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 31 of the Pantry Challenge!
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Wow! Last day? How did we get here? The month went fast, didn’t it?
Thank you so much for your participation this year. If you’d like to continue the conversation, feel free to do so in the comments section of this last post!
What We Ate
Breakfast – I made a breakfast bowl with leftover sausage and veggies from the fridge.
Lunch – We ate leftover lasagna and leftover beef pot pie from yesterday’s shoot.
Dinner – I had four pounds of clearance ground turkey that needed using. So, I cooked it all up and used half in burritos for tonight and the other half for a Shepherd’s Pie for tomorrow.
And that’s a wrap, folks!
How did the Pantry Challenge go for you?
Heather M
Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday, Feb 6-8:
I did not feel all that great these days- just so dang tired and hard to function well. Sure hope I can get some answers in the next 3-4 weeks. I don’t like this so tired I accomplish nothing thing, at all. Anyways. I really had to rally to feed us ok. Somehow, I did.
Monday, Feb 6:
L was super busy beginning at 5:30am thru 10:30pm when he finally got home, so grabbed lunch at work and then had an event in the evening which had food. I just grazed on cheese and crackers, popcorn, pineapple, nuts.
Tuesday, Feb 7:
L took turkey & spinach on sourdough, cantaloupe, and snack cake; I grazed again all day. I did make king ranch quinoa casserole which I needed to make, as I had defrosted cooked quinoa and had shredded cooked chicken both needing attention. L had that for dinner when he got home late (State of the Union).
Wednesday, Feb 8:
L: L took the same lunch except pineapple for fruit; I grazed the same stuff again
D: I went to a plan c type of deal since i did not have the energy to cook. Pulled out a package of uncured beef hot dogs I’d bought on clearance last year and some sweet potato fries(made a quick sriracha fry sauce) from the freezer and made a basic lettuce and tomato salad. Luckily still had a few sandwich rolls left to use for said hot dogs, chopped some onion and pulled out the relish and mustard. Ended up tasting really good. Shoulder shrug. Thursday and I’m feeling a bit better 🙂
Danielle Zecher
I hope you start feeling better soon and get some answers about your health.
You’re inspiring me to make sure I get my act together this weekend so we stop eating out so much. If you can do it being sick tired, I should be able to do it being work tired. 🙂
I’ve very interested in the quinoa king ranch Casserole. Does the quinoa replace the tortilla chips that a lot of recipes have?
Heather M
Thanks for the support, Danielle :). The recipe is from myrecipes dot com and is titled King Ranch Chicken and Quinoa Casserole. I follow it mostly, but I don’t measure most of the ingredients (I’ll use more of the veg and some more quinoa and chicken sometimes…. but the same amount of canned tomato, chili, and broth every time) and I use whatever peppers and cheese I have on hand, so it’s not always the same. We both love this recipe. Healthy (except the cheese) and so tasty! And yes, no tortilla chips- baked already cooked quinoa. I’ll make extra quinoa when using it for another meal and either throw it in the freezer to save or use it a few days later for this recipe.
Lynn from NC Outer Banks
Heather, I’m sorry you continue to feel unwell. I hope you get some answers soon. I’m impressed you were able to power through to still put meals-good meals!-on the table while not having energy. I’m glad you are beginning to feel better.
Tasty
Tuesday February 7th
B – our usual fruit type combo
L – cheese on toast
S – the rest of the roast pork from Sunday with mashed potatoes and Brussels sprouts. Enough pork left for lunch for 1.
Kimberly
While I will continue to use many of the principles of the PC like ”use what I have” and “waste nothing”, my official challenge is over. Between Costco and Walmart, I spent $300 today to stock up. But I did it with meal plans in mind and only bought what was on the list! I did like shopping less in January so I hope to continue that with this restock. And hoping to get more time in the kitchen this month to create freezer meals and HM snacks for school. See you all next January! Thanks for all the meal ideas from the postings!
Heather M
Love that you’re doing what works for you. Best wishes with your year and see you in 2024 🙂
Danielle Zecher
I’m so glad to see that people are still here! I’m so far behind in commenting and haven’t done the best job with not eating out. At home meals lately have been PB&J sandwiches, tuna & crackers, egg & cheese sandwiches, egg salad sandwiches, grilled cheese sandwiches, and canned tomato soup.
I’ve been trying to keep the momentum going with all of the neighbors to fight the development. I’ve somehow become the coordinator and researcher, so that has been taking a lot of time. And work sprung a new project with an insane deadline. I’ve realized that I can’t let that derail this month like it did it in January, though. My plan is to limp through this week, probably with more takeout than we should, and spend the weekend getting organized and meal prepping. We’ve had to help my parents out financially this month and that is really driving home that we need to make good financial choices now in addition to making it necessary to trim our budget as much as possible since their rent isn’t something we budget for.
Maureen
I’m sorry that you are dealing with so much right now. Even though this week won’t go the way you wanted on the food front, you’ll get there. I hope you will feel like you’re making progress after planning this weekend. I know how frustrating having to shift your priorities is sometimes.
Heather M
Oof you are dealing with a lot right now. I do understand that feeling, all too well. We feel lucky that we’ve made wise enough financial choices over the years that we can help our young adult kids get through university without any debt and as needed beyond, so they can have the freedom to get a handle on adulthood, health issues(that’s a biggie with one kids), etc. And it was definitely choices we made, like staying in our smaller home instead of upgrading, keeping cars for longer than others do, etc. Best wishes with your decisions and all that goes with work, community involvement, and family. You’re clearly in the frame of mind to make good decisions and up for these challenges. I have definitely been there and continue to be. I’m still here and will continue to be a support for you. 🙂
Tasty
Monday February 7th
A normal breakfast for both of us and then at lunchtime, hubby was at the curling club and since I was out with a friend for lunch, I have no idea what he ate altho I would guess at bread and cheese! Supper was soup from the freezer with h/m bread. Not exciting but served the purpose.
Kathy in Denmark
I haven’t found the PC as easy as previous years, but I have still used up a few things from the pantry and rotated some things in the freezer, which is good.
We have made quite a few plans and big decisions during January and I feel like they have taken up a lot of my brainpower. For instance, we have refinanced our mortgage (saving us money) and planned and booked our summer holiday (spending money!) during January and I am so happy we did both! The holiday is a good reason to be mindful regarding grocery spending, since it will be quite expensive, but we are so looking forward to it. We are staying a week at lake Garda in Italy and making the trip there and back a roadtrip with stops along the way. This will be the first time we take our kids abroad on holiday, and they can’t wait.
I have really enjoyed reading everyone’s comments, even though I have been MIA for much of the time.
Thank you so much for hosting this every year, Jessica! I always look forward to it and I learn something new every year.
Tasty
Congrats on saving money by refinancing the mortgage. These days thats not an easy thing to do and the holiday is something great to look forward to.
Kathy in Denmark
Thank you, Tasty.
I think the mortgage market works differently in Denmark than in the US, but long story short, we went from a fixed interest to a variable one. The rate on the bonds from the first mortgage had dropped so much that we were able to reduce our mortgage by almost $55.500 simply by swapping from one type of mortgage to the other. We are also saving money each month even though the interest has doubled from what we were paying. It’s crazy really. But that is a lot of money which we won’t have to pay off!
Kathy in Denmark
Oops – it’s $ 53.500, not $55.500!
Maureen
You’ve had such a productive January. I hope you all have a fantastic holiday!! How wonderful for your girls!
Kathy in Denmark
Thank you Maureen!
We have taken shorter trips in Denmark, but we rally did not want to take young children on long trips abroad. Now they are old enough to appreciate a longer trip and it will be fun for all of us.
The adults are looking as much forward to the holiday as the kids are 😉
Heather M
Kathy! Love your big decisions from January! So happy for you that you’ve been able to refinance to a lower payment and especially for the trip to Italy!! What fun you’ll have driving there and seeing all that you do. We have always been firm believers that family vacations are a crucial part of life and really do a lot for family closeness and memories. And, now having kids in their 20s, we are so grateful for every last day we took going somewhere away from home and creating those memories. We try to do what we can now, even, though schedules are trickier. Yay!! Looking forward to seeing you again here in January and hearing about your awesome vacation!
Maureen
My youngest and I were at Girl Scout camp for the weekend. I planned on take out for Sunday dinner, since we were just getting back…and I stuck with that plan even though the DH and DD at home ate out almost every meal all weekend. I’m glad I cleaned the fridge out before we left – ate up most of the leftovers and froze a little taco meat that I didn’t get to. This week is really busy with evening activities, so I’m only making a regular dinner one night. I’m going to take the opportunity to try to have everyone eat up some of the smaller servings of things from the freezer for independent dinners this week. I think I can find a few snacks in the freezer, too. Both lunch and dinner for me today were from the freezer. And I’m limiting my grocery purchases this week as there isn’t much that we need. My goal is to empty the chest freezer enough to defrost it…hopefully by the end of February!
Heather M
Look at you go, Maureen! This is awesome. 🙂
ZC from MA
Feb 6
B: overnight oats with almond milk and blueberries
L: ate at work
D: shrimp with celery and bell pepper, brown rice
S: an apple
Tasty
Sunday February 6th
B – hubby had his usual, I had apple sauce, yogurt and a muffin
L – we finished the quiche I made the other day to finish up some bacon that had been languishing in the fridge
S – Roast pork with roasted veg(potatoes, carrots and parsnips – all pantry or freezer) a few peas to add some colour to our plates and stuffing and apple sauce. So, so good!
Hubby had brought home a piece of cake from the bonspiel on Saturday which we split with some coffee after supper.
I did go shopping for the specials at the local stores. This included paper products so it was quite pricey even tho they were all on sale. Also on sale was a 7+lb loin of pork for less than $15. I unpacked it and sliced off lots of `chops` and was left with a piece of pork, big enough to do us a couple of meals roasted and it really was good – long slow roast – smelled really good while it was cooking too. Will finish it tomorrow probably with whatever veggies appeal come tomorrow!
I have also just inventoried the smaller of my freezers to see what is in there that needs to be used up quickly and only found one thing – a small bag of mushrooms! Was quite pleased with that. However, I still need to do the other freezer, later this week I hope and I doubt it will be in as good shape.
Heather M
Feb 3-4-5:
The weekend was not what I was expecting, at all. L worked all weekend (and volunteer stuff mixed in), cuz spy balloon. I dealt with a family thing Saturday and was on the phone 10 hours. Meals were odd.
Friday, Feb 3:
L took a lunch of banana oat snack cake, cantaloupe, southwest trail mix, and the last of the ham in a spinach-avo- ham sandwich. He didn’t eat any of it until 6:30pm apparently. So I skipped making dinner. Later that night, L finished off the leftover chicken cheesesteak filling. I skipped breakfast, had egg salad on toasted sourdough for lunch, and finished the leftover rice with a little melted cheese and turkey breakfast sausage for dinner. I also grocery shopped at 3 stores(we live so close to them all) and spent about $60 total on produce, more cheap chicken breasts, and a few other necessities.
Saturday, Feb 4:
L grabbed some more snack cake and a banana, and was basically gone 9am-8pm with everything he had going on. I ate some snack cake and cheese and crackers (the boxes are slowly dwindling, but still too many). After he got home late, he went and grabbed salads for us(crazy day), buffalo chicken for him and cobb for me.
Sunday, Feb 5:
Both skipped breakfast. I had more cheese and crackers and some cantaloupe when I got home. L had snack cake and nuts when he got home. dinner was a quick jalapeno chicken sausage, bell pepper, and onion saute along with mashed potatoes.
Kathryn M
Probably won’t post everyday in Feb, but still trying to work on the freezer cleanout. I like to defrost it in March….
I did have to make a Sams club run on Friday. $55 for just a few food items. I was absolutely out of chicken and that was some of the cost. Made mushroom chicken on Saturday night that will last a few days. Also got bacon and some snacky stuff.
Lynn from NC Outer Banks
Feb 5
B: DH ate LO pizza, I had toast and coffee
L: me meatloaf from freezer, DH last piece of pizza and chicken salad sandwich
D: pork loin (freezer), LO cauli/rice and gravy, LO 10-layer salad, ambrosia
ZC from MA
Feb 5
B: overnight oats with almond milk, peanut butter and blueberries
L: kale and chickpea soup, toast
D: ate out with friends
S: an apple, homemade glutinous rice balls with red bean paste
Kimberly
Great PC day today
B- toast and LO banana half for me, cereal for family
L- for work, brought the last of the romaine and on its last leg, made into a salad with cherry tomatoes, last of avocado, bits of a mozzarella chunk I found in freezer, lo edamame (shelled it for salad), dressing, turned out really good
D- LO enchiladas, cookies
Not finding time to post as much, but trucking along til I finish the random things that are taking up space in and a try and freezer, and continuing the no waste plan!
Lynn from NC Outer Banks
Feb 4
B: DH had eggs, grits, sausage (freezer), I had toast and sausage
L: chicken salad. I had one of those little foil packets of chicken. I think it was a freebie at some point. Not enough for lunch, so I found 3 chicken tenders in the freezer. I poached them and along with the packet of chicken and the add ins it was enough for DH and me to each have a sandwich with some leftover. For the celery-I had the “nub” of celery in the fridge still. I used even more of the nub in the salad. I am now absolutely officially out of celery! It also finished up the pickle relish too. Along with the sandwiches, we had potato soup and a mandarin.
D: HM pizza with sausage (freezer), pepperoni (freezer), olives, cheese, peppers and onions. Ten-layer salad which used up the last of the wrinkled tomatoes.
Tasty
Saturday February 4th
B – hubby had his usual. I had yogurt and a toasted English muffin with marmalade
L- hubby was curling all day so they ate at the club – beef stew and chocolate cake. I stopped at Panera for tomato soup and a latte
S – hubby was not hungry after snacking during the afternoon, I had fish and chips.
Tasty
February 3rd
B – hubby had his usual, I had yogurt and toast.
L – made a quiche to use up some bacon from the fridge
S – tourtiere – (a French-Canadian meat pie) and baked beans, a piece of carrot cake to celebrate carrot cake day
ZC from MA
Feb 4
Not much done for the pantry challenge today—back at it tomorrow.
B: overnight oats as usual
L: ate at work
D: getting together with some friends so we ate out.
ZC from MA
This should be Feb 3 and I got the wrong date.
For actual Feb 4:
B: the usual—overnight oats with almond milk and blueberries;
L: salmon rice bowl, sautéed kale;
D: Trader Joe’s Japanese style fried rice, sautéed kale;
S: an apple, a cup of almond milk
Lynn from NC Outer Banks
Feb 3
B: both ate yogurt
L: potato soup and peanut butter toast for me, soup and grilled cheese for DH
D: dinner sausage (freezer), cauli/rice mix, last of the green beans, wedge salad to use up some wrinkled tomatoes (I always wind up with wrinkled tomatoes during the challenge), bacon, and avocado and blue cheese crumbles from freezer.
ZC from MA
Feb 2
I spent most of the day at work so very easy meals and no cooking.
B: grapes, English muffin
L: bought at work
D: cherry tomatoes, English muffin