Pantry Challenge September!

Ok People!!! Its that time of year again! I am doing my very own Pantry Challenge! I did one several months ago for a couple of weeks and enjoyed it! I look at my pantry and I see so many items that need to be used up. I also have a freezer full of foods. Now, I might have to purchase some meats in bulk because I am getting a little low, and thats ok! I am going ot set a budget and stick to it for the month! I will have to purchase lunch items, like lunch meat, cheese, chips, canned peaches for lil man, and yogurt. I will also purchase fresh fruits and milk, maybe some potatoes or here and there items but I am mainly going to focus of foods that I have already.

I normally spend somewhere between $650-$700 a  month for a family of 4. My challenge is only spend $60-$75 a week. So, around $240-$300 a month on groceries..... Thats a whopping $400 savings this month! I know I can do it!! Are you going to go on board again?

First, you have to look at what you have in your pantry. I have several boxes of potato casseroles that I purchased with coupons for nearly pennies. I need to use them up soon! I also have some cans of enchilada sauces and some pkgs of tortillas that need to be used! Get a sheet of paper and on one side make a list of pantry items and on the other make a list of fridge and freezer items. This will give you a better idea as to what you have on hand already and what you need actually need to purchase.

Second, write out a menu plan for the week or 2 weeks. I do this for 2 weeks at a time. That way I am better prepared when I do shopping. I know that if the items is on sale this week, it might not be the next so I will go ahead a purchase it.

and Last, STICK TO YOUR SHOPPING LIST!!! I usually go to the grocery store when I have plenty of time to look and shop around and I always purchase more than we need. I will see a new item and think, "Oh I can make this", even when its not on my menu plan. Now, I go in when I have just enough time to get what I need and get out. If I see something I want to try, I make a note of it, come home and add it to my menu plan for the next time.

I will be adding our menu plans and pictures!! I am still working on videos!

I hope you take on this challenge with me!

~Remember to put God first, and everything else will follow~

Pantry Challenge Day 6 & 7

Pantry Challenge Day 6 & 7

Since its the weekend, not a whole lot is getting done around the house. Hubby had been working on the electrical ALL day. He found out that whoever wired the house when it was built back in '98, wired it wrong. Go figure.

Thank God I have a smart enough husband to fix someone else's mistakes.

Our daughters Children Church pastor and his wife had their first baby this past week. As I have mentioned before, I am over the Helps Ministry at our church. We prepare and have dinners arranged for those who have recently had a baby, death or illness in their family. 

I am making them my famous Lasagna! She loves it! And, everyone I have made it for loves it too. I am not one to toot my own horn, but it is really, really good! I give thanks in part to my mom for teaching me how to make it but I have changed it a bit to make it my own! My husband and I make the same Lasagna for roughly 60+ people once a month at our church. Its for new members and their families. We serve it with Green Beans, Garlic Bread and Caesar Salad, which is home cooked. My husband makes all the desserts and they get great raves!!

I decided that since I needed to purchase some of the items for the Lasagna, that I would purchase enough to make 4. Two will be going to them, (1 for tonight and 1 for the freezer for another night) and two will be for us (1 for tonight and 1 for the freezer).  Yes, I had to purchase the items. Yes, I guess you can say I didn't stick to the Pantry Challenge, but I think I have. Since I am making 2 Lasagna's for us, that means 12 meals (lunch and dinner). We don't mind eating on a pan of Lasagna if it takes us 3 nights! WE LOVE OUR LASAGNA!!! That my friends, is a frugal meal!! 

This will be our Saturday night meal, and our Sunday afternoon meal! Anything leftover will be eaten on during the week by me and the kids for lunch and possibly Monday nights dinner as well!! 

So, this is the time that I would normally put in the recipe! Not this time, I don't share my Lasagna recipe. SORRY........Hope everyone has a blessed weekend!!!

~Remember to put God first, and everything else will follow~

Pantry Challenge Day 5 & Frugal Friday Finds

Pantry Challenge Day 5

This kids were out again from school today. They will out Monday too due to MLK day. That makes 10 days in a row...this momma needs a break! LOL 

Today is Pantry Challenge Day 5. This is an easy one. We had Chicken tenders last night and I made 2 batches. Thank goodness I did. I don't really feel like making anything tonight! So, we are having Chicken Tender Salads, Soup (Healthy Choice Tomato Bisque), and grilled cheeses! 

Simple enough huh! The soup is from a stock-up sale that went on at my local Kroger back in Oct '10. I purchased 22 cans for $.49 a piece!! GO ME!!!! 

What are you doing for dinner tonight and how is you pantry challenge coming along?

A NEW Addition I am adding to my blog is Frugal Friday Finds! This is where I will tell you what frugal deals I have found this week and what frugal living changes we have made! This week I went to Walgreens. Here are the deals I made!

2 Lysol wipes (2 bottle pack):$3.69 BOGOF sale plus a $1 off coupon = $2.69 for 4 containers

Gain Dish Soap: $1.99, $1 off Walgreens coupon plus $1 off mfg coupon = FREE!!!!

2 12pk 7up and 2 12pk A&W Rootbeer = $11.00

2 Lysol Spray Cans $4.49 ea, BOGOF sale plus $1.50 and $1.00 off coupon = $1.99 for 2

2 pkg StayFree Pads $6.79 each: 2 $3.00 off Walgreens coupons plus BOGOF coupon plus $1.00 = $.58 for 2

With tax I paid a total of $18.65 

WAG Coupon Savings: $7.00

WAG Advertised Savings $17.14

MFG Coupon Savings $11.50

Savings total: $35.64 

 How awesome is that? Do you have a Frugal Friday Find that you would like to share?

~Remember to put God first, and everything else will follow~

Pantry Challenge Day 4: Italian

If God had intended us to follow recipes,
He wouldn't have given us grandmothers.
~Linda Henley

Pantry Challenge Day 4:Italian

Wow! What a day! Only thing that got done was the kitchen getting cleaned and a couple of loads of laundry! That is what kind of day it has been!

Whew.....

 On to the challenge!

Tonight we are having Italian Chicken Tenders! Back in November I bought chicken tenders in bulk, and packaged them into separate servings. I took 2 out of the freezer this morning. One for tonight and one for tomorrow night! 

 All I did to the chicken was rub it in olive oil, pepper, paprika, garlic and onion powder, and poured 3-4 tablespoons of Italian Dressing over the tenders, baked at 425 for 20 minutes!! How easy was that! 

I wanted to serve it with some hearty and filling, so why not pasta salad?! 

I mixed 1/2 cup low fat mayo that I had on hand with 1 teaspoon mustard, and 3 T relish, (we like dill relish) and a few pinches each of garlic powder, onion powder, pepper and paprika. I added about 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar and 1/2 teaspoon sugar and mixed well!

 I cooked about 2 cups bow-tie pasta to al denta and rinsed in cold water. I mixed the two together and added some mozzarella cheese (1/4 cup).

I know it sounds crazy, ?dill pickle relish?, but we like the salty tang that it adds to the pasta. You can substitute green olives instead but my hubby doesn't like green olives.  

To lighten the dinner up a bit, I know, after the whole pasta thing, I added some green beans! 

Everything came from my pantry and freezer! Items I had on hand! The left over chicken will be used for tomorrow's dinner! Check back to see what that is going to be!!

What did you have for dinner tonight??

ps: the dinner plate is a 6x6 in plate, we use smaller plates for smaller portions!!

~Remember to put God first, and everything else will follow~