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 22 of the Pantry Challenge!
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Sorry for the lack of pictures today! I’ve been eating breakfast while it’s still dark and dinner after the sun goes down. I made a beautiful salad at lunch, but was so hungry I forgot to take a picture!
Pretend you see a really beautiful salad with over 400 grams of veggies, goat cheese, bacon, and chicken. It was really delicious!
What We Ate
Breakfast – I had a repeat of yesterday: instant oatmeal and a banana. No idea what anyone else had.
Lunch – I’ve stretched a pound of bacon this week, using some in the pasta bake on Saturday, some to top soup on Monday, and today FishChick16 made a BLT and I crumbled a piece on my aforementioned salad.
Dinner – I made a bulk batch of Gluten-Free Meatballs to serve with roast potatoes and veggies.
How was your day 22?
Tasty
Day 22
Somebody made a comment yesterday about endless ham and 2 people – make that 2 old people with smaller than average appetiteshere. Yesterday was a day when NO HAM was consumed, in any form. Time for a break.
B: our usual
L: hubby had apple, cheese and a muffin before curling. I snagged some of the l/o potato with a fried egg
S: shepherd’s pie
Allie from Ontario
Having mentally prepared for the big endodontist appt today & cleared the day, they called early to reschedule as the roads are terrible in Peterborough and most people had been calling to cancel. So now it’s moved to Monday.
What we ate on Jan 22
Brunch: T had cooked a pork loin roast to take to his father so he ate a chunk of that with leftover coleslaw before hockey. I finished the Asian grd pork & the rest of the coleslaw. I also made some pumpkin walnut muffins in the afternoon (using puree from the freezer) to take to his dad
Dinner: Planning on “not being up to food” after the appt, I made a beef stew & broccoli mashed potatoes with the idea that T would finish it off tonight. Oh well, we are now splitting it for lunch today 🙂 The stew used lots of random veg from the fridge + a mason jar of Guinness from the freezer (the rest of a tall can left after I made Guinness brown bread in December…I really do freeze everything!)
I hope everyone who is getting snow is enjoying it!
Tasty
I’m so sorry to see your rescheduled dental appointment, Allie. Things like that you just want to get over and done with.
Karen J
Beef stew is a perfect choice for a snowy cold day. And I am impressed that you had frozen Guinness in your freezer!
Maureen
The girls and I ate a small early lunch of leftovers. I was hungry before dinner and made a tiny plate of nachos when my youngest had “dinner” before dance. Real dinner was pork loin, rice, and potatoes…not really pantry challenge, but a family favorite that the youngest doesn’t like so we took advantage of her not being home to have it. No leftovers, though. Our pantry challenge win of the day was the youngest wanted to take chocolate chip cookies to dance, but one of the girls has an egg allergy. So we cooked the two soft apples that have been staring at me from the counter into applesauce as a substitute. The girls loved the cookies and there’s dough left to bake this weekend when we host scouts with another egg allergy friend. We tossed the rest of the applesauce in the freezer for future baking, but at least those apples are gone.
Lynn from NC Outer Banks
That’s a great pantry win, and so kind to have a treat that all could enjoy.
Heather M
Love that cookie/applesauce win! So great!
Lynn from NC Outer Banks
1/22/25
B: I think it’s just as well that we are out of yogurt. Warm oatmeal for this bitterly cold morning during #snOBX, as it’s being called here in the Outer Banks, sounded-and tasted-great. We both had it with adding-raisins, nuts and I used up the last of the lingering ambrosia.
L: I made Brunswick stew which used up small containers of chicken, pork and beef, plus some frozen corn and other fresh vegetables. Great to get all that out of the freezer. It tasted great and DH and I sipped on it all day.
D: I pulled out single LO meals that I had in the freezer. We both were kind of full from all the soup we ate that we didn’t finish the bits and dabs like I thought we would. It will be tomorrow’s dinner too. I had also made a ramen salad. AND, I found my missing frozen pineapple. I used it along with an apple, nuts and celery to make another Waldorf salad.
S: one of the overly browned snowflake shaped (!) sugar cookies.
Jessica, I hadn’t realized those were Pink Lady apples at .99/#. That was a steal. I often find galas at that price point, but never Ladies.
I enjoyed traipsing through the snow to take some pictures of our frozen sound waters but it was brutally cold-for us. Allie, don’t laugh when I say it was cold at 4 degrees F! I also made a wee coastal snowman with shells for eyes. When I told this all to my mother, she said she raised me to have more sense than to be out in such cold!! LOL!
