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 25 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!
Woke up with a sore throat. Food was much harder to manage than it has been.
What We Ate
Breakfast – steel cut oats
Lunch – A variety of freezer burrito, grilled cheese, frozen kimbap, and rice bowls.
Dinner – I got up enough energy to make the full Breakfast Burrito Bar.
How did Day 25 go for you?
Kathy in Denmark
Day 25
B: The usual for all
L: DH eats at work, packed lunch for the kids. I had the lone leftover krebinet with some potatoes, the last of the veggies and the last of the sauce
D: Pureed vegetable soup with bread
S: Rolls before swimming lessons, Bananas after dinner
I have a few Tikka masala and Korma flavour pots in my pantry. I love a good curry, but I find it too time consuming to make both with and without meat, especially since DD2 isn’t a fan… So I decided to use one of the flavour pots in a soup in stead. I used my carrot and lentil soup for inspiration and also added some frozen veggies and a tin of coconut milk. It turned out pretty well, even though DD2 didn’t eat too much. There was plenty of bread, though.
Kimberly
I have not made the same headway on the PC this year between being so busy at work and spending some time out of town. Haven’t been able to enjoy extra kitchen time like years past. But I am being vigilant when I can and have several successes. I will likely keep on in Feb until I use a few more of those weird odds and ends that hide in the back of the pantry and freezer.
Some of our meals the last week: Country style ribs with potatoes and creamy corn; quesadillas with whatever LO meat we have; nachos with beef, beans, corn, avocado, salsas that always accumulate in fridge; egg salad sandwiches. Making more muffins tomorrow to use up the last of the cranberry sauce and some frozen fruit, as well as some chocolate chip cookies…may have overbought choc chips at the holidays:)
Kathryn M
B – half a bagel with butter
Lunch – I had a snacky lunch today too. apple slices, cheddar cheese, baby carrots.
Snacks- granola bar, cantaloupe, almonds
Dinner – Bowl of chili that I took to work
Lynn from NC Outer Banks
Jan 25
B: I had yogurt, DH had a shake
L: LO corn chowder, chicken/Havarti/apple sandwiches for us both. Down to 2 slices of bread.
D: chicken and black bean quesadillas with lettuce, cheese, tomato, avocado and Southern ambrosia made with pineapple, Cara Cara orange sections, nuts, apples, coconut and pom arils.
The lettuce we ate was actually from my garden. I had planted it late in the late summer/early fall. When we had temperatures in the teens the week around Christmas, I covered some of the plants, but didn’t cover them all. I figured they would either make it or not. Unbelievably, they ALL made it-the covered ones and the uncovered ones! I’m still shocked about it. I had no idea they could live and produce under such a prolonged, hard freeze. I also had cabbage and broccoli plants. The broccoli didn’t fare as well, which was a surprise. Some of the leaves were frost bitten, but actually everything is now growing and green, albeit slower than in spring and summer. I had weeded recently (who knew-in January??) and after picking lettuce for dinner last night, realized it’s time to week again. I had spinach overwinter a number of years back but never lettuce. I decided I would plant a fall garden, but I think I planted a wee bit too late. Live and learn. But maybe I’ll have the first of the harvest broccoli, cabbage and lettuce continuing into early spring. The type of lettuce is Black Seeded Simpson which has always grown well for me here. So having lettuce available-in small amounts-has kept me from needing to buy it at the store.
Frugal fail: When I went to cut the avocados, 2 of the 3 were rotten. I was so mad with myself for not keeping tabs on them better. I didn’t do the “check the fridge every few days” like Jessica recommends. Made me crazy having to throw them away. I’ve been pretty good, until tonight, in avoiding food waste. But avocados… 🙁
Lynn from NC Outer Banks
Oh, and sour cream for the quesadillas that DH “had” to have!
Tasty
Gardening in January – that would be sheer bliss. Not happening here in Ontario. Enjoy every bite.
