Pre-holiday pantry challenge

[MineMail]

I have all three and company planned for Sunday afternoon! Do you think baking potatoes would work here? 'cause I have a whole bag of them.

I think baking potatoes would fall apart if you started them with the meat at the beginning. I'd start the roast/onions, then add the potatoes about 30 minutes afterwards. If they start to overcook, take them out and finish the roast. You can put them back in later to warm them up.

 

[annsteere]

Is there a support group for those trying to stop stocking up? Lori

I think that's what this thread is. . . .

"There will be new bargains to restock" is my mantra right now.

We've been eating bargains out of my stockpile for two weeks now and it looks like eating out of storage until the Monday before Thanksgiving is pretty achievable.

Bargains keep the grocery bill down. I fully expect to restock up when an unbeatable price comes along. But, it is only a true bargain if you actually EAT the stuff when it is still first quality.

The super-organized rotate their pantry consistently and wouldn't benefit from a pantry challenge. For the rest of us, this is a way to make sure that the money we saved stocking up on bargains doesn't get wasted by letting food get old.

 

[PaulaSue]

Doing well but DH is home so we will see how long that last.

Did shop from the freezer and going to have an romantic supper without kids tonight. I am so happy we didn't even have to go and out buy bread or wine fr tonight.

 

[WDWHo]

Arggg had a horrible day yesterday! Took my 8 yo old grocery shopping, BIG MISTAKE BIG HUGE!

Ended up spending $80 at Wegmans. Arrrrggggg. Good news is I bought alot of things that I can stretch out for weeks.

Hopefully I will make up the difference next week. WILL NEVER TAKE THAT BOY WITH ME AGAIN!

 

[charming23]

Tonight's dinner will be pancakes with sausage from the freezer and fruit salad using all the fruit I bought this week before it goes bad.

I will probably head out tomorrow and get a few fresh items like bread, veggies, fruit and milk but my goal is to spend no more than $30.

 

[neatokimmo]

We are having frozen pizza tonight, I am so pooped from the yard sale.

I spent $33ish on groceries today, milk, juice, chips and dip (oops lol), bread, cabbage, bananas, apples, 2 generic sodas (58 cents woot), some ham for easy lunches and a few other things I am forgetting.

 

[acename]

Tonight we're grilling pork chops and burgers which will last us a couple of days. My mom and dad are coming over and will bring some sides. I spent 36.39 yesterday at Kroger on diapers and some other odds and ends. This is still much better than my 60-70 dollar budget every week.

 

[Grendalynn]

I came away spending $108... And I only bought 2 meats: 2+ lbs ground beef that was on sale and a bag of chix burgers. But I did have to get snacks, juice packs, bread, lunch meat and redbull for DH, holiday flavored creamer x3, cat and dog food for the week, stuff for a big salad to bring to my parents tomorrow, other odds and ends to get through the week.

Its about $50-$70 less than what I might normally spend... so we are saving some, but def not as much of a savings as some!! This week, dinner I plan to make are:

Crock pot chicken (freezer)
Cheese burgers (bought today)
Pulled pork BBQ sanwiches (freezer)
pork roast & squash (freezer), Potatoes
spaghetti & meat sauce - (remaining Grnd beef from burgers)
Beef Stew - meat & veggies in fridge

We'll start with that and see how I do...

 

[tinkarooni]

Well we went to the opening of the new super dee duper grocery store this weekend. It was ginormous. However it was also absolutely mobbed. Most of the space was taken up by pre-made food, cafe, restaurant. That's not how I shop. I was not able to find some of the organic products I get at my Super Walmart so all in all I probably will go back to my regular way of shopping closer to home.

I did spend $133. and we went out to lunch because we were shopping all day. I don't mind the $133 because it was my regular beginning of the month stock up, normally I would have spent about $300. I only bought lunchmeat, my DS protein bars (3 boxes at about $5.00 per box!) tons of yogurt, gallons of milk, OJ, organic grapes and some strange odds and ends I was completely out of such as worcestshire sauce, salsa and bleach. So I shouldn't have to set foot in a store for two weeks and I am on track to save at least the $200 I was hoping to this month even with Thanksgiving coming. My big expense will be the turkey, we ordered organic. Most everything else I already have in the house, mostly from the garden.

I really appreciate this thread, I want to save $$ off the top of my food budget and this makes me feel like I have to account to somebody.

Today for dinner beef stroganoff (freezer beef) over mashed potatoes (garden) with spgahetti squash (garden) and greens picked from the garden.

I will be making for the week today chocolate chip cookies and granola to go with all the yogurt I bought. Probably also some zuke bread (zuke in freezer)
Spent $133 of $800, this lasts through Dec 12.

 

[spima3]

Ok, I didn't read the whole thread, but the one question I have.

If you are clearing out your pantry and freezer, are you to NOT buy anything but staples ?

Or are you to keep buying, but only really good deals?

I usually save about 40% on our grocery bills, using the store card, sales, coupons, etc., but our grocery bills are still one area I would like to get lower.

Somebody told me that you only really start seeing those super low grocery bills once you have stocked up.

Any advice on this?

lori

 

[neatokimmo]

I think a few of us are using it as an opportunity to clear out our freezers before things get burned. I am personally NOT re-stockpiling, I use to stockpile deals, but the management of "stuff" isn't worth it to me. I try to buy a week's worth of food at a time. (and to clarify, I am working through my Dad's stockpile, not mine). I 100% buy what is on sale and skip or substitute for anything that isn't.

Ok, I didn't read the whole thread, but the one question I have.

If you are clearing out your pantry and freezer, are you to NOT buy anything but staples ?

Or are you to keep buying, but only really good deals?

I usually save about 40% on our grocery bills, using the store card, sales, coupons, etc., but our grocery bills are still one area I would like to get lower.

Somebody told me that you only really start seeing those super low grocery bills once you have stocked up.

Any advice on this?

lori

 

[tinkarooni]

I too usually do a lot of stockpiling of good deals, however I have often come to the point where I have let food expire because of mismanagement or just lack of time. When I reach a point where I have a very full stockpile (now)I think it's time to reap the benefits and spend a couple of months using what I've got. My goal this month is to save $200 off of my normal food budget, I think I can do more than that just by eating what I have bought at such good prices. I also have an overabundance of garden goodies stored in my basement, so I really have too much right now.

Also taking a break from the extra work of shopping sales has been nice.

Edited to add: I am stocking up right now on apples, they truly won't be around next month but good deals on canned goods etc will be.

 

[Mad4Mickey]

I have been lurking on your thread since it started and we did it for 2 weeks before we had to buy a thing with the exception of our dairy and fruits and veggies . There are only 3 of us but my DD and SIL eat over a lot so I stock up "just in case" . I want you guys to know that I spent less then 25 bucks a week during those 2 weeks. My DH was shocked , I fell off the wagon but I am back on with you guys this week . I have over filled my pantry once again because of that stupid sale Kroger had

 

[charming23]

for me if there is a really good deal on something I have been stocking back up a little but most of my meats have come from the freezer from recent stockpiles.

Tonight we are grilling london broil (it is a beautiful day today) and having corn soufle (all ingredients have been in the pantry) and sauted carrots (from the freezer).

For me this challeage was about really thinking about using stuff that was already in the house and not buying more to pile on top of it.

 

[tinkmom2]

I am going to try the challenge this week. We leave for WDW on the 16th and this would be a great time to clean out my freezer and shelves. I am making my shopping list right now. I know I will have to go Turkey day shopping on the 23rd when we get back from our trip. Our normal budget is $100/week for the 4 of us.

Update: So I looked at my freezer. These are the meals I am making from there:
Chicken Parmesan (have the parm, chicken breast, spaghetti sauce, mozerella, breadcrumbs)
Chicken Noodle soup (have to buy a few veggies..have chicken stock, soup base chicken)
Spanish chicken stew over rice (need tomato sauce) (have chicken thighs,rice,seasonings)
Tater tot caserole (might pickup more cream of mush soup)
Egg caserole (have a sausage coupon) and have hashbrowns the kids love breakfast for dinner!
Tuna caserole (have the tuna and noodles need peas and mush soup)
Salsa Verde Enchilladas (have the salsa, chicken, need cream cheese and sour cream, need tortillas)

I might pick up some steak or fish if it's bogo and some other staples but hope to stay under $25.00

 

[neatokimmo]

Wait, I lied. I do stockpile one food item, Campbell's Cream of Chicken or Mushroom soups. They are over a $1 a can here except for the holidays. I will buy enough to last the entire year during the months of Nov & Dec for 50-60 cents a can. I was telling my Mom about this thread and she called me out on it lol

 

[charming23]

So today I will hit the grocery store for milk, bread and some fresh fruit and veggies. I also need to grab a pork roast to make pork BBQ with for a get together on Sunday after a mass at church in rememberance of my dad and all the parish members that passed this year.

The menu for the week looks like this:
Teryaki Turkey Tenderloin with rice pilaf and zuchinni (will have tonight since it is supposed to be 70 here today and I can grill out)
Pot Roast with Mashed potatoes
Macaroni and cheese with spinach salad
Soup and sandwiches
Sticky orange chicken with mashed sweet potatoes and a veggie of some kind

 

[stahshee]

sorry busy weekend and I did eat out of the freezer/pantry


ok beef hot dogs on wholewheat rolls with salad
my kids used 2 boxes of cereal in 2 days ( with powded milk shhh dont tell)

Breakfast I took out some left over frozen dinner rolls. I put cinnamon and sugar and butter . Heated them up and that was breakfast
tonight I am doing grilled cheese .. I have 7 purple potatoes I will use them in a side dish with butter and garlic. I also have some green beans to use up.

 

[momto1]

I didn't post over the weekend so let's see if I can get caught up. Saturday, I spent about $18 - milk, broccoli, horseradish, day old breads and goodies, totilla chips for ds business, small watermelon, etc.

Saturday for supper - Odds and ends night. DH owns a specialty food business and does a lot of sampling during this time of the year. So occasionally we need to finish the samples! We had meatballs with Mango Hot Sauce, Peach Salsa with chips, artisan bread with cheese ball spread, and Chipolte Ranch dip with veggies. PM if you want to see his online business.

Sunday lunch - dh was doing a show so ds and I ate lunch out at a $1 hot dog special.

Sunday supper - Pork Roast from freezer, and the ends of carrots and potatoes from a beef roast last week.

Tonight - Tastefully Simple Lasagna soup - this was supposed to be last week but didn't get made - and bread.

Lori

 

[Piecey]

Tonight's dinner is..

NY strip that I dug out of the deep freezer.
Baked potato
Vegetable... not sure which yet.

Dessert is a can of fruit.