I had planned to make snow cream for dessert (with condensed milk that was in the pantry for TOO long), but we were full. However, I had PLENTY of room in the freezer to store the snow in the bowl til tomorrow! PC for the win!
Heather M
That is SO cold, especially for NC on the coast! Your food was all ideal for a day like this, and good challenging, to boot!
Erin in Ontario
I’ve missed quite a few days’ commenting, but I’m still playing along with the challenge! Here’s yesterday.
B: Oatmeal or cereal
L: Husband had leftovers, everyone else came up with their own; the teenager made himself some sort of tuna pasta casserole, daughter ate at work, and I had a tomato and cucumber salad with hummus.
SNACKS: Smoothies, carrot sticks
D: I was feeling like Mediterranean, and in a stormy day cooking mood, so I made minestrone, Greek style spinach rice, spanakopita (spinach and feta in phyllo, a favourite around here) peas with dill in a tomato sauce, and roasted tomatoes with garlic and oregano. Loads of leftovers which we’ll all have for lunch today.
Evening “light snack” by the teenager was Italian sausage sandwiched inside cheesy garlic bread. I don’t know where he puts it all!
Lynn from NC Outer Banks
You did do a lot of cooking! Thank you for mentioning spanakopita. I have (most) everything I need for that, so I’ll be planning a Greek dinner soon. I may even break out the “good “ olive oil we bought in Crete!
Erin in Ontario
Lynn, I have Greece on my bucket list – hopefully sooner rather than later – and I plan to pack an extra small suitcase just for their olive oil!
Karen J
Your Mediterranean dinner sounds so yummy! I’d order that in a restaurant.
Off pantry challenge topic, but we are taking our dream vacation this April. First the train from Vancouver BC to Toronto, then several days in Quebec City and a few weeks exploring the Maritimes before flying home. We are both learning French (or trying as much as our 70 year old brains can manage) It will be quite the adventure.
Lynn from NC Outer Banks
That sounds like a great adventure-one I hope to take myself at some point!
Heather M
Oh my goodness what an AMAZING trip you have planned!! You will LOVE Quebec City. I have only been to Vancouver/Vancouver Island, Toronto briefly, Montreal, and Quebec City in Canada, but really want to explore more. This sounds like a dream! Have the best time!!!
Heather M
What an absolutely delicious dinner! We eat lots of greek inspired food, too, and love it. Greece is also on our bucket list…
Stephanie M
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
B – Paul had a regular omelet with red bell peppers, scallions, turkey sausage crumbles and cheddar cheese. He also had a slice of whole wheat toast and some sliced apples. I had a white omelet with the same filling except instead of the cheddar cheese I had mushrooms. I also had a slice of whole wheat toast and 1/2 a banana and some grapes.
L – Paul had leftover roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy. I had a salad with some of the roast beef sliced over top. I also had a slice of whole wheat bread and some cherries.
D – I made a pot of lentil soup with the bag of lentils from my pantry. I added turkey sausage from my freezer and when it was done cooking I threw in a box of baby spinach. So good on such a cold night. Can’t wait for the leftovers.
Lynn from NC Outer Banks
Stephanie, I’ve had some dry lentils in my pantry forever. I’ve never cooked with lentils before, so there they sit. I’ve got everything you put in yours, so I may give it a try when we finish up our current soup. Thanks for the inspiration.
Stephanie M
Hi Lynn. I just love lentils for their health benefits. If you need the recipe for the soup I made let me know and I’ll type it out. It’s very easy. . It’s a thick, hearty soup rather than a brothy one
Lynn from NC Outer Banks
Stephanie, I would like your lentil soup recipe if you don’t mind. I’d like to start with something that I know will be good, plus I have the ingredients you mentioned. My DH prefers hearty soup so it sounds like it might be his “cup of tea”. Thanks!
Heather M
Ooooo good food for a cold day! Bet the soup was so good!!!
Stephanie M
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
B – Paul had a regular omelette with red peppers, turkey sausage crumbles, scallions, and cheddar cheese. He also had a hash brown Pattie from the freezer, only two left, and a slice of whole wheat toast and jam. I had a white omelette with all of the same ingredients but instead of the cheddar cheese I had mushrooms. I had one slice of whole wheat toast and banana and grapes.