Lynn from NC Outer Banks
Tasty, it’s still pretty unbelievable that I’m gardening here in the mid-Atlantic south in January, our coldest month! I was picking bell peppers and jalapenos until the 23rd of December-never happened before. They didn’t survive the cold. I will say, the lettuce does taste good and lasts for a long time since it’s so fresh.
Carol B.
I always had good luck with black seeded Simpson lettuce…in Massachusetts. Funny name, great plant.
Lynn from NC Outer Banks
Sounds like it does well in lots of gardening zones. With its cold hardiness, I like it even more. When the temps were dropping, some of the reading I did said it was one of the varieties that could withstand a light frost or freeze at 32 degrees. It wasn’t supposed to survive and thrive after 18-degree weather. A nice surprise for sure.
Heather M
ugh I hate it when avocados slip through the cracks. How wonderful you’re eating your own lettuce! And in January! That is fantastic.
Heather M
Day 25:
I am really feeling in the groove here.
B: L skipped; I had a piece of the leftover german pancake with the last banana sliced over it
L: L took turkey, avo, arugula on toasted sourdough, pineapple, a piece of the ww eggnog bread; I had piece of sourdough toast with the little bit of leftover bbq chicken from last week that I stuck in the freezer and a pile of leftover slaw from day 24 dinner
D: the greens left are needing using up asap (except the cabbage lol) so tonight I made a classic spinach salad with the rest of the spinach, bacon, 2 hardboiled eggs, red onion, some of the last few mushrooms, and a quick hm red wine vinaigrette; spicy wonton soup, using the package up from the freezer, plus a quart ziploc of hm chicken stock I found in the freezer, the last of the mushrooms, sliced green onion, and some carrots and celery, which I don’t usually add to this soup, but I felt like it. I always add a few swigs of sriracha to this so it’s spicy. We love it. And, no leftovers.
I haven’t officially inventoried anything, but I am able to rummage around my freezer enough to find things. I discovered that in my zeal to try new things and take advantage of good deals, I bought a package of Impossible ground “meat” ages ago when it was on clearance. I haven’t ever used it and doubt it’s something I’ll ever use regularly. I may try it out with Jessica’s recipe just posted (updated? idk..) for the Catalan meatballs. Maybe next week. I figure the sauciness will help if the flavor of the meat isn’t amazing. And maybe I’ll amp up the meatball mixture with even more flavors. We’ll see.
Lynn from NC Outer Banks
We had some of the Impossible “Burgers” awhile back. I’d bought them at a reduced price as well. We actually thought the burgers tasted pretty good, though we haven’t eaten them again. Later, I bought some dinner sausages and we didn’t like them at all, which was a bit surprising.
Heather M
My guess is it won’t happen before the challenge is over, or I’d let you know about how they turn out. If you’re on Instagram, you can find me at @heatherabm
Emily
Went to Walmart and spent another $85! Luckily the canned salmon my kid loves was half price so I loaded up. Also got my kids a bunch of yogurt drinks that were on sale, I normally try to avoid Walmart but they do have a larger selection of gf items so when I go I stock up.
B- egg and cheese sandwich
L- leftover chicken and potatos and salad
Snack- mini kind bar and a yogurt
D- roasted vegetable and fresh mozza sandwich’s with the other salad kit I bought.
Dessert- I had a half a box of cheesecake mix from Christmas that I bought and didn’t really like so I made that up and just saturated it in berries from the freezer so hide the taste as much as I could.
Stephanie M.
Wednesday, January 25, 2023
B – I had a yogurt parfait.
L – Paul had a ham and cheese sandwich. I had overnight oatmeal and peanuts.
D – we finished the quiche from last night and also had salad and dinner rolls.
ZC from MA
B: overnight oats with almond butter, flax milk and blueberries, coffee
L: bought at work
D: chicken stew with pepper and chestnuts, rice
S: an orange
Tasty
Wednesday January 25
B – hubby had his usual, I had an apple, yogurt a piece of cheese and a muffin
L – I was out for lunch with a friend and had a chicken/asparagus crepe, hubby ????
