Pre-holiday pantry challenge

[PaulaSue]

Not doing well. Had gone home to help, Mom in hospital since Friday.

 

[charming23]

Not doing well. Had gone home to help, Mom in hospital since Friday.

Awww I hope she gets better soon and don't forget to take care of yourself as well

Today mom and I are both sick with a head cold/sinus thingy and were not up to cooking so we instead are having a boxed soup mix from the cupboard and grilled cheese sammies.

Hopefully I will feel better and can cook tomorrow since I got ground turkey this morning to defrost.

 

[neatokimmo]

I cracked the last two days. I was sick of having the same thing over and over so I spent about $60 and bought all kids of stuff.

But we did start in on a large pack of ground beef and I had enough freezer space to put in a 24 pound turkey, a big box of eggos and a carton of sherbet. I actually have light shining through the items in the freezer now instead of it being 100% crammed full.

 

[neatokimmo]

I envy everyone that gets $5 turkeys! We can get cheap turkeys but you have to spend $25 to qualify for ONE! What stores are you getting cheap ones at? I wonder what the price is at Walmart.

I bought 2- 24 pound turkeys tonight at Walmart for 40 cents a pound. They are Riverside brand (never heard of it). Butterballs were on sale too, can't remember the price.

 

[charming23]

Tonight we are having a baked potato bar dinner. I will bake the last four bakers we have and top them with homemade turkey chili (that I made last night with turkey from the freezer), sour cream and cheddar cheese with a steamed veggie mix on the side.

Breakfast today was cheerios from the pantry and not sure yet about lunch.

Also heading out to get the last few items for thursday.

 

[Swimnoid]

DBro is coming for Thanksgiving and bringing the turkey so I dont have to buy it. YAY! I've got homemade meatballs in the freezer for spaghetti tonight, some ham steaks and potatoes for tomorrow and a big potroast for Wed. So the only stuff I need to get is for Thanksgiving but I think I have most of that here too! Oh, I need sweet potatoes and apples.

 

[momto1]

I figured out how much I have spent on groceries for the month and am not saving much money. ARG! I pretty much keep stocking up on freezer items at rock bottom prices. I am working on the pantry, canned good and condiments though.

Yesterday - went to brunch for a baptism reception so no breakfast or lunch. Dinner was leftover Upside Down Pizza and the last of the salad.

Today - I have a lunch meeting. DH can have leftovers. Toniight will be rice, asparagus and tilapia all made in the rice maker. Super easy!

Lori

 

[luv2nascar]

chiming in for first time. I have been following through pretty good all month. Not perfect but have cut back on grocery spending and eating out.
We do still eat out once a week -saturday night treat. I did not go to grocery store two weeks in row like a normal do. Only got fruit, veggies, milk, bread. Saved at least $200. Cracked yesterday and spent $66 at the store on what?? Who knows. Cooking today pork roast, onions, potatoes, carrots, and mashed potatoes. Lunch is salad w/tuna at home that I'm making. We leave Wed for 5 days at my parents for t-giving.

 

[Grendalynn]

Ok, so despite my hardest efforts, I have not done amazing well.... I did empty a good portion of our pantry and freezer, however they are not empty. But the challenge did "force" me to stratically plan my meals better, utelize leftovers and cut back on my overall grocery bills. So, even though I did not win the battle, I did win the war!!

 

[stahshee]

I finished up the last of the turkey...
Hot turkey sandwhich and home made french fries... I also found a jar of applesauce..
Desert.. French toast

Im really running low on breads. ihave about 10 loafs left

 

[charming23]

Tonight's baked potato bar was really good and hit the spot.

I did cheat and have lunch out at Wendy's while we were grocery shopping. I had a craving for one of their burgers. We got everything we needed at Aldi's and only spent 32.71 there, a miracle for us. The only non thanksgiving food we bought was some frozen bageutte's and shredded cheddar cheese for tonight's dinner.

I am excited to keep this going through December. I sat down this afternoon and made a list of 22 different meals for December based on what we have in the house.

 

[DawnM]

This thread inspired me!

I found 6 large size tupperware containers (the storage kind with spouts on top that fit a 5 pound bag of whatever in them) at a yard sale for $1 each.

I pulled out all the Tupperware modular mates I already had, but haven't been using because I have been too lazy to organize my kitchen......and I spent an entire day filling all containers, labeling them, and doing other general cleaning/organizing/inventory type stuff.

I now have a very organized kitchen that is almost completed AND I know what is in there!



Thanks all!


We can continue this in Dec. My goal is to spend $300 max per month as long as I can to whiddle our supply down.

 

[annsteere]

Ok, so despite my hardest efforts, I have not done amazing well.... I did empty a good portion of our pantry and freezer, however they are not empty. But the challenge did "force" me to stratically plan my meals better, utelize leftovers and cut back on my overall grocery bills. So, even though I did not win the battle, I did win the war!!