L – Paul had leftover roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy. I had a salad using some of the roast beef that I sliced and put on top. I also had one slice of whole wheat bread and some cherries.
D – I made a pot of lentil soup since it’s so cold out. I added turkey sausage that I had and tossed in a box of baby spinach when the soup was done. I can’t wait for the leftovers.
Lynn from NC Outer Banks
Hello all. My challenge is on pause til I return home, but I’m reading everyone’s wins!
I wanted to second Karen’s comment about the Nido whole powdered milk. I keep it for cooking as we too no longer drink much milk (tho I probably should!) It is good and convenient.
Karen J
Breakfast-oatmeal with freezer blueberries
Lunch-random leftovers from refrigerator
Dinner-restaurant pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw and fries
We went on a twenty four hour vacation to a hotel within an hour’s drive with our good friends, something we try to do about once a month and budget for. It gets us away, we get discounts on our dinner and breakfast out, our room has a view of the water, and it is just nice. (love retirement, mid week outings couldn’t happen during work years) Not frugal, but worth it.
Lynn from NC Outer Banks
Karen, you are so right about retirement affording the flexibility for midweek outings. Here we are in VA for a gathering on a Wednesday night!
Karen J
Life is good!
Kathryn M
Lunch – I warmed up taquitos that were left from the other day. Just used salsa as a dipping sauce.
Dinner – Does ice cream count as dinner! I was at work and not really hungry for anything else so I got a treat from the little onsite convenience store. I did eat more of the taquitos when I got home – again at midnight!
Snacks – the last of the BBQ chips, half a candy bar, rice krispy treats (i had a bulk box of these individually wrapped ones on hand).
I am realizing how terribly I eat on the days that I work. To much junk food!
Heather M
Jan 22: I went to the store for a few things and spent just under $21 on carrots and celery(totally out and these are staples), tomatoes, bread , sandwich rolls corn tortillas were $1.25 for 30 so I had to grab them, saltines, pretzels, a few other snacks- everything was on sale except the produce and the sandwich rolls. I also begin dietary modifications thursday and cut out most good stuff (produce, whole grains, etc) on Saturday in prep for a colonoscopy.
B: we both skipped
L: L took a salami with arugula sandwich on a lone sandwich roll from the freezer, a mango, and a snack mix i tossed together with pretzels, peanuts, and pita chips; I had the bit of leftover salad from Sunday night and toasted the heel of a finished bread loaf and put the leftover bbq chicken heated up and some pickles on it
D:pulled a small package of thin sliced steak I’d bought on clearance last year and tossed in the freezer plus some of the sliced bell peppers I’d frozen before an unexpected trip in September, finished off a red onion, used some thinly sliced provolone(no idea why I bought this in December) and made the most delicious steak and cheese sandwiches (why I bought the rolls), plus a quick sort of Caesar salad with just romaine and the last of a package of croutons I’d bought though I prefer to make them. Delicious!
Allie from Ontario
Jan 22
Brunch – we ate the remaining mini frittatas from last night and split the last piece of toast…T did buy another loaf of bread in the afternoon.
Dinner – I made our favourite mini meatloaves (not muffin tin mini…I make two little loaves b/w 4 and 5 oz each). They have a tangy glaze and we eat them with mashed potatoes & frozen peas. A couple of people mentioned instant mashed potatoes the other day and this is one meal where we also prefer instant potatoes over the “real stuff” (my Salisbury steak is another example example where instant just rule). Because there are just 2 of us I make a 1/2 package each time. And this is a meal with purposeful leftovers so we each have a chunk of saucy meatloaf and a scoop of potatoes for todays lunch. Score!
I also made a small batch of cookies the other day and so we will be using those for our after dinner treat.
Heather M
Sometimes instant are the only way to go! The meatloaf sounds delicious 🙂
Tasty
January 22
B: hubby had yogurt and a muffin, I had my usual berries, yogurt and granola.
L: turkey soup from the freezer. Added some extra broth and finished off the bag of egg noodles that had been languishing in the pantry for a while.
S: tourtiere (Canadian meat pie) also from the freezer and baked beans
Another day of winning against those bulging freezers!!!
Heather M
Woohoo!!
