order it often, and with the snow starting it somehow felt cozy to do it. And she will definitely eat the leftovers.
Heather M
Jan 10: Normal day, both guys went to the office, I mostly rested, we all went and finally saw Wicked last night.
B: we all skipped
L: L took a salad with turkey, almonds, a pear; C took the purposely leftover chicken veg teriyaki over rice and a Kind bar; I had some leftover shredded chicken tossed with bbq sauce on toasted sourdough and some chips and street corn dip
D: leftover quinoa tuna salad for L and I; toasted turkey and cheddar on sourdough for C
S: popcorn at the movies; I think we all had a christmas chocolate or two as well
Lynn from NC Outer Banks
Glad you could rest. Wicked is on here and is on the To Do list for the hubs and me.
Allie from Ontario
One of the things I prep/freeze from my garden is what I called “starters”. For example the roasted tomatillo/poblano sauce for our favourite chili verde & the base for my gold standard tomato soup (roma tomatoes roasted with balsamic, brown sugar & garlic). I have dental surgery coming up (hence the antibiotics)….I knew something was up but it hasn’t affected eating/brushing & then my dentist used the phrase “…to save the tooth”…ouch. Soooo…. I am now making creamy soups and freezing single portions. I am trying to use things from the freezer (ie container of the tomato soup starter) so I don’t just undo all the clearing our I’ve been doing!
What we ate on Jan 10
Brunch: I had my oats and T had his yogurt and then pulled a burger & bun from the freezer to eat before he went off to afternoon hockey.
I made some oatmeal chocolate chip cookies in the afternoon which emptied 1 of the “more than 1” quart jars of large flake oats. I also decided a cookie & tea counted as “take with food”.
Dinner: We sous vided & then cubed 2 thick pork chops. The cubes were tossed in homecanned BBQ sauce & finished in a hot pan.. I found a 14 oz can of baked beans in the pantry & dressed them up using Jessica’s recipe for “Jack’s Best Baked Beans” adding a little more heat with sriracha. We also finished the last of the celery salad. Cookies, a movie & then sleep!
Lynn grom NC Outer Banks
Never good to hear the dentist say that! I had that conversation recently too. Fortunately we did save it, but a bit of an ordeal all around.
Erin in Ontario
Allie, I’d love to learn how you make your tomatillo/poblano sauce if you’re willing to share!
Kathy in Denmark
Sorry you’re having dental surgery, Allie.
I had a particularly pesky wisdom tooth which had to be removed by an oral surgeon last February, and it was no fun! I also had to take a lot of antibiotics, so I empathise. In the end, it was good to get it done, but man it took forever to feel like myself again.
I hope the surgery goes well and that you have e speedy recovery!
Erin in Ontario
We had a grandkid yesterday because of the weather, so I completely forgot to eat until after noon. Nothing like an energetic toddler to keep you moving!
B: I think they all had oatmeal.
L: Husband had the last of the Thai peanut noodles. Grandchild had grilled cheese and grapes. I made mango, black bean, and coconut rice bowls with a squeeze of lime on top. Teenager slept through lunch.
D: Vegetable chili – perfect for the snowstorm! As a bonus, it used up a mostly full container of tomato sauce and some aging veggies from the fridge.