I've been spending lots of time the last few weeks reflecting on this past year–the triumphs and struggles, the victories and failures. While doing so, I've been making out a list of concrete and realistic goals for 2010.
And I'm excited about what this next year holds–some of which involves this blog! I'll be sharing more details about some of my goals for 2010 and unveiling new features and additions to this blog (including a complete blog re-design!) over the next few weeks.
In the mean time, though, I wanted to tell you one big thing FishMama and I have up our sleeves. Instead of hosting another Freezer Cooking Day in January, we're going to be co-hosting a month-long Eat From the Pantry Challenge.
We realized in inventorying our cupboards, refrigerators, and freezers, that we have lots of food stocked up and many odds and ends which need to be used up. So during the month of January, we'll be challenging ourselves to stay out of the grocery store unless absolutely necessary and feed our families from what we already have on hand.
I've done this for a week or two at a time, but never for an entire month so it should certainly be an interesting adventure in creativity! We'll be blogging what we're eating, recipes we're concocting, and how we're pulling it off.
While no one is required to participate, we'd love to have you join us–whether for a week, two weeks, or the whole month!
Stay tuned for more details on the Eat From the Pantry Challenge coming early next week. If you're planning to participate, you can sign-up on the Facebook page here.
Subscribe for free email updates and be entered to win $100!
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Elisa,
I have been working on a page that shows the different ways we eat potatoes (although you can see several ways on my 4 months of seasonal menus as well). Last night I cooked 6 pounds of roasted rosemary potatoes and we ate almost all of them (there are 7 in my family).
The 360 pounds of potatoes I bought only cost me .20 a pound. That’s a lot of food for $72!
The new page should hopefully be up by the New Year.
Oh my word! I SO need this!
My pantry is so full, of things I haven’t used in a while…. I need to clear out!
Thanks for this!
This is a great idea! I have hosted three dinner parties this week, and spent a good deal of money on them. While I enjoyed the fun and fellowship, I’m ready to step back, use what I have, and save the money.
Wow, what great timing. I was planning on doing the same thing for the next two weeks. With 7 in the house, the freezer goes pretty quickly, so I won’t be able to make it a month…I have three that need school lunches. It’s hard to send too much in the way of lunches from the freezer. I’ll need fresh milk and eggs, and I want to use a few high-value Qs before they expire. BUt I’m right there with you!
After looking at the sales ad this week for Kroger I will join you at least one week. I feed 7, so I might have to take advantage of freebies and to buy some produce! I have a nice stockpile right now including dairy. My husband has been laid off for 6 months. I am job hunting and my (only-ever-homeschooled) children are going to school-so they will be eating lunch there. Since things are tight this challenge would serve us. I actually like having to use what you have because it forces creativity. Some of my best meals have come from someone giving us something and me having to get creative.
I am in!! I have a plethera of goods in my pantry and freezers!! I have been wanting to do this and will be glad to join in except for milk and eggs and fruit i will stay out of the stores!
I am really excited to be a part of this challenge and the chance to clean out some of my stock. Will also use ECB’s and RR’s for milk, get fresh eggs from relative who raises chickens so will only need to buy some fresh produce. Every thing in stock for baking and bread making. Totally agree it is going to be hard not taking advantage of the great deals but will be worth the wait to use up what we have on hand. Other than produce we are overstocked on everything else so I’m going to start working on my menus. Thanks for the incentive!
I’m in for this challenge! It’s a good way to clear out the cabinets. What about free stuff? I work at a childrens center and if a milk carton is opened and even if just a 1/2 cup of milk is used it can’t be used again for the children. Our director lets staff take it home instead of pouring it down the drain. I haven’t had to buy milk in over a year! I can’t give that up even for a challenge.
I am in for this. We did this a few months ago. I would love to join in on this challenge!
I’m really happy about this challenge as I have been thinking it is much needed here. I have a few questions though. I need tortillas this week, but thinking in this vein has me not wanting to buy them…Does anyone have a recipe for tortillas that is easy?? I have tried to make them before….and they were awful! =)
We’re definitely in. I’d like to save money on groceries this month, plus our pantry is overflowing – I really need to get it scaled down.
I absolutely LOVE the idea of an eating from the pantry challenge. Such a catchy name, such a resourceful idea! With that said, I have really put a lot of effort in the past few months into stocking up my pantry and freezer. My goal isn’t to stock food for any certain length of time, but more to stay a few steps ahead of the game in the event I miss a sale on a staple item or I need to avoid hitting the store for a week. Truth be told, I’ve worked so hard on my pantry and freezer stash that I would be sad to part with it simply because that would mean I’d have to work extra hard to build it back up again! Do you find yourself having these same sentiments or do you see yourself still having some reserves after this month-long journey? Thanks again for such an inspiring and encouraging blog. I look forward to reading it every day not just because it helps me to save money, but because he encourages me to be a better wife and mother. Thank you and happy new year!
I’m doing a mini week long challenge through the first of the year! I’ve been having to get creative, so it will be fun to see where the rest of the week takes us!
Love it!
I’m in! I already planned out the month’s menu! I will be purchasing fresh veggies through an organic co-op. I split this with my mom and will cost $22 for the month and give us tons of fresh veggies to go with our meals, but that is all I am spending!!!!
School lunches can be made from the pantry!
Here are some ideas for school lunches:
Tuna Fish Sandwiches (on homemade bread)
Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches (on homemade bread)
Turkey sandwiches with sprouts (if you have alfalfa seeds to sprout) and cranberry sauce
BBQ turkey sandwiches
Soup in a thermos with bread, biscuits, or crackers (chicken noodle, chicken and rice, barley, tomato, minestrone, chili, etc.)
Sides:
raisins
craisins
nuts (peanuts, cashew, pistachios, etc.)
dried apricots or other dried fruit
muffins
pickles
olives
homemade pretzels
foccacia
rolls
apples and carrots if you have them
Desserts:
hard candy
oatmeal cookies
chocolate chip cookies
chocloate wafers
popcorn
homemade carmel corn
homemade candy
fudge
We aren’t in a position to eat from the pantry at this time, but I am going to be following to get ideas on how to better stock (also looking at a potential move, and don’t want to start stocking to move it…). I look forward to following this challenge and getting ideas from it. Thanks!
Fabulous idea as usual! I know I have a pantry full of items I need to use up!
I was thinking about doing something like this when I spotted your blog entry! My pantry has overflowed into our living room, so I think it’s about time to use up the food we have and stop restocking what doesn’t need to be stocked.
Thanks. I can’t wait to see the recipes and can’t wait for the inspiration to keep me going until my pantry is emptied out. We’re hoping to move soon, so an added benefit will be less to pack up and move!
My husband and I laughed when we saw this as I started this week using up all the stored food we have. How appropriated time-wise for me. I think I will do a weekly recap on my blog (I’m way behind in that department) of what I made each week for dinner at least. Thanks for adding fuel to the fire!
We do this on months where grocery money needs to go to medical bills.
I’m at a spot where I really need to stock UP my food storage.
It will be fun to see how this all plays out though.
Tammy and Parker
http://www.prayingforparker.com
@ParkerMama on Twitter
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