Pre-holiday pantry challenge

[briannesmom]

Better late than never! I am ready to join in on the challenge. I need to get brakes on my mini van and that is eating up all of the extra money and I still need to finish Christmas shopping. I am trying to save money any way I can.
Tonight I am baking a huge pack of bone in chicken breasts. It is just me and DD (6) tonight so we will probably only eat one. That will leave a bunch of leftover chicken for the next few days. I will also make some stock with the bones.
After dinner I will go through the freezer and see whats inside

Amy

 

[Priorityonecb]

Dinner tonight cost about $1! Woo hoo! We had leftover Arby's roast beef sandwiches (3 left from the buy 4/$5 deal), and a leftover chicken breast burger from Chili's last night. Everyone chose what they wanted from those, and I made some boxed mashed potatoes, and a can of carrots. It was delicious, and ready in under 5 minutes! Perfect after the long day we had!

 

[briannesmom]

Had some time while the chicken is cooking so I yanked everything out of the freezer and made a list. I only have a regular size freezer over my fridge but I am amazed at what came out of there!

2 boxes morningstar spicy black bean burgers
1 pack mini hot dogs
2 ziplocs shredded zucchini leftover from garden
3 bags broccoli florets
burrito filling (leftover taco meat and rice mixed together)
2 rolls Bob Evans Italian sausage
2 packs tilapia
1 small pack thin cut pork chops
1 pack roasted garlic chicken sausagee
3 packs smoked turkey sausage
1 pack regular bacon
2 packs turkey bacon
1 ziploc homemade spag. sauce and meatballs
1 bag steam and mash pot.
big bag Tyson italian chicken breasts
1 smallish steak
1 pack seasoned turkey burgers
3 packs breakfast sausage links
1 pack smoked brats
6 bags of shredded cheese
6 packs chicken breasts about 1 1/2 lbs each
1 mystery bag - pretty sure it is homemade enchilada sauce

I think I can last in this challenge longer than I thought! I have lots of rice, pasta, canned veggies, cereal and oatmeal. I am going to shoot for $40 a week for fresh produce, dairy and misc. cleaning and toiletries.

 

[charming23]

Just wanted to come and say how happy I am that I am doing this challange cause my laptop completely died today. I went to turn it and nothing. The guy at Best Buy said it would cost more to fix than it is worth (it is almost 6 years old) so I bit the bullet and bought one. I had been saving for a few months but had to borrow a little from our savings jar.

I am countiong on all that pantry food to last me at least through the new year.

 

[stahshee]

we made cookies..that cost me 20.00 for all the stuff.. Then we had wendys for lunch... ok I did not do so good

 

[lisam427]

this past thursday i spent $55 out of the planned $60 in groceries at wegmans and aldis. bought milk, lots of produce, jarred sauce, pasta, cheese, pretty much everything that had been wiped out from not shopping. so far i have spent $155 on groceries this month with no plans on doing any shopping until this coming Saturday (my new month starts then). kind of added to my stockpile on stuff but the stuff i did buy i totally ran out of/used up. i will only be buying cold cuts at aldis, bread, and fruit /vegis that i run out of. also this coming Saturday i pick up my angel food order.

this is my game plan for the week so far
sunday-beef stew
monday-chicken and stuffing casserole, salad or broccoli
tuesday-roast, potatoes, carrots
wednesday-breakfast for dinner
thursday-meatloaf, mashed potatoes, vegis or salad
friday-breaded fish fillets, oven fried potatoes, vegis from the frezzer
sat-stir fry over rice

still working on the potatoes i have. lunches will be leftovers and the usual pbj, egg and tuna salad. for breakfast we have cornflakes (from this past months angel food), rice crisipies (unopened and in my stockpile-bought 2 months ago with coupons), oatmeal, eggs/toast with fruit and milk in the fridge.

 

[momx2]

We did fairly well all week except one mexican takeout dinner on Friday night because I had to travel out of town to work and didn't get home until late. Other than that we have kept going out of the pantry/freezers. Last night we had Pork tenderloin, wild rice and frozen corn. So good!