Danielle Zecher
01/22/24
Breakfast: Oatmeal, hot tea (for me), iced coffee from home (for Nick)
Lunch: Leftover cheeseburger soup
Dinner: A Pantry Challenge casserole that was delicious. I chopped up three grilled burgers from the freezer, sauteed bell pepper, onion, a bag of squash, and zucchini from the freezer, and added a tomato, then added a can of black beans, a can of enchilada sauce, and shredded cheese. I put that in a casserole dish, topped it with crescent roll dough, and baked it until the dough was cooked. It was so good! And it got a few random things used up.
Danielle Zecher
I didn’t mean to post twice. It looked like it disappeared the first time. Clearly, the caffeine hasn’t kicked in yet!
Heather M
Ok that sounds just delicious!!!
Danielle Zecher
01/22/24
Breakfast: Oatmeal. I also had hot tea, and Nick had iced coffee from home.
Lunch: Leftover cheeseburger soup.
Dinner: Finally a real Pantry Challenge meal! I’m not entirely sure what to call it, but I used three grilled burgers (from the freezer) that I chopped into small pieces, sauteed an onion and bell pepper (that really needed to be used), a tomato (that was at the use it or lose it point) added some squash and zucchini (also from the freezer) and then added a can of black beans, enchilada sauce, and shredded cheese, put it in a casserole dish, put crescent roll dough on top, and baked until the dough was cooked. It was so good! And it was really nice to use up a few odds and ends.
Krista
B dd and I ate out, hubs had a frozen breakfast bowl from costco
L hubs had LO red sauce pasta with pork roast and garlic bread, I had pimiento toast with back bacon
D I made a shepherds pie using the LO roast from the other day, I used frozen mixed veg and a can of mushrooms, also a half package of turkey gravy from freezer. There’s some definite white space now!! Yay!
S popcorn, pork spring rolls from freezer, ritz crackers, HM yogurt with maple syrup and bite sized frozen fruit that I found while rummaging around
I will be continuing to eat from freezer into Feb, we are on a strict budget for a few months. But we have plenty of food. Will just need essentials. Tomorrow I will make a pumpkin pie using crust from freezer, and canned ingredients I have in the pantry. I even have a small container of whipping cream in fridge! Not planned but a win. DD loves pumpkin pie.
Heather M
I’ll be joining you into February. We just have so much food they needs to be used up before it’s too old. And may as well save some $$$. 🙂
Danielle Zecher
I’ll definitely be joining into February.
Julie
I’m definitely continuing through February
Krista Matheson
B bagel with cream cheese, not sure what hubs had
L mini pizza from freezer, pineapple, popcorn
D the last 2 sweet potatoes, roasted and a can of chili to go on top
Jennifer
We got tons of snow yesterday so it was nice to be by the fire after a coffee date and a trip to Costco. Spent around $80 on produce, honey, milk, bacon and tea bags.
B – muffins from the freezer or toast and yogurt
L – I had a smoothie, dh had frozen fish tenders and fruit, not sure what ds ate
D – I made the pork tenderloins I had thawed on Saturday. Tried a new recipe and it was delicious! I also had roasted potatoes and sliced up a pepper.
We are coming to the end of the hogs that my boys hunted last January. Small roasts and tenderloins are all that’s left I think. Unless a pack or 2 of ground sausage got buried in the freezer.
Lisa S
What? No tater tot casserole? I love them all. My favs are chicken pot pie version and my chili version which is just filling the 9×13 half way up with favorite chili, sprinkle on the bag of tots and cook to tot bag directions, after done, sprinkle with cheddar and melt in oven for a couple minutes. voila, serve with fav chili toppings. My youngest doesn’t love tots either (or chili), but gets out voted sometimes. We snacked all morning on veggie plates, LOs, and cereal, then had early dinner of loaded baked potatoes to finish off some taco meat, and chicken corn chowder to finish off some cubed chicken from the night before.
Jessica Fisher
I have never heard of a chili version. I think I can get them on side with that one! Will try it later this week to see. Next Sunday is Bryan’s bday so I’m not going to try it then. lol
Lynn from NC Outer Banks
Lisa, your chili version does sound tasty, and a one dish main which is always great. Thanks for sharing.
ZC from MA
B: a slice of toast with almond butter, blueberries and coffee
L: green beans, potatoes and chicken, brown rice
D: chicken and potatoes, noodles
S: an apple, muesli with yogurt
I did quite a bit of meal-prep today as well–I have a pretty busy week ahead at work and having pre-cooked meals on hand just makes things easier. My produce/meat inventory is mostly used up. I think one more shopping trip this weekend (mostly for Feb) will conclude my grocery shopping this month.