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~

Panrty Challenge Day 2

Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon.  ~Doug Larson

Pantry Challenge DAY 2

Today is Day 2 of my Pantry Challenge.  

Again, I have not wrote out my menu planning for the next 2 weeks, so I will be working on that today, hopefully! 

If you live in the Mid-South like I do, you know we have snow, and A LOT OF IT!!! We got upwards of 7 inches over the last 2 days. the county south of us got 13 INCHES!!!  That is enough to close down school and the whole county! You would think that being shut up in a house for 2 days, I would get everything on my list done....WRONG!!!

I did however, start back running! My mother gave me her treadmill the other day, ancient but it serves its purpose. Hubby cleaned it up for me last night and I began running again today. Back in April of '09 I ran my first 5K. I hope to run the same one this year and beat my time, if my injury doesn't come back to haunt me. I was sidelined after the 5k due to a stress fracture in my lower leg. UGH!!

Enough about running!!

Lets talk about the Pantry Challenge. It crossed my mind about 11 am that I had not laid anything out for dinner! I then began to read the blogs that I follow. One of them is A YEAR OF SLOW COOKING. She cooks in her crockpot everyday! I found a recipe that I just happened to have all the ingredients to and decided I would make it for dinner tonight. Instead of using the crockpot, I am going to be cooking it on the stove and as a side dish for steak (which I pulled from the freezer around noon). Now, my husband does not like green olives so I am going to hide them in the dish by mincing them. It will still have the same taste, just not visible, which is his problem! Here is the link to the recipe. I will give the verdict tomorrow as to how well it went over with my family. 


So, as you can read, I am using my pantry for dinner tonight. Are you?? If so, leave a comment on what you are having and your plan for your own Pantry Challenge!!

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