S – bacon wrapped chicken from the freezer, the last of the potatoes (needed to be used) and broccoli cheese
Lynn from NC Outer Banks
1/25/22
B: skipped DH: avocado toast
L: a bit of LO chicken/rice casserole, avocado toast DH: LO pizza, last of chicken wings, egg salad on crackers
D: Late workday so I made quick ravioli lasagna using frozen ravioli, peppers, onions and meat from freezer, last of layered salad
My son confirmed that he and his fiancée are coming to visit this weekend! 🙂 I did a happy dance upon hearing this news and as I moved the frozen turkey into the refrigerator in preparation for cooking it, per his request. LOL. I now have 6 inches of white space in my small chest freezer and an equal amount in my refrigerator freezer. Finally-some progress! I’m thrilled to have them visit here for the first time since Sept (we saw them at Christmas at my mother’s) and to have some extra mouths to help eat.this.food!! Also, I’m looking forward to learning more about the upcoming wedding plans in May!
Looking like we may get snow again this weekend, so have soups planned along with the fixings for snow cream 🙂
I shopped today for fresh fruit, coffee creamer, cheese crumbles for Jessica’s pear salad, beans for soup, sausage rolls and several kinds of bread. Hope to make some rustic bread to eat with soup but need some bread for sandwiches for the weekend. If my son wasn’t coming, DH and I could make do with the last loaf of bread, and save more from the budget, but that won’t be enough for the four of us. Spent 22.01 for a total of $42.78 for the month. This is under the $50 I was hoping to spend, and I could easily finish the month with the purchases I have made and the food we have available. But I have those rain checks for several items that will go out of date before the 1st of the month and are at a rock bottom price. Purchasing them will put me over the limit, but I’m okay with that now. Hard to believe we are into the home stretch now. It’s gone fast!
Julie
I don’t know why I couldn’t post to your comment but I live in Nebraska.
Excited for you to get a daughter in law!
Sounds like you’re doing well cleaning out the freezer .
Lynn from NC Outer Banks
Julie, yes, sometimes my comments wind up in odd places and not where I think they should be.
Those are COLD temperatures. My BIL lived in Nebraska for a while. I didn’t realize it got quite that cold there. Brrr. Stay warm!
Lynn from NC Outer Banks
Oh, and yes, we are thrilled to be gaining a daughter in law!
Maureen
I hope you have a fantastic visit! You’ve done an amazing job with the challenge, especially with company. I have a smaller turkey in my freezer, too…just waiting for a good weekend day to make it when everyone is home. I’m looking forward to that meal, as well as the freezer space it will open up.
Julie
It shouldn’t get that cold here but last winter we hit some records. I think anything below zero feels cold plus we have wind.
Lily R.
B: I made mini cheese danish and we had them with iced maple lattes.
L: half of a shrimp parm hero each with chopped salads.
D: kasspatzln, krautfleckerl and backhendl. Say that three times fast! As it has been really cold here, I was thinking about our trip to the Von Trapp Family Lodge in Vermont. That is where the chef gave me these delicious Austrian recipes. Of course they are mostly known for the Sound of Music, but I had not tried Austrian food/pastries until our visit there.
Snacks today were some super sweet grapes.
Julie
B cereal or eggs or leftovers
L French toast (had expired milk in the freezer) , canned pears , yogurt or home made pizza pockets my 12 yr old made Sat to mostly use up string cheese and use homemade pizza sauce.
D leftovers – I cooked a bunch on Saturday and we had lots to eat
Candy canes – I bought a bunch for neighbor gifts in December and we had extras.
And tonight my husband is going to Aldi for fresh stuff for me which ends my streak of not shopping since Dec 21 but I’m going through fresh produce withdrawal and one of my kids says he’s “can fruited out.” I budgeted 75 dollars for the month and I do want to feed my family well so I’m trying to not feel badly about it.
Tasty
If you’ve gone this long with no shopping, Julie, kudos to you – you have done really well.
Julie
Thank you! It’s nice to see my cupboards get some good food rotation!