The plan for the week is this:
Sunday: Roasted 9lb. turkey breast, mashed potatoes and green beans; Check
Monday: Spaghetti with meatsauce, garlic bread and broccoli or salad; Check
Tuesday: Beef with Broccoli and rice; Actually had homemade turkey pot pie with crescent rolls as topping, yum.....
Wednesday: Enchillada casserole, refried bean and mexican rice; Going to actually have the beef with broccoli and rice
Thursday: Turkey tettrazine casserole; work out of town, DH will cook popcorn shrimp, fries and corn on the cob.
Friday: Taco bar night; and
Saturday: Salmon patties, butter beans, macaroni and tomatoes and some kind of potatoes.

I'm also going to make a big pot of beef vegatable soup today for lunches this week with left over roast beef and beef stock. All I'll need from the grocery this week is fruit, milk, sour cream and bread, I may pick up some 27cent burritos also because my DH eats them for lunch like crazy.

 

[smiller]

I feel like I've been eating other people's food and not my own recently, so I haven't really gone through much.

I did use up two boxes of appetizers and a box of desserts from the freezer for Cocktail Friday, and gave one of my several frozen chickens to a girlfriend.

Today I'll finish up the breakfast casserole, chili, Fritos, cheddar cheese, and hopefully something else!

 

[tinkmom2]

we made cookies..that cost me 20.00 for all the stuff.. Then we had wendys for lunch... ok I did not do so good

Cookies don't count lol! They are allowed as extras for Christmastime lol!
I am making Mexican Wedding Cake cookies today and lemon bars. I planned both of those into my shopping budget.

I went shopping today only because there are two big snow systems coming this week and I hate driving in snow! I spent $114.00 but had 6.00 in coupons bringing my total to $109.00. That's including cat food(3.00), cat litter(1.40), soda(9.99), and toilet paper(7.99). And I really needed one of those Starbucks canned fraps this morning lol!(That's the only thing I miss about working there is free drinks lol) This is plan is for a family of 4.


This week this is what we're having for dinner.
homemade mac and cheese
chili cheese fries (made with leftover cheese sauce from mac and cheese)
braised oxtails(a Paula Deen recipe from foodnetwork)
Rachael Ray's terriaki chicken with rice
soup of some kind
breaded pork chops with baked potatoes

I found a huge bag of those baby clementines on clearance but didn't have my coupon with me. I got those for $2.00

some of these meals I didn't make last week we had one eat out day when my DD had a sleepover.

 

[momx2]

I just got finished making beef vegetable soup with leftover roast and stock from the freezer and leftover roast and stock from dinner Wednesday. So it will have alot more beef than my normal. I also used all the 2 leftover 1/2 bags of mixed vegetables in the freezer. Now I just have one frozen bag of mixed veggies left I don't know why but I don't like not having extras of everything in my freezer.

I'm also cooking one of my 2 frozen turkey breasts I bought for .99 per lb. a few months ago. We'll have it, mashed potatoes and green beans for a late lunch, early dinner. Then I'm taking the bone from the breast to make turkey soup. I don't have noodles, so I'm making it without. I'll freeze it and then cook rice to pour it over when we eat it. I using the last of the my fresh carrots and celery for that.

 

[Priorityonecb]

Tonight I am making...

Barbecued chicken- The last of the chicken thighs I got on sale forever ago!
Augratin potatoes- Pantry (got on sale for .50)
Zuchini- Leftover, will sautee in butter, S&P

I am making gingerbread for dessert...yum!

 

[DawnM]

I set my budget for $400 for the month of Dec. for groceries. This includes eating out.

So far, I spent $40 on take out Chinese......it last us for 3 meals!
I also spent $104 today, but for $210 worth of groceries and it is enough for more than a week.

Last night I made pizza and tonight I will be making rice with grilled sausage and veggies. Veggies and sausage have been in the freezer a while.....glad to use them up.

Dawn

 

[crazelion]

I am cooking today pull pork. Back in the summer I bought a big huge shoulder for 11.00 dollars and provide for 10 meals. I eat the last of shoulder today.

Pull pork
baked beans
potato salad making potato salad using sweet relish. I have two jars of this stuff. I plan on using it.

