Comments on: Pantry Challenge: My Update and Menu Plan (Share Your Progress, too!)

By: APRIL FOX

APRIL FOX — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:21:13 +0000

Can I get the recipe for “Lit’l Smokies with Potatoes, Onions, and Carrots in the crockpot”?
Thanks!

By: Christy AKA Trippin' Mama

Christy AKA Trippin' Mama — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 20:06:35 +0000

Week Two and going strong. This week I was in a bind to serve a Mexican meal without tortillas or chips. So I made my own flour tortillas, with some success. They were edible, but not great. Still, I stuck to the challenge.

By: Carol D.

Carol D. — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:46:28 +0000

I’ve been so inspired by you and Fishmama! I was only going to do a modified eat from the pantry, but when I did an inventory and started menu planning, I easily came up with 2 weeks of meals, and will still have plenty of pantry items to use up! I was totally amazed, and awakened again to the realization that God is an abundant provider!

By: Carmen

Carmen — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:04:48 +0000

You’re an inspiration to me! I set a goal to go to the store only 4x this month and spend $25 each trip. So far, it’s working for our family of six. I have several freezer meals left from December. Thanks for all you’ve shared. It’s making a big difference in my thinking. Keep going strong!!

By: Patti

Patti — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 09:08:04 +0000

I am going to Walgreens this week for the toothpaste deal which will result in a $2 RR. Eggs are $.99 so I am going to get two dozen and find a cheapie filler for the other two cents. Might be searching the ads for milk and other staples during this challenge.

By: Patti

Patti — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 08:53:28 +0000

We are enjoying the challenge… and I have only been to the store one time for essentials like milk and produce. We have had pancakes (must be a staple in frugal families!), made a white sauce from scratch for a chicken dish, and jambalaya made from bits of ham, green peppers, and tomatoes I froze last summer. A funny thing happened to us last week. My hubby and I decided to go out to dinner even though we were trying not to this month and it made us feel guilty. We decided if we were going to go out to do it right and get REAL pizza, not chain store pizza . We went to a brick oven restaurant and ordered salads and our pizza. When it came, the waitress informed us that it had been cooked “wrong” – the chef left the meat off of it. We were okay with that but he wasn’t so he cooked us another pizza. We ended up eating vegetarian and taking the meat pizza home for our teenager (who was thrilled!). This just shows that God blesses us even when we don’t deserve it!

By: Ami

Ami — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 08:40:48 +0000

I linked up. It’s so cool that so many people are doing this challenge. I also think it’s cool that there haven’t been any awesome deals at the stores I’ve been missing.

Isn’t it wonderful that the internet can be a great tool to real work on the art of homemaking in a fun way?!

By: Martianne

Martianne — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 03:36:24 +0000

We updated our Eat from the Pantry Challenge and Weekly Menu today. I must say it’s really motivating me to plan and follow through on more budget-friendly meals for the family. Thank you. Now, what to do with CUPS and CUPS of FROZEN CABBAGE? Any IDEAS? Maybe you could leave me a few at wonderandwill.wordpress.com so I can use them up in next week’s menu…

By: Laura@HeavenlyHomemakers

Laura@HeavenlyHomemakers — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:30:21 +0000

Thanks Crystal for the links to my recipes! Sorry my site was having issues earlier (saw that a couple people commented on the mac and cheese). It’s all better now…hopefully!

By: Joyagg

Joyagg — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 17:13:35 +0000

Using things from the freezer and pantry. It took me longer to make a 2 week menu, but is certainly saving money. I’m also trying several new crockpot recipes…saving money AND time – who could ask for anything more!

By: Rachel

Rachel — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:51:55 +0000

great ideas! I love this challenge.

by the way. . .

that fluffy pumpkin pancakes recipe makes the most DELICIOUS waffles ever! if you wanted to attempt pumpkin waffles again. I made a triple batch on saturday and by monday they were GONE! EVERYBODY loved them and we enjoyed having a little more taste of autumn. I bought up a case of organic canned pumpkin after the holidays so we are going to be enjoying pumpkin items for quite some time.

By: Janet

Janet — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:32:15 +0000

I can’t believe how much fun this has been! I thought my teenagers would give me a hard time but they actually have been enjoying it. I’m trying to stay at 10 bucks a week for groceries, last week I ended up spending 11.58 but 6.00 of that was for 2 cases of water for their lunches.

My in-laws are even giving it a try

By: Katie L.

Katie L. — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:24:19 +0000

Sorry for the double entry – can’t figure out how to delete my first one.

So glad you’re hosting this challenge! It’s saved us a lot of money already!

By: Becky@Living Simply in Lancaster

Becky@Living Simply in Lancaster — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:17:18 +0000

This challenge has been fun so far. My freezer is full of meat but figuring out ways to use it with what’s in the pantry is proving to be a fun challenge. This week I’m roasting a 22 lb turkey that I got cheap over the holidays. I’m having fun coming up with some ideas for freezer meals for all that meat!

By: Kathryn

Kathryn — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:05:50 +0000

We’re trying to eat from our pantry this week, too, to help pay some unexpected medical bills. I always find that “breakfast for dinner” is a good meal for a pantry week. Almost everyone has pancake ingredients and a few extra eggs (for scrambling or frying) on hand. Just add some fruit from the grocery, and you have a balanced meal! And kids think it’s a treat to have pancakes for dinner.

By: Angie @ The Country Chic Cottage

Angie @ The Country Chic Cottage — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:39:28 +0000

I am officially inspired. Off to check out the challenge now!

By: Emily

Emily — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:34:05 +0000

This isn’t specific to January’s “Eat from the Pantry” Challenge, but I’ve recently been trying to use up half-opened pasta boxes, pretty much empty peanut butter jars, unopened cans of obscure ingredients, and the like.

Rather than leaving these ingredients up on their regular (out of the way) shelves, I moved these food items to a shelf in our “plates/bowls/glasses” cabinet. Because I access the plates/bowls/glasses frequently, I’m seeing these random food items frequently and that motivates me.

By keeping these foods I want to use up more visible, I’ve been incorporating these foods into recipes more frequently.

By: brandy

brandy — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:02:16 +0000

Thanks Crystal & Jen! I might just try that this week.

By: Jada @ food.fun.family

Jada @ food.fun.family — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:53:03 +0000

Hi All, I am loving the “Eat from the Pantry Challenge.” I have posted a couple of updates on my blog. My kids are even getting into this, too!

Crystal, this is fun!

By: Ellen Drake

Ellen Drake — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:37:49 +0000

Thank you for the update; it’s so encouraging to know that we’re all in this together! We are on day 8 of eating from the pantry. I was feeling a little un-inspired this morning, but I took a second look at my pantry and freezer and came up with a great list of meal ideas for this week as well. Reading your post just sealed the deal for me to try and make it through this week. thank you!!!!