Lynn from NC Outer Banks
Well done Julie!
Julie
Thank you Lynn!
Kimberly
I can’t believe how long you have made it, nice job!! You have some great storage and organization for that!
Julie
Thank you Kimberly! Last year I used different website’s guidelines on 3-6 mos food needs for my family’s size and accumulated that much outside of the freezers in case a longer power outage would destroy that food. We had an upright freezer just a year old die last summer and while we didn’t lose food bc we caught it quickly it was good for us to know we cant necessarily count on the freezers. I bought a lot of powdered milk and canned fruit and meats/fish. Then when I bought my pressure canner in Oct I went to town canning meat from the freezer, soups, beans and potatoes. We are really blessed and I wanted to participate in this challenge yet again to make sure we’re being good stewards of our food and sort of to practice if we really couldn’t access a grocery store for an extended time.
Sandy
Nothing exciting here, but used up a lot, so I am happy.
B-Scrambled eggs and yogurt parfait for hubs, parfait for DD and cereal and almonds for me.
L-Hubs finished the totchos from the night before and had some ham and cheese also, I made a bean burrito using the last of the refried beans and some tomatoes that were needing used. We both had apples.
D-I knew I would be in late from the barn, so I put cubed steak, potatoes, some carrots that were going south and homemade mushroom soup in my Dutch oven for a few hours. Pulled garden green beans from the freezer from 2020 yet and finished the leftover snickerdoodle dip and graham pretzels for dessert.
It was so nice to come in from the cold and not have much to cook to have a nice supper for everyone! The cubed steak was the last from our beef we got last year, so it was a good way to use it up. It was so tender and a good comfort meal on a cold winter night!
Julie
The garden green beans and cubed steaks sound good. I just pressure canned some cubed steaks 2 weekends ago. I think that should make them tender.
Tasty
Tuesday January 25th
B – usual mix for hubby, I had the last banana and a muffin
L -hubby was out and grabbed ? , I had some crackers, cheese and an apple while I made a batch of marmalade
S – Taco salad and a slice of fruit loaf. I had stocked up with mincemeat for our canning group at a super good price ($1.50 instead of probably $8/$9 per jar). After I had bought 20+ jars, it dawned on me that I should probably buy one for us and try it to see if it was any good so that’s what I did. Found a new to me recipe for a mincemeat loaf and it turned out pretty well. We make mince tarts and sell them before Christmas to raise money for our local hospital.
Julie T
Well we are surviving our cold snap, it was -26 degrees this morning. Yes 26 below zero! I am sitting next to the wood stove with a cup of coffee and I am cozy warm.
B-Pear zucchini bread, home canned peaches and coffee and OJ
L-L/O Philly French Dip sandwiches, carrots and celery sticks, and pickled asparagus.
S-Cheesy broccoli soup and pheasant brats.
I used 2 packages frozen broccoli, a package frozen shredded zucchini, and a package frozen chopped celery all from our garden and from the freezer. I also used a block of bacon cheddar cheese I bought for New Year’s Eve and we really didn’t care for it with crackers, but worked well in the soup.
I did get a few groceries so I am at $68 and 32 jars of home canned food on my goals of spending $50 and opening 50 jars of home canned food this month.
Heather M
Ok that is COLD! Love how you didn’t waste the bacon cheddar and made soup out of it! It must feel good to not have had to toss it. 🙂
Julie
Brr! We hit -32 actual temp last Feb and I didn’t let my kids out of the house the whole week I don’t think (not that they were requesting to).
Glad you have so much home canned food! I’m really thankful for mine, too.
Lynn from NC Outer Banks
You “Julies” have such cold weather! Where do you live? We’ve been “cold” at 32-34 degrees here and bracing for 21 degrees for the weekend-downright balmy for you and Julie T.
Lynn from NC Outer Banks
Julie T, remind me where you live? That is frigid weather. I can’t imagine! Is that with or without wind chill? Brrr.
Julie T
Without windchill. With windchill -35 to -40.
I live in central Minnesota.
