Spring Pantry Challenge

[tinkmom2]

Finally things are starting to look up! I started my new job last week! Granted I only worked 6 hours but it's a start! Food shopping. My old store has tricked me! Here I thought I was getting double off on all my coupons. In reality they have been taking off 5. So my bill was around $89.00 this past week. I had to stock up on TP and some other essentials but still saved $30 in coupons. This next week is a week off shopping for me while I live off my freezer and cabinets.
I have also started my diet again and resolve to go work out starting Monday.
I might have to go buy some meat this week but I am trying to not go shopping.
Whatever I haven't made in the last few weeks is on this list for this week.
We did have one eat out week this past week. I bought a certificate at restaurant.com for $3.00 and we saved $25.00 off our meal. With the tip we only had to pay $15.00. Today I got my free 8x10 collage print from Walgreens and my free Layne Bryant cami

We had or are having:
frozen pizzas
tacos with homemade rice and homemade taco seasoning
chicken breast stuffed with feta and baked and some tater
still have to make homemade mac and cheese
homemade chili cheese fries
salad nite with grilled chicken
speghetti was last night with this horrible Rinaldi sauce

Have a great week!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Finally things are starting to look up! I started my new job last week! Granted I only worked 6 hours but it's a start! Food shopping. My old store has tricked me! Here I thought I was getting double off on all my coupons. In reality they have been taking off 5. So my bill was around $89.00 this past week. I had to stock up on TP and some other essentials but still saved $30 in coupons. This next week is a week off shopping for me while I live off my freezer and cabinets.
I have also started my diet again and resolve to go work out starting Monday.
I might have to go buy some meat this week but I am trying to not go shopping.
Whatever I haven't made in the last few weeks is on this list for this week.
We did have one eat out week this past week. I bought a certificate at restaurant.com for $3.00 and we saved $25.00 off our meal. With the tip we only had to pay $15.00. Today I got my free 8x10 collage print from Walgreens and my free Layne Bryant cami

We had or are having:
frozen pizzas
tacos with homemade rice and homemade taco seasoning
chicken breast stuffed with feta and baked and some tater
still have to make homemade mac and cheese
homemade chili cheese fries
salad nite with grilled chicken
speghetti was last night with this horrible Rinaldi sauce

Have a great week!

How do you make your taco seasoning?

 

[charming23]

So we had a good weeek. We only went out for dinner last night but my Grandma treated so that doesn't count I did juggle the menu around a bit to include what we were in the mood for.

This week's menu
Sunday: Mother's day dinner will be at the Indians Game
Monday: Grilled split chicken breasts with parmesean garlic oven fries and fresh corn
Tuesday: Chicken meatballs with florentine mac and cheese (this is what we were going to have yesterday and did not since3 we went out)
Wednesday: Hamburgers with fruit salad
Thursday: Leftovers
Friday: Chicken Paprikash with speatzels
Saturday: Pork Stir fry over rice

 

[tinkmom2]

Taco Seasoning (from Allrecipes.com)
1 tbsp. chili powder
□ 2 tsp. onion powder
□ 1 tsp. ground cumin
□ 1 tsp. garlic powder
□ 1 tsp. paprika
□ 1 tsp. dry oregano
□ 1 tsp. sugar
□ 1/2 tsp. salt

1. Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl. Store in a small jar.
2. Three tablespoons this mix equals one (1 1/4 oz.) package of commercial taco seasoning.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I'll have to try to make my own sometime.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I stayed on task this week, so for me. Dh and I went shopping for a stock-up this week. I do this every 3-4 months. I went to Aldi's and Sams club. I spent around 300.00 but this money is budgeted on a yearly budget so it does not come out of our weekly money. I also bought DH a new grilll (cast iron, very nice) from Sams. But I am definetely stocked up on grilling food...

So DS had a soccer tournament this weekend. I am happy to say even though we had to be at the field at 7am, and had to leave the house by 6am, I STILL cooked dinner at home. We had spaghetti with garlic crisps, but I didn't order out!!

I will post tomorrow my weekly menu since I a too tired to actually put one together right now.

And most of all, Happy Mother's day to all!!

 

[Priorityonecb]

We've worked all day putting a pool in the backyard so tonight's dinner was quick and easy and cheap! Tomato soup and grilled cheese.

Happy Mother's Day to all tomorrow!!! We are going out for brunch I think, but dh will grill salmon and I will am looking forward to salmon ceasar salad for dinner tomorrow night. Delicious!!

 

[momto1]

We did good over the weekend eating what we had on hand. Yesterday, dh grilled salmon for dinner. With that we had salad using up a bottle of dressing and baked potatoes.

DS had a baseball game so we packed sanwiches, trail mix and water for the ride home.

Today- I told dh to dig through the meat basket in the freezer and find some meat that needs to be gone. So today will be mystery meat, brussel sprouts and grilled potatoes in foil packets.

Lori

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Finally have a second to think about meals...

Monday: Chicken Caesar Salads, fruit
Tuesday: Hot Dogs, fries, and baked beans
Wednesday: Orange Chicken with brown rice and Asian Veggies
Thursday: London Broil in the crockpot, potatoes, veggies
Friday: Road trip to Syracuse for qualifying State Cup Game
Saturday: Same as Friday, still on the road

 

[lisam427]

tibkmom2-thanks for posting the taco seasoning mix. i will definitely be making up a batch of this!!

tonight we had the cutlets. tomorrow i think ill make the fish. sunday we went out to eat for lunch mother's day but we didnt pay. a family member took us out so it doesnt count. i went shopping and spent $20. bought a lot of health and beauty stuff and soap products. didnt buy much food. our fridge is empty. ive been mainly making meals out of the freezer and pantry. i still havent figured out what to do with the polish sausage. im trying to hold out on going shopping until this weekend.