That makes you a winner. I don't think more than four or five of us are actually going to get down to bare shelves. (Or, even had that as our target.)Congrats on emptying a good portion of your pantry and freezer.

 

[charming23]

Today is going to be Pork Chops with sauteed apples and buttered noodles.

Breakfast was cinnamon toast with peanut butter (last of cinnmaon bread from freezer ).

Lunch will be last night's leftovers.

 

[tinkmom2]

Hiya,
We are back from our week long Disney adventure and I restocked my pantry yesterday. Not only did I buy our complete Thanksgiving meal, I bought our groceries for the week for $120.00 total. This is the week for all the Thanksgiving store deals and I bought mostly store brands which are just as good as the regular.
This is our Turkey day Menu...
homemade cranberries
yams with marshmellows
orange fluff made with orange jello mix, cottage cheese, cool whip and mandarin oranges

crushed red potatoes with heavy cream, sour cream,butter, and seasonings
stufffing with giblets...we buy two huge bags
a mixed veggie
rolls
pumpkin pie x2
and the star of the show a Grand Marnier injected fried turkey...yum!

Dinner last night was ground turkey ranch burgers and homemade wedge fries
tonight speghetti and meatballs
Wednesday maccoroni and cheese homemade
Thursday..let the overeating begin
rest of the week leftovers and Turkey soup!
I will probably have to give the Turkey a bath on Thursday morn to defrost it lol!

 

[stahshee]

I figured out how much I have spent on groceries for the month and am not saving much money. ARG! I pretty much keep stocking up on freezer items at rock bottom prices. I am working on the pantry, canned good and condiments though.

Yesterday - went to brunch for a baptism reception so no breakfast or lunch. Dinner was leftover Upside Down Pizza and the last of the salad.

Today - I have a lunch meeting. DH can have leftovers. Toniight will be rice, asparagus and tilapia all made in the rice maker. Super easy!

Lori

I am doing the same. I have now 4 turkeys and about 8 cans of gravy and about 10 can of broth. I think I might need a stockpilers meeting kind of like AA it would be SA. I think I am a sucker for a good deal

 

[momto1]

and the star of the show a Grand Marnier injected fried turkey...yum!

Oh mY!! That's sounds awesome! We have done injected meats before but not with Grand Marnier. Wait till I tell dh!

Lunch today is leftover casserole, bean salad, and a few bites of pineapple. DH and DS are having leftover spaghetti sauce with some noodles.

Supper - Home made Hamburger Helper - hamburger, mac and cheese box and mushroom soup. We have some leftover asparagus to go with it.

I have to pick up some fruit - we have nothing! Also, coconut and mandarin oranges for the Thanksgiving Hawain Salad I was asked to bring. Everything else for the salad I had on hand!

I am in for December...and January...and February...you get the idea!
Lori

 

[momto1]

I think I might need a stockpilers meeting kind of like AA it would be SA. I think I am a sucker for a good deal

I'll be joining you!
Lori

 

[stahshee]

I bought choclate milk today for 75 cents with my double coupon

dinner sloppy Joes and whole wheat rolls and squash

 

[smiller]

Hi there! Been in the suburbs off and on since Friday at my family's so eating out (their treat!) and eating over (thanks, DSis!) and not spending money.

Came home and realized I left out the last two servings of my breakfast casserole on the counter since yesterday morning. Bummer! I was really looking forward to eating that tomorrow. I do have the ingredients for another one, but since I'll be back in the 'burbs on Thursday I'll hold on that for now.

I'm thinking some warm, comforting food needs to be on the menu tonight - probably potato pancakes and sausages, apple sauce and sour cream.

I have two servings left of my broccoli/cauliflower cheddar soup, but might pop those in the freezer to mix things up a bit for lunch.

Over the weekend I finished half of the frozen edamame and part of the last box of pasta. There is a little bit more room in the pantry every day, but the freezer is still out of control!

I do need to buy some milk, sour cream, and cheddar cheese. How do I keep going through so much dairy?

I cut a pumpkin in half, scoop out the seeds. I than place it cut side down in a pyrex dish with about 1 inch of water in it. I cover with foil and bake for about one hour until the skin pierces with a fork. Let it cool a little and than scrape out the inside into a strainer. Let it drain, than put into a bowl and mash, or use a blender. There's lot of ways to do it but that's my way. Also once you make the puree you can freeze it, now that you have room in the freezer . I measure out enough for my recipe such as french toast and than I just take that out in the AM and mix it with my eggs. That way nothing goes to waste, especially when you're cooking for one.

Thank you for the directions!

We got everything we needed at Aldi's and only spent 32.71 there, a miracle for us. The only non thanksgiving food we bought was some frozen bageutte's and shredded cheddar cheese for tonight's dinner.

Have you made the baguettes yet? I have some in my freezer, too - the mini ones - and need a good excuse to try them out.