Maureen
I had leftovers for lunch. Most had breakfast for dinner, but I was too lazy/busy to make the bacon (good thing they didn’t know that had been the plan). My high schooler and I had leftovers instead (they just sounded better). I should really do some prep and digging in the freezer, but at least we’ve been keeping the fridge organized and sticking to the plan. My high schooler has half days for exams the rest of the week, so between the two of us we might finish off all the leftovers for lunches.
Jennifer
Way to quickly come up with something else!
B – I had made a chocolate chip bread Monday night because I knew I needed a breakfast I could take and eat in the car due to an early appointment. So everyone had that and finished the raspberries
L – Snacky lunch for me – boiled egg, beef stick, almonds, string cheese, pepper slices, hubby took leftovers
D – I repurposed the leftover meatballs from the other day. I added olive oil, garlic, basil and a can of diced tomatoes. Cooked up the remains of a box of angel hair pasta. Mixed it all together in a cast iron pan and topped with cheese and baked. It was SO GOOD! And we have 3 meals of leftovers, yay! Served with cucumber and peppers.
Heather M
Oh that pasta meatball dish sounds yummy! It’s the best when you throw together a meal you create on the fly and it turns out so yummy!!
Stephanie M.
January 25
Best of wishes to Duke today.
B – Paul had cereal. I had overnight oatmeal and peanuts.
L – Paul had two bean and beef burritos from the freezer that I batch cooked last week and rice. I had a chicken salad sandwich. We both had grapes.
D – French toast and turkey sausage from the freezer that I also batch cooked a few weeks ago.
Heather M
A very good Challenge day, even though I left the batch of muffins in the oven too long. They’re fine, but definitely overbaked. As in, I had planned to share some with neighbors, but nope. Not happening. We’ll manage them instead (a bit crispy on the outside, like cookies, but at least they didn’t cross into burned- just in time!).
B: he had half a mango and a hard boiled egg; I had a sliced apple with manchego and a tiny slice of the pear bread (which he finished off as a snack later)- I made it in the small bread pans, not standard size, so a slice isn’t big at all.
L: he had a chicken sausage from the freezer and a side salad; I found an open container of cottage cheese that needed eating asap before turning, so had the rest of it with some tuna and tomatoes, and a few carrot sticks
D: pulled out the instant pot and made a chicken tagine with olives and lemon. So good! It worked beautifully in the IP (good thing, since I realized too late it needed to braise for a good hour). Also steamed green beans, whole wheat couscous
made a big batch of banana oat chocolate chip muffins with 2 overripe bananas from the counter and 4 I’d thrown in the fridge before we went out of town for new years. Oops they were in there a while. But they finally got used. Crunchy but still soft inside and taste fine. Phew! (i need to pay attention to the clock or set a timer, lol)
Danielle L Zecher
Sorry your roast wasn’t ready on time. That’s so frustrating when the plan doesn’t work out.
Breakfast: No fast food! Hubby had an egg and cheese bagel and a semi homemade iced latte. I had a peanut butter bagel and a semi homemade white chocolate latte.
Lunch: Leftover chili.
Dinner: It was another day of neither one of us leaving work on time. Hubby suggested takeout, but I didn’t want to after last night’s yucky Mexican food. So I decided it seemed like a good time to get the Instant pot out. (I’ve had it for over a year and only used it a handful of times. ) I made Swedish meatballs (homemade from the freezer) which also used up some sour cream.
Duke update: He’s all set for surgery tomorrow and enjoyed a peanut butter Kong this evening.
Heather M
I pulled out the IP tonight, too, when I realized what I wanted to make would take too long the traditional way. Good for you, not getting takeout after Monday’s not so great experience. Sending Duke and his medical team best wishes for a successful surgery! 🙂
Lynn from NC Outer Banks
Oh am wishing the best for Duke and his surgery Wed. Glad the day is finally here and hope all goes smoothly.
I also have an underused Instant Pot. I hope to learn to use it more effectively and efficiently this year.
Lily R.
Sending all the good vibes Duke’s way!