 

[charming23]

For those who were interested I made the Chicken Sausage Meatballs and Florentine Mac and Cheese for dinner tonight and OMG!!! Was it good. The ricotta made the meatballs so moist.

I did however not add the fennel as we did not have any. I also added the rest of the ricotta to the cheese sauce and it was yummy. It is going to be put into rotation around here.

 

[momto1]

Yesterday was a crazy day with baseball, volleyball and band concert all occuring and overlapping. So last night was a late dinner of crock pot roast, potaotes and cauliflower.

Today - burgers and buns from the freezer and the rest of the cauliflower.

Lori

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

For those who were interested I made the Chicken Sausage Meatballs and Florentine Mac and Cheese for dinner tonight and OMG!!! Was it good. The ricotta made the meatballs so moist.

I did however not add the fennel as we did not have any. I also added the rest of the ricotta to the cheese sauce and it was yummy. It is going to be put into rotation around here.

Thanks for the update. I want to add it to next weeks menu. Can you tell me how labor intensive it was so I can put it on an appropriate day? Thanks, and so glad you had a wonderful dinner!!

 

[charming23]

Thanks for the update. I want to add it to next weeks menu. Can you tell me how labor intensive it was so I can put it on an appropriate day? Thanks, and so glad you had a wonderful dinner!!

It was not that hard to do. I first put the water on and then started mixing the meatball mixture and instead of the eight large ones she does, I made 15 smaller ones. They were in the oven for 25-30 minutes. Then after I put the pasta in the water I made the sauce. I would say it took about 45 minutes total from the time I put the water on until it was on the table.

 

[DCLbrideSept2009]

Just started browsing through this thread and you all have me inspired! I've been wanting to do this, not necessarily because my pantry and/or fridge and/or freezer are overflowing (cuz they really aren't!) but because i keep buying stuff when I KNOW I have stuff and should use it first... and because this month's grocery budget is $600 and I've already spent $430 of it, only $170 left for the rest of the month!! I will need most, if not all, of that to replenish lunch stuff (4 kids all take lunch every day), milk, etc.... the necessities that need to be replenished quite often. So.... I'm going to take an inventory of what I have and try to make meal plans from there. I went to the store today just to get some lunch stuff, Diet Coke (my vice), etc.... well, they were having a "Mega Meat Sale." So.... I had to buy some meat... then milk was on sale for $1.88/gallon! (normally $2.38 for the cheapest brand) So of course I had to buy another gallon (we have like half a gallon in the fridge already) and will more than likely buy at least 2 more gallons before the sale ends (just started today, so ends Tuesday). May end up buying some more meat too... DH just got a "new" gas grill (my parents' old grill since they just put in an outdoor kitchen) so he's wanting to grill a lot... So I will need the $170 left in the budget just for all that stuff... so gotta come up with some meals with what I have!!

We just started this budget thing about 3 months ago (just went through Financial Peace University) and we're pretty good about it, but I do tend to spend too much money at the beginning of the month, not leaving much for the end of the month!

 

[Priorityonecb]

I had a rough day yesterday, so we splurged and went out for Chinese. But, we only spent $30 including tip and there was enough leftover to cover dinner tonight!

Tomorrow night will be barbecued meatballs, salad and baked potatoes using up the last of the bag of turkey meatballs, the rest of the produce from last week in the salad and the last of last weeks potatoes. The next night we'll do a Dijouro we have in the freezer with a salad since we are having a sleepover guest. My goal for this week is to spend less than $40.

 

[momto1]

Tonight will be wings from the freezer and I want to try a new recipe of spinach, feta, and tomatoes. Not really using anything up and cleaning out but not eating out either or buying more!

Lori

 

[charming23]

I worked on our menus for the next two weeks based on what we had in the house and only had to buy ground beef at the grocery store.

Here is what I am planning:
chicken paprikash with spaetzels
pork stir fry over rice
Shepard's Pie
Chicken apple sausage with German potato salad
Spaghetti with meatballs, garlic bread and salad
Homemade pizza
Ham with scalloped potatoes
chicken fajitas with spanish rice
chicken encilladas
Pork chops with mashed potaotes and applesauce
hamburgers and fries
baked potato bar

We have everything in the house and will only have to pick up milk, bread and a few fresh fruits and veggies.

 

[lisam427]

charming-you menu looks great!!

dclbride-welcome glad u joined us!!

i have to go thru the freezer and plan my meals. will post tomorrow

 

[Priorityonecb]

Last night we used up the last Dijourno w/breadsticks I got for free. I added a salad and watermelon slices to that. Youngest dd had a sleepover so that was perfect and inexpensive! I also threw together a boxed cake mix I had in the pantry for dessert.

Tonight we'll be at a friends barbecue birthday party so dinner is again FREE! Although we are going to an arts festival during lunch, so heaven only knows what goodies we will find there!

We are thinking of going gluten free here so I am trying to use up all the yummy things we have around the house now that will be off the diet! A good excuse to continue emptying the pantry and freezer!