This thread has help so much with my hours being cut at work. We may have some odd meals at least we are eating.

 

[tavettava]

Friday-breakfast oj and cereal. Lunch ds gets free, dd and I took sandwich's, juice, yogurt, and banana's. Dinner-dd and dh had soup, ds and i were picking up Panara bread for the food pantry we help at and they gave us some macn cheese and a sandwich for free.

Saturday- breakfast Ds and I had some donuts at the food pantry, dd and dh I'm not sure. There was one box left at the food pantry so they told me to take it home (cereal, spaghetti sauce, spag. noodles, soup, peanut butter, jelly, jello, veggie, fruit, tuna, mac n cheese, a bag of dried beans, plus they had extra from panara they sent home with everyone.) Lunch i figured since ds and i worked hard that i would treat everyone to the 5 for $5 roast beef's. Not sure what everyone had for dinner since I was sleeping.

Sunday-went to grocery store and spent $42 on fruit, veggies, milk, bread, a few sale items, and I bought a rotissie chicken I had a $2 coupon. For lunch we had the chicken. I took and pulled all the meat off the bone and threw it and the carcass (in seperate bags) into the freezer for a later date. For dinner I pulled out some drumsticks, we will have them with baked potato, and corn.

 

[smiller]

Dinner tonight is green salad with balsamic vinaigrette, and then the last of the potato pancakes, sausages, applesauce, sour cream. (Well, I still have sour cream!)

Tomorrow will be another marathon cooking day. How is it that I keep cooking but not eating stuff up? It is very helpful to have good meals in the freezer I can heat up for lunch, and I do know I am using up pantry/freezer food.

The Plan:
freeze garlic
freeze zucchini
make bread crumbs
Scotch Eggs
Banana Bread
Rice Krispie Treats
Roast Whole Chicken
Acorn Squash Risotto
Chicken Piccata with Angel Hair Pasta

I'm exhausted already!

 

[charming23]

Today was the last bagel for breakfast with cream cheese.

Lunch I had Chili Cheese Dogs at my Aunt's house while helping her with Christmas decorations. Mom had the leftover potato and corn chowder from last night.

Last night I also made a big pot of chicken noodle soup to freeze since we have eaten the last batch we made.

Tonight we had chicken and dumplings with the leftover chicken and stock I made yesterday.

We have some snow coming this week so I am hoping to make a ton of comfort foods.

 

[Priorityonecb]

My goal this month was to spend $60 a week or less on groceries. I went yesterday for this coming week and spent $50! Yay me!

Last night oldest daughter ordered pizza late at night, and there is a ton left. That will be dinner tonight, and I will add a salad to go with it. Another dinner for about a dollar!

 

[tavettava]

Breakfast-dd had oranges and apple cider, ds I'm not sure he might of gotten something at school.

Lunch ds gets free. Dd took a sandwich, yogurt, juice, and oranges. I'll probably have soup. Dh who knows.

Dinner we are having sloppy joes, salad, and chips. All the food is coming from our stockpile.

 

[momto1]

I'm back from working out of state and ready to get back on board. DH and DS ate planned leftovers while I was gone. They did spend $35 at the store on I am not sure what! Bad boys....

DH did a show yesterday and came home with chocolate covered pretzels and truffles from the vendor next to him. he has leftover dip that he made from cream cheese, pimentos, and sweet jalapenos. It is yummy but now it has to been eaten, too.

For lunch - Soup made from leftover rice, leftover turkey and broth from odds and ends of veggies in the freezer. We will see if it tastes good. Also, some salad that needs to be eaten.

Dinner tonight and tomorrow - not sure what night for what yet -

BBQ pork on buns from my frozen baked good supply with Suddenly Salad..

Meatloaf using the buns from the frozen baked good supply, cauliflower, and mashe potatoes from a box.

Lori

 

[kristinw3girls]

So proud of myself! I actually have room in the freezer! It actually shuts without Strategic planning! I'm about half cleared out and intend to keep it up. This threat has also taught me alot about cooking once and eating twice. I was raised my a single mom who was seldom home. I was never taught these kind of skills, and really appreciate everyone's help!