Mrach eat out of the fridge/freezer/pantry challenge

[stahshee]

OK lets try for a new month...
I have some stuff left over fram last month. I really did have to shop big time and I have stocked up again 200.00$ worth so I can go again this month... I will have to buy milk and veggies each week.

 

[gomomgo]

I'm in!

I've been trying to do this for a few months, but I've never made it buying just fruit and veggies and milk. There always seems to be an ingredient that I am missing. I haven't done poorly though. And, we are WAY better at finishing up leftovers instead of letting them rot in the fridge.

 

[4forMe]

Count me in!

This will be my first month trying this. Last month we hosted my FIL's 80th b-day party at our house and went over our budget for the month. I inventoried the freezer and pantry yesterday and have at least 18 meals written out. I will have to shop weekly for bread, milk, fruit, etc.

I have to say DH is thrilled I'm doing this as we have a lot of frozen food stashed. I don't think the kids (especially my picky eater twins) will be as happy.

 

[jennyopenny]

I am so in!

Took an inventory...the amount of food is CRAZY!

 

[stahshee]

ok now that I have room I can see what I have...left over and more that I found from last month
6 penutbutter
6 jelly
8 mac and cheese
4 boxes taco shells
4 salsa jars
4 bread crumb containers
3 jumbo cans of refried beans
4 pork and beans
6 cans of red beans
3 spagetti
5 ziti

now I just went shopping for 2 weeks worth of food and spent 200.

 

[mjantz]

I'm in! DH picked up our Angel Food order & I want to get 2 boxes next month (we won't be able to get it in April & May) so in order to do that I need to clean out the freezer! My pantry is starting to look a bit bare though so I may need to restock that in order to empty the freezer.

 

[mannasn]

Ohh great idea. I didn't manage to stay on track last month as far as eating out of the pantry/freezer goes.

I suppose I jinxed myself in saying I would - our freezer (with all our nice venison and garden veggies in it) got damaged in a fire and we lost everything! I haven't cleaned it out yet... stinky!

 

[kathianne]

Hi, folks!

I read about a website that you put in your items in the fridge and pantry and it give you ideas and recipes for what to do with the leftovers. does anyone know this website? something like use what you have, or something like that.

I think its a good idea to use up your food eveery once in awhile, food doesn't keep long in the freezer unless its a deep freeze and pantry stuff expires. I plan this month to use up what I've got so I will be following this thread.

 

[kathianne]

try this leftoverchef.com

 

[pjlla]

I'm in this month. I didn't join last month because I hadn't done a "stock up" shop for a while, but I did TWO in Feb. so I should be all set! Besides, with our trip just 6 1/2 weeks away, we need to save a bit more $$ ! So this will be a NO EAT OUT, EAT OUT OF THE FRIDGE month! I started today. I packed food to take to DD's swim meet (instead of the usual eating at the concession stand) for all of us, and instead of picking up a pizza (as requested by the family), I went home and made spaghetti and meatball.... all with stuff in the pantry.

I did have to stop and buy eggs and ice cream (DD is suffering with her pre-braces spacers and needs soft foods), but that was it.

I'm interested in checking out that leftover.com. I'm ALWAYS looking for ways to use up my leftovers........................P

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I am in for the month also. I did very good last month and totally cleaned out my cupboard except for 3 boxes of stuffing, one can of sweet potatoes, and the usual macaroni/spaghetti items. I did my March shopping over the weekend and the new cupboard items are both healthier choices and I should be able to use consistently. I did purchase more fresh fruits and veggies. I spent $125.00 and my budget is $160.00 plus weekly milk/bread for this month. I have $35.00 left over but still need a few items. Canned veggies is one... I forgot them when shopping.... I will update when I shop again.

Week one Lunches - bread, lunch meat etc... $10.00

Saturday March 1... Ravioli and spaghetti sauce, homemade garlic bread.

Sunday March 2.. Meatloaf, baked potato's, and salad. All items from the house and no purchases needed.

 

[reginaastralis]

I'm in.

There's a few things we "need", but I am going to see if I can make most of this month without hitting up the local grocery store too often.

We're on day 2, and this is a record so far. LOL.

3/1 - Baby shower dinner
3/2 - late dinner at my mom's and sammiches at home.

 

[mjantz]

I think tomorrow we're going to have Greek Chicken for dinner. Recipe:

4-6 potatoes, quartered
2-3lbs chicken pieces
2 large onions, quartered
1 whole bulb of garlic, minced
3 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 Tbsp olive oil

1. Place potatoes in bottom of slow cooker. Add chicken, onions & garlic. Sprinkle with seasoning. Top with oil.
2. Cover. Cook on High 5-6 hours or on Low 9-10 hours.

**********************************************************************

I only have minced garlic so how many cloves are in a bulb?

 

[DianaPrincessofWales]

I started off the month really good. We ate leftovers all week-end. It's the big L word! My kids hate eating leftovers. But too often I run out of one key ingredient, man I hate that. And usually my husband ate it without me knowing!

 

[4forMe]

So far, so good this past weekend.

3/1 - french toast, sausage, fruit - breakfast for dinner is always a big hit with the kids!

3/2 - steak, rice, corn, salad, dinner rolls, fruit.

The only thing I had to buy was the fruit & veggies for salad which is a weekly purchase. I have my meals planned for the entire month. I can't believe I'm not going to be scrambling trying to figure out what to make for dinner!

 

[4forMe]

I think tomorrow we're going to have Greek Chicken for dinner. Recipe:

4-6 potatoes, quartered
2-3lbs chicken pieces
2 large onions, quartered
1 whole bulb of garlic, minced
3 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 Tbsp olive oil

1. Place potatoes in bottom of slow cooker. Add chicken, onions & garlic. Sprinkle with seasoning. Top with oil.
2. Cover. Cook on High 5-6 hours or on Low 9-10 hours.

**********************************************************************

I only have minced garlic so how many cloves are in a bulb?

That recipe sounds great. Let us know how you liked it. Mondays are my crockpot days.

I think there are 10-12 cloves in an avg. size bulb of garlic.

 

[delmar411]

I need to do a new inventory for this month. I'll try to convince DH to bring in the stuff from the deep freeze tomorrow. Last time I asked him, he just brought in 1 thing. But I need to see what is available and make a meal plan. I would like to get down to pretty much nothing left and then just do some major shopping probably in April.

 

[rparmfamily]

3/1 made baked ziti using ingredients I already had from weeks ago (or got free from a friend who moved). Baked 2 so I would have leftovers to freeze for lunch for me thru the week.
3/2 ate with a neighbor, supplied the bbq sauce and uses a fresh pineapple I already had from last week. I even came home with leftovers!
3/3 I have a secret shop at a fastfood so I need to buy that. Otherwise it's leftovers!

 

[Swimnoid]

I pretty much cleaned out our pantry and freezer last month so I wont be able to do meals all from the pantry this month. But I'm still trying to finish up what I have left. I'm definitely shopping smarter after last month. This month my goal is buying no junk food!

 

[DisneyDawnNH]

Other than fruit/veggies and milk I will try this also - my freezer is so jammed I can't seem to even see what i have in there. This will be a great motivation to clean out and use my stockpiles - which are not so huge - but I should be able to play along for the